REVIEW: XEL - Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

XEL is a top-down 3D action-adventure game, set in a futuristic world, where you play as Reid, you find yourself shipwrecked on XEL, a very strange world. Of course, it goes without saying that you have no memory of your previous life, because why would you? Your job in this game is to explore the world, find out about your past, why you are here and what your connection to XEL is.

"Ready your sword and shield as you explore the overworld of XEL and dive into imposing Zelda-like dungeons full of unforeseen threats and challenging puzzles. Throughout your journey you will make new friends and foes, learn new moves, find new gadgets as well as being able to jump through time and space. As Reid delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding XEL, she discovers an endless cycle of peril. Will she be able to break free from it and what will it take?"

As you play you will soon find a sword and a shield, which will be your main weapons for attack, as you explore you can find large pillars that allow you to save your progress, as well as treasure chests, all handily marked on the map. As you explore the area and try to progress to the next, you will of course be met by creatures/robot minions that want to kill you, battles are straight forward hack and slash affairs, some enemies can fire projectiles which is where your shield comes into good use. Boss fights are as expected, learn the attack pattern, avoid the attacks, and attack back when you can.

You will also meet and interact with people who will help you on your journey, trade with you, and lead you through various areas and tasks.

Throw in puzzles to be solved, new gadgets to unlock, as well as secret paths to find, (always look behind waterfalls), and there is enough here to keep you busy for a while. Collect cores to unlock new abilities, travel through time to access areas previously inaccessible, as well as meet and ultimately destroy younger weaker versions of enemies.

Some really nice camera shifts are also a highlight, taking away from just the standard top-down view.

The Good

XEL is a relatively easy game to get into, controls are simple and quick to learn, lots to collect and upgrade, decent graphics even on the Nintendo Switch Lite, a strong sound track, and you have a very good little game here.

Boss fights are also fun.

Also worth mentioning is the well written story.

The Bad

The camera angle can sometimes be a pain, because the camera is fixed, you will sometimes find that the environment is in the way of your character, meaning you can't see them, now in general this is not a problem, but usually in games with such a camera angle, when the environment does get in the way it becomes transparent, sadly not here. I feel this is an oversight from the game makers, and there is a feeling of maybe you have missed something, when most likely you haven't

Combat is hack and slash, so not much thought is needed outside of the boss fights.

Overall

I like XEL, it is a bit buggy in parts, but nothing that will spoil the gameplay too much, the camera angle is a bit poor, especially when playing on the small screen. But overall, I enjoyed the game, the levels are well laid out, the puzzles are decent, and the map is good enough that you shouldn't get too lost.

XEL is far from perfect, and could do with a bit of tidying up, which would improve it massively, and maybe in future updates they will do just that, but for now I score XEL a fair 7/10. A good little addition to your Switch collection.

Out Now at

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/XEL-2234183.html

REVIEW: Pretty Girls Tile Match on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Zoo Corporation have just released the 18th "Pretty Girls" game in the series and they have sent me a key to check out the game.

I have reviewed a lot of the Pretty Girls titles now, and all of these games have one main thing in common, "Pretty Girls" (KAWAII -  the culture of cuteness in Japan) wrapped around either a classic game or a reimagining of a classic game, well Pretty Girls Tile Match is no different.

A simple concept is used here, you play with mah-jong tiles that are spread out randomly on the table, your job is to match 3 of them, when you do that they disappear from the playing area, once you have cleared the board, you have completed that level.

Each level you complete gets you points, and you can then use those points to unlock costumes and backgrounds for the "Pretty Girls", which you can then position on a diorama, when positioned how you like, you can then save that image, to use however you like, most likely use is for Wallpaper for your computer.

In total there are 120 levels to complete, 20 levels per characters, with 3 different difficulty settings.

The game itself is pretty simple to learn, you can only hold 7 tiles at a time, and once 3 of them match they disappear, obviously you need to be tactical, as some tiles are hidden beneath others, and you have to make sure you don't get stuck by loading up with too many unmatched tiles. Luckily there is a handy undo button, as well as a hold button, which allows you to move a tile to the side if you get stuck, along with a shuffle for when you run out of moves. Even on the hardest setting, with a bit of planning, and thought, you can complete all the levels.

