Once upon a time in China

Dark Souls has left such a footprint on the world of videogames but now it has made its most cerebral crossover yet: Chinese history. Set in 184 CE during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty provides a truly unique sense of place and time. However, does this Souls-like find a soul of its own?

Wo Long is truly merciless. At first, enemies are relentlessly aggressive, slicing through your health bar before you even realise you’re in a combat encounter. The parrying mechanic is incredibly satisfying but unbelievably finicky. The slightest movement of the analogue stick can ruin a perfectly timed riposte, leading to total decimation. Boss battles especially have no patience for newcomers. The first boss you encounter is a total nightmare, players will be sweating all the way through multiple attempts to annihilate their health bar. Then the SECOND health bar appears. Cripes!

At least veterans of the Nioh series will find themselves in a comfortable position. Well, as comfortable as you can be in a world where EVERYTHING wants you dead. Unlike the Souls series, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a linear experience. No interconnected intricate world but a series of smaller zones and levels, each with plenty to discover to assist with the brutal end-of-area boss battles.

The big innovation here however is the “morale” system, where your morale level versus your enemies will reward you with better rewards if you can defeat them, and increase your health and damage given and taken. As this starts at zero every mission there’s a great sensation of becoming more powerful constantly, a consistently rewarding feedback loop. Less satisfying is the glut of loot constantly rewarded, developers must realise at some point that comparing numbers and percentages in menus is unbelievably tedious. Right?

So long, Wo Long

Though punishing, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a beautifully realised game. A great historical setting combined with a deeply unhistorical plot makes more of a great time. Though more could have been done to help new players acclimatise to this world (this edition does include better starting equipment) and the addition of helpful Divine Beasts and online co-op can be useful, it would be no surprise for new players to really bounce off. Despite streamlining some of Nioh’s more obtuse complexities, this is far from dumbed down. As it stands, this game doesn’t feel like a fallen dynasty but rather a dynasty beginning a powerful new reign.

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Thassalophobia. The fear of deep, dark water, the unimaginable unknown beneath you. Some will never venture into the ocean due to this universally understood existential terror.  For fishermen, however, this is all just part of the job. Sure, there may be ancient Lovecraftian beasts beneath the waves but there’s also tasty grub, so what are you going to do? Who has time to deal with Cthulu’s nonsense when you have bills to pay? Balancing terror with the satisfaction of a good working day is the incredible achievement of Dredge – a game that need not fish for compliments. 

Deep Gameplay

In Dredge you take control of a small fishing vessel, venturing between several islands in hopes of catching fish to sell to pay off your initial debts and to further upgrade your boat. It’s reminiscent of Phantom Hourglass but with all on-foot exploration removed from the equation for a purer sailing experience. The fishing itself may be slightly simplistic, usually a fairly easy-to-win minigame. Yet, the variety of these for the different types of bounty makes for a surprisingly relaxing time.

However, the game’s inner clock is always whizzing by and before you know it, you’re trapped in the middle of the ocean in pitch-black, only a tiny crap light barely illuminating in front of you. Here, the Lovecraftian influences come out to play. As you’re out in the darkness your mind will play tricks on you, rocks suddenly appearing in front of your eyes to damage your boat, threats of creatures sneaking on board, turning the pleasant simulation of being a rustic fisherman into a truly damn’d voyage.

Dark Water

Make no mistake: the first time you’re trapped in the dark is a true gauntlet. Your boat is so slow, the lights so dim and the horrible realisation that bashing into an obstacle can cause you to lose your captured fish. The fruits of your labour, gone! As you become a successful fisherman however you can upgrade your boat to better stand the trials of the night. Journeys being halved thanks to new, sexy engines is an incredibly satisfying progression, one that makes the game hard to put down.

As you progress and can salvage junk from the ocean more storylines and quests open up. The characters you meet are memorably odd, all presented with beautiful artwork and fun, nautical dialogue. Combined with the gorgeous cartoon-style rendering of the ocean makes Dredge one handsome game.

