G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout Review

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October 30, 2020

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Not going to lie, we weren’t hugely aware that there was even a CASE 1. We’ll sidestep our ignorance on that one and get our teeth into CASE 2: Animatronics Survival, which is out now on Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.

The first instinct is to dismiss this as a Five Nights at Freddy’s clone, with the freaky plushes switched out for animatronics. But CASE seems to have its own rabid fanbase: enough to warrant a sequel, and to give it a 9/10 score on Steam (the PC version of CASE 2 has been around for a fair while). There might be more to this survival horror than meets the eye.

Let’s hope there is, because the graphics are looking ropey, to say the least. There’s a block 2010-ness about the environments, and the grainy darkness can’t completely hide it. That said, the animatronics themselves seem well animated, and look like they might find a phobia that we didn’t think we had. Animatronics – who knew?

CASE 2 is actually a prequel to the events of CASE 1, so this might be a decent jumping in point. You play Jack, who – we’re reliably informed – has lost everything, and something in his past is looking to catch up with him. No doubt, CASE 2: Animatronics Survival will be about confronting that and resolving it.

The thing that grabs us the most is the Wii U-like tablet you hoick about in CASE 2, which allows you to watch security cameras and get a headstart on the freaky animatronics. There’s an authentic look to the CCTV footage that seems particularly well done.

Features include:

A well-considered story with its own characteristics;
Unexpected situations that will make you think;
A lot of different game locations;
Use the tablet: watch security cameras, manage and monitor the situation;
Solve new puzzles, but look out… they are watching you.

We’re not completely sold on CASE 2: Animatronics Survival, but that’s judging this particular book on its cover. Perhaps this survival horror has something to really keep us up at night.
CASE 2: Animatronics Survival is rampaging around on Xbox One and will cost you £12.49. It’s also out on PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

Game Description:

Two years before the attack on the police station, there was a terrible tragedy in the city, which led to the closure of the amusement park. Some believe it was an accident – others, that it was a well-planned act of intimidation. Leaflets about missing people filled the city streets. You play as Jack. He is a man who has lost everything. Soon he’ll have to pay for his crime. The past has finally caught up with him… Try to save him.

Cube Raiders is Devil Dice cubed on Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC

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October 30, 2020

Remember Devil Dice? We do, and it’s a game that’s ripe for a spiritual successor. Many a day was spent on the PS1 trying to get a die to flip just so. Then there was Intelligent Cube, again on the PS1, with its rows of cubes looking to stomp you down. Man, the PS1 was absolutely the home for games with cubes in. Cube Raiders is out now on Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.

Looking to bring the cube back is Cube Raiders, and it’s definitely got a touch of the Devil Dice. You play Rose and/or Kirk, two little leprechaun-like characters, as you hope to roll cubes and dice over to form lines with your MagnetoGloves, match numbers, or place them in slots marked on the ground.

There are four different game modes on offer in Cube Raiders, and up to two players can join the block-knocking. It seems there are 99 levels for solo players to complete, and 59 for cooperative play, so there’s no shortage of brain-twisters.

Trailers don’t fill us with stacks of optimism, but you never know. It all seems a tad familiar, for anyone who’s come across a similar puzzle in umpteen platformers or adventure games, while the art style is twee for our tastes. Perhaps it’s got some tricks up its sleeves, but developer Void Games haven’t got anything else under their belts to quell our skepticism.

Features include:

Face the dangers and surprises in each temple and solve more than 99 puzzles for just one player.
Have fun together and play a joint adventure with more than 59 puzzles created for two players.
Get the highest score in “Endless” mode before time runs out or the entire floor gets filled with dice!
Put companionship aside and show who the best Cube Raider is in the “Duel” mode.

Cube Raiders is rolling the dice now on Xbox One and will cost you £10.74. It’s also out on PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.

Game Description:

Cube Raiders is a fun puzzle game for one or two players where you have to combine groups of dice using the energy of MagnetoGloves to solve puzzles. Join Rose and Kirk in this head-breaking Cube Adventure and prove that you are a true Cube Raider. Cube Raiders offers gamers four different game modes for one or two players.

Transformers: Battlegrounds Review

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Richard Hart

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October 30, 2020

Ever since Firaxis released XCOM, the profile of turn-based squad level strategy has increased, and there has been a wave of contenders releasing on console and PC with mixed success. Even the mighty Julian Gollop returned to the fray with the long gestating “Phoenix Point”, attempting to embrace the modern whilst still retaining some of the old granular charm of the original X-COM: UFO Defence.

Transformers: Battlegrounds has attempted to take the theme of small-scale skirmishes between a few characters on each side and move it to the Transfomers setting, with many of the familiar 80’s toy characters present, including Megatron, Starscream, Bumblebee, Grimlock (my favourite as a kid) and, of course, Optimus himself.

The game sees you take the role of an unnamed human caught up in a skirmish between the good-guy Autobots and the bad-guy Decepticons. Luckily, you are not Shia and the humans aren’t a big part of the story. Instead, you are whisked up into the air for safety – something that makes little sense given that most of the Decepticons can transform into planes. You can then issue orders of move and attack to your Transformers as they take on legions of generic bad-guys, as well as named ones that offer a bit more of a challenge.

The controls are fairly simple, with the shoulder buttons used to change characters or dictate which attack you plan to use. Each character has three actions so they are all quite nimble, though each can generically only attack once. It’s quite possible to start off out of view of your enemies, make an attack and then vanish back behind cover again. However, as your opponents can often move quite a long way, they can easily get back into an attacking position; cover is far less important than in XCOM.

Much of the terrain is breakable, which makes sense given the huge scale of the battling behemoths. Fences collapse as you walk over them, parked cars explode and rocks produce dust-clouds, for some reason, when they are hit by gunfire. Later on in the campaign you’ll also encounter energon cubes which will charge up your “ultimate” meter that will allow you to make some great special moves. These energon cubes are, however, unstable and a couple of hits will see them blow up, causing a lot of damage to anyone standing by them.

Combat is fairly straightforward, with most characters packing a ranged shot and then a variable special attack which has more range or damage depending on how many actions you dedicate to it. Bumblebee has a stinger attack with his sword which can also nerf the enemy characters’ ability to return fire, whilst Grimlock just chomps pieces of metal out of the hide of his foes. Most enemy grunts can only take a few hits before dying so combat is fairly swift, and the good-guys are far tougher than the average bad-guy. Named villains, especially bosses, put up far more of a fight and are often backed by a swarm of generic grunts.

As you work through the campaign, which is actually fully voice acted though the presentation is almost as a static comic book, you’ll earn spark points which can be spent to unlock and equip new attacks for your characters. As you progress, you’ll also encounter and unlock the use of new characters, often swapping a few members of your squad around, though only three Autobots can be deployed into combat. Unlike XCOM, this game doesn’t feature perma-death, so you can avoid Transformers 1984-style trauma.

The missions tend to be fairly simple with either a “reach this spot” or “take out the baddies” as your directive. Your team, which can consist of nimble scouts, healing support characters and hard-hitting brawlers, will need to work together to overcome the numerically superior enemies, but the challenge level is usually nice and low. You can also replay a level at a higher difficulty level to earn more spark points but the desire to grind out these is fairly minimal, with the level variation beyond the scenery low.

Graphically, Transformers: Battlegrounds is quite nice, with simple cartoony graphics that offer something closer to a modern cartoon show than either the anime inspired 80’s cartoons or the CGI madness of the awful Michael Bay movies. The characters move well around the maps, with decent little touches such as transforming when they cross over a building or are moving quickly. The scenery is a bit bland, but nice and colourful, and you can always tell what everything is and what it is meant to be.

The sound effects are fine, if a bit childish, with little beeps and zips for the weapon sounds and the transformation noises, though not quite the cherished ones of the 80’s cartoons. The audience for Battlegrounds appears to be that of parents to play this game with their kids or the kids to play the game alone. And that works as the game is simple, not too challenging and there’s no content that would worry a parent. The violence is very cartoony and there’s no “death” as such, though plenty of mild peril.

In terms of difficulty, it offers a gradually increasing challenge as you’ll be pushed to learn new concepts, to equip the right skills and to use your team efficiently. The new toys are drip fed in gradually and you’ll never feel overwhelmed. For a child, this is probably about the right speed, though anyone under, say, seven or eight playing alone may prefer something that runs a bit quicker. However, with only three friendlies to move, the turns roll over quite fast.

The game also features a simple arcade mode so you can recreate some fights and even play local multiplayer.

All in all, Transformers: Battlegrounds on Xbox One offers a nice, simple set of virtual toys that you can play with, with a campaign of decent length and some interesting choices to make about customization and which characters to use. It lacks, of course, the deep customization of something like XCOM or XCOM 2, and there is something to be said that without permadeath the model doesn’t quite have the same tension. You know that if Bumblebee bites the dust, he’ll be back in the next mission.

For younger gamers Battlegrounds may well hold more appeal with the lack of mission and enemy variety, as well as the somewhat simplistic squad management being probably about the right level. It’s also quite conceivable that a parent and child combo could have some fun playing this one through together.

Up Next: The Pick of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Games in November 2020

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October 30, 2020

Sure, sure, Cyberpunk 2077 has delayed and the sky is falling. But let’s not write November off: we have the launch of the Xbox Series X|S, and one of the most rammed months in recent memory. The best and the brightest of the triple-A games have been held back for this moment, so that they can pull a Blue Steel and look their best on new hardware. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, the new COD, DIRT 5 and a Need for Speed remaster are all lining up, and man do they ooze money.

