Reviews
The Solitaire Conspiracy Review
Oct 23, 2020
Tension mounts as the situation at the gala reaches a sticky impasse. Your agents in the field are set to extract a valuable asset from the clutches of a criminal mastermind, but they’re sorely outnumbered and the security detail may be on to them. They’re running out of time to pull the mission off before the asset leaves, and you’re sweating bullets because if you fail, well… let’s not even consider that an option. You crack your knuckles, exhale, and think to yourself, if only I could get Jack out of this corner, I could have him grab a guard and whisk him off where he won’t be able to cause any trouble. You shuffle things around, play with the arrangements, and suddenly the solution presents itself. With fingers moving like lightning across your screen, everything locks into place and you clear the board for your agents to succeed, the music swelling to a crescendo as you drop the last of the face cards onto their respective piles. Another mission in the bag, and another game of Solitaire won.
Pumpkin Jack Review
Oct 23, 2020
When you think of games that represent Halloween without being over-the-top gory, full of jump scares, or otherwise not family friendly, few will come to mind. Pumpkin Jack is one that all ages can play. Though it’s not a clone, it’s very much inspired by games like MediEvil and Jak & Daxter from the PlayStation 2 era, yet stands on its own as a highly enjoyable 3D platformer. It’s no trick, Pumpkin Jack leaves a lasting impression to be an instant Halloween classic.
WHAT THE GOLF? Review
Oct 22, 2020
WHAT THE GOLF? is not a new game, it’s been available on Apple Arcade, recently released on Switch, and already on PC via the Epic Games Store. Now it’s finally come to Steam with all updates and some new additions. And since we haven’t reviewed this yet, let’s talk about how great WHAT THE GOLF? is. The developers at Triband really don’t like golf, but made a game around the idea that only tangentially resembles the sport. It’s a concept that works really well, and will get its hooks in anyone who plays it. WHAT THE GOLF? is a great example of parody and gameplay in perfect harmony.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Review
Oct 14, 2020
Age of Empires III was actually the first game in the franchise I played, and that’s when I fell in love with it. Now, it’s true that Age of Empires III wasn’t as well received as Age of Empires II, but it was a more accessible, digestible game that really worked for me. And after fifteen years, those feelings came back while playing this remaster, this is still my favorite — mainly due to the setting and the story. With completely redone cutscenes, updated animations, Ultra HD textures for up to 4K resolutions, and new civilizations make this an easy sell. Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a bit slimmer compared to its predecessor, with less civilizations and not as complex, remains a tremendous adventure with its singleplayer and multiplayer content.
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! Review
Oct 12, 2020
The Cook, Serve, Delicious! series has been with us since 2012 with a sequel released in 2017. It’s a series that gives me a great way to unwind, even if utter chaos is happening on the screen. So in this apocalyptic year of 2020, Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! is making it’s way into our hearts once again but wouldn’t you know it, the apocalypse has also come to CSD!
Star Renegades Review
Oct 08, 2020
Roguelikes and tactical RPGs are both pretty common fare in the gaming landscape, but whereas most roguelikes are content to stick with a more traditional action-oriented approach, some of the most interesting experiments in the space come as a result of applying their mechanics to other styles of play. Like so many other popular genres, roguelikes are a matter of constant refinements to tried and true methods, so in order to stand apart, one has to really fire on all cylinders and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the typical space, or it has to try something totally different to prove itself a worthy contender. Star Renegades is notable for taking the latter approach, to the extent that in many respects it seems to have been designed as a tactical RPG first and a roguelike second. It’s a bold play that has worked for other notable games in the past, but the approach relies heavily on the core combat mechanics being really strong to succeed.
WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS Review
Sep 28, 2020
WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS is a first of its kind, that does for wrestling like what Saber Interactive’s own NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 did for basketball. You’ll play as caricatures of WWE’s past and present performing exaggerated movesets in extravagant arenas. It’s not a complex game by design, and allows anyone to pick it up and play. Fun is at the forefront, and there’s a strong emphasis on an arcade brawler type of game over the mainline game’s simulation aspects of wrestling. WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS has a surprising amount of depth, but not without a few botches along the way. It’s not enough to deter for what’s enjoyable game that lands a little more than it misses.
Elgato Wave:1 Review
Sep 25, 2020
When it comes to choosing a microphone for recording or broadcasting, there is a literal sea of options to swim through, and a great many considerations to be made. Sound quality is obviously of utmost importance, but so is budget, which can have a cascading impact on quality, interface, and nearly every other aspect of the device you choose. Options range across the spectrum of quality to ease of use, and ultimately you may find yourself in a position where you purchase something that’s “good enough” but leaves you compromising on features or needing to spend more money on additional software or equipment to make up for shortcomings. Things get more complicated when you want to broadcast yourself on the internet instead of just recording yourself or doing video conferencing.
