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9 Nov 2024

REVIEW: Planet Coaster 2 (2024 Video Game) on PS5

Planet Coaster 2

Review by Jon Donnis

Planet Coaster 2 is a real treat for anyone who loves theme park sims. Building your dream park just got way more exciting with all the upgrades and new features in this sequel. It takes the original game's solid mechanics and cranks everything up a notch, bigger parks, more things to do, and way more freedom to design the theme park you've always dreamed of.

One of the standout improvements is in the building tools. The pathing system, for example, has been completely overhauled. It's now much easier to lay out paths and create complex layouts without being hindered by the old piece-by-piece system. It's a small change, but it really makes everything flow more smoothly. If you're someone who loves making wild rollercoasters that snake through the landscape, or you've got a dream of building a huge water park, the new features give you way more freedom to get creative. You can scale and mirror objects now, and even add scenery directly to your rides. These tweaks let you make your park look just how you imagined, and it's a lot of fun seeing everything come together.


Sandbox mode, as usual, is where this game really shines. If you're into complete freedom, this is where you'll likely spend most of your time. You can build exactly how you want, without worrying about budgets or park limits. The menus are smooth and easy to use, which makes it simple to keep track of everything, from coasters to food stalls, and tweak even the smallest details to get the perfect vibe.

Visually, Planet Coaster 2 has had a serious upgrade. It's not just about improving the graphics, it's about making the park feel more alive. Watching the light change throughout the day, or seeing a coaster race by at full speed, adds an extra layer of immersion. You might even catch yourself taking a moment to step back and admire all the little details you've added to your park. The visuals really help bring the whole experience to life, making your creations look even more impressive.


If you prefer a bit more structure, the campaign mode has got you covered. It gives you specific goals and challenges to work towards, which is a great way to ease into the game before diving into the free-for-all of Sandbox mode. It's not the deepest campaign, but it adds variety and keeps you engaged with a sense of progression.

The multiplayer feature is another exciting addition to Planet Coaster 2. Now, you can team up with other players across different platforms to build a park together. It's fun seeing what your friends create and sharing the experience of building a park, even if you're each working on different parts at different times. This social aspect really adds to the game and makes it even more enjoyable, which is something many simulation games don't get quite right.


That said, there are a few areas where the game could still improve. The management systems, particularly the research mechanics, feel a bit passive. They're not bad by any means, but they lack the depth to keep you fully engaged once you've spent a while in the game. Financial management and staff interactions also feel a little too simple compared to everything else. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's definitely something that could use a bit more complexity.

Overall, Planet Coaster 2 is a fantastic sequel. If you enjoyed the original, this one builds on everything you loved and makes it even better. There's more to do, more to customise, and the visuals are stunning. Sure, some of the management aspects could use a little more depth, but that doesn't take away from the fun of creating your dream park. If you've ever wanted to build a theme park exactly the way you want it, this game gives you all the tools to do just that. I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10.

4 Nov 2024

REVIEW: Sofie: The Echoes (2024 Video Game) - On PC (Steam)

Sofie: The Echoes

Review by Jon Donnis

"Sofie: The Echoes" aims high with its ambition to deliver a story-driven, emotional journey, but it's a mixed experience that doesn't quite land where it should. Stepping into Sofie's life as she fights to uncover the whereabouts of her missing family sounds like the foundation for a gripping story, and, in fairness, the narrative has some genuinely compelling moments. Sofie's character is refreshingly multi-dimensional; as a mother and a college professor, she's not your typical action-game protagonist, which should make her journey feel more grounded and relatable. The haunting, echo-laden world she navigates is eerie and atmospheric, drawing you in with its dark landscapes and glimpses into a twisted past. Unfortunately, it's everything outside the story itself that holds the game back, and in more ways than one.


The visuals start off promisingly. Cutscenes are gorgeous, truly cinematic, with a level of detail that pulls you right into Sofie's world. But then you drop into the actual gameplay, and the graphics quality takes a noticeable dip. It's a shame because the world itself is quite stunning in concept, but the execution leaves you wanting. From beautifully crafted cutscenes to environments that sometimes feel bland or glitchy by comparison, there's an inconsistency that undermines the game's potential.

Gameplay mechanics are functional but not especially inspired. It's the standard run, find a weapon, and shoot, a format we've seen plenty of times before. Sofie does have some unique combat abilities that make things interesting for a while, but they don't fully make up for the overall clunkiness. Enemy AI is subpar, which often turns fights from tense encounters into frustrating struggles with unpredictable, often buggy foes. The game's combat sometimes feels like it's fighting you, rather than challenging you in a way that would make sense. Puzzles are present, yes, and they add some variety, but they feel largely inconsequential, which is a shame given how much more depth they could have added to the story if woven in more effectively.


