Sony and Arrowhead Games Studio have teamed up to give us a long-awaited sequel to Helldivers, which they have imaginatively titled Helldivers 2. Has it been worth the long nine-year wait? The answer is a resounding “Hell Yeah!”

I’m Doing My Part!

Helldivers 2 is a third-person, team-based, co-op shooter that sees you, a proud patriot of Super Earth, fighting off hoards of alien insect creatures and mechanised killing machines of various shapes and sizes. Think Starship Troopers: The Game and you are pretty much 99% of the way there.

After a (hilarious) tutorial, you board your chosen spaceship, ready to dive down to an alien land to teach them a thing or two about Super Earth’s “managed democracy”. This will involve completing a primary objective, with optional side missions and looting. The missions are what you would come to expect from a game like this. Some are ‘eliminate X, some are ‘retrieve Y’ and some are a mix of both. Just remember to get to the extraction point before the timer runs out.

With such standard mission types and a complete lack of campaign mode to speak of, you would think that this game could get boring quite quickly. But Helldivers manages to avoid this by just being chaotically fun.

You Look Good as Hell

Presentation-wise, Helldivers puts most new releases to shame. The graphics are the right blend of schlocky splatterfest and realistic. The intro video is picture-perfect and the sound design is genuinely stunning. The bombastic, almost national anthemic, music as you perform a cinematic hell dive down to a planet full of “terrorists” is stirring.

There is a wonderfully visceral nature to the combat in the game too. The enemies are nicely varied, with different methods of attack. Limbs and various other body parts are easily shot off in a haze of bodily fluid. But you aren’t just at risk of the enemy creatures; friendly fire is a real and VERY present danger. A stray bullet from a teammate hurts just as much as an attack from an alien. Realistically there is rarely anything on screen at any given time that CAN’T and WON’T kill you. Be prepared to die. A lot.

Another thing to be aware of is the stratagems. Stratagems are special weapons which you can trigger by entering a code with your D-pad. Not exactly the most user-friendly way of deploying a weapon when you most need it, but it does add to the intensity.

These different super weapons can range from being a revive for fallen teammates, to an intercontinental ballistic missile and everything in between. These can be unlocked and upgraded by mission progression and are as varied as they are deadly.

Plan-et Out

For a brainless shooter, it can be as deep and as strategic as you want it to be.

Every gun seems to handle uniquely. Shooting a pistol feels nothing like firing a machine gun, which in turn feels nothing like blasting a shotgun. This is especially true if you are using the PS5’s DualSense. Helldivers II makes the most of the haptic feedback to really let you feel the carnage you are deploying.

The substantial variety of guns and stratagems gives the game a nice bit of depth. With every new deployment, you can change your loadout to change your play style. You could choose to pick weapons and stratagems that provide cover fire to allow someone to defend an objective. You could also choose to bring revive stratagems and a long-range weapon to be some sniper/medic hybrid. This is especially important if you are in a good team with good communication. Sure, you could all choose to be four heroic Jason Stathams, rushing headlong into the enemy hoard, but that won’t really get you far.

If You Ain’t First, You’re Last

It’s amazing how balls-to-the-wall fun this game can be. Even when played solo, the experience is different every time, but the true magic and the true longevity comes with the multiplayer aspect. Before you join a mission, you can see in real-time if the war is being won by humans or their enemies. There is a live scoreboard telling you the progression real-world players have made in collectively conquering, sorry, I mean, liberating a planet (and probably taking its oil).

This is a great mechanic and really adds to the game, knowing that if you fail or succeed, it has an actual impact on whether the whole gaming community succeeds. Even when in a lobby with strangers, there seems to be a shared enthusiasm you don’t see from other multiplayer games.

Underneath all of this is a very funny game. It is fully aware of the source material it is drawing from. It doesn’t shy away from making it obvious. Instead, it leans into it, and it is all the better for it.

If Sony and Arrowhead continue to support this game with regular updates, patches and little changes, just to keep it fresh, Helldivers II will go from strength to strength. Already a contender for GOTY in my book.

Helldivers 2 is heavy on satire, heavy on violence, heavy on humour and more importantly, heavy on fun.

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Toy Trains VR is essentially a train-set simulation for VR. I mean, we have Goat Simulators, Power Wash Simulators so why not a Toy Train Simulator?

