Pheonix Point - PC Review

Decimated by a virus that turned anything it came in contact with into monsters that would be at home in an H.P. Lovecraft setting, there’s not that much left upon the planet Earth. Split into factions that can barely even tolerate themselves, humanity has built walls to keep what they dubbed Pandorans out as they still worry about the possible infection of the pandoravirus that has already swept the globe. Set in 2047, you set out in order to rebuild what was known as Phoenix Point with the goal of uniting humanity and hopefully repelling the Pandorans enough to get back to a more normal style of life on this half mutated planet now rife with monsters.

Phoenix Point hits a style of gameplay that while I’ve always loved, I’ve always found issues with in some form or another. Until now. Holy hell, designed as an open ended tactical squad turned based strategy, this is one title that should leave you very little in the wanting category.

Taking it from the top, you are in charge of your forces and are basically the voice behind the scenes telling everyone what they should be doing, where they should be going and what they should be shooting at. Controls are extremely smooth either sitting at your desk with a keyboard and mouse or sitting on your couch with a controller in your hands and your feet on the coffee table. Tire of one, swap to the other instantly which made taking my new Elite Series 2 out for a spin all the more enjoyable. One of the reasons that the controller works so well is that instead of having the cursor jump from selection to selection, it works as the mouse allows you to simply move and select what you need to in the menus. In the field while engaged with the enemy? It the zooming and panning are all handled by easy to access buttons so nothing ever felt like a chore.

While the majority of the gameplay will be fighting off the Pandoran monsters and other human factions that are either just idiots or have an actual bone to pick with someone that you’re dealing with, the most important decisions happen on the main map. Allowing you to move your forces around the globe as you push out further, you get a “real-time” view of your portion of the globe as you explore it for resources and allies. Able to pause it at any time though, the world only moves when you’re ready. Being able to pause allows you to actually take the time to read over what you’re researching or truly decide if you’re next action is the best course of action when dealing with possible ramifications of one against the other. The best part? If you’re waiting on units to heal, or research to be done, you can fast forward to make the days go by in seconds before bringing the time back down to a more normal pace.

From the map, you can start to explore the reaches beyond your base which will lead you to other factions, supplies or ambushes that you need to fight your way out of. For other factions, you’ll be able to start talking and possibly even trading if you research enough into being able to deal with them which will also give you what you need the most. Troops. You don’t simply train new troops from your base once you’ve lost a few. Instead, you have to gather them from other settlements through recruitment, or if you’re lucky enough, some places will want to execute someone because of their actions and instead of saying yay or nay, you can recruit them and thus, my elite sniper came into my party.

For finding supplies you won’t know until you’ve moved your forces over and they’ve had enough time to look through to see if there’s anything that could be used. Sometimes it may be nothing more than scraps while other times it could be a hell of a haul if not a motherload that you’ve been needing in order to push another project forward or build something rather expensive like a new jet to send your forces outwards in two seperate directions. Other items such as ammo to reload, new helmets or armor sets to mix and match on your forces are also available alongside healing items that you’ll need once you take a hit too many from enemy fire. Resources, especially near the beginning, feel limited so you’ll want to really decide in advance what your plans A, B and C are.

Other points on the map will lead you to new missions to either explore for the actual resources, defend the resources, eliminate Pandorans or keep a settlement safe while they run an experiment or are actually under attack. Short of being ambushed, what you do is up to you. You can choose to explore and attack the enemy forces now, or, you can always come back later if right now really isn’t the best time. Somethings really can’t be put off like being ambushed because it literally just happened and you’ll have to fight for your troops lives for several turns before they can be evacuated out of the shit storm that they find themselves within. One thing that I found out for science is that if a settlement is attacked by Pandorans and you don’t actually go help, it could be wiped out eliminating allies, resources and possible troops down the line. So you’ll actually want to do it.

Now for what had me sitting on the edge of my seat for so long. Combat. Using the idea of action points, each unit can move as far as their classes dictate, fire weapons, throw grenades, get into overwatch mode to shoot at whoever runs in first or heal themselves or an ally. Moving around the map is smooth enough and your troops will generally run over to where you selected and automatically take cover if need be. Now here’s where things get “tricky” in some of the best ways possible. You are never safe. That tree you have someone hiding behind? That platform an enemy decided to perch on? That giant cement wall right beside glass? None of it matters. Everything short of the actual ground that you find yourself on is destructible with enough force and it’s amazing as you can never truly feel safe until the mission is over.

Even firing your weapons, while bound by lines of sight and weapon ranges, wow. Targeting your enemy you get an estimated health reduction if you decide to open fire, but if you zoom in a bit you can see exactly how much damage you could do if you aimed for a specific part. And this, with human enemies aside, becomes amazing as headshots are not the be all end all of combat. Pandorans are mutated monstrous beings so you really need to aim for the soft and squishy and that can change from one enemy type to the other. But it’s more than this. You see the world from a top down view up until you’re ready to fire. Once ready to fire, you get a third person view of your target and how well you can hit them. From there, it can go into a first person view allowing you many more details of what you’re looking at as a result. AND, and, you get to see everything that could be in your way or get into your way if your shot is just a little bit off. This is still an RPG with numbers that have to be run so even if your straight on point visually, the numbers will tell if you hit true, or if you hit a lamp post or an armor plating.

It blends together so well too. Having played with a controller, with a keyboard and mouse, off of my 17” laptop screen and off of my 34” curved monitor, it handles just as well in one view or mode as the other. What may actually claim king though is not that it runs well, big or small, console or PC wise, or even that the gameplay firing mechanics are simply amazing. It’s how everything comes together and how your forces are not just some dumb non thinking being that can’t just hop a damned fence because its in the way. YOU FINALLY DON’T HAVE TO PLAN ROUTES AROUND STUFF ON THE GROUND! You can just hop it. On top of a building and don’t have a clear shot down? Jump down and blast the hell out of your enemy because let’s be honest? I didn’t even see that coming until it showed up as an option for the first time. I had literally prior to that been the one on the ground blasting platforms from below to bring them down onto the ground level.

