These excellent offerings have created an environment that when a new western is released it comes with a set of expectations to begin with. It is in this atmosphere that Desperados III enters the scene. An isometric RTS game set in the Wild West that is more than meets the eye. This is the review of Desperados III.

Right of the bat one can feel the passion that creators mimimi games have for the genre. The wild and hostile western setting and intricacies of a well laid out maps are on full display here. A short prologue, and a mission set in a typical wild west setting of a train robbery, show you the ropes on how to make the most of the combined skills of the five playable characters you would get acquainted to further into the game. The action pretty much never gets stale from here on and the game throws one mission after the other that tests your strategic skills at various levels based on the difficulty chosen.

RELATED: iXie Gaming’s in-depth review of Little Nightmares 2

The game’s story, unfortunately, is about as barebones as they come and acts merely to set up each mission. It follows the antics of one John Cooper and a colorful cast of characters who join him in his quest for revenge. Each supporting character has their own traits and set of skills which is given context through some story beats in cutscenes and the banter between characters during gameplay.  

Gameplay wise there is plenty to like here. The game does an excellent job of making veteran real time tactics players feel at home, while easing new players into the genre at the same time. The difference between Desperados III and other real time tactics games however is how far away it moves from genre conventions. With stealth at its core, each level plays out as a slow burn western movie, rather than a fast-paced action strategy game.

ALSO READ: Cyberpunk 2077 – The story with many lessons

The game pushes you to use the skillsets of every character at your disposal to complete the task at hand and provides tools to automate actions to a certain degree when needed. Each mission varies from one another, with playable characters constantly shifting in availability, and the environment and AI placements are always set in a way that you are encouraged to think before the next move and not just progress by using the same skills over and over. This approach to gameplay works very well when it does, but also falls short due to some design choices baked within the game.

Said choice is the game’s over-reliance on quick save. Desperados III preps you beforehand for a trial-and-error experience, which is not inherently a bad thing. The game also explains that quick save and quick load feature will come in handy, which is also great. What does not work in favor of the game, however, is the constant reminder to quick save to the point of it becoming an annoyance, at least in my case.

Worse still, the game lets you save as many times as you want in its default setting, but only the last three are available to reload.  For a modern game where saves can be handled in so many ways, it is baffling to see a developer chose this route. Personally, I would have liked to have had a choice between auto, manual and quick save, or a combination of everything.

Thankfully the mishandled save system was about as bad as the game gets, because the rest of the experience is rather impressive. The visuals and voice acting are up to the mark and sell the Wild West setting with ease. Background score is top notch and shines during cutscenes and loading screens. But it especially elevates the quieter moments of the game, of which there are plenty, when you hide your characters in the environment while scoping out the map and plan the next move. These moments feel like experiencing a western through and through.

With all the above said, I do have to point out that Desperados III is pretty much a reskin of the studio’s previous game, Shadow Tactics. From its stealth focused core gameplay to juggling skillsets of multiple characters, right down to the Showdown mode that lets you plan future actions of characters, all elements have been borrowed from the previous game set in Edo period Japan and executed with a bit more polish in this wild west setting. I do not mean this as a criticism though as Shadow Tactics in itself is a great game and I would not mind more of it, but a few more notable changes and innovations to set one title apart from the other would be great. Something I hope this newly independent studio considers while working on their next game.

Overall, Desperados III is a great game that blends methodical stealth and isometric real time tactics cooking up its own flavor in the genre. Its western setting has been put to good use bringing multiple playable levels to life. The playable characters are unique and present various ways to tackle each mission. This game is definitely for the more patient gamer and all that patience and planning pays off satisfyingly when a set strategy goes according to plan, making you feel like one of the wily members of John Coopers crew. Desperados III certainly ain’t no Red Dead Redemption, but If you are in for slow methodical gameplay and stomach the save system, you will be in for a good time. Go play Desperados III.

Verdict: 7.5/10

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Listen to our Gaming Expert’s prediction on The Future of Console Gaming before jumping into the review.

Microsoft has been very vocal about their effort to bring exclusives from both first- and third-party studios. Yakuza: Like a dragon could be one of those attempts, albeit reserving console exclusivity for a short period of time. From this point of view, the Xbox platform’s first notable exclusive is Call of the Sea, which graces the old and new generation Xbox consoles alongside PC. And if this game is any indication of things to come, we have plenty of reasons to be excited about games on Xbox.

Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure game that puts environmental storytelling and engaging puzzles at the forefront. Right off the bat this game faces the threat of being branded a walking simulator. Sit through this adventure though and you will find that it is so much more than that. You play as Norah Everhart, a woman with a mysterious illness, who finds herself searching for her husband. The search leads you to a tropical land where your husband had ventured on an expedition to find a cure. The setup is intriguing enough to pique one’s interest and the game manages to keep the sense of intrigue alive throughout its run time. This is achieved by polishing the three main elements of the game to a mirror sheen. The setting, gameplay and story. Each of these elements are meshed intricately through stunning visuals, excellent puzzles and strong voice acting.

As good as the puzzle design and story is, the real star of game in my eyes has got to be the Island itself. The game’s art and sound deserve special mention for delivering environments that feel so lived in, despite the lack of inhabitants through the majority of the game’s run time. There is a sense of atmosphere that immediately captivates you and has you moving towards the next nugget of gameplay only to see what awaits in the next area. Despite its cartoonish, somewhat cell shade visuals, the world here is effortlessly immersive. Throw in story elements and puzzles that feed off of this world and you have a game where every little aspect works in tandem resulting in a tight yet fantastic experience.

Well, almost. The game isn’t without its issues. There is a fair bit of trial and error with a few puzzles. A lot more than one would be comfortable with. These are moments where the games feels like it has slammed on the breaks. Thankfully though, solving every sizeable puzzle usually, if not always, feels rewarding as the game finds ways to keep the player motivated through story progression, and then another interesting puzzle which is nothing like the last one. The game also offers tools for the player to overcome hurdles, should they choose to invest time reading through the various notes around the world, and Norah’s journal. There is a constant sense of progression every time a puzzle is solved. The story, which explores some heavy themes and isn’t afraid to take some dark turns, is unveiled with a steady bread crumb trail leading up to one of its endings based on your choices.

Call of the sea is a short and engaging game that deserves to be played by anyone who likes a good story. My journey in the shoes of Norah took me to various areas of a world which was breath-taking and sometimes nerve racking. The game makes the best of every element it has to offer, resulting in a must play experience. Call of the Sea is currently on Game pass and if you have about 6-ish hours to spare, you have no excuse to skip this game.

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I went into the game with an open mind for the absurd and goofy, based off the trailers, and Bugsnax did not disappoint. But there is more than meets the eye to this charming adventure. Simply put, Bugsnax is a fine example of how far good writing can take a concept for a videogame. Better still, this is also an example of how every aspect of the game works in tandem and pulls the game together when it starts to get a bit stale.

A quick read: Top 5 Xbox One Games

So, on that note, this will be a review that forgoes dissecting elements like gameplay, graphics, story, and audio, and instead speak about the experience as a whole. Because all these aspects gel so well to keep the eight or so hours entertaining throughout.

Just a few minutes into the game and it was easy to notice that Bugsnax is so full of charm. If you step into the game not knowing anything (which, by the way, is very unlikely) you will find an endless supply of absurd imagery throughout the game and I mean this in the best possible way. The game oozes with personality and its quirky art style and music sets the mood for a fun little adventure.

Related reading: Is XCloud an ace up Microsoft’s sleeve?

You play as a journalist who is invited to an expedition on Snaktooth Island by one Lizbert Megafig. Upon arrival though Lizbert has disappeared and the story puts you on a task to find the disbanded inhabitants around the island and later interview the ones who are back home to solve the bigger mystery of Lizbert’s disappearance, and the origins behind the bugsnax themselves. Convincing these characters require capturing various bugsnax. Each bugsnak is a meticulously designed fusion of a popular snack in the form of a bug or a critter that we come across in our daily lives. These creatures are charming in their own way and they often put a smile on your face when you examine them using your camera.

There is a sense of discovery that hits you every time you see a variation of a bugsnak thanks to their goofy yet impressive design. This gameplay loop also facilitates plenty of interaction with the inhabitants of the island while you are not hunting for weird creatures made from food. At the end of the day though, gameplay is not really the strongest aspect of the Bugsnax. That is not to say what is on offer isn’t clever. There are a handful of tools that you will acquire through the course of the game and it is up to you to figure out how to put them to use based on the situation. And this offers a sense of satisfaction when you eventually figure out the solution after some experimentation.  There is a fair bit of back tracking as a result but like all other elements in the game this does not stick out to become a bother.

