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Mafia 2 review (The Mafia Trilogy Definitive editions)

The Mafia franchise is one that has polarised gamers right from the very beginning, to say “things never change” here’s our Mafia 2 review.

You either liked it or you hated it but I have fond memories of playing the first Mafia on a PC.

Ultimately, with Mafia 2 Definitive Edition, 2K have done the bare minimum required and released it, which is disappointing. All eyes will be on the original Mafia at the end of August to see how that game fares with a new lick of paint. 

Our fingers are collectively crossed and we’re all holding our breath. As the state of that Mafia will seal the fate of this so-called Definitive collection.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4Switch ConsoleVideo ContentXbox One

Minecraft Dungeons, Review

Minecraft Dungeons is an exciting addition to the Minecraft family. We’ve been playing the Mojang block builder for over a decade on a multitude of platforms. Since the Microsoft acquisition in 2014 Minecraft Earth, Stories and Minecraft Dungeons have been the diverse additions, on top of regular world updates. 

Personally I love a good Dungeon Crawl, because nothing beats the smell of loot in  dank tunnel.

The ingredients were already there after ten years of creativity and the story probably wrote itself. Surely it was easy to put together the landscape and inhabitants. The Minecraft palette and world are so familiar now and the engine breathes life into well lit scenes. This isn’t an RTX shaded version of the game, it’s pure and simple and full of joy.

Thanks to Microsoft / Xbox ANZ for providing the review copy.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacSwitch ConsoleVideo Content

Lonely Mountains Downhill (Nintendo Switch)

Lonely Mountains Downhill began life as a Kickstarter project by German game makers Daniel Helbig and Jan Bubenik.

Full disclosure here: I backed the project and my name’s in the game’s credits. It also got a mention in my pick of 2019.

As an ageing mountain biker the game appealed to me as a way to enjoy one of my passions. When I’m stuck at home and the weather’s too horrific to don the rain jacket and hit the trails. I was also attracted by its low-poly graphical style, with a blocky, chunky biker and vibrant environments.

Thanks to Lonely Mountains Downhill on Switch, I can now “ride” my mountain bike any time I want. At the office, while I’m lying in bed, while I’m, ahem, in the bathroom. It’s also the perfect thing for when I just can’t bothered kitting up and hitting my local trails. Especially with winter looming and its inevitable wet & chilly weather.

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Book RelatedFeature ArticleiOSPC / Mac

Championship Manager 97/98 (CM97/98) – in 2020

Championship Manager 97/98 is an evergreen to me.

I can’t say exactly why, but like many of the converted it really is the equivalent of pulling an old sweater on. Born in a time where it strained an Intel 486, the game now runs like Ryan Giggs used to.

Whenever somebody Tweets up a best game ever poll or which game would you take to a desert island. Yep, I’m in like Flint with a quick and subtle CM97/98.

Maybe it was the time of my life that etched the game so deeply into my brain. This was my late twenties, and probably the period when I was most interested in football. Attending Premier League games over the years, feeling the joy of Aston Villa lifting the League Cup and more likely just needed a fantasy world.

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GamingGame ReviewsIndie GamePC / MacPS4Video ContentXbox One

Cloudpunk: Tripping the neon-lit fantastic

Cloudpunk is what I’d imagine the offspring of movies Blade Runner and The Fifth Element would look like – if Blade Runner & The Fifth Element got cozy for a night, that is.

Hear me out on this one. Take Blade Runner’s dystopian and neon-lit bleakness and The Fifth Element’s chaotic driving and downright craziness and you’ve got their offspring: Cloudpunk.

A damn good looking child, if I say so myself, that I’m sure it’s parents (ionlands) would be so proud of what it has achieved.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4Video ContentXbox Oneyoutube review

SnowRunner, PS4 Video Review

Snowrunner is more of the same, but better.

It is SUPER niche though, requiring patience, planning and the ability to just get in the zone and forgot about how long something is taking to do. Especially with the leveling system being so painfully slow to dish out rewards. My tip, don’t chase the rabbit, just enjoy the drive.

If you want to try a game that is totally unique on the PS4, this is worth a look, as there is literally no other game like it. If, dear Comrade, you liked Mudrunner …this is a no brainer, BUY IT!

For the full rundown, check out our Video Review. Remember, click it, like it, share it.

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Game PassGame ReviewsGamingPC / MacXbox One

Gears Tactics Review (PC)

In a world full of fear and uncertainty it is nice to return to a world of fear and uncertainty that is worse off than us. Kicking off 12 years before the original Gears of War, Gears Tactics has you taking the role of Gabriel, or Gabe to his friends.

A dedicated member of the Motor Pool who is tasked with a mission well above his pay grade. As you can imagine there is the potential for a LOT of spoilers here so I will say now that this is a spoiler free review.

The Locust Horde is on the rise and it it is up to you to save the people of Sera. But to do this you are going to need some help. So get out there and recruit a team and take the fight to the enemy.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4PSNetwork

Predator: Hunting Grounds, PS4 Review

“Dillion! You son of a bitch”  is one of the many quotes from Predator, that as a kid in the 80s, has been burnt into my brain.

It’s an I.P that even 30+ years after Arnie went toe-to-toe with the Alien hunter, people still know and love.

Sony has just dropped an Asymmetrical shooter for both PS4 and PC, channeling the rendered essence of what made Predator bodacious in 1987… and I am torn on it.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4Xbox One

Wartile, PS4 Review

There is something about Dungeons and Dragons mini figurines in Wartile.

They connect straight into a deep nostalgia for me. Having a group of friends round a table, surrounded by packets of chips and fizzy drinks. All laughing and dungeon crawling into the small hours of the night.

This is what Wartile taps into in a way. It’s tabletop gaming from the comfort of your couch and TV.

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GamingByte Size ReviewPC / MacPS4Xbox One

Control: The Foundation DLC, PS4 Review

Control was my game of the year in 2019, so the prospect of a big ol’ chunk of DLC (The Foundation) was music to my ears.

And, I am happy to report that Remedy Games have gone beyond time and space again! “The Foundation” DLC has all the stunning level design, unsettling tone and addictive gameplay that made the main game unmissable last year.

The Oldest House has been compromised in its foundations, hence the name. I won’t get bogged down in the details. Jesse needs to pick up her Director’s Pistol again and head into the caverns under The Oldest House to figure out what’s going on.

If you played Control last year and enjoyed it, then the choice is simple. Buy this DLC  you will not be sorry.

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Feature ArticlePC / Mac

Norton 360 Premium Lifelock, review

Anti-virus software is one of things that’s a little bit like house and contents insurance:

You don’t feel you need it so you wonder why you’re paying the premiums. But something when goes wrong,  you’re really glad you had it.

When it comes to anti-virus software, I’ve gone down the free route in the past. AVG, Avast, Karpersky, that sort of thing, which offer basic protection. Without the bells and whistles of the premium products like McAfee or Norton, which is what we’re reviewing here.

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