Wilmot's Warehouse - Review

No matter how many games I play, or how many I add to my 'to playlist', I am always open to adding another game to my pile.  This is exactly what happened when I came across Wilmot's Warehouse by games studio Finji.  The studio has released a number of games including; Night In The Woods,
Overland, Feist, Canabalt (one of my favorite mobile games).


There is almost nothing more wholesome than boiled bacon, cabbage, mash potatoes, and white onion sauce.  It is one of those meals where I always leave the table satisfied.  There are many variations of the meal but I like to keep mine simple as it was intended.  Playing Wilmot's Warehouse I found myself asking was this the simple, wholesome meal I needed?

Story


The story is quite straight forward, you control Wilmot, a new warehouse employee.  His mission is to organize the warehouse, take in deliveries, and deliver orders (it's more interesting than it sounds). The goal is to stock two hundred different items and once that happens it's game over.  It might sound simple but it will take you some time.


Overall yes there isn't much of a story but it isn't needed, that being said I felt connected to Wilmot and wanted to help him achieve his destiny.

Visuals


The visuals are soothing, simple and pleasurable to look at, but don't mistake that for being boring.  The warehouse is a large square with six-columns spaced out within it, it is simply black and white visuals at the beginning.  Then each new item you take in has different designs, symbols, and colours, this brightens up the warehouse and only as you approach items will they be revealed (see the image above).


Overall I feel the visuals really help offset the poor pressure that Wilmot is under and helps create a feeling of calm.



Music 


The music is amazingly calming and helped make me feel cozy, it was never invasive and I found myself bobbing along with it on occasion. The composer, musician, and sound designer is Eli Rainsberry who also created the soundtracks for Sure Footing and Jet Stream.


The soundtrack runs a little over thirty minutes and has many tranquil tracks, my favorites being;
'It's Him...Wilmot', 'Going Through The Ropes', 'Customer Service' and 'Tea Break'.


Overall the soundtrack is one of the most peaceful and calming I listened to in a while and is the perfect music for the game.

Gameplay


The bare basics of the game are, take in deliveries, organize them and then fetch products for your team and deliver them to the counter.  However, there is much more beyond that, you have to effectively organize the warehouse, sound easy?  It isn't always.  You need to decide on a strategy to organise it in such a way that you remember where everything is and so you can complete your counter deliveries in a short frame of time. There are some products that have pictures of animals on them so you could create an animal section, but what about abstract shapes, goblets or handsoap? Maybe you'd be better ignoring the symbols and grouping by colors. It's an interesting exercise in how we visually group and organize information, and you have to be able to remember where everything is (at least approximately, in its larger group), as items you are not close to are just shown as dark squares.


Probably my favorite part of Wilmot's Warehouse was the Stocktake level, every three levels you get to take your time and make changes as you see fit.  Each level rewards you with stars based on how quickly you get products to deliver to the rest of the team. These can be used to remove the six columns in the warehouse, which is the first thing you should do because you will need the space.  There are items to help you carry more, move faster, and Borky your robot friend who can help you organize everything.


Overall the game started easy but got a lot tougher near the end trying to organize and remember where all the products all gave me anxiety.  In the end though myself, Wilmot and Borky prevailed.




Final Thoughts


So, after nearly twenty hours how did I feel?  Pretty happy and content.  The game pulls you with its calming simple design and music, and this helps you deal with the fast-paced gameplay.  My honest advice is if you haven't played it you should and if you have then make sure to take a well-earned tea break.  This one gets a solid 4 out of 5

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan - Review

Last year I played Until Dawn by Supermassive Games, and I won't lie, I had a lot of fun with it.  Of course, when I heard that they would be releasing a new game; The Dark Pictures Anthology Man Of Medan, I was excited. This is the first game in the series and I was looking forward to seeing what Supermassive Games would do with it.  This game offers a movie night mode where 2-5 of you can play on the couch together, Nollsy suggested it might be a good idea to play together.


Who doesn't like pizza (if your answer is anything apart from 'I love it' we can't be friends)?  This week Nollsy and I have been bad foodwise and have had pizza three times this week. Each time we ate it, it tasted perfect (shoutout to Oak Fire Pizza).  Of course, our experience has not always been as good.  There is a popular pizzeria in Cork with whom, in our experience, you have a 50/50 chance of getting what you want, not only in taste but also in terms of the correct toppings.  Playing The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, we found ourselves asking was this good pizza or an underwhelming one?

