Author: Ade

Game Review: Doctor Who: Lost in Time

Doctor Who has long been a beloved sci-fi franchise with a dedicated fan base. And while the show has seen its fair share of successes and failures in the video game space over the years, Doctor Who: Lost in Time unfortunately falls into the latter category.

The game’s main flaw is perhaps the one thing that Doctor Who should never be, tedious. Lost in Time is essentially an energy mining game that requires the player to tap repeatedly on their screen until they’ve built up enough energy to progress. And while there are slight variations in the gameplay, the core loop is one of endless repetition.

Adding insult to injury, the game also comes with a heavy emphasis on in-app purchases. For real money or by watching ads, players can increase the automation and productivity of their various energy mines. But ultimately, the game feels like it’s trying to convince players that digging coal out of the ground with their bare hands is a fun time – and then offer to lease them a pickaxe.

The perfunctory storyline and simplistic character designs only add to the game’s lackluster quality. And worst of all, the constant notifications reminding players to play the game only serve to add insult to injury.

In short, Doctor Who: Lost in Time fails to capture the sense of adventure and fair play that fans have come to expect from the franchise. It’s a dull and repetitive game that leans too heavily on in-app purchases, and one that is unlikely to satisfy even the most die-hard Doctor Who fans.

Doctor Who: Lost in Time is available through both the App Store and PlayStore

Spider-Man: No Way Home is the first pandemic-era film to earn $1bn

The latest Spider-Man film has become the first pandemic-era film to gross more than $1 billion (£750 million) at the global box office.

In addition, Spider-Man: No Way Home was named the highest-grossing film of 2021.

According to media data analytics firm Comscore, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was the most recent film to gross more than $1 billion.

Since the pandemic began two years ago, no other Hollywood film has come close to surpassing that box office milestone.

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe picture grossed $1.05 billion worldwide over the weekend.

Even while the Omicron variety of Covid-19 has spread swiftly over the world, generating new concerns about indoor events, the Sony-Disney co-production reached its milestone less than two weeks after its premiere.

China, which is currently the world’s largest cinema market, has not yet seen the film.

Tom Holland reprises his role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, featuring Zendaya as MJ and Benedict Cumberbatch as the wizard Doctor Strange.

Listen to our review of the film here.

CyberPunk 2077 delayed again

The highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed again, pushing it weeks after the launch of the next-generation consoles.

The game is now set to go on sale on 10 December.

A letter from the developers said there would be “many emotions and questions” about another delay, and asked fans to “please accept our humble apologies”.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a new franchise from CD Projekt Red, maker of the much-loved ‘The Witcher’ games, which has spawned a Netflix series starring Henry Cavill.

It was originally announced in June last year, with the internet’s boyfriend Keanu Reeves taking to the stage to huge fanfare.

It was intended to go on sale in April this year but has now been delayed three times.

Most recently, it was scheduled for release on 19 November – the same day as the UK launch of the PlayStation 5 and nine days after the Xbox Series X goes on sale. Staff had reportedly been told to work six-day weeks, in order to finish it for the release of the Next-Gen consoles.

But that led to further problems, causing another delay, CD Projekt Red said in a tweet:

Game developers have come under a lot of fire recently, for over-working employees. Which CD Projeckt Red had promised not to do.

New Gameplay Reveal Trailer Showcases Epic Scenes from All Nine Star Wars™ Saga Films

Lego Group and Lucasfilm today revealed the gameplay trailer for LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga, the upcoming game where players will experience memorable moments and nonstop action from all nine Skywalker saga films told through the unique lens of LEGO bricks.

Developed by TT Games in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games and published by Warner Bros. Games, LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga will release in Spring 2021 for Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox Series X, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™ system, PC and Mac.

