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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The Complete Edition will be available from August 24th, digital-only, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S (£91.99/$109.99/€109.99), PlayStation 4 & 5 (£87.99/$109.99/€109.99), and PC (£87.96/$99.37/€99.37).

In addition to the full original Sniper Elite 5 game, with an engrossing nine-mission campaign, Invasion Mode, multiplayer and cooperative play, the Complete Edition also includes four additional DLC missions. These are: Landing Force, Conqueror, Rough Landing and Kraken Awakes; new weapons including fan favourite the Mosin-Nagant, as well as the P.1938 Suppressed Pistol; four weapon skin packs to give your arsenal a unique look; and three DLC character skin packs, including the much loved American Airbourne and Ghillie Suit skins, along with two additional Karl skins.

In addition, players will also get the chance to take out Hitler himself in the Target Führer Wolf Mountain Mission.

For the latest news and updates, please visit sniper.com. Also, be sure to follow Sniper Elite on their social channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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Featuring both a cinematic single-player campaign and 1v1 and 2v2 competitive cross-platform multiplayer, Realms of Ruin is designed for both genre veterans and newcomers. Players will soon have an early opportunity to sample 1v1 online multiplayer for themselves. There will be an open beta taking place across all platforms on 7th-10th July. This will include both the Stormcast Eternals and Orruk Kruleboyz as playable factions. A second open beta will follow later this summer.

Tell me more about Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realm of Ruin

In Realms of Ruin’s multiplayer matches, the goal is to control more Victory Points than the opponent, draining their score down to zero in quickfire and exciting games. Players will fight across multiple fronts as they capture Arcane Conduits around the map and strengthen their armies by building Bastions in these locations, accumulating more resources as they push towards the annihilation of their enemies.

Unlocking additional tiers of the tech tree enables each faction to unleash their deadliest and most visually spectacular squads, resulting in a furious, ever-changing tug-of-war to control the map. Players who want to experience this for themselves can sign up to learn more about the open betas at www.aosrealmsofruin.com.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin has been developed simultaneously for both console and PC. Players using a controller will experience DirectStep, an innovative and intuitive new real-time strategy interface, while PC players can also enjoy a traditional mouse and keyboard RTS control scheme.

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Aliens: Dark Descent – You are the commander, and your squad is your weapon

Aliens: Dark Descent features a fully-fledged tactical campaign filled with tense moments, deep strategy, and terrifying revelations. As you explore further, you’ll progress in a complex story and attempt to solve the mysteries of Planet Lethe. Players will manage their squad as a single unit, thanks to innovative and intuitive controls on both keyboard and mouse and controller.

Marines react intelligently to orders thanks to a unique Squad Behavior System that dispatches them automatically on the field. When the Xenomorph threat gets overwhelming, they can slow down time at any moment to focus on tactical decisions in the heat of the moment.

Marines are well equipped to alter their environment and deal with hostiles. The flamethrowers can be used to engulf corridors and condemn enemy paths. Suppressive fire is effective at slowing down your enemies and sentry guns are best used to sustain tough encounters while making sure not to run out of resources.

Every run is unique as the Xenomorphs adapt to player behaviour and action. Each choice remains unaltered as players explore extensive, open and persistent levels. Managing the squad’s health and stress levels is equally as important as clearing objectives. And remember, when a Marine dies, they are permanently gone for good.

After each mission, players return to their ship, the Otago: a hub to heal and recruit Marines, to research and develop new tech that improves gear. With 5 Marines classes available, assign a role to each of your Marines and create a stronger squad to explore further down and battle against an onslaught of iconic Xenomorph creatures.

Aliens: Dark Descent will release on June 20th on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC.

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Jurassic World Evolution 2: Feathered Species Pack invites players to expand their parks with four eye-catching prehistoric species, each sporting magnificent plumage that is bound to captivate guests.

These feathered fiends arrive

Yutyrannus, whose name translates as ‘feathered tyrant,’ lives up to its moniker as one of the largest known feathered carnivores ever discovered. First discovered in Northeast China, this bipedal predator boasts a light yet dense coat that insulates against cold weather conditions.

Equally as mesmerising is Jeholopterus, an agile flying reptile whose only paleontological specimen is among the best preserved of any pterosaur. The smallest species to weave through the skies in Jurassic World Evolution 2 to date, Jeholopterus is said to have exhibited a coat of short, delicate fibres. Guests will be able to spot the diminutive species feeding from the new insectivore feeder.

Park managers can also welcome Deinocheirus, one of the largest ornithomimosaurs ever discovered. While its long arms, duck-like bill, and humped back cut an intimidating figure, Deinocheirus is the second omnivorous species to arrive in Jurassic World Evolution 2 and is the first to feed on both plants and fish.

As well as these majestic marvels, Sinosauropteryx is a fascinating addition to any park. Discovered in 1996, this compact pack hunter’s fossil was the first to suggest the existence of feathered dinosaurs. Guests will delight at its long, striped tail and thick feathered coat.  