Story

Similar to Until Dawn, it is massively (or perhaps supermassively - ba dum tish), the game is story heavy.  It starts just after the end of World War II, you see a number of containers with black skulls on it being put on board a large US Naval vessel.  As we all know black skulls are a good thing and there is no chance of anything bad happening. The game then launches into the future and we get to see Julie, Alex, Brad, Conrad and their no-BS attitude Captain Fliss.  They want to explore a wreck that as of yet has never been touched or even officially discovered.  That's all you get, no spoilers.


Overall the story starts interestingly enough but I always felt like I had only one shoe in, unlike Until Dawn where I was riveted to my seat.  There are fourteen endings and the one we got was okayish. It wasn't like it was the worst story in the world but was definitely a far cry from Until Dawn. With a game like this, you need to feel invested in the characters. We've all seen Pixar's 'Up', right? The first 15 minutes tell a whole story that makes most people cry. 15 minutes, and your heart goes out to those characters. This whole game didn't achieve that. We left it feeling fairly indifferent to most of the characters.

Visuals


The visuals are so good that an times I wasn't sure if I was watching a cut sequence or if I was supposed to be playing.  Being set mostly at sea Supermassive Games put a lot of effort into the water effects and certainly have created a very organic and sometimes scary world.  I particularly liked when it was raining and stormy as it felt like one of the characters could be killed before anything has even really started.

Overall the visuals are one of the strongest, if not the strongest part of the game and drew my attention as to how far we come in video games since the 1950s.


Music


The music used in the game reminds me of so many things, Until Dawn, Lord of the Rings, nineties horror movies and jazz.  The soundtrack is both intimate and epic which works really well in the game and helps in creating a tense atmosphere.  The composer Jason Graves who has worked on a slew of video games including; The Order 1886, Far Cry Primal, and Until Dawn.


The soundtrack is just shy of an hour and features some great tracks, my favorites being; 'Bringer of War', 'You Cannot Hide', and 'Olson's Theme'. Overall the soundtrack helps bring the game to life and depth that might not be present without it.

Gameplay

This is where things started to get a little murky.  The story isn't bad, the visuals are amazing and the soundtrack is good but the gameplay is where it falls down.   When you do take control of a character they feel extremely stiff and like trying to turn an eighteen-wheeler round a sharp corner.  Forward, turn, reverse, turn more, go. Investigating items in the world can be tough, not only because you can't control the camera angles but also you need to be in exactly the right position to interact with things, and you could see something shining (indicating interactivity), but you'd be doing your turn and pivot routine with the character while mashing X in the hope of hitting the jackpot. This did create the occasional moments of frustration and stopped the game from being as immersive as it could have been.


There are items of interest in the game, along with collectibles and paintings which provide premonitions. The premonition paintings were an interesting idea but never felt they had an impact on the story itself. Nollsy and I both noted at the end that we never really noticed where the premonitions would have occurred had we not prevented them, or even what it was we did that DID prevent them.


One of the biggest parts of the gameplay is picking answers to questions posed by the other members of your group.  Will it bring you together more or push you apart?  You can check your relationship status with each character, though it rarely felt purposeful. There are is quick-time events that occur throughout the game which generally work, apart from the heartbeat monitor.  This was cool the first time but became clunky and was easy enough to screw up, it felt unneeded and hopefully, this is something that will not be in the next installment.


The game can be played solo with four other AI, or two of you can share all the characters between you, and finally, you can play with four random people online.


Overall the gameplay has a lot of rough edges that are in desperate need of rounding off, and with any luck, this will not be an issue next time.




Final Thoughts

So, after almost five hours how did we feel?  Meh.  The story was okay but wasn't as engaging as it could have been. The visuals were amazing and the soundtrack really helps create a great atmosphere.  The biggest failing really was the gameplay, I only hope this is something that will not be repeated in the future.  This one gets a 3 out of 5

Erica - Review

I added Erica to the list of games I wanted to play this year, the weird thing is that I don't even remember where I heard about it.  Maybe I am just getting old or have Alzheimer's...or have Alzheimer's. Last year I played the interactive film Late Shift, and while I enjoyed it enough it felt a little underwhelming. It didn't stop me wanting to play other interactive films though.