The trailer gives a glimpse of the adventures that will immerse players into the expansive saga with the freedom to control hundreds of characters and vehicles that will allow them to discover their own unique journey through a galaxy far, far away. Players have the freedom to start at any of the nine episodes, whether jumping straight in at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, beginning their journey at the prequels with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace or experiencing the saga in any order they prefer. Playable characters include favorite heroes like Luke Skywalker™, Rey™, Obi-Wan Kenobi™, Finn™, BB-8™ and others, as well as characters from the dark side such as Darth Vader™, The Emperor, Kylo Ren™, Darth Maul™, and more. Unforgettable moments from the films have been re-imagined in new, fun-filled, light-hearted humour. Everything from Podracing on Tatooine and space combat above the Death Star, to battling on Starkiller Base and beyond.
 
“LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Sagais a celebration of the heritage and future of LEGO® Star Wars™ games,” said Michael Denny, Vice President and Studio Head, TT Games. “For the first time ever, players can explore the legendary adventures from the Skywalker saga in an immense, new game for everyone to play on current and upcoming platforms.”
 
The Deluxe Edition of LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga will feature the main game and the “Character Collection Bundle Pack” with six DLC character packs inspired by The Mandalorian™, Rogue One: A Star Wars™ Story, Solo: A Star Wars™ Story, Star Wars™: The Bad Batch and more. The physical version of the Deluxe Edition will include a collectible LEGO® Star Wars™minifigure, Luke Skywalker with Blue Milk.
 
Fans will be able to play with the same authentic LEGO® Star Wars™ vehicles, starships, and characters in real life and in the game, including these select sets with unlockable codes that can be redeemed when LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga releases: LEGO® Star Wars™ The Razor Crest™ (75292), LEGO® Star Wars™ Resistance I-TS Transport (75293) and LEGO® Star Wars™ Death Star™ Final Duel (75291).

Doctor Who zone launches in BBC’s Nightfall game

Young gamers can now transport themselves inside the iconic world of Doctor Who for a limited time in Nightfall, the BBC’s online multiplayer game.

Nightfall’s REM Zone 2 has been transformed until Tuesday 29 September, and it’s up to Nightfallers to work together and keep the Doctor’s most infamous villains – the Daleks – at bay.

The free-to-play game gives players the chance to claim new outfits and style their Nightfaller as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, or as one of the Doctor’s long-standing enemies, the Cybermen. Once they’ve unlocked the outfits, they’ll be able to keep them forever.

In Nightfall, players control a version of themselves that exists in their dreams – a Nightfaller. Their purpose: to work with other Nightfallers and defend the Dream from Nightmares, made up of worries from the waking world.

The Doctor Who takeover of REM Zone 2 is one of five REM zones available within the game, hosting up to 20 players across them at a time. Nightfall is being continuously updated and this time-limited feature is the latest in a series of collaborations with BBC brands, with more coming soon.

Rachel Bardill, executive editor, BBC Children’s says: “Nightfall puts collaboration before competition, and this new Doctor Who zone is an exciting addition, transporting children inside the world of the Doctor to unite and take on the Daleks together. It’s especially important now for kids to connect when they’re apart from friends and classmates, and Nightfall is bringing them together in an online dream world to help defeat Nightmares.”

The Doctor Who zone is available until Tuesday 29 September. Download Nightfall now for iOS, Android and Amazon devices, or play online here.

Trailer-Suicide Squad: Kill the justice league

Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a new genre-bending action-adventure shooter that can be played solo or with up to four players in online co-op*. Based on iconic DC characters and developed by Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League combines the studio’s signature character-driven story gameplay with third-person shooter action to deliver a gaming experience unlike any other. The game will be available worldwide in 2022 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X and PC.

Featuring an original narrative set in the DC universe, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League takes place in a richly detailed open-world Metropolis. The story follows Suicide Squad members Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark who must take on an impossible mission to save Earth and kill the world’s greatest DC Super Heroes, The Justice League. Restrained with lethal explosives implanted in their heads, all four DC Super-Villains have no choice but to band together and carry out this untenable assignment as part of Amanda Waller’s infamous Task Force X. Fans can tailor their experience, whether playing on their own as a single player, switching between characters at will, or teaming up with friends in multiplayer co-op*.

“Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueshowcases Rocksteady Studios’ ability to combine masterful storytelling and compelling gameplay based on well-known DC characters,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “The team is creating a genre-defining experience that brings the formidable Suicide Squad to life in a way that has never been done before.”
 
“Our team is excited to officially announce Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and provide a glimpse into our latest project,” said Sefton Hill, Creative Director and Co-founder, Rocksteady Studios. “We’re introducing an original take on the Suicide Squad that combines the rich, character-driven storytelling Rocksteady is known for with innovative gameplay features to create a unique gaming experience.”
 
The playable characters featured in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League are Harley Quinn (a.k.a. Dr. Harleen Quinzel), the mistress of mayhem; Deadshot (a.k.a. Floyd Lawton), the most dangerous marksman alive; Captain Boomerang (a.k.a. Digger Harkness), Aussie assassin extraordinaire; and King Shark (a.k.a. Nanaue), the demigod humanoid shark and rightful ruler of the seas. Each squad member has their own unique moveset with enhanced traversal abilities to freely explore the dynamic open-world of Metropolis, along with a variety of weapons to customize and skills to master.
 
To learn more about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, visit SuicideSquadGame.com or join the community conversation on Twitter (SuicideSquadRS), Instagram (SuicideSquadRS), YouTube (SuicideSquadRS), Twitch (Rocksteady), Facebook (SuicideSquadRocksteady) and Discord (SuicideSquadRS).

Trailer: Gotham Knights

Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced Gotham Knights, a brand-new open-world, third-person action RPG videogame in development from Warner Bros. Games Montréal. Gotham Knightsfeatures the Batman Family as players step into the roles of Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin, a new guard of trained DC Super Heroes who must rise up as the protectors of Gotham City in the wake of Batman’s death.

Introducing an original story set in DC’s Batman Universe, Gotham Knights offers a dynamic and interactive Gotham City where an exploding criminal element has swept through the streets. With the Belfry as their base of operations, this new era of heroes will solve mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city’s history and must defeat notorious villains in epic confrontations. Players must save Gotham from a descent into chaos and reinvent themselves into their own version of the Dark Knight.

Gotham Knights is playable either solo or as a two-player, online cooperative experience and will be available in 2021 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox Series X and Xbox One X and PC.

In Gotham Knights, players can explore the open-world action of Gotham and patrol the dark streets of the city’s five distinct boroughs using a variety of traversal abilities and heroic combat moves, as well as the iconic Batcycle.

As Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robinprogress, their distinctive gameplay skills will evolve, along with a growing arsenal of weaponry and gear. Revealed in the Gameplay Walkthrough video, Gotham Knights features rich storylines for players to investigate, including face-offs against some of the most infamous DC Super-Villains, such as Mr. Freeze, who is set on engulfing Gotham City in ice.

The playable characters in Gotham Knights include:

  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.

Listen to our review of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Logo revealed for ’The Batman’.

Ahead of this weekend’s DC fandome event. Director Matt Reeves has shared the logo for the upcoming ’The Batman’ along with some promo art by legendary DC artist, Jim Lee.

Reeves shared the art on Twitter with the following statement:

”Excited to share the very first look at our official #TheBatman logo, and some very cool additional #DCFanDome artwork by the amazing @jimlee — see more of #TheBatman at the #DCFanDome global event in the Hall of Heroes this Saturday, 8/22! #TheBatman #DCFanDome #ForTheFans”

’The Batman’ is due for release in 2021 and is thought to be an adaptation of ’The Long Halloween’.

Review-The Last of us part II

The Last of Us 2 has dominated my thoughts and has become the foremost thing in my mind as I go to bed and the first thing that I think about when I wake up. I have been replaying the sequences in my head, marvelling at their intricate design and pondering how I could have done things differently. The many unforgettable cutscenes are etched into my memory as if they were real experiences, so powerful in their emotional intensity that they now appear in my dreams and nightmares regularly.

I have spent hours processing everything that I have played, attempting to come to grips with the densely packed storyline and uncovering new aspects of the game’s craftsmanship. In short, The Last of Us Part 2 is an exceptional game and quite possibly the best one I have played in this generation.

