Gaming Archives - Page 16 of 76

Age of Empires IV, review

November 7, 2021 Gerard Campbell 1138 Views Age of Empires IV, Historical, Microsoft, Real Time Tactics, real-time strategy

t’s been almost 15 years since the last instalment of Microsoft’s seminal real-time strategy (RTS) game. Man, it’s good to be back playing the newest game in the series, Age of Empires IV. Back in the day, Ensemble Studios was the proud custodian of the Age of Empire mantle but that developer has sadly long since departed.

The reins have now been handed to Canadian development studio Relic Entertainment, an experienced developer with a fine pedigree of RTS games behind it like Homeworld and the Company of Heroes series.

Returning to the medieval age, AOEIV offers eight civilizations (English, Chinese, French, Rus, Roman Empire, Delhi Sultanate, Mongols and Abbasid Dynasty) and a handful of single-player campaigns running from the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066 up to the Russo-Kazan wars of 1552.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac PS5 Xbox Series X

Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2, PS5 Review

November 6, 2021 Guy 3470 Views FPS, Ghost Warrior, Open World, Sniper

Another Guest Spot from our resident Rainbow 6 gamer-girl. Nina has taken a break from clearing rooms in CQB, and dipped into some long distance combat with this review of the new Sniper Ghost Warrior.

When I was presented with Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2 to play, I admit I was apathetic at best. It was a series I’d never played, from a studio I’d never heard of, tackling a genre I’d never been really interested in. But after sinking 15-20 hours of playtime into this game, I am more than happy to say that (we will just call it “Sniper” going forward) has totally exceeded my expectations.

Gaming Hardware Hardware Reviews PC / Mac PS5 Xbox Series X

EPOS H6PRO

November 6, 2021 Richard Armitt 1653 Views EPOS, H6PRO, Headset, Wired

H6PRO comes in a couple of variants, today we’re looking at the ‘Closed Accoustic Gaming Headset’. EPOS have been delivering quite the range of quality headsets over recent times and the H6PRO is a welcome addition.

In a wireless world it sometimes feels a step backwards going for a wired solution. The EPOS build quality is unmistakable, it’s obvious that the headset is built to last. The H6Pro is solid, light and moving parts all feel spot on.

Game Reviews Game Pass Gaming Microsoft Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Forza Horizon 5 Review (XSX)

November 4, 2021 Barrie Clarke 1367 Views Forza, Microsoft, Open World, Racing, XBOX

nd the first Forza Motorsport on the original Xbox, it had me hooked. But then in 2012 came the first Forza Horizon on the Xbox 360.

It was the Horizon Series that reeled me in. The freedom and forgiveness that Horizon has over its Motorsport brother is far more to my liking, and driving style. And here we are now in 2021 with the fifth instalment in the Forza Horizon franchise.

Viva Mexico!

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS5 Switch Console Xbox Series X

Diablo II – Resurrected

October 31, 2021 Dylan Burns 1168 Views Action RPG, Blizzard, Diablo, Diablo II, Loot

Switch code for Diablo II Resurrected because I don’t need to see it in 4k. Also, I don’t need whiz-bang-Direct-38-high-dynamic-apples. I am happy to play a 20-year-old game in my hands, and I like Diablo a lot without being hardcore about it. I regularly peek into Diablo forums and am greeted with gobbledy-gook terms and verbs that mean absolutely nothing to me.

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

Back 4 Blood Review (XSX)

October 29, 2021 Barrie Clarke 1206 Views Co-Op, Shooter, Zombies

many are calling a spiritual successor in the form of Back 4 Blood. Developer Turtle Rock Studios (renamed as Valve South) are the team behind the Left 4 Dead games and even the format of the game name points towards a sequel to Left 4 Dead.

But thanks to Copyright/Ownership/Politics Turtle Rock Studios in its current form had to create a ‘new’ IP. And so Back 4 Blood is born.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac PS5 Xbox Series X

Alan Wake Remastered: Have torch, will travel

October 13, 2021 Gerard Campbell 1343 Views Alan Wake, Remedy Entertainment, Survival Horror, Third Person

Alan Wake is not your typical video game hero.

He’s not a former soldier skilled in the art of warfare or a wronged man out for revenge: He’s a writer in a tweed sports jacket with leather elbow pads (over the top of a hoodie) who runs out of puff after he’s sprinted for a few seconds. He’s an every day man.

Alice. He’s hoping to cure the writer’s block that has stifled his creative flow for two years but he quickly finds out that all is not what it seems in this seemingly sleepy town.

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS5 Xbox Series X

Insurgency: Sandstorm, PS4/PS5 Review

October 12, 2021 Guy 3847 Views FPS, Online Shooter, Tactical, Teamwork

Rainbow 6 has become a toxic, fluro-laiden, run and gun fest. Ghost Recon is now a soulless open-world monstrosity which as of last week is set to become of all things, a Battle Royale!? And Splinter Cell has been missing in action for almost a decade. What I’m getting at is that the goods on offer for the Tactical console gamer are slim pickings at the moment.

But thankfully dear squad mates, I have good news! Insurgency: Sandstorm has finally migrated from PC to the console and there is now some solid tactical shooter goodness to be had.

Gaming Feature Article PC / Mac Playstation PS5

Deathloop retrospective

October 10, 2021 Richard Armitt 2148 Views Arkane, Bethesda, FPS, Time Travel

After guest writer Mark delivered a hefty Deathloop review previously. Dylan and myself thought it would be worth having a Deathloop retrospective to chew over some of the key elements.

We’ve chatted back and forth over an extended period. Rather than a review crammed into a short period we wanted to follow our own journey.

Thanks to Bethesda ANZ for the review codes.

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

Hot Wheels Unleashed, PS5 Review

October 6, 2021 Richard Armitt 1075 Views Arcade racer, Hot Wheels, Toys to Life

Well, the cars are the stars. It’s that simple, yes its a sturdy arcade style racer that’s accessible and entertaining, but grinding the collectible and familiar cars. That’s where it’s at.

It’s a cool game, with fun bells and whistles. I really like the concept, I don’t like getting frustrated at certain things. There is a buzz attached to finding a rare car, but under the hood, they’re not that different. Although I tend to melt them for Gear Bits or coins to upgrade or buy something else.

Hot Wheels Unleashed has plenty of fun factor for now, I just can’t see it staying exciting for long.

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

Far Cry 6, PS5 Review

October 6, 2021 Guy 1521 Views Far Cry, FPS, Open World, Sandbox, Ubisoft

not looking forward to Far Cry 6 at all. I haven’t been interested in a Far Cry game since the brilliant Far Cry 3. I’m happy to say Far Cry 6 has grabbed me in a big way and it is great fun.

There is no great mystery around what sort of game and genre Far Cry 6 is. It’s an FPS open-world action game. Exactly like all those that have come before. This time round it is set in a fictional Caribbean archipelago called Yara, which for all intents and purposes, is Cuba. Ruled by the ruthless “El Presidente” Antón Castillo played by Giancarlo Esposito. Yara is controlled by his military and as expected, there is a grass-roots resistance movement. Which it turns out needs my special ‘Guerrilla’ gamer skills to overthrow the “El Presidente”!