We’re revisiting three games that we’ve previously reviewed today, as we dive into the next gen version of Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor: Martyr on the PS5, the Switch version of Oddworld: Soulstorm and Iron Man VR for the Meta Quest 2.
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor Martyr – Ultimate Edition review (PS5)
It feels like Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor: Martyr is one of those games that’s been with us for ages at this point. Prior to its initial PC release, we saw it at trade shows for at least two years at NeocoreGames were showing it off. Then, we reviewed the PC version, after which we checked out the Xbox version as well, to see how it would play on consoles. Both of those versions had some rough edges back in 2018, so when Nacon announced they were releasing an Ultimate Edition for next/new gen consoles we thought it was a great opportunity to return to the game and see how the game turned out with all its post-launch patches and content, over four years later.
When we say ‘post-launch content’, we’re talking about an impressive collection of 25 DLC packs that were made for Martyr after the base game released. And while some of those DLC packs only have cosmetic items, it’s nice to see that a lot of them offer new mission content, locations and even game types as well. In terms of value for money, this is a great package for anyone who’s held out until now – though if you grabbed the previous-gen version then it’s sad to see there’s no easy and affordable upgrade option.
Not new, but worth mentioning, is that you can play Martyr in local co-op on consoles, which is still a standout feature in the ARPG. And while this Ultimate Edition is mostly identical in content and gameplay to the console versions that were released earlier, it also has a few upgrades worth mentioning. 4K support for displays that support it is a welcome upgrade that brings the console version more in line with the PC one, and higher resolution textures and post-launch visual effects that have been included make sure this is a good looking action RPG – a genre where we’re not exactly spoiled for choice on the current console generation.
One element that’s especially worthwhile to mention is the excellent DualSense support that was added to the PS5 version of Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor: Martyr. There’s the usual tactile feedback of course, but an especially nice feature is how the game uses the built-in microphone/speaker on the gamepad for radio communication between in-game characters. Combined with the enhanced visuals, it makes for one of the most atmospheric and immersive Warhammer 40k experiences on a flat screen format thus far. That’s provided you don’t already own the game, as otherwise it’s a fairly steep price to pay for the upgrade. For newcomers, this definitely is the best version of the game you can get.
Oddworld: Soulstorm Oddtimized Edition review (Switch)
We loved seeing Abe return in Oddworld: Soulstorm when we played it on PlayStation upon launch, and after our initial review we returned to it when the Enhanced Edition launched. The recently released Switch version of the game prompted us to go back to the game a second time, as we were very curious to see how “Oddtimized” it would really be on Nintendo’s relatively modest hardware.
Another reason to want to check out the new Oddtimized version is that it would allow us to play the game in handheld mode, after playing all of the previous Oddworld titles on the PlayStation Vita not too long ago. And while New ‘n Tasty looked great, Soulstorm surpassed it with visuals we certainly wouldn’t expect on a handheld. Yet here we are, and the Switch port mostly pulls it off with flying colors.
Content-wise, the Switch version of Soulstorm is identical to the versions released on other consoles and PC earlier, so if you caught our reviews (mentioned above) you’re completely up to speed on that front. You’ll also know about the gorgeous visuals in that case, with traditional 2D gameplay mapped against a 3D environment with near-constant changes in camera angles and zoom levels.
It’s a sight to behold, and they managed to squeeze all that onto the Switch while maintaining a more than solid frame rate of about 30 frames per second. With a game that doesn’t rely on twitch responses, that’s more than enough, and the game even maintains that level of performance in handheld mode. The one sacrifice you’ll notice is in the resolution and level of detail that you get in the Switch version (when compared to the PS5 version we played as a reference just before), but we felt it’s a relatively minor downgrade – this is an essential game for Nintendo-based fans of the Oddworld games.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR review (Quest 2)
We reviewed Iron Man VR in the summer of 2020 when it launched on PlayStation VR, before the Quest 2 had even launched. It was one of the last high profile exclusives for Sony’s headset, but after two years (and Meta’s acquisition of the development team at Camouflaj) it’s now been ported over the Quest 2 – time for a closer look.
On PSVR, Iron Man VR was a fun superhero experience that did a great job of putting you in Tony Stark’s suit with a good mix of flying, combat and firepower. That all translates very well to the Quest 2-version, which is identical in content to the PSVR one. The delivery of that content has been improved though, with a game that now relies much less on load times than it did before. At load screens are immersion-breaking almost by definition, this is a big step forwards.
The same can be said for the fact that Iron Man VR is now an untethered experience, which works especially well in moments where it eliminates cable pull as you’re moving around – something that comes with the territory when you’re Iron Man and battling it out with foes while turning in mid-air. Related to that is the option to use smooth locomotion when turning, made possible with the Touch thumbsticks that just aren’t there on the Move controllers. They’re all subtle and logical improvements, but they make a lot of difference in how enjoyable and immersive Iron Man VR is on the Quest.
The Quest 2 also offers a sharper image than the PSVR did, but you can tell that Meta’s standalone headset struggles ever so slightly to keep up when scenes get frantic. They’re minor issues in what is otherwise a great conversion of one of the better games in the PSVR portfolio in recent years, and one we can easily recommend playing on the Quest 2 if you have the choice between headsets.
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