To avoid spoilers, I won’t discuss any plot details that haven’t been revealed by Naughty Dog. The game is a revenge western companion piece to the original, set five years after the events of the first game. After a harrowing opening sequence, Ellie is determined to hunt down those responsible for a heinous crime, taking her from the rural landscapes of Jackson County to the urban overgrowth of Seattle, where she must confront new and unique threats.

The Last of Us Part 2 is a tale of retribution that evolves into something more intricate, unexpected, and dark. Naughty Dog expertly exploits the interactive nature of the medium, forcing players to confront every action they take as Ellie, often resulting in discomfort and distress. The 25-hour campaign is full of breathtaking moments and moving scenes that leave a lasting impact.

Ashley Johnson gives an outstanding performance as Ellie, depicting the complexity of suffering with warmth and humanity. The facial animation technology seamlessly captures even the smallest body language changes, adding depth to the character’s emotions. The cast of characters surrounding Ellie is equally compelling, with new additions and returning characters that are multi-dimensional and well-rounded.

The world of The Last of Us Part 2 is intricately detailed and crammed with bespoke minutiae, offering a glimpse into the world that Ellie never knew and the one she’s all too familiar with. Naughty Dog’s environmental design guides players along the critical path while still allowing for exploration and discovery. Ellie’s new abilities allow for more diverse environmental puzzles that enrich combat and exploration, creating a sense of place that is distinctive and unforgettable.

Review-Jedi: Fallen Order PS4

For the past five years, Star Wars has been unavoidable, with its triumphant return to the big screen and a new TV show on Disney+. However, video game adaptations have been lacking, with EA’s Star Wars Battlefront releases falling short, and a number of promising projects being cancelled. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, released six years after securing the license, is EA’s first single-player, story-focused game in the franchise. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, it is one of the best Star Wars titles ever made.

The game’s open-ended structure, where players can choose where to go next, is a standout feature. The five different planets in the game are huge, sprawling environments that reveal secrets as players accrue further force powers. Learning various abilities opens up new pathways, rewarding investigative tendencies, and uncovering obscure pickups. Engaging in combat is a big part of the game, with mechanics similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, where well-timed parries, dodges, and blocks are crucial to success. Heavy attacks and force powers add depth, while a flashy system of moves, counters, and abilities encourage experimentation.

Meditation points, which act as checkpoints and allow players to restore health and stock up on supplies, seem heavily influenced by bonfires in Dark Souls, and the game’s use of vertical traversal, with wall running and climbing, feels reminiscent of Uncharted. Despite this, the combat feels unique and enjoyable, while the game’s open nature makes exploration a pleasure. The superb narrative follows Cal Kestis, a Jedi-in-hiding, on a quest to rebuild the Jedi Order, and takes place just after the prequel saga.

One of the standout elements of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the performance of Cameron Monaghan as Cal Kestis. Monaghan brings a nuanced depth to the character, portraying him as a complex individual struggling to come to terms with his past and his place in the world.

Throughout the game, Monaghan delivers a powerful and emotional performance that truly brings Cal to life. From his moments of self-doubt to his heroic acts of bravery, Monaghan portrays Cal as a fully-realised character with a wide range of emotions and motivations. He captures the essence of a Jedi. His delivery of Cal’s dialogue is imbued with a sense of quiet strength and determination, and he effortlessly conveys the sense of wisdom and serenity that are the hallmarks of the Jedi way.

Monaghan’s performance also shines during the game’s more action-packed moments. Whether he’s engaging in lightsaber combat or using his force powers to take down hordes of enemies, Monaghan brings a sense of physicality and athleticism to the role that is truly impressive. Its a nuanced portrayal of the character that adds depth and emotional weight to the game’s story.

Overall, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order borrows heavily from successful titles, but does enough to differentiate itself in the areas that matter most. It offers a unique and enjoyable combat system, an open-ended structure, and a superb narrative that connects everything together.