The main story missions take about eight hours to beat but there plenty more for completionists in here. For the most part, the story takes the unconventional route and keeps you guessing. And this goes a long way to keep you coming back when the gameplay novelty starts to wear off. The real stars of the game are the characters and the writing. Snaktooth Island’s inhabitants look goofy, colourful and are wildly entertaining. But they also come with real world problems which make them feel less like animated puppets and more relatable. Some of the industry’s noteworthy talents have lent their voices for these characters and it shows. There are some truly touching moments in the game that many of us can relate to from various stages of our lives. It is this relatability combined with the various strengths of the game that holds the Bugsnax together through its run time. And the way everything is put together in the end is a testament to the talent behind the scenes.

verall, Bugsnax is a fine example of something that ends up being more than the sum of its parts. The game’s stronger elements like the characters, writing and audio far outweigh the weaker ones like repetitive missions and gameplay, resulting in an overall package that will keep you hooked through to the end. There is something for pretty much every demographic that can hold a controller and play videogames. I often found myself playing the game with a smile on my face thanks to the games art style, characters, humour and the sheer absurdity on screen while my ten year old daughter was enjoying the events on screen like she were watching a cartoon show. That just shows Bugsnax’s appeal.

The game is currently free on the brand new PS5, but if you weren’t able to get one, it is also available on PS4 and PC. If you are looking for some time off from the Call of Duties, Fortnites and big budget open world games, then this well written humorous adventure is probably what you want. Go play Bugsnax.

Verdict

Final Score: 8.5/10

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Just when hope for the genre seemed all but lost in my mind, we got not one but two throwbacks to the good ol’ days of arcade racing in the form Hot shots racing and Inertial Drift, the latter being a drift-focused, anime-inspired, strangely addictive, old school-type affair. And how could we not play such a game?

This is the review of Inertial Drift.

First Impressions

Right off the bat the game’s inspirations are very clear. The cell shaded art style, colourful characters and elaborately designed cars all set the premise of the game very clearly. There is a level of confidence that can be seen in how the game wants to present itself and the tone it tries to bring. Anyone who has been following shows like Initial-D will be right at home from the very first frame of the opening cutscene.

Gameplay

The game employs a twin stick control scheme for drifting which admittedly took some getting used to, especially because the left stick now steers the car. The right stick is solely used to control the drift of the car. It is a somewhat jarring idea at first and seemed like a novelty that would quickly wear off.

But similar to the likes of the original Skate, and Fight Night where the controls were questioned before release and then widely praised, the twin stick controls here are a fantastic fit for a drift focused game like this. And no, the novelty doesn’t wear off.

What appears like a trial and error control scheme during the initial tutorial soon reveals itself as a wonderful gameplay element with a whole lot of depth and nuance that requires quite the commitment to master.

And it would be quite easy to commit to as the gameplay, once you get into the rhythm, is quite addictive and will have you going for another round in the quest to shave off some precious seconds from your lap time. I haven’t been this obsessed with my lap time in racing in a very long time and this is courtesy of the various little tricks the game employs during and off gameplay that encourages you to do so.

Finally, the game would be nothing without its limited, but wonderful, array of cars. I can go on about them for pages together, but let’s just say that each ride feels significantly different from the other and would negate the hours spent perfecting the handling of the previous car the moment you set foot on the new one.

So be ready for a lot of learning behind the wheel. Oh, and one more thing. There is a split screen local multiplayer mode. I guess that speaks for itself.

Visuals

As mentioned earlier, the art style in Inertial Drift is quite unique to say the least and it helps the game stand out from the crowd effortlessly. The cell-shaded, hand drawn-ish visuals may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it works quite well in nailing the aesthetic and gives the developers some liberties in the graphics department.

As good as the retro inspired, neon-soaked world, tracks, and cars look, I felt the characters and writing could have used a little more work. Yes, I say writing as there is a story, sort of. But the story, if anything, serves as an elaborate tutorial for you to stay obsessed while tackling other modes.

Sound

The sound department is a mixed bag unfortunately. One one hand we have each cars personality reflected in the way their engine grunts and groans during races. Entering a tunnel amplifies the engine’s roar really pumping up the feel of the race.

There are little things like this peppered here and there which is great. But on the other hand, we have the game’s soundtrack which is a let down in my opinion. While the music tracks in the game do a serviceable job, it does not quite land the feel of the game, at least for me. Here’s hoping that it is something that the developers will fix in future updates.

Verdict

Coming out of nowhere this game is the perfect throwback to old school racing games that we need but perhaps don’t deserve. At a time where racing games are made for the sole purpose of making enough money through microtransactions, this is an honest to God drift game that checks most of the right boxes.

The twin stick drifting may take some getting used to but is super satisfying once you find your rhythm, the art style is gorgeous, the gameplay rewards taking risks and to top it off it has a split screen local multiplayer mode which in my book makes any racing game a winner.