Dredge is a terrific, tight taste of ocean life beautifully mixed with horror elements. If this sounds up your alley, you don’t need to wait for a sale to set sail.

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A Prickly Fellow

Oh, Sonic. Once the poster boy of 90’s rude ‘tude, for the last two decades, he’s become the furry equivalent of the Steve Buscemi “hello fellow kids” meme. No longer able to dine out on his early 2D successes, Sonic now squeezes out a terrible 3D platformer every few years, each time promising to be the one that gets it right at last. With Sonic Frontiers poised as his most ambitious adventure yet, does SEGA finally get 3D Sonic right?

In short: nope. There’s an exciting ambition to the game, releasing Sonic into a large environment with enormous enemies to tackle but the whole production has a ramshackle level of quality. Sonic and pals are at odds with the realistic, empty and desaturated environments from a sheer aesthetic perspective. This is instantly jarring though the visuals are much improved in the subspace “classic” Sonic levels. The alien enemies are especially drab, removing visual interest from the already dull and messy combat situations.

Tailgating

He may be the titular character but the game Sonic inhabits doesn’t seem to have been designed for him. His speed is at odds with the physics engine, resulting in bizarre glitches and flubs. Scaling an enormous enemy as quickly as possible is an exciting prospect but the ensuing battles have so many flubs and bugs that they truly showcase the folly of letting Sonic off the rails. Open world design at the expense of platforming precision, the world of Frontiers is a literally massive letdown.

Exploration fares a bit better. Unshackled from platforming precision, running around the sprawling giant landmasses is a much better use of Sonic’s abilities. Though there’s little of interest to see after the first few hours it’s a brief bit of respite from the tedium of combat. The homing attack represents the fundamental failure of Sonic as a fighter, so zippy and manic that precision is simply impossible without the game doing it for you.

Knuckle Headed

Sonic Frontiers represents the best and worst of Sonic across his 30-year career. The dizzying speed may still allure but his ludicrous lack of progress in the 3D space is an utter embarrassment. If SEGA must insist on making Sonic titles then they need to progress past these half-baked concepts. Sonic Frontiers squanders its promising ideas, resulting in perhaps Sonic’s most frustrating adventure to date. Being fast doesn’t matter if you’re just running in circles and until this series finds a new sense of purpose, consider Sonic a fursona non grata.

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2022-09-15

Enter the Ninja

Move over speed-running: ghostrunning is the newest hip gamer trend! As seen in Ghostrunner, a split Danish/Polish developed title by Slipgate Ironworks and One More Level. First-person platforming is a challenging genre to tackle with the Mirror’s Edge series being its biggest proponent. However as they try to combine slick ninja action with first-person freerunning, do they stand a ghost of a chance?

Though the game immediately dazzles with its combination of a cyberpunk city and a cyborg ninja (aka gamer junk food) it doesn’t take long for the conceptual flaws of this title to present themselves. The first-person platforming is handled excellently, with sliding and wall-running reminiscent of Titanfall’s excellent controls.

As per the ten commandments of gaming, a grappling hook adds some spice to the proceedings but is disappointingly limited in its usage. You’ll also be able to use “Sensory Boost” – can we please just call things slow-motion? There’s nothing wrong with that term! We don’t need to reinvent the wheel for every sub-Matrix bullet-time equivalent! Sorry. This… sensory boost can be used to re-adjust for tricky jumps as well as weave around enemy firepower.

Click to view slideshow.

Revenge of the Ninja

Speaking of firepower: the combat is clunky and irritating. Immediately at odds with the platforming, Ghostrunner faces the same fatal flaw as Mirror’s Edge in this regard. Barrages of gunfire from off-screen foes and an unresponsive katana make for intensely frustrating encounters. Given the fantastic movement options, this results in a game of two halves. Upgrade options help to offset this as the game progresses but it leaves a terrible first impression.