Now, the bugs and glitches deserve their own paragraph because they're unfortunately ever-present. While the developers are pushing out patches, "Sofie: The Echoes" still feels half-baked on launch. It's baffling to see priorities skewed in such odd ways, especially with that unusually polished cloth physics that seem to exist solely to showcase Sofie's skirt and backside in every possible situation. It's jarring and raises questions about what the developers deemed important in a game that's supposed to be an emotionally charged journey. Performance-wise, the game is demanding, too; unless you're running it on a powerful PC, expect drops in frame rates and lengthy load times, which only add to the frustration.

The game's world has depth if you dig for it, with collectible documents and recordings that shed light on Sofie's family history and the dark secrets she's trying to unearth. These snippets are intriguing and genuinely well done, but they're buried beneath so many technical issues that you might find it hard to care enough to look for them. Choices in the game matter to some extent, with certain paths impacting the story's outcome, though this feature feels underdeveloped. If you're looking for something akin to branching narratives that shape the game in meaningful ways, you may feel disappointed by the limited impact of your decisions.


"Sofie: The Echoes" wants to be a deep, cinematic experience, and there are flashes of greatness here and there. The narrative is the one consistently bright spot, filled with emotional weight that's rare in action-adventure titles. Yet the bugs, lacklustre gameplay, and wonky AI ultimately drag it down. This is one of those games you might want to keep an eye on and revisit in a year when the developers have hopefully ironed out the issues and given it the polish it deserves. For now, though, the story just isn't enough to carry it. A disappointing 5 out of 10 feels about right. It's not without merit, but there are far too many flaws for it to be a satisfying experience.

Out now on Steam

31 Oct 2024

REVIEW: GUNNAR Office/Gaming Glasses

GUNNAR

Review by Jon Donnis

These GUNNAR office/gaming glasses are a real find for anyone who spends long hours in front of a screen. As someone who regularly faces eye strain after back-to-back hours on the computer, I was looking for something that would reduce my discomfort, and these glasses absolutely delivered. Right from the first wear, I noticed a difference in how comfortable my eyes felt, even after a full workday. There's a slight magnification of 0.2 diopters, and although I don't usually wear glasses, I adjusted to it pretty quickly. After that, it was like they were custom-made for my needs.

One of the best features is how clear and sharp everything looks, especially with GUNNAR's clear PRO lenses that increase contrast and make colours vibrant without distorting them. They're especially handy for work that needs accurate colour perception, like graphic design or detailed office tasks, where seeing everything clearly really matters. I've even found they help outside the office. Although they aren't designed as sunglasses, they do block UV light, and I felt a surprising level of comfort wearing them on a bright day for reading or even just walking around.

GUNNAR

The design is sleek and has this natural elegance thanks to the sustainably harvested wood used in the frames. It's hard to find glasses that look as stylish as they do functional, but GUNNAR managed to balance both perfectly. The anti-reflective coating works wonders too, minimising those irritating reflections and making everything in front of the screen feel a lot clearer and more immersive. Since I started wearing them, I've had colleagues and friends ask about them, and I've even had a few people try them on and immediately notice the difference in comfort and sharpness.

GUNNAR really nailed it with these glasses for both gaming and office use. They're incredibly comfortable, effective at reducing eye strain, and look fantastic. If you spend a lot of time at your desk or in front of screens, these glasses are well worth the investment and genuinely enhance the experience.

I'd like to thank GUNNAR for providing these glasses for review, I encourage everyone to check out https://gunnar.com for their full range.

28 Oct 2024

REVIEW: A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead on Xbox

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

Review by Jon Donnis

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead takes the nerve-racking premise of the A Quiet Place films and brings it to a tense, survival-horror gaming experience. Set in a brutal post-apocalyptic world, it follows Alex Taylor, an asthmatic college student who must fight to survive after the death of her boyfriend Martin. As if that weren't enough, she's pregnant, making her journey even more harrowing. Alex's world is dominated by alien creatures that hunt by sound, so every footstep and whispered breath could be her last. In many ways, the game captures the tension and fear that made the films so memorable, blending it with innovative, sound-based mechanics.


The most striking feature of The Road Ahead is how it uses sound to control gameplay. You play from a first-person perspective and must navigate with extreme caution, as the slightest noise could draw in the hyper-aware alien monsters. The game includes microphone options, letting in-game creatures respond to any sounds picked up from your microphone, creating a nerve-wracking experience where even a quiet exhale could have dire consequences. This mechanic adds a thrilling level of immersion that horror fans will appreciate, keeping players alert at every turn.

The game's graphics are superb. From hauntingly desolate buildings to dense, shadowed forests, each area has been designed to evoke dread, capturing the eerie silence of a world long abandoned. The sound design is equally impressive, from the unsettling ambient noises to the terrifying shrieks of the aliens when they detect movement. Anairis Quiñones' performance as Alex adds emotional weight, making her struggle feel deeply personal and real. All of these elements come together to create a sensory experience that is both haunting and immersive.