While I enjoy a lot of foods that are bad for my health there is one in particular that I know I should stop eating, the Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal that comes with a hashbrown and coffee.  I always buy the meal, pull out the egg-like substance, and replace it with a hash brown.  It is full of grease but it tastes so good, or maybe that is why it tastes so good?  It is a snack and won't fill me for long but I still keep eating them.  Playing Erica I found myself asking was this the breakfast I needed?

Story


This is the first game from London-based games developer Flavourworks and as with any interactive film it heavily story-based. The game has you take control of Erica Mason (played by Holly Earl). Tragedy struck her family at early age memories and nightmares still haunt her.  After getting an unexpected package she calls the police to investigate.  It is not long before she is brought to her father's workplace - an institute for those with problems, but what kind?  Quickly the story changes from being something slightly mysterious to an episode of X-Files or Millennium.   What is the truth? Who can you trust?  Is Erica losing her mind?


Overall the story is well written and with multiple endings gives you an excuse to replay it a few times.  The actors are really good, especially Holly Earl's performance.

Visuals


Due to the visuals being live-action it is difficult to judge it in the same way as standard video games. The sets look and feel real (I mean really real), from Erica's apartment to Delphi House where you will spend most of your time while playing.  The visuals can sometimes be blurry but this done on purpose to help cause disorientation and general unease.


Overall the sets look great and have the same production value you would expect to see any TV show or film.


Music 


The soundtrack features somber and eerie tones that work so well with the story.  It was created by American composer, Austin Wintory.  Wintory has worked on many tv series, movies and video games including Journey and Assassins Creed Syndicate.


The soundtrack is just shy of being an hour long and features some brilliant tracks. Unlike normal where I pick my favorites, I can't this time, because the soundtrack, in my opinion, is flawless. Overall I feel the soundtrack is just as vital to the game as the story itself.

Gameplay

The gameplay and story are almost arguably the same in Erica.  That being said there are a number of hands-on elements. There are two ways the game can be played with the touchpad on the Dual Shock Controller or with your smartphone.  It is nice to have the option but felt a little unneeded.  The controls were a little awkward because it is more like you are navigating with a mouse, but I got used to it quickly enough. There will be doors to open, documents to look at and a nice feature is clearing dust from a sign or illuminating memories by swipe your fingers continuously over the touchpad.


Of course, there are questions you will be asked and ask, it is up to you what option to pick.  While I have no doubt there are bad endings in the game there isn't time to think much about your options and I just went with my gut.


Overall while playing Erica there was no point where I felt bored or mind wondered I was fully engrossed in it throughout.  This is a tall order in a game where the gameplay itself or the interactions can sometimes be infrequent.




Final Thoughts

So, after a few hours how did I feel?  Great, curious and wanting to know more.  The story is well written, the visuals look great, the music is perfect.  The only slight hurdle is getting used to using the touchpad, which is something I rarely use.  Overall though this one gets a solid 4 out of 5

Judgement - Review

I recently completed Judgement (or Judge Eyes) on the PlayStation 4.  It is set in the same world as the Yakuza series but follows a different character.  It became clear earlier this year that Yakuza 3 remastered would not be released until 2020, and needing a fix my attention was drawn to Judgement.  It offered similar elements to the Yakuza series but instead of playing as a Yakuza you play as a lawyer-turned-detective.


I like coconut things, quite a bit and if it is combined with chocolate even better.  I recently went into Tesco and decide to try their Tesco's Finest Coconut and Chocolate Biscuit cake.  I had gone in for something else and thought 'how bad could they be?'.  They were one of the tastiness things I have had in ages, so much so I went back for more.  Playing Judgement I found myself asking was this even better than what I really wanted?

Story


The story follows Yagami, a lawyer who, after a bad case, retires and opens his own detective agency in Karamucho.  He has a number of allies - his closest being Kaito, a former Yakuza who is pretty handy in a brawl.  There is a killer called The Mole who has been gouging out peoples eyes and when those murders intersect with one of his own cases Yagami decides to investigate.  I can't give any more away as there are way too many spoilers.  What I can say is while it feels sort of slow start with it picks up in pace quickly and ends really well.