All of this will have you obsessed over your lap times, mastering different cars and their nuances and generally keep you addicted to the game if you commit enough time to it. Simply put, this game delivers what most AAA racing games miss these days. The sense of unadulterated fun. Playing this game is highly encouraged if drifting is your thing. Show some love to this game and have a blast in the process.

Final Score: 8/10

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1. Very lucky to have witnessed the industry grow from its humble beginnings to the cultural juggernaut it is today. and
2. Despite all the advancement in today’s games, you, like me, see yourself being pulled back to that one game you grew up playing.

For me, it is Tekken 3.
And considering the treasure trove that was the decade known as the 90s, many would have their own pick that they get back to. There is no denying that older games have this charm that keeps pulling us back towards them. This feeling isn’t left to the kids who grew up in the 90s though and is common across most individuals who have videogames as part of their lives.
But the simplicity in the games made in the 90s is something that is unmatched in the games made in the late 2000s and after. Especially the games from the arcade scene, which had a simple design that tests the skill of the player while being loads of fun, and being executed flawlessly. Some of the popular ones are Street Fighter, Metal Slug, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs etc.

But there was another popular beat ‘em up in the arcade scene, one that would accommodate up to six players simultaneously, and yet worked like a charm. And, believe it or not, was a licensed title. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and find why X-Men arcade was as good as it was.

The Source Material

Big franchise license may not have had the best history with videogames, but X-Men arcade was certainly not part of that history. The game stuck firmly to its comic book source material right from the art style to the character design. Looking back from a time where every iteration of a story or universe has to be re-invented and redesigned to keep it ‘relevant’, it is so refreshing to see how unapologetically faithful it is to the then-popular version of the X-Men and how well creators made the setting work for a 2D side-scrolling beat ‘em up.

There is something so endearing about this game that gets you every time you boot it up. Nintendo truly outdid themselves with their formula of keeping things simple and charming with super Mario world. Watching Yoshi hatch out of that egg, and to ride him while having him gobble up enemies and spitfire is vintage gaming gold.

Not Just Another Arcade Beat ‘Em Up

The X-Men brand alone could have had kids clamouring over the game with their coins, but the game was a mechanically sound, solid experience that would have worked even without the X-Men name, should the creators have chosen to come up with their own story and characters.

But the brand has been put to great use, nonetheless. Although the basic gameplay is more or less the same, the six playable characters have their own abilities and quirks, which is unique enough from one another to feel different, but evenly balanced at the same so one character does not stand out as a favourite.

 

The Tyrant That Was Magneto

In the pursuit of making the character more human, the illustration of Magneto in the movies post-2000 has been somewhat soft. But he is the big baddy in a universe full of powerful mutants and X-Men Arcade shows how villainous Magneto is.
And the game doesn’t’ stop there.
It goes deep into the lore of series, uses elements from it as part of the game, and all of this works to its advantage. You are beating up sentinels from the get-go and then introduced to foes that those familiar with the comic books will be glad to shred (as Wolverine). And this smart approach can be found throughout the game.

Innovation, and A Good Dose of 90’s Cheese

While the game stuck to many of the genre tropes, there were some notable innovations which were subtle yet made a difference. Characters couldn’t run in this game, which meant that enemies could not be avoided just by running around the map. Enemies did not have health bars. You are just left in the open to study each type of enemy and how much of a beating they could take. This meant you had to think about when to use that special power that comes at the cost of your health.

Even bosses were no exception to this rule. Aside from them glowing in different colours once they reach a certain amount of health (which also varied from one Boss to another), there was no knowing how much the bad guy can endure. The in-game animations were top-notch for its time, and the games art created with utmost passion. The story, the characters and the dialogues, all ooze with the delightful cheesiness that can be found only in a product from the 90s.
Of course, none of this mattered when you were a kid who was just fascinated with videogames and X-Men, but looking back at this game today, you can’t help but admire how much of passion and hard work has been poured into this game. X-Men arcade is something that could have only been possible in its time and it may be a relic today, but a priceless one, nonetheless

And that is the magic that old games bring to the experience. It is not just nostalgia, but the very apparent and obvious love that goes into making them, that creates this magic. The same can be said about most games made until the end of the PS2 era until the convenience of an online console was exorbitantly exploited by big corporations.