However, The Road Ahead has some serious pitfalls that undercut its best aspects. For one, the game causes severe motion sickness, which will affect even mildly susceptible players. The first-person perspective just made me feel ill, and the lack of an option to adjust the field of view is frustrating, especially since expanding or reducing the FOV might alleviate some of the discomfort. Even with head bobbing turned off, the game is disorienting to play, and if you're prone to motion sickness, it's almost unplayable. This issue is made worse by the fact that the settings menu has almost no customisation options to mitigate these effects, making the physical discomfort a big barrier to an otherwise intense experience.

The pacing is another mixed point. While the game eventually builds up to some intense sequences, it takes its time getting there. The first half feels slow and almost plodding, spending too much time introducing survival mechanics that would have been better presented early on. This slow burn might work in a film, but here it feels drawn out, leaving you frustrated as you wait for the action and tension to ramp up. Instead of teaching you essential survival strategies early on, the game leaves you to figure them out halfway through, by which point you're likely already deeply frustrated.

On top of these issues, the alien AI is hit-or-miss. Sometimes, the aliens are truly terrifying, responding to the smallest sound with unnerving accuracy, but at other times, they feel almost glitchy. They might freeze, wander aimlessly, or ignore obvious cues, which undercuts the tension. It's a shame because these bugs make parts of the game feel unpolished, taking you out of the experience just when you're most invested in it. Add in some dark areas where you can barely see anything, and the game occasionally crosses from creepy to outright annoying.


In the end, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead has so much potential. The concept is brilliant, the sound mechanics are groundbreaking, and the visuals and voice acting make the world feel real and gripping. But the technical issues, the frustrating lack of motion sickness options, and the inconsistent AI prevent it from reaching its full potential. It feels like a game that could have used more time in development to iron out the details. While it offers moments of true terror and suspense, these are often overshadowed by issues that will leave many players feeling underwhelmed. For fans of the franchise, it's worth a try, but be prepared for some rough patches along the way. Overall, it's a strong idea with flawed execution, deserving about a 6 out of 10.


22 Oct 2024

REVIEW: Backyard Baseball '97 on PC (Steam)

Backyard Baseball '97

Review by Jon Donnis

Backyard Baseball '97 on Steam is an absolute nostalgia trip, and it's great to see Mega Cat Studios and Playground Productions bring it back in such a polished way. If you grew up on this classic, you're in for a treat. The remaster keeps all the charm of the original, from the quirky characters to the simple yet addictive gameplay, but now with modern conveniences like leaderboards, achievements, and cloud saves. It's basically a love letter to fans of the series, preserving what made it so special while giving us a few little extras.


The game itself is as accessible as ever. Whether you're jumping into a quick pick-up game or managing your team through a full season, the controls are super simple, just a mouse and one button will do the trick, making it perfect for younger players or anyone who just wants to relax with some casual baseball. There are three main modes: Pick-Up Play for a quick game, Single Game for drafting players and a bit more control, and Season mode, where you guide your team to the ultimate championship in a playful, exaggerated version of the World Series. And of course, who could forget the legend that is Pablo Sanchez? He's still the MVP, as iconic as ever, and a must-pick for anyone who knows the game.

What's especially nice about this remaster is how well it runs. The updated graphics give it a smoother look without losing the original's cartoony, childlike charm, and the animations are still as fun as they were back in the day. Whether it's a wild pitch or a goofy power-up, there's always something silly happening on the field. The power-ups are a brilliant touch too, keeping things unpredictable and letting you pull off some crazy plays, which is perfect for a game that's not trying to take itself too seriously.


However, there are a few drawbacks. If you're new to Backyard Baseball, the game might feel a bit too simple compared to modern sports titles, and it can be a bit slow at times. There's a lot of waiting for things to happen, especially when all you want to do is get straight to the action. But for those of us playing with a sense of nostalgia, that's all part of the charm. It's not meant to be a fast-paced, high-octane sports sim, it's more about the joy of building a team of wacky characters and having some light-hearted fun.

One of the standout new features is the Steam Global Leaderboards, which adds a competitive edge for anyone wanting to see how their home run record or strikeouts stack up against players around the world. It's a fun little addition that gives you something to strive for if you've already mastered the single-player modes.


All in all, Backyard Baseball '97 is a wonderful remaster of a beloved classic. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't need to. It's kept the heart of the original intact while offering just enough modern features to keep things interesting. Sure, it's not going to wow people who weren't already fans, but for those of us who spent countless hours with this game growing up, it's a welcome trip down memory lane. Definitely an 8 out of 10.