To coincide with the cinematic release of PAW Patrol the Movie, a tie-in title has been developed by Drakhar Studio and published by licenced title powerhouse Outright Games. PAW Patrol the Movie: Adventure City Calls features locations from the big screen adventure as Ryder and the PAW Patrol team discover that Mayor Humdinger is up to no good and only their mighty efforts can save the day.

Featuring eight story missions and over forty mini-game missions that span four different game modes, PAW Patrol the Movie: Adventure City Calls offers hours of entertainment for players of all ages to enjoy solo or in local couch co-op. It’s a PAWfect family experience!

The 3D platforming adventure plays like a combination of a side-scroller and light platformer, offering an assortment of mini-games that utilise the unique abilities of each of the eight playable pups of the PAW Patrol. Two pre-determined pups take the stage of each of the eight missions and can be switched between at will if playing solo or controlled by a player each in local couch co-op.

Each of the eight missions have been carefully designed to be accessible to younger players. Aside from movement the only other control for most of the gameplay is the ability to jump. At a handful of sections in each mission there is a PAW Interaction which requires a specific pup to activate and use their unique ability to play a very brief mini game. For instance, Rubble can drill through rocks or swing a wrecking ball, Marshall can put out fires with his fire truck and Chase can use a grappling hook or zip line to reach new areas.

These are very simple sequences that have a brief tutorial before every instance to remind younger players how to complete them. Some missions have driving, flying, or swimming sequences which offer fun variety and keep the simplistic experience diverse enough to remain engaging and capture the interest of young players. Hundreds of pup treats litter the screen of each mission, as well as three badges to collect, to give players something to focus on as they push forward. Collecting these awards character cards and other things that can be checked out in the Extras section of the main menu, further providing a fun distraction for fans of the PAW Patrol gang.

Completing all eight story missions can take as little as two hours, approximately 10-15 minutes each if attempting to collect all of the treats and badges. As that is from the perspective of a 30-year-old father somewhat experienced in video games, it is easy to understand that each mission could take twice as long for the youngest of PAWsome players. Considering the wealth of mini games available outside of the main story, an experienced player can have everything completed in around four hours but again, young players have countless hours of replayable fun ahead of them.

There are four types of mini games to enjoy;

• Time Trials – Three vehicle challenges are available for each of the seven pups. These task the player with simply completing the trial while collecting as many pup treats as possible. Only three Time Trials are played as the pups themselves and follow the same structure

• Collect them All – These challenges can only be completed by collecting all of the pup treats in the level

• Obstacle Course – A number of checkpoints are scattered around each of the nine obstacle courses that players will need to run and jump around to collect, returning to the finish line before time expires

• Pup Boogie – Following a simplified rhythm game structure players need to press the corresponding button as it reaches the green zone, increasing their score and multiplier with successive hits in these three challenges

There are some fun and thoughtful, yet subtle inclusions that make the experience even more suitable for a younger audience. Considerations such as pups only being able to cross a road at marked pedestrian crossings and any cars coming from either side stopping for them to do so is a great way to remind young players of road safety while enjoying a video game. This may seem like a no-brainer to older players as they play through but there is no such thing as bringing too much attention to the importance of these observations to children.

Some features that may be easier to overlook for younger players such as in-game tracking for collectibles in the main missions and side-missions would be nice to have for older players but as the experience is geared towards a younger audience, it would be unfair to use these as criticisms against the title though to ignore mentioning them would be a disservice to the mature audience that read this review or play the game.

Visually, the experience is a faithful 3D adaptation of the beloved kids TV series, and the character design and environments are playful and charming, bright, and colourful and are wonderfully complimented by a very fun, energetic, and upbeat soundtrack. Drakhar Studio have absolutely nailed the presentation and feel of the PAW Patrol world. The only thing missing is any voiceovers for the pups, Ryder has the only speaking role in the game before, during and after missions.

PAW Patrol the Movie: Adventure City Calls is a great experience for young players. By offering story missions full of playful adventure, fun and accessible mini games, and a wealth of additional mini games to enjoy outside of the story and full local co-op support, the experience can be enjoyed by children with their friends, siblings, and parents. The brief runtime of each game mode or mission makes it very friendly for brief game sessions.

As a father to three and four-year-old sons I can comfortably say we had a great time playing this together and I would be lying if I said the PAW Patrol titles aren’t a guilty pleasure of mine. By providing an experience that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, PAW Patrol the Movie: Adventure City Calls is a great addition to the family friendly space dominated by publisher Outright Games.

+ Fun, simple and accessible experience

+ Variety of game modes and mini games

+ Local couch co-op support

+ PAWfect length of missions and mini games

+ Charming audio-visual presentation

– Lack of any voiceovers for the pups

– A little too easy, perhaps even for younger players

Developed by: Drakhar Studio

Published by: Outright Games

Release Date: August 13 2021 (US/UK) | September 2 2021 (AU/NZ)

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC

* A digital code was kindly provided by the Publisher for the purpose of this review *

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

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All digital photography was captured in-game on Xbox Series X by Games of DAYNE

The post PAW Patrol the Movie: Adventure City Calls Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

Developed by Counterplay Games Godfall originally released as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 back in November 2020. Nine months later in a rare move Godfall has found its way to the PlayStation 4.

A third-person action RPG looter set in a mythological world of God-like warriors in striking armour, Godfall tells a tale of betrayal between two brothers with the player’s character Orin set to stop his brother Macros.

Combo-driven combat utilising a fun variety of melee weapons and a shield make for an enjoyable near-ten-hour adventure. Play time can be exponentially blown out by exploration, side-missions and grinding for better gear drops and customisation by farming resources.

Betrayed by his brother Macros, Orin must stop his brother from collecting a powerful energy known as Aetherium to become a god and destroy Earth. Upon discovering an AI-like entity known as the Seventh Sanctum, Orin is given guidance and tasked with bringing down Macros’ lieutenants to claim their Aetherium before Macros can. Each conquest empowers him with the Aetherium instead and only when all have fallen will Orin finally be powerful enough to confront his brother.

The story is simplistic in the sense it pits the player on a rather linear journey to gain strength and defeat the villain. Where Godfall takes a step above the generic path is its interesting lore and deep world building. The scope is so grand, mythological and fantastical, with new ideas frequently introduced that continue to evolve the story and world it takes place in.

The world of Godfall is divided into realm named after the elements of Earth, Air, Water, Spirit and Fire. Each of these realms have unique enemy variants and elemental resources required for crafting upgrades and new Valorplates, epic armour sets worn by legendary Archon warriors of the past.

There are 12 Valorplates to craft, each inspired by signs of the Zodiac, and each offers a unique passive trait, Archon Fury ability and augment constellation.

Archon Fury abilities are essentially special attacks that can be unleashed when a meter has been filled during combat, these temporarily empower Orin and allow for massive damage to be dealt while active. The duration of Archon Fury can be extended via skill tree upgrades. Augments can be assigned to the Valorplate’s unique augment constellation that improves Might, Vitality or Spirit – weapon damage, max health or life stone recovery and ability damage.

