Richard Armitt, Author at koru-cottage.com

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Black Ops: Cold War, the 2020 Call of Duty

Dec 6, 2020 Richard Armitt 3174 Views Acti, Black Ops, Call of Duty, FPS, Online Shooter

Forget your Modern Warfares, this year its time for Call of Duty, Black Ops : Cold War. What a mouthful, that said, you can’t go through Silly Season without a new CoD can you?

Its been a decade since Black Ops first joined the roster, opening ups that whole Treyarch vs Infity Ward fan service argument. Much like the even numbered Star Trek movies it all comes down to taste. Black Ops for me back in the day was a hot mess, the campaign tried too hard to be clever. Throwing hallucinations and reveals at you in artillery style, it didn’t really do it for my taste. Some of the action pieces were superb, a lot of the story elements were forgettable. That was a decade ago, we don’t talk about the things we did then.

Gaming Game Reviews PS3 PS4 PS5 Switch Console Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X xbox360

Need for Speed : Hot Pursuit Remastered, XBOX

Nov 29, 2020 Richard Armitt 3145 Views Burnout, Crash Physics, Criterion, EA, Hot Pursuit, NFS, Payback, Spike Strips, The Run

I first discovered Need for Speed : Hot Pursuit around ten years ago.

It came in an unmarked padded bag and was a surprise review.

Knowing nothing about the game I went in blind, it was early in my ButtonmasherNZ days and I was keen.

Out of that came an overlong and excitable review, the game was good and had its turbo boosted hooks in me.

Gaming Feature Article Game News PS4 PS5 Video Content Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Cyberpunk 2077 – Night City Wire, episode 5

Nov 22, 2020 Richard Armitt 3403 Views Adult Themes, Bladerunner, CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077, Open World, Sci Fi RPG

If you’ve been living under a rock, you won’t know Cyberpunk 2077 is coming in hot.

Currently slated for December 10th launch and it seems this is the one the game will hit, which is a relief. New Generation updates will be following in the new year for free, but take a look at the latest trailers. Its running very nicely anyway.

Gaming Game Pass Hardware Hardware Reviews Microsoft XBLA Xbox One Xbox Series X xbox360

XBOX SERIES X, Impressions

Nov 7, 2020 Richard Armitt 4170 Views @XBOXANZ, Backwards Compatible, Crackdown, Dirt 5, Gamepass, Gears of War, Microsoft, Minecraft, Too Human, XBOX, XBOX ONE S, XBOX SERIES S, XBOX SERIES X, xbox360

I’ll come straight out with this, Microsoft and Xbox ANZ very kindly supplied us with an XBOX SERIES X in their review window. That means we’ve had it for about a week and a half. What follows are my thoughts after unboxing and those first steps with the next generation of gaming.

Don’t judge an Xbox Series X by its cover.

At least until you’ve read a bit.

Gaming Dualsense Feature Article Hardware Playstation PS5 Sony

PS5 Hands On Feedback

Oct 28, 2020 Richard Armitt 2982 Views @playstationAU, @playstationNZ, Astrobot, Auckland, Dualsense, Dualshock, Playstation 5, Sony

Today we had the opportunity to get a PS5 hands on, in Auckland. Personally Sydney would have been handy, but you know Covid year, travel restrictions and, well, stuff.

However while the team was otherwise engaged occasional contributor Nick (@nguns on Twitter) stepped in and had a very nice morning indeed.

Thanks to PlaystationNZ for giving us the opportunity. Over to you, Nick.

The PS5 hands On Experience.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 Video Content Xbox One

PES 2021, Online Edition, PS4 Review

Oct 19, 2020 Richard Armitt 4399 Views Aston Villa, Konami, PES, Pro Evo, Soccer

PES 21 or more accurately Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 has arrived in an unusual year.

Historically 2020 is going down in flames and across the world sport is no stranger to lockdowns, delays and cancellations. What better way to get the rush of live soccer when you can’t, than to fire up a crisp new game and kick a virtual ball?

This year’s Season Update to last years very good PES is the answer.

