Online multiplayer, remote pass and play, and streaming have become even more important for staying connected. I can’t pop the hallway light on to distract from the tension of the screen when the screen is suspended mere centimeters away from my face. I know it was intended to be played with a mouse and keyboard, but it just can’t compare to playing with the iPad and Apple Pencil. It’s a prevalent theme throughout the game since both protagonists are violinists, and it’s so dang memorable that it’s now on loop in my Spotify, because why the heck not. While this isn’t anything against the game itself, I would highly suggest playing on an iPad if you have the means. For a long time now, I’ve maintained that anyone that tries to encourage me to even try out Resident Evil 7 in VR is surely a servant of Satan himself, and that the experience is an actual, simulated reminder of what awaits me in the afterlife. That alone would be a challenge, but the real downer is that the Nest has been horribly broken by the disaster. While this concept seems frustrating, it’s quite engaging thanks to the small scale of each map and its intuitive control scheme. They all provide wonderful color commentary that flesh out the world of Ijincho, and their personal quests are worth unfolding, if not just for the XP bonuses. By the end of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, you’ll have six party members in total. By defeating enemies in combat or destroying parts of the environment you can acquire pieces of scrap that at the end of missions can be converted into the MechaNika’s core level, which effectively makes them experience points. The city of Ijincho is really beautiful at night. Haven is the tale of Yu (girl) and Kay (boy), two lovers who have taken their tiny ship “Nest” to the uninhabited planet of Source. Craven Faults - Erratics & Unconformities Craven Faults' 'Erratics And Unconformities' emerged just a few days into 2020. It’s something that really helps build the world Finji tries to create with Overland. It’s certainly the black sheep in the party pack offering a mostly cooperative experience. Some of the developments border on ridiculous, making it feel like a mad mix of WWE and soap opera, but that’s to be expected. The unfortunate part of this is that the characters don’t change very much; you learn the relevant information and get them to come back with you to your place but there isn’t much more. You can bond with your party members at the local dive bar that doubles as your hideout. Instead, you’ll get sent back to the start of the chapter you’re in, so you’ll need to repeat the chapter all over again. Needing the axe (and health kit) I decided it would be best to cut her down and permanently borrow the health kit back. Even when he has to rough people up, he tries to understand their plight. You can’t always be the good guy. For returning players it’s a good chance for a fresh slate of questions, this is especially great to hear for those who have already worked their way through all the previous prompts. There weren’t long cutscenes with more information about the girl or the world and there wasn’t any real character progression. TechRaptor reviewed Hello Puppets! One other player will get given the same prompt as you. The Game Bakers do much more right than they do wrong, however. We all know what a Knight would do, but what about a Host? All in all, it’s a nice bonus to tick off these objectives as you go, but it’s by no means a priority. Truthfully, the main narrative is uncompelling; compared to the world setting that ZA/UM established, it becomes just another distraction for the rich amount of role-playing specific side-content. Each character has small perks and personality traits, which does help make you feel that much worse when you drive off without them or leave them to die in a noisy corner somewhere. Once you’re finished drawing the two fighters will get pitted against one another. One of the best effects to get involves either removing or changing the broken hearts into something else as those can cause a complete failure in a nearly-won game. Our duo must head out into the world to find a way to repair their ship. doesn’t really dive into its own concept as much as it probably should, the end result feeling more like an early proof of concept, similar to the original Accounting experience that set the tone for the final product of Accounting+. Each character can pick up a job, and that determines their stat growth, weapon of choice, and skills. The things that the President of the United States does and says in the real world are already crazy and ridiculous enough that trying to make effective comedy out of him is nearly impossible. TechRaptor reviewed Disco Elysium on PC via Steam with a copy provided by the publisher. TechRaptor reviewed Overland on Apple Arcade and PC via Steam. Combat is done in a sort of real-time, turn-based system that is somewhat similar to the “Active Time Battle” used in Final Fantasy games. With so many people still needing to isolate themselves, the idea of getting together to play video games like The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is a strange one to wrap your head around. Yu and Kay communicate during combat, giving the player(s) hints at what they should be doing next. Easily the least enjoyable part of the game. Well, after a couple hours, it all starts clicking more. Nimbus used a poor lacquer known to become sticky under certain conditions, and it will attract dust and lint that will get stuck to its surface. If nothing else, Disco Elysium is a must for role-playing aficionados worldwide to really sink their teeth into. You’ll notice some similarities to  When Cyberpunk 2077 features such a vast array of NPCs all across Night City, with wildly different looks and designs, it’s a real shame there