Phoenix Point for me was just a blast. Literally and figuratively if you ask my enemies. Amazingly designed for one of the best damned Squad Based Turn Based Tactics that I’ve played in a long time, I fully recommend it to anyone that’s had their eye on it. Going back… two years to a sponsored Facebook post? It’s been worth the wait and even with its very late entry into the year, is hitting my 2019 Games of the Year list. Thank you Snapshot Games!

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Snapshot Games
Publisher(s):
Snapshot Games
Genre(s):
Strategy, Turned Based Strategy
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
Microsoft Xbox One

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Pierre-Yves

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Gensou SkyDrift Available Now for Nintendo Switch and Steam!

TOKYO – Dec. 12, 2019 – Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) publishing label UNTIES and the team at illuCalab, including a former Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8DX developer, drop the spell-slinging tag-team racer Gensou SkyDrift onto Nintendo Switch and Steam for Windows PC today. A PlayStation 4 version will race to the finish line in Q1 2020.

Choose two of 20 characters, each with her own drive handling stats and power-ups, to ride on each other’s backs as driver and vehicle. Swap between them on the fly to glide through the twists and turns of the tracks and wield the right spell at the perfect moment to lap the competition.

Each character’s exclusive deck of spell cards is packed with abilities based on her traditional Touhou Project traits. Zip through hoops on the track to boost speed and gain mana. Drawing spell cards at full mana pull more powerful spells capable of slowing down opponents' speed, shooting around corners to hit dodging rivals, or jumping into the air on the back of the wind to avoid obstacles.

Navigate more than 15 tracks, each featuring a stunning view of Gensokyo, including paths filled with cherry blossom trees and a nighttime course with beautiful views of the realm’s skyline. Be the first to cross the finish line against computer-controlled opponents in Story or Time Attack modes, or face up to seven other teams online or locally in Versus mode.

“GENSOU Skydrift brings rare depth to the genre because players can take advantage of the huge range of possible character pairings,” said John Davis, G&R Representative, UNTIES. “With dozens of combos, there’s a playstyle for everyone from casual to hardcore, and the best players will hone down favorite combos for each and every track.”

GENSOU Skydrift is a fan-made entry in the Guinness World Record holding Touhou project, available today on Steam for Windows PC and Nintendo Switch for the regular price of $23.99 USD/€ 21.99. A 20% launch discount will be available across all Nintendo eShop regions until Dec. 31; Steam’s sale runs through Dec. 19. It supports English, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).

For more information, please visit the GENSOU Skydrift official website and follow @UNTIESWORLD on Twitter.

About UNTIES

Based out of Tokyo, Japan, Sony Music’s video game publishing label UNTIES is dedicated to expanding the reach of Japan’s best indie developers. Their name derives from their goal of untying games from specific platforms and sharing them worldwide. For more information, visit the UNTIES website or follow @UNTIESWORLD on Twitter.

About Touhou Project

Touhou Project, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "most prolific fan-made shooter series,” is a collection of games set in the world of Gensokyo and using a recurring cast of familiar characters. Predominantly consisting of vertical shooters, the Touhou Project includes games developed by the original creator, one-man studio Team Shanghai Alice, as well as fan works made by other developers.

About illuCalab

illuCalab is an award-winning Japanese developer with experience working on Mario Kart 8 and other popular titles.


Article by Susan N.

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CGR's Games of the Decade - Sports

What makes a game stand out against its peers? Honestly? Often it's because if how it resonates with the person more than how it may compare in a by the numbers game.

Continuing on our two week gush fest to celebrate Chalgyr's Game Room's 10th anniversary, here are loosely except for Nick of what we considered "Sports". Fighting is a sport... right?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Sure, this is a remake of the Wii U game (which was fantastic in its own right), but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe improved on everything while adding more content. That is really hard to argue with as an end result. I have been playing Mario Kart games since the Nintendo 64 version, and sure - some people might argue if this is a sports game or not. But hey, it's racing - it's just goofy, cartoony violence racing - but it is also competitive and a whole lot of fun. It would have been easy to tuck something a bit more traditional into this space like an NHL or Madden game, but the way those cycle in and out every year hurts their overall impact, where as Mario Kart games continue to rope in new and old players alike for years on end.

NBA 2K16

This long-running series has had a lot more hits than missing, but the 2K16 season stood out for a more polished, broadcast-like presentation and a new, more narrative-heavy approach to Career mode. Even now this more story-focused take on creating and progressing a character is quite popular in sports games.

Rocket League

When I first reviewed Rocket League back in the summer of 2015, I could never have predicted the longevity of this title. Is it racing? Is it soccer? Who cares - because what it is, is fantastic fun that is still popular today.

Mario Kart 8 - Deluxe

Mario Kart, my Mario Kart. You have been my racing love since the first time I loaded you into an SNES. The source of a great many nights with friends or alone in my living room against others online, this brings out the competition in me and the last version in full HD? Is King.

Mario Tennis Aces

Over the years it's honestly rare that I play a "sports" game. It's not particularly my thing. When Mario Tennis came back out though, it led to a lot of fun matches against my brother and loads of fun in the campaign that unlocks ridiculous stages. Like a lot of Mario titles, it takes the serious and adds in some ridiculous elements to make it fun.

WRC 8

I'm seriously not one for realism in a driving simulator. Hell, I crowned Mario Kart king. That said? I had an absolutely fantastic time with the latest off-road driving in BigBen's WRC8 and the amazing visuals that came along for the ride.

Gran Turismo 5

I generally don't play sports games but Gran Turismo 5 is my all-time favorite in the series. It is the one that takes the cake because I spent more time playing it than many of the others in the series. Gran Turismo 5 was the game where I started to learn things like camber and suspension levels. I learned how to spec out my cars so that it would fit my style of racing, since I take turns from tight to wide and thereby making it extremely hard for me to drive rear-wheel drive cars (except MR. I can kinda drive those). The Gran Turismo series is a racing series that I hold other racing games against because not all games are created equal. I also hold Gran Turismo 5 in the highest regard of the series because it was the first one where I was able to get to the IA license level (albeit with blood, sweat, and tears). One of the features I love about the Gran Turismo series is that players can create their own driving music lists, which strangely does influence my driving abilities. All told, Gran Turismo 5 is one of my favorites.