In Toy Trains, you are someone who unearths a train set in your grandparent’s attic. While waiting for your Mam and Dad to arrive home, you open the train set and let your imagination run wild. But in this imagination-fueled world in which you lay the tracks, there are living people called Railies who need you to carry out tasks for them.

I Choo-Choo-Choose You!

The Railies live too far apart from each other and rely on you to make sure they can interact. It’s also very important that you include the construction site in the loop because every level sees new and improving benefits for the Railies. Sometimes they are building a cinema, and sometimes they are building an airport, but you are always the catalyst for making a better life for the Railies that rely on you.

With every successful level you complete, you earn different track pieces. Earning the ability to add bridges, slopes and even sharp turns, transforms the landscape of your Railies quite literally.

Also, as you help your Railies, your own personal story develops. I don’t want to elaborate on that anymore as it is something that should be experienced, not described.

Graphically, the game is gorgeous. There is not one thing I can fault about it. VR games often try too hard to be super realistic and come across Uncanny Valley or they just look basic. The visuals in Toy Trains are spot on. Proper blend of nostalgia while looking crisp and legitimate. There are also a good few little hidden easter eggs and interactive areas that feel so natural and help add to the immersion.

Also, when you complete a level, you can “decorate” it as you see fit. This is one of the most surprisingly fun aspects of this game. Watching the interactions, improving the aesthetic and pretty much doing anything you wish to your own landscape is bizarrely cathartic.

Don’t you know I’m Loco? (motion)

I genuinely can see people using this game as a stress reliever and not just as a narrative-driven game. It is genuinely calming and soothing to be able to just have a little go and let your imagination run wild.

The controls are very intuitive and very easy to use. Sometimes with VR games, there is a disconnect, but everything you do in this game feels natural. Whether it is selecting a slanted section of track or discarding a bridge section in the bin, it feels realistic and authentic.

Toy Trains VR is not what I would call a traditional “game”. It is a puzzle game, a train sim, and a building sim all rolled into one. It is more of an experience than a game.

Toy Trains has a beautiful, heart-rending story that is fantastically told. More importantly, it is entertaining too. There were times when I was stumped as to how I would be able to run the track the correct way in order to serve all the houses. I actually cared for the people in my world when they were struggling.

On The Right Track

Toy Trains sounded like something I would have absolutely zero investment in. I have no interest in model railways. I don’t care about building sims. How in the world would a VR Sim about a train set interest me in any way?

The answer is… by charm.

Toy Trains VR is undoubtedly one of, if not THE, most charming games I have ever played. As I said earlier, It doesn’t feel like a game, it’s more of an experience. It won’t pique the interest of people who want to have an adrenaline-fuelled gaming session. It won’t tantalise the grey matter of those who want to be challenged mentally. What it will do though, is make you feel warm, relaxed and okay.

It’s wholesome.

I didn’t know what to expect from this game but what I got from it was more than I could have imagined.

A great little gem that I thoroughly recommend to anyone who might want a little detox from the norm.

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Toy Trains is launching January 16th 2024! Build the model railway of your dreams and solve satisfying puzzles in a nostalgic miniature world, coming to PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest 3 and 2, and SteamVR.

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Not For Broadcast VR is an unusual game. On the surface, it looks like a fun, throwaway Job Simulator type simulation with added Full Motion Video. However, as this game will teach you, don’t believe everything you see. There is much, much, more underneath the surface.

You are in control of a newsroom production desk and are tasked to run a half-hour-long news show. In order to do so, you need to change the different camera angles, censor out swearwords, ensure the signal is synced up and various other menial tasks. Doing a good job will see the audience figures soar, doing a bad job will see them plummet.

So far, so normal.

Television: The Drug of a Nation

What sets this game apart from other similar VR titles is the undertone. You not only produce the news, but you can shape the news to suit your own agenda. With every decision you make, you can choose how the news is framed. Whether it is by picking alternate camera angles to make a guest or host look bad, or by censoring out key points to change the context of an interview, you are the gatekeeper to what the audience sees. You can choose to be politically dishonest to increase ratings or you can try to broadcast the truth and run the risk of governmental interference.

The footage you are working with is full of biting satire and wickedly dark humour. It doesn’t shy away from pretty strong topics either. There are episodes which touch on stories that include COVID-19 like pandemics, the rise of the Far-Right/Far-Left and even bullying and domestic violence.

Remarkably, considering the subject matter, none of it seems gratuitous and it all fits in with the game’s politically charged tone.

Have I Got News for You?

