Reviews
WRC 10 Review
Aug 31, 2021
In a year of challenges, WRC 10 is here to celebrate all things FIA World Rally Championship, starting with the 50th anniversary of the championship itself. KT Racing created a solid foundation in WRC 9 to build on, and has mostly succeeded with more modes and things to do. Some of the same issues from years past return to hamper things, that have yet to be fixed. WRC 10 offers so much content over prior years, making it a great entry point and reason to sign-on for another year, like Sébastien Ogier did with Toyota for the 2021 season.
Myst Review
Aug 25, 2021
There’s been a few remasters and remakes of Myst over the years, and for good reason. It was once the best-selling PC game for years, and even today, considered one of the best games of all-time. With this, Myst has been re-imagined by the original creators at Cyan, giving renewed life for a series that made PC gaming relevant. Everything about what made the original become a classic is preserved: the music, the atmosphere, and in some respects, the visuals. What Rand and Robyn Miller created back in 1993 is timeless, and is ever-present with this release, which sets out to do it all again. This is the most accessible release yet, making it the definitive experience. Myst is a brilliant puzzle-adventure that continues to captivate and impress, whether you’re returning to the island, or visiting for the first time.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Review
Aug 23, 2021
Taking place decades after “Aliens 3”, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a new entry within the timeline of the film franchise. Comparisons will be made between this and Left 4 Dead, though there’s few to actually make. Sure, they’re both coop, action horror games – but that’s where the similarities end, and the differences begin. While Aliens: Fireteam Elite has depth with concerns for team composition and tactics, it’s still a little more straightforward than what you’d expect. That said, this is a coop game that you don’t have to take too seriously, and can just blast aliens with friends.
Death’s Door Review
Aug 20, 2021
Devolver Digital and Acid Nerve have teamed up again to bring us one of the best indie titles this year. Back in 2015, they worked together to publish one of my favorites of that year, Titan Souls. After playing through Death’s Door, you can feel the similarities, and I love it.
Axiom Verge 2 Review
Aug 11, 2021
Kicking off with an opening sequence befitting of the 16-bit era it pays homage to, Axiom Verge 2 pulls no punches with its setup. This club has everything; worldwide mega conglomerates, antarctic research stations, disappearing science crews, mysterious invitations, and portals to other universes, and one very impressive helicopter give you all of the pull you need to dig into the adventure that lies ahead, and this is all within the first fifteen minutes of the game. Things really pop off once you cross over into the alternate universe and your questions are answered with further, bigger questions.
ROCCAT Syn Pro Air Review
Aug 10, 2021
ROCCAT is all things PC gaming hardware: keyboards, mice, and headsets. The latest in the wireless line that end in “Air”, is the Syn Pro Air, an impressive sounding but flawed headset. This is actually hurt to wear, one of few I’ve had to induce so pressure I couldn’t wear them for long. The Syn Pro Air’s sound quality is bolstered by its 50mm drivers, but ROCCAT simply doesn’t quite nail this one with lackluster software and being a painful to wear headset.
Turtle Beach Recon Controller Review
Aug 06, 2021
Turtle Beach have conquered PC and console headsets for years. In that time, they’ve not tried anything with other kinds of hardware, until now. That’s where the Turtle Beach Recon Controller comes in, a wired Xbox and PC controller that’s sure to impress. It’s a wonderful gamepad on its own, but has a plethora of features that those who care deeply about great sound will love. The key takeaway here is that Turtle Beach still has a focus on audio that they’ve done so well with their headsets, now found in a controller.
The Ascent Review
Jul 29, 2021
The Ascent, the debut game composed of veteran developers in Neon Giant is an absolute gem. From the piercing red glow of the menu screen to the shimmering, rain-soaked streets you explore, there’s an impeccable sense of style and substance to be found here. There’s better worldbuilding and atmosphere in ways other cyberpunk games have only tried to do, and where The Ascent fully succeeds. This is an action RPG, with a greater emphasis on the action, thanks to its twin-stick controls. The Ascent feels like the breakout hit of the year, and not to be missed on Xbox or PC.
