Outlaws will allow players to step into the shoes of a galactic smuggler. This new character is trying to make a name for themselves in the criminal underworld with the help of their furry companion. No, not Han Solo and Chewie but a brand new duo of scoundrels. Kay Vess and her pal Nix will be playable in this open-world game that combines action, stealth and space combat.

Taking place between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi players will be thrust into the middle of the Galactic Civil War. You’ll be taking missions from various factions. Chubby slug icon Jabba the Hutt, post-Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke (remember the solo Solo movie?) and more will hire Kay to pull off various heists and cons.

Being a Ubisoft title, various editions will be available at launch. They will each have different additional goodies. The standard edition will include ship and speeder cosmetics. While the ultimate edition will have the season pass, early access and more. With a long pedigree of excellent Star Wars games, this will be the franchise’s most ambitious videogame outing to date and the first truly open-world title so far.

Will Watto appear? Only time will tell.

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2022-03-29

It’s crazy to think that I have been reviewing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and its DLCs since November 2020. Dawn of Ragnarok is the third and last DLC in a game that has reached the end of its time. Will this reach the heights of the Irish expansion or just be run-of-the-mill like France. Let’s find out.

Let’s get Mythical

Dawn of Ragnarok takes place in the Norse myth side of Valhalla. Eivor returns as Odin and this time he has travelled to Svartalfheim to find his son, Baldr. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the mythical part in the base game.

Don’t get me wrong I am a huge Norse myth nerd and have read a lot on the subject. Saying all that for some reason it just didn’t click. Maybe it’s the fact I just couldn’t take to Eivor being Odin (I know it’s part of the story). Or maybe the bastardization of the real myths, it just did nothing for me.

Svartalfheim itself looks amazing. It is everything I thought the Dwarven realm would be. With the edition of the Jotnar’s and the occupying Muspels and it just adds a little extra. The map itself isn’t too big so it makes the DLC manageable. There are the usual quests you can find in Valhalla. The funny thing is you are Odin and you are pretty much reduced to an errand boy for the Dwarf-lords.

Click to view slideshow.

Too little too late

There are the usual DLC additions, like new skills, armour, and weapons to find throughout the land. Weapons can now be upgraded to mythical. The best new feature hands down are the new Hugr-Rip. The Dwarves gift you with a new magic bracer that allows you to steal powers from certain dead foes. These new powers come in handy when solving certain puzzles or getting to a certain area. For a limited period, making you resistant to lava flows, for example. They also allow you to disguise yourself as the enemy to sneak into their camps.

I found myself losing my excitement really quickly though. Also, I was at such a high level that it didn’t really matter if I was disguised or not. It was a fine addition to the game but it really feels like they wanted to put it in from the start but just couldn’t make it fit. You need a material called silica to upgrade your new bracer. You can get this by raiding with your usual bunch of Vikingrs. This really takes you out of the whole myth element and is a weird edition.

For Odin

Dawn of Ragnarok has an awesome new setting in Svartalfheim but that is it really. Yes, the Hugr-Rip is fun for a while but this DLC really should have been released earlier. Don’t get me wrong it is a good edition to Valhalla but it adds nothing really. I really thought that Ubisoft would let Valhalla go out with a bang but it was more of a disappointing parp.

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2022-02-21

A new year has come and with it a new member to GamEir! I won’t go into too much detail here. My name is Jack and I am delighted to be starting off my time with GamEir with a review of Rainbow Six Extraction. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, and published by Ubisoft, Rainbow Six Extraction is a new game in the Rainbow Six Franchise. While Extraction may be a spin-off that came about thanks to the limited time event Siege had in 2018 called Outbreak, it isn’t without its own new ideas and mechanics but we’ll touch a little more on that later in the review.

Starting off Rainbow Six Extraction I was expecting it to be similar to its predecessor Rainbow Six Siege with some inspiration taken from the likes of Left 4 Dead and by extension Back 4 Blood. While my expectations weren’t too far off the mark in what my experience with Extraction was going to be like, they don’t quite fully hit the mark either and that isn’t necessarily for the best.