Gameplay-wise, it can get quite chaotic. It’s not as simple as just pushing a couple of buttons. When something can possibly go wrong, it does, and you have to act immediately and in real-time. Balancing the sound levels, the camera angles, the narrative, choosing and timing the adverts and putting out fires (sometimes literally) all at the same time is ridiculously stressful.

Changing how the world sees the news also changes the world around you. Your work-life decisions impact the world and in return, change your home life. In between shows, you need to make some life-altering choices regarding your personal circumstances. Instead of sitting at your workstation, you make these choices via text selection. It’s a welcome break from the pandemonium of the news desk.

Some episodes are more enjoyable than others. Sometimes you might find yourself wishing that an episode will just end so you can cover a different story. And the fact that each episode is over 30 mins, it can feel like a slog. But even within those episodes, there is plenty to do to keep you busy.

There is a good 10+ hours in the game with plenty of different ending scenarios so there is a replayability aspect to it.

Visually, it works well. The graphics are nothing to write home about but the aesthetic of the newsroom fits in well with the grainy FMV and captures the essence of the game well. The FMV is plentiful, with hours upon hours of footage filmed.

And Finally…

Is Not For Broadcast VR fun? I don’t really know to be honest. This game can be draining; physically and mentally. But it is compelling. Calling it “fun” would be doing it a disservice.

The humour varies from subtle and dark to cheesy and slapstick, the acting is purposely hammy and the gameplay can be frustrating but for some reason, it works.

If you are looking for a Job Simulator experience, you will be sorely disappointed. If you have an interest in politics and social manipulation, you will be enthralled. It’s like an interactive version of the satirical television programme BrassEye.

Not For Broadcast VR is an unusual game that will have a very niche audience. I loved it.

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The well-known arachnid slaughtering sim Kill it with Fire has made its way to the PSVR2. A game that began its life as a regular flatscreen game has added an extra dimension in order to try to terrify arachnophobes everywhere. And for the most part, it works. 

Kill it with Fire is definitely not a mainstream title, nor will it be for everyone. At its core, it is a very simple game where the player needs to enter a room and kill spiders. In order to progress to the next room, you need to also carry out some simple tasks. These can range from scanning groceries to run up a specific amount on a bill, to smashing plates against the wall. 

Shotgun Webbing

The way in which you dispose of the eight-legged freaks is quite well-varied. You start off by smooshing them with whatever is next to you. Want to squash them with a book? Sure thing. Want to crush them with your television? Go ahead. Want to blow up a petrol station in order to kill a tiny spider? Erm, you can… but perhaps seek help. 

Obviously, the more extreme ways of exterminating your creepy crawly enemies are unlocked as you progress, but the more bizarre they are, the more fun they become. There are guns, Molotovs, garden strimmers and many, many, more available to unlock. 

The objectives that don’t involve mayhem and destruction aren’t as much fun, but they do not outstay their welcome enough to become tedious. Your surroundings are highly interactive and almost everything you can see can be used, destroyed or thrown which is hugely entertaining. 

You’re Fired!

There is a sense of humour throughout the game, and it never once takes itself seriously. There is a charm to every level and a nice variety to your surroundings in the different rooms you find yourself in. 

Graphically, it does not look pretty, and it certainly doesn’t look realistic. This was a deliberate choice from the developers though. For someone who has just a slight aversion to spiders, it is still deeply unsettling when you begin the game. Even with super pixelated and dated graphics, you still get a great feeling of immersion which is key for any VR game. 

The sound is great especially if you wear earphones with the VR Headset. The sound of the scurrying spiders really gets under your skin. It also helps that the in-game music changes to something that sounds like a swarm scene from a horror film. It’s just good stuff. 

It’s VR-ry good

The controls are perfectly in keeping with what you would expect. If I could pick up on one slight negative, is that Kill it with Fire doesn’t take full advantage of the PSVR2 hardware. If the haptic feedback is utilised, it is barely noticeable. That could have been a nice additional feature. As I previously mentioned, it certainly doesn’t use the VR’s graphical capability to its full extent. On the plus side though, the eye tracking works great and allows you to choose your items of annihilation with ease. 

This really is the kind of game that lends itself brilliantly to PSVR2. Although you can run through the game in 3 to 4 hours, that is what you want from this title. While AAA non-VR releases (I am looking directly at you Modern Warfare III) rightly come into criticism for their brief runtimes, Kill it with Fire is a perfect length for VR release especially at this price point.  

