PlayStation VR review

playstation-vr-boxThe future is finally here. Well, one potential future is, at least.

Despite Nintendo claiming it has no interest in virtual reality and Microsoft only cautiously promising Oculus support for its Scorpio console next year, Sony has made it clear in no uncertain terms that it’s very much on board the VR hype train.

The result of this is PlayStation VR, a headset designed exclusively for the PS4 which promises a (relatively) cheap way to join the virtual revolution.

The big questions are obvious. Does PlayStation VR really transform the way you play PS4 games? Will it make you ill? And is it the future of gaming? Continue reading “PlayStation VR review”

Lego Dimensions complete character guide – every Year One character reviewed

LEGO Dimensions Xbox OneThis week marks the beginning of ‘Year Two’ of Lego Dimensions, the fantastic toys-to-life game by long-time Lego game studio Traveller’s Tales.

Because Year Two introduces a whole bunch of new franchises to the mix, a lot of players will be getting into Lego Dimensions for the first time.

With that in mind, I’ve put together this enormous guide to all 46 characters released during the game’s first year: that’s the 44 main ones and the two limited edition characters Green Arrow and Supergirl. Continue reading “Lego Dimensions complete character guide – every Year One character reviewed”

E3 2016 conference breakdown podcast

E3 2016 is upon us and since I’m still resting my RSI-riddled hand I’ve decided to put together a one-off podcast instead.

Listen on for 85 minutes of gaming goodness as I break down EA, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sony’s conferences, as well as why I won’t be covering Nintendo’s and why we should all stop a-fussin’ and a-feudin’. Continue reading “E3 2016 conference breakdown podcast”

Hard Reset Redux review

This review is presented in both video and written form. The video is at the top of the article, while the written transcript can be found underneath. While I’d prefer you watch the video (since it lets you see the game and hear my dulcet tones too), I appreciate some prefer to read reviews. This way you have both options. Continue reading “Hard Reset Redux review”

The week in games – cancelled titles, starter Pokemon

‘The week in games’ is my new weekly series covering the week’s gaming news in a (hopefully) humorous way. If it seems familiar it’s because I tested it out with a couple of articles last year, but now it’s here to stay in a weekly form.


Losing its Spark

project sparkMicrosoft has finally properly cancelled Project Spark. The free-to-play game is no longer available for download, and if you already have it online services will be cancelled from August.

Anyone who bought the retail version of the game will be getting the price refunded into their Microsoft account. The company will be holding emergency talks to discuss how to recoup the £79.98 they’ll lose as a result of this. Continue reading “The week in games – cancelled titles, starter Pokemon”

Coffin Dodgers review

MILKY TEA / WALES INTERACTIVE
XBOX ONE / PS4 / STEAM (XBOX ONE VERSION TESTED)

Typical. A couple of months ago in my Beach Buggy Racing review I complained about the lack of kart racing games on current-gen systems. And now here’s a second one.

What I should have moaned about was the lack of great kart racers, because it’s safe to say Coffin Dodgers doesn’t exactly scratch that itch. Continue reading “Coffin Dodgers review”

What next for Lego Dimensions? Season two character predictions

The fifth and ‘final’ wave of Lego Dimensions characters is due to be released on 10 May, adding Slimer, Bane and Ninjago character Lloyd to the roster.

lego-ghostbusters-12-25Once those three are out, that’ll be essentially be the entire first batch of Dimensions figures available to buy. But it probably won’t be ending there.

Warner Bros and developer Traveller’s Tales have made it very clear that there’s a three-year plan for Lego Dimensions, and so far we’re only 7 months into it.

It’s almost certain that more ‘seasons’ of content are on the way, adding even more characters as well as (hopefully) level packs and free-roaming adventure worlds to expand the game further.

On Friday, an apparent promotional image showing off a Supergirl minifig for Lego Dimensions was supposedly leaked, suggesting the second batch of content could be announced any time now.

With that in mind, I’ve put together this list of 20 potential new licences I’d love to see in Lego Dimensions, to join the 14 already in the game. Continue reading “What next for Lego Dimensions? Season two character predictions”

Lego Dimensions – Midway Arcade level pack review

Lego Dimensions Midway Arcade level pack hero picLego Dimensions is a ridiculously ambitious crossover of all things pop culture, bringing together characters from popular movies, TV shows, comic books, toys and games in one massive mash-up.

However, until now the latter category there – video games – has been a bit under-represented, with only Portal 2 flying the interactive flag. That’s finally changed with the Midway Arcade level pack.

Having already treated us with individual level packs focusing on The Simpsons, Back To The Future, Portal 2, Doctor Who and Ghostbusters, this sixth and final (for now) level pack is aimed squarely at retro gamers, particularly those who had a soft spot for ‘80s arcade games.

What may surprise you, though, is that this isn’t really your conventional Lego game level. Instead, it’s more of a retro gaming compilation, a bit like the old Midway Arcade Treasures games back in the day. Continue reading “Lego Dimensions – Midway Arcade level pack review”

Senran Kagura: Estival Versus (PS4 review)

Marvelous Entertainment / Tamsoft
PS4 / Vita (PS4 version reviewed)

Warning: Some of the content in this game could be considered adult in nature. If anime-style nudity isn’t the sort of thing you want saved in your internet history, don’t read on.

Senran Kagura Estival VersusRight. Here’s the deal.

There have been countless articles written about the Senran Kagura games for reasons that will become breast-wobblingly obvious very soon.

Most of these articles fit into two distinct categories: those who think Senran Kagura is all that is evil in the world and dragging civilisation back 70 years, and those who think it’s just a bit of a laugh and hey lighten up don’t censor me bro etc.

For this review, I’m going to attempt to play it right down the middle. If you absolutely must know, I’m not in favour of it and really don’t think it’s the healthiest thing young teenage boys should be playing.

That said, considering I also have a website dedicated to weird and wonderful horror movies, it would be massively hypocritical of me to declare: “My choice in questionable entertainment’s better than your choice in questionable entertainment.” Continue reading “Senran Kagura: Estival Versus (PS4 review)”

Don’t Die, Mr Robot! (PS4, Vita) review

Don't Die Mr Robot pic 3When the PlayStation Vita launched back in 2011 its big selling point was the fact that it was essentially a slightly underpowered PS3 in handheld form.

In the early days this resulted in a bunch of handheld versions of beloved console games, with the likes of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Resistance: Burning Skies and Killzone: Mercenary really driving home the ‘console in your pocket’ mantra.

While this sounded exciting in theory, for some – including me – the concept didn’t quite work in practice.

On public transport my journeys were never quite long enough to comfortably finish the often large stages in adventure games. Level exploration was ditched in favour of hurriedly yet grudgingly running to my next destination, like someone bursting for a shite trying to discreetly get to the nearest toilet without outright running to it.

At home, meanwhile, the novelty of playing a console game on a handheld isn’t quite as enticing when there’s the obvious alternative of playing a console game on an actual console and a dirty big telly.

This is all a long-winded way of saying that for me, the best Vita games weren’t the ones that embraced the feel of console gaming, but those that stuck to the tried and tested handheld formula of quick-burst experiences. Don’t Die, Mr Robot! undoubtedly falls into this latter category. Continue reading “Don’t Die, Mr Robot! (PS4, Vita) review”