Then there’s Xbox Game Pass, which is shunting some stellar games our way this month, including the first-party Gears Tactics, and the indie triple-header of Knights & Bikes, Deep Rock Galactic and Tetris Effect: Connected. That’s not to mention the folding-in of EA Play on November 10th.

There’s plenty to scratch onto a Christmas list, then, and more than enough to make the delay to Cyberpunk seem like a moderate nuisance. No, no, November – you’re breathtaking.

Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered – 6th November

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We have a grudge against Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Way back in 2010, EA decided to pull Criterion from the Burnout franchise to work on their first Need for Speed. Sure, Hot Pursuit was good and all that, winning awards and whatnot, but you took away our Burnout, EA.

Rant over. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered celebrates the 10th Anniversary of its launch with a glitzy, modernised revamp. It looks spick and span, it has all the original DLC, and we’re getting another six hours of gameplay on top of that. The Autolog system is still present and correct too, connecting you up with mates and thrusting their improved scores down your gullet.

We’re willing to give it another chance and let bygones be bygones when Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered launches on November 6th on Xbox One, PS4 and PC, while Switch players have to wait till the 13th.

DIRT 5 – 6th November

We’re a world away from the original Colin Mcrae Dirt. Credit where its due – and some hardcore rally fans will disagree – but Dirt has moved on from being niche interest, and has managed to stay relevant. That’s in no small part down to its embracing of wider motorsporting, and that embrace gets a hell of a lot wider with DIRT 5.

If there’s a race or car that prefers mud over tarmac, then it’s here. Muscle cars, buggies, rock bouncers (I had zero idea of what this was, so consider me learned Codemasters), modern rallycross, traditional rally driving – it’s all present. Stick in boxcar racing and they’ve pretty much done it all. Then there are the races, like gymkhanas, gate crashers and smash attacks. Like The Blob, Dirt is slowly growing to encompass Motorstorm, Destruction Derby and a number of other lost racers. If you could absorb the masterful Blur next time, Codies, that would be great.

Did you know that Nolan North and Troy Baker are voicing the campaign? We really don’t need to give you more reasons to pick Dirt 5 up when it comes out on the 6th November.

Planet Coaster: Console Edition – 10th November

I work down the road from Frontier, who disappointingly don’t have a rollercoaster in their backyard (or a dinosaur, or a spaceship). But they do make a mean rollercoaster game, having sharpened their tools on Rollercoaster Tycoons and the ill-fated Screamer.

Having spent so much of my childhood upping the salt content in my fries and then watching people chunder on the waltzers (Theme Park, you heathens), Planet Coaster: Console Edition puts a smiley face in a bubble above my head. We’re well up for playing this one.

The two emphases in the title of this one are ‘Planet’ and ‘Console’. Frontier are taking their love of rollercoasters to a global audience, using the ‘Frontier Workshop’ as a storefront for players to share their park designs with each other, making it truly ‘Planet’-spanning. Plus, the devs have done their damnedest to make a console-phobic game simple enough to be played with a pad.

Expect a review of whether this homegrown game has managed either task when Planet Coaster: Console Edition comes out from the 10th of November on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4 and PS5.

The Falconeer – 10th November

Remember Lair, the launch title for PS3? It was balls, but it sold us on a dream of being an aerial menace, flying the world and raining napalm death down on enemies. You wouldn’t know it from the title of The Falconeer (we were envisaging something between Eagle Flight and Flower. It’s not), but we’re getting some Lair-ish vibes, and it has infinitely more chance of achieving that dream.

You are a war-bird – a combination of falcon and pilot – and you’re given an open world called the Great Ursee to swoop around in. It’s a hell of a world, going by the fantastic trailer-work that’s been put out, with nightmare cities, huge Waterworlds and flying airships. There’s dogfighting to be had in the skies above them, and The Falconeer has one over STAR WARS: Squadrons, because you get to fight beetles, dragons and mantarays. Eat that, Poe Dameron.

Wired Productions have released a few duffers recently after a run of great games, but this really does look like a return to form. Check it out when The Falconeer lands on our gloved mitts on the packed 10th of November, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 10th November

Whew, the trailer for Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a rollercoaster. Part of me wants to eye-roll at the Swerty-style weirdness, as SEGA cram it with as many pre-packaged memes to fill r/gaming for the next decade. But that part of me can get stuffed, as it just looks so fun, and that’s exactly the remedy that the world needs now.

You play Ichiban, wrongly incarcerated and finally released at the ripe old age of 40. You were once in a Yakuza gang, but an old friend has since dismantled it, and you’re looking to make a name for yourself again. There’s a motley band to form, as you gather renegade cops, homeless nurses and a hostess to your banner.

But that’s not the half of it. There’s karaoke, Dragon’s Den pitching, some kind of Kentucky Derby mini-game, JRPG-like summons (but switching out Shiva for a lobster) and enough Shenmue-like distractions to make you actually question what the hell is the core gameplay for this game? Genuinely, we’re not sure.

As a side course for the Yakuza series, and a trailblazer for the Xbox Series X (it’s here, people), this looks bonkers. Check it out from the 10th of November on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4 and PC. Expect a PS5 release later down the line, on the 2nd of March 2021.

Gears Tactics – 10th November

In a slight twist-that-isn’t-a-twist-really, we have already reviewed Gears Tactics, having done the dirty and played it on PC. We will still give it a spin on the Xbox Series X, but we’re not ashamed to say that we gave it a 5/5: a rare accolade on TheXboxHub.

Much hype, then. Not least because the many Game Pass owners among us will be getting to play it, on launch, for free (okay, not free, but you get it). If you’re not sure what this Tactics malarkey is, then imagine the Gears of War franchise chainsawed out of the shooter genre, and bolted onto the X-Com turn-based tactics genre.

For lore nerds, this takes place 12 years before the events of Gears of War, landing you on the outpost world of the Planet Sera, just as the Locust hordes emerge for the first time. There’s no Marcus or Cole Trains here (we’re guessing), so there’s a new crew, led by your character Gabe Diaz, to fall bromantically in love with.

Now Cyberpunk’s evacuated the bowels of November, Gears Tactics is the game I’m most up for. Come get some when Gears Tactics launches on Xbox One and Xbox Series X (on Game Pass, to boot), on the 10th of November.

XIII – 10th November

I’m trying to rack my brains for a mainstream game that did cel-shading (proper cel-shading, not your Comix Zone rubbish) before XIII. Cel Damage, perhaps? Whatever the answer, XIII was a bit of a trailblazer in the looks department way back in 2003, and it’s a shame that it received such a muted welcome when it launched, and that it hasn’t built up a huge cult following since.

The multiplayer was reasonably duff, if memory serves, but as a story campaign XIII was a doozy. Based on a graphic novel, it involved a 24-like conspiracy, as various high-ranking officials tried to take down the president. This was a first-person shooter, and the gunplay was good fun.

The game ended on a cliffhanger, so we’re hoping that enough interest builds up again that a sequel could feasibly get greenlit. That or Microids cut their losses and add in some extra levels for the remaster, concluding the plot. Go on, you know you want to.

If you didn’t play the original – and, frankly, not many people did – then the 10th of November is the day to play XIII on the Xbox One, PS4 and PC – with a Switch release coming next year. Honestly, are there any games not coming out on the 10th?

Tetris Effect: Connected – 10th November

What gives, Tetris? You chuck PS4 one of the defining PSVR games, and then you give Switch the seminal Tetris 99. As the great Dr. Evil once said, throw us a frigging line-block bone here.

Let’s not grump, as we’re getting Tetris Effect: Connected, and it’s so full of stuff that it’s a wonder that it doesn’t disappear, dropping the next set of blocks down. For starters, you’re getting the humongous joys of Tetris Effect in the package. This is a riotous cacophony of visuals and bangers, meshing together to create a sensory barrage that rivals sex in a moving caravan.

Then there are the social elements. We might not be getting battles against 98 opponents, but it’s close. There’s an all-new co-op mode, competitive online modes and – of course, pssht – local multiplayer modes. Then there’s the real news, that it’s all coming to Game Pass on launch, so there will be millions of opponents all screaming for that line-block.

As with every game this month, Tetris Effect: Connected is out on the 10th of November on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Game Pass, as well as PS4 and PC.

Fuser – 10th November

God bless you, Harmonix. Any other company would have been wiped out by the Great Peripherals Crash of 2015, but they have trucked along on the funds from Rock Band song packs, and continued to bring us innovative, lauded, but commercially unsuccessful games. Let’s hope Fuser bucks the trend and finally pockets Harmonix some hard-earned cash.

Fuser draws together a couple of Harmonix’s older games in an attempt to create a coherent whole. There’s a lot of DJ Hero in the casting of the player as a DJ, sampling songs and then splicing them live onstage to a virtual festival. Then there’s DropMix, the physical media side-hustle from Harmonix, where you can very easily and simply drop in tracks to mash-up, and Fuser borrows from that too.

Tracks come from Dua Lipa, Basement Jaxx, Whitney Houston. The Killers, Khalid and more, so it’s eclectic to say the least. The trailers certainly make it look like a good time, but will Harmonix have learned from their past mistakes? There’s certainly no giant plastic peripherals from MadCatz, so that’s something.