Serious Sam 4 Review
Sep 24, 2020
The Serious Sam series probably doesn’t come to mind for many when someone asks about classic first-person shooters or memorable protagonists. Croteam aims to change that, and Serious Sam 4 works to earn its place in the pantheon of first-person shooters that you’ll remember first. There’s a not-so-serious story in addition to Serious Sam as a playable character seeing improvements by often going the Deadpool route of fourth-wall breaking humor and references. These elements combined, establishes why this series refuses to live in obscurity or niche any longer. Serious Sam 4 doesn’t change the formula, and this is to its benefit, making it a bigger, better, and more planet badass than ever.
Crysis Remastered Review
Sep 22, 2020
Crytek has remastered their science fiction first-person shooter for the modern day with improved textures, software and hardware raytracing, and lighting. And Crysis Remastered does for 2020 just like what the original Crysis did in 2007, and that’s humbling you for having what you’d thought was one of the best gaming PCs. It’s a gorgeous looking game that sees some clear improvements, but also some questionable changes. Crysis Remastered is a nice return to the paradisal island for some sun, fun, and guns, but it’ll have you wondering why they did that, instead of how they did that.
Inertial Drift Review
Sep 21, 2020
I remember when “Initial D” came into prominence in the United States among my friends, similar to how “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” that followed. Their influence on car culture and games were vast. And I’ve been waiting for something to come from a racing game that would innovate and have a similar impact as those TV shows and movies did. Level 91 Entertainment has provided an entirely new way to play racing games, especially when drifting. Intertial Drift forms a mold that many will surely cast from for years to come.
Spellbreak Review
Sep 18, 2020
It’s been three years since PUBG appeared in Early Access on Steam to throw the fledgling Battle Royale multiplayer genre into the spotlight, and since Fortnite seized opportunity and released its own Battle Royale beta later in the same year, further legitimizing an already powerful movement in multiplayer gaming. In the intervening time, Battle Royale has matured into a staple of online multiplayer gaming, both as standalone, focused titles, and add-on modes for other existing franchises. At this point, everything from Battlefield to Fallout to Tetris has tried its hand at Battle Royale, hoping to find a fresh spin on the formula and corner a lucrative chunk of the audience. Trouble is, most Battle Royale games are mutations of a familiar formula, making their own adjustments to the rules, the game’s setting, or small mechanics designed to differentiate without breaking out of a comfort zone, and the result is that most of these games end up feeling pretty similar after a few rounds. Sometimes, iteration and refinement can be good! But three years on from 2017, we’re starting to need more than just “now it’s on a tropical island and there are cars and the ring is a dimensional rift!” What if the way to make a really new and truly interesting game in the now-crowded Battle Royale space is to do something outside of the typical shooter?
art of rally Review
Sep 18, 2020
There are some games that come along that enchant you from the first moment you play them, and that’s art of rally for me. It’s a minimalistic rally game from Absolute Drift developer, Funselektor. Whether you know rally or not, this is a game anyone can pick-up and play by making it as easy or hard as you like. Racing iconic vehicles from the 60s through the 90s is immensely satisfying thanks to the sublime controls and superb environments. art of rally is at the apex of excellence, and not to be missed.
The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos Review
Sep 17, 2020
A ranger, an elf, a dwarf, a magician, an ogre, and a thief all walk into an inn. Well, I don’t have a punchline for this, but the setup takes care of itself. The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos is the result of parody becoming palpable. Developer Artefacts Studio takes this satirical creation, and gives it life. While there’s a lot of moments where I chortled at a silly comment, or got held up by an especially difficult combat sequence, The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos is of two minds that never quite coalesces.
ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual-Band + WiFi 6 Gaming Router Review
Sep 16, 2020
While I’m just coming off having used the RT-AX82U for several weeks, I’ve now been introduced to its big brother, the ASUS RT-AX86U. It’s a router that boasts faster speeds and wider coverage, which we’ll put to the test. The router’s biggest feature is being able to serve an aggregated 2Gbps of internet bandwidth, which makes it rest comfortably between being a professional-grade and a personal-grade monster. This dual-band router surpasses the RT-AX82U, ever so slightly but in important ways. The ASUS RT-AX86U is a whole home internet device that looks to the future, while providing you a secure method of traversing the internet right now.
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