Tag: Software

After battling the Soviets in both a dynamic and a linear campaign, I’ve decided it’s time for some old-fashioned blue-on-blue action. Call it a training exercise designed to assess how the Swedes and the Danes operate. So far, my Swedish infantry is holding its ground, after a quick dash for two of the three objectives. My right flank, which is made up of recon units and six tanks, is under pressure from a tank push supported by air strikes. I don’t want to weaken the center, but my scouts on the right show limited enemy numbers there, so I plan to shift some infantry squads. But that will take time, giving the Danes a chance to push. Still, I’m confident of winning this friendly battle. Armored Brigade II: Scandinavia is developed by Veitikka Studios and published by Matrix Games Ltd. This is the first downloadable content for the strategy game, which adds new units as well as a new set of impressively accurate maps from which to create a battlefield. If the Col...

The electric tiger sharks really want to eat everything they see. I understand why they are interested in the smallish but somewhat piranha-like fish that I get to control, but they also quickly target and stun Lana herself. So now Mui is hypnotizing a constant stream of these creatures as I try to find the right moment to deploy the ink. At least the fish are more interesting than the robots that we used to shuffle boxes around, which in turn activated a power circuit. Flying around is fun, but moving around items feels like a chore, especially when some are somewhat hidden. Plenty of other creatures are willing to be controlled in the name of puzzle-solving, even if finding the solution means that they’ll have to die in pretty horrible ways. Timing was everything in Planet of Lana, especially when engaging with the longer puzzles that required careful planning and execution. Our heroine has learned a few tricks when it comes to traversal, but she still needs to a...

We’ve seen a plethora of survival games over the past decade, and while they all try something new, they end up with something similar. Nested Lands strives to be different, since it brings us a ruthless survival experience that seamlessly combines village building with combat and large-scale social management. Not only do you need to create your own village, but you also try to expand it, all while dealing with raiders and a variety of attackers. It’s not easy to create your own village, especially when you are starting all on your own. However, once you accumulate some resources, you will be able to slowly build stuff and start recruiting people to your village. What started with a small building can easily become a thriving and beautiful village, provided that you take the time to do it properly. For me, the start of the game felt the most challenging, because the game has a day/night system and during the night you barely see anything. The survival instincts ki...

We’ve seen a lot of simulators trying to help us experience different professions, but this is the first time we actually get to manage heavy machinery in a part and all the various operations. The interesting thing is that Docked isn’t just a simulator, instead it has a narrative and some characters that we encounter along the way. It’s exciting, because we actually get to follow instructions, focus on tasks, meet various people and, of course, do our job which consists of handling various heavy machines. In Docked, you will play as Tommy, and you are working in Port Wake. You need to prepare the port of Storm Wendy, which is set to be extremely dangerous. One of your first tasks is to use the STS crane to move the damaged shipping containers. I like that Docked keeps a lot of detail, and it covers even menial things like getting to the cockpit, which is a challenge onto itself. Thankfully, even if these tasks are quite challenging to do, the game offers a proper ...

It’s sometimes hard to tell what’s an enemy that’s actually threatening and who is actually an opportunity to use my healing ability. A pillow fort might seem inviting, but the projectiles the man hidden inside launches can make it harder to deal with the caged humans that prowl the level. It gets worse when mold-spewing plants are involved. So I make sure to look around before pushing toward a new area. I attack the walls, hoping to reveal a secret. I scan for extra lore. Only once I form a clear plan do I move through danger, making sure I know which enemies are easier to take down in case I need to use my special pencil healing attack. The Perfect Pencil is developed by Studio Cima, with publishing handled by Studio Cima and Doyoyo Games. I played it on the PC using Steam, with the title also on the Nintendo Switch. The video game mixes exploration and combat with a weirdly engaging universe. Our hero is John, and he seems to be severely depressed. The world is...

The creators of Road 96 are back with a game that not only brings an exciting narrative, but it also offers an exciting, new concept as well. The idea behind Tides of Tomorrow is that you are entering a world where plastemia, a disease, is threatening to kill everything. You need to do everything in your power to learn more about the people, see what you can do in order to push the narrative forward, and also get closer to the mystery of this interesting world. You play the role of a tidewalker, which will explore the world at his pace. But the most interesting thing about Tides of Tomorrow is that it brings you a unique perspective. Instead of having a very linear approach to the gameplay, Tides of Tomorrow will show you what other players did and you can either follow their lead or ignore it. You will see how other people tackle a quest or a challenge, and then you can adapt. Plus, the world will feel, react and look different based on the story link that you cho...

We’ve seen a lot of roguelike games in recent years, and it can be very hard to stand out in this genre these days. Cursed Blood manages to successfully offer us a unique insight into this world, since it makes us a samurai ape hellbent on getting justice and eliminating all the enemies in front of it. The game is melee-focused, and it has quite a bit of gore, ranging from severed limbs to blood getting spilled and everything in between. It leads to quite a lot of fun, and it continues to be a very exciting, downright immersive experience. While there’s a limited number of levels in the current version, it’s more than enough to get a gist of the game and what it provides. And honestly, it’s one of the better-feeling games out there, gameplaywise. That’s because you get to slash your way through enemies in style, and you also have a ton of upgrades to boot. All of that adds that sense of excitement and fun, and it also helps you push the boundaries in a creative man...

When the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Remaster was released 2 years ago, I hoped that they would provide Defiance with the same treatment. That remaster was excellent, and now we can finally replay Defiance in a definitive, updated manner. The Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is exactly what I was expecting it to be, since it touches upon some issues the main game had, while also offering a quick switch between original and new graphics. Legacy of Kain: Defiance was released 23 years ago, and it still feels like yesterday. The game was pivotal when it came to 3D platformers during that time, and its story is still seen as one of the best in the series. The remaster is very faithful to the original, as it doesn’t change any of the story. Instead, you get the amazing collision between the two characters that became pivotal for any fan of the series. It’s Raziel’s fate to become the maddened spirit in Kain’s weapon, but Kain would not kill Raziel. And it’s their int...

Rock climbing is one of those pastimes that feels very interesting at first, and then you see that only your wits, attention and skills will keep you alive. It’s a very dangerous hobby for sure, but Cairn tries to show us the challenges of rock climbing in a videogame format, from the comfort of our home. The game has a wonderful story which continually pushes you to go up the mountain and face your fears. But the most important thing is obviously the realistic set of mechanics that all make climbing feel very exciting, but also extremely intuitive. It’s not like Assassin’s Creed where you auto-climb. Here you need to actually adapt your posture as well as balance, find out the best places to hold your feet and hand and so on. Instead of gamifying the climbing experience, Cairn keeps things very realistic. You don’t have exaggerated movements, nor does the game hold your hand in any way. Instead, the primary focus is on keeping things fun and authentic. Granted, th...

Can music really make a difference in a world dominated by fleeting interactions, cosmetic competition, and a tendency to shift from trend to trend in less time than it takes to play a full album? Music created by generative AI is already flooding the market, but maybe an old-fashioned physical record store can still get people to try out new genres and look for bands that speak to them. Getting any customer the perfect new vinyl record involves careful reading and some good educated guesses. Even when someone is simply looking for bargains, make sure to explore all the rooms, look at all the covers, even those without a price cut sticker, and try to match the vibe. Wax Heads is developed by Patattie Games and published by Curve Games. I played a preview version on Steam. The video game combines puzzles and role-playing elements, as players try to connect people with meaningful music. Players start off work at Repeater Records, a record store owned by a former ban...