We are now entering the 9^th generation of consoles and soon, the games that graced us during the PS2 era (the golden age for videogames for me personally) would have been from three console generations ago, and for me that qualifies as retro.
There is just so much goodness up until that point that they need to be discussed and discuss we will. Stick with Ixie gaming for more retro love. I’ll see you soon with another gem from the past.

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Something Different

The modern gaming scene has no shortage of diversity in its content ranging from thoughtful games like What remains of Edith Finch to the smart and whacky The Stanley Parable, all prevailing alongside other traditional genre-based games. Back in the early 90s though videogames were usually about killing something or someone, regardless of the genre the game places itself in. And stories and aesthetics were equally sombre to accommodate that premise. We save the world from destruction in a typical RPG. Fight powerful Ogres in fighting games like Tekken 3 and of course battle aliens in side-scrolling shooters like Contra.

Metal Slug was among the first games to infuse humour in a smart way in its alien infested war-torn universe, while also not berating the casualties of war. And to accomplish this while also being entertaining throughout the run time and make this possible within the technological limitations at the time is truly commendable.

A Labour of Love

The Metal slug series of games featured art that gelled well with its witty humour. The super energetic soundtrack that rocks throughout the game meshes well with all the chaos that transpire on screen when it is filled with multiple foes and projectiles. The four playable characters may not offer much variety gameplay wise and may play pretty much exactly the same way, but they make up for it with their own personality traits. One of the male characters wears glasses, and the other has a running nose. Move this guy to the very edge on a platform and you would find him balancing on one foot trying to avoid a fall while a huge drop of snot is flailing from his nose. This, in a war game featuring aliens.

The game is peppered with various quirks like these. Your glass wearing hero is hit by a mummy’s foul breath? Why he’ll turn in to a mummy himself, wearing glasses, with a gun, shooting other mummies. Ate too much of those fruits that you found lying around to improve your scores? Why you player is now blown up like a blowfish and is fighting not only aliens but also obesity. There was something new and quirky every few minutes in this game.

And that is what made it the gem that it is today. The developers clearly had fun making this game and were no doubt encouraged to come up with ridiculous ideas that ended up in the game. Seriously what is this toddler doing in a just exploded enemy army truck. And why is he doing flips. Truly, they don’t make games like this anymore. And that is sad.

Not Just Funny

The series was not just about its humour though. There was a challenging shooter under the skin which was super fun to play and highly satisfying to finish. The difficulty was on par with any side scrolling platformer/shooter at the time (which, putting mildly, was soul crushing), and the gameplay was fast and frantic whether you played the arcade or the home console version.

There are also elements in the game that make you think, which one would assume is uncharacteristic for this series, but once again, it was executed brilliantly. Like an end credit scene where one of the soldiers throws a paper plane and it flies throughout the maps in which you mowed down hundred of soldiers, with all the carnage still intact. This was some moving stuff for me even as a kid when I played it. There was brilliance oozing through and through. That’s Metal Slug in a nutshell for you. And it still works, in glorious fashion.

It Is Not Dead

The good news is that this may have been a series from long ago and may have been dormant for a while now, but thanks to whoever it is that had this thought, the series is now available in platforms like Steam. I found all of the Metal Slug games, Metal Slug 1, 2, 3 and X on Steam complete with 1080p resolution and full controller support. Getting back to these games was pure unadulterated joy and I encourage anyone with a taste for old side scrolling games to give it a try. It will be well worth your time. Just steer clear from the awful 3D versions in the series.

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Story

The game has you take the role of Cal Kestis during the aftermath of Order 66, which saw the Jedi order all but annihilated. Cal has been in the hiding, until a certain event has him being pursued by the empire. This sets in motion, a grand adventure that has you hopping planets in the hopes of reforming the Jedi order to bring the empire down for good. It’s the quintessential Star Wars tale that one would except from a production of this scale. Only tweaked to good measure to fit the videogame format. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the fifteen or so hour journey and the game manages to keep the story from being too predictable or getting stale. Much of this is attributed to the characters that are part of Cal’s journey. Cal himself transforms from a run of the mill good guy figure to a character that you would care for as you progress through the game. But the supporting cast steal the show consistently during cutscenes. Even the game’s main antagonist is a surprisingly layered character.

While Cal isn’t disposing storm troopers and hunting for ancient runes, he spends most of the time with his crew mate Cere Junda who brings some unexpected depth in her character which helps move the story forward in meaningful ways. Fellow crew mate Greez Dritus brings some comic relief to the mostly sombre story. But it is BD-1 that steals the show for me. Perhaps, the cutest droid ever in the Star Wars universe, BD-1 is your trustee companion through the bulk of your playtime. He will help you slide and propel you through ziplines, throw in health stims when you need it, jump off your shoulder to highlight points of interest while you roam the various planets, just to name a few.