The main story is great but one of the best elements is the side cases and friend requests.  They share some of the some dark and often comedic moments that the other Yakuza games are known for.  That said, while I liked many of them they were not quite as enjoyable as the Yakuza series ones.


Overall the main story, sides cases and friend requests were a lot of fun and many of the characters, especially your allies, are very likeable which really helped me invest in them.

Visuals


Since Yakuza 0 and the remake of Yakuza 1 and 2, I have been spoiled by the visuals and Judgement is no exception.  The world is busy and full of life, sometimes even to the point where I start asking people to get out of my way.  The stores, restaurants, and mini-game venues all have a lot of detail in them making them feel like real places.  The character designs look amazing and no detail was spared, except for one, the eyes.  Not all but some characters have dead-looking eyes which can be very jarring at times.


Overall the visuals are amazing and it was great getting to explore Karamucho again.



Music


Hidenori Shoji has helped create a very distinct sound for the Yakuza Series (Ryu Ga Gotoku) and now he has turned his attention to this.  Judgment has a very similar sound there are rocking guitars for battles, and whimsical tracks for the happy fun moments.  However, Judgement adds an extra layer that I have not experienced before which is moody guitars along with what I can only surmise as being a cross between old school detective shows and modern-day espionage films. 

The soundtrack runs a little over three hours and there is a lot packed into that time. There are so many great tracks some of my favorites being:

• Random Fire
• Puzzle
• My Own Style
• Yagami Detective Agency
• Strange Encounter
• Hyenas Wheezing
• In Jeopardy
• Speculation
• The Laff Riot
• Vast Fire
• Off Guard
• Destination
• Penumbra
• Kamimurochi Funny
• Anyway Happy
• Dive In

Overall it is great soundtrack and is easily as good as any of the Yakuza games if not slightly better.

Gameplay


The gameplay in Judgement is very similar to that seen in the Yakuza series but with some new additions.  The combat is more streamlined and feels smoother, there are two fighting styles; tiger and crane.  Yagami is more agile and because of this can leapfrog over enemies, wall jump and get out of tight spots.  It took me a while to get used to the new styles but once I did I quite enjoyed them.  Enemies feel a little tougher especially when they hit you with special attacks that destroy your health and make it impossible to heal fully until you have been to a doctor or got a medical kit.


The Keihin Gang terrorizes the town but what's worse is they keep coming back even after you defeat them.  They appear with a 100% threat level and overtime or as you defeat the gang leader and footsoldiers it drops.  The only issue is that it happens so often and if you ignore them you get a guilt-ridden text message from a local restaurant owner.


The final boss battle is really well done and had a perfect build-up to it.  It ended up being a slight struggle as I hadn't brought enough supplies, but in the end, I prevailed.


The detective element is played out very lightly, tailing people, taking pictures and asking/answering the right questions.  It was fun enough but was not very taxing from the detective point of view.  It is difficult to know if this was done on purpose or not.  If it was taxing it might distract too much from the main narrative.


We all need friends sometimes and in Judgement, there are fifty potential friends.  Each can be made friends by fulfilling certain requests, some are more challenging than others. The one I did not get was the Majong girl, mostly because I can't quite get my head around how to play it.  Once acquired, friends will then greet you around town and in some cases will even help you in fights.


There is a host of mini-games to enjoy including; baseball, darts, blackjack, poker, VR and my favorite - drone racing!  These are a lot of fun and there are lots of upgrades available to make your drone the best out there. As a fan of pigeons, I quite liked the little pigeon head on my drone.


The Yagami Detective Agency feels small and homely and there are a number of activities available.  There is sleeping on the less than a comfy looking couch, playing pinball, listening to music, adding decorations to the place and of course checking out your side cases.  Side cases are a welcome distraction from the main story and some are dark, funny and sometimes a little weird.  I liked them a lot and helped build relationships with characters in the town.


Overall the gameplay was really good with almost nothing to complain about.  I'm already looking forward to my next playthrough.