is no way to get anywhere close to a unique look that even compares to just some random person walking down the street. Overall Hunie Pop was a fun little romp with some cute girls and addicting gameplay. Soft bright colors can calm the viewer and give them a sense of warmth and security. In film, color can change the way the viewer reacts to a scene without them noticing. All of your skills have their own voice and purpose, sometimes though they work against you. While the puzzle section of the game appears to be similar to a game like Puzzle Quest,  it does differ in a number of ways. No matter how witty you are you’ll be able to find the game that falls in line with your abilities. The bells will give you an extra turn, the heart adds passion which increases the mutiplier for matches, the broken heart takes a percentage off of the meter and  the teardrops add up and allow players to use items. The better your speech is the more points you’ll be able to earn. The thread only reveals its path as you ride it, so you might end up flying in a direction you want to go, only to end up in a completely different place. You’ll also encounter a fair amount of combat as part of your lengthy quest to clear Source of its Rust problem. Whether they know how to biz with one another or not. The color palette in this game is gorgeous. With a game this difficult and immersive, I found it a much more pleasurable experience by looking down on it from a flat surface. You’ll be seeing that building in the background a lot. And yes, you’ll have plenty of choices to make while doing them. With a genius level intellect she believes herself to be far superior to everyone in her life and she decides to destroy all the things that she deems not awesome. There’s also a series of side jobs about fist fights that are just rough. Night City is by far and away the most remarkable thing Cyberpunk 2077 has to offer. There are skill trees to build a character as you want, but for the most part it’s pretty standard fare. Well worth a look, if for no reason other than to see what you can do differently each time. The final encounter with Mortimer and Riley, who have been ominously taunting you throughout your adventure, is over before it really begins, and the mysterious plot thread of the show’s deceased creator doesn’t really go anywhere. Quick jobs offered to V by various fixers that won’t take much time. To remain inconspicuous each player will need to complete tasks on their phones, some of these tasks require players to work together to complete a common objective. The use of browns and earthy tones give off an “indie film” vibe while still making every environment feel like its been long abandoned. Obviously by creating a massive combat mech that is armed to the teeth and is promptly dubbed MechaNika. This leaves you to mindlessly spam all your strongest attacks, stopping only to heal. While this isn’t set in a high-fantasy world, a lot of the core strands of typical JRPG mechanics are here. Just when you think you’ve uncovered one layer of the mystery, another one lies in wait. As you play, you find an indie film-esque survival horror with a layer anxiety-induced stealth roguelike on top. From the moment you step into Night City, it overwhelms your senses. This is expected with a “boss” level, but it does mean I was occasionally driving into a literally unbeatable level. When you attack, you have a chance to knock enemies down; if you follow up while the enemy is down, you do more damage. Instead of the standard melancholic score, Overland goes with a more experimental wall of sound approach. One of the many photographs you receive in-game. There is no denying Disco Elysium is a game that needs to be played to be believed. They are just bog standard mechanics executed very well, but nothing more. You’ll be searching plant pots, opening cabinets, and unlocking safes to obtain key items, or even luring birds with bread crumbs to get them to drop something you need. Players can try to grab the tie while the fan moves, ignore it completely, or shut off the fan to increase your odds of grasping it. All she really sees at first is his shadow trapped in a cage, but as you go through each chapter, you earn feathers that reveal both the lover’s features and the past. Overland is currently available on console, computers, and phones. It would have been much better if you could see where a Flow thread took you before you were actually riding it. Disco Elysium. This is a Jackbox Game in its purest form. What this means is that if you are looking at your character from the side, pressing A will make you go forward instead of pressing W. The alternative is “absolute controls,” an option in some games where W always makes you go forward regardless of where you’re looking. The big DPS number at the top was bigger on this gun, so I went with it. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Other checks are simply one-time rolls, indicated with a red background, that offer a specific percentage chance to succeed. The map is also full of gigs, small points of interest that can be resolved immediately. Yes, Ichiban Kasuga loves the for-real While the relationship with Scout almost makes up for this, it doesn’t quite fit the £20 price tag, which I feel requires the game to explore its potential with a bit more depth. In classic JRPG terms, you might call this a “summon.” Here, it’s called the “Pound Mates” system. The game is also available on Mac, Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. While I did get stuck a few times, it’s not as frustrating as other point-and-click games out there—in fact, the low level of difficulty is likely deliberate to make sure that you focus more on the story rather than the actual gameplay, because yes, the story is a doozy. Companies like Jackbox Games have a bit of a headstart