There is something interesting about returning to a game from the PlayStation 3 era and discovering that, beneath all the rough edges, its basic ideas still work. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North was never one of the most celebrated games based on Tolkien’s universe, and its return as the Legacy Edition certainly does not attempt to rewrite that history. Originally released in 2011, this is still very much an action RPG from that period, complete with straightforward combat, linear environments, loot-filled levels and plenty of roughness around the edges. What has changed is that it is now considerably easier to play on modern hardware, with smoother performance and a handful of quality-of-life improvements that make the old formula more approachable. The result is not a spectacular remaster, but rather an opportunity to rediscover a surprisingly enjoyable Middle-earth adventure that spent far too long unavailable. Continue reading “The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition review (PS5)”
VR roundup: Hyperstacks, Amelia’s Escape, Walkabout Mini Golf & Irusu Cricket VR
VR developers continue to prove that there is no single formula for making a great virtual reality experience, and this latest batch of releases takes that idea in several very different directions. From the kinetic mix of puzzles, parkour and combat in Hyperstacks to the more focused escape-room design of Amelia’s Escape, these games each explore a different way of putting players directly into their worlds. Walkabout Mini Golf adds another inventive course to an already dependable VR favorite, while Irusu Cricket VR demonstrates how surprisingly effective a traditional sport can become when the player is physically standing at the crease. Continue reading “VR roundup: Hyperstacks, Amelia’s Escape, Walkabout Mini Golf & Irusu Cricket VR”
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam review (PS5)
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam takes the established formula of its predecessor and drops it into one of the most difficult settings imaginable for a large-scale tactical shooter. The Vietnam War is a very different proposition from the familiar battlefields of World War II, and Expression Games makes good use of that difference without turning the game into something unrecognisable. There is no traditional single-player campaign or narrative to speak of, with the focus instead firmly placed on the shifting stories that emerge from each 50-versus-50 battle. Playing as either the US Armed Forces or the North Vietnamese Army gives each side its own strengths and tactical possibilities, with American air power, helicopters and patrol boats contrasting nicely with the NVA’s ability to construct tunnel networks and attack from unexpected directions. It is a smart way of approaching the conflict because neither faction simply feels like a reskinned version of the other, although the limited launch roster of factions, weapons and maps does leave Vietnam feeling more like the beginning of something than a fully realised successor. Continue reading “Hell Let Loose: Vietnam review (PS5)”
Sizeable review (PS5)
Sizeable is the sort of puzzle game that understands exactly what it wants to be. There is no sprawling narrative, elaborate progression system or grand adventure here. Instead, Business Goose Studios offers a collection of compact three-dimensional dioramas in which the simple act of making things bigger or smaller becomes the key to uncovering their secrets. Each scene has three pillars to locate before moving on, with a hidden turtle providing an extra reason to poke around every corner. It is an uncomplicated premise, but there is something immediately appealing about being dropped into these tiny worlds and being encouraged to simply experiment with them. Sizeable is less interested in telling a conventional story than it is in giving each diorama its own little personality, and that works particularly well for the relaxed experience it is aiming for. Continue reading “Sizeable review (PS5)”
Kynseed review (PS5)
Kynseed is the kind of life sim that seems determined to make sure there is always something else to do. One moment we are tending crops or feeding animals, the next we are fishing, mining, crafting, helping a villager, exploring a dungeon or worrying about which business we should invest in next. That breadth is immediately appealing, especially because PixelCount Studios does not force us into a single definition of success. Instead, our life in Quill gradually becomes whatever we want it to be. The premise may initially suggest a familiar farming adventure, but the generational structure, folklore-inspired setting and unusual Kynseed mechanic give it considerably more personality than the average farm-and-family simulator. Continue reading “Kynseed review (PS5)”