There are five weapon classes in the form of longswords, greatswords, dual blades, polearms and warhammers. Variants can be found through exploration, as enemy loot drops, mission rewards, opening chests or from the vendor in the Sanctum hub-world accessible between missions. A primary and secondary weapon can be equipped as can an assortment of gear pieces such as charms, amulets and rings that all afford passive traits and in most cases stat boosts.

All gear in Godfall comes in tiers ranging from common through legendary and can be Enchanted in the Forge at the Sanctum to have its rarity increased. Finding and upgrading gear is essential to become more powerful and tackle the end-game content which is largely centered around tower challenges, essentially wave-based combat that gets extremely difficult and requires high level gear to survive. Completing these awards alternate skins for Valorplates and valuable crafting resources as well as higher tier loot drops.

Each mission is fairly linear with a waypoint guiding the player towards the primary objective while also offering optional objectives that provide bonus rewards. As the game progresses new areas of the map become accessible. As each of the five realms only has one map the missions can feel visually repetitive, taking place in the same sections of the map until new areas are opened later. This unfortunately means majority of the game has the player passing through the exact same sections mission after mission. While each of the five realms are visually distinct it’s a shame the missions weren’t confined to unique parts of the map instead of being open.

Low ledges can be climbed and large gaps can be crossed by aiming at a floating blue phase node and holding circle to perform a fast, flight-like leap. Combat is less restrictive and actually quite enjoyable. Equipped with a shield that can be thrown like Captain America, it can also be used to block, parry or deflect projectiles. Mastery of this defensive asset can have major offensive implications that can turn the tide of battle, especially when outnumbered. The shield can also be used to destroy objects during the numerous environmental puzzles.

Regardless of weapon class, all weapons have a light and chargeable heavy attack. Using evade to constantly move around the battlefield and avoiding enemy attacks while stringing together combos of light and heavy attacks is highly recommended. Staying still is almost certainly a death sentence due to the poor lock-on mechanics and unavoidable enemy attacks when they are glowing red. These attacks deal significant damage and can’t be blocked or parried. The player is also unable to block mid-attack which requires more care and consideration for timing their next offensive or defensive move.

Health can be replenished by picking up vitality orbs dropped from defeated enemies, opening chests or using the recovery stone. When vitality orbs are picked up and the player is already at max health, they are turned into recovery stones which can be used by pressing square to restore health. These come in very handy especially against the higher-ranking enemy types and boss battles.

Special attacks can be unlocked via the skill tree to aid in combat. Aside from new combat abilities the skill tree contains stat increases to vitality, might and spirit. Skill points are earned by leveling up Orin, with a single point awarded with each level gained. Experience is gained from combat, completing objectives and missions.

The world is striking, visually beautiful in its varying levels of decay. Broken ruins, grand palaces, barren volcanic wastelands and water worlds are glorious to take in. Each realm feels grand in its own way and allows Godfall to feel as mythological and fantastic as its premise establishes. Character designs are cool and unique, with each enemy variant feeling different. The weapons and Valorplates are equally impressive and embrace the larger-than-life themes of the title overall.

The score is a blend of ominous, godly and tribal-like war music that really only makes its presence felt in combat. Stakes feel high and combat has an added layer of dramatic tension as a result. The overall presentation is competently grand and mythological, epic and world-ending. Godfall genuinely looks, sounds and feels like a realm of the gods.

Godfall is an enjoyable experience despite the repetitious exploration of the same environments in the earlier stages of the game. With progression each realm opens up a little more but not enough to make each realm feel less fresh and new. A poor lock-on system during combat and the inability to block mid-attack keep the combat from feeling more free-flowing but overall these issues are outweighed by the fun customisation and godly scope of the world that has been built.

With a story that takes less than 10 hours and dozens of hours worth of end-game challenges and better loot-grinding Godfall has enough to satisfy those with a narrative focus, those that enjoy the thrill of the grind and quest to being unstoppable and players that like a bit of both. Godfall is very impressive on the PS4 and despite the obvious improvements it’s PS5 undoubtedly presents, it’s great for players who haven’t yet made the console leap to be able to experience it nearly a year later.

+ Valorplates and customisation

+ Enjoyable combat

+ Enemy variants and environmentally unique Realms

+ Epic scope

+ Interesting lore

– Poor combat lock-on

– Inability to block mid-attack

– Missions take place is essentially same location in each Realm

Developed by: Counterplay Games

Published by: Gearbox Publishing

Release Date: August 10 2021

Platforms: PlayStation 4/5 and PC

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

For this and additional reviews, latest news, trailers and more from the rest of the team at Xbox Gamer Dad and One More Game, click HERE.

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All digital photography was captured in-game on PlayStation 4 by Games of DAYNE

The post Godfall (PS4) Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

Cosmic Top Secret is many things. For one, it is the name of the video game this review focuses on but that itself is not even as simple as it seems. This game is an autobiographical adventure somewhat inspired by director Trine Laier’s actual investigation into the past of her parents, specifically her father’s past in Danish Intelligence during the Cold War. Portrayed in game simply as “T”, the player’s journey is largely educational and surprisingly thought provoking on a personal level.

Quirky art design playfully disarms the player on this journey of self-discovery for “T”. The hybrid paper cut-out/3D world design makes for a striking and enjoyable feast for the eyes that somehow manages not to undermine the seriousness of the autobiographical adventure.

A little bit of Google education informed me that the term Cosmic Top Secret is actually a real-world term, used to represent the highest level of security classification within NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). See? Video games and of course my reviews, can be considered educational assets.

On the educational front the player is given a glimpse into the handling and protection of confidential information throughout the Cold War. There’s not going to be any groundbreaking revelations or, if you’ll excuse the pun, Cosmic Top Secret information revealed in this video game but the fascinating insight into how people acted with this information is genuinely interesting. The perspective of “T” growing up with parents devoted to this highly secretive line of work is genuinely well-realised and has translated to this interactive format in a way that brings levity to the situation, despite the highly political nature of the work.

Cosmic Top Secret is absolutely riddled with real photographs, interviews and video clips that are cleverly integrated into the game world, presenting what feels more like an interactive autobiography rather than an actual video game, and that by no means downplays the cleverness of its execution. The game world is interesting to describe as it feels like a blend of platforming within 3D environments with some light puzzle solving and collectibles to find while also offering some cool gameplay segments such as throwing grenades, putting your body back together and even flying a paper plane. Plenty of secrets and things to find are present in the open-ended level design and the facts, as well as the format they are presented, are interesting and worth going out of the way for.

