REVIEW: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance

Review by Jon Donnis

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance invites fans to relive the captivating adventure of the original animated series, embracing the elements and exploring the diverse world of Avatar. The game's art style is striking, adopting a delightful cell shading graphics design that brings the Avatar universe to life in an immersive 3D side scrolling type platform and adventure experience.

One of the game's strengths lies in its versatility of play. Players can either embark on the journey solo, switching between iconic characters or team up with a friend for an engaging two-player co-op experience. The mechanics play smoothly, making it easy for players to navigate through the game and enjoy the adventure in their preferred way.

However, the game does fall short in terms of variety and depth. The levels, while visually appealing, often follow a repetitive pattern with relatively small maps and similar quests. The quests, whether main or side, can become predictable, leading to a sense of monotony. Additionally, the camera viewpoint occasionally hinders puzzle-solving, limiting the player's perspective and complicating certain challenges.

Despite its tie-in to the beloved Avatar series, the game struggles to fully capture the essence and depth of the original cartoons. It feels more like a standard game with the licensed use of characters from the cartoon, rather than a fully immersive experience deeply rooted in the Avatar universe.

In summary, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance offers an enjoyable adventure, staying true to the art style of the series and enabling engaging gameplay, especially in co-op mode. However, to reach its full potential, the game could benefit from more diverse gameplay and a stronger connection to the captivating world of Avatar.

As such I can only score the game 6.5/10. I expected more from what should be a big name release.

Out now on multiple formats.

https://amzn.to/3PFRF3u

REVIEW: NASCAR Arcade Rush on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

NASCAR Arcade Rush, published by GameMill Entertainment, delivers a pulse-pounding arcade racing experience that will ignite the engines of both racing enthusiasts and casual gamers. Buckle up, hit the gas, and prepare for a thrilling adventure through reimagined versions of NASCAR's most legendary racetracks.

From the get-go, NASCAR Arcade Rush captivates with lightning-fast, high-octane gameplay that stays true to the spirit of NASCAR while injecting an arcade twist. The full-contact, wheel-to-wheel racing, combined with jaw-dropping jumps, nitro boosts, and unexpected surprises, keeps players at the edge of their seats. This game manages to strike a decent balance between being approachable for all and catering to die-hard NASCAR fans.

One of the standout features is the reimagination of iconic NASCAR tracks such as Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, and more. The reengineered versions of these tracks deliver a fresh, imaginative take on familiar locales, adding an exhilarating dimension to the gameplay.

Customization is a key aspect, allowing players to personalize their vehicles and drivers with an impressive array of options spanning 75 years of stock car racing history. With countless combinations of paint schemes, rims, spoilers, and more, each player can truly craft a unique racing experience to match their style.

The game offers a variety of engaging modes, including the Career NASCAR Cup Series, Quick Race, and Time Attack, ensuring ample replayability for solo players. For those seeking a challenge against friends, the local and online multiplayer modes amp up the excitement, providing intense head-to-head battles and global competition.

The Good

Clear colourful graphics, familiar gameplay that will remind you of games like Mario Kart Tour and F1 Race Stars, and a fun arcade racing experience.

The Bad

No real differences between the cars you drive, all look different but play the same. There is NO drift mechanics in the game, which is a major mistake from the game makers, this means you will often bounce around on corners, and little skill is needed. There is no mini map and you cannot change the camera angle, two simple things that would improve the game massively.

Overall

NASCAR Arcade Rush revives the classic arcade racing experience, infusing it with the adrenaline of NASCAR racing, this could be a game you would play at an airport or an arcade, no skill needed to play, just a quick bash to pass the time.

It successfully appeals to a broad audience while paying homage to the fervent NASCAR fanbase. With its compelling features, reimagined tracks, and robust gameplay, NASCAR Arcade Rush earns a strong 8 out of 10. It is far from perfect, but it is fun enough to be worth a look. Perhaps wait for it to be on sale, as it is way overpriced right now for what it is.

Available now on Xbox

https://amzn.to/3LCyDcV

REVIEW: Golf Evolution Simulation on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Today I decided to check out indie game Golf Evolution Simulation, a gaming experience that boasts an impressive lineup of Golf Series cars.

Golf Evolution Simulation offers a grand total of 30 missions for players to complete. The game unfolds within a vast city, featuring two expansive continents for exploration.

Unleash your creativity by tailoring and personalizing your vehicles to your heart's content. On the Stunt Test and Fun Zone map, you can subject your vehicles to a myriad of thrilling experiences, from soaring through the air to sliding down ramps, all in the name of pure fun.

Despite calling itself a simulation, this is more of a fun arcade game. The missions, or levels are fun, think obstacle courses, ramps and so on. The game never takes itself too seriously, and does a decent job of entertaining while giving you a challenge.

The Good:

Fun little indie game, decent graphics, but the most important factor is that it is fun to play.

The Bad:

The sound effects are a bit bland, and there are no crash physics, so basically indestructible cars.

Overall:

This is a simple fun game featuring the classic Golf cars. Tiny download size of about 400mb if I recall, which is impressive considering that the game looks pretty good. While it may not be an instant classic, it is a fun game worthy of your time, and we should always support indie game developers.

Check it out on Steam now and add to your wishlist.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2584550/Golf_Evolution_Simulation/

REVIEW: Heavy Duty Challenge on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

"Heavy Duty Challenge" attempts to immerse players into the challenging world of off-road truck trials, offering an authentic simulation of the experience. The game is grounded in real-life locations and provides modding support with an in-game level editor, adding a layer of customization and creativity. It does a good job in its authentic representation of off-road driving and the detailed simulation of truck mechanics, offering a wide selection of licensed trucks and interactive cabin views.