SkyDrift Infinity Review
Jul 28, 2021
SkyDrift Infinity is a lot of things. It’s remaster, a tenth anniversary, and a little more than Mario Kart in the sky. It’s neat revisiting the game after all this time. It still holds up and manages to be a lot of fun with harrowing air battles, navigating tight crevices, and laying destruction upon your enemies that leave them in a ball of flame. SkyDrift Infinity is a no frills dogfighting meets racing game that’s sure to satisfy arcade pilots once more.
Urban Trial Tricky Deluxe Edition Review
Jul 22, 2021
Urban Trial Tricky Deluxe Edition comes to PC, Xbox, and PlayStation after first debuting on Switch last year. Calling this a mash-up of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Trials is apt, it’s a freestyle motocross game that’s a generous nod to each, but still manages to carve out its own place in the genre. With the third entry in the series, it eschews the grim and grunge of the prior entries has been slowly getting away from. With Urban Trial Tricky Deluxe Edition, it’s an overly saturated and cheerful game that’s complimented by its great controls and casual gameplay to match.
Stonefly Review
Jul 16, 2021
Gliding airily between giant leaves and branches, catching an errant gust of wind to carry you across a chasm, and befriending gigantic grasshoppers are not the sort of experiences we ever get to enjoy, but in Stonefly this is just another Tuesday. Piloting a bulky but nimble mech of insect-like design, you navigate the fantastic setting of a gigantic forested world, as a normal-sized human in a very abnormal setting. The world around you is lush and beautiful, teeming with life and equal parts serene and threatening. There is a real sense of wonder as you make your way through the forest and discover new biomes, new creatures, new villages, and lost artifacts; these are the moments when Stonefly really sings. Once you start to dig into the combat and other game play systems, the game is noticeably less satisfying.
Audeze Penrose Gaming Headset Review
Jul 15, 2021
Gaming Headsets run the gamut in quality and cost. At $299, the Audeze Penrose gaming headset sits on the higher end of that spectrum and delivers a rich audio sound, thanks in part to its 100mm planar magnetic drivers. Although considering its Audeze’s least expensive option for gaming headsets, the Penrose still feels like a great choice in that price range.
F1 2021 Review
Jul 12, 2021
We’re just about halfway through the real-life Formula One season for 2021, which means it’s time for Codemaster’s annual Formula One game, with F1 2021. This is the first Formula One game from Codemasters after being acquired by EA last year, and it’s off to an impressive start with no other changes to what we know and love. F1 2021 is full of returning modes, refined systems, and all-new story mode that’s got heart. Codemasters continues to make the series accessible for newcomers and challenging for its advanced players. F1 2021 is clearly a team effort, and Codemasters have pulled out all the stops, making this by far the best one yet.
Boomerang X Review
Jul 08, 2021
When I’m contorting my face, moving my mouse and body in ways that don’t look natural, then you know I’m playing Boomerang X. By undoing years of practice to not move while gaming, developer DANG! has something special here by getting me in motion like it’s a gaming commercial. This’ll be a game that attracts people by the visuals alone, speedrunning opportunities, or simply those who want to play something different. Boomerang X is all of these things, and more – it’s stylish, accessible, and wholly engrossing as you slip into a Zen-like state taking out creatures with extreme efficiency, without ever touching the ground.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition Review
Jun 25, 2021
Bioware has had many successful franchises over the years, but none have connected with me more, or it seems the general gaming public, as much as Mass Effect. Mass Effect has seemingly become part of pop culture. As with other high-profile Sci-fi properties, I’ve run into my share of N7 apparel out in the wild and Mass Effect flair plastered over people’s, well, anything. You haven’t made it until they make a license plate bracket out of your property. Why yes, Mrs. green Ford Focus in the parking lot, my other ride is also the Normandy. Even after the few downs, the series has fallen into, it still holds on to a passionate fanbase. With the release of the Legendary Edition, we can all relive our Shepard’s tale, with a sharper coat of paint.
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