Traversal in Cosmic Top Secret, like everything else, is unique. “T” scrunches into a ball of paper to roll around the map, able to jump and interact with various things within the environment.  The platforming can be a little hit or miss due to the somewhat fidgety controls and aiming but these scenarios are certainly fewer and further between than the core gameplay itself. Puzzles are fun and rightfully challenging in some cases such as tasking the player with going through intel to determine sequences. Luckily the hints provided eliminate frustration and keep the puzzles accessible for casual players, a welcome addition to keep the educational adventure interesting and flowing smoothly.

Each chapter has the player gathering nine pieces of intel and having to decipher a nine digit number. Most of the numbers are obvious but some hidden behind simple puzzles that are essentially handed to the player with a little observation or listening in some instances. The map of each level is laid out like co-ordinates, broken into letters and numbers. For example, grid B2 might be the home to a clue and the player can see their current whereabouts on screen at all times or can access the map for further clarity. As the next objective is extremely visible thanks to visual cues it is pretty obvious in most cases where to go, rarely it may be hidden behind something obstructing the cue.

Cosmic Top Secret challenges the statement of video games as art. Despite this story being perfectly suitable as an actual autobiography or a documentary perhaps the innovative approach to its adaptation as a video game cleverly blurs the lines between historical lecture and interactive adventure. This deep dive behind the scenes of Intelligence agents during the Cold War could easily have felt heavy and perhaps too political but the fun art design and clever gameplay do a lot of the heavy lifting, lightening the tone and balancing fun with education. Quirky art design, intelligent content and simplistic gameplay come together effectively in this undeniably unique experience that offers insight into one of the world’s most challenging historical periods from the perspective of a family caught right in the middle of it.

+ Unique visual presentation

+ Clever premise and execution of story

+ Interesting subject matter and historical context

+ Accessible puzzles and hints/visual cues

– Platforming is fidgety

– Minimal replay value

Developed by: Klassefilm, Those Eyes

Published by: Nakana.io

Release Date: May 21 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC

 * A digital code was kindly provided by the Publisher for the purpose of this review *

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

For this and additional reviews, latest news, trailers and more from the rest of the team at Xbox Gamer Dad and One More Game, click HERE.

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All digital photography was captured in-game on Xbox Series X by Games of DAYNE

The post Cosmic Top Secret Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

There’s something very satisfying and relaxing about being presented a train station in complete disarray and tasked with cleaning, repairing and restoring it. Train Station Renovation is exactly as described. From removing all litter, tearing down broken benches and clearing cob webs, there is no shortage of tasks to keep players busy as they attempt to restore the stations to newfound glory.

With an array of tools at your disposal, accessible via an inventory wheel, the job is simple. Renovate the train station. On top of the chores mentioned earlier there’s graffiti clean, broken walls to fix, floors to clean and so much more. Each tool has a specific purpose, for example, the sponge is used to wash graffiti, the crowbar is required to dismantle broken benches and windows and the broom to sweep or remove the cob webs from the corners of rooms. Understanding the tools and the types of cleaning tasks becomes second nature before long and the cleaning aspect of each train station, which act as level equivalents, becomes simple.

There are several different types of cleaning that is required and this carries over through each of the train stations. Repetition certainly sets in but the zen-like quality of the exercise keeps it from becoming overwhelming, especially with the relaxing score playing in the background. A scan function can be used at any time to highlight objects within the environment that need cleaned. Some can be somewhat obscured but there’s little need to actually use this feature if care is taken when exploring each station.

Restoring a broken station requires more than cleaning. An instantly accessible in-game digital store front is available that allows players to buy waiting benches, interior decorations, computers, chairs and outdoor accessories for instance. Money is earned by cleaning previous stations and accumulated with progression. It’s oddly satisfying getting to showcase your potentially hidden flare for interior design and restoring these stations in a manner that’s appealing to you, the player.

Aside from actually cleaning and restoring the train stations each one has a small but unique objective chain that can be as simple as restoring power or draining a flooded area. The instructions keep it simple and the tasks can be completed pretty quickly. It’s nice to have a little structure to each level but cleaning and placing new items comprise the bulk of the experience, more of those little objective chains would certainly have helped break it up a little more.

While renovating each station there are various visual indicators that represent different types of cleaning such as general rubbish, graffiti and debris. As the specific types of cleaning is carried out these gradually increase and contribute to an overall level completion bar that awards one to three stars. Each star awards more money when choosing to complete the level, which can only be done when at least one star has been attained, and new special tools.

The visuals are very basic and simplistic, a little rough around the edges both environmentally and in regards to the objects that inhabit the stations. The simplicity works with the basic gameplay elements however and fail to distract. A relaxing, almost meditative score is a welcome addition to a game that focuses on cleaning. It works well and contributes to an overall relaxing presentation and experience.

Train Station Renovation may not appeal to everyone as the core gameplay experience is simply cleaning and decorating. I personally found satisfaction in clearing out the messes and enjoyed it more than I expected, pleasantly surprised by the casual and calming vibe the game presents. For those who enjoy taking pride in their labour and visual gratification of their work, Train Station Renovation is a pleasant cleaning simulator while players looking for a little more structure and variation will likely not find the appeal.

+ Oddly satisfying gameplay

+ Variety of tools and tasks to apply them to

+ Relaxing score

– Very repetitive

– Level design is very similar

– Unique tasks are too easy, more would have been welcome

Developed by: Live Motion Games

Published by: Ultimate Games

Release Date: June 2 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X|S, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC

 * A digital code was kindly provided by the Publisher for the purpose of this review *

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

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The post Train Station Renovation Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

The post Just Die Already Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

On November 20 2007 Mass Effect launched exclusively on Xbox 360. At the time it was a fresh science fiction space opera take on the RPG genre. Five years and two sequels later the trilogy was available on Xbox, PlayStation and PC and would become one of the most beloved series of the genre by millions.

Developed by BioWare, the series has managed to maintain relevance for nearly a decade and a half and while 2017’s Mass Effect: Andromeda didn’t quite have the same impact as the original trilogy, the franchise name and value has never been more important. With the launch of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition new and returning players alike can enjoy the adventure and exploits of Commander Shepard, YOUR Commander Shepard, and take their custom character through all three games with the choices and consequences carrying across the intergalactic space odyssey.

With significant visual, technical and performance enhancements, particularly for the first Mass Effect, the trilogy has never looked or played better and with the inclusion of all but one of the over 40 DLC packs that would go on to be released, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is not only the definite way to play the series, it is the definitive example of remaster excellence.

The original Mass Effect introduces an interesting and wonderfully fleshed out mythology and lore but most importantly it introduces players to Commander Shepard. Players can customise the gender, appearance and backstory of their Shepard as well as select from a handful of classes, each with unique abilities and proficiencies. From there Commander Shepard is lead on a journey laden with choices and of course the consequences of this choices. From branching dialogue, character relationships and key decisions that shape the narrative, players embark on a quest that is as personal to them as they are willing to make it by investing in the world and exploring all aspects of it physically and from a conversational, character engagement standpoint.

