Xbox Reviews

Tetris Effect: Connected – Not That Effective…

16Nov

By Jay Armstrong1 Comment

Tetris Effect: Connected – Not That Effective…

Tetris Effect: Connected is the follow-up to Tetris Effect. It's actually mostly the same game, only with the addition of all-new co-op and competitive online modes. These modes can also be played locally and are probably where the game really excels. If you're reading this, heck if you're human then you'll know what Tetris is. If you don't know what Tetris is then there's likely a whole lot more to this planet that you've never seen. I'll pause here a moment to let you go learn about things like the sun, air, trees and sandwiches. Now that we're sure you know what Tetris is, what makes Tetris Effect: Connected different? The whole shtick of the game is that it's Tetris with moods. As you manipulate the tetrominos on-screen they'll influence the beat, and the surroundings to help en...

Black Desert – Are Console MMORPGs Worth It?

12Nov

By Gareth TruemanNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Black Desert – Are Console MMORPGs Worth It?

Black Desert is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Korean developer Pearl Abyss that was ported to PlayStation and Xbox in 2019. Originally on the PC it got a huge following with over 10 million registered users. Its huge open world and a new take on manual aiming in combat was a big appeal to gamers. Development had started back in 2018 on a prequel called Crimson Desert but it was later scrapped in favour of it being a stand-alone IP with its own storyline and new characters. Gameplay While Black Desert is gorgeous to look at and the gameplay is swift, smooth and addictive. The rest is a complete let down. One thing that this game does better than anyone else is the customization of your character. It is so in-depth it is unreal. So many hairstyles to ...

Marvel’s Avengers – A Compelling Assembly

25Sep

By ArNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Marvel’s Avengers – A Compelling Assembly

As somewhat of an MCU novice, I was excited to have the opportunity to review Marvel's Avengers, the superhero-packed action role-playing brawler developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix. I say novice, but what I really mean is a total newcomer. Having only recently started to work my way through the Marvel movies (I've just finished Captain America: The Winter Soldier), I can confidently say I approached this game with an almost entirely blank slate and zero expectations. Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your position as a Marvel stan I guess, but if this game has shown me anything, it's that you don't have to exist in the world of the superhero to actually become one. Prior knowledge of this universe is helpful to some, but certainly not a prerequisite w...

28Aug

By Jay ArmstrongNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Battletoads – Toadally Rad!

Every review I seem to write these days leaves me rattling on about nostalgia; and here I am reviewing Battletoads. Rare's IP has been brought back to life by Dlala Studios, acting as both a sequel and a reboot to the series which has been absent since 1994. So here we are 26 years later, a new animation style and a whole range of mechanics crammed into 1 tidy package. Battletoads puts you back in control of one of the titular heroes; Pimple, Rash or Zitz. Harkening back to the 90's series, Battletoads main focus is that of a side-scrolling beat 'em up. Unlike the older games though there is a lot of other modes scattered throughout the campaign. Utilising the self-aware comedy and a modern animated style Dlala Studios has revived the IP with great success. Gameplay Each of the 3 ...

Carrion – Will There Be Peace When You Are Done?

21Aug

By Jay ArmstrongNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Carrion – Will There Be Peace When You Are Done?

Carrion is deemed as an important food source for scavengers and stems from the Latin caro; which directly translates to meat. Meat is quite an accurate description seeing as the protagonist is a gristly, fleshy tentacle monster. In Carrion, you start as this mysterious creature who is escaping from a lab and lost in a Metroidvaniaesque labyrinth as you try and seek out your freedom. Carrion is the sophomore game from Phobia Game Studio and is described as a reverse-horror game. Whilst their debut game, Butcher, flew under the radar back in 2016 Carrion has been thrust into the spotlight with a multi-platform release and even launching as part of Xbox Game Pass. Gameplay Carrion starts off in an eerie and dark lab but as soon as you break free from containment you immediately gain...

31Jul

By ArNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Demolish & Build – Half Built?

If knocking down buildings and literally starting a construction firm from the ground up is your idea of heaven, you’re going to love Demolish & Build, a console-friendly construction simulator developed by Noble Muffins and published by Ultimate Games. Demolish & Build is available on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch as a console-based update to 2018’s PC version of the game. I jumped into Demolish & Build having never touched a construction sim game before. As a first experience, I have to say I'm kind of on the fence about this game. It ended up leaving me with questions about whether or not dogged perseverance (as is so often required in real-life building) actually translates that well into an enjoyable gaming experience. After a fairly confusing and buggy initial play, ...

Maid of Sker – Quite The Sker-y experience…

28Jul

By Jay ArmstrongNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Maid of Sker – Quite The Sker-y experience…

Maid of Sker is the latest title from Wales Interactive, an indie publisher and developer in the heart of Wales. There was a time when the term survival horror became synonymous with the likes of Silent Hill, Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil; whilst Resident Evil has certainly managed to stand the test of time it's clear that nowadays a new breed of horror really makes up the genre. Arguably it was the game series Amnesia that set this new trend, with games like Outlast and Layers of Fear following suit. Maid of Sker is the latest in this style and tells us the tale of Sirens at Sker Hotel and the tragedy that became of the guests there. Set in the late 19th century, Maid of Sker is set on the Welsh folklore of Elisabeth Williams and how her fate was intertwined with the supernatural...

2Jul

By KevinNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Beyond Blue Review – Going Deep

E-Line Media bring us Beyond Blue, a dive into the depths of the ocean to discover more about the creatures that live there. I have strapped on my scuba gear in real life, so time to strap on a virtual one and dive dive dive. Flippers on and ready to sink to the bottom of the Blue Beyond. Gameplay You play Mirai, a keen marine biologist. Beyond Blue is her adventure in the water with an array of other sea creatures. Your task is simple, investigate the waters around you. There are buoys that give clues as to what you need to do so you never get bored. There is a simple tutorial so that you learn all the swimming techniques required. One of your main tasks is simply tagging and tracking the sea life around you, anything from humpback whales to pilot fish. The tasks themselves are not ...

Shantae And The Seven Sirens Review – Shantae, You Stay

9Jun

By ArNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Shantae And The Seven Sirens Review – Shantae, You Stay

Don’t you just love it when a game packs a surprisingly fun punch? Personally, I’m always a big fan of getting my preconceived notions smashed to bits, and suffice it to say that WayForward’s Shantae And The Seven Sirens has done exactly that. As a complete newcomer to the Shantae series, I had no idea what to expect. In fact, the opening titles of this instalment left me wondering if I’d accidentally stumbled into an actual anime cartoon at first. However, on jumping into my first playthrough, I found myself more than pleasantly surprised at this single-player platformer’s box of tricks (with a few caveats, but more on that later). Time to release this Half-Genie from the bottle and discover what makes Shantae And The Seven Sirens a refreshingly enjoyable game. Gameplay Shantae ...

Tour de France 2020 Review – On The Road Again

8Jun

By JasonNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Tour de France 2020 Review – On The Road Again

Jason welcomes cycling enthusiast Si Woodhams to take on the Tour de France 2020! Over to Si! So usually about this time, cyclists across the world are getting ready for the greatest stage race on the Calendar of the Tour de France. However, due to the current situation that we are all too aware of, things have changed. The game of Tour de France 2020 is currently all we have on offer and it is the latest release from devs Cyanide S.A. and published by Nacom. I had the fun of reviewing the 2019 edition and I must say it failed to impress on so many levels, let’s dive into the 2020 version to see if it can readdress my thoughts. Gameplay Tour de France 2020 is a cycling sim and as you can imagine features you, on a bike, racing across the Tour de France route against a host of ...