It cannot be overstated how gorgeous the world of Ghostrunner is. Again, cyberpunk may be old-hat as an aesthetic now but it’s undeniably cool to see cyborgs wall-running to techno beats. If Ridley Scott had the editorial whims of George Lucas he would have definitely added parkour and katanas to Blade Runner.

Ghostrunner may be a mixed bag but would understandably be an attractive prospect for speed-running fanatics as well as cyberpunk dorks. It’s hard not to wish this was either solely a platformer or for the combat to be significantly tighter but for high-octane thrills, it hits the mark. As a complete package that includes the Project Hel expansion, this is a good entry point for those curious to enter Ghostrunner’s world before the upcoming sequel. For those who want a consistently great experience, however: keep running.

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2022-06-20

The Witch is Back

Following the brilliant remake of the first title, the Cotton series returns with a bang. Cotton Fantasy takes the slick shmup to new heights, a visual assault in the best way. Building off the remake in every aspect, this may be the best Cotton title to date.

The campaign is short and designed to be replayed for high-score fans. However, every level has a unique theme and style, from ruined pyramids to immense airships. Final Fantasy would be jealous of the latter! Visually this game is really stunning, detailed yet clean and readable. Fittingly the music is pure ear-candy, not especially memorable but catchy tunes that fit the action perfectly.

The story is the trademark Cotton bollocks. Sweets have disappeared and Cotton wants them back. There are some comical twists along the way with Cotton’s trademark narcissism providing some laughs but these scenes are very skippable. Her big-titted fairy pal will surely provide entertainment enough for… someone? As always this quest ends empty-handed. A powerful message of the futility of greed? Or a simple hook for more sequels? Only time (and sales) will tell.

Click to view slideshow.

Broom-mates

The biggest and best change is the wide selection of playable characters. Although the story is still based on Cotton regardless of who you select, each character has their own unique abilities that add to the replayability factor. You can cycle through them or find a favourite to stick with. Some of these characters are guests from other obscure series, which will surely delight genre fans.

The on-screen chaos can cause the frame rate to buckle, an unfortunate slip in a genre so reliant on quick reflexes. This could be a deal-breaker for purists but it never spoils the spectacle of the battles. Aside from these hitches, this game has a mesmerising flow, a piece of balletic bombastic bullet-laden wonderment. The game doesn’t go out of its way to explain power-ups or character specifics but a training mode will help hone your skills for the more serious high-score runs.

Ideal for newcomers and Cotton-heads alike, Cotton Fantasy is easy to recommend. In an era focused on so-called “cinematic” titles, there’s a refreshing joy to these games, simple yet unafraid to kick your arse all over town. “Bullet hell” has never been more inaccurate: Cotton Fantasy is heavenly in its delights.

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2022-04-13

Ahh, Star Wars. A series of mostly delightful children’s films that somehow generates absurd furious discourse. Whether it be Ewoks, Gungans or Holiday Specials there’s always something to inspire internet bile. Therein lies the magic of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. From the opening cutscene spanning all three trilogies, a firm sense of gleeful unity is established. Characters across the series stand proudly together around the game’s logo, a seeming balance to the Force. Regardless of anyone’s feelings on any of the films, a goofy good time is promised.

Putting the “block” in blockbusters, the Lego series’ riffs on popular films started with the Star Wars prequels back in 2005. The simplicity of the game along with its charming humour and co-op made it a firm family favourite. Followed up with the original trilogy, Clone Wars cartoon and episode VII, the series has stuck around, albeit drowned out slightly by the mass of other Lego games.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – A Bigger Fish

Playing the Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga feels like a quantum leap in many ways. A leap made with a faulty hyperdrive anyway. Every major gameplay advancement comes at the expense of older qualities that made the original titles so enticing. The enormous open worlds and interplanetary travel is exciting and vast but it comes at the expense of the excellently designed levels of the originals. Now individual films are retold in a combination of open-world sections with some linear levels thrown in. Bizarre story cuts are made to tell these truncated tales: Alderaan’s iconic destruction is absent!