Final Thoughts


After fifty hours of playing Judgement, how did I feel?  Pretty happy!  The story was really well done, and while the side missions were not quite as enjoyable as the ones in the Yakuaza they were still good.  The visuals look fantastic and are really detailed, the music was good too and add something a little more than heard in the Yakuza series.  The gameplay overall was really fun, with the exception of a few minor annoyances.  Overall it was a solid contender and I hope there is a sequel in the near future, this one gets 4 out of 5

Sonic Forces - Review

Ah, Sonic. One of the first games I ever played was Sonic The Hedgehog on the Sega Master System, it was tough at the time but really fun.  I have continued to play Sonic games over the years some good and others...well not so much.  I recently saw a trailer for Sonic Forces which gave me pause, seemed a little darker than normal, an interesting villain and though maybe it would be worth a play. Recently I saw it second-hand and thought to myself why not pick it up?


I like soup, it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Not sure what to eat?  Have some soup. Feeling a little sick and not sure what your stomach can handle?  Have some soup.  Have next to no money but need to fill your stomach? Have some soup.  I have tried quite a lot of soup, some has been really enjoyable and some have not.  I recently tried apple and herb celeriac soup, what does that look like you ask?  Imagine if an apple could poop, that's the start of it and they pour hot wallpaper paste over it.  It doesn't look great, but as my dad always said to us growing up 'don't turn your nose up until you have tried it'.  So, I tried it. Since then I have done my best to put that horrible experience behind.  Playing Sonic Forces I found myself asking was this my apple and herb celeriac soup or did I need to try it before turning my nose up?

Story 


The nefarious Dr. Robotnik has a new scheme cooked up. Okay, yeah I know technically he was and always has been called Dr. Eggman, it is the West who created the name Dr. Robotnik but it what I grew up with. He has created Infinite a being who can change reality, which to be fair is pretty nifty ability.  Defeating Infinite and Dr. Robotnik will be tough but don't worry he will have plenty of friends including the original Sonic (the real Sonic in my eyes).  There is also a new character which you can create, the story focuses a lot around them, yay.


The story is a pretty cool idea but never quite manages to reach its full potential.  The addition of a new character feels unneeded especially as there are already some fairly meh ones in the Sonic Universe without adding another.  The game likes to subtly jackhammer home points like 'we can do anything if we just work together' and 'you can't defeat because you are evil and don't have any friends'.  Of course, my favorite line is said by Tails at the end of the game where he says 'true dat'. True Dat?  True Dat!?  What?!  Did they want to make him sound like a dad trying to sound cool? Well done you did it.


Overall the story could be worse but it could also have been better. TRUE! DAT!

Visuals


Onto the visuals.  They were pretty good, using some classic looking levels Sonic fans will be familiar with like Green Hill and Chemical Plant Zone.  There are new zones like the Mystic Jungle and the Eggman Empire Fortress, which are quite colorful.  Sonic has always been good at keeping the levels colorful even when you are somewhere dark like an evil fortress where almost everything can kill you.


Overall the visuals are probably one of the stronger elements of the game and managed to keep me entertained during my time playing.




Music


The soundtrack is upbeat, a little too much so and feel like listening to One Direction or another boyband from the West.  This is surprising as Japanese composer Tomoya Ohtani composed it and has done so for many over the Sonic games for over ten years including; Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes and Sonic Generations to name but a few.


The soundtrack is over three hours longs which for a game this short feels overly long.  I wasn't a huge fan of the soundtrack and perhaps that because the aim was to attract newer younger fans rather than long-standing Sonic fans.  Even if that was the goal it still felt a little too upbeat, imagine a hyperactive child bouncing off the walls - it is fun for a few minutes but gets old fast.

Gameplay


The gameplay is a mixed bag.  The newer version of Sonic has a lock-on attack as we have got used to over the last few games.  The original Sonic focuses on his dash attack ability used in the classic games.  I bet you want to play as all the cool characters from the series, no?  You want to create your own avatar which is nowhere near as cool?   The game focuses a lot on your homemade character, initially, I was like okay this might be okay but really that's not who I want to spend my time using.


Customization has become massive in games over the last number of years.  I don't understand it for the most part.  There is so much focus on it that it waters down the overall content.  If you have a car in a game it makes sense to customize it but having accessories for your characters that provide no benefit seems pointless.  Sonic Forces focuses a lot on this and I was not a fan of it.