Fuser launches on Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC on the 10th of November.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – 10th November

In an announcement that surprised literally nobody, Ubisoft revealed that Assassin’s Creed would be coming to the Viking peoples with Valhalla. Then we were bombarded by some of the most sensational screenies and trailers this side of Ragnarok, and the hype-Jormungandr has been roaring ever since.

As with most modern Assassin’s Creed games, there is bugger-all assassination going on: instead, you’re taking your Viking raider, Eivor, on a pillaging spree to ninth-century England. I’m sure we’ve all fantasised about that over the past few months. We’re a hostile land, so the materials say, which I’m sure most pre-pillaged lands would be.

The neat gimmicks this time round are the raids themselves, which look brutal, as you overrun encampments in minutes, and the settlements you will build on the bones of the fallen English. You’ll be building and then upgrading your wee town, unlocking quests as you do so. Apparently there are tattoo missions after building a tattoo parlour: hopefully we can stealth-tattoo a Ubisoft logo onto Kratos’ buttcheeks.

You already know whether you’re picking this one up, and on stonking new hardware too. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla launches on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, PC and Google Stadia from 10th November.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory – 11th November

Natter to any Kingdom Hearts fan and they will invariably tell you a) which moments made them cry and b) that the music is the absolute business. It’s a conversation we’ve had more times than we’d like, so it’s time to get some common ground and hear all of the Square/Disney bangers in one place with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.

If you’ve played Theatrhythm Final Fantasy then you’ll have a handle on what happens here. Critical moments from across the series’ history play out in the background, while rhythm-action beats and taps play over the soundtrack. Get high scores to unlock more modes and tracks, and play as your choice of characters from across the series. It looks like everyone is present and correct, and you’ll form a team of three from the dozens that you’ll unlock.

There’s 140+ songs here, which is flipping gargantuan. For a rhythm action title it’s a crazy number, so the hardcore Keybladers (the internet didn’t have a name for Kingdom Hearts fans, so we’ve come up with our own) will love it. Theatrhythm didn’t come out on the Xbox One, so it’s also something of a treat that it graces our green shores. Hopefully more Square hits will arrive on an Xbox in the future.

You’ll be getting goofy with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory on the 11th of November on Xbox One, Switch and PS4.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – 13th November

As someone who fell off the Call of Duty bandwagon somewhere around Ghosts, it’s hard to pinpoint the stuff that will make a COD-lover salivate. Let’s give it a shot.

It’s Raven Software’s turn this time, so we get a Black Ops-flavoured meal. The pendulum has also swung back into the solo campaign’s favour, so we’re actually getting one this time. It’s a time-shifting story, focusing on a few landmark moments from the Cold War, including Vietnam circa 1968, East Berlin and USSR in 1981. There’s a weird animatronic of Ronald Reagan that turns up, plus a character who somehow looks like Kurt Russell and Brad Pitt at the same time.

Let’s be honest, most players couldn’t give a Weapon Blueprint for the solo game experience, as it’s the multiplayer that keeps people sticking around. Warzone, the F2P battleground, remains, this time launching on day one, while the multiplayer stuff is cross-platform, cross-generation and cross-buns. Credit to Activision-Blizzard, bringing communities together when they could be at their most fractured.

We’ll park any jokes about overboard monetisation structures for now, and simply point out that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War comes out on November 13th for the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5 and PC.

At some point over November, we’ll also get to pull on the plastic gloves and unbox our Xbox Series X – a moment we will cherish. And whoever says that the launch lineup is lacking can go do one: this list alone shows that we’re going to get zero sleep from the 10th of November onwards.

Do return in December when maybe, perhaps, probably we will be getting that Cyberpunk game. I guess other games will launch too.

Latest Chernobylite trailer confirms current and next-gen console release

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October 30, 2020

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It’s been sat in Steam Early Access for the best part of a year, but now The Farm 51 are looking to ramp up the hype behind their upcoming sci-fi RPG survival horror game Chernobylite, with news that the game will now also be coming to both current, and next-gen consoles.

Since initial Early Access launch, Chernobylite has come a long way, packed with updates and new features. But today it begins to open up to a whole new audience with confirmation that it will be launching in 2021 not just on PC, but also current and next-gen consoles. Whilst no specific consoles have yet been named, we’d hazard a massive guess and throw Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 and PS5 out there. Hell, you never know, it may also drop on Nintendo Switch.

This console drop becomes a possibility thanks to a partnership between The Farm 51 Studio and those at All in! Games (Ghostrunner). Thanks to the cooperation, the game will get many more distribution channels (including streaming platforms) and will be professionally localized in more languages than originally planned. But before this happens you can already enjoy another massive update that has just been added to the game. The Mega Patch is the penultimate one before the game’s content is complete, and is rolling out to the Early Access brigade right now. Here’s what you can expect from it:

Two new quests to complete – Dig deeper into either Olivier’s or Olga’s story. Or explore both to add new plot pieces for discovering Chernobylite’s mystery.
Two new levels, and additional locations on the already existing ones, to be discovered – Fractal World “The Woman in the Red Dress” is the conclusion of a new investigation on the board, and “Stealing Adrianna’s technology” will especially be enjoyed by those of you who asked how Igor got his VR helmet. On top of that, you’ll be able to explore additional locations added to the levels you already know. So make sure to revisit them and find them all. Just remember – you’ll need one of the new “toys” for that.
And yes, by “toys” we mean new weapons! – Test either the Chernobylite Blaster or enjoy the Anti-Chernobylite Burner that will help you to access the already mentioned new locations. Warning! Don’t visit them unless you’re not ready for a whole load of new events, as we’ve added over 40 of them within all levels.
AI improvements – Get ready for a perceptible change in the way soldiers behave when patrolling and searching for you. But most importantly, beware of the Black Stalker, as fighting him now is a real challenge. Mark our words.

If you’ve not yet heard of Chernobylite then you need to get with the times. It is a science-fiction RPG survival horror experience from the team behind the critically-acclaimed Get Even, mixing free exploration of its disturbing world with challenging combat, crafting, and non-linear storytelling. Made possible via the power of Unreal Engine 4 and working with Reality 51’s scanning technology, The Farm 51 have been working on it for more than five years.

Key features of Chernobylite include:

Explore a beautiful and horrifyingly accurate 3D-scanned recreation of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Collaborate or compete with other stalkers in the Zone. But whatever you do, never fully trust them. Remember, everybody has a hidden agenda.
Face and survive natural and supernatural threats.
Immerse yourself in a thrilling, non-linear science-fiction horror story.
Make good use of your chemistry and physics knowledge to craft equipment and manage supplies.
Fight against savage creatures pouring out of an alternate reality.
Investigate and collect data with a set of sophisticated environmental and substance-analyzing tools.

Chernobylite is available now on Steam Early Access and Games in Development on GOG.com. It’ll be published by All in! Games, and launch in 2021 on PC, current-gen, and next-gen consoles. We’ll be sure to let you know once we have more.

Legends of Ethernal takes a stab at Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC

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October 30, 2020

The best part of writing launch pieces for TheXboxHub is getting sidewinded by games you’ve never heard of. Legends of Ethernal is certainly one of those games: it’s the first from debut outfit Lucid Dreams Studios, it’s arrived with little to no fanfare, yet it looks the absolute business. Legends of Ethernal is out now on Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.

There’s a little of Limbo in there, a smidge of Shantae and – going back a little here – a dose of Legend of Zelda 2. You play a young boy who comes back to his village, only to find it ransacked and your parents missing. Rather than cry into your moccasins, you’re on a journey to recover your parents, and to reveal the truth of what befell them.

This is an action-platformer with a heavy emphasis on narrative, while the art style is colourful and painterly. It looks like it has been created with real care, and we’re well up for exploring it. Lucid Dreams Studio reassure that the world is chock-full of puzzles and boss encounters, and it’s the bosses in particular that look the spangliest. We’re particularly taken with a frog-like boss that seems to be challenging you to a blowpipe contest.

Slightly unusually for games of its type, there’s a reasonably intricate crafting system in here, while it seems some Metroidvania-ness creeps in (when doesn’t it?), with your character gaining abilities that unlock previously locked areas. Depending on the size of your ambition, there’s a Hardcore Mode and Relaxed Mode too.

Features include:

Evolving Gameplay – Enjoy mechanics that are unlocking with weapons and items that you find
Challenging Dungeons – Solve puzzles and unleash your strategies against boss battles in multiple dungeons
Crafting System – Gather ethers and craft items during the course of your journey to help you progress through the game
Unique and Gorgeous Art – Admire beautiful 2D hand-drawn art covering multiple environments, scaling up to a resolution of 4K on supported platforms
– Enigmatic Events Experience a compelling and linear storyline with great characters
Melodic Musical Score – Listen to the wonderfully crafted score, produced and recorded by veteran musician William Gough
Multiple Difficulty Levels – Try the hardcore mode for an intense experience or enable Relaxed Mode to help you complete the game

It’s going to be fascinating to see if Legends of Ethernal catapults Lucid Dreams Studio into the big leagues. From the children’s book aesthetic and the look of the bosses, we’re hopeful. Expect a review soon.

Legends of Ethernal is out now on Xbox One and will cost you £16.74. It’s also out on PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.