To briefly surmise the plot, Commander Shepard must lead an elite team to thwart the plans of Saren, a traitor from an alien race known as Turians, and his plans to facilitate the return of ancient mechanical race of beings known as Reapers. Responsible for the extermination of all sentient organic life in years gone by, the return of a Reaper fleet would see history repeat itself yet again and Commander Shepard will stop at nothing to prevent this.

A handful of characters can be recruited and customised, with two at a time able to be selected to accompany Shepard on story missions as well as the wealth of optional side missions. The relationships with these characters and decisions at key moments can influence their allegiance and loyalty to Shepard as well as their fate in some cases.

The gameplay in Mass Effect upon its original release was notably clunky and stiff, particularly the driving sequences featuring the Mako. Through cybernetic technology various abilities are accessible to the inhabits of the Mass Effect universe that include psionic abilities that could launch enemies into the air and dependent on which class the player chose various abilities are available to unlock and enhance. Blending these abilities with the decent gunplay which included elemental ammo types kept combat fun and engaging, diverse enough to encourage future replays in order to experiment all of the different combinations on offer.

Countless enhancements were made to the gameplay, visuals and overall performance of the original title in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, bringing it more in line with the quality and fluidity of the pair of instalments that followed. Seemingly receiving more and honestly much needed attention, the original Mass Effect is easily the standout of the trilogy in terms of its evolution in this remastered collection.

Set shortly after the events of the first game, Mass Effect 2 wastes little time in setting the stage for a sequel more grand in scope as it dives deeper into the looming galactic conquest of the Reapers. Mass Effect 2 wonderfully incorporated the ability to import a save file from the previous title, allowing players to bring their Shepard and all of the choices, relationships and consequences forward and to the sequel. The option to start fresh with a newly created Shepard exists but it it would be a severely missed opportunity not to continue the saga with the same character.

Shepard’s ship, the Normandy SSV is attacked by an unknown vessel and the crew is forced to abandon ship, losing it in the process. Two years later, Shepard wakes, brought back from the brink of death by Cerberus. Mass Effect 2 largely sees Shepard building a larger team of new and familiar teammates to take the fight to the newly emerged threat known as the Collectors while also uncovering more about the Reapers, their history and potential re-emergence.

The closing mission of Mass Effect 2 is thrilling and more so than the previous entry has potentially tragic consequences based on a large number of critical decisions. The fate of the entire squad is up in the air, who lives and who dies is entirely dictated by the players actions, completion of particular missions and specific upgrades prior.

With clearly improved gameplay elements compared to the original, Mass Effect 2 introduced new ability types, modified the gear and loot system and generally improved in every way over its predecessor. In Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, as with the other two titles, various technical and performance improvements were made to recapture the magic of an experience that originally launched in 2010 and manages to make it look and feel much more modern. Arguably the greatest entry in the franchise to date, Mass Effect 2 is one of the most enjoyable and player driven RPGs of all time and understandably beloved by many.

Rounding out the original trilogy in 2012, Mass Effect 3 had to follow two excellent entires and wrap up the story of Commander Shepard and the war against the returning Reapers in an effort to prevent them from once again exterminating all sentient organic life. To much controversy the ending was poorly received by players and critics alike, so much so that an “Extended Cut” pack was added by Bioware to not replace the original ending but rather to expand upon it. Personally, the ending didn’t bother me, it managed to wrap up the story in my opinion, concluding a trilogy of dire conflict with monumental consequences likely to affect the franchise forever.

The stakes have never been higher in the series than in Mass Effect 3. A full-scale galactic Reaper invasion is underway with the reapers wiping out planets left, right and centre. Shepard is once again drawn into the conflict with new and recurring team mates to take the fight to the Reapers and save the universe from extermination. The opening mission instils a sense of hopelessness, insurmountable odds that have an emotional impact on the journey that follows to prevent the seemingly inevitable Reaper victory.

Some of the biggest decisions of the franchise exist in Mass Effect 3, on a character level and in regards to how the actual ending unfolds. The stakes have never felt higher, the cause have never felt more lost and the thought of triumph is squashed at nearly every turn. The story is tightly focused, interesting and depending on your interpretation of whether or not the trilogy is satisfyingly concluded, a rewarding culmination of five years and three entries of one of the greatest franchises to grace the genre.

Additional tweaks, improvements and substitutions to various gameplay elements are again present since Mass Effect 2 and the gameplay overall has never felt or played smoother. Concluding the journey with the same imported Commander Shepard is such a unique experience, carrying the weight of three titles worth of consequences and tackling near impossible odds to single handedly defeat the Reapers and put an end to their reign of terror once and for all.

What Mass Effect: Legendary Edition does above all is bring the quality and performance of three great titles that span nearly a decade and a half up to speed to more closely resemble more recent titles. For the most part it succeeds. While the visuals and animations are obviously not quite as slick as a new title released in 2021 it still manages to look amazing. The inclusion of a photo mode allows for some truly stunning captures that franchise veterans are likely to find themselves lost in.

It’s fun to witness the gradual evolution of the series from 2007’s Mass Effect through to 2012’s Mass Effect 3. The gameplay, loot, gear, squad and driving in particular change greatly with each release. Having over 40 pieces of DLC content thrown in as well that spans all three titles turns the trilogy into an experience that could keep players immersed in the incredibly interesting world for dozens of hours, and that’s not even taking into consideration additional playthroughs making alternate choices along the way or playing on harder difficulties. Content is certainly the one aspect this experience is not lacking.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is more than a remastered collection of a beloved trilogy of RPG’s, it’s a gateway for new players to enter a franchise they may have left behind due to fear of getting into their dated looks and mechanics. For returning players it’s the opportunity to relive the epic saga in a close-to-current gen state. Mass Effect has never been more accessible, more enjoyable and more exciting to think about in terms of it’s future prospects than in 2021 with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

+ Incredible branching narratives

+ Commander Shepard import from previous games

+ Choice and customisation

+ Sharp and stunning visuals

+ Amount of overall content

+ Replay value

– Gameplay and animations still feel dated

– Driving still isn’t fun

– Exclusion of Multiplayer component of Mass Effect 3

– Some plot points aren’t followed through in follow-up entries

Developed by: BioWare

Published by: EA

Release Date: May 14 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5 and PC

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

For this and additional reviews, latest news, trailers and more from the rest of the team at Xbox Gamer Dad and One More Game, click HERE.

To see all the latest news and reviews from the team at Game News Aus, including this review, click HERE.

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All digital photography was captured in-game on Xbox Series X by Games of DAYNE

The post Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.

Hood: Outlaws & Legends is a multiplayer-only PvPvE (Players vs Players vs Environment) action-stealth experience, pitting two teams of four players against each other as well as the AI enemy State Guards that patrol and defend the area. The objective is simple. Find the Sheriff and pickpocket his key, locate and open the vault, transport and extract the chest from the vault.