Will it be in my top 10 list of games at the end of the year? Absolutely not. But I can say that it is undoubtedly fun and brilliantly entertaining. If you have PSVR2, it should be in your library. 

You can pick it up from the PS Store for a bargain €14.99. 

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Oh EA! In a move that will surprise absolutely nobody, EA have once again released the newest iteration of a popular franchise with minimal improvements. UFC 5 is, much like their recent EAFC release, a fantastic example of a great game, which feels very much like a missed opportunity.

Unlike the football game formerly known as FIFA though, the UFC franchise does not get a yearly update. You would imagine that this would give the developers a chance to add new features and reinvigorate the game. But it does not feel like they have.

The roster is identical to the previous game released over 3 years ago, the career mode is a carbon copy of UFC 4 and the gameplay, aside from a few decent tweaks, plays remarkably similar to the older version.

Iiiiiiiit’s Tiiiiiiiiime

Despite these criticisms, it would be unfair to say that UFC 5 is a bad game. It really is not. It is fun to play and does a wonderful job of recreating the big match feel of UFC events.

The graphics resemble the real-life counterparts and the introductions are realistic and you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish the presentation from that of the actual shows. But given the time between releases, the graphical improvements are not much to write home about.

Stand-up fighting is undoubtedly the strongest aspect of UFC 5. The combat feels weighty, with each punch and kick feeling like it should. The damage system too feels realistic with the fighters reacting how they should. You can do some considerable damage and that is reflected noticeably on how your opponent moves and looks. It can get quite gruesome at times. It’s gloriously violent.

Kick, Punch, it’s all in the mind

There is a new ref stoppage feature, meaning that if a fighter takes too much damage to one particular area of the body, the referee will be called to the octagon to assess if the match can continue. This changes the dynamic of a match, forcing the player to delicately balance their defence and offence in order to avoid defeat. You cannot just haphazardly go on the attack and leave yourself exposed to repeated haymakers.

The different weight classes all feel unique to each other. There is a telling difference between controlling a featherweight and a heavyweight.

You’ll do nuttin’

The weakest part of the franchise has always been the ground game. It pleases me to say that there has been a very noticeable improvement in that area. It has been simplified enough to appeal to the pick-up-and-play gamer but still has enough nuance for the hardcore UFC fans who want to maul and twist their opponents like a pretzel.

The grapple assist feature prevents newcomers from being manhandled as soon as the fight is taken to the ground. In previous games, it was so convoluted to escape a submission and would mean that the bout would be over as soon as a more experienced technician got you in a choke or a leg lock. It still is not easy to escape, but it feels more natural.

UFC 5’s career mode is similar to what has come before it. The first few fights in career mode are more like tutorials helping you come to grips with the basics before you get offered a contract with the UFC. Then it goes back to more familiar territory, preparing for an upcoming bout via training, promoting your fight and securing lucrative sponsorships.

The training consists of a round of fighting where you need to achieve specific targets such as landing a certain attack on your partner to proceed. The risk-reward factor is that while you gain XP points when you succeed if you take damage within the session, this may affect your ability to recover in time for your match.

You will never get injured if you train on the heavy bag. The trade-off here is that you will not gain as much XP. So you need to decide for yourself which you prioritise on a week-to-week basis.

Who da fook is that guy?

Promoting the fight comes in the way of sending social media messages. You get the option to choose respectful or inflammatory posts. If you choose to be respectful, your relationship with the opponent will increase. This allows you to invite him to train with you in the future. You can then learn their signature moves.

If you go the other route, you will negatively impact your relationship and increase the hype. As you progress you will get offers of sponsorship which will increase the fight purse. To maintain the partnership, you will need to spend time away from training to do promotional events. It is important to find the right balance.

As career modes go, it is fine. But it should be better. It is initially fun but does become repetitive very quickly. The Online mode is standard. I’ve experienced some lag when matched with an online opponent but for the most part, it has worked well. When there is lag though, it’s pretty much unplayable due to the split-second timing needed. You can now add your fighter to online competitions. This allows you to earn in-game currency to upgrade appearances and attributes.

Feels like a rematch

In summary, UFC 5, is a typical EA release. What they do, they do very well, but they are content to offer more of the same. It’s hard to present this as a completely new release. UFC 5 could have easily been a DLC for UFC 4 and nobody would have noticed. If you are a newcomer to the series, you will have an exciting time with this. But if you do own UFC 4, you will only notice minimal improvement.