Game Description:

Welcome to the World of Arkanys. On a day like any other, a young boy returns home to find it in ruins and his parents, gone. Armed with courage and driven by the pain of his loss, he sets out on a journey to uncover the truth behind his family’s disappearance… But what he discovers will forever change the World of Arkanys… Legends of Ethernal is a 2D single-player action adventure game where you need to explore beautiful hand-crafted environments, solve clever puzzles and battle challenging creatures to uncover the truth about your parents’ disappearance.

NHL 21 Review

By

Richard Dobson

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October 30, 2020

It could just be 2020 cancelling public events, but I have found myself playing a lot of sports games this year. I was fortunate to review Madden 21 and R.B.I Baseball 20 despite only knowing about one of these sports, and it wasn’t the one with the bat. I purchased FIFA 21 after swearing not to because it didn’t include Elland Road; heck, I even bought PGA TOUR 2K21.

Which brings me to NHL 21, a sport I know very little about. If pushed, I do have a hockey team though – the Colorado Avalanche; the team I played as the last time I played an ice hockey game: NHL Hitz Pro in 2003. Let’s see what I can remember from 17 years ago.

Thankfully, there is a hefty tutorial to start things off in NHL 21, and it isn’t long before you will be deking about the rink. I hope that is the correct terminology. The tutorial gives a great introduction to the dual stick controls, and you’ll be pinging the puck around the rink with ease. Defending though remains a weak point; not because of the tutorial, but purely due to my ineptitude.

After the slickness of Madden and FIFA, the menus of NHL 21 seem a bit confusing. The aforementioned sports titles will usually keep your latest game mode on the main menu and then offer a much more dynamic feel to the options available. NHL 21 instead lets you select your three/four main modes and ‘pin’ them to the top menu; everything else is hidden below in a separate menu.

The main menu does put its accessibility options front and centre though, I am pleased to note. Menu narration is also on by default, so straight off the bat – or stick if you please – it is aiming to be more accessible to more people.

One thing that has been brought in line with Madden and FIFA this time around is the revamped Be a Pro mode, NHL’s career mode. It has been greatly expanded to be much more in-depth and engaging. After creating a rather generic looking character, the Be a Pro hub offers plenty of information to digest. Here you can check your player’s stats, overall rating, likeability, social media followers and dynamic line scores. You also have a skill tree, giving an RPG-lite feel to this mode where you can purchase traits to improve your skills and also ‘equip’ specialities that act like passive abilities for your player.

On the ice, you have the option to simulate the action whenever your player is not involved, or you can keep an eye on the action whilst reviewing your current performance and objectives through the Coach Feedback menu.

You can choose to start straight into the NHL or in one of the feeder divisions and take your chances in the draft. Then, in between matches you will have conversations with members of the press, fellow teammates or even direct with the coach. Despite being face-to-face they take the form of text conversations, without any real speech. Whilst it may reflect 2020 to have most conversations over instant messaging, it is still disappointing for a triple-A sports title to not have any voice work.

Once again, Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) returns to take as much money from you as possible. There is another welcome tutorial here to help you get to grips with this mode because – despite being made alongside Madden and FIFA – there is still a lack of coherence in the menus and UI of all the titles.

For anyone that has played FIFA Ultimate Team though, HUT follows a similar gameplay loop with Squad Battles, Rivals and Online Divisions being three of the biggest draws. There are also Squad Building Challenges, but in HUT these are simply called Sets. Unlike FIFA though, returning to HUT every day offers a free pack to open and boost your roster with.

New this year to HUT is HUT Rush. Available as a separate mode from traditional HUT, Rush is exactly what it implies – fast-paced alternate rules hockey that feels even more arcade than the traditional NHL 21 experience.

As a newcomer, I had to check at times whether NHL 21 was an arcade sports title or a simulation one. More standard modes such as Franchise Mode and Be a Pro still feel very arcade-y, despite this aiming to be a simulation. You have a ton of control and options available to you when using the Skill Stick controller layout, that really allows you to fine-tune your players’ actions and movements, but this can’t hide the fact that the puck will be pinging about between players as you pass it around.

However, this does mean that HUT Rush and World of Chel – essentially NHL 21’s version of Volta mode in FIFA or The Yard in Madden – are much more enjoyable modes as a result. This year’s World of Chel introduces Seasons; if you’ve ever played a game with live elements then you know what to expect here, and World of Chel Seasons are no different.

Between this, HUT Rush and their ability to offer a steady stream of rewards, you’ll likely spend most of your time in these two modes. With their many options to tweak traditional hockey rules such as number of players or golden goal games, their variation does them a lot of favours.

Commentary is the weakest element of these modes, especially in comparison with the bigger options. Franchise and Be a Pro feature great commentary – perhaps the best in the EA Sports catalogue. It doesn’t sound choppy when inserting team or player names, and does a great job detailing the action on the ice. Compare this to commentary on World of Chel that sounds like a bad impression of an X-Games commentator, and the difference is night and day.

In recent years, EA Sports have added plenty of new modes across their licensed games, and NHL 21 on the Xbox One is no exception; there is a lot of ice hockey on offer. The variety will offer something for everyone, but there are issues with the gameplay on the rink that mean some modes work better than others. There probably isn’t enough here to convert a non-hockey fan – and perhaps not enough ‘new’ features for returning fans to be excited about – but on the basis of NHL 21, it is one of the better annual releases from EA Sports this time around.

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 55: Cyberpunk sparks nightmare delays

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October 30, 2020

It might be the eve of Halloween, however it’s not the ghouls and ghosts that strike fear into TheXboxHub team. No, they’re too busy being scared witless by nightmarish delays like Cyberpunk 2077, the sheer volume of gaming news in general, and the massive amount of upcoming games for Xbox Series X|S and PS5. So, without further ado, let’s delve into TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 55!

This week, Gareth and James have drafted in William to discuss everything that’s occurring at the moment. While the world outside of gaming continues to contend with the pandemic, James has been watching Ju-On: Origins, a prequel Netflix series to the Ju-On films – better known as The Grudge. Could this Japanese Horror be an ideal choice for your viewing pleasure this Halloween?

Proceedings swiftly move into the realm of gaming, with a look forward to some of the most anticipated games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S and PS5 like Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Demon’s Souls. The trio also shared their opinions on the latest gameplay video of the latter. Then attention turns to the delays for Cyberpunk 2077 and Far Cry 6, as well as the waiting times for the next-gen versions of FIFA 21 and Madden NFL 21. That’s before news of the people working on Halo Infinite and Everwild who have left their roles. Additionally, the team went over the recent official walkthrough of the Xbox Series X and its snazzy features.

And finally, all three participants of the podcast talk about the games they’ve played in the last week. You can expect to hear opinions regarding Watch Dogs Legion, My Universe – School Teacher, and Jackbox Party Pack 7.

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

If you’ve never heard of this podcast, then let us change that for you. What you need to know is that the TheXboxHub Official Podcast is a weekly podcast in which the team behind the written word get together to chat about all things Xbox, gaming, and life in general.

You can find this latest episode of our podcast on all the usual podcasting apps and options. That means it is available by searching for TheXboxHub on…

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5R1HikNQ6jcmiZvbFizmRt
iTunes – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1476044398
Google Podcasts
Podbean – https://thexboxhub.podbean.com/
Podcast Addict
Stitcher – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/thexboxhub-official-podcast
… and many more.

Further links…

Main site with news and reviews – www.thexboxhub.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/thexboxhub
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/XboxHub
Instagram – https://instagram.com/thexboxhub
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/TXHVideo
Gareth Brierley on Twitter – https://twitter.com/gbbrierley
James Birks on Twitter – https://twitter.com/oKidUKo
William Caruana on Twitter – https://twitter.com/DrVidGame

Jeopardy! PlayShow on Xbox One draws on 35 years worth of Jeopardy! questions

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October 30, 2020

Getting the chance to partake in our favourite gameshows on the virtual stage is nothing new, and there are already opportunities to double up in the Jeopardy! stakes on Xbox One. Today though Jeopardy! PlayShow tries something a little different, whipping in no less than 35 years of one of the world’s most famous shows into the gaming scene, all before letting us players run with it.

Available to purchase and download right now on Xbox One, Jeopardy! PlayShow will set you back £20.99, but should you find yourself paying out that cash, will discover that the Jeopardy! studio becomes yours to embrace.

For the first time ever you will have the chance to be subjected to no less than 35 years worth of questions from the Jeopardy! team, as you kick back on your sofa, mobile phone in hand and buzz in when the time is right. Using your voice to deliver the answers, never before has a gameshow been able to worm its way into your life as Jeopardy! PlayShow is doing.

You’ll find that Jeopardy! PlayShow provides everything that makes the TV show such a hit too. Not only will there be more than 35 years worth of questions to draw on, but all the little details are included too – Categories, Clues, Wagers, Daily Doubles and even signing your name to the podium. Throw in the chance to take in the questions based on the season, tournament type or past winners, and you are once again sorted.

Features include:

• Go head-to-head with memorable Jeopardy! contestants.
• Choose from a variety of episodes and themes from over three decades of Jeopardy!
• Your living room is the iconic game show set. Challenge friends and family to see who’s the ultimate Jeopardy! fan.
• Use innovative speech recognition! Buzz in and speak your answer.
• Full immersive gameshow experience like never before!