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS4 Xbox One

Mafia Definitive Edition, PC Review

Oct 16, 2020 Richard Armitt 4141 Views 2k, Mafia, Open World

With the release of Mafia Definitive Edition last month, 2K’s Mafia trilogy is now complete.

When I reviewed Mafia 2 in August this year, I ended my review (based on the lacklustre Mafia 2 remaster) by saying: “I can’t recommend this package right now, especially given it’s incomplete until Mafia is released in August.”

Well, now that I have finished Mafia Definitive Edition, my verdict is easy: It’s definitely worth your time. Especially with the love that has been lavished in updating the original Mafia for today’s modern gamer.

A game that tells the rise [then fall] of Lost Heaven (New York) taxi driver Tommy Angelo through the ranks of a feared crime family during the 1930s.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac PS3 PS4 Xbox One xbox360

Kingdoms of Amalur, Re-Reckoning, Re-view

Oct 12, 2020 Richard Armitt 3125 Views Action RPG, RPG

Kingdoms of Amalur on the xbox360 was a cult hit before it stopped being mainstream. Action RPG fans loved it and even with rough edges, it had popular appeal. There weren’t many gamers of that age that didn’t glass over and have nice things to say about it.

There’s always a game you regret selling or trading, for me this was it.

When I heard that KoA: Reckoning was getting the HD treatment, I was over the moon. One of those games that guided us out of the last generation with fond memories. I thought I knew it fairly well, but the first couple of hours were not lodged in my memory.

I selected my character, for some reason a shapely dark elf (again) and set off.

Byte Size Review Gaming PS4 Switch Console Video Content Xbox One

Street Power Football, PS4 Byte Size Review

Sep 26, 2020 Richard Armitt 3363 Views caricature, Football, Panna, Soccer, Street Power Football

Street Power Football is a mixed bag of soccer stuff. Delivering six distinctly different game modes to a pumping beat, while they are somewhat linked it feels at times like an identity crisis.

It’s soccer Jim, but not as we know it.

That’s the crux of it, the core of the game is about 3 vs 3 Street Soccer, end to end short and snappy games. Most often decided by who made the fewer mistakes, like NBA Street the game is quick, chock full of power-ups and “character”.

I love a good soccer game, having spent my formative years in the U.K. it goes without saying. While I can appreciate the niche for flashy moves, lycra and the odd Panna. I find the game lacks subtlety and doesn’t hit my sweet spot, which is obviously touch slower.

Gaming Hardware Hardware Reviews iOS PC / Mac PS4 Switch Console Video Content Xbox One

JBL QUANTUM Wireless 600, review

Sep 14, 2020 Richard Armitt 4023 Views 3d Sound, Boom Mic, JBL, Quantum 600, Quantum Gaming Headsets

JBL ANZ very kindly supplied us with a set of Wireless 600 headphones to celebrate their Australian launch last week. Over the course of this year they have made a big impact in New Zealand with their gaming range and we have been able to review some of the range previously.

Of course JBL are not only known for their Gaming Headsets, as part of the Harman Karman Group they are responsible for a range of lifestyle audio devices too. Some of which will be finding their way to Australasia soon.

The Wireless 600 is a set that is easy to put on, the packaged (braided) cables make it simple to swap out from PS4, to Mac, to Xbox to Switch. I am happy with it and will be making the most of them.

Gaming Feature Article Nintendo PC / Mac PS Vita PS3 PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series X xbox360

10 annoying things in video games

Sep 13, 2020 Richard Armitt 4060 Views Annoying Games, Dark Souls, Gears of War, Modern Warfare, Sekiro, Spider-man, Too Human, Top 10 List, Uncharted

The Top 10 annoying things in video games.

There are Top 10 lists for all sorts of things, but today it hit me there’s a list we don’t speak of. So here it is, in no particular order.

01: Pointless Boss Fights.
02: Non dodge-able Attacks.
03: The End of Level vehicle run.
04: Choices, choices, annoying choices.
05: Buying Loot from an NPC, then finding something better.
06: Busy Work.
07: Racing in non-racing games is annoying.
08: Learning the ropes with an established character.
09: The A.I. never drives.
10: Backtracking by design.