Rocket League

Rocket League is a game I have been invested in for a couple of years, which is evident in the fact that I am a chat moderator for two RL organizations. It is a game that began playing at least a year after it had come out and I really found enjoyment with it. Rocket League combines my love of cars and soccer in one game which allows you to do all kinds of freestyle tricks. DLC's have been added to the game to let players buy different cars like the Ice Charger (Fast and Furious), Nissan Skyline (You know I rocked this for a long time), Endo (basically a Lambo), and my baby, the McLaren. I don't care what anyone says, this game is highly entertaining with the addition of different maps like dropshot, hoops, and rumble. It has a fairly high skill ceiling but is accessible to all ages. In fact, in my Dreamhack wrap-up articles, I talked about how awesome it was to see the parents of kids cheering for their games. I will always love Rocket League.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Every Smash Bros game in one? Yes, please! Not only was it brilliant, but I was also happy to be able to replay with some of my old fighters. I still get hyped during Nintendo Directs knowing that they're going to reveal the next Smash fighter. It's a great game for parties that'll either bring people together or ruin friendships.

Persona 4 Arena

I'm already a fan of the Persona series so when I heard it was getting a fighter, I skipped on over to the game store and pre-ordered that puppy. I am happy to say that it was worth it. The character models move fluidly during fights which makes combos look flashy and cool, with a strong anime vibe. It's bear-rific!

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Space Pioneer - Switch Review

Do you enjoy exploring space? Fighting giant bugs and robots? GETTING LOOT? Well then, you may be interested in Space Pioneer. The Switch has ended up with a lot of little App style games, some bad, some good, and Space Pioneer definitely falls into the latter category.

In Space Pioneer you act as somewhat of a blend between bounty hunter and janitor, visiting planets and getting rid of the hostile indigenous creatures, which occasionally include robots. While the plot is rather lacking in substance, it does make the game easy to jump into, play for a bit, and then put down.

I might be dating myself a bit with this reference, but if you ever played a game for the N64 called Robotron 64, you know the basic premise of how the game will work. Essentially you have a small map you can walk around, completing various objectives, such as “hold a point” from waves of enemies, or picking up items and carrying them to certain locations. You have a couple of tools at your disposal to help you out with the local wildlife.

You start out with an assault rifle, and as you get rid of the creatures infesting the worlds you visit, you gain coins and exp. When you level you gain access to new weapons and gear, with three possible classes and a variety of weapons, such as a shotgun and laser gun. You run and gun, complete objectives, collect coins, and occasionally fight a boss or two on your way. Unlike the pain that was Robotron 64 after 90 levels of the same enemies over and over, Space Pioneer keeps things fresh with the variable missions, gear loadout customization, and handy robot companion that I personally started calling “The Memebot” after it started spouting lines such as “never gonna give you up”. It doesn’t start out super handy in a fight, but it does draw fire and respawn after a time if it dies, so it’s nice if you use your gun too much and it overheats, forcing you to wait out the cooldown period.

The game isn’t complicated, but that’s good because it makes it easy to pick up and roll with. I really loved picking Space Pioneer up for a couple of 5 to 10 minute rounds in between doing other things, or clearing a few planets before bed. With three planet missions to complete, and five challenges to work on that will reward you with coins and weapon and skill upgrade cards, which can be used to enhance your skills and gear, there’s a surprising amount of customization for your character and weapon loadouts. There are a bunch of different planet locales, such as lava or volcano areas and ice fields, with different enemy sets on each planet type you visit. The bosses appear fairly often, making for a sort of refreshing change in pace from the short one-off style objective based stages that make up most of the game.

There isn’t really a lot to Space Pioneer. You run, you shoot, you upgrade, rinse and repeat. Despite not being either in-depth or complicated, I had a lot of fun with Space Pioneer. With an option to play on your own or with your friends, Space Pioneer is a nice little time waster when you’re looking for something to do for about half an hour to an hour at a time. With over 60 stages in the main game, and an unlockable endless mode, there is enough to keep you entertained for a while, even if it isn’t the style of game you’d sit down for a few hours to play.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Developer(s):
QubicGames
Publisher(s):
Vivid Games
Genre(s):
Action, Shoot 'Em Up
Mode(s):
Single Player, Multiplayer
Other Platform(s):
Mobile iOs and Android

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Richard

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Sunday Bites - Crumbling World

Landing in my inbox basically right before the holidays, Crumbling World is an Action Adventure RPG that quite believes in killing you off at what is basically the end of the world. Equipped with a sword, shield and physical prowess, you'll have your work cut out for you as you fight your way through groups of enemies and try not to fall off the map.

Story

The world that anyone knew is now long gone. With monsters having emerged and most of humanity turning its back on those that keep holding onto what is left. While it’s not exactly a unique apocalyptic tale, it’s one that leaves itself fairly open to do things as by stating monsters emerged, anything is possible!

Gameplay and Combat

This is really where Crumbling World will sink or swim. As it stands now, the elements are all there to make a good action RPG but things need to be slowed down a bit as while you are by yourself, you often only get the choice to attack and take damage, or block and see your stamina bar drain. What is interesting is that once your stamina is out, you can still block but then you can’t attack at all because you have no stamina to do so. Dodging on the other hand can only be done while your shield is up but even then it doesn't feel like it helped much as it was honestly better to back up and attack until your enemies were dead and then go heal.

Music

Opening on a haunting note, the instrumental music is in tune with the dark and the gloom of the story. What I do wish was in the Crumbling World though was more than one track as while the music worked perfectly for the opening and the quieter parts of exploration, I would have liked to have something a bit different when in combat.

Other

What really, and I mean really, enjoyed, was that you can fall off the ledges in the Crumbling World. Generally there are invisible walls to keep you on the map but in this case? You can fall off, the enemy can fall off, and when you have to actually jump over pitfalls as there are breaks in the world? It leads to some interesting fun.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot of room to expand in the Crumbling World and it could definitely be a contender down the line for a game of the year list in the indie category if done right. Currently only in Alpha and free to try, I would recommend taking this Crumbling World out for a spin!

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Dani Marti
Publisher(s):
Dani Marti
Genre(s):
Action, Adventure, RPG
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
N/A

Source:
Provided by Publisher / Download

Article by Pierre-Yves

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Artificial Core Announces Corepunk Open Beta in 2020!

Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 11, 2019 — Developer Artificial Core has announced Corepunk, a top-down, non-linear MMORPG set in an immersive sci-fi universe. Key art, screenshots and a gameplay trailer have been released in anticipation of the title’s open beta launch on PC next year.

Featuring a seamless open world with miles of wilderness to get lost in, Corepunk will allow players to venture to an array of intricately detailed environments inhabited by four distinct cultures. A vast metropolis booming with activity and a lonely camp in the middle of an uncharted desert will be a few of the many destinations travelers can embark to. Unlike most MMO titles, the game will allow players to take on story missions in whichever order they prefer.

“Corepunk represents a synthesis of our favorite settings and themes from science fiction,” says Eugene Kiver, Producer of Corepunk. “Over the course of five years, we’ve expanded our team to over 100 people to ensure our vision of the ultimate futuristic fantasy comes to life. We can’t wait to have MMORPG fans live out their technocratic dreams with us.”

Every journey will begin by creating a hero. Each character has a unique set of fighting styles, and each style has a unique set of abilities. These can be tailored gradually through the talents and artifacts players acquire throughout the game. Builds vary immensely depending on the attributes that one prioritizes. Corepunk will feature an extensive economy system, meaning crafting and trading in-game items will be an important part of the player’s experience, too.

Branching quests and alternate endings guarantee that no playthrough will be exactly alike. Embarking on an expedition to find a chest filled with loot, a rare monster, or a wandering merchant with special items may yield a few surprises that players may not have anticipated from the get-go. The fog-of-war system will ensure players will constantly be kept on their toes thanks to dynamic weather and day/night cycles. While it may seem like a hazard at first glance, this system can be utilized to ambush and lure foes into traps during PvP.

Each encounter in Corepunk’s PvP component will require a great deal of strategy. The keys to success will lie in constantly managing the distance between oneself and the enemy, keeping an eye on one’s ability cooldowns, and knowing each character’s strengths and weaknesses. Victories will be rewarded through the Honor Points system. Weaker players should rest assured knowing that a karma system will prevent them from being steamrolled at the outset.

Of course, Corepunk will include everything that MMORPG fans have come to expect from the genre, including a profound amount of lore, arenas, battlegrounds, guilds, farms, randomly generated dungeons, raids, and crafting and mining professions. Players will also be able to meet and join up with human companions in order to take on harrowing quests that few would dare challenge alone.

Developed with the Unity engine, Corepunk will be the first game by Amsterdam-based studio Artificial Core. The game’s open beta will launch in Q4 2020.

Check out our social media links here: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Official website.

About Artificial Core

Artificial Core is a video game developer and publisher headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its core development team is located in Kiev, Ukraine. Consisting of well over 100 talented developers from all corners of the industry, the team is hard at work on its debut title, Corepunk, an open world MMORPG whose open beta is set to launch in 2020.



Article by Susan N.

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CGR's Games of the Decade - Shooters

What makes a game stand out against its peers? Honestly? Often it's because if how it resonates with the person more than how it may compare in a by the numbers game.

Continuing on our two week gush fest to celebrate Chalgyr's Game Room's 10th anniversary, here are what we each considered top of the class from First to Third person Shooters!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The game that got me into Call of Duty and really made it such a huge franchise. I still remember playing every night for weeks with my co-workers as soon as we got home and fired it up. For better or for worse, this title had a huge impact on the FPS genre for years to come. Sure, it has not aged particularly well, but the influence this was a title that really helped pave the way for Call of Duty to become the sale behemoth it is today. Also, on a personal level, it was the 2nd game review I ever posted here at CGR.

Dead Space 2

Sure, this could probably fall under adventure or horror, but shooting is the primary mechanic when it comes to the gameplay. Dead Space 2 improves everything I liked about the first game and made it even better. Now if only we can forget about the third entry into the series and get this franchise back to its proper, scary roots and rebooted, I would be a very happy space-camper.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition

Admittedly, this could be seen as a bit of a cop-out. There's better value to be had with the Master Chief Collection, which brings more titles into the mix while paying homage to the series' past. However, it's hard for me to completely get over the incredibly rocky release that game had, making a different (and terrible) impression on the gaming community back then. However, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition revisits the Xbox 360 original that has spawned some of the best shooters on the market today. I recently picked this back up for the first time in years because of the recent Gears 5 release, and it still works really well today. 

Metro 2033

I can't say that this is really a category that I play a lot of and while there are plenty of other titles that I've played more of, Metro sits at the top of my list for a really good blend of gameplay, story, and horror elements without being a horror title. Set in a post-nuclear Russia, there's an atmospheric horror that comes by never knowing if a monstrous beast is around the corner or if your filters will last long enough to get back down into the metro with its own horrors. Still sticking with me now for how good it was? Metro 2033 is at the top of my list.

BioShock

Speaking of horror like shooters that are not horror, Bioshock is one that I've come back to time and time again for standing out in its class. Steampunked and splicing genes in an underwater city, you kindly help out a certain someone while trying to survive and not being killed by these monstrous dive suited beasts of men.

Far Cry 5

Finally, while there were some rather crazy times with Destiny 2, Borderlands, Vermintide 2, the new Wolfenstein, Gears of War 4 or Halo Reach, my last entry goes to Far Cry 5. Being the first Far Cry I was shocked at how "nuts" it all was and how scary it could actually be since the northern US is basically Canada's backyard. Excellent controls, crazy-ass story going from your typical shooter to a survival, to a Metal Gear Mantis get the hell out of my game! I fell in love with the series right then and there.

Halo: Reach

Bungie is, and has been, a household name since the 90's, though rose to FPS domination in the early 2000's with the original Xbox's "Halo: Combat Evolved." With Halo: CE we were introduced to everyone's favorite tour de force, Sgt. Johnson, along with a hulking brute of a genetically enhanced supersoldier that coined the phrase, "Finish the Fight," Master Chief Petty Officer Sierra-117 "John" (more colloquially called 'Master Chief'), and who is to forget every teenage gamer's artificial intelligence crush, Cortana. Halo: Reach though, breaks from the norm and is easily the crème de la crème of the Halo franchise. Taking place prior to the events of Halo: CE and largely during the events of Eric Nylund's Halo: The Fall of Reach novel, with you donning the armor of Noble Six, the latest addition to Noble Squad. Here you will experience the emotionally raw events that lead up directly to Halo: Combat Evolved. With nearly-perfect gunplay, a brutally emotional and clearly loved story, and some of the most gorgeous set pieces in gaming history, Halo: Reach is Bungie's farewell to the franchise and it shows in every. single. pixel. Halo: Reach is, without a doubt in my mind, the single best first person shooter to ever grace our digital libraries.