New features coming to Jurassic World Evolution 2

The PDLC arrives alongside an exciting free update offering existing players a range of new features and enhancements. The new Log Viewing Gallery and Dome Viewing Gallery bring avid builders even more ways for their guests to observe pre-historic residents, while the introduction of a Cinematic Camera Mode allows players to capture their parks in all their splendour. Zipline variants and additional square levels allow players to get even more creative.

We here at GamEir, Jade, in particular, have been adoring this game and all its DLC. The Feathered Pack is sure to be another excellent addition to the plumage of Jurassic World Evolution 2.

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Remnant II plunges players deeper into this messed-up world. Players will fall into a devastated world requiring a mix of methodical and frenetic ranged and melee combat against cunning enemies and punishing boss battles. Enter the fray as a lone wolf or even the odds by teaming up with two friends to overcome daunting challenges. Each time players start a new playthrough of Remnant II they will be brought into a new world. Each world built from a wide pool of locations, enemies, NPCs, bosses, and weapons. These dynamically built levels allow for unique experiences as elements are woven organically into the world and narrative.

“It is awesome to once again partner with Gunfire Games on this highly anticipated sequel,” said Yoon Im, president of Gearbox Publishing San Francisco. “The studio’s passion for the Remnant franchise and their expertise at crafting compelling worlds along with engaging combat scenarios shines through in Remnant II. The game will be challenging and punishing, but most importantly, so much fun!”

Remnant II will be available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2023.

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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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Die by the Blade draws inspiration from legendary titles such as Bushido Blade, Way of the Samurai, and the Dark Souls series. Set in a stunning samurai-punk world, players must choose from a range of traditional Japanese weapons to determine their move set. You must parry your opponents’ blows with lightning speed, and master the art of the one-hit kill.

As a way of celebration, there is a brand new slick and stylish gameplay trailer for Die by the Blade. You can watch it at the bottom of the article. With a slick slicing style, Die by the Blade looks to be a great addition to the competitive circuit.

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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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2022-08-11

The Serpent Rogue is an odd fish. On the one hand, it is undeniably beautiful. The artwork is gorgeous. Lovely, rounded edges compliment the almost watercolour colour palette. The music is subtle, relaxing, and atmospheric. There’s some light-touch worldbuilding that makes the lands of The Serpent Rogue feel intriguing and lived in. Stylistically, in conclusion, it’s hard to fault.

Rise ‘n’ grind, alchemists! The Serpent Rogue Gameplay

Where it all starts to fall apart is in the gameplay. At its core, The Serpent Rogue is a game about exploration, experimentation, and the occasional punch-up. Sengi Games, the developers, refer to their title as a “botanical action RPG”. As an adorable little plague doctor (weird combination of words), you must scour the corrupted landscape to find ingredients. You use these ingredients in cooking and in alchemical potions. Armed thusly, you forge on to defeat enemies and cleanse the lands of corruption.

Explore, Create, Combat

Firstly, there’s the exploration. Pretty self-explanatory. Each area is self-contained, filled with NPCs to interact with, animals, or enemies to defeat.

Secondly, alchemy and potion-making. Alchemy is really where the game shines. There are potions for healing, for polymorphing, summoning, buffing, debuffing… You name it. Each ingredient – which must be researched before you can use it – has an “Essence”. For instance, “Sulfur” has the essence “Burn”, while Garlic has the essence “Stinky”. You as the player string these essences together to create an effect. Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite fun.

Thirdly, there’s the ass-kicking. The combat is nothing to write home about. You run in, take a few swings at the enemies, get alchemical with it, and win or die. Your swings are sluggish and clunky. Narratively, maybe the game is trying to send the message that your character just isn’t built for combat. Dammit, Jim, I’m a doctor! Not a swordsman! That said, combat is a core element of The Serpent Rogue, and I came to dread it during my time with the title.

Click to view slideshow.

Beautiful… But Bland.

Reviewing The Serpent Rogue took me a long time. I’d play a few hours here and there before it lost me again. There are a number of elements at play that really are compelling. I love the alchemy, and exploring to find new ingredients is exciting – the first time. But the combat is so clunky that it’s difficult to enjoy. Mistakes and their consequences sometimes feel unearned. Furthermore, the longer the game session goes on, the more it feels like you’re just spinning your wheels. Between collecting resources, researching, and experimenting, The Serpent Rogue features a lot of time spent just running around.

It’s clear that The Serpent Rogue is a labour of love. In truth, I’d love to be able to recommend it wholeheartedly – but I can’t. There’s absolutely something to be said for the satisfaction of experimenting with and mastering the alchemy system. That said, all in all, it’s not that complex. It takes very little time to learn the core systems, and then it’s just a grind from there to the end.

In its writing, the game luxuriates in mystery. The writers clearly love teasing you with open-ended dialogue and vague world-building. Occasionally that felt compelling – but, mainly, it just felt meandering.

The Serpent Rogue is by no means a bad game. It’s a solid first title from brand new developer Sengi Games. I couldn’t recommend it to everyone, and certainly not for full price. But for those who find joy in experimentation and the game’s bleak but beautiful aesthetic – it’s worth a buy on sale.

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