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Pixel Ripped 1995 is the second of the series of nostalgia fuelled Virtual Reality games. In case it wasn’t blindingly obvious, this one is set in 1995; the glory years of gaming.  

The game released a couple of years ago for the first PlayStation VR. Earlier this month, the developers Arvore released a PSVR2 update for the game. Does it still retain the charm it once had? 

Thankfully it’s a resounding yes. The upgrade didn’t fiddle around with a winning formula. Arvore added a shiny new graphical polish, vibration features for the headset and the use of adaptive triggers. All plus points. 

The best part of it is, if you already own the game, the upgrade is FREE!

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be

For those unfamiliar with the Pixel Ripped series, it is a very clever and very visually appealing game which has you, playing as a boy named David, who is playing a game on his console. Very meta. While playing the games, you need to complete other tasks in order to continue your gaming session. For example, while playing a Legend of Zelda type game, you will need to pick up your NERF gun and fire it at different objects in your sitting room to prevent your mother from switching your console off, all the while ensuring that you are paying attention to your screen. 

As the levels progress, the gaming world and the real world begin to intertwine. David goes from controlling his on-screen character Dot (blatantly based on Samus from Super Metroid) to teaming up with her to defeat the evil Cyblin Lord. 

SNES or Megadrive? – The original Oasis or Blur

There are tonnes of nods to the games that made the 16-bit era so special. You will get knock-off versions of Zelda, Sonic, Super Castlevania, Road Rash, Super Mario and many, many more. Each section is different to the last. This can sometimes make you wish that the sections that you really enjoy are longer and more fleshed out. But on the flip side, the sections you don’t particularly like, don’t stay too long to become a burden. 

There is even a section of the game that sees you in a Video Rental shop dashing between two demo stations. Now that might not sound particularly special to you, and if that is the case, I assume that you were born this side of the millennium. Those cabinets set up in rental shops to let you try a game were amazing. A section set in an arcade also tugs on the old nostalgia heartstrings of people my age. 

Blast from the past

The visuals for the majority of the game are really impressive. You will immediately recognise the games that the developers are recreating. For other sections, the ability to make 2d pixels come alive in a 3d world in a VR environment can’t have been easy but the developers have managed it brilliantly.  

The only thing that lets the graphics down are the models for the “real world” characters. They are too cartoonish and also not cartoony enough. It seems like two artists were fighting, one wanting to have realistic character models, the other wanting them to be more cartoon-based, so they met in the middle. 

The voice acting, especially that of your mother, is a little hammy though and perhaps could use some improvement. This doesn’t take away from the fact that everything else is aurally spot on. The blips, beeps and tinny music that made earlier games so memorable are alive and well in this game. Honestly, the way that the developers have recreated the authentic feeling of that decade is second to none. 

The game is relatively short and if you have a spare afternoon, you might even go through it in one sitting. This isn’t a bad thing by any stretch though. Pixel Ripped 1995 is a well-paced, well-thought-out gem of a game that never out-stays its welcome. I would prefer if every game was as tight with minimal filler. 

Short, but very sweet, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a game that will delight anyone who grew up in the 16-bit era. Cannot recommend highly enough. 

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Due to a reported disagreement over the cost of licensing the name FIFA in their title, EA’s most famous franchise has been rebranded from FIFA to EA Sports FC24.

This has given EA the unique chance to change up the world’s most famous football game series and reimagine and revamp what has frankly become a little stale.

With an open goal at their mercy, have they managed to score a screamer?

I still do not know.

The definition of insanity is…

EA sports undoubtedly know how to make football games. With the exception of Pro Evolution Soccer, they have had a stranglehold on football games for decades. Their games are the best and most authentic football sim on the market, and they continue to be so.

The gameplay has not changed. It is that simple. If you have played FIFA 23, you will notice almost no changes to the gameplay once that whistle blows. It looks a little prettier, but the core mechanics remain the same. EA touted the fact that their much-promoted HyperMotion V will see the AI constantly evolving and adapting to your playing style as the match progresses, but if that is true, I have yet to see it. The computer-controlled opponents still make the same glaring mistakes as they have done previously.

Another new feature is play-styles, which are attributed to each player to replicate how the player plays in real life to add an extra bit of realism. This can be a little bit game-break-inducing, meaning that fast players can completely destroy your defenders and other technically gifted players’ precision passing in a completely unrealistic way.