Tom Clancy's The Division

Few shooters stick out to me the way that Ubisoft's always-online, drop-in MMO third person shooter, Tom Clancy's The Division does. Set in the aftermath of a virally ravaged New York, The Division is a Tom Clancy experience through-and-though. Featuring dozens of hours that you can play co-op or go solo, wander the streets of an incredibly detailed rendition of New York. Garbage everywhere, Christmas lights, lightly falling snow, stunning fog as it burns off in the morning daylight showing the highrises and skyscrapers of the New York skyline, wild dogs, rats, and birds all over, hostile gangs, turncoat paramilitary groups, and a twisted political story are wrapped up into a bundle that spawned instant nostalgia. There is something eerily terrifying about The Division and a part of it, I think, is that it is a situation that is truly possible, and not only that, but the way that Ubisoft managed to portray humanity in a situation like that, is realistically terrifying. Even with the bullet-sponge bad guys, the story and discoverables within the pseudo-solo campaign are well, well worth the time investment.

Destiny

After Bungie parted ways with the Halo franchise and struck out on their own they brought the full wallet of a new partnership with Activision to bear with Destiny. While I personally despise Destiny and even though it had an extremely rough launch (especially to those of us still hot-and-bothered in the best of ways with Bungie's last outing, Halo: Reach), there is no denying the importance and overall end-product that is Destiny. Singlehandedly redefining shooter-looters, Destiny brought us a uniquely dismal world full of familiar voices like Peter Dinklage and Bill Nighy and slapped them together with some of the best first person shooting mechanics in gaming history. The end result? A litany of awards, a massively successful franchise, and the proof that listening to your community so they can affect change within your game is an extremely powerful and potent path to success. Though it had its warts to start, with community feedback and a lot of work, Bungie turned Destiny around to where it is today; a successful property that will spawn no end of clones. Destiny is the new standard in looter-shooters, and so far few have been able to approach its success and popularity.

Destiny 2

Alright, so I know that some of you might debate whether or not Destiny 2 is considered a shooter, but I consider it to be one. As such, it is the only one in its category that I like and play. In fact, I play it a ton because of the new gear system, Gambit, the difficulty of the Moon, and the sheer amount of awesome people I've met because of it. I often play Destiny 2 to vent, relax, or just to help out my friends or clanmates.

While I once played a futuristic shooter-esque game called Warframe, I have found that Destiny 2 is much less frustrating and oddly doesn't feel as grindy as most games (although yes, I am aware there is a grind in the game, but because I have a lot of people to run with, I actually don't feel it, and that is an achievement!) Destiny 2 makes my list for best shooter of the decade because it's the ONLY one I play, but because it's a fun game, it has amazing and quirky staff (read: Luke Smith for reasons), and it's pretty as heck (I mean, have you seen the Dreaming City?! It's purple AND it's shiny. Fine, fine... Call me girly for this ONE thing. BUT THAT'S IT!) Anyways, I would be remiss if I didn't include it in my list. (Also someone find me a Cayde Funko Pop with a Chicken and ship him to Canada. I need this in my life. EDIT: A friend might have found one. WOO!)

Borderlands

Looter. Shooter. Shlooter? Borderlands was the go-to game for me and my friends back when it first came out. We’d roam into the high-level areas and spend hours trying to clear them out just to say “HA, WE DID IT” and boy did I love it. A shooter RPG with a superb couch co-op and whatever the heck you want to call claptrap, this shooter adventure across an alien planet in order to find the rumored vault was a great experience that my friends and I will still reminisce about and quote. With Borderlands 2 came even come adventures, and now with Borderlands 3 out, you know there goes a chunk of my time, because “I’M THE CONDUCTOR OF THE POOP TRAIN”, and there ain’t no brakes on this ride.

Metroid Prime Trilogy

These games are what I really needed to get back into the Metroid series, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Only lacking a higher position on this list due to the virtue of basically being a re-release, the Metroid Prime trilogy of games are a series I still return to about once a year or so to play through for 100% completion. With a diversion from 2D platformer to 3D shooter, the Prime trilogy really made a strong showing in my gaming experience. Except maybe 2 at times, but hey, it wasn’t that bad.

Resident Evil Degeneration (Mobile?)

Yes, there was a game of the movie. Yes, it was a “mobile” game. No, it wasn’t really the best game in the franchise, but I don’t play many shooters, and the Resident Evil 4 cut-off was a few years before the start of the decade list, unfortunately. The series as a whole has kind of waffled between good, passable, and disappointing, and while I’ve either missed the cut-offs for the list or haven’t played a few in between, hey, at least it isn’t RE6.

Splatoon

Never thought I'd love an online shooter with squid people, but somehow Nintendo made it work. I love how I can play with everyone around the world and never have to worry about someone yelling at me for screwing up or being boot out for poor performance. The matches are short and sweet and it keeps everything fresh with themed tournaments on a constant basis.

Left 4 Dead 2

Mass swarms of zombies? And not just your typical brain dead zombie? Nope! They are fast, deadly and special types. Now THAT would be a zombie apocalypse none of us would survive. However, it does make for a great multiplayer game with your best bros. Probably one of the only games I will INSIST I play on the hardest difficulty.

Overwatch

Why is it I tend to find all the best games after they've been out for a couple of years? Overwatch was just one of those games that didn't interest me... Until my friend passed me her controller and said: "play a round." I played... For 6 hours straight. Ok, so maybe I finally went out of my way to get PlayStation Plus just so I could join in the fun. And fun I continue to have.

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BATTLETECH - Heavy Metal - PC Review

The latest expansion for Paradox Interactive's titular mecha-based strategy game, BattleTech, brings a bevvy of new frames, some explosive action in its mini-campaign, and new methods of destruction with a stockpile of new weapons. Though it seems content-rich on the surface, the steep price tag, shallow introduction of the original frames, and a genuinely uninspired feel, have this latest DLC players a bit mixed on its value. I for one, tend to agree with that sentiment.