At any moment the player and team in possession of the key, carrying the chest or extracting it can be killed by the opposing player team or AI enemies, allowing the enemy team an opportunity to capitalise on the work of the other team. Combining stealth and action to complete the match, referred to as a Heist, requires teamwork and co-ordination as well as mastery of the four available characters and their respective classes to succeed. All are outlaws but some will become legends.

First and foremost it is important to reiterate that Hood: Outlaws & Legends is a multiplayer-exclusive experience, meaning it can only be played with a full team consisting of three other players and a full enemy team of four players. With this noted, at the time of writing (17 days after the official launch, intentionally held off for a few weeks to allow for updates) the matchmaking has improved since launch though the system itself is still with its flaws. Lengthy wait times still persist despite cross-play support which should in theory increase the pool of players to draw from to populate a Heist.

Unfortunately the waiting times can still be several minutes, in my experience waiting upwards of five minutes is a regular occurrence. When a full lobby finally eventuates there are further matchmaking issues in the form of level matching. There is no separation of high level players from lower level or new players, immediately creating uneven Heists where players who have been present since launch have a greater advantage due to their higher level characters, upgrades and perks. The absence of some sort of level grouping makes Heists difficult for new players.

Also absent is an AI squad-fill type system that allows for bots to comprise teams when matchmaking is proving difficult or even as an alternative for players who wish to experience Hood without the difficulty and pressures of multiplayer Heists. The inclusion of bot Heists would allow players to better familiarise themselves with each of the four characters and their abilities as well as offering a training ground to gain experience and be able to more competently hold their own in the unbalanced matchmaking system.

With the matchmaking and lack of bot support addressed, those issues alone comprise my only negative comments on Hood as the gameplay is genuinely fun, engaging and challenging, the latter is welcome with the exception of high level experienced players making life difficult for new players.

The Sheriff roams around the map, typically in an isolated area with AI guards nearby. Employing stealth tactics such as crouching and using the environment for cover, such as hiding behind objects or in the grass, to sneak up and pickpocket the key while avoiding detection from him, surrounding AI and the enemy team. Detection from the Sheriff will trigger him to pursue the player, which results in instantaneous death should he get his hands on a player, as well as alerting the nearby guards which will put the area into High Alert and into lockdown, closing any portcullises in the process and drawing the attention of other guards. The closure of portcullises will require the players to scale ladders, climb stairs or ropes or simply outrun their pursuers and break line of sight to escape being chased.

While in possession of the key a vault must then be found, opened, entered and the chest within it claimed. With the chest in hand a number of extraction points appear on screen, indicating how far away each of them are. The player carrying the chest moves extremely slowly and must be well guarded by their team in order to reach extraction safely all while keeping an eye on AI soldiers, the Sheriff and of course the opposing team.

The chest can be dropped in order to attack enemies at any time but doing so is risky as it makes it even easier for the enemy team to steal it without having to kill another player in order to do so. Reaching the extraction and placing the chest onto a winch system will initiate the endgame of a Heist.

A crank can be interacted with by one or two players to trigger the winch and begin to lift the chest, with two players doing so faster and the Melee class of characters bringing additional speed to the process. This brings up a notch display at the top of the screen, with all 7 notches having to be reached one at a time by staying at the wheel. At any moment players can be interrupted and killed by their enemies, allowing the opposing team to swoop in, continue the extraction from the most recent notch and potentially steal the win. This sequence is tense, thrilling, dramatic and incredibly rewarding when successful while devastating to lose control in the final moments and subsequently lose the Heist.

There are three capture points spread across the map, capturing these will turn them into respawn locations upon death. These are never more critical than when the chest comes into play when either team has extracted it from the vault. Paying attention to which capture points are in your team’s possession is essential to being able to control the battlefield during the chest extraction phase, reducing the travel distance upon death to return to the extraction point and interrupt or fend off the opposing team.

Completing Heists will award experience towards the player’s overall Player level as well as the individual character used for the Heist. There are four characters to choose from that each have their own unique weapons and abilities:

• Robin/The Ranger is an archer lethal at a distance but also effective up close by using his longbow as a melee weapon. Robin’s arrows can often be recollected after use and can be replenished by finding ammo boxes.
  • Trait – Scout, allowing him to survey the environment and tag targets for a prolonged duration
  • Ability – Farsight, channeling the forest’s power to draw an ethereal arrow that explodes on impact
  • Gear – Flash, blinding targets for a short duration within a small area using a volatile gunpowder mixture

• Marianne/The Hunter is an assassin that is extremely dangerous up-close and is effective at range with her burst fire crossbow.
  • Trait – Shadow, can perform an assassination on State Guards from any direct whilst concealed as opposed to directly from behind as with the other characters
  • Ability – Shroud, blending into surroundings and becoming undetectable to guards and almost invisible to players
  • Gear – Smoke, covering the target area in a cloud of darkness, obscuring vision and preventing tagging from other players

• Tooke/The Mystic is a melee fighter, armed with a flail to devastate up-close while also acting as a support to the team.
  • Trait – Respire, stamina is regenerated at a faster rate following consumption
  • Ability – Instinct, highlight obscured enemies for teammates and healing those within close range
  • Gear – Poison, dispersing enemies with a long lasting elixir which drains stamina and impairs the vision of those affected

• John/The Brawler uses his mighty sledgehammer to decimate at close range making him an essential asset during the chest extraction phase.
  • Trait – Resolute, can raise closed portcullis gates, providing an opening for teammates during lockdowns when an area is in High Alert due to detection
  • Ability – Wrath, unleashing additional strength while being able to take more damage
  • Gear – Explosive, kills all targets within proximity of the blast radius following a delayed fuse

Understanding the Traits, Ability and Gear of each character is essential to survival and success during Heists. Each character brings a lot to the table which is fun to experiment with and to alternate the play styles each are suited to. John/The Brawler is definitely the most powerful and easily the greatest threat and as there is no character limit in teams it is possible for a full team of four John’s to lay waste to everyone in sight, a disturbingly regular occurrence in my experience which all but eliminates any hope of success for the opposing team.

Any player enemy or State Guard can be assassinated if approached from behind and pressing the displayed button prompt. The only exception to this is the Sheriff, he is immune to assassination and even death, instead he can be beaten until his health bar depletes and will entered a stunned state for what appears to be a random length of time. I have seen him down for mere seconds and other times for well over a minute. Stealth is heavily recommended and encouraged in Hood but there is nothing wrong with going in loud, hammers and bows blazing and facing the consequences of such a noisy approach. It’s riskier but it’s also a lot of fun.

As enemies are defeated, players and State Guards alike, the ability meter will charge and when full the player is able to use their special ability before having to replenish the meter for further use. The meter however does not progress while the area is in lockdown/High Alert after detection until that area is cleared or escaped. State Guards will investigate sounds and can be distracted by throwing stones in a particular direction or whistling to garner their attention.