There are some graphical improvements such as unique sprinting animations which are accurate representations of how the real-life players move in real life. It looks great but adds nothing to how the game plays. Gone are the team walkouts and the line-up info and instead we are given non-interactive cut-scenes of players walking into the stadium or giving interviews. Window dressing for the sake of window dressing.

Unbelievable Jeff

There is a distinct lack of tangible improvements but that is not in and of itself a terrible thing and as the adage goes, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. But if you want gamers to part with their hard-earned cash, you need to offer a little more than a reskin of last year’s title.

All the game modes are back. You still have the training mode, the career mode, the seasons mode, and the godforsaken Ultimate Teams mode. I am seriously in the minority when I say I can not stand the Ultimate Teams mode. It is one of the most blatant money grabs in video game history. The grind required to keep up with people willing to pay real-life currency to compile a near-unbeatable team is frustrating.

The Ultimate Team is my least favourite aspect of FIFA games in the past. In EA’s defence, it is the goose that continues to lay the golden egg from a financial point of view. The amount of people willing to splurge actual currency on game packs to get an advantage is unreal. There is a tweak this year that allows you to upgrade a mediocre player card into a valuable card via completing some in-game challenges which is a nice little touch, but outside of that, it is very much a case of business as usual from what I can see.

Game of two halves

The career mode and manager mode have new additions too. Initially, it seems as though they might have been game changers. Unfortunately, the newer options regarding scouting new players and curating training drills, have a minimal impact on the game itself. There is nothing particularly ground-breaking and it is exactly what you would expect if you have played previous games. All the new elements are interesting at first and do pique your interest. But when you realise how negligible the impact these have on the game, they become more of a nuisance than an improvement.

EA sports have leant heavily into the integration of women’s football, especially when it comes to the Ultimate Team mode. I can see how some might consider this a “hot topic”. The balance between the abilities of elite women and elite men is the most unrealistic aspect of the game. If anything, it is a little insulting and patronising from EA. With the emergence of popularity in women’s football, you can see why they would try to capitalise on it.

In summary, FIFA EA FC24 is, without a doubt, the best football game on the market. I wish it was better, but to be fair, I have no tangible suggestions as to how they could do it. It is very much a case of ctrl-c, ctrl-v except prettier. But how can you expect more from something that is already the best in its field?

A somewhat missed opportunity to reboot the franchise, but still the best football simulator on the market.

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In much the same way as the Marvel Universe has almost ruined itself with reliance on time shifts and alternate timelines, Mortal Kombat was following that path. A nice simple reboot of the story is welcome. 

MK1 doesn’t ignore its past, but it has simplified it to an extent. This makes it accessible for newer gamers but also has plenty of nods to its past to reward people familiar with the lore. 

Choose Your Destiny 

The plot takes up from after the events of MK11 and sees the Fire God Liu Kang training fighters as representatives of Earthrealm for the Mortal Kombat tournament. Liu Kang, with some “time-glass” chicanery, has changed the origin stories of almost all of the characters and we are introduced to familiar faces in a slightly different guise. 

To avoid going into spoiler territory, I will just say the story is exceptionally engaging and well-written, without being too hard to follow. Without a doubt, the story mode is the standout aspect of Mortal Kombat 1. When you are introduced to the different characters, their new personas are well spelt out and feel natural. It’s also nice to see a few characters being more fleshed out than they have been in previous titles. Mortal Kombat 1 also has exceptional voice acting (with the notable exception of Nitara voiced by Megan Fox). This is vital because, during the story mode, there are a lot of cut scenes, but because of good writing and great acting, they are never a chore to sit through. 

What really makes or breaks a fighting game is its mechanics. This year, the most notable addition is the Kameo system. This allows you to pick a second fighter from an auxiliary roster of fighters, which you can summon with a press of a button who will assist you. This allows you to break up attacks, add to a combo or just add a different dimension to the fight. It adds an element of experimentation, encouraging you to mix up your style to complement your fighter’s ability to mesh with your Kameo fighter.  

Get Over Here! 