 Though BATTLETECH is in and of itself, a stellar title, Heavy Metal is a bit of a miss. What is largely a character pack, Heavy Metal brings us 8 new frames, 7 of which are original / returning designs and one that is completely new in its makeup. To pair up with the 8 new frames there are also 8 new weapons for you to reign destruction on your opponents. But beyond those items is not much more than a mini-campaign … Had there been a longer, more fleshed out campaign or greater variety (or simply more) in the new weapons, I think things would be looked at differently, but as it stands at $19.99 USD, this character pack is exceedingly thin on its content and while pretty new suits are nice to look at, if we have no reason to look in on them then it is all for naught. Come on, Paradox, throw us a bone here… After all, this is the last of the expansions planned for the first Season Pass; while the 8 new chassis are great to play with, as a send-off content-wise, it falls a little short.

Now don't get me wrong, the newest chassis, the Bull Shark, is an absolute beast; at 12 hardpoints, the entire thing is just a weapons platform with legs. As I mentioned earlier, there is a new mech in town, and that's the aforementioned Bull Shark. This bipedal beast is downright terrifying and … honestly feels a bit Mary Sue. The only real struggle I ran into whenever I fielded a Bull Shark was literally just the heat buildup. Few things can stand up to this absolute unit of a mech, and though there is some excitement in that aspect, mopping the field with one of these gets a little boring after a handful of missions. It just looses its luster, largely because I was craving more focused missions or a campaign that really called for the power of the platform. Sure, the mini-campaign serves as an introduction to this bespoke mech (as it was designed specifically for the game; the other models are all taken direct from sourcebooks), it's just … not enough. Perhaps it is less about Heavy Metal and more about me just wanting more BATTLETECH, I don't honestly know.

While BATTLETECH is and always has been about the giant mecha, it's pretty fair to say that said mecha need something to do, right? Well, with Heavy Metal, Harebrained has also given us a smattering of new weapons because we all know that deep down we just want our giant robots to do more than punch eachother in the face. Not to say that's not fun, but we need some pew pew action in here, yah? Well, from the super nasty COIL beam to the new mortar, there are oodles of options now and for veteran players, the 8 new weapons may dynamically change the way you play … and that? That is the saving grace of BATTLETECH's Heavy Metal Campaign.

BATTLETECH, released to critical acclaim 18 months ago, has been kept relatively fresh with the dripfeed DLC that Paradox and Harebrained has put out. From its stellar launch, brutal DLC, or its pinnacle send-off with Heavy Metal, has brought long nostalgia to the fore and kept it there. Though the Heavy Metal DLC offers a number of different loadout possibilities, it sadly, brings little new to the table by way of meaningful content. What content it does bring is exceptional, well-crafted, and exceptionally detailed and adds plenty of replayability; there is just that slight, tight tug of desire and longing.

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Harebrained Schemes
Publisher(s):
Paradox Interactive
Genre(s):
Action
Adventure
Strategy
Mode(s):
Single Player
Multiplayer
Other Platform(s):
N/A

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Robert

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Thing Trunk Announces Two New Games in the Return to Series!

It is almost a year after Book of Demons' release, so it's time for THE ANNOUNCEMENT. We’re announcing not one, but two new games that we are working on in the Return 2 Games series! How awesome is that?

BOOK OF DEMONS: HELLCARD

Book of Demons: Hellcard is a cooperative roguelike deckbuilder, supporting both single and multiplayer modes. It takes place in the same universe as Book of Demons, but moves the story further and into unexpected places! It is a true turn-based card game and in this sense, it has more in common with games such as Slay the Spire than with action RPGs.

Check out the Steam page for more information.

BOOK OF ALIENS

Book of Aliens is the next big book in the Return 2 Games series, and it’s a tribute to MicroProse’ UFO: Enemy Unknown. A game of global strategy and battlefield tactics.

Click here to check out the Steam page.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SUPPORTERS?

As promised, Book of Aliens will be included in Supporters Pack. The same goes for Hellcard. After all, while not a separate “Book”, Hellcard will also be a part of the Return 2 Games series!

Click here to read more.

STAY TUNED
ALIEN vs. MAGE

If you want to stay updated and be notified when the games are released, be sure to wishlist Book of Aliens and Book of Demons: Hellcard on Steam!

And, if you are excited about Hellcard and Book of Aliens and would like to be the first one to test our future games, be sure to join our Sneak-Peek Discord channel to follow their development. That's where we will post about updates, public tests and ask your opinion. To join simply click here to join Discord.



Article by Susan N.

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CGR's Games of the Decade - Platformer

What makes a game stand out against its peers? Honestly? Often it's because if how it resonates with the person more than how it may compare in a by the numbers game.

Continuing on our two week gush fest to celebrate Chalgyr's Game Room's 10th anniversary, here are our top Platformers!

Super Mario Odyssey

I could have put down any number of Mario / Nintendo titles here and made a great case for them, so why one that is so new? Sure, it did almost everything right from start to finish, but I've almost come to expect that from a Nintendo platformer. I think what impresses me most is that after all of these years, there are still fresh ideas being injected into this long-running series. 

Guacamelee!

The Metroidvania formula is alive and well in this bright, colorful action / platforming title. This is one of those genres that just has a knack for rubbing me the wrong way at times, but I played this from start to finish and then fired up a second go-round to boot. 

Shovel Knight

This game blended some RPG / roguelike elements into a challenging platforming experience that somehow managed to both feel incredibly fresh while surprisingly retro. Those things should not go together, but they did. Released on pretty much every platform imaginable, Shovel Knight helped remind people what made older, challenging platformers so great - all while still managing to bring some new twists to the adventure.

Shovel Knight

10/10, would platform again. Shovel Knight just did everything right. It captured the nostalgia of my childhood, it held itself to modern-day gameplay standards, and it was just amazing to listen to. Add in some wacky bosses and an almost Super Mario Bros. 3 world map? The only thing left to say was that I was doubly spoiled by having played it on the Xbox and gotten to face off against Rare's Battletoads.

Shantae Half Genie Hero

This is a series that I was seriously late to. While the lastest Shantae was less Metroidvania and much more platformer, it still held pieces of where the series has come from alongside a good story, excellent character cast, and amazing mechanics. The only thing that I would say other than needing to re-play it all over again is that I need the recently announced sequel!

