We’re checking out new DLC releases for Pinball FX and New World today, looking at Zen’s new South Park content and Amazon’s Rise of the Angry Earth expansion.
Pinball FX – South Park review (PS5)
It’s been a while since we were introduced to Zen’s latest pinball platform Pinball FX, and while we’re still a little sad that our old FX2/FX3 tables don’t just migrate over, the developer has been releasing a string of excellent tables and updates that makes it more and more worthwhile to stick with Pinball FX rather than switching back and forth between it and FX3.
These new tables include Snoopy, Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Addams Family, and their most recent release brings the world of South Park to the pinball arena again for a two-table pack. Including the familiar faces Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Butters, the DLC captures the essence of the animated series well, featuring both beloved characters and nudges to iconic scenes and situations on the show – longtime fans will recognize Sarcastaball and Imaginationland, and will love seeing Timmy again as well.
From a pure gameplay perspective, the included table that focuses on Butters is the lesser of the two, with overly aggressive slingshots that can disrupt the flow a little. Some of that is the fact we’re not pinball wizards either, and this is a table that demands precision and is best suited to more experienced players – with casual players who are here mainly for the South Park content probably gravitating more towards the other table.
Visually, the DLC captures the distinct South Park style faithfully, immersing players in the animated world from a visual perspective and drawing them in even more with authentic voice acting and fitting sound effects. In summary, this makes Zen Studios’ South Park DLC for Pinball FX entertaining pinball experience for fans of the series, effectively blending the spirit of South Park with engaging gameplay. While some mechanics may present challenges, the DLC delivers an immersive adventure with beloved characters and moments from the show – making Pinball FX a more and more attractive proposition as its roster of tables grows.
New World – Rise of the Angry Earth review (PC)
Rise of The Angry Earth, New World’s latest (and first paid) expansion and update, heralds a new era for the game, introducing an array of exciting features. The addition of mounts in particular is a game-changer, enhancing mobility and transforming the overall experience. Quests to acquire these trusty companions may be a bit arduous, but the benefits outweigh this minor inconvenience as it really changes up the pace and momentum once you have access. The expansion also unveils a visually stunning new region to let you make use of them, injecting some much-needed diversity into the game map two years after the game originally launched.
But while the new dungeon included in this expansion is well-crafted, it falls slightly short in terms of boss mechanics and design, exhibiting some repetition. The level cap increase to 65 offers players fresh progression goals though, and getting this is a well-balanced experience. A more streamlined equipment progression system is a welcome change as well, improving the game for both new and returning players. Making the game more dynamic to play is the introduction of faction-based open-world PvP events, which will hopefully result in a vibrant and active player base going forward.
Optimization remains a concern even on decent PCs though, and checking the game’s forums we can see that players are still looking for tweaks to improve the game’s performance. We’re hoping that Amazon addresses these issues, but also realize it’s been two years since New World launch and it’s a reason for concern at this point. In conclusion, Rise of The Angry Earth is a valuable expansion for New World with a host of engaging features and content that definitely improved the experience, but it doesn’t come without some pre-existing issues with the base game.
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