We have all got used to ranking systems in games, normally you go from D or E ranking all the way to S ranking.  It makes sense and helps you focus on getting better.  If I died nine times on a level you would think, damn you are getting an E ranking for sure, no I got an S ranking.  The most basic of systems is broken this badly, how, why?  This was not my first experience of this happening.


Remember collecting rings, hitting one hundred and getting an extra life?  I do, Sonic Forces does not.  Once you hit one hundred rings they are no longer counted, there are no lives, there are no continues.  There is no sense of achievement in completing levels at all.  The boss on occasion over a mild challenge but nothing crazy.


Overall the gameplay can be fun but Team Sonic seemed to have forgotten what made Sonic so great. They have added in new things that don't work or are unneeded and overall ruined the experience.  The gameplay panders to the Fortnite generation where more time is spent on what you are wearing than the actual gameplay itself.






Final Thoughts

So, after six hours how did I feel?  Hollow, and like a small part of me died.  The story was so so, the visuals were pretty good, the music was...next, and the gameplay just wasn't that fun.  Perhaps in another dimension, I like the game but not in this one.  Overall this gets an underwhelming 2 out of 5

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Review

One of the games I have been looking forward to playing this year is A Plague Tale: Innocence.  It is a survival horror game about a brother and sister trying to survive the plague and the inquisition. I decided the other day to buy A Plague Tale: Innocence on PlayStation 4.


One of my favourite Chinese dishes is deep-fried shredded beef.  It's beef, battered and in a sweet and sometimes slight spicy sauce.  While it is really tasty there is a bit chewing involved (no I'm not old age pensioner who wears dentures), and depending on the quality of the meat it can be too chewy and sometimes dry as well.  Playing A Plague Tale: Innocence I found myself asking was this too chewy and dry or was it just right?

Story


If you are looking for an upbeat positive story this game is not for you.  A Plague Tale Innocence Tale plunges you into the darkness mere minutes after starting.  The story is set in France in 1348, there is a plague across the lands and the inquisition is everywhere.  Well, apart from the De Rune Estate where everything seems okay - for about five minutes anyway.  The children of the De Rune family Amicia and Hugo need to escape and with the help of their mother they do.  Amicia and Hugo have barely ever seen each other due to Hugo's having an unusual sickness, so the story isn't just about survival but the bond between the siblings.  There is a lot of darkness on their journey and occasionally someone might be willing to help you but be warned treachery is everywhere.


Overall the story is pretty solid and while Hugo did annoy me at times I think that was the point, annoying brothers and all that.  He does have some great dialogue though. When they are both in an underground cave Hugo says maybe there is a whale in the water, Amicia says it would not fit, his response is that it could be a small pretty whale that is shy and is the reason they can't see it.

Visuals

The visuals are dark, grim and surprisingly beautiful at times.  The game uses a lot of dark imagery - everything from people being killed by the inquisition, rats eating people alive and what seems like fields of slaughtered animals.  There is some beauty when you are moving through the countryside or when visiting an underground cave.  My advice is to savor these moments of quiet and beauty as they are fleeting.

Overall the visuals are amazing and help create a dark world where you always feel on edge.



Music


The use of strings creates a dark and foreboding sound, that often made me feel unnerved in a game that is already very good at doing just that.  The soundtrack was created by French composer Olivier Deriviere. He has worked on a number of video game soundtracks including; Remember Me, Assassins Creed Freedom Cry, Get Even, Alone In The Dark and Vampyr.


The soundtrack runs at over an hour and features some great tracks. My favorite tracks were; 'Plague Tale', 'Inquisition', 'Adulthood', 'Mystical Castle', 'She Is Alive', 'The Wrath', 'Reunited' and 'I'm Sorry'.

Overall a great soundtrack that helps ensure you never feel relaxed.

Gameplay


On to the meat!  The game is a survival-horror, and as a whole, it is fairly linear, don't get me wrong that doesn't mean it's easy.  The game has you play as Amicia, she tasked with taking care of her younger brother Hugo.  It is essential you hold his hand the whole time if you let go for any length time he will freak out and attract enemies to you.  He will occasionally let go of your hand to explore, figure out puzzle/obstacle or to let you fight when needed.