Whether you’re looking to play with family, with friends, or against some of the very best Jeopardy! players to have ever graced the TV screen matters little – Jeopardy! PlayShow is here and available on Xbox One, allowing you to get your quiz fix.

Game Description:

Become a Jeopardy! Champion Now entering the studio is YOU. Compete against your friends —and past contestants— to test your knowledge using actual TV episodes hosted by Alex Trebek. Jeopardy! PlayShow combines your Xbox (or PC), your mobile device, and your very own voice for the most realistic gameshow experience you’ll ever have. Win in Prime Time Simply buzz in and say your answer from your couch to be a part of the game like never before. And with Party Mode, you can host head-to-head, multiplayer competitions in your living room. It’s everything you love about the show: Categories, Clues, Wagers, Daily Doubles and even signing your name to the podium. Play From Over 35 years of Historical Episodes Want more? With over 35 years of downloadable Jeopardy! content, play episodes thematically by season, tournament type, and even against famous champions. If Teen Tournament is your speed, we’ve got it. Want to travel back in time and match wits with legendary contestants? No problem! The true Jeopardy! gameshow has never been easier to experience.

AXES brings mobile Battle Royale to Xbox One and PS4

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October 30, 2020

There are multiple Battle Royale titles already available in console-land, with the likes of Fortnite, PUBG, Call of Duty Warzone and Cuisine Royale all battling it out for top dog. Now though comes a new challenger, direct from the mobile scene to start throwing bombs onto Xbox One and PS4. Are you ready for AXES?

You may have heard of AXES as it’s already made a bit of a splash on mobile devices. Now though it’s time for Xbox One and PS4 players to bear witness to the newest of Battle Royale affairs as you get ready to rumble in the jungle and prove that you have what it takes to be the last one standing.

Priced at just £4.19 from the Xbox Store, and cheaper still from the PlayStation Store, AXES sees groups of highly trained, well armed foes go at it on the battlefield, working with a combination of armour types and melee weapons in order to find success. A fantasy landscape awaits, as do the likes of swords, shurikens, axes (obviously!) and more, as the ever decreasing fight zone makes life more than a little tricky.

AXES promises to come to Xbox One and PS4 with more than 60 items in tow. Throw in 40+ weapon types, nearly half that again in hero options and maps that come with their own unique gameplay styles, and for those green to the fight, this should be a decent entry into the Battle Royale scene.

Features include:

60+ new items: armor, robes, rings, and dozens of weapons — all this has its own characteristics and features
40+ weapon types
20+ unique heroes with special abilities
Quick & action-packed sessions
Lots of maps with unique gameplay
Super easy controls

If you can manage to put down Fortnite, or are fed up with sniping hotshots in PUBG, for the price it may well be worth considering a purchase of AXES on Xbox One or PS4.

Game Description:

Ready to take down all your enemies? Prepare your weapons and join AXES.io — an epic battle royale! It’s an action-packed game where you prove that you can really rumble on the battlefield! Enter the arena and try to be the last one standing. Battle to survive using different weapons: axes, swords, shurikens and many more. Let the great scuffle begin! AXES is a fantasy world where mighty well-armed enemies clash in quick battles on the battlefield. Every game session has a limited time span. Choose a perfect combination of armor and melee weapons to pass all arenas and survive. Master your skills to enter the League Mode and combat with the strongest players. Remember about the main battle royale feature — the red circle. Once it appears, the battle will be over soon! Try to stay inside the circle, otherwise you’ll lose your points.

The Dark Pictures Anthology continues with the terrifying Little Hope on Xbox One, PS4 and PC

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October 30, 2020

Following the entertaining, yet incredibly scary, Man of Medan, there’s a new instalment of The Dark Pictures Anthology ready to send shivers down your spine this Halloween. So, turn off the lights, get comfortable and then set off on the terrifying journey that is Little Hope on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. If you dare…

In case you’re out of the loop, The Dark Pictures Anthology is an ongoing series of intensely scary, but standalone, cinematic horror games with branching narratives. This time, the story is centred on four college students and their teacher who have become stranded in an isolated town – the titular Little Hope – miles from anywhere after their bus crashes during bad weather. Trapped by a spooky and mysterious fog, the group searches desperately for a means of escape whilst visions from the past haunt them from the shadows.

As they bear witness to the town’s gruesome past, harking back to the 17th Century and the terrible events of the Andover Witch trials, hellish demons emerge; demons which are relentless in their pursuit of our, soon-to-be, unfortunate victims. They must figure out the motivation of these apparitions before the evil forces at work manage to drag each of their souls to hell.

Throughout the horror adventure of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, you will face numerous life or death situations and tough dilemmas that will decide the fate of the characters. Play alone or leave your destiny in the hands of up to five friends locally, testing their ability to make the right choices in the shared story or movie night modes. Either way, prepare to take control of different cast members and enjoy the branching storylines, which will change depending on the choices you make.

Once you begin the adventure, there’s Little Hope of you leaving this town unscathed, but after you’ve come to terms with that, simply traipse through the fog towards the Xbox Store and pay the fee of £24.99. It’s also available on the PS Store and Steam. Should you be unsure about venturing into The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, feel free to hold off until our upcoming review is released!

Game Description:

The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of intense, standalone, branching cinematic horror games featuring single and multiplayer modes. 4 college students and their professor become stranded in the abandoned town of Little Hope. Trapped by an impenetrable fog they try desperately to escape whilst witnessing terrifying visions from the past. They must figure out the motivation of these apparitions before the evil forces at work drags each of their souls to hell. Witness terrifying visions of the past, haunted by the events of the XVIIth century Andover Witch Trials Escape the hideous apparitions that relentlessly pursue them through the fog! Play online with a friend or up to 5 friends offline, Abandon Hope…all who enter here!

The quest for candy begins in Sweet Witches on Xbox One and PS4

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October 30, 2020

Just because it’s Halloween season, it doesn’t mean you must play the scariest games on the market. On the contrary, a cute arcade platformer involving the most adorable witches could fit the theme just as well. So put on a magic hat and kick off the quest for candies in Sweet Witches on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Having been around on PC (Steam) for a couple of years under the guise of Citrouille: Sweet Witches, the Sweet Witches experience has finally arrived on consoles. Playing as the charming witches Praline and Vanille, you need to master the powerful spells and tricks up their sleeves in order to navigate the single-screen platform levels ahead. Unlike the regular platformer games, no jump mechanic is present, but you do at least have the ability to summon magic ladders – amongst other things.

Whether tackling the Story mode as a solo act or in local co-op with a friend, there are over 50 levels to complete across more than five unique worlds. While the protagonists merely want to cover these lands with flowers and eat candy, there are dangers in their way, including a selection of enemies and their nemesis – Anis and Reglisse. It will be no easy task, that’s for sure. Should you fancy some four-player action instead, the Versus mode allows your extra companions to take on the roles of the antagonists.

Does the old school platforming vibes of Sweet Witches suit your tastes? If so, Sweet Witches is available right now on the Xbox Store – as well as the PS Store – for a discounted price of £6.71. Don’t take too long deciding on a purchase however, as it’ll revert back to the usual cost of £8.39 in 10 days.

Game Description:

Play as the adorable witches Praline and Vanille who can only rely on their magic ladders, unique abilities and power-ups to claim the sweets they deserve! “Brave the danger of 50+ levels in 5+ unique worlds all by yourself or in cooperation with another player. The party needs to grow? No problem, challenge the two antagonists Anis and Reglisse in a spectacular Versus mode for up to four players.”

Visage is a psychological horror that fades to grey on Xbox One, PS4 and PC

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October 30, 2020

Nope. Nope, double-nope. Watch the trailer for Visage and see what we mean. This is some Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark-style nopeness that we hope to never find booting on our Xbox One. Visage is out now on Xbox One and PS4, while it has been out for a while on PC via Steam.

Visage is cracking Halloween fodder, then, and while we wouldn’t personally say that we’re enjoying the trailer, it’s certainly got some impressive PT-like sensibilities that’s going to make it a highlight.

For reasons that the press materials don’t quite make clear, you are locked in a haunted house where countless people have died in terrible ways. Their dark spirits remain, and they have unfinished business of the vengeance variety, and will not give you a break. You’re going to be hunted through corridors and followed through your own consciousness in an effort to claim your fear.

That’s one of the neater and more innovative sides of Visage: you’re going to die plenty of times in the mansion, but the only way to completely fail is to give into fear. We’re interested to see how this mechanic plays out, or if it’s all smoke and mirrors. Going by the Steam score of 90% (Visage has already launched on Steam), it looks like it’s got some skills.

The trailer also shows another innovative side: reality is going to fracture and warp as you navigate the mansion. Rooms twist into Escher paintings, while others fall apart as you watch them. It looks like this will put you in a state of even less control, which is all you need when you’re being stalked by the girl out of Ringu.

Let’s hope Visage brings something like Silent Hill to the Xbox One. We’re owed a good one.