Day Zero: Invasion

Starting up Extraction before you’re even at the main menu of the game you’re thrown into a cut-scene giving you a fairly basic set-up to the premise of the game.

A race of Aliens called the Archaens attack the earth(even though all we’re shown in detail is New York City) with a weaponized parasite called Chimera. However, a new team called REACT has been set up to tackle this new threat. Now, fans of Siege will recognize some of the operators in this cut-scene, namely Ash, Mira and Thermite. Although, they aren’t the only ones you may recognize when it comes down to choosing your operator later on.

While I was hoping for more of a story heading into the game, its plot is very bare-bones. There are about 11 or so minutes worth of cut-scenes, (including the intro and the tutorial debrief) spread throughout the game. While to some that may not be a terrible thing, the premise that Ubisoft has gone for screams for something a bit more epic to go down. Ultimately it feels squandered here.

Inspiration from greatness doesn’t always equal greatness.

Jumping into my first incursion I could tell my expectations, while not completely off the mark, were going to be sideswiped by the first few enemies alone. Extraction, while taking some inspiration from games like Left 4 Dead, goes for a slow and tactical game-play style to get through the objectives.

Going into incursions guns blazing at any stage is going to get you killed within seconds if you’re not careful. Even the most basic of mobs can kill you within only a few attacks. That’s not to say it’s unfair in its difficulty though, as that will mainly come down to you and your teammates.

While the game itself looks absolutely stunning on the PS5, it’s definitely a case of more style over substance. In total, there are 13 objectives throughout the game, with each area having 3 objectives at a time. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to get used to doing those 13 over and over again. As a platinum hunter, I do enjoy a good trophy grind. As monotonous as they can be. But there are only so many times you can do the same objectives over and over again. This is made more apparent in-game as the only variation is the procedurally generated enemy and objective locations.

Repetition thy name is Extraction

The game-play and mechanics aren’t completely without hope though, as there are the added real stakes with the new MIA system. This ties into one of the games’ 13 objectives. If an operator goes down in the middle of an incursion they will become unplayable and labelled as MIA. It is possible to rescue them during another incursion. But to do so is one of the more frustrating objectives of the game. Teammates must carry the operator to an extraction point in that same incursion to achieve a rescue.

Is it a saving grace for the lacklustre amount of objectives in the game in comparison to how often the other 12 will repeat? No. But it does add that little bit of urgency to the game when played with friends. One wrong move and all 3 of you could easily lose an operator each. However, depending on if you’ve worked on other operators load-outs or not it can be easier said than done to rescue them.

Rainbow Six Extraction is a weird offshoot with some fantastic ideas. More often than not, however, it fails to hit those ideas home. It’s an ambitious game, but at its core ends up being too repetitive to stand toe to toe with some of its peers. If you’re a big fan of Siege, you may end up enjoying the change of pace Extraction brings to the table. But at the same time, it’s different enough to the point that hardcore Rainbow Six and possibly by extension Tom Clancy game fans may feel alienated.

To buy or not to buy, that is the question.

Would I recommend buying it? No. But if you’re a fan of Siege or co-operative shooters and you have some friends who’d be interested in playing it I’d recommend downloading it through Game-Pass instead. If you’re on PlayStation, I would recommend waiting for it to inevitably go on sale. If you’re a trophy hunter of any kind, I would steer clear. The trophy list itself contains a few trophies with some insanely silly prerequisites to unlock. For example, the Proud Papa trophy requires you to get all 18 operators to level 10.

Rainbow Six Extraction makes for a fun time with friends if you’re looking for something a bit more tactically involved. However, its repetitiveness and terrible grind let it down and more than likely it will wear on you over time.

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2021-10-15

Liberty, Equality, Monotony

Viva la repetición! Proudly touting itself as “a Ubisoft Original” (as the fourth Far Cry game this generation alone, this is a stretch) Far Cry 6 brings the series onto the new generation of consoles for the first time. What advantages does this leap bring?