Guacamelee!

While I may not have reviewed it here, Guacamelee was definitely on my GotY list when it hit. Hell, I still get shivers from just how damned good it was. Platforming wonders meshed with Metroidvania challenges, and this Player 1 was a very happy luchador.

Portal 2

Where would we be without Portal and Portal 2? Well … probably in a corner somewhere praying to the Valve Gods for Half-Life 3. Now, many might call me a heathen, but I didn't actually play Portal 2 until (wait for it) 2018. Shocking, right? Well, I'm kicking myself now for it, because I could have had a whole piles' worth of years' time in game but nope, I'm an idiot and waited nearly a decade after the franchise's debut to really give it a spin. Well, the snarky AI, challenging puzzles, and mind-bending gameplay is well worth every minute spent in game. Excellent voice acting, solid audio, engrossing world … Portal 2 nearly has it all. It is just a shame that we have yet to see a VR implementation of the Portal franchise as it would be an amazing experience (though likely not one for those easily nauseated by rapid perspective changes). Still, few games can dominate the puzzle / platformer field the way that Portal and Portal 2 can; ten plus years on and players are still pouring through it, challenging themselves and others, in Portal. The biggest concern I have is that we will never see a number three … For a franchise that is an instant classic with a fast-pass to the gaming hall of fame, Portal and Portal 2 have staying power that is as timeless as they come.

Little Big Planet 2

I know, right? Little Big Planet 2 beating out the Mario games? I am quite confident that I have lost all credibility with you (assuming you've gotten this far), but hear me out. Mario in the past 10 years was such a departure of the Mario of the 80's and 90's that it was quite difficult for me to really engage with a single notable exception that I mention below. Little Big Planet 2 though? A gorgeous sidescrolling platform adventure that my daughter and I could sit down and play any time, in a world that is far more interesting for its stuffed animal-like appeal, big smiling faces, and gameplay simple enough that an 8 year old could play it while challenging enough that an old curmudgeon like I could still enjoy it. That is an incredibly fine line that is extremely hard to walk, but LBP2 does, and does it well.

New Super Mario Brothers

The Mario Brothers games changed drastically with the N64's Super Mario 64; breaking from the then-norm with the tantalizing Princess and her persnickety plumber friends. Deviating from the sidescrolling excellence that was Super Mario Brothers 3 and Super Mario World, Super Mario 64 changed the franchise … and not in a way that I was all too fond of. 20+ years later and New Super Mario Brothers releases on the Nintendo Wii and it is chalk-full of nostalgia in its sidescrolling antics, bubble-bouncing goodness, and deeply challenging missions. But what made it truly special? Just as it had in the 80's and 90's, the Mario Brothers was a title that put my family back on the couch, together, playing games, together. There are few titles that can truly bring people together, and New Super Mario Brothers is one of them.

Portal 2

I'm generally terrible at Platformers. Truly. But Portal 2 is one of my all-time favorites because the robots are hilarious, Chell is committed to saving the companion cube, and there is a multiplayer component. The puzzles in Portal 2 require players to think differently about movement because of portals. Sometimes they are required to place a portal on the ceiling which makes players loopy at first, but it makes sense quickly enough. I also found that I really enjoyed the characters GLaDOS (whose voice was featured in Pacific Rim - a movie I might not have been interested in if it wasn't for that fact and a couple other reasons...) and Wheatley. The music at the end of both Portal 1 and 2 make me laugh ridiculously, and was the best few hours I've ever spent in a video game for a puzzle platformer. Also, some of the player-created multiplayer maps can surprise you, so there is that. Needless to say, Portal 2 is by far the only puzzle platformer I put on this list.

Iconoclasts

MMM. This game was absolutely great. With solid and interesting platformer mechanics, a small but expressive cast, I bad guy I actually felt bad about beating, and a bunch of collectibles and areas to explore, I absolutely loved Iconoclasts. The character designs were cute, I loved the art style, the music was on point, there really wasn’t much I had to complain about the game. While the last boss may have come out of left field, but I thoroughly loved the time I spent with Iconoclasts. I would definitely recommend adding this to your platformer repertoire.

A Hat in Time

A game touted as invoking a sense of nostalgia without being a cringey faux-retro game? Why yes, yes it is. A Hat in Time is a great platformer in the vein of super Mario sunshine, consisting of a bunch of hub worlds with genre ADD that vary anywhere from the standard super Mario 64 style to open-world platforming to a murder mystery event. A Hat in Time does a wonderful job of invoking that nostalgic feeling without actually being a rehash or overly dependent upon a predecessor. With some great boss fights, a good soundtrack, and a wonderful feeling of gameplay, A Hat in Time definitely deserves a spot on this list, despite the many glitches I encountered while playing and the short length.

Hollow Knight

A 2-D soulsborne done right, Hollow Knight is like if you took a 2D Dark Souls and gave the main character all the maneuverability of Samus from the Metroid games. A tale of bugs (literally) that drew me in way too much, Hollow Knight is a great platformer. With a bunch of DLC and a whole underground kingdom to explore, Hollow Knight will have you bashing your head off the wall labeled “tough bosses” for quite a while, which is what I’ve come to love and hope for in these style games. I can assure you, I’m definitely excited about Silksong.

Forgotten Anne

A special gift of a game I was handed for review that turned out to be a lot of fun. It was different from other platformers I had played up until that point. The characters were unique in design and the story almost felt like I was in a steampunk version of Beauty and the Beast. It was a story that I couldn't put down until I finished it.

Little Nightmares

Walked into the local game shop to find this cute little collectors edition sitting by the window. Having never heard of it, I was intrigued by the tiny little girl in the yellow raincoat. Turns out this game was a lot darker then I though, which was a good thing. It's creepiness kept my curiosity going and fed my need to explore. A short yet sweet little title.

Hollow Knight

Watched a friend play this game and was pleasantly surprised by its design. Sure it choice in colour where gray, black, white and more gray, but it's simple characters and beautiful somber score pieces made the games atmosphere ominous. You can feel the sadness and loneliness as you progress through the massive landscape, but with a large area to explore comes some of the best and challenging boss battles I have ever fought.