Features include:

Environment – The game is set inside a huge house in which terrible things have happened. You’ll wander through the gloomy corridors, explore every dead room, and get lost in endless mazes, your head filling with memories of the dead families that once lived in this very home. This twisted environment, void of any life other than yours, takes you to places you couldn’t even bear imagining.
Storyline – This house is stained with a terrible past. Families were brutally murdered by their own family members, people went insane, many committed suicide, and other grisly events occurred. Each and every room has its story painted on an invisible canvas. As a player, you will relive parts of this dark past, and each of its fragments will leave you restless and terrified. You’ll soon wish you could join the dead’s ranks in their abyss, but death won’t help you leave this place. Will you run from it, or will you try to uncover the truth behind the shadows?
Dark entities – The families that died in the house will haunt you and leave you restless. They’ll follow your every move, watch you from every corner, play tricks with your mind, and try to attack you. Why do they haunt you? What have you done? This you have to find out on your own.
Gameplay – In Visage, you are defenseless; no weapons could save you from the dreadful entities stalking you from the next corner, the next door, or underneath your feet. You’ll be able to pick up key elements, interact with the environment, and search for things that may help you escape this nightmare or pull you deeper into it. Dying is part of the game. You need to avoid terror at all costs, as dark entities are attracted to it. Maintaining your mind as sane as possible will keep you from joining the ranks of the dead. Doing so will not be easy, and you’ll have to figure out ways, like staying in the light, to avoid going insane.

Visage is out now on Xbox One and will cost you £29.24. It’s also out on PS4, while it came out a few months ago on PC via Steam. We’re going to play this one with a light on and a comfort blanket, before delivering you a review. Keep an eye out for it.

Edit: Our review of Visage on Xbox One is live.

Game Description:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The game focuses on exploration and builds tension slowly to create a deeper and more meaningful experience. Its story is unveiled through surreal imaging and subtle environment details. Be mindful that it is a difficult game in unconventional ways. Visage is a first-person psychological horror game. Explore a mysterious ever-changing house in a slow-paced, atmospheric world that combines both uncannily comforting and horrifyingly realistic environments, and enjoy a genuinely terrifying experience.

Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow timeshifts onto Xbox One, PS4 and Switch

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October 30, 2020

Flipping heck, Artifex Mundi, it’s been less than a month since your last hidden object release, while Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises, the first in the series, only came out in August. Relax! Pre-order Cyberpunk and give yourself a few duvet days! Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow is out now on Xbox One, PS4 and Switch.

Having played the first game, we can confirm that something utterly bonkers has happened. In Poisonous Promises, you played a CSI agent, solving the death of a woman on a yacht, and everything was melodramatic but still grounded, like a Mexican telenovela. This time, though, things have completely jumped the shark: we’re talking a cybernetically enhanced time traveller kidnapping your wife, and you’re going to make your own time travel machine to get her back.

We don’t quite know what to make of that. Normally the time-travelling comes in the seventh or eighth installment. The Fast & Furious movies are on their ninth iteration and they haven’t even gone into space yet. We can’t wait to see how crazy this hidden object game gets.

If you haven’t played a hidden object game from Artifex Mundi, then who knows if this is the right jumping on point. They are certainly at their best when they’re camp, so things are going well so far.

You will be working your way from room to room, spotting items to pick up. These items can be used on one another like a graphic adventure, or can be used on the world to unlock Layton-esque puzzles. Occasionally, you will find the hidden object scenes, which show you a messy room and ask you to find specific items within it. Think Where’s Wally? but with trinkets, nick-nacks and doodads. Want to know how all that comes together? Our full review of Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow on Xbox One will be thrust towards your eyes soon.

Features include:

Grandiose sci-fi spectacle in the world of tomorrow!
Test your hacking abilities in over 35 minigames!
Keep your eyes open in nearly 23 HO scenes!
Access 35 masterfully designed areas!
Carefully knitted Bonus Adventure full of additional content!

Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow is out now on Xbox One and will cost you £12.49 from the Xbox Store. It’s also out on PS4 and Switch.

You’ll also find it available as part of an Artifex triple pack containing the new game alongside both Modern Tales: Age of Invention and Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink. That pack will set you back £29.99 in cash.

Game Description:

Get ready for thrilling sci-fi adventure in the big city, which offers riveting and refreshing approach to the hidden object puzzle adventure genre. “Family Mysteries 2: Echoes of Tomorrow” is an emotional cyberpunkish ride with a hint of romance that takes you straight into not-too-distant future. When the cybernetically-enhanced time traveler kidnaps your wife, and someone tries to frame you for the crime you didn’t commit, the world suddenly turns upside down. It’s time to take things into your own hands and prove your mettle. As a resourceful scientist you still have a few aces up your sleeve! Second part of the Family Mysteries series introduces a post-apocalyptic vision of dystopian future where human race is at the brink of extinction. You’ll be dealing with high-tech, mutinous software as well as bunch of challenging riddles and – as usual – exigent hidden object scenes. Exonerate yourself, discover the secret of the mysterious fugitive from the future, and save your marriage. The future and the past are in your hands!

New Video Game Releases in 2020

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DOOM Eternal

DOOM Eternal is an epic single-player game that unleashes the armies of hell on Earth. The game tasks players with a campaign to defeat the demons across different dimensions and prevent the eradication of humankind. These spawns of evil only fear one thing, which is the gamer.

The game offers an experience of speed and power, all of which can be explored in first-person combat. One can also gain access to DOOM Slayer’s advanced Praetor Suit, which is a demon-killing technology. The tech includes a retractable DOOM Blade mounted on the wrist and a flamethrower. Players can also explore upgraded mods and guns that make the character more robust, faster, and more versatile in the storyline.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is the most awaited video game of 2020 and is set to hit the market on 10th December after the release of PlayStation 5. Cyberpunk 2077 immerses punters into Night City, which is a metropolis set in the future that runs on glamour, power, and human body modifications. The game follows an open-world story with V, a mercenary outlaw, at the centre of it all. Players have to endure action and adventure in their quest to find a unique implant that unlocks the key to immortality. Cyberpunk 2077 is highly anticipated due to numerous reasons, including:

The choices made while exploring the vast city influence how the story unfolds
The character’s playstyle, skillset, and cyberware are all open for customization
There are available body-enhancing implants, upgradeable weaponry, and hacking skills that build the character into the best gun for hire in town
Available money to collect and spend on cyberware, automobiles, weapons, and even clothing

The Last of Us Part II

The Last of Us Part II unfolds in a post-apocalyptic era after a dangerous pandemic hit the globe. Five years on, Ellie and Joel are living amongst a peaceful and thriving community of survivors with minor threats from infected individuals and desperate ones. The game immerses players into a complex and emotional story that takes Ellie, the main character, on a pursuit of vengeance after the murder of her lover. The events that unfold force players to challenge their moral notions of right and wrong in the mud of violence.

Among Us

Among Us is the 2020 game that has reiterated the fact that a good game does not require killer graphics and animations to thrive. The game follows a science-fiction murder mystery storyline that puts a group of cremates on a spaceship. Out of the ten members on the ship, at least one of them is an imposter and has to kill everyone. The rest are only tasked with completing menial tasks that maintain the spaceship’s vital systems. They win by either murdering everyone before they are discovered or convince the other crewmates to vote off innocent members until they are the last ones remaining. The game is based on the party game wink murder with the only difference being that it takes place on a frequently malfunctioning spaceship.

Marvel Avengers

Marvel Avengers brought the superhero reign back to life with a 22-film long masterpiece that spanned over a decade. Even though it came to a close with End Game in 2019, video game enthusiasts get a chance to join the gang as a superhero and fight in a unique storyline. The third-person, action-adventure set takes the iconic heroes in the original story and assembles them to defeat escalating threats on Earth. The game can support four characters playing any of the following superheroes:

Ms Marvel – an Avengers fangirl that was exposed to Terrigen Mist on A-Day and gained superhuman abilities
Thor – The son of Odin that currently sits on the throne of Asgard as the God of Thunder. Earth is his second home and helps to vanquish its foes
Black Widow – a trained agent of the top-secret Soviet Red Room program that is a master of combat, espionage, and subversion
Captain America – received the Superhuman Serum during the Second World War that fights using a Vibranium shield
Iron Man – a brush with death out put the inventor, billionaire, and philanthropist Tony Stark on a better path for Earth’s redemption against catastrophic threats
Hulk – Dr Bruce Banner’s exposure to gamma radiation turns him into a green giant called the hulk fueled by rage and showcases endurance and durability

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Miles Morales takes on the screens once more as Spider-Man in the 2020 Marvel’s Spider-Man. The latest adventure sees him working to adjust in his new home while learning from his mentor Peter Parker on how to take on the role of the new Spider-Man. However, a power struggle in New York pushes him to the task of owning his new identity sooner than he expected.

When purchasing the game, which can be played on PS4, gamers can receive some digital bonuses, including:

Gravity Well Gadget – pulls enemies together so that they can be knocked down and disarmed easily
T.R.A.C.K Suit – Time Response Activated Circuit Suit
Extra Skill Points – allows Spider-Man to master new skills and combat moves faster
Second Spidey Suit – TBA

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla is part of the Assassin’s Creed video game series but with a unique Viking storyline this time around. Players are welcomed to build their own Viking legend who is a fearless warrior leading their clan on raids. The journey begins on the icy desolations of Norway as the tribe searches for lush farmlands across ninth-century England. The lands have to be conquered, and some tribes will fight harder than others.

Final Remarks

The video games released in 2020 spell an exciting decade for gaming enthusiasts as developers continue to challenge the limits of entertainment. Most of these games operate on the available consoles like Xbox One and PS4. Those that are yet to be released are likely to align with the new consoles coming later this year.