Beginning with a generic pre-baked intro, you escape a despotic city takeover and wind up shipwrecked on a South American island, the fictional Yara. From here you join with a group of local revolutionaries to take down the tyrannical Gustavo Fring… uh, Giancarlo Esposito, a terrifyingly photo-realistic rendition of TV’s most consistently satisfying villain. Following his Better Call Saul co-star Michael Mando (Far Cry 3’s Vas) Esposito brings a level of class to the proceedings, a performance more suitable for a much less juvenile game.

Tediously childish and overwritten humour permeates this narrative to a numbing degree. Playing this, you’ll wish for the relative moral complexity of Woody Allen’s Bananas. That you’re trapped listening to AI companions gibber on in so many missions is hellish. The less said of the cock-fighting mini-game the better and some idiotic stereotyping is disappointing. The story is so disjointed that it feels like an afterthought, perhaps being let loose on Yaras without context may have been better? One can only dream of a Ubisoft game with the narrative flexibility of a Breath of the Wild. Coming off his work on Breaking Bad and with Spike Lee, it’s embarrassing what basic material Esposito was handed here.

Size isn’t everything

Initially, the map size is welcomely pared back compared to the usual open-world bloat; until you realise you haven’t zoomed the camera back fully. The long sigh that comes with realising you have numerous security checkpoints to clear and endless radio towers to climb is the curse of the genre. The endless list of repetitive side-content becomes exhausting, especially now that the series’ patented chaos has become so predictable.

Click to view slideshow.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is decently thrilling. Moving through the world is fluid, using a grappling hook to climb cliffs and a parachute to get down makes for a flexible way to traverse the vast landscape. Anything is better than using the vehicles, the first-person perspective actively impeding movement. Yara is a gorgeous environment but with minimal distinction between areas the size of the world becomes more oppressive than the fictional Fascists you’re slaughtering. At least the music is lovely, excellently flavouring the proceedings thanks to Pedro Bromfman.

Shoot to… thrill?

As for gunplay? Uninspired but blasting dumb AI goons will always be enjoyable. The Resolver super-weapons are showy but trivialise combat encounters. They’re unlocked way too early, allowing you to blast through enemy compounds almost effortlessly. That said, it’s a more enjoyable approach than the half-baked and utterly boring stealth approach. That you can now keep your weapon holstered to avoid some encounters altogether is a thoughtful touch, a pacifistic approach would have been an interesting avenue to explore further.

Speaking of thoughtful, the gear options are a nice surprise. Unlocking clothing options provide unique perks and avoids the equipment bloat of so many genre contemporaries. An early mission provides you with a gas mask and special gloves to protect against poison and fire damage respectively, far more interesting choices than the usual minor stat bonuses.

The game is bizarrely proud of having workbenches to customise equipment, seemingly ignorant to what a staple of the genre this is? If you drink every time they’re mentioned you’ll quickly be drunk as a skunk. Yet also somehow never drunk enough to find them interesting? A curious dilemma.

Animal magic?

Although the animal companions are utterly pointless aside there’s admittedly a charm to having a crocodile buddy. At least until you’re expected to revive the forsaken creature for the hundredth time during a firefight. A croc pal is no substitute for being a lone wolf.

Far Cry is a series in dire need of reinvention. The formula has grown so stale that not even the typical stunt casting for the villain is noteworthy anymore. In order to go forward, the developers should look to the past. The actual spontaneity and danger of Far Cry 2 is totally absent from newer titles. The possible return of the style and humour of Blood Dragon (included with the season pass) would be a godsend. As for Far Cry 6? This revolution should not be televised.

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New players are able to pre-load the game, as well as be able to access the Free Weekend during the following times per platform:

·         PC via Ubisoft Store: 5^th of August at 2 pm IST

·         PC via Epic Games Store: 5^th of August at 6 pm IST

·         PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4: 5^th of August at 8.01 am IST

·         Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One: 5^th of August at 8:01 am IST

·         Stadia: 5^th of August at 6 pm IST

Players who want to continue their fight against The Father in Far Cry 5 will get to keep their game progression and enjoy discounts up to 85% off on the game and Season Pass during the Free Weekend.

