Byte Size Review Archives - Page 5 of 11

May 16, 2021 Barrie Clarke 705 Views city builder, Non-violent, Steam

Before We Leave Byte Size Review (PC)

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.

Gaming Byte Size Review Microsoft PC / Mac PSNetwork XBLA

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021 Gerard Campbell 1110 Views anti-virus software, cyber nasties, dark web monitoring, Norton anti-virus, PC protection

Norton 360 for Gamers

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)

Gaming Byte Size Review Playstation PS3 PS4 PS5 Sony

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021 Guy 1252 Views Action RPG, HD, Square Enix

Nier: Replicant, Byte Size Review

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.

Gaming Byte Size Review Indie Game PC / Mac Video Content

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 Barrie Clarke 1237 Views city builder, Post Apocalyptic, Steam, strategy

Endzone – A World Apart Byte Size Review (PC)

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.

Gaming Byte Size Review Nintendo Switch Console Video Content

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 Richard Armitt 637 Views Busy Work, Farming Simulator, Harvest Moon, Manga, Story of Seasons, Wholesome

Pioneers of Olive Town, Switch review

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.

Gaming Byte Size Review Indie Game PC / Mac

March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 Barrie Clarke 998 Views Devolver Digital, indie, indie game, Loop Hero, Retro, rogue-like

Loop Hero Review (PC)

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.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac

March 10, 2021 Gerard Campbell 786 Views 1920, 302 Interactive, Gansters, Mafia, turn-based strategy games

Byte sized review: The Commission 1920

A turn-based strategy game set in the 1920s. The Commission 1920 is a mafia-themed game unlike any other Mafia game I’d played before.

Tasking you in the role as a Don of a mafia family in the city of New Shore – the Bogianas, Calessis, Donanos, Junios and Roccas. This is a resource management sim where you exert your influence over the city to rise to the top. It’s a re-imagining of the original Commission game originally released in 2018 (a game I never played).

Gaming Byte Size Review Playstation PS4 PS5 Sony

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 Guy 1183 Views Car combat, Destruction Allstars, Lucid Games, Multiplayer, PvE, PvP

Destruction AllStars, Review (PS5)

Guest writer and resident online multiplayer aficionado, Nina. Has taken Destruction AllStars for a spin.

Destruction Allstars is an enjoyable, well-made game. But if it has any hope of surviving for more than a few months Lucid Games and Sony need to keep nurturing and updating it.

The team behind Destruction AllStars is clearly passionate about this genre of game, so maybe there is hope for its future.

Only time will tell. Its true saving grace is that it is free this month on PS Plus, so why not give it a go.

Gaming Byte Size Review PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 Guy 1286 Views Control, Oldest House, Remedy Entertainment, supernatural, The Hiss, Third Person

Control: Ultimate Edition – (PS5/Xbox Series)

Back in 2019 I Reviewed Control on the PS4 and had some pretty nice things to say about it. Such as, “Remedy and 505 Games have made a confusing, engrossing and strangely approachable title…and I loved every damn minute of it” And “Well considered, impeccably balanced, yet still beautifully surreal – Control now sits atop of my 2019 Game of the Year list.”

The “Ultimate Edition” version for the next gen consoles has finally arrived and all my gushing statements stand. Control is still a brilliant, brilliant game. I played the Ultimate Edition on the PS5. It has been polished up to be even prettier and includes all the DLC packs; which I also reviewed and are very good as well.

Gaming Byte Size Review PS5 Xbox Series S Xbox Series X youtube review

January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 Guy 1959 Views Motocross, Motorbike, MXGP, Racing

MXGP 2020, Review (PS5)

The MXGP 2020 world of motocross and dirt bikes is not foreign to me. I have ridden MX and more recently Enduro race bikes, for many years. So, I do have context for how a race Motocross bike should feel, and frankly, explains why MX games have never grabbed me in passed installments.

MXGP 2020 on the PS5 is quite a different beast, I’m pleased to say.

To get the full run-down, check out our Video Review…and remember any Likes or Subs are a huge help!

Gaming Byte Size Review Switch Console Video Content

January 29, 2021January 29, 2021 Dylan Burns 1250 Views Nintendo Switch, Olija

Olija Review, Nintendo Switch

A note from Dylan on his ‘unconventional’ review of Olija.

I just wanted to try and convey how cool this game manages to make the player feel uncomfortable. Like, it’s a horror game but without proper scares, just menacing and uneasy throughout.

Therefore, I decided to have a bit of fun and play with the reader, make it uncomfortable for them to read and – hopefully – make it engaging and something different to the rest of the online echo chamber.