Click to view slideshow.

After booting Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga up you can choose to begin episodes I, IV or VII. You have to play these to unlock their subsequent episodes meaning you can pick your favourite trilogy and have a complete story arc or go through the entire saga in order. Jumping around may be the best way to play, meaning you can unlock character classes for free play exploration. It’s a shame to see the hilarious humour of older titles diluted through full voice acting. As a wise Irish Jedi once said, the ability to speak does not make you intelligent.

No one’s ever really gone

Characters have so many abilities compared to older titles. Playing as a Jedi you now have extensive Force abilities. From picking up objects to commanding weak-minded NPCs. Blaster based heroes now play like a third-person shooter, taking cover and even blasting off trooper helmets with precise shots.

Even protocol droids now have an effete slap and can disassemble themselves in order to sneak through small passages! With 380 characters to unlock there’s a wide range of utilities that will come in handy for free mode exploration. Characters across the saga are represented but sadly Solo, Rogue One and Mandalorian characters are paid DLC.

A Different Point of View

Space exploration and combat feel extremely responsive and exciting. Bizarrely the dogfights feel almost exactly lifted from the last Battlefront title, the battle over Naboo feeling insanely hectic for a Lego game. Ground combat has been spruced up with a weird combo system that never quite clicks, a hollow attempt at improving a system that never required further elaboration. Co-op is also rejigged to suit the game’s enormous size, though at the expense of the clarity of the original titles.

While it’s great to see this series continue its newfound ambition has led to newfound weaknesses in the formula. The size, visuals and addictive gameplay are all still very impressive but the scourge of open-world spread rears its ugly head. Star Wars fans will be tickled pink by the in-jokes and bonkers unlockables (Yaddle!) but the uninitiated will be left cold.

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2022-02-17

Maglam Lord is a JRPG, a dating simulator, a dungeon crawler, and way out of my comfort zone. I know most RPGs have these elements these days but not like this. It is so in your face (and I’m not just talking about the anime boobs) that you can help but be sucked into each element and in most cases, you don’t have a choice.

The Administration wills it

In Maglam Lord you play as a male or female Demon lord called Killzerk. After bringing so much chaos and ruin to the world of Eusdeal. Both the Gods and Demon Lords have decided that the only way to bring an end to it is to destroy you. The end, only joking. You awaken in the same world in a weakened state with everything at peace and run by an organization known as The Administration.

Due to Killizerk’s status as the last Bladelord, the Administration has designated them as an endangered species along with Heroes, Gods, and Demon Lords. Mamie of the Administration is the main quest giver in the game and also makes your team up with sibling heroes Darius and Charme. These along with a few other characters make up your love interests.

Maglam Lord’s story is broken up into chapters, with each one having its own main and side quests. The story itself is told in a novel style where you can choose responses based on Cool, Funny, or Demonic answer choices. Each will impact how your relationships with team members develop for that all-important love connection. Also, different choices can unlock different banner names for your character and teammates. The side quests aren’t mandatory but are useful for grinding craft materials and other useful items.

Click to view slideshow.

I put the blade into Bladelord

Forging is an important part of the fighting element of Maglam Lord. The Maglam weapons that are welded are created by Killizerk and the higher the rank of the weapon you create the more powerful it is. The only weapons you create are axes, swords, or spears. You can customize these with skins and trinkets for extra stats which was a nice addition. Characters can also level up and increase skills or other abilities instead. They can learn magic attacks and healing abilities which come in handy against the mutibeasts and in Boss battles.

The strange thing about the weapons is that you are the weapon. That’s right, plot twist, you don’t fight as Kilizerk. You become the blade and are welded by a party member until the battle gauge is full and you are unleashed. This was a pity because I just wanted to run around with Killzerk and slaughter mutants. The combat itself is a bit of a letdown as well. During quests, you can go out in the world. Here you will see creatures roaming around and in the JRPG manner, you bump into them for battle encounters.

