Early Access Preview: DRIFT21 on PC (Steam)

Preview by Jon Donnis

DRIFT21 is currently available on early access, as you would expect this game is all about drifting, you start off in your own drift racing car, as you drift you get points and the more points the better you do.

New tracks and cars are being released, and the latest update introduced the longest course of the entire EBISU complex. The EBISU West course, also known as Nishi, is over 2100 meters in length with long straights and demanding, fast corners. 

More new additions

New Time Attack challenges - designed specifically for Ebisu West and KuruKuru Land

New Solo Run challenges - designed specifically for Ebisu West and KuruKuru Land

There will also be various fixes and updates to the game that have been reported by the community to enhance the player's driving experience. As part of the ongoing Early Access development roadmap, ECC Games S.A is working with the community to gather feedback on all aspects of the gameplay and content to ensure that DRIFT21 continues to lead the way in the drift racing simulation genre.

DRIFT21 is available to purchase on the Steam Early Access program now for $24.99/£22.49/€24.99.

Store link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/520950/DRIFT21/

REVIEW: Griefhelm on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

I was kindly sent a review code by Renaissance PR

Griefhelm is a tactical dueling game set during medieval times, so no laser guns people, just big swords and shields.

Unlike your typical beat em up, there is no 100 hit combo, or coming back after being hit 50 times, Griefhelm takes a realistic approach in that a few hits and you are dead, and the same with your enemies. They attack you, you deflect or defend their blows and when you see an opening you take your chance to strike.

This is a 2D fighting game, but with very striking graphics, the backgrounds are beautiful and the characters look great. You progress through the game by choosing different routes on a map, different locations will give different benefits, you have 5 "lives" and no saves as such, in other words you cant keep trying to beat an opponent by loading up a save point. And yes you can kill an opponent with just one hit. You have three ways of attacking, low, mid and high attacks. If using a gamepad, as I did, you use the right stick to choose your attack, but this position will also decide how you will defend, if you match the attack of your opponent with your defensive position you will parry their attack which allows you to then go in for the kill.

Trust me hack and slash won't work here outside of the first level. You can't luck your way through this game, there is a specific way to attack and defend and for you to progress you have to follow that way. And this means a steep learning curve.

There are multiple weapons to collect, each are different, but are controlled in basically the same way.

As you play through the story you will encounter different styles of fight, from one on one, to "tug of war" which has nothing to do with pulling a rope, you beat opponents and get closer to their side of the screen and once you have beaten enough you will win that level, you will lose if they push you back far enough. There is also a horde mode, and of course you will have your fair share of bosses to beat.

There is also multiplayer mode, but I have not been able to play that.

The Good

Graphically impressive.

The Bad

I was hoping for more of a medieval beatem up, so for me this game was a bit limited in what it offered.

Summary

Just didn't quite offer enough for me as a whole, and although it tries to add longevity with different weapons, armour and so on, it just wasn't quite enough.

I score this game 5/10

REVIEW: The Survivalists on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

I was sent a review code by the good people at Team17.

The Survivalists has you shipwrecked as you play on procedurally generated islands, you control a character whereby you explore, craft and even train monkeys to help you survive. 

You start off adrift on a raft, you crash into your island, and start off collecting pebbles to make your first tool, you use this tool to break rocks and cut trees, this helps you gather more pebbles and wood, you find berries to eat and before you know it you are well on your way.

Whether you are collecting items to help you build new tools which you can then use to build shelters or if you are growing crops to eat. The Monkey Mimic system is the key as you will train monkeys to help you do all of these tasks. Up to 20 monkeys can be used, and you get them to copy you as you do a task, then you get another money to copy you doing something else and so on.

You can play single player, or with up to 4 other players with the objective being to help you all stay alive and grow your area.

But there is more to this game than just creating a camp and food, you can also explore the island, find wild animals, mythical creatures and other interesting things to keep you playing. You will find temples and vaults, so there really are things to find if you are willing to look far enough.

And just when you think you are in charge and know what is up, your camp will get invaded by angry orc creatures. So you can understand this won't be an easy challenge to survive.

The Good

The game is colourful, there is plenty to do and does have longevity.

The Bad

The controls are not the best, either on a gamepad or keyboard, the controls just seem poor, and unless you are willing to stick with the game you might find yourself being put off by them. I also had an issue with the save game system, for me it simply did not work. I am sure this is just an early bug though and will be fixed soon enough.

Summary

A cutesy game with plenty of longevity, but not a game I think suits my liking. If you liked The Escapists of which this game shares a proverbial universe, then you will enjoy this. I score the The Survivalists a fair 6/10

Explore a Lonely Earth in The Uncertain: Light at the End, Launching Today for PC

The Uncertain: Light at the End is a story-driven third-person sci-fi adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has been replaced by machines. A young girl named Emily must survive as a lone outcast and unravel the mystery behind humanity's disappearance, travelling through the abandoned world while pursued by the same machines which once served humankind.

Game Features

Welcome to a lonely Earth. Jump into an all-new and original story, in a world inexplicably abandoned by humans and dominated by robots.

Discover deep lore and embedded storytelling. Learn about the past and present of a machine-dominated Earth world through exploration and interaction.

Explore an abandoned world. Guide Emily through an empty and lonely city, filled with intricate details and hints at life before the disaster.

Solve entirely unique puzzles. Every puzzle in The Uncertain: Light at the End is a unique challenge with unique mechanics.

Lose yourself in Emily's world. Immersive audio and a rich cinematic score bring The Uncertain's lonely world to life.

Created by independent developer New Game Order (formerly ComonGames), The Uncertain: Light at the End presents an all-new adventure set in the universe established by 2016's The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day, which has achieved more than 1,000 reviews and a Very Positive rating from the Steam community.

The Uncertain: Light at the End is available today on Steam and GOG for $14.99 (£11.39, €12.49)

Two Parsecs From Earth crash landing onto consoles and Steam!

Robot Z3-L1's ship has crash landed on an inhospitable planet called Dimidium filled with alien landscapes and hostile surroundings. To escape and return home, Z3-L1 must gather clues, gain powers and discover artifacts needed to fix a space ship.

Explore the planet in this Metroidvania-style exploration game where the environment is your enemy!

Like a super-intelligent space robot, Two Parsecs From Earth gameplay is remarkable interactive and adaptive to you! Choose 3 abilities during the exploration and experience your adventure in 8 different ways according to your own decisions, accompanied by music that adapts to your abilities choices.

Once the adventure is over, you have the opportunity to do it again differently in the unique "New game+" mode integrated into the story!

Features:

2D Metroidvania style platform exploration

Choose between 3x2 abilities, but a choice disable another ability until the end of the game.

8 ways to finish the game depending on abilities choices.

Music that adapts to your abilities choices.

New game + to gain others abilities and reach 100%.

Two Parsecs From Earth will be priced for 7.99 $ / € for all platforms.

It will launch on:

PS4: October 14th

Xbox One: October 15th

Nintendo Switch (NA & EU): October 16th

Steam: October 16th (Steam Page)

It will arrive later on in Japan region for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.