“We live in a world where so often when we come together our communal exchanges are formed around sharing stories amongst each other, factual accounts of our recent history for example, to use this mechanic in a gaming structure was a novel and pleasing change from the usual artificially contrived perils and menace encountered typically in video games.” Continue reading 12 Months, 12 Games: September – Never Alone
“There is a certain, synergetic inevitability between the original game of its name sake and The Art of Detroit Become Human released as a deluxe digital package alongside a soundtrack and the title itself. I adore the physicality and primal joy of opening and enjoying physical art books, a welcome addition to any title that allows you to explore and enter the worlds of these digital realms. ” Continue reading The Art of Detroit: Become Human Digital Review
“We observed the notion in Beyond: Two Souls your decisions had repercussions on the outcome, certainly this concept has evolved and expanded in Detroit: Become Human with every decision and action in the entirety of the campaign having a major effect on the final outcome.” Continue reading Detroit: Become Human Review
“Released in May 2014 from Ubisoft’s Montreal Studio, a game’s house that has become synonymous with games of this genre and style, assisting, perhaps even instrumental in the formation of some notable and expansive open world franchises including the Assassin’s Creed series and the Far Cry games following the first title from Crytek, Watch Dogs was an original Intellectual Property, IP, that attempted to shift the studios traditional focus from historic or environmental open world titles and establish a new series of games in a modern urban location. ” Continue reading Watchdogs: 5th Anniversary Retrospective
“To an extent, with the exception of the opening screen I had experienced very little of the game since its release in 2012, and having transition from Microsoft to Sony on this current generation of consoles, to date this was one of the titles I wanted to experience in its purest form with no expectations or spoilers clouding my judgement. To use a slight, adage, I wanted to experience this Journey how others viewed this game on its release, no strategy or input to direct my actions or shape my experience.” Continue reading 12 Months, 12 Games: June – Journey
“It tried something different with its approach without testing the boundaries of acceptability, will the direction for a sequel be to a game as a service, always online, always pushing for connections to others, perhaps. Therefore, lets grant Dragon Age Inquisition in its fifth anniversary year a nod of appreciation for being a fitting tribute to a game of its type. A divisive game on its release but one that has found renewed favour wherever the Inquisition forms across the lands.” Continue reading Dragon Age: Inquisition – 5th Anniversary Retrospective
Released in the spring of 2017 by Austrian studio Broken Rules, a small independent studio based in Vienna with an ethos of producing meaningful gaming experiences, if ever an epitome and demonstration of a game as a form of artistry is needed I can think of no other recent title that so ably demonstrates that than Old Man’s Journey, whose every nuanced progressive moment is simply breath-taking to behold. Despite a relatively short run time, every location and vista, mountain climbed and town visited was a unique and memorable experience with an artistic style bordering on pastel creating a crescendo of colour and presenting an almost ethereal world to explore and reside within, for ever so short a time. Continue reading 12 Months, 12 Games: April – Old Man’s Journey
“With the traditional frivolities of Valentines upon us I’ve taken it upon myself to look at some basic actions and mechanics open world games, the most resplendent environments available to the discerning gamer in our current generation can undertake in their future endeavours.” Continue reading Love In The Open World
“Games such as Endless Ocean allude to that sensation and present a world or environment where you can envision and even imagine that feeling but no game has come anywhere close to that feeling when you submerge and feel that sense of freedom and tension evaporating beneath the surface. Instead, whether intentionally or not, modern games have instead opted to focus on the grandeur of the vision and environment.” Continue reading Exploring the Elements: Water
“Why exactly am I anticipating Ritual of the Night…? Well it’s a new metroidvania-style game from Koji Igarashi, the maker of numerous classic Castlevania games. In fact it’s basically a new Castlevania in everything but name, which naturally makes it right up my alley. The move to 3D environments and characters is a bit of a shame (since I loved the 2D sprite-work of the older games) but other than that things seem to be coming together nicely. Bloodstained is coming from a great pedigree and the game has been in development for a very long time now so I’m cautiously optimistic.” Continue reading Most Anticipated Games of 2019
Around The Bonfire 