Byte Size Review

When 900 words is too much and about 250 will do.

RED SOLSTICE 2
GamingByte Size ReviewPC / Mac

Byte Sized review: Red Solstice 2: Survivors

Gerard Campbell 1333 Views ,  ,  , 

I never played the original Red Solstice so I can’t offer an opinion on its merits, good or otherwise, but Red Solstice 2: Survivors seems like a solid real-time action game with RPG mechanics.

It’s set on Mars where you control a battle-hardened marine having to help repel an invasion by the mutant Strol.

The story might not be original and the gameplay is nothing new but Red Solstice 2: Survivors is an enjoyable romp in a sci-fi inspired universe if you’re a fan of X-COM and it’s ilk.

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Open Country
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Open Country (PS4) – Byte Size Review

Guy 1652 Views ,  , 

The “SIM” game genre has exploded in recent years. There are Simulation titles for every interest out there. Be it farming, train driving, hunting, car servicing or even PC building!?

There is a SIM for all shapes, sizes and passions. Well, Open Country slots into this SIM genre as an “Openworld, Hunting and Survival SIM” and has a lot of different aspects to it.

But unfortunately, it does none of them well.

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Hot Wheels Unleashed Preview (PC)

Barrie Clarke 1049 Views ,  , 

Hot Wheels.

Everyone knows them and every kid has a bucket full of them. And come October 1st we can all race our favourite die cast vehicles through a plethora of zany tracks. It is very rare these days to have the privilege to trial a game this far out from launch.

It shows confidence in the product for Milestone S.r.l. to release a preview. Confidence which is well placed with Hot Wheels Unleashed. Even if the only mode available is Quick Race you soon get the idea on how much fun this will be.

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Blackwood
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ESO: Blackwood, Byte Size Review (XSX)

Barrie Clarke 953 Views ,  ,  ,  , 

Welcome to Blackwood.

For the first time since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion you can return to the Imperial City of Leyawiin and again enter the realm of Mehrunes Dagon. That’s right Portals to Oblivion are back. And to make your adventure into Oblivion even better the release of Blackwood has coincided with an upgrade for latest gen console users.

Blackwood is the latest chapter in the grand Elder Scrolls Online universe following up Greymoor, Elsweyr, Summerset, and Morrowind.

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R Type Final 2
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R Type Final 2, Switch review

Richard Armitt 1234 Views ,  ,  , 

R Type Final 2 is a trip down memory lane, for me. I first flew an Arrowhead Fighter in the Arcades of 1987.

Following it up with the Commodore 64 a while later. After that, we parted company for a number of years. From memory the original was a revelation in the schoolyard, Gieger styled enemies and the enigmatic upgrade ‘The Force’.

After growing up on side scrollers like Scramble you had to admit R Type was an epiphany.

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GamingByte Size ReviewPC / Mac

Before We Leave Byte Size Review (PC)

Barrie Clarke 970 Views ,  , 

Before We Leave goes down the tried and true path of many city building games but with a interesting point of difference.

Before We Leave has removed the conflict and conquering elements often present in the city building genre. Gone is the need to take over other civilisations and attack villages in your way. Before We Leave is all about furthering your world without bloodshed.

Trust the Kiwis at Balancing Monkey Games to come up with a game that is fun but also acceptable in a rapidly changing world. Anything that makes gaming more acceptable is a good thing in my books.

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Norton 360 for Gamers
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Norton 360 for Gamers

Gerard Campbell 1418 Views ,  ,  ,  , 

Norton 360 for Gamers, you say? In this day and age, anti-virus is a vital necessity when it comes to online protection from data and identity thieves.

I’ve had warnings in the past of accounts being potentially compromised but they never seemed to come to anything. At least I don’t think they did. But I’ve always used some form of anti-virus, both free and subscription (Kaspersky, AVG, Avast, even Windows Defender), and it’s certainly true that you get what you pay for.

Norton is one of the industry’s big players and I’ve been a fan of the company’s anti-virus solutions for a few years, offering a pretty consistent product that provides solid online protection combined with an easy-to-use interface.

(Previously posted at www.gamejunkie.net.nz)

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NieR Replicant
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Nier: Replicant, Byte Size Review

Guy 1500 Views ,  , 

Nier: Automata arrived on the scene in 2017 and became an instant cult classic. Square Enix have as a result, seen fit to put some spit ‘n’ polish on the original Japanese version of Nier: Replicant, released in Japan in 2010.

Neir: Replicant ver.1.22474487139 … is a “Version Upgrade” bringing Replicant up to 60fps, adding a full voice cast and importantly modernised combat, akin to the brilliant Automata.

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Endzone – A World Apart Byte Size Review (PC)

Barrie Clarke 1421 Views ,  ,  , 

The year is, well, this year, 2021. And some nut jobs have finally gone too far and blown up nuclear power plants around the world. Some are lucky enough to seek shelter in an “Endzone” underground bunker, and now their offspring are returning to the surface, 150 years later. All sounds pretty familiar really.

Endzone – A World Apart is a city builder, a post-apocalyptic SimCity if you like. Very much like the enjoyable Frostpunk you are tasked with collecting resources, building a community and surviving the harsh environment that is now home.

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Pioneers of Olive Town
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Pioneers of Olive Town, Switch review

Richard Armitt 796 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Story of Seasons is a series that admittedly has escaped me, Pioneers of Olive Town being my first foray. Having experienced a fair bit of Harvest Moon over the years it was a fair bet I knew what I was getting into.

This time round and post an 2020 Animal Crossing addiction, I stumped up the cash in curiosity.

Pioneers of Olive Town is undoubtedly wholesome, comfortably reminding me of my Harvest Moon years. The jolly exchanges with the Mayor, the cute animals and safe sojourns into nearby caves.

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GamingByte Size ReviewIndie GamePC / Mac

Loop Hero Review (PC)

Barrie Clarke 1206 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Sitting down to write this I thought I’d just have another quick run to get me ready. That was almost three hours ago.

Loop Hero, from small Indie developer Four Quarters, is one of those games. One quick run and next minute you have missed that meeting, forgotten to pick up the kids, or been unable to start writing that review. And at first glance Loop Hero doesn’t look like much. Definitely not something that will grab huge chunks of your precious gaming time.

Thankfully Devolver Digital saw differently and got this gem of a game out to the masses.

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