Gaming Archives - Page 25 of 79

The Medium, Xbox S|X Review

Jan 28, 2021 Guy 3231 Views Blooper Team, Gamepass, Microsoft, XBOX SERIES S, XBOX SERIES X

I think most would accept, Xbox’s Gamepass is the revelation of this generation. Over one hundred games to choose from and xbox exclusives are released straight to Gampass at launch. It is a brilliant, brilliant subscription service. And, excuse my glibness, it saves gamers from mistakenly spending money on titles that are probably not destined for greatness, (*cough) like The Medium.

The Medium is the latest game from Blooper Team who made the brilliant “Observer”, a Sci-fi Detective adventure released in 2017. This time round, they have ditched the cyber-punky aesthetic and are channeling some silent hill-esque tension set in an abandoned Kraków resort in Poland. Its moody, inspired by the greats of the genre and has a fresh take on puzzle mechanics.

Feature Article Gaming LEGO

LEGO Bonsai, Botanical Collection

Jan 26, 2021 Richard Armitt 4044 Views Bonsai Tree, Botanical Collection, Building, LEGO, Lego for Adults

LEGO Bonsai, not a couple of words you’d expect to put together. Being a growing fan of the complex interlocking building system as an adult, I’m not surprised.

As a child I loved LEGO as much as the next kid, I had the classic Space Cruiser and Moonbase – they were happy days. After that we grew apart for a while.

Gaming Feature Article PC / Mac PS4 Xbox One

Games of the Generation – ‘Guy Edition’

Jan 22, 2021 Guy 3368 Views Blood and Truth, Death Stranding, Destiny 2, Generation, Horizon Zero Dawn, PS4, xbox One

In my musing on the last 7 years of gaming, a few titles stood out for their impact on me. More specifically, there were certain games that were unique experiences worthy of a “Games of the Generation” title. Keep that term in mind. “Unique”. For me, for a game to hit my list it needed to be more that just graphically stunning. It needed to be like a fresh experience, not just a incremental refinement of previous titles in a genre.

I have been reflecting on this generation of consoles, specifically the Xbox One and Playstation 4. I must admit though, the Xbox One failed to capture my attention this gen. There was a couple of awesome months of replaying the Halo games in the Master Chief Collection. However, shortly after it was left unplugged and unloved, as the PS4 amazing exclusives captured much of my attention.

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

Hitman III console review

Jan 21, 2021 Dylan Burns 3491 Views Agent 47, Assassination, Hitman, IO Interactive, Puzzle, Stealth

Hitman III offers so much that is familiar but also tweaks things so that expectations are both wonderfully met and subverted. Crowbar, rat poison, wrench and screwdriver – the tools are the same. Although the levels in which they are expertly positioned are filled with so much character, beauty and depth that I know I’ll be peeling back the layers for years to come.

By now, IO gets what makes Hitman games fun. As a result the gameplay leans with the player, providing easement in all processes, making this the most player-friendly entry yet.

Feature Article Gaming Microsoft PC / Mac Playstation PS5 Xbox Series X

2020 Roundup, the year that was.

Jan 1, 2021 Richard Armitt 3834 Views Cloudpunk, DOOM Eternal, Dreams, Dualsense, Flight Simulator, Ghost, Hot Pursuit, Maneater, Microsoft, PS5, PSVR, Sackboy, Star Wars, Sucker Punch, The Last of Us Part 2, XBOX SERIES X, youtube, Zombie Army

How do you have a 2020 Roundup? A year that has put the Annus in Annus Horribulus. The ongoing pandemic notwithstanding its been a year where everybody seems to have shared tragedy on some level. Having lost close friends, dear pets and suffered a weather event catastrophe I’m just glad COVID has not yet reached my door.

Here we at the dawn of a New Year, and just like twelve short months ago. Everybody is wishing that when that calendar clicks over the trend gets better. We should take a quick spin around the highlights of what we managed under such adversity.

Gaming Hardware Hardware Reviews Video Content youtube review

Everdure Force BBQ – Review

Dec 30, 2020 Guy 4856 Views BBQ, Everdure, Grill Master, Hardware Review, Man Cave, Meat, Steaks

We tend to be a pack of nerds here at the Cottage. So as a slight departure from the normal Video Games and Tech reviews, I have found myself reviewing, of all things, an Everdure Force Barbecue.

Going into this Covid-free Kiwi summer I needed to upgrade my old BBQ and wanted something better than ‘average’. So I looked into various top of the line brands like Webers, Broil Kings and the Everdures.

Gaming Feature Article PC / Mac Playstation PS4 PS5 Video Content Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Rainbow Six Siege – The State of the Game 2020.

Dec 28, 2020 Guy 4542 Views Online Shooter, Operator, Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft

We love the occasional guest spot from Nina, especially when its about her ass kicking abilities in Rainbow Six Siege…

A few years ago, I wrote an article for Koru-Cottage titled ‘Rainbow Six Siege: Why I Love it so Damn Much’. Since that article, Rainbow Six has seen a lot of dramatic changes.

So with this generation of gaming coming to a close, I thought now would be a good time to revisit my musing on my beloved Siege. To reflect on how the game has changed, discuss the state it is in now, and theorize about the game’s future.

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

Destiny 2 Beyond Light, Review

Dec 19, 2020 Guy 3597 Views Activistion, Beyond Light, Bungie, Destiny 2, Guardian, Online Shooter, Traveller

Eyes up, Guardian.

With Destiny 2 Beyond Light, Destiny 2 has received a major expansion and I thought it was time for a reconnaissance report.

Full disclosure, I have been an avid Destiny player for years now. I grant you I faltered early on, as I explained HERE. Since then I have been a dedicated Guardian. Fighting back the darkness going on 6 years now.

In fact, thanks to the PS5s new game-clock, I can sheepishly confirm Destiny 1 and 2 have received in excess of 1000hrs from me.

Gaming Game Reviews Microsoft PC / Mac Playstation

Empire of Sin review (PC)

Dec 19, 2020 Gerard Campbell 3705 Views Al Capone, crime lords, dirty tricks, Empire of Sin, gangsters, hoodlums, Prohibition

When first heard about Empire of Sin (multi-platform). An X-Com style turn-based combat game set in 1920s American and featuring gangsters, I was intrigued.

Who wouldn’t want to be a gangster as he (or she) takes over the streets of prohibition Chicago, aiming for the top and with mechanics similar to the rather excellent X-Com games?

Starting in the 1920s prohibition Chicago, you’ll be taking over rival businesses such as speakeasies, brothels and casinos. In the quest to become kingpin of the city. Once you successfully take a joint from a rival you can then upgrade it with things like extra security, ambience and promotion to add value. As you’d expect during the prohibition, alcohol plays a big part in Empire of Sin and is used as a form of currency to extend your empire’s influence.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Review

Dec 7, 2020 Dylan Burns 3782 Views Adventure, Ancient Greece, Assassin's Creed, Fenyx Rising, Third Person, Ubisoft

Fenyx Rising initially presents as a light take on Greek Mythology. It has a colourful art style, cartoonish characters and a banter-heavy story presentation. After spending days with it, I can say it is as broad, deep and work-like as any major Ubisoft product out there.

The sheer volume of tasks awaiting you stands in the dozens of hours. It is not a Breath of the Wild wannabe, although the similarities are many. Fenyx Rising is an adventure heavily reliant on simple physics puzzles combined with the sting of some very tough combat. It is also very customisable. Combat too much? Change the difficulty to easy. Just want to do puzzles? Seek them out from high ground and place stones on weight plates to your heart’s content.

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 3376 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.