In a recent Twitter post, Robbie shared a picture of his children playing Daytona USA at The Heart of Gaming in London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heart_of_Gaming) – good – and I leapt upon the opportunity to learn about a totally different facet of his life.
A facet completely removed from his career of film criticism, a facet in which, instead of looking at a screen, he looks at a screen whilst also moving his thumbs slightly.
The year is 2084.
In a dark cyberpunk world shattered by plagues and wars, become a neural detective and hack into the minds of others.
Rebuilt and augmented for the next-generation, Observer: System Redux is the definitive vision of one of the most acclaimed cyberpunk stories in games.
In the far distant past when we were still allowed within a mile of our friends, a group of us would often get together and swear at each other while playing Heave Ho, Jackbox, and Wario Ware.
So I approached Lunch-a-Palooza expecting another one for the rotation.
The game’s name is an acronym. I know what it stands for, you know what it stands for, but this is a civilised place, so let’s just keep it to ourselves, eh?
Who Wants to be a Millionaire - 6/10
Developer: Lowteck Games
Platform Reviewed: Dreamcast (also available on Steam and NES)
I absolutely adore new releases on older systems, especially when they are as great as this one.
Developer: FreakZone Games
Platform Reviewed: Switch
Rating: 9/10
As a casual fan of the Angry Video Game Nerd since around the late noughties, I was quite looking forward to the release of the game based on his exploits, although I had no idea what to expect.
The 2013 AVGN game and 2016 sequel came out on PC and were very much what was needed, a tongue-in-cheek take on the platforming genre that was so well designed that it was clearly going to appeal to people outside of the AVGN fan-base, it was a great, challenging game that didn’t outstay its welcome.
My lasting memories were of awesome music, frustration and satisfaction in perfectly equal measure and a sense of fun; I had an awesome time with them.
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Platform Reviewed: PS4 (base)
My personal history with the Assassin’s Creed series is pretty chequered, I played the original but didn’t really click with it and, following this, the constant releases, spin-offs and other media just alienated me slightly as the lore seemed to get ever-more dense.
I did dip back in with Black Flag on the PS3 at a friend’s suggestion but it seemed to run pretty sluggishly and once again, I didn’t connect with it.
It was actually earlier this year during lockdown that the stars aligned and teased me once again with the franchise.
My brother mentioned how much fun he was having with Odyssey and heartily recommended it just as I was after an open-world RPG to lose myself in (after completing The Witcher 3 for the second time as well as Kingdom Come: Deliverance) plus my fiancée was somewhat obsessed with the various soundtracks on Spotify, I was being attacked from all directions and so I decided once again to give it a try, and I’m glad I did.
But the constant flow of new indie and AAA games can be overwhelming if you aren't following it studiously.
But with 2020 coming to a close, here are the online games you should be paying attention to.
Platform reviewed: XBOX ONE
Whilst the score I’m giving Autobahn Police Simulator 2 isn’t numerically high, I want to come out of the gate by stating that I enjoyed my time with the game and really look forward to seeing where the series goes next. Under the myriad of problems that exist, there is a really tasty game here, begging to be let out.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/840370/Someday_Youll_Return
Step into the wacky heroic fantasy universe of the Dungeon of Naheulbeuk.
Lead a team of unlikely and clumsy heroes in an epic and challenging tactical RPG.
Live an adventure filled with humour, surprises and silly encounters.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
🕹️ GAME LINK:🕹️
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1049410/Superliminal/
🎙️❄️ "Please Subscribe, Like & STAY FROSTY!" ❄️🎙️
You play as Ada whose night of trick or treating turns into a night of terror when she becomes trapped inside the old Aitken Manor.
Use Ada's latent psychic powers to battle all kinds of fiendish demons, solve puzzles and maybe even defeat the omnipresent Shadow Man….who is watching your every move!
Pacer is clearly inspired by its successful predecessor WipEout. But does this play homage or does it do what Weekend at Bernie’s 2 did to Weekend at Bernie’s? Let us find out…
Competition Pro 5000. The best joystick ever made.Or do you disagree? What's your favourite joystick? 🕹️ pic.twitter.com/nbvN4EW6J3— Lord Arse! 🕹️ (@Lord_Arse) November 14, 2020
Nobody else is around - time to step up the plate and save some lives.
But how? Where do you even begin?
These are the weapons that have stuck with me over the course of decades of gaming.
They either have a special place in my heart or they are just damned cool.
Either way I've come up with 13 beauties, so let me know what your favourites are...
Platform Reviewed: PS4
A cool idea based on real-life crimes marred by esoteric implementation and some relatively serious technical issues.
In a happy coincidence, I had watched David Fincher’s 2007 slow-burn thriller Zodiac only weeks before receiving This is the Zodiac Speaking for review and, having a close friend harbouring dark obsessions with serial murderers, I was already acquainted with the heinous, unsolved crimes that plagued California in the ‘70s.
In short, I was in the zone.
FIFA is a gaming series which has been around since 1993 and every year since has brought out a new edition improving graphics, mechanics, and updating teams.
FIFA 21 is the latest addition to this legendary roster - bringing Volta Football back with improvements after FIFA 20, and also bringing with it Ultimate team once again that features 100 iconic players.
In Disc Room The year is 2089 and a giant disc has appeared in orbit of Jupiter.
Step into the oversized space suit of a brave scientist and explore this sprawling intergalactic slaughterhouse.
Platform Reviewed: PS4
Rating: 5/10 (MELTING)
This is not the review I wanted to write.
Upon booting up Cloudpunk, ION Lands’ voxel-tastic cyberpunk delivery simulator, despite some clear technical issues, I was HOOKED.
Sadly, eight hours into the game, the issues won out and I was forced to give up entirely. I can genuinely say that this would have featured in my end of year selection but in its current state, it’s a hard one to recommend and instead currently stands as one of the most infuriating gaming moments of the year for me.
Playing slots like Centurion by Inspired Gaming can make it seem as though the market has reached the end of its development, as these games really are just that good. But here’s the thing: the slots industry has never been one to sit still, and ever since Charles D. Fey’s day it has constantly sought to be as innovative as possible. The most exciting new development in the field has got to be VR in regard to online slots, a new piece of technology that could flip the entire industry on its head. But what is VR, and how is it impacting online slots at www.wizardslots.com? Read ahead to find out!
Gaming controllers are expensive (I look at YOU Nintendo Joy-Cons) and it’s always good to have a solid replacement available at a decent price.
Gioteck’s WX-4 range caters for PC, PS3 and Switch whilst the JC-20’s are their version of the Nintendo Joy-Cons.
Here, I’ll be taking a look at how they rate as replacements for the inevitable Joy-Con issues or simply an addition to your accessory collection for multiplayer action.
Platform Reviewed: Switch
Jets N Guns 2 Developer Rake In Grass has delivered unto us one of the finest side-scrolling shooters ever made.
*sigh* I suppose I’d better say more.
Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Originally released on PC in 2016 and now ported to Switch, the ABC Murders are based on the book of the same name and follows the plot relatively closely, with some elements removed for pacing purposes.
Set in England during 1935, the game sees the Belgian detective in his London home with a close associate, Hastings. Receiving a mysterious letter from someone identifying themselves as ‘A.B.C’, Poirot heads to Andover to find out more about these alphabetical atrocities.
Platform Reviewed: PS4
Rating: 7/10 (Melting)
Although I didn’t play much Crysis when it came out (due to a mix of always having under-powered PCs and a personal gaming void during 2007-2009) I’m acutely aware of the impact that it had and so I leapt at the chance to cover it, in remastered form.