The combat is simple yet fun and engaging. Melee characters John and Tooke have light and heavy attacks while Robin and Marianne have light and ranged attacks. Throwing the gear, abilities and assassinations into the equation results in a small but effective pool of offensive capabilities. Enemy attacks can be blocked, which consumes stamina – as does sprinting and attacking, but can also be parried, opening a brief window for a follow-up attack to be unleashed.

Completion of Heists, as well as loot collected throughout and from completing objectives, awards each player Gold. This Gold is distributed by the player at the end of each game on Scales of Justice. One side goes to the player’s pocket while the other goes to the Hideout with distribution being up to the discretion of the player.

By pocketing the Gold it becomes available to spend in the Hideout which acts as the hub-world between Heists. It can be spent on unique character perks that offer stat increases or buffs, skins and alternate weapon cosmetics for each character, all of which are hidden behind characters reaching specific levels, the Hideout being a specific level or the completion challenges. Distributing Gold to the Hideout allows more resources to flow in which in turn increases the player’s Hideout Level. A higher Hideout level opens up additional unlocks for skins as mentioned. Challenges can be initiated within the Hideout that task the player with getting X amount of kills or stealing the key for example and awards them experience.

Visually Hood: Outlaws & Legends looks amazing. The environmental detail is stunning and the character models are impressive. Crisp sound design and an epic score keep the tensions as high as the stakes and pressure of completing a Heist while combatting both enemy forces who seek to oppose and stop you.

Hood: Outlaws & Legends is an incredibly enjoyable stealth-action experience bogged down only by poor matchmaking times and the inability to play with bots. As this title was always intended and discussed as a multiplayer only experience it may be considered unfair to discuss the lack of solo play or bot support but these features would broaden the appeal to players and allow for a more casual and balanced alternative to the frantic, inconsistent and unfair matchmaking that is exclusively on offer.

Each character feels genuinely unique and fun to play as with the simple but accessible and engaging gameplay and combat. It feels reminiscent of the latest iterations of Assassin’s Creed, blending stealth and outright violence in the tug of war between the two teams and the State Guards that don’t discriminate against their targets. Heists are tense, thrilling and full of drama, especially in the final moments and for this reason alone it is possible to overlook the “nice to haves” in regards to better matchmaking and enjoy the game in its current state.

+ Distinct character/class gameplay and combat

+ Thrilling tension and drama

+ Stunning environmental art and sound design

 – Lack of solo play or bot support

 – Poor matchmaking times

 – Unfair matchmaking grouping

Developed by: Sumo Digital

Published by: Focus Home Interactive

Release Date: May 10 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5 and PC

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It’s been six months since the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and after a handful of community events and smaller scale content the first story expansion has finally arrived in the form of Wrath of the Druids.

Eivor is requested by the King of Dublin to visit Ireland, home to new main and optional mission chains, more political drama and as per recent trends in the series, mystical and supernatural beings and happenings. With a beautiful new location to explore, secrets to discover, puzzles to solve and things to collect, Valhalla’s first story expansion is meaningful in terms of depth and also introduces some of the coolest enemies in the franchise to date.

My full review of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla can be found HERE.

The story itself, much like the base game, is mired in political drama and power struggles. Forging alliances, defeating the enemy forces of those who oppose the King and securing trade routes bog down majority of the approximately six hour main story. Lack of mission variety holds the expansion back, treading familiar waters as opposed to introducing new and exciting mission types.

The introduction of the Royal Demands, quests that can be acquired from pigeon coops, are a step back if anything by tasking the player with the likes of clearing outposts, defeating designated targets and stealing items. For players who have already conquered all of Valhalla’s base game this will likely feel too simple and uninspired.

Additional elements to the Royal Demands include providing bonuses for avoiding detection or taking no damage for instance though these aren’t particularly meaningful and in the case of veteran franchise players, little to no actual challenge. Completing these missions helps with the influential gain over Ireland’s four regions which also opens up additional side missions and awards building resources, the latter an incentive that isn’t particularly enjoyable or worthwhile to pursue for players that aren’t completionists. Establishing trade posts that generate resources such as food or clothing that can be used to trade for gear is another new concept that isn’t particularly enjoyable or worthwhile.

Playtime can be increased substantially with the wealth of optional missions, areas to complete and tracking down the interesting radicalised cult of druids known as the Children of Danu. The druids themselves are easily the most visually interesting enemy types to date with their ragged attire, menacing skeletal headwear and supernatural abilities that strike fear into the folks of Ireland.

Their narrative arc, which intertwines with the Children of Danu and the advanced technology tied to the Isu, is by far the most interesting. Exploring their origins and purpose throughout the main story is fascinating and the combat encounters are approximately engaging due to their fearsome appearance and abilities. Their use of hallucinogenic gas affects Eivor’s perception of reality and in turn it appears as though they have magical abilities and can transform in surprising ways, a clever way to incorporate a supernatural element while maintaining a more grounded overall world.

New abilities have been introduced which can be unlocked and upgraded by finding the Tomes of Knowledge books. The new abilities include allowing Eivor to summon an Irish wolfhound, utilise smoke bomb arrows and unleash a powerful headbutt, all of which are fun to experiment with, especially when upgraded.

Ireland is beautifully realised visually, offering rolling hills, lush green plains and ominous forests that feel distinctly different to what England and Norway offer in the base game. With such a stunning backdrop to embark on this extended adventure Wrath of the Druids relies on the visual marvel of its environment and maniacal druids as the most meaningful new content. Unfortunately this expansion is merely more of the same in terms of gameplay and mission variety though Ireland and the druids do a damn good job of making it feel more interesting.

Wrath of the Druids main quest line doesn’t feel interesting outside of the pursuit of the Children of Danu and the newly introduced supporting characters do little to encourage an emotional investment from the player. For fans of Valhalla and Assassin’s Creed overall it’s a worthy voyage though casual players looking for new ideas, mechanics or simply variety will be disappointed.

+ New enemy types and designs

+ Ireland is stunning

+ Children of Danu and druid storylines

– Lack of new mission variety

– Royal Demands and trade posts aren’t enjoyable or challenging

– Overall “more of the same” gameplay

Developed by: Ubisoft

Published by: Ubisoft

Release Date: May 13 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5 and PC

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

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The end of days is upon us in Biomutant. The world lies in ruins as four monstrosities known as Worldeaters seek the destruction of the Tree of Life, an event that will see the destruction of the planet and the extinction of all living things that inhabit it.

Exploring the post-apocalyptic open world reveals diverse biomes that are each home to quirky characters and unique enemies. Perhaps the most important inhabitants are the Tribes that rule them, Tribes that can be united to face the Worldeaters together or mercilessly conquered. These decisions are just a few that will shape the fate of the world in Biomutant, an epic kung-fu fable RPG that puts players in control of their own destiny amidst a power struggle of light and darkness.