Much of the gameplay mechanics are given contextual significance like this which makes the story feel more authentic. For example, every time Cal acquires a new skill, the game flashes back to a younger Cal when he was being trained as a Jedi and was learning said skill. This not only serves as a quick tutorial but also adds merit to the idea that he is slowly becoming the Jedi that his master trained him to be. Speaking of being a Jedi let’s move on to….

Gameplay, Graphics and Sound

Developers Respawn had just over two years to put this game together. Which was probably why the amicable choice of borrowing various elements from various popular games was made. Honestly, this is both a boon and a curse for the game. There is the traversal element from the Uncharted and Tomb Raider series, Parry heavy Lightsabre combat design and meditation/save points borrowed from the Souls series and Sekiro, brilliantly layered map design reminiscent of a Metroidvania game with sound effects and music that feel authentic and true to the Star Wars series. It is all there and put together in a way that everything works in harmony while being contextually relevant to the Star Wars lore. This is truly commendable. And when it all works as intended, the result is a blast to play through.

But, it does not ‘always’ work the way it should. The game is riddled with bugs and glitches that very often take you away from the experience. The blemishes are very visible. Combat may feel cumbersome at times, leaps and jumps from ledges go off target a lot of times, wall running leads to glitching in some areas. And of course, these inconsistencies carryover to the graphics department too. Textures loadout inconsistently, Cal sometimes hangs on from an invisible ledge in the air and various other graphical hiccups. Perhaps, the most blatant proof of all this is the stark contrast between how rich the game looks during the first couple of hours and how it looks once and after you travel to the first planet. The difference is night and day. The flashback segments in particular with younger Cal looks like they are from the PS3/X360 era.

I am sure that the developers intended the whole game to look as good as the initial hour. But had to give in to EA’s demand to meet quarterly targets. Which is what saddens me the most. This game could have been so much better with six months of additional development time.

All the glitches and bugs could have been fixed. The gameplay would have been snappier. And the game would have looked as good as the E3 demo EA showcased for the game, which is all it takes to be an amazing game rather than just a good game. But we now have Jedi: Fallen order, and it still is a solid experience if you excuse the little annoyances.

Verdict

There was clearly more time needed to finish this game and considering what Respawn have managed to deliver with the time and resources they had, it is simply put impressive. The aesthetics and sound fit right into the Star Wars universe. Pretty much every aspect of the gameplay is tied into the story in meaningful ways. And the story is compelling enough to fit in to the ranks of the ones told in other forms of art. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen order may not be perfect. But it avoids being a Frankenstein’s monster thanks to the talented team behind it. What we have here is an adventure game that is well worth your time and money. A game that is easy recommendable to anyone who is interested in story driven action games. If you are one of them, Jedi: Fallen order is a must play.

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PT was a revolutionary, yet short-lived triumph. A masterclass in its genre, that blended psychological and atmospheric horror in the best way possible. It induced fresh energy into horror games and many games have since been inspired by it. Blair Witch sets out to use the same formula in its eerie world and the results are astounding if you forgive its technical shortcomings. This is the review of Blair Witch.

Overview

I had to reference PT as Blair Witch could have taken form in various styles. This could have easily been an Until Dawn style third-person horror game while being faithful to its source material. Or, some kind of multiplayer shenanigan set in the Blair Witch universe ala Friday the 13th. The decision to go for a PT style first-person setting was bold and one that has been executed very well. The similarities to PT end right there though, as Blair Witch has some very neat tricks up its sleeves to make it stand out on its own.

Story and Gameplay

You take on the role of Ellis, a former cop who is on the task of investigating the disappearance of a boy named Peter. This takes him to Black Hill forest which is known to house the titular Blair Witch. The premise is simple enough to be forgotten and the developers make the best use of it. About an hour in the game is more so about your survival and sanity. And to that effect Blair Witch delivers the chills in spade. Just traversing the forest is an anxiety-inducing experience, especially, like me, if you aren’t exactly a fan of the spooky.

There is no HUD in the game and the core gameplay has been cleverly tied upon an AI system in the form of Bullet, your trustee German Shepherd. Bullet may seem like just a companion, but he is so much more than that. He makes do for the lack of HUD and other conventional guiding systems, and it is all done in a contextually convincing manner. He will guide you along the right path, growl at the direction of any threats, find clues and above all he is the emotional support for Ellis, and more so for the player.