Free Far Cry 5

If you’re interested in our thoughts on Far Cry 5 check out our review on the game. Katie really enjoyed it and maybe her articulate words will help sway you to battle The Father.

I always find it best to try out these games when they’re free. It’s how I ended up falling in love with Final Fantasy XIV after all. Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you’ll be joining this weekend. Who knows maybe we’ll see you out there.

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The first “season” of 3 Out of 10 pioneered a new form of interactive storytelling, releasing new episodes for free on a weekly basis. Giving its players full control of the pace of the narrative. The second season debuted on April 8th earlier this year on the Epic Games Store for PC. 

Terrible Posture, the studio behind 3 Out of 10 created the game as a way of bringing the gaming industry to non-gamers. That is why they use the same tactics as tv shows to keep their audience invested. dj2 Entertainment has stated that they plan to make 3 Out of 10 a cross-media property like never before.

Terrible Posture was the studio behind MOTHERGUNSHIP and Tower Of Guns. An independent game studio that works remotely on a global scale. As a result, the studio prides itself on being a compassionate place for developers to grow and make fun things. Hopefully, with plenty more fun games for us to play too. 

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As part of The Division franchise, Heartland will be a stand-alone expansion. Red Storm Entertainment will be leading the development behind this next instalment. Coming to PlayStation, Xbox and PC. Bringing a free-to-play approach and making sure to be able to reel in as many players as they can.

Ubisoft has boasted of reaching 40 million players among the 2 Division titles, so it’ll be interesting to see if they can do that with this new tactic. And, if that isn’t enough to whet your appetite. Then you’ll be interested in finding out that there are plans in motion to bring The Division to mobile. Expanding to an even wider audience. 

As we move deeper into 2021, Ubisoft plans to treat us with even more content for The Division 2. If waiting around for Heartland isn’t for you then boot up Division 2 and work your way through the new content. This new content will include an entirely new game mode and new methods for levelling agents with an emphasis on increasing build variety and viability. More details will be revealed on this new update ahead of its release.

Also, let’s not forget that there is a Netflix title in the works too. Starring Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal. Plenty of content coming up to keep this franchise tasty and relevant.

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Battle of the brands

As soon as the game boots up you’re immediately greeted with incredibly vibrant and cheery pixel art. A brilliant representation of the comics original art style as well as being unbelievably gorgeous in motion with excellent clarity. The diverse range of environments and enemies are a highlight, especially the second stage set on different movie sets.

Click to view slideshow.

While your eyes are being dazzled, your ears get the VIP treatment too. The music is sublime, a funky assortment of chip-tunes that just feel terrific to brawl to. Composed by Anamanaguchi it’s a sheer delight that this music is getting a new release.

The Chaos Theatre that is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game

The actual fighting is underwhelming, a functional yet uninspired riff on the classic beat-em-up formula. A truly abysmal levelling system that gate-keeps vital moves is a stunningly bad design decision, leaving a terrible first impression. Getting knocked down is intensely frustrating, your character remaining stuck on the ground interminably. Object physics are bizarre, you can accidentally take damage from the slightest object thrown. Including some of your own!

Many of these issues are solved through unlockable moves but the annoyance of having to obtain them is very off-putting. The variety in playable characters offsets this somewhat, Ramona Flowers being a particular highlight. Smashing goons with a mallet will never grow old.

I Fought the World but the World Won

These concerns are mostly alleviated in the co-op mode. Like all games of the genre, its enjoyment is exponentially increased the more players join in. Co-op allows you to breeze through some of the worst sections whilst sharing the best parts with up to four players. Sadly the online is unreliable so you would be best off playing together in person. Extra modes such as Boss Rush and Dodge Ball are addition multiplayer highlights.

