Kalanoro is the kind of game that makes a strong first impression simply by refusing to take itself too seriously. Developed by Red Raketa Studio and published by New Tales, this action-platformer heads to a colorful version of Lemuria inspired by Madagascar’s folklore, where a young protagonist named Kalakely sets out to oppose the witch Raneny by doing something rather more unusual than raising an army: she has to form a band. It is a deliberately silly premise, but one that gives the adventure a personality that many smaller platformers struggle to establish. Kalanoro is not trying to reinvent the genre, and its story is ultimately more of a vehicle for moving between locations than a particularly deep narrative, but its combination of folklore, environmental exploitation, music and goofy humor makes the journey easy to like. Continue reading “Kalanoro review (PS5)”
Total War – WARHAMMER 40,000 preview (Gamescom)
Creative Assembly has already proven that the Total War formula can work surprisingly well outside its historical roots, first with the fantasy setting of Warhammer. Now the studio is taking an even bigger leap into the future with Total War: Warhammer 40,000, bringing the massive armies, turn-based campaigns and real-time battles of the series into the grim darkness of the 41st millennium. Based on an early PC demo played during Gamescom, the first impression is certainly promising: this feels like the sort of game that could deliver a long-awaited meeting between Dawn of War and Total War, while still leaving plenty of questions about how the two sides of the formula will ultimately fit together. Continue reading “Total War – WARHAMMER 40,000 preview (Gamescom)”
Thunder Hoop Collection review (PS5)
There is something appealing about discovering an arcade game that somehow managed to slip through the cracks of gaming history. Thunder Hoop and its sequel, Thunder Hoop Strikes Back, were never exactly household names, despite coming from Spanish developer Gaelco during a period when arcades were packed with increasingly ambitious platformers and run-and-gun games. Thunder Hoop Collection brings both titles together on modern consoles, giving players a chance to see whether these forgotten curiosities deserve a place alongside the better-known arcade classics. The answer is somewhat uneven, but the original Thunder Hoop in particular proves that obscurity does not necessarily mean a game has aged badly. Continue reading “Thunder Hoop Collection review (PS5)”
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past preview (Gamescom)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has already received two major expansions, a critically acclaimed tv series and now a substantial Remastered upgrade, so bringing Geralt of Rivia back for another adventure more than a decade after his original journey is an ambitious proposition. Songs of the Past is nevertheless doing exactly that, sending the veteran Witcher to the previously unexplored region of Letten for a story that puts his longtime friend Dandelion at the centre of another supernatural mystery. After seeing a lengthy hands-off demonstration of the expansion and the accompanying Remaster at Gamescom, it looks like CD PROJEKT RED is betting that there is still enough life left in Geralt’s story to justify one more trip down the Path. Continue reading “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past preview (Gamescom)”
Port roundup: Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, The Trolley Solution & King’s Blade
Not every game gets its moment in the spotlight at launch, but a later port can offer a second chance to discover something that might otherwise have passed players by. This roundup takes a look at three very different games that have recently made the jump to PlayStation 5, from a blackjack roguelike deckbuilder and a collection of absurd trolley dilemmas to a deliberately old-school fantasy beat ’em up. While none of them are without their rough edges, each brings its own particular twist to a familiar formula, making these ports worth a closer look for players searching for something a little different. Continue reading “Port roundup: Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, The Trolley Solution & King’s Blade”