These encounters then turn into a 2D scroller-type fight where your can jump, hit or use an ability. This became boring after a while because it became too samey. The combos were the same each time and nothing varied at all, even when you levelled up which is a real shame.

Love is in the air

The love aspect of Maglam Lord was fun. After each adventure, you can go to the Love Dojo and see what affection characters are at. You first learn about love from a giant of a man called, The Love Guru G.G. That’s not even the strange part. Upon hearing of your interest in love, your old servant and now floating ghost, Balga, is extremely happy and can’t wait for you to sire an heir. Pretty much everyone is dateable in the game. I just picked one because I wasn’t too bothered. It is a good addition to the game and fleshes it out a lot as it isn’t a long game.

To sum it all up, I thought Maglam Lord was fun. It looks good and the voice acting is top-notch. I am a sucker for all-Japanese audio with subtitles and the bonus was the main narrator sounded like All Might. All it was missing was better combat and a bigger more interesting world. If you like these types of games you will enjoy this.

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You can also pre-order Limited Run Games’ exclusive edition featuring alternate box-art, a colourful manual and their limited collector’s edition featuring goodies such as the official Cotton Nendoroid figure.

Cotton Fantasy is promising to be another great instalment in the 30-year-old series, with crisp HD graphics and new game mechanics. Play as one of six characters, with some exciting guest stars now in the mix. Adding this to highly replayable levels with online leaderboards and you’re looking at a package with a lot of mileage. New players and veterans alike will find themselves hooked!

I had the great pleasure of reviewing Cotton Reboot recently and can vouch for this great if obscure franchise. My full review can be found here. Cotton Fantasy will release in the first quarter of 2022 and I can’t wait to get to talk about it more in the future.

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The Galway native became the first female conductor in Oscar history at the ceremony in February 2020 and throughout her 15-year career has conducted many orchestras including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Her gaming credits include such titles as Overwatch, Diablo III and World of Warcraft to name but a few.

In this episode of Players Unlocked, Eimear talks about the impact video game music has had on players around the world.

“It always fascinated me how music and the twist of a chord change… can just ignite a picture.. it can make you physically feel goosebumps”.

Players Unlocked see’s Tony Cantwell speak to some of Ireland’s biggest gamers, each from very different backgrounds. Throughout the series guests discuss what role gaming, and PlayStation, has played in their life.

The series has already featured guests such as lifelong gamer, perpetual mammy-botherer and TV star Baz Ashmawy, streamer Úna-Minh Kavanagh and Marvel comics illustrator and TV Presenter, Will Sliney. You can watch the first four episodes now on PlayStation Ireland’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

But most importantly…

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Only 4,000 copies will be printed – ever. That’s it. Get ’em while they’re hot because this is your only chance!

They’ll exclusively be available from SuperRareGames.com, and go on sale at 6 pm GMT (10 am PT or 1 pm ET for our American readers).

What is Bloodroots, and what will the physical edition consist of?

I’m so glad you asked!

For those of you not in the know, Bloodroots is a hardcore hack and slash with a super cool, distinctive art style. Gameplay-wise, it feels a bit like Hotline Miami… If Hotline Miami starred a rabid wolf-man in the wild west, seeking revenge. It’s very hard, very rewarding, and super satisfying.

The physical edition of Bloodroots will come with the following:

• All current Bloodroots content on the game cart
• A full-colour manual
• Interior artwork
• An exclusive sticker!
• Trading cards

Super Rare Games has a reputation for fast shipping. Players should expect to get their physical edition of Bloodroots very soon after ordering!

So, whether you’re a Paper Cult super-fan, or just can’t bear to miss out on a one-time collectable… Keep your eye on the Super Rare Games website on, Thursday the 13th of January!

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