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Cliff Empire - PC Review

Introduction

Cliff Empire is a city builder that has a different environment that players have to work with. First of all, your entire city is built on top of cliffs. And, when you first load up the game, a small tutorial screen will pop up on the left of the screen which helps players build a successful city on the tops of oddly flat cliffs. It is a game that intrigued me right off the bat and I'm extremely glad that I have the fortune to review it, because frankly, Cliff Empire is right up there with some of my favorite city building games of all time.

Gameplay

At first, I actually thought that players only had access to one cliff and played it like that for a good amount of time. That is not the case with Cliff Empire, so the first unique feature about this game is that players get access build on three cliffs. Each seem to be independent of each other, meaning they have their own money pool to use, food supplies, and energy consumption. As such, players can spend their time building up or fixing one of the other cliffs while allowing time to pass for the others, since time does not change per clifftop.

The second unique feature about the game is that Cliff Empire is a little more futuristic of a city builder, a la Surviving Mars. Citizens that inhabit your cities don't need to specialize in different types of professions, and the overall look of the game reminds me of The Jetsons'. There are drones that build the structures and the trading platform looks like a Stargate because it is sleek, polished, and shiny. Considering Cliff Empire reminded me of so many different things, my impression of the game drastically increased.

The third feature which is different from any other city builder is that when players click on a cliff, they are not bound to building a structure there. Players click anywhere on the cliff, select the building they wish, and then find a spot they wish to place the structure based on its size (which is shown in the top right hand side of each building box, as shown on the left). This is important for a number of reasons like: it's easier to plan out a city, it reduces the chance of misplacing a building, and since there is limited space on each cliff, players are given all the information to build effectively.

There is another feature that I will cover more in the graphics and UI portion of this review, but after sinking a fair amount of hours into Cliff Empire, I can say without a doubt that I love this game immensely. With the three different independent cliffs that can be built upon, the game is designed in a such a way that players won't easily get bored. There are points where buildings will catch on fire and players will physically see that icon to indicate such. If players happen to be looking at the cliff where the fire occurs, then an alarm will sound as well (which thankfully isn't heard when focused on other cliffs).

Overall, because of Cliff Empire's unique approach to the city building genre, so far, it ranks high for me.

Graphics and UI

The graphics in Cliff Empire impressed me immensely. I appreciate a developers attention to detail when it comes to city builders, particularly when zooming in to different sections of a city. Cliff Empire is quite detailed when players get up close and personal with anything in the game. If they zoom in to the bus stations or the walking paths, you can clearly see the people whom inhabit your city. And zooming into various structures like the transit between cliffs, shows realistic looking trains. After building the fishing ports, players can zoom in to see fish in the water as well as seagulls that fly around the docks. Again, Cliff Empire is a graphical marvel, and I absolutely love the game for their attention to detail.

The UI is different than most other city building games. For example, when players launch the game, they have a number of options that can be adjusted in the menus. If players prefer to invert the x and y axis, there is an option for that. The camera sensitivity, UI scale, and displaying people or drones can be altered here as well. As with most games, there is also a tab which allows players to change hotkeys.

When in the sandbox game mode, players can readily see all the information they need to construct buildings that would keep their citizens happy. At the bottom of the screen are icons to show the amount of water, food, environmental friendliness, energy levels, and building maintenance percentage of the cliff that is in focus. At the start, these just look awesome, but it is evident that these images are also graphs. As players construct buildings, the levels of each icon will change. For example, when players place more buildings that add pollution to the area, the environmental friendliness will decrease. (So it won't be orange like in the image displayed to the side. It would have a partial fill.) Once players counteract that bar with more parks and such, then the bar will change accordingly. And, when players haven't placed any buildings that generate furniture or electronics, the icon at the bottom will remain transparent. (Like the furniture icon in the same screenshot, for example.)

On the bottom of the screen at the right, players can see how much power is generated by the city and the bar will change according to how much energy is stored in batteries or how much energy is generated during the day. It will also show much is missing when it's nightfall.

On the left hand side at the bottom of your screen, information is displayed about the total population, how many citizens wish to move to your Cliff Empire, the worker demand, and a percentage showing the total manpower of your city. These graphs eliminate the need to find another screen that gives players this information.

Displaying information like described above makes the UI much less clunky and it is more appealing to players. In fact, the way the whole UI is designed impressed me greatly, because most city builders have separate screens with elaborate graphs for players use. Often, I find this to be tedious in city builders (finding detailed information), but Cliff Empire has created a visual design that conveys all the most pertinent information without adding extra screens that detract from the user experience. Everything can be seen at a glance, which is a point that I adore about Cliff Empire. And it sits above any other city builder for its presentation.

Sound and Music

In brief, I do have to mention the sound design and music in this game. It's simply spectacular, in my opinion. While the music in Cliff Empire is not going to provoke emotions like Doom or Life is Strange or Civilization V or Halo, it has a certain appeal that works really well with the game. I found myself being sucked into the gameplay because of the sum of its elements, including the music.

The sound design is one of the more important elements in the game for me because, when zoomed in on the docks, players can hear the seagulls. We can clearly hear the fire alarms when buildings are ablaze. And, notifications of each new event reminded me of the computer from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Just listening to the trading platform notification made me smile. (Partly because that meant I could make money by getting rid of overstock or buying much needed items to keep my city alive.)

Final Thoughts

Overall, Cliff Empire impressed me as a city builder this year. As much as I covet games like Cities: Skylines, this title has created a UI that is user friendly, presented realism in a futuristic society, and has kept me going back for more. I will be playing Cliff Empire for several weeks to come, as it is beautiful in virtually every way. As a person that adores city building games, Cliff Empire is a title I highly recommend. It is clean, stable, and breathtaking. It even has the ability to be modded! (A feature I didn't test out for the purposes of this review.)

I give Cliff Empire a 9 out of 10 because, in my opinion, this game has nailed the presentation, style, and feel of a futuristic city builder.

Please follow Lion's Shade and Cliff Empire on Social Media: Official website, YouTube, Facebook, and Steam. Trust me, while it isn't a perfect game, players who love city builders will not be disappointed by this title!

Game Information

Platform:
PC
Developer(s):
Lion's Shade
Publisher(s):
Lion's Shade
Genre(s):
Strategy, Simulation, City Builder
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
N/A

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Susan N.

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