While I love fighting games, I am not in any way good at them. A man of my vintage doesn’t want to have to learn complex combo inputs. Mortal Kombat 1 feels just right though. The difficulty levels are balanced perfectly to enable button mashers and nimble-fingered experts to enjoy the fights equally. It is the epitome of a game that is easy to play, but hard to master. There is no steep learning curve, but it is also never too easy. The tutorial mode is also there and is very thorough and helpful ensuring that you can get the most from your fighters 

Another new addition is the Invasion mode. A mode which sees you traverse different maps, fighting against the computer in various different challenges. The variation could be a fight where your opponent has super armour, a fight where you or your opponent is poisoned, an old-school ‘Test Your Might’ challenge or just a simple tower. Each match is slightly different and has different modifiers applied to mix it up a little. The more you progress, the more you unlock in-game currency to unlock different skins and rewards.  

Kontroversy 

This is where there is some controversy. Personally, I have really enjoyed it so far, but it can become a little bit of a grind. It is seasonally based, which has become standard across all genres of games. As enjoyable as most of the fights are, they can become a little repetitious. I think with a few tweaks in upcoming seasons adding more diversity to the fights, it could be a winner. It’s early days yet so I am willing to hold off on judgement for now. 

Visually, Mortal Kombat 1 is stunning, with beautifully rendered character models and cut scenes that blend seamlessly into the action. Although the backgrounds aren’t interactive, they do change somewhat depending on what happens during the fight. The sound also adds another layer to the visceral brutality, allowing you to hear every bone shatter and muscle tear. 

And of course, how can we talk about Mortal Kombat without speaking of its original selling point; The Fatalities. They are here and they are as disgustingly gorgeous as ever. I would love to be a fly on the wall when the creators are thinking up the different ways to dismember a fighter. There is an absence of Babalities and Friendships, but the absurdity of the Fatalities and Brutalities more than makeup for those. Another glaring omission is the removal of stage-specific fatalities. It would have been nice to have seen them make a return. 

Toasty! 

It is good to see the roster so stacked with familiar faces such as Sub Zero, Scorpion etc. The addition of Kameo characters also throws in a couple of nostalgic treats like Jax, Sonja and Stryker. It is a little frustrating that they aren’t selectable as main fighters. I can only assume that NetherRealm Studios will add them as DLC in the coming months.  

Overall, this is a successful soft reboot of a great franchise. Is it perfect? No. It has its flaws and outside of the story, the Invasion mode could do with a polish. I’m sure that. people will be frustrated by the reliance on micro-transactions and repetition as it stands. It’s early days and I think that as the seasons go on, it will be improved with updates. 

Mortal Kombat 1 is an easy recommendation for any fan of the series or simply of fighting games in general. Not quite a flawless victory, but damn close. 

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Green Hell VR is a survival game for the PSVR2 which is a port of an older PC game. Originally, it was designed as a flat-screen game, but it lends itself particularly well to the extra immersion that the VR platform inevitably gives you.

The story has you as an anthropologist in the Amazon. You are trying to connect with a lost tribe and learn all about them. You and your partner get separated and it becomes abundantly clear that you must rely on your ingenuity and instincts to survive in an extremely unforgiving habitat. In your search for your partner, there is danger around every corner and depending on whatever circumstance you are in, your surroundings will either make or break you.

Welcome To The Jungle

As you would expect with a survival game, you need to craft weapons and keep yourself well-fed, hydrated, and safe from all imminent danger. And that danger can come from anywhere. You just need to make sure you have the right balance of carbs, protein, water, and fat.

Every animal and insect you encounter can attack and injure you. On the flip side, they can also be the source of sustenance that can save your life. It is just a matter of killing them and then cooking them over a fire that you have built. Nothing more rewarding than setting yourself down at the end of a long day of exploration and tucking into a roasted tarantula.

But eating the wrong animal or ingesting the wrong type of plant or mushroom can poison you. You need to choose your options carefully.

As you progress, you will keep a record of the effects that all the diverse types of food have on your health in your notebook. However, in order to be able to gain this experience is a matter of trial and error.

Wild At Heart

The story keeps the narrative going, guiding you to the next task you must complete. You are not necessarily just roaming the jungle aimlessly. While the story is not exactly enthralling, it does keep you focussed. Outside of the campaign, there is a mode that is simply about survival. This leaves the mission-based aspect to one side, leaving you to do whatever you want and see how long you can survive in the wild.

The mechanics of the PSVR2 are quite engaging. You need to craft weapons and it feels very intuitive. Whether it be sticking a rock to a stick to craft a crude hatchet, creating a bow from scratch, or even picking a leech off your skin, the gestures required feel natural.

Visually, it is impressive. It is not exactly revolutionary and certainly not “blow you away” level, but it is very good. Despite some resolution issues, the environment is well-designed with minimal glitching. With games that have a destructible environment (and almost everything is destructible), you do get some distortion, but it is not too distracting.