Other than bullets excellent integration to the core gameplay you are limited to a handful of tools like a Walkie Talkie, Flashlight, a rather cool looking school cell phone, and a camcorder that you pick along the way, all of which have their own part to play in the game. This minimalist approach works in favour of the game as every encounter during its 5-6-hour runtime turns out to be a nerve-racking affair. There are quite a few glaring technical issues though which takes you off the moment. Here’s hoping that these get ironed out soon.

Graphics and Sound

The success of this game would have to be largely owed to the Graphics and Sound team. Especially sound. The subtle rustling of the trees, howling winds, sometimes eerie silence and various other noises of the jungle complement the rather decent visuals on display. The jungle itself is well realised and there are little details sprinkled throughout that calls back to the game’s lore. The sights and sounds at times can be genuinely unsettling and this only shows the amount of passion that has gone into making this game.

Overall

Blair Witch is a game that no one asked for or saw coming for that matter. But it is one that we are glad to have. This may not break new barriers in the genre, but what we have here is a cleverly and crafted experience that deserves all the praise that it has garnered. As a horror game, it delivers the spooks in spades and keeps the player on the edge throughout its short runtime. It is a dan shame that something so well thought out would be bogged down by bugs at launch. With a bigger budget and more time for developing this game could have well been a Game of the year contender. Or one of, if not, the best horror game of the year. But what we have now is a pretty decent game in its own right. One that every horror fan should experience.

Final Score 8/10

The post Blair Witch – Review appeared first on iXie Gaming.

First Things First

I need to begin by stating the obvious here that this game not for everyone. And that statements applies to multiple aspects of the game like its target demographic which are adults only, to the offbeat brand of humour (which is not as sharp as the show) that you would either love or hate, to the structure of the game and its mechanics which have been executed keeping in mind that this is best experienced on Virtual Reality, therefore foregoing what one would consider a traditional control scheme and gameplay mechanics. And this also applies to one of the games most ridiculous aspects which are its…..

Story

If you know about Rick and Morty and if that was what drew you towards this game, then you would know what to expect in terms of story. And it would be best to be in the right mindset while you’re launching the game. The plot revolves around Trover whose dogs have been stolen by an evil alien who gains God-like powers by placing those dogs in his empty eye sockets. Yes, you read that right.

Joining Trover in his quest to retrieve his dogs and save the universe in the process is you the player, a ‘chairorpian’ who always sits on his chair/couch, which is this games version of a mute protagonist who does others’ chores. Needless to say, the setting is less James Bond and more Austin Powers, and the game does tend to make the most of it, most of the times. The game is so self-aware that it constantly pokes fun at its own story and that this is a video game. And the events that occur in the game range from the mundane to downright ridiculous. One moment you are collecting a ‘hidden’ collectible which is placed right in front of you, and the other you just realise that you played through a whole planet to obtain a crystal which a character removes from his butt, only to find something even more shocking shortly after.

There is so much potty mouthed humour here to keep you giggling throughout the course of the game if you are into such things. Not all the jokes and gags land though. Some characters who are funny in the first few minutes just go on and on to the point that they get really annoying. And if you have a small threshold for such things this could really get in the way of you having fun with this game. That said, the game’s brand of dark comedy will keep most of the players pleased.

Gameplay

Throughout the story, you will be visiting various planets which look and feel distinct keeping the game fresh. And you the chairorpian will be controlling both your self and Trover with a cleverly implemented control scheme that only needs a little getting used to. Abilities for both are acquired at a steady pace throughout the game although nothing very special is on offer. But what is offered does make up for a good set of tools towards the often-well-done platforming sections, combat and puzzles. Combat starts out quite basic, but gradually gains some depth thanks to a clever blend of combat moves from Trover and your abilities, like pulling or throwing stuff.

As a chairorpian, your abilities are limited though, and you can only be mobile by warping through certain points in each map. However, this does not come in the way of the gameplay and is well executed for the most part. You also acquire the ability to hover your chair to different heights which provides 3 distinct perspectives that help in navigating Trover, puzzle solving and combat.

The aforementioned collectables are sometimes very on-the-nose, but also cleverly hidden in a lot of cases pushing you to explore if you are a completionist. There is not much in the way of challenge through combat or puzzles though, save for a few instances, and the game does feel like it is being the jack of all trades trying to mix all the elements together. The push and pull ability, in particular, felt a bit too clunky which sometimes resulted in frustrating moments. That said the system as a whole work for the most part and you will feel at home with the controls within an hour into the game.