Mutation is more than a plot device in Biomutant, it is a core element of the gameplay and specifically the customisation. In a world ravaged by bio-contamination, the wildlife and sentient beings that inhabit it have been subject to mutations that have altered their genetic structure and therefore their appearances and physical capabilities.

Biomutant opens with character customisation that offers great depth and personalisation of the character that players will embark on their journey with. Six breeds are available to choose from, each offering unique base stats. This is also the introduction of the narrator who is ever-present throughout Biomutant and narrates events as they unfold, the world as it is explored and essentially translates the dialogue of every character as they only speak what is referred to in-game as “gibberish”.

From there the player is able to mutate their genetic structure, favouring agility, intellect, strength, vitality, charisma or a balance of all five. Genetic resilience in preference of heat or cold and biohazard or radioactivity allows the player to set their initial resilience to the genetic hazards that are found throughout the world with certain areas that will harm or ultimately kill the player if they are not genetically enhanced to survive it.

An assortment of fur styles and primary and secondary colours round out the cosmetic customisation of the character creation suite and are fun, varied and interesting enough that the whole customisation process feels fleshed out and genuinely difficult to settle on the perfect character.

Finally, the player is able to select one of five classes:

• Dead-Eye is a tricky, skillful rogue who’s chosen a life outside law and society values.
• Commando is trained as an operative of an elite special operations force. Commandos are used to working in smaller teams.
• Psi-Freaks are experimenting with psionic powers and mutations. They’re usually outcasts on the fringe of society.
• Saboteur is a cunning, skilled explorer trained to operate covertly in both suburbs and wilderness.
• Sentinels dedicate themselves to protect a house. Their dedication is for the organisation as a whole, including supreme belief in their dogma.

The class selection allows the player to pick their preferred play style and also influences their initial attire.

With the character creation complete the player is thrust into a tutorial and almost immediately presented with a crossroads, physically and morally. One path is paved on the course of darkness, strength and power while the other represents light, freedom and loyalty. This is merely the first of many decisions that will impact the player’s journey and the in-game moral compass of the Light and Dark Aura which in turn, dependent of their respective levels, opens access to specific abilities later on, as well as influences the world’s perception of the player.

With the path chosen the player is free to set out on their journey, able to make decisions that can influence their Dark and Light Aura in favour of one or a balance of both. Dialogue, actions and environmental interactions influence the Aura, immediately suggestive of replayability to explore both sides to the extreme or balancing them both in future playthroughs.

As an open world experience Biomutant doesn’t force the player to progress the narrative, instead allowing them to experience the world at their own pace. The main quest line essentially tasks the player with confronting the six Tribes that each have their own agenda, variants of uniting, separating, subduing or vanquishing the other Tribes and either defeating the Worldeaters or letting them destroy the Tree of Life, the latter serving as a death sentence to the entire planet.

Focusing solely on the main story itself will see it completed in less than 10 hours while completing the wealth of optional side quests and exploration of the diverse biomes can extend the runtime of a single playthrough immensely.

It is important to note that the completion of the story offers a New Game + mode that allows the player to replay the game with their upgrades and equipment intact, however there is a point of no return prior to the final mission that will require careful save file management to ensure additional activities can be completed without the need for a new save. The ability to save at any time makes this very simple and is an excellent feature that if used regularly can allow players to explore alternative outcomes of their decisions before settling on what they feel is best.

The story is grand in scope with world-ending consequences and tells a personal tale of tragedy that comes to a potentially satisfying or disastrous conclusion based on a number of key decisions available throughout Biomutant. Decisions can change the overall outcome in a number of ways, some more meaningful than others. Packed with heart, responsibility and consequences, Biomutant tells a charming story that, in my opinion, only falls flat in regard to the lack of actual dialogue from characters.

The narrator adds an adventurous charm to the experience but strips away emotional depth, personalisation of the characters met along the way and removes a deeper sense of attachment to the player’s character. The narration frequency can actually be decreased in the settings, but the in-game pop-up occurred for me during the second last mission, something that would have greatly influenced my experience early on.

Tribes each have three outposts that must be conquered before the final confrontation with the Tribe’s leader can take place. The missions that lead to these outposts are unfortunately shallow and repetitive, tasking the player with defeating a beast, activating a mortar-like weapon or poisoning a water supply for instance. Once an outpost has been cleared vendors for clothing, melee and ranged weapon crafting components, consumables and a unique mount become available. In most cases the outposts of a single tribe are unfortunately all laid out exactly the same with characters in the exact same spots doing the exact same things and loot boxes in the exact same locations. Defeating or uniting with a Tribe grants access to their unique tribal weapon which brings with it unique Wung-Fu abilities to be unlocked.

Wung-Fu encompasses all aspects of combat in Biomutant. Melee combat revolves around single handed, double handed and dual wielded weapons and ranged combat comes in the forms of guns and weapons such as bows.

Combining melee and ranged combat with the psi abilities to pull off devastating but simple to execute combos is a lot of fun. Psi abilities include the likes of elemental attacks using fire, poison and teleportation, with some abilities gated by the Light and Dark Aura morality system.

All aspects of Wung-Fu from melee, ranged and psi abilities can be unlocked by spending various in-game points earned with progression. Combat is fun to experiment with and the integration of melee and ranged attacks with psi abilities affords enjoyable experimentation.

Stringing together successive special attacks will fill a single Wung-Fu icon and when three unique special attacks have been used the player can enter Super Wung-Fu mode which brings up a handful of button prompts to unleash maximum damage for a brief period of time.

Perks can also be unlocked and equipped that provide passive stat buffs with increases to damage and speed for example.

Accompanying the player at all times is the Automaton, a mechanical insect. It acts as a flashlight that activates automatically in darkness but can also be upgraded to provide further functions such as a health injector, glider, turret and damage boost.

The world is littered with signposts that can be interacted with that act as fast travel points. These can be accessed at any time and make for traversal of the generously vast map very simple. These signposts are unlocked by interacting with it which amusingly is done by urinating on them. It’s certainly a unique interaction and adds levity to a game that is otherwise shrouded in dire situations and consequences.

Traversing the map with mounts is an alternative option, with dozens of different types to either be bought at outposts or tamed in the wild by interacting with them while in possession of specific seeds. These seeds are found in bushes that need to be slid underneath to collect. The mounts are visually creative with some fun species to find. Colour variants of most can be bought and the preferred mount can be selected from the transport tab of the menu at any time and summoned with the D-Pad. They aren’t particularly fast, but are still faster than travelling on foot.

Later in the game with story progression special vehicles become available to access and summon in specific locations. These can be upgraded to be more effective too and open up the exploration possibilities immensely for players seeking to explore every nook and cranny that Biomutant has on offer.

The weapons of Biomutant are interesting to say the least, largely due to the diverse and creative weapon crafting and customisation available. Weapons, both melee and ranged, can be crafted by using found or purchased components and mods. Choosing a handle, blade and various mods for weapons results in a unique weapon being crafted with its own wild and whacky name based on the components used to create it. Elemental damage and other effects based on the components used allow for an incredibly diverse weapon system that truly allows the player to engage their enemies however they want.

