2019 – How did it stack up? (The Guy Edition)
Guy takes a quick spin around his highlights of 2019 in gaming, it’s a mixed bag topped off with the evergreen action of Destiny2.
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Gaming
2019 – How Did It Stack Up? (The Barrie’s Highlights Edition)
This years highlights for me are a bit tough. Basically because of all the older games I have been playing.
Thanks to Game Pass on the Xbox I have been enjoying a absolute plethora of classic titles and games I would otherwise not have looked at. And on the flip side many of the great releases in 2019 for me were actually remasters or re-releases.
So I will try and rattle off a few highlights, and of course a disappointment or two.
All these titles were played on the Xbox One X.
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Shenmue 3, Review
I never played the original Shenmue, released 18 years ago on the Dreamcast, nor did I play Shenmue 2, so I went into Syu Suzuki’s (crowd funded) third Shenmue game (Shenmue 3) without rose-tinted glasses on or a feeling of nostalgia.
I’ve decided Shenmue 3 is a strange mix of old gaming mechanics wrapped up in a modern, shiny new skin – and I’m not sure it works entirely well in today’s modern gaming landscape.
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2019 Xmas Gift List
This was supposed to be a cool Advent Calendar, but December ran away with itself and formatting became an issue.
So here are the survivors, things we can heartily recommend as Last Minute Gifts for the Gamer in your life.
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3dRudder for PSVR : Q/A with Stanislas Chesnais
We are no strangers to PSVR here at the site and its fair to say we are constantly surprised by the improvements being made in PSVR games. Something exciting on the horizon with future Australasian distribution is the 3dRudder.
As a feet-on experience it makes the difference and fills a gap. Anybody that has tried been challenged by movement in PSVR versions of Skyrim or DoomVFR (already on PC) would agree, if they were integrated 3dRudder would change the game.
Our thanks go to Stanislas Chesnais, CEO, for taking the time to answer our questions and hopefully pique some interest in the 3dRudder. Knowing The Wizards and wishing No Man’s Sky integration was on the horizon can’t wait to give it a spin. Literally.
Now, DoomVFR – time to lift your PSVR game.
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Espire 1: VR Operative, PSVR Review
Espire 1: VR Operative was touted as a fully immersive Splinter Cell-esque type VR game. Which was music to my ears and the slick launch trailer just added to my hype levels.
The game is built around the idea of taking remote-control of a stealthy Espire Robot. Then infiltrating various buildings and factory type levels to take down armed terrorists. An Espire unit can use an array of gadgets, guns and even navigate levels full of verticality with its magnetic hands.
Like I said, a really cool premise.
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Halo Reach (PC): Finishing the fight on a new platform
There’s no denying that Gregorian chants are a cornerstone of the Halo series. They’re unmistakable identifiers for the Master Chief and the fight against the alien covenant. Halo Reach is no exception.
So when the Gregorian chants fired up on the menu screen of the PC version, it brought a smile to both my face – and my ears (if my ears could smile, that is).
I’m not the world’s greatest Halo fan but I’ve played them all. Reach was always at the top of my list as my favourite of the series. Maybe it was because the story told of the close-knit camaraderie between the six members of Noble team. Cat, Emile, Jorge, Jun, Carter and Spartan B-312 (that’s you, by the way). As they take the fight to the covenant on the planet Reach, or maybe it was because Reach wasn’t about Master Chief. Whatever it was, Reach just resonated with me.
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Phillips Hue, go into the light
In summary there is more than meets the eye with the Phillips Hue, once you start to tinker and play setting the mood becomes an event in itself. There is much I have not touched on here, but being able to program set routines and actions just builds on the automation dream.
My other absolute favourite benefit is being able to set the lights to ‘on’ as I approach the house, no more stumbling home in the dark because you didn’t think it would be that long.
I’m sold, well and truly – the Hue bulbs will certainly be staying and I will be extending them out across the house as soon as I can.
Follow the light.
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New Super Lucky’s Tale, Nintendo Switch
New Super Lucky’s Tale obviously treads well worn ground, and the Switch is the place for cutesy platformers. I did not play Super Lucky last time around when it graced the Xbox. In fact I haven’t played many platformers for a good while. The simple crux is, Super Lucky does the job well, it’s a joy to play.
Everything the game does it does well, without layers of complexity. There is no need to add depth, New Super Lucky’s Tale is here to scratch the itch of the classic platforming addict. Nice to look at and fun to play in this high paced disposable world, here’s a few hours of pleasant-ness.
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Don’t Die, Minerva! Review (Xbox One X)
Every second game I have played recently seems to be a rogue-like or have rogue-like elements in them.
Thankfully, unlike the rest of the team, I am not adverse to this as I quite like the format and play style that rogue-likes fall into. That is not to say I don’t throw the odd controller in frustration at my 145th death in 3 minutes.
I have just learnt to throw it gently onto the couch beside me. But with a little Luigi flair this could be fun to play.
Don’t Die, Minerva! looks really nice and plays well. Although there isn’t a huge variety in what you are doing and where you are doing it, it maintains that, just one more run, feel you expect from a good rogue-like.
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Neo Cab review (Nintendo Switch)
Essentially, Neo Cab is a taxi simulator set in the future.
Where automated cars dominate the ride share business and you drive the only human-driven cab in the region. You play as Lina. A driver for Neo Cab who has uprooted her stable life and moved to Capra City, all for the sake of friendship and maybe love.
Neo Cab’s slow-boil story is not going to be for every gamer. Especially for those with itchy trigger fingers crafted through years of Call of Battlefield or other first person combat games. Neo Cab is a snail’s pace game, one that develops the more you progress.
Worth a look if you like games that try something a little bit different.
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