Graphics and Sound

The distinct art style of Rick and Morty transitions well into 3D. And while not the most beautiful game out there, the game does look great.

Needless to say, the best way to experience this game would be through VR, but it is also playable in non-VR mode. The good thing though is that somehow the trade-off does not seem all that bad in non-VR mode. The game’s mechanics complement both modes just as well. In terms of sound, I would have preferred a button to shut some NPCs’ mouths. Other than that, the game does a good job overall.

Overall

Trover saves the universe is not for everyone. The game is a short and often times not so challenging experience. That said, what is on offer makes up for a decent action platformer to sit through on a rainy afternoon that does not push your skills to the limits. However, if you love the kind of potty-mouthed dark humour from Rick and Morty and have invested in a VR headset, this is a must play.

Verdict

8/10

The post Trover Saves the Universe – Review appeared first on iXie Gaming.

So how does it hold up?

In this review, we will go through every aspect of this game like graphics, gameplay, story and overall experience in detail. However, to understand the pedigree of what we are looking at here, we need to look at one more aspect of this game which is it’s…

… Legacy

When it comes to timeless classics in video games, very few games have the impact of Shadow of the Colossus. I remember when I first booted the original SOTC on my PS2, back in 2005. I went in completely blind, not knowing anything about this game. No reviews or spoilers back in the day. After the initial roadblock of trying to figure out the climbing mechanics, it was a moment of awe that only a few games could provide at the time.

Fast forward 12 years, the second colossus was released. I knew that this was a rare masterpiece that needed to be savoured. And I was not the only one sharing this sentiment. Almost anyone who has played this game had a soft spot for it, regardless of whether they had finished it once or, like in my case, at least a dozen times.

But games have come a long way since 2005. And the sheer variety of genres and the advancements in mechanics that we have experienced in these 2 console generations since PS2 is staggering, which is why I am left speechless when I see how well the PS4 version of this game holds up today.

Story

The main story of SOTC can be written in a few sentences. Man tries to save beloved Mono. Man is offered a chance to do so by slaying 16 colossus. Man does it. And then the ending. But there is so much more complexity in this simple story. You cannot help but fall in love with every character. From Agro, your trusty steed, to the wanderer, the protagonist and each of the 16 magnificent colossi. All of this only leads to an emotional gut punch every time you kill these colossi. And not to mention an ending that is both as much an absolute heartbreak, as it is beautiful.

Graphics

Part of SOTCs charm lies in how simple everything is, and the underlying complexity is all born in the player’s mind. It may have been due to the limitations of the PS2 that things were kept so simple, but Bluepoint games have used that simplicity along with the PS4’s graphical fidelity, delivered in spades. This game is one the best looking games for the PS4 right now. Everything in this game, from landscapes to the towering colossus themselves, have been redone from the ground up. And the result is phenomenal. There is a staggering attention to detail in every nook and cranny of this game. And these visuals play a vital role in the overall experience of this remake.

Gameplay

The core gameplay of SOTC involves riding through the landscapes of the cursed land on the back of your horse, looking for the next Colossi. You are left to figure out where to go with help of your sword which reflects beams of light towards the direction of the target. Once you do find the Colossi, you need to figure out how to take them down as each of them need different strategy and planning. This keeps the game fresh all the way until the end. Reminiscent of the game’s simple theme is your arsenal, which consists of just a sword, and a bow and arrow.

For all the praise this game commands, there is no denying that the controls were a little janky. Even back in the PS2 days, we have had games with much better controls than SOTC. While we cannot say that this has been fully resolved in the remake, there are some notable changes here. The button layout is mapped to appeal to today’s gamers, which can be set back to original settings if you please. Adding to this there are also collectables in the game now and some clever Easter eggs referencing Mr Ueda’s other games.

While the core game can be finished in about 10 hours, longevity is provided through other difficulty settings and quirky rewards. And a mirrored mode which, well, mirrors the game screen and it feels surprisingly fresh. Add to this a Photo mode which lets you take screenshots of the game, with various filters and tools. Honestly, I spent hours here and the end results are all amazing.

Overall

The original SOTC on the PS2 took players’ breath away and added to the notion that video games are indeed an art. It was timeless in its own right and did not need a remaster. But this remaster was still made and the result is a Masterpiece. Had the PS4 come out in 2005, this may have been Fumito Ueda’s original vision. We may never know, but as gamers, we can only thank the creators for making this happen. SOTC on the PS4 is not only an essential but a timeless classic which sets new standards for remakes.

Score 10/10

The post Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) Review appeared first on iXie Gaming.