The classics return as Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle get Remastered for Xbox One and Game Pass

By

Cade Davie

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October 29, 2020

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Double Fine and Lucasarts fans rejoice! Remasters of three classic adventure games are launching on the Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass. Grim Fandango Remastered, Full Throttle Remastered, and Day of the Tentacle Remastered are finally going to be in the hands of Xbox players.

Each one of these classic quirky titles from the heyday of point-and-click adventure games has received remastered visuals and a host of new features. Live orchestra recordings, remastered audio, the ability to switch between the classic and modern visuals, and even behind the scene commentary from developers. Though longtime fans may not need convincing, newcomers should know that these remastered editions are the definitive way to experience each one of these games.

With all three games launching on the same day, it may be hard to decide which one to hop into first. First, there’s Day of the Tentacle Remastered. This wacky adventure sees a goofy group of friends travel through time in an attempt to thwart a mutated, purple tentacle that plans to take over the world. Full Throttle Remastered features a few more RPG elements, and sees motorcyclist Full Throttle Ben attempting to clear himself and his gang from being accused of a murder. Finally, Grim Fandango Remastered follows the afterlife of travel agent Manuel “Manny Calavera as he tries to prevent a virtuous soul from reaching the wrong destination.

Each one of these unique adventure games will be immediately available to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, or purchasable from the Xbox Store for £9.99, with a launch discount dropping them down a little more. If you’re eager to explore some of the most famous titles from the 90’s, there couldn’t be a better time.

If you have any questions or just want to share your excitement with us, write to us in the comments below, and make sure you keep an eye out for our review of each title on Xbox One soon.

Day of the Tentacle Remastered Description:

Originally released by LucasArts in 1993 as a sequel to Ron Gilbert’s ground breaking Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle is a mind-bending, time travel, cartoon puzzle adventure game in which three unlikely friends work together to prevent an evil mutated purple tentacle from taking over the world! Over twenty years later, Day of the Tentacle is back in a remastered edition that features all new hand-drawn, high resolution artwork, with remastered audio, music and sound effects. Voice only available in English and German.

Full Throttle Remastered Description:

Released by LucasArts in 1995, Full Throttle is a classic graphic adventure game from industry legend Tim Schafer, telling the story of Ben Throttle, the butt-kicking leader of biker gang the Polecats who gets caught up in a tale of Motorcycles, Mayhem, and Murder. Now over 20 years later, Full Throttle is back in a remastered edition featuring all new hand-drawn and 3D high-resolution artwork, with remastered audio and music.

Grim Fandango Remastered Description:

One of the most acclaimed adventure games of all time is now back, better than ever. Grim Fandango’s epic story of four years in the life (or death) of Manny Calavera, travel agent to the dead, has been remastered to look, sound, and control even better than when it won GameSpot’s Game of the Year award upon its original launch.

The Jackbox Party Pack 7 Review – Party Like it’s 2020!

By

William Caruana

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October 29, 2020

The Jackbox Party Pack games have long since been a staple of quite possibly any good party out there, but have especially grown in popularity over the recent stay at home orders. It is under these circumstances that I discovered the series, as well as the similarly played Use Your Words, and have logged a good 100+ hours across them with friends around the world over Twitch. These are exciting, enjoyable titles that really tickle your funny bone and make you put your thinking cap on. Finally, when the world arguably needed to hear the robotic Jackbox Games slogan the most, Party Pack 7 is here, promising plenty of fun for people everywhere. However, does it live up to the hype?

Beginning broadly with the presentation of the package itself, The Jackbox Party Pack 7‘s aesthetic is inspired by events such as Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Given the cancellation of events such as the aforementioned parade this year, there is a warming sense of comfort in the menus. It is clean, charming and easy to navigate, like any good Jackbox menu should be. The team have also made some pretty big strides in terms of accessibility this time around, clearly defining family friendly games, allowing for tons of options, and even adding QOL improvements such as reading a room code aloud for when a stream gets blurry. These fantastic options really make the game pop, but what people are ultimately here for are the offerings themselves. It is here why Party Pack 7 ever so slightly deflates – but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here.

Beginning with Quiplash 3, this is the Quiplash you know and love with a new claymated aesthetic. For those unaware, Quiplash consists of creating quippy answers to a given prompt, and the choice is down to the audience and players to vote on the funniest one in a head to head showdown. However, what truly makes this version of Quiplash the best is the level of customization. Like in Drawful 2, custom prompts stuffed with in-jokes can be created, as well as some brand new packs made by Jackbox themselves and the community at large, allowing for a ton of content. The vanilla game is also incredibly solid with topical prompts and plenty of opportunities for great quips. Even better is the revamping of the third round with the new Thrip Lash mode, which is easily the best finale across the Quiplash subseries. Overall, I had a great time with this one.

I wish I could say the same about The Devils and the Details. In this game, players are tasked with solving a list of chores through Warioware style mini-games. It requires teamwork, co-ordination and effort. However, in order to win you need to maximize your own score through sabotaging activities which can harm the collective good. Fail to reach a collective score by the end of an in-game day and you’re toast. Continue for an in-game week and try not to kill each other. This is a fun set-up in theory, but due to the restrictions of the pandemic it is difficult to translate to streaming, and the prisoner’s dilemma-type set-up has the potential to wreck more friendships than Mario Kart. There’s a solid foundation here, and a great aesthetic, but this game seems unfortunately poorly timed for the package. Perhaps once we emerge back into the new normal, the game will grow… but it is the weakest point of the package.

Champ’d Up, on the other hand, is absolutely fantastic. Players need to draw a character that fits a certain category of champions (i.e. draw Ronald McDonald “The Champion of Fast Food”) within a time limit, and then will be given another character to draw. The catch is, you don’t know the prompt for the second character; only what a competitor has drawn. Sometimes you luck out and draw exactly what the round needs, and sometimes you woefully miss the mark. Couple this with some truly crazy drawings and some creative trolling and this game will keep you on your toes. Finally, the audience gets to vote which character exemplifies the championship and you get to witness your creation face off in an epic battle against the competition. It’s great fun, easily streamable and only really held back by some technical issues that faced the game during launch. These issues, to the best of my knowledge, have been fixed, and the game itself is a complete gem.

Talking Points, the next game in the list, is not for the faint of heart. Your job is to come up with a deck of slides and pass them on to a speaker who needs to come up with a speech on the spot. This can include reading aloud some of the lovely slides their peers have written for them and describing images. This game is a fun concept, especially for those who love public speaking and improv, but for those who have a fear of those it is definitely worth sitting out. Unfortunately, this mini-game is not particularly stream friendly, and is better suited to Discord and Zoom play-alongs, as well as in-person sessions.

Finally, Blather Round is arguably my favourite game in the pack. Here players have to describe a piece of pop culture using ad-lib-like sentences, and a very limited pool of pre-selected text options. For example, at one point I had to describe the classic comic strip Calvin and Hobbes to my friends, and did so using sentences like “Look, a child deliquent” and “The one with the fuzzy creature”. This game is hard to master, but you feel like a genius when you solve the puzzle, and at times like a fool when you don’t. It is a bit harder to describe, but is absolutely one that needs to be played, as frankly no other Jackbox game out there is like it. It also benefits from being extremely stream friendly, player friendly and appropriate for all ages, meaning it’s an excellent pick for family party nights.

All in all, The Jackbox Party Pack 7 on Xbox One is a solid entry in the long-running series. Two games need an in-person or private chat to be enjoyed to their fullest abilities, but the other three titles not only fit well into streaming, but they are also delightfully fun to play. The amount of creativity, variety and fun to be had in this game makes up for most of its shortcomings, and like any Party Pack it is destined to be someone’s favourite. I have had a great time playing this with friends, and while I don’t see this seventh iteration quite displacing The Jackbox Party Pack 3, The Jackbox Party Pack 4 and The Jackbox Party Pack 6 (my most commonly played, much loved, packs), I still see this as a valuable part of our rotation.

Swimsanity and Full Spectrum Warrior headline the freebies in November with Xbox Games With Gold

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October 29, 2020

October 2020 was all about setting up the scares as the Xbox Games With Gold scheme delivered four frightful games to Xbox gamers free of charge. But with the witching season gone for another year, it’s time for players to focus on a whole new set of freebies, as the Xbox Games With Gold scheme for November 2020 once more dishes out the gifts. Once again, you’d be crazy to miss out on the free games that lay ahead as there are some real gems being given away this time around.

Following on from October’s Halloween gifts of Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut, Maid of Sker, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy and Costume Quest, the GWG scheme for October is going all in with four slightly less theme-focused affairs; games that cover all multitude of genre in fact. But that doesn’t mean you’ll want to miss out on the opportunity to expand your digital Xbox library.

Throughout the month of November, as long as you are the proud holder of a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription, you’ll have the ability to download the following four titles free of charge. And once you have, those games are yours to play forevermore.

Aragami: Shadow Edition – Xbox One – 1st-30th November 2020
Swimsanity – Xbox One – 16th October – 15th December 2020
Full Spectrum Warrior – Xbox 360 – 1st-15th November 2020
LEGO Indiana Jones – Xbox 360 – 16th-30th November 2020

In the times we find ourselves, you’d have to be absolutely hard-nosed not to pick up a freebie as and when you can, and even if you have previously played the games on offer this time around, you should still be heading to the Xbox Store during the free period and taking home the goods. If you don’t plan on playing them right away, then so be it, but remember that winter is just around the corner, the dark nights are drawing in and the weather is set to turn. And that’s where a decent backlog of games comes in super handy.