While it’s great to have a title like this preserved and it is still an exemplary example of a good film tie-in, Scott Pilgrim doesn’t really stand on its own as an entry in this genre. Indeed this rerelease is like meeting an old ex, despite some fond memories you realise just how little you really had in common after all.

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Uh, yes and no? Unlike their other open-world efforts Immortals is more comfortable letting players off the leash to explore at their own pace. In fact, it’s best to get this out of the way early on: this title owes a startling amount to Breath of the Wild. The freedom to go to rescue four super-powered pals almost from the get-go? Hyrule’s champions. The unlockable superpowers such as levitating objects? The Sheikah Slate abilities. The puzzle-based Tartarus Pits? The Sage Shrines! Climbing any surface dictated by your stamina meter? Taming wild steed, gliding, cooking, a lavish cartoony art style? It’s all here.

Breath of the Mild

Yet this is not a total criticism. On its release Breath of the Wild was praised for its reinvention of the genre and tropes of the open-world game, so it’s only natural it should inspire others. Even recent Assassin’s Creed games have been much more flexible as a result. However Immortals Fenyx Rising never really adds any ideas of its own and some of the terrible modern gameplay mechanics it forces in actively work against it.

Not to say that Immortals Fenyx Rising is without its charms. The combat is delightfully snappy, perfect parries and throwing boulders feel especially terrific. As you progress in different regions the villainous Titan Typhos will direct his wrath towards you. Flaming debris and corrupted Greek heroes such as Achilles will hunt you, making for brilliantly tense fight or flight moments.

Click to view slideshow.

Greeks and Freaks

However, the games true Achilles heel (aside from the literal one) is in the narrative. The evil Typhon has escaped imprisonment and seeks revenge on Olympus. God-daddy Zeus consults the also imprisoned Prometheus for assistance. Prometheus insists that a mortal can save them all and wagers his imprisonment that he will be proven correct.

Prometheus and Zeus then partially narrate your adventure, a unique storytelling device in this medium. They may squabble over details or Zeus’ boredom may cause an unexpected enemy encounter for the player. This is a fantastic idea though it highlights a major problem with the narrative; the humour.

The jokes can work when they focus on pointing out the bizarre absurd aspect of Greek mythology but they’re usually on the level of obnoxious children’s cartoons. Greek gods dropping anachronistic references and turns of phrase wasn’t funny the first time let alone hours into the quest.

Hero to Zero

The titular and poorly spelt Fenyx is a classically generic “I can do this!” protagonist. Despite a wide array of customisation options always has the looks to match. In fact, all the cast share the same dull doll-like appearance, making them all too generic to get attached to.

The world is entertaining to explore with plenty to see but falls victim to the usual open-world dilemma quickly. Repeated, recycled things to see and do. You can look around the world in first-person to find points of interest but this quickly becomes tedious as you discover what an abundance of similar, dull objectives inhabit the isle. There’s only so many times you can discover a treasure chest before you just stop caring what’s inside.

The puzzles are the highlight here with a diverse range of brain-teasers to solve. One downside is that you can be stopped by not having progressed far enough into the story to solve them. Since Breath of the Wild gave you all these abilities within the first hour it’s almost absurd that they didn’t at least copy that aspect.

Immortals Fenyx Rising is no Greek tragedy but rarely reaches the heights of Olympus. It would be trite to make a comparison to the tale of Icarus but this is truly a showcase of the waxwings of open-world games. Though the undertaking was a Herculean effort, not even Atlas could hold up this attempt.

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Creating an Iconic IP

The first panel was about creating an iconic IP. Game Director Scott Philips, Associate Game Director Julien Galloudec and Art Director Thierry Dansereau discussed this topic together. They mentioned how additional production time has given them the freedom to greatly expand the initial scope of the game and provided a first, in-depth look.

The game beings with the hero, Fenyx washing up on the shores of the Golden Isles following a shipwreck. You meet Hermes, the messenger of the Gods who delivers the prophecy that you’ll defeat Typhon, the deadliest of the Titans. Meanwhile, Zeus and fire-thief Prometheus are narrating your adventure, squabbling over whether a mere mortal can save the world or not.