Amicia's primary weapon is her slingshot, and let me tell you it can deal some serious damage.  Outside of this, you can learn alchemical mixtures to help you avoid the many many rats along with human enemies.  While the game often pushes you to use stealth any chance I could deal some hurt I did without hesitation, much to the shock of Amicia and Hugo.


It is not something you would expect in this style of game but you can upgrade a lot of things, mixtures, slingshot, carry capacity and a number of other things.  My personal recommendation is to focus on your carry capacity as it will make thing easier when you need to make a lot of alchemical mixtures later.


The main enemy in the game is rats and they are freaky, crazy and kind of organised.  Avoiding, them at times can be awkward but as long as you are careful and can make fire you will be just fine.


Overall the gameplay works pretty well most of the time, some the chapters are brilliant but I can't provide any details without giving you spoilers, so you will have to play it yourself.




Final Thoughts

So, after nearly fifteen hours how did I feel?  Pretty happy.  The story is solid an interesting,  the visuals and music blend together perfectly to help create a dark world and the gameplay while linear works well.  Overall this one gets a 4 out of 5

Team Sonic Racing - Review

I'm a Sonic fan, which can be tough sometimes when poor quality games keep being released.  But, I like to keep faith that they won't all be bad.  I liked Sonic Generations, Sonic Mania was pretty decent and I have quite enjoyed Sumo Digital's racing series.  Recently they released Team Sonic Racing, and I was excited to try it.


Hot chicken baguettes are huge in Ireland, but nowhere is the love bigger than here in Cork.  It's not hard to get a hot chicken baguette but the quality can vary massively from place to place. Sometimes the chicken can be dry, the cheese not fresh, the roll might be close to being stale, but when the ingredients are right, it's perfect.  Playing Team Sonic Racing I found myself asking was this the perfect hot chicken baguette?

Story


Story?  I know what you are thinking, it's a racing game is there really need for a story?  The answer is no, no there is not. Sonic and some of his associates are sent an invitation from an alien being called Dodon Pa to compete in a series of races. Rather than ignore it they blindly go to meet Dodon Pa, and even though they don't trust him they decide to compete in his races because...reasons.  The dialogue and voice acting is terrifyingly bad.


Overall the story is poor and unneeded and I have nothing positive to say.

Visuals


Swiftly moving on from the story let's take a look at the visuals. Similar to Sonic All-Star Racing, and Sonic Transformed the level designs are vibrant and fun. The only issue as such is that in some levels it can be difficult to work out where the track starts and ends, especially in the lava levels.


Overall Sumo Digital does a great job of the visuals, with very minor issues.



Music


The soundtrack is an upbeat rock soundtrack, it's fun and has a 'we can do anything if we can work together' feel. The soundtrack is created by Japanese video game composer Jun Senoue who is the lead guitarist and songwriter of Crush 40. His previous works include; Sonic Heros, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic Hedgehog 3, Daytona 3, Burning Rangers, and Sonic Adventure 2 to name but a few.


It's a meaty soundtrack that runs at well over three hours. There are many great tracks which all help in creating a fun feeling when playing.

Gameplay


Onto the hot chicken.  The gameplay focuses on working as a team of three to help win races.  This can be done by sharing powers ups, following the trails left behind by the leader of your team and slingshotting around them. If you do this throughout the race you can pull off an ultimate attack which helps propel your team into, or close to, the lead.


Finishing races and challenges provide credits that can then be used to purchase upgrades for cars.  Some are purely cosmetic and others will help give you the edge in races.


There is an adventure mode, which has a lot to be desired.  The out and out and races are a lot of fun and even the destruction missions are fun, but the others got old quick for me.  I think the real issue for me is that they rehash the levels a lot.  I think it would have been great if they had included some of the levels from the previous games similar to Mario Kart.

Overall, if you ignore some of the elements of the adventure mode it's pretty solid but somehow doesn't quite offer the same fun as the previous the games in the series.




Final Thoughts


So, after twelve hours how did I feel? Ummm, well...not bad.  The story was woeful, the visuals are pretty good, the soundtrack is upbeat and fun.  The gameplay is pretty good and while it would have been nice if they didn't reuse the tracks as much the team element is a lot of fun. Overall this one gets a lukewarm 3 out of 5