We will, as always, remind you as and when the free Xbox Games With Gold titles for November 2020 get stripped of their price tags, but for now, let us know in the comments which of the games you are most interested in playing. Will it be Swimsanity that, quite literally, floats your boat? Or does the brilliant Full Spectrum Warrior cover the bases that you’re looking forward to? We’d love to hear from you.

GROOD Review

By

Paul Renshaw

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October 29, 2020

Coming from Drageus Games is a new entry into a genre that, to be fair, is not underrepresented on the Xbox One. GROOD is billed as “An indie 2.5D Shoot-em-up”. But the question is, can it bring anything new to the table, or is it another also ran?

The story of GROOD is the usual kind of throwaway nonsense we’ve come to love from certain games, with an army of machines that have appeared from somewhere and are intent on ruining people’s lives. We have (or at least someone has, it’s not very clear) built an android fighting ship that looks like a hurricane lamp with a massive gatling gun glued to the bottom of it. This machine is called GROOD, and it can not only fly, but it may well be the answer to humanity’s prayers. You see, GROOD was built to destroy, and that’s just what lies in store for us once we dust it off.

Now, graphically, the game looks very appealing. Again, upon research the graphics feature “modern low poly graphics, particles and shaders”. I don’t know about any of that, but what I do know is that GROOD moves at a fair old lick, and doesn’t slow down even when every machine in the world seems to be trying to shoot poor GROOD right in the lamp – it provides a unique look that I really like. The way that damage is depicted is pretty cool too, and as GROOD picks up more and more damage the screen appears to get a crack across it, then the colour starts to fade, leaving you fighting in monochrome. Add to this a dynamic weather and time of day mechanic, and even a specific sector that you’ve already seen a hundred times before can look very different in the rain, or in the dark. Or in the dark AND the rain, which makes things very challenging.

The music is also worthy of special praise, as it is a proper heavy metal thumping soundtrack that fits the action on screen down to a T. You’re shooting heavy metal enemies while rocking out to heavy metal – it’s like they’ve thought about it. The other sound effects are great as well, with lots of shooting and explosions really helping to draw you in.

Now, the action on display here is a classic side-scrolling shooting fest, and the screen is slightly bigger than you think it will be. Sounds weird, but just when you think there’s no way to avoid being hit, you can fly up or down to avoid an early bath. The designs of the enemies are pretty varied as well, with the majority leaning toward the “flying death machine” archetype. The worst ones, in my opinion, are the Iron Faces, which don’t shoot at you, but instead have been reading the Kamikaze handbook and attempt to headbutt you into oblivion.

Whatever you are faced with though, the usual kind of shoot ‘em up tropes are on display. As you fly along there are health packs to pick up, which you will no doubt need, there are secondary weapons to find and utilise, and sometimes you can even find upgrades for the basic gatling gun. And boy do you need those particular upgrades, as the standard minigun you start with feels a bit like shooting bits of paper out an empty biro tube; killing the most basic enemies is the work of more than a moment. When the larger foes appear it’s not unusual to be pumping bullets into them for a good ten seconds, and as for the bosses… forget about it!

So, we’ve seen that GROOD looks and sound good, and comes with all the features you’d expect from a classic shoot ‘em up. But how does it play? Well, good and bad, sadly.

The actual gameplay is solid, with tight, responsive controls and a real challenge to it. In fact, when you start a new game, the difficulty select screen actually reads “Hard, Hard or Hard”, so you can there are no easy rides here. However, not everything in the garden is rosy. It’s quite difficult to see some of the smaller projectiles, such as the homing missiles that the large enemies fire, and when you are busy trying to avoid a wave of Iron Face kamikazes it’s all too easy to be hit by these rockets. Weirdly, the rockets don’t all behave the same either; some seem almost dumb and fly in a straight line, whilst others aggressively track you, curving from top to bottom of the screen just to mess you up.

Another thing that I can’t get used to is the trajectory the bullets from your main weapon take. They don’t seem to fire in a straight line, as you’d expect, and instead slant from bottom left to top right, on a diagonal. This makes shooting enemies harder than you would expect, as lining them up like you would in a traditional game just doesn’t work. The last complaint I have is that there is no kind of progression nor any form of upgrade options for the ship. With the difficulty as hard as it is, it seems like a missed chance not to have an upgrade path to make your ship better able to survive the horrors of war.

Other than this, GROOD is a very good, pretty accomplished shooter, with an insane amount of action on screen. Add in a global leaderboard function, so you can see how you stack up against the best in the world, and there’s certainly reason to play.

All this means that if you are in the market for a very hard but rewarding shooter, GROOD on Xbox One could well scratch that itch. The action is non-stop, the sectors that you fight through are all very different, and with both the time of day and weather dynamically changing, it’s unusual to play the same looking stage twice. It does suffer from the same problem as many other shooters, in that the action starts to feel a little samey after a while, but all in all I’ve enjoyed my time with GROOD.

Fight, explore, build and survive as UNTURNED gets Xbox One and PS4 release date

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October 29, 2020

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Are you looking to survive the zombie apocalypse once more? How about you do it from the comfort of your own sofa? Well, UNTURNED is coming to Xbox One and PS4 and today 505 Games have confirmed the release date.

After previously launching on PC rather successfully, UNTURNED will now be coming to Xbox One and PS4, with a November 12th 2020 release date confirmed.

Created by those at Smartly Dressed Games, and picked up by the console devs at FunLabs and the publishing team of 505 Games, UNTURNED is an open-world survival sandbox affair, one in which we’ll get the chance to assume the role of a survivor. And as with most ‘survivors’ we’ll be dropped into the zombie-infested ruins of modern day society, left to work with friends and forge alliances to remain among the living.

In order to find success in UNTURNED we’ll need to search out supplies – clothes, food and weapons – as well as go on the scavenge, grabbing as many resources like wood and metal as possible in order to create strongholds and defenses to fend off the zombie horde. At all times though we’ll need to keep an eye on health levels, boosting it by finding food and water, as well as checking on radiation levels.

There are going to be other things to keep an eye on too. Getting hit by a zombie or entering ‘deadzones’ without the proper hazmat protection will have an impact on health, but thankfully as progress is made, experience points will be earnt that can then in turn be used to upgrade matters and improve survival chances.

When UNTURNED drops onto Xbox One and PS4, it’ll come with a host of specific console enhancements including a redesigned camera system, enhanced physics and graphics as well as specific console controller support to improve the player experience. Expect to find private servers too, letting anyone create their own persistent server where they can play with their friends only or open it up to anyone in the community. That is where UNTURNED threatens to come into its own too – buddying up with friends, local hosting and split screen functionality mean you won’t have to face the undead alone.

Some of the key features of UNTURNED on Xbox One and PS4 include:

Massive maps – explore up to 8 sandbox maps by traveling by land, air, and sea
Craft – create your equipment and structures from supplies you collect
Power up – upgrade skills in three categories: Offense, Defense, Support
Customise – avatars can be fully cosmetically personalized
Multiplayer – brave zombies and other foes alone or team up with friends
Split Screen – play locally with a friend in split-screen mode
Compete or ally – attempt to form alliances with other players or take out all the competition

With a MSRP sitting at £19.99, UNTURNED is certainly going to be one to keep an eye out for. We’ll be sure to remind you when it arrives and should hopefully have a full review coming along too.

Ripstone releases first Poker Club developer gameplay video ‘Welcome to Poker Club’

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October 29, 2020

Ripstone Games played a great hand recently by announcing the official release date for Poker Club, but now they’ve dealt us a brand new video. It’s essentially a developer walkthrough video that unveils almost everything you need to know about the ultimate poker experience coming to PC and consoles, Poker Club. So, on behalf of Ripstone, welcome to the Poker Club!

Poker Club is designed as a social experience, featuring tournaments for over 200 players to partake in; aiming to capitalise on the increasing online community-led nature of gaming by connecting keen players with friends and poker fans around the world. In this fascinating gameplay video ‘Welcome to Poker Club’, Creative Director Phil Gaskell takes us through a guided tour of the game, thus providing an overview of what Poker Club will offer players when they join the table next month. In addition to that, Phil plays through a few hands at the 80’s inspired Number One Park Hill penthouse.

This first look at the gameplay reveals the immersive first-person camera perspective Ripstone has employed throughout, which really allows the level of detail within to shine. You’ll also be able to see some lovely ray tracing effects, high quality assets created for up to 4K resolutions and the silky smooth 60fps performance. As it has been built using Unreal Engine 4, making the most of the state of the art PCs and next-generation consoles, Poker Club is expected to be the quintessential Texas Hold’em experience of 2020, and beyond.

Don’t forget, Poker Club launches for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and PC owners on 19th November – with a Nintendo Switch version coming in 2021. For now though, feel free to give the developer gameplay video, ‘Welcome to Poker Club’, a watch and then let us know your thoughts via the comments section below.

The W: First-Ever WNBA MyPLAYER Experience coming to NBA 2K21 with Next-Gen exclusivity

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October 29, 2020