requiring only one copy of a game, and for everyone to be able to play using their mobile device. Instead, you are presented with two choices. Furthermore, the rewards are usually more interesting, often unlocking new Pound Mates or gear. Cyberpunk 2077 has a lot to say about humanity and the world we live in, often in very unsubtle ways. Your earliest fights can be won with very little strategy: beat the heck out of corrupted wildlife, drop their HP to 0, and then “Pacify” them to release them back into the wild. That really sound like a downside, but frankly there are no repercussions to the MechaNika blowing up. Much like Judgment before it, Yakuza: Like a Dragon features the original Japanese dub along with a localized English dub. The final game in The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is called Blather ‘Round. Moving around the world in Haven is typically done by gliding along “Flow threads.” Flow in the Haven universe is a fictional substance that has a variety of uses, allowing easy interstellar travel through interplanetary connections and as a power source. The Best of Schoolhouse Rock (album) 1996: 2018: Childrens: The Blueprint (album) Jay-Z: 2001: 2018: Rap/Hip Hop: Dream Melody Intermezzo: Naughty Marietta (single) Victor Herbert and His Orchestra: 1911: 2017: Pop (Pre-1955) Standing Rock Preservation Recordings: George Herzog and Members of the Yanktoni Tribe: … Each of these attacks are useful in different situations or against specific enemies. “Charge” can be used by pressing the same button used for Flowbursts (F or J), and “Overload” replaces “Pacify” when you’re fighting robots. The music is really the star of the show here. Then press Ctrl+F and type in part of the question. The biggest sin is how overstuffed the writing is; with being overly verbose is just part of the problem. 20 Years Later: What Did Mario Party 3 Bring to the Party? The Flow threads in the game represented one of the earliest problems I encountered and one of my most frequent frustrations. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t really complete you but matches your imperfections instead, and the kind of love that lets you share the last cookie in the jar by breaking it into two. Yu and Kay quickly discover that their peaceful little getaway is being rapidly taken over by Rust. If there’s one thing to complain about, it’s that hitting “Continue” when you’re in the Main Menu doesn’t really save your actual progress. Much of it is obviously done well but not going to wow you, apart from Night City. They range from killing targets, to rescuing hostages or property, stealing things, and more. One player might have that they need to make a breakfast of milk, eggs, and cereal but it’s another player who has the ability to access the fridge. On the PC build of Yakuza: Like a Dragon that I played, I noticed two stand-out glitches that persisted throughout the game. Apart from the main story, there are plenty of side jobs around Cyberpunk 2077 to engage in. referencing Saxophone Colossus, CD, Album, Mono, RE, 24K, GZS-1082, LP 7079 Be careful about getting the label side wet if you have this CD. The map is barely usable for general navigation; it only gives you a vague idea of the direction you should head on any particular islet. Weird visual things, some sounds not playing or playing in the wrong places—stuff like that. Corporations are evil, selfish, and deceitful, but 2077 also asks: are the people on the street any better? As mentioned earlier, the Dating Sim elements basically boil down to answering questions with the right answers and giving gifts that the girls like. However, your equipment is Flow-powered and you lose the ability to remove Rust by flying over it when the Flow runs out. I still have no idea after 14 hours in the game. Hell, there are even plenty of places you can be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. The lack of depth across various mechanics is the most disappointing thing about Cyberpunk 2077. It’s not often a horror game like this comes around. Primarily, you’ll be using Flow threads to get from A to B. If you don’t play your cards right, this could take you hours and really put a damper on the intrigue. As previously stated, Overland is so stacked against you at times, it feels like it wants you to die. There are a fixed number of wildlife encounters in the game — once an animal is freed from Rust, it appears to remain that way forever. Whether from using special attacks or by taking damage the MechaNika will overheat fairly often, but will respawn almost immediately afterwards like nothing ever happened. Every time that you ascend to a new level in Colossus Down, the MechaNika gains an upgraded version of its standard attacks that can be activated by holding the Ctrl button before attack. You’ll fight a lot of enemies both big and small, and after dozens of hours of play, it can feel tedious. The easy-to-play style also lends itself very well to a strange addictiveness that can lead to numerous hours of play without even intending to. Also like Witcher 3, combat is the least interesting part of the game. Overland is by far one of the best games available on Apple Arcade at the moment. There are all sorts of great little details, but these other annoying issues plagued me throughout my time in the game. Get this! Others, however, were downright frustrating. This chaotic blend of looming strings, sound effects, and synths creates a distorted backdrop that feels like something pulled out of a night terror instead of a video game. This is made worse by some bosses and mini bosses feeling more like health sponges than challenges. Using a simple 2d6 system, the skills add to your inner dialogue most of the time, helping the player obtain context or flavor in the current conversations. Transforming burly street brawling