All weapons, crafting components and clothing items have a rarity, quality and material value that influences their damage, effects and sale value at vendors. These can be upgraded, or greater value components can be added to the weapon to increase its overall value and stats.

The world of Biomutant is visually stunning. Its charming character design and environments are creative, unique and vibrant. Stumbling across broken highways, deserted towns and polluted power plants for instance are so striking and visually interesting, every aspect of the map feels genuinely unique. It’s a shame that Tribe outposts look the same because the rest of Biomutant’s world is so different and varied, with no two areas looking the same. It really feels like a world in ruins, once full of life and now nothing more than a burial ground to the world that once thrived.

The sound design is beautifully executed with a score that knows when to up the ante with the on-screen action, shift to ominous and moody for the discovery of areas once full of life and dramatic for the story beats that depict the trauma the player’s character has been through in the narrative flashbacks for example. Playful sound effects and lively grunts and noises from the enemies and wildlife keep the world feeling alive and dangerous at all times.

Biomutant showcases mutation in all of its glory on a visual level with its environments and playful character design while embracing it in all aspects of character customisation. The story is personal yet grand in scope and stakes with choices that matter, particularly as the end of the world looms and the player’s decision to be its destroyer or its saviour. Fun combat, enjoyable and creative customisation and a plethora of optional objectives to tackle, as well as the New Game + mode encourage replayability.

Biomutant tells a story with experiencing, offers choices that matter and a world to explore that is beautiful, tragic and rich in its own lore that demand attention. There is so much mythology to discover and digest that is genuinely interesting and moreish.

The brevity of the main story is perfect around the 10-hour mark and allows developer Experiment 101 enough time to tell the story they want to tell without stretching it out unnecessarily and welcoming fatigue or disinterest. Dozens of side quests to complete, tons of secrets to discover and plenty of experimentation with gear and weapons allow players to explore the world of Biomutant with as much depth as they want. The inclusion of the Light and Dark Aura system, as well as how to handle the Tribes simply screams replayability and thorough exploration to get as most out of the world as possible. The fate of the world is in the players hands and the road to that decision is up to them every step of the way.

+ Incredible customisation

+ Fun and engaging gameplay

+ Stunning environments

+ Solid character design

+ Replay value

– Narration eliminates a lot of the emotion of the dramatic moments and scenes

– Tribe outpost asset repetition

– Slow traversal speed, even on mount

Developed by: Experiment 101

Published by: THQ Nordic

Release Date: May 26 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5 and PC

* A digital code was provided as a team member of One More Game/Xbox Gamer Dad for the purpose of this review * 

– Additional Links –

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First introduced in The Shapeshifting Detective, another FMV title developed by D’Avekki Studios released back in 2018, fictional August Radio hosts Poe and Munro star in their own spin-off Dark Nights With Poe and Munro.

Six episodes following a supernatural Twilight Zone-esque mystery of the week type format see the duo find themselves in precarious situations that they must solve. Riddled with hundreds of choices across branching story threads, Dark Nights With Poe and Munro features a number of alternate endings based on the numerous decisions made by the player. Shaping the narrative is fun, encourages replay and makes for an entertaining experience that wouldn’t work without its over the top theatrics from its titular characters.

Poe and Munro host a local radio show by the name of Radio August. Their musings frequently lead to listener interaction which is where the meat of the premise for each of the six episodes kicks off. John Pope “Poe” is extremely theatrical, performed over-dramatically by Klemens Koehring in a performance that may be seen as absurd and ridiculous in less capable hands. His charm and eccentricity add a dimension to the character that keep him fascinating to watch.

Opposite him is his forbidden love interest Ellis Munro. Despite having a wife and child Poe is unashamedly in love with Munro, a thread explored in both The Shapeshifting Detective and this prequel spin-off. Brilliantly portrayed by Leah Cunard, her performances oozes innocence, vulnerability and a flirtatious charm that offers a layer of sweetness to the pair’s dynamic.

Players are soon introduced to the types of choices at their disposal to shape the narrative with decisions that can have either minor or major influence on the outcome of the endings. As a FMV (full motion video) experience these interactions are on screen prompts such as objects, buttons on their radio controls or even the characters themselves. For example a mobile phone and a switch on the radio switchboard may be the choices at hand, interacting with the phone may answer it or make a call while interacting with the switch may cut a caller off.

In most scenarios the options presented will be in the context of the scene and the presumed result plays out accordingly. A number of situations are more ambiguous with interaction with a particular choice results in an outcome that wasn’t obvious, intended or even desirable. The lack of clarity surrounding some of the choices makes it difficult to lead the story in the desired direction and causes a little frustration though not enough to act as a deterrent.

At the end of each episode a recap of all the key choices is displayed that shows the player’s choices as well as that of other players. It offers interesting insight as to how other players handled certain situations.

As previously mentioned each episode feels reminiscent of the Twilight Zone, offering typically supernatural situations for Poe and Munro to overcome or find someone to save while the overarching narrative exists mostly in the ever-evolving relationship between the dynamic duo. Interesting characters appear throughout each episode including Violet Gallacher, another character from The Shapeshifting Detective with Aislinn De’ath reprising her role. The supporting characters are well represented and fleshed out within the confines of their arc, not necessarily playing a role in the broader story but competently delivering in their moments.

Dark Nights With Poe and Munro is nicely shot, overly dramatic and tense. Like the theatrics from Poe the style works well for the duo in a way that would feel cheesy and over the top of it weren’t for the excellent execution and development of the titular characters. They make the silly interesting and the theatrical believable. The score is appropriately campy and dramatic, ominous and tense with few moments of levity for the more intimate interactions between Poe and Munro. Overall the presentation is great, feeling like a legitimate television series were it to switch tracks into that medium.

Dark Nights With Poe and Munro is an experience that benefits players of The Shapeshifting Detective and The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, both of which are referenced and the latter in particular very cleverly so, though new players will be able to enjoy it without the prior knowledge. It’s fun, campy and silly in such an enjoyable way and the performances are very entertaining and believable. With alternate endings and hundreds of story branches to explore there is plenty of reason to replay and experience.

+ Performances of Poe and Munro

+ Twilight Zone episodic approach

+ Replayability with player decisions and branching story threads

+ Dramatic score

+ References to other D’Avekki Studios titles

– Some choices are ambiguous and results unclear

– Little in the way of overarching narrative

Developed by: D’Avekki Studios

Published by: D’Avekki Studios

Release Date: May 7 2021

Platforms: Xbox One/Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC

* A digital code was kindly provided by the Publisher for the purpose of this review * 

– Additional Links –

For more of my reviews, click HERE.

To see this review and other multi-platform content from my associates at BG4G, click HERE.

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The post Dark Nights With Poe and Munro Review first appeared on Games of DAYNE.