There was a time when a game did not need a huge open world, dozens of progression systems or cinematic presentation to make an impression. Alien Breed was one of those series that made an Amiga screen feel surprisingly dangerous, filling relatively simple environments with hostile aliens, limited resources and an almost constant sense that the next corridor could go badly wrong. Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection brings the six Amiga-era entries together in one package, covering everything from the original top-down shooter through to Alien Breed 3D II: The Killing Grounds. Antstream has clearly approached the collection as a piece of game preservation rather than simply throwing six old games into a menu, adding modern controls, save states, visual options, multiplayer features and an extensive interactive archive. The result is an unusually thoughtful historical package, although the games themselves inevitably reveal just how much game design has changed over the past three and a half decades. Continue reading “Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection review (PS5)”
Train Sim World 7 review
Train Sim World 7 is the latest instalment from Dovetail Games, and as with previous entries, the appeal is not found in a traditional story or dramatic campaign. Instead, the game puts players behind the controls of a wide variety of locomotives and asks them to find satisfaction in the process of operating them. That can mean following a timetable and stopping at every station, learning the intricacies of railway safety systems, moving freight around a yard, exploring a route in Free Roam or simply settling into a long journey and enjoying the scenery. The three new routes provide a good spread of environments, taking players from the northern English countryside to South Florida and Bavaria, while the expanded range of activities makes this feel like more than simply another collection of trains. Train Sim World 7 does not radically change the formula, but it does make the established simulation more flexible and approachable. Continue reading “Train Sim World 7 review”
Stuntman: Hollywood preview (Gamescom)
The idea of being a Hollywood stunt driver has always had a certain appeal. While the average racing game asks players to cross the finish line first, the Stuntman series has always been more interested in what happens between the starting line and the end credits. After almost two decades away, Saber Interactive is bringing the franchise back with Stuntman: Hollywood, putting players behind the wheel for a collection of spectacular movie sequences. After getting some hands-on time with the game at Gamescom, it already looks like the return could offer a very different kind of arcade driving experience. Continue reading “Stuntman: Hollywood preview (Gamescom)”
iRacing Studios NASCAR 26 review (Xbox)
There is something inherently appealing about NASCAR that makes it a fascinating fit for a modern racing game. The cars are huge, powerful and unforgiving, the racing can be decided by inches, and even seemingly straightforward oval races can develop into complicated battles of tires, fuel, track position and drafting. iRacing Studios NASCAR 26 is the second NASCAR title from iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, and rather than attempting to reinvent the formula, it concentrates on strengthening the foundations established by its predecessor. That makes for a game that is more convincing behind the wheel, with improved tire behaviour, braking and track evolution, but it also means that some of the shortcomings of NASCAR 25 have made the journey across largely intact. On Xbox, NASCAR 26 consequently feels less like a dramatic new beginning and more like a promising racing platform that is gradually becoming more complete. Continue reading “iRacing Studios NASCAR 26 review (Xbox)”
Port roundup: BIRDCAGE, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, BLACKSHARD & Maestro
This roundup takes a look at four recently released ports that bring very different experiences to new platforms. From the bullet hell action of BIRDCAGE and the gentle exploration of Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth to the surreal atmosphere of BLACKSHARD and the unusual conducting mechanics of Maestro, each game has had to make its own adjustments in the move to new hardware. Here’s a closer look at how these ports handle that transition, what they add or change, and whether the experience remains as compelling outside its original platform. Continue reading “Port roundup: BIRDCAGE, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, BLACKSHARD & Maestro”