Some people suffer from motion sickness while playing VR games and it is all down to how sturdy your VR sea-legs are. I despise the “teleport” aspect to any VR game, but my wife cannot play any game on the headset for longer than an hour without using it. Thankfully, the developers have full motion and teleport options available for both types of players.

Amazon Delivery

Using the earphones with the PSVR2 really heightens the immersion of Green Hell VR. The sounds of the wilderness can be terrifying and helpful in equal measures. Whether it be the rustling of trees or the roars of a puma, it is good to hear everything. It can warn you of impending danger or of the presence of life-saving prey that you can hunt.

The inventory selection screen can be a little clunky. Sometimes you find yourself accidentally picking the wrong item from your backpack. This can get somewhat frustrating at times, especially when you are in a panic.
There is plenty to do and there is a nice variety of enemies and hazards. This helps to keep you on your toes. Inevitably, there is quite a bit of repetition because of the very nature of the game. This will be a deal breaker for some.

Green Hell VR is a solid game that does exactly what it says on the tin. How much you enjoy this game will rely purely on how much you enjoy classic survival games.

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Who among us isn’t a fan of the amazingly well-known films about Tad the Lost Explorer? What do you mean you’ve never heard of him? Well, you wouldn’t be the only one. Apparently, Tad the Lost Explorer is a very popular cartoon, especially in Spain, and has spawned 3 feature films.

The titular character Tad is a hapless, bumbling adventurer who has aspirations to become like Indiana Jones but acts more like Mr. Bean. He gets into various scrapes and mischief in his quests to find precious artefacts and along with his friends travel the world in search of adventure.

As you would expect this game is more aimed towards children who would be the target demographic for the cartoon franchise.

Choose your Adventure

So what kind of game is it? Tad the Lost Explorer is a 2.5D sidescrolling platformer, much in the style of Crash Bandicoot and others of that style. You are in control of Tad (sometimes his sidekicks) and are tasked to run and jump across various platforms and obstacles, picking up collectables and avoiding traps and enemies. In order to vanquish your foes, you use the age-old tried and tested method of throwing rubber chickens at them. Yeah. Really.

Despite the simplicity at the heart of the game, there is plenty of variety in the platforming sections and there is a different feel to the locations throughout. A nice touch is the different set pieces that take you away briefly from platforming. There are boss fights and vehicle sections which are a nice reprieve from the run/jump/collect levels.

As I mentioned earlier, you get to change characters at certain points in the game. Each character has their own unique abilities such as stealth, double jump etc. Apart from these little tweaks, they all handle pretty similarly.

A Tad Annoying

Speaking of handling, this is the first of my gripes with the game. In order for a platformer to be enjoyable, the bare minimum you would expect is for the jumping mechanic to be tight. Sadly, this game suffers from floaty jump syndrome. The jumping doesn’t feel right and it can be tough to gauge the distances. It’s not so bad that it’s a deal-breaker, but it can be exceptionally frustrating. It is exacerbated by the fact that the game has a one-hit kill mechanic.

Even though the frustration is real, there is not a real sense of peril when you face these problems. This is due to the fact that the checkpoints are very frequent, meaning that when you die (and you will die), it isn’t much of a hindrance. When you respawn, you are only fractionally moved back from where you met your demise.

Lost in Translation

Tad the Lost Explorer is not aimed towards the seasoned gamer. It is a game aimed primarily towards children. That means that the game isn’t much of a challenge outside of the control issues. The puzzles aren’t exactly taxing and manage to avoid being annoying for the most part. The graphics are fine and are faithful to the source material. It’s vibrant and colourful and looks good. It isn’t perfect and the Switch suffers sometimes from slowdown very occasionally, and the loading times are a little excessive but it’s graphically more than acceptable.

The story is driven through a mix of cut scenes and dialogue pop-ups. The story can sometimes make no sense. This could be due to the fact that I am not familiar with the films but sometimes it isn’t clear of the motivations of the characters. But to be fair, if you are expecting award-winning story-telling from a game based on a Spanish cartoon, that’s on you.

Is it a treasure?

Did I enjoy this game? Probably not. Is this a bad game? Definitely not. It is a capable platformer that is aimed towards a younger audience. It will keep them amused even if they aren’t fans of the franchise. If they are fans of the films, they will love it.

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