to methodical turn-based combat might sound insane, but Ryu ga Gotoku somehow accomplished it. Like all previous Party Packs, there’s always at least one returning game. Stealth, however, can be very fun. They are likely what you’re going to remember after all is said and done in the game. I don’t hear a single pop or click and no surface noise. Fantastic pressing from QRP, the mastering and soundstage are wonderful. With so much free form improv this game has just as much of a chance to bring about some of the funniest sessions, or could also be the biggest dud. Yes, there are weapons. Players take on the role of an investigative journalist who quickly discovers that the former studio has been transformed into a human-possessing puppet factory by the shows former felt stars and must evade the various Frankenstein puppet monsters that lurk the studio’s winding corridors if they’re going to escape with their life. As an RPG, it is brilliant but plodding. It is a real missed opportunity, especially with the cyberware that’s part of the gear you equip. In Talking Points players will submit three topic ideas, that are all pooled and shared out for players to pick. The sum of its parts is such a funky blend of ideas and concepts that I can’t help but find myself compelled to enjoy the overall experience, despite how pretentious it is. Cyberpunk 2077 does what all great sci-fi does: integrate its setting, world, and rules of that world into the writing and plot. Brilliant! Everything suffers from a style-over-substance disparity that can be really jarring. Colossus Down really struggles to give itself a unique identity. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Otherworld Interactive’s Hello Puppets!, a dark comedy horror title that thankfully anesthetises its tension and jumpscares by providing a charming and endearing anthropomorphic puppet companion that makes navigating the dark corridors of an abandoned TV studio a much more enjoyable experience – one that saw me cowering, laughing, and bonding with a new friend. This keeps the game accessible to anyone who wants to play. Every street envelops you in the world. ZA/UM purposefully avoids any dissonance between the narrative themes and gameplay throughout the whole experience, but this is at the cost of a tighter script throughout. Its a shame because Apple Arcades built in cloud saves made playing the game at home and then on the go really seamless, It was just a bit too difficult to get anything done (besides die) whenever I switched to my phone. I found enemies more than 10 levels above my party’s average, forcing me to grind out some levels. It’s short and sweet for a reason, because there’s really no use prolonging something that’s already perfect in its brevity. Nothing is more immersive or impressive than Night City itself, though. Disco Elysium is, narratively, a “whodunit” with a colorful cast of side characters that can be tangentially related to the plot as suspects. Outside of the party, you’ll find a wide cast of characters. They are a great excuse to engage with the combat and stealth systems in Cyberpunk 2077, though. You fill in the blanks, make your friends laugh, and move on. Combat as well is horribly repetitive and puts players at a severe disadvantage. Visually the game is very appealing, with an anime-like aesthetic. This reliance of pitting drawings against one another was something Jackbox Games have previously done with Tee KO from Jackbox Party Pack 3 and the same issues that that game suffered this one also suffers from. By and large, however, they are forgettable. For example, choosing certain dialogue options can make Yu or Kay “feel more confident.” What does “confidence” do? For the most part, these characters are written well, even the two-bit villains that only have a few hours of screen time. An epic storyline about how they are fugitives from the government builds up, but it never ends in a satisfying resolution. There is no such option in Haven and the game is poorer for it. With more than a few controversies about the game’s development, you won’t be able to stop yourself making comparisons to some actions and words spoken in the game. Every member of the cast looks unique and has a personality all to herself. Their dynamic plays out like they’ve known each other for years, despite the fact that they all meet Kasuga during the events of the game. trying out last year’s demo from The Game Festival, What We Learned About Cyberpunk 2077 In Its 50 Minute Presentation, Shadowrun: Hong Kong Review – Zombie Samurai, Young Souls is a Sidescrolling Beat Em Up RPG With a Strong Narrative Focus, Salt and Sanctuary Vita Impressions – Boss Beat em Up, Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom Review – Furry Beat Em Up, Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice Review, Sam & Max Save the World Remastered Review, The HuniePop Story – An Interview With Lead Developer Ryan Koons. Dark corridors, stalking enemies, creepy environments, and the constant feeling of being watched – these are typically ingredients that lead to me asking a friend round to provide commentary from the sofa and to take the controller at the corridor that’s just too dark for me to explore. Sounds alert enemies, and they’ll call in reinforcements when they detect a kill. As an orphan, he was raised by the people on the streets of Kamurocho, making his intense desire to help others feel believable and noble. There’s a lot of points where this game can go wrong. The game is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with versions optimized for next-gen coming next year. Colossus Down hardly makes an effort though and just goes for the same tired old Trump caricatures that have been used repeatedly over the last few years. You’re tasked with clearing off some debris in a level stacked with enemies.