The positives of "Heavy Duty Challenge" lie in its official licensed content by Europa Truck Trial, offering 12 real licensed trucks with interactive cabin views and supporting both steering wheel and gamepad controls for a more immersive experience.

However, the game has its drawbacks. The gameplay can feel painfully slow due to the nature of off-road truck trials, which might not appeal to all gamers. Graphically, the game falls short of expectations, even on the next-gen Xbox Series S/X consoles. The lack of an in-game map can be frustrating, making it easy to get lost and rendering some levels virtually impossible to complete. Additionally, the camera angles, especially the "behind the truck viewpoint," don't contribute positively to the gameplay experience.

In summary, "Heavy Duty Challenge" prioritizes realism and simulation but inadvertently sacrifices enjoyment and engagement. The dedication to an authentic off-road truck trial experience results in gameplay that feels more like a chore than a fun, immersive adventure. For enthusiasts of the genre seeking a true-to-life simulation, this might hit the mark, but for the average gamer looking for excitement and enjoyment, it might not quite deliver.

Please add simple arcade mode to this game, let people go fast and crash and have fun.

I sadly can only score the game 5 out of 10, and even that is generous. Gameplay is just too slow and methodical to be fun.

Out now on Xbox at

https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/heavy-duty-challenge-the-off-road-truck-simulator/9nmqz1dckcrp

REVIEW: Rebel! on PC (Steam)

Review By Jon Donnis

"Rebel!" is a PC game that invites players to step into the shoes of a freedom fighter, taking on oppressive regimes and battling waves of SWAT teams. While the game has its strengths and weaknesses, it manages to provide a decent gaming experience overall, scoring a 7 out of 10.

The storyline sets the stage for a rebellious adventure, where you must steal weapons and money from your enemies to fuel your resistance. The concept is simple but effective, offering players a chance to experience the thrill of fighting back against an authoritarian regime. However, the story lacks depth and complexity, which is one of the game's drawbacks.

The gameplay mechanics of "Rebel!" are straightforward yet enjoyable. It offers a casual top-down view and employs dual-stick shooter controls, resulting in short but intense gameplay sessions. The AI is surprisingly clever, making enemy encounters engaging and challenging. Additionally, the game's small download size is a plus, making it accessible to a wider audience. The clear, colourful, and well-drawn graphics contribute to an aesthetically pleasing experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.

On the downside, "Rebel!" can be considered somewhat basic. It could benefit from more maps, a variety of adversaries, and a wider array of weapons to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting. These limitations hinder the game from reaching its full potential.

In summary, "Rebel!" is a fun game with a lot of potential. It offers a straightforward and enjoyable gaming experience, especially for those looking for short bursts of intense action. While it may lack depth in terms of storyline and gameplay variety, its strengths, such as the small download size and appealing graphics, make it a game worth trying out. With some improvements, "Rebel!" could become an even more engaging and addictive title in the future.

Check it out at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2496160/Rebel

REVIEW: Cats and the Other Lives on XBOX

Review By Jon Donnis

Today we have an unusual game, a point and click game that has been converted to Xbox, that features you in control of a cat within a narrative story.

The story is set after the passing of Bernard Mason, the family patriarch, all the remaining members of the Mason clan return to their childhood home one last time. In this unique game experience, players step into the paws of Aspen, the household cat, embarking on a captivating journey through the hopes, disappointments, and regrets of the enigmatic Mason family, spanning decades of their intricate narrative.

This game offers an interesting point-and-click play style that pays homage to the behaviours of everyday house cats from around the world. As Aspen, you'll explore the simple areas of the house, is this feline companion just a pet or does it harbour a more mysterious role in our lives.

The cat has no special powers or abilities, it is literally just a cat, the object of the game is to unravel the story of the Mason Family. You will listen in to conversations, solve puzzles, and in general do cat things like follow scents, chasing a mouse, causing chaos during family dinners and so on.

The game is rendered in 2D pixel style art.

Also, worth noting that a portion of the proceeds from "Cats and the Other Lives" is dedicated to funding medical operations for street cats.

The Good

An interesting concept for a mainly story based type of game, I liked the 2D pixel art, and the game looks great.

The Bad

I found the controls of the cat a bit clunky, the problem is this is a PC game, and controlling the game with an Xbox gamepad just doesn't quite work, and a few times you will find yourself literally stuck, and you are unable to use the gamepad to move to a separate section, for example I was on a sofa, and could only interact with a small figurine on a side table, for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to get off the sofa, as you need a mouse to select the correct movement.

Overall

This is a PC game, not an Xbox game, so although I played this on an Xbox, I can't really recommend this unless you play with a mouse, both figuratively and literally!

An interesting concept for a game, which is very storyline heavy, might not be for those of you who prefer more of a gameplay experience. But if you enjoy narrative/storyline-based games, where you are more of a bystander, than active participant, then this game finds a happy middle point.

If you like these kinds of game, get it on PC not Xbox, as it just doesn't quite fit the gamepad experience.

I score Cats and the Other Lives on Xbox a 6/10, playing it on a PC I would give it a 7/10

Out now!

Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/Cats-and-the-Other-Lives/9P862Q562R1X 

PC

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1360390/Cats_and_the_Other_Lives/