Click to view slideshow.

The Journey of Immortals Fenyx Rising

Fenyx is a totally customisable character with a wide array of styles and options. As you unlock abilities like the Wings of Daedalus (thankfully not Icarus) your transport options will open up, allowing you to explore freely.

The Golden Isle is overrun with mythic beasts from the Underworld. They inhabit the different regions of the island, each ruled by a different God and featuring different biomes and themes. You’re free to explore in any direction as soon as the adventure begins, an especially tantalising feature for fans of the latest Legend of Zelda title.

Development began near the end of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The team wanted the freedom to explore Greek legends without being tethered to an existing franchise. They also wanted more inviting graphics, gameplay and a narrative for a broader audience. They were determined to make the journey of Fenyx as rewarding and challenging as the destination.

Click to view slideshow.

With the art-style, they wanted to leave their comfort zone. They were inspired by Studio Ghibli films and older platformers like Jak and Daxter and Banjo and Kazooie for the different homes of the Gods. Balancing combat and puzzles was a difficult task as well as amping up the freeform exploration to set it apart from the Assassin’s Creed games.

To get the greenlight on such a puzzle focused title, the team assembled numerous prototypes to pitch to the head honchos in Paris. They wanted a wide variety, with vaults that challenge your memory, logic and even music challenges or guiding arrows through multiple hoops. Making puzzles easily identifiable was half the battle, a task the art team took to heart.

Imagining a Hero for all Heroes at Heart

The second panel was all about creating the hero, Fenyx. Inspired by Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Narrative Director Jeffrey Yolahem’s sister it was crucial to the team to make a relatable, flawed hero. Cinematic Team Lead Michelle Plourd elaborated on this, detailing how the cinematography was crucial for making the story connect with audiences. Nailing the comedic beats was another camera challenge, crucial for their lighthearted tale.

Click to view slideshow.

Music and Sounds: The Heart of a Hero

Next, the audio was the main topic. Composer Gareth Coker and Audio Director Lydia Andrew. Coker used the game’s unique art-style as his primary inspiration with unique tracks to cover action, conversations or puzzles. He wanted a balance between lighthearted and epic simultaneously, inspired by how Pixar create films which nail that balance. He acquired various Aeolus a Greek woodwind instrument as well as Lyres to create the specific Grecian sound.

Andrew described how creating unique sounds of mythological creatures was a fun challenge. To help, they pitched each monster in terms of personality to sell them to the audio team. Her favourite sound in the game is a very cute and specific crab scuttle. Coker’s favourite theme was composed for an in-game chicken!

Myths and Legends in Immortals Fenyx Rising

Following this, we enjoyed a talk about Greek Mythology. The developers were attracted to how flawed the pantheon of Olympus is, seeing them as relatable in their idiosyncrasies. Joined again by Scott Philips and Jeffrey Yohalem they relayed how Greek myths are less morality tales than views on how to deal with failures and hardships.

Their frame of reference for the tales tone was very unexpected. Guardians of the Galaxy but with Greek gods! The team also went to see a classic Greek play for research. They were surprised by how crude and funny it was, their inspiration for the humour of the adventure. The Titanomachy was another influence, a lost epic poem about how Zeus fought Cronus and the Titans. The updated characterisations and over the top action will help to bring back the humour that has been lost from such adaptations of the centuries. Kratos’ scowling won’t be tolerated here!

Unique and Accomplished Artstyle

The final panel was all about the art-style. Art Director Thierry Dansereau and Cinematic Team Lead Michelle Plourd returned for this talk. They wanted a look that was the complete opposite of Assassin’s Creed. An emphasis on vibrant colours, again inspired by the films of Miyazaki. They designed the world like a theme-park, each God’s environment has a specific look and theme. With no adherence to realism, they used Pixar for character design inspiration, balancing comedy and their epic stature simultaneously.

Thus ended the panel, the Pantheon of dedicated developers having given their last divine message for the day.

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