The 6 girls have their own little bios and characters, although this is superficial and does not really have any effect on the game. For example, Riara is described as "A lightly flirtatious beauty. She is fashionable, dances and models, but she is also a mischievous troublemaker." or Rui, described as "A beautiful woman with a tall and outstanding model figure and beauty. Contrary to her appearance, she is strong-willed and has a caring personality."

The Good

A new twist on the class 3 piece puzzle game using Mah-jong tiles, it is much harder than it first looks as some tiles look very similar, it all adds to the challenge, and for people who like this kind of puzzle game, it will be a fun addition to your collections.

The Bad

You get the same number of "Points" to purchase things whether you play easy or hard, and you can complete any level on any difficulty once you have passed the previous one, taking away a challenge of needing to complete all levels on hard for example. A few more achievements would also be welcome, as it is you can complete everything on easy.

Overall

I am a fan of the "Pretty Girls" franchise, classic games given a new look, or reimagination, and more often than not Zoo Corporation improve on the original, or create a new version of a game that instantly becomes the best in it's genre, and this one is no different.

Pretty Girls Tile Match is the best 3 tile game available right now. For fans of this type of puzzle game, this is the best one you can get, it offers a large number of levels, and a very good challenge.

I score Pretty Girls Tile Match a solid 8.5/10

Out now on PC (Steam)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2144360/Pretty_Girls_Tile_Match/

REVIEW: Flashout 3 on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

For nearly 30 years we have been waiting for a game to truly take over the wipE′out mantel as THE anti-gravity racing game. Many contenders have come and go, and in recent years the best of the bunch was Pacer, but even that had a lot of flaws, which I upset the developers by pointing out in my review. More quietly a series of anti-grav games have come and go under the Flashout banner, in 2012 we had Flashout 3D, and then a few years later Flashout 2. both had moderate success, well now the long awaited third game in the sequel has been released, the imaginatively titled Flashout 3.

Now it is worth noting that the Original 2012 game Flashout 3D has also been released and remastered and is available for free!, so check that out.

Let us ignore the problem of calling the first game in the series Flashout 3D and then the third one Flashout 3, and hope that people don't confuse the two, as I did.

Let's first look at the blurb for Flashout 3

"Where high speed meets high stakes. Where unforgiving combat, loud electronic music and addictive boosts of adrenaline mix up to separate winners from losers. Where gravitation is nothing more than an empty word. This is where the world of FLASHOUT 3 will take you and your ride to the absolute limits!

FLASHOUT 3 offers you ultra-fast ships, loops, jumps and sudden razor-sharp turns! Test your skills on the most impressive sci-fi racing tracks and try not to fall behind! But if it happens, don't sweat! Unleash the power of rockets, guns, bombs and mines to help you level down your competition!

Take part in an exciting, head-to-head fight to the finish! Witness spectacular crashes, the agony of defeat, and the sweet taste of victory! But don't blink! It can all end in a flash!"

I have to say it all sounds good, but anyone who follows my reviews, knows that I am super harsh when any game tries to take on a classic, so how does Flashout 3 do?

You have all the usual options, 2 characters to choose from, split screen modes, horizontal and vertical, VR support, 10 tracks, reverse versions, lots of vehicles and weapons to unlock. An epic high beat electronic soundtrack. There are tournaments, race modes like Standard Race, Elimination Mode, Destruction Mode.

You know the drill, everything you expect in an AG racer you will find in Flashout 3. So, the question remains, how does it all fit together and is it any good?

Playstation original wipE′out introduced the "Air Brake" system, and in my opinion that is the ONLY game in history to ever get it just right. Flashout 3 does have air brakes, this is where you use the bumpers/trigger buttons on your controller to move your craft to make very tight turns, the problem is that it always feels very unnatural to do, when most people are used to regular racing games whereby you just use the left trigger as a brake, and sometimes have another button for handbrake turns or drifting, to use left and right bumpers for turning sharp corners is a skill that takes time to learn, and when a game has other things you need to concentrate on, mainly firing weapons, it can often feel very busy, and simply feels like there is too much to do.

Luckily Flashout 3 does something that so many anti-grav games do not do, they give you THE OPTION! Meaning you can turn off the air brakes, or have them activated automatically, meaning you can drive your craft as you would drive a normal car. Now I understand that this slightly defeats the whole point of anti grav racing, as it is supposed to be different, but the fact you have the option to use air brakes or not is greatly appreciated, and instantly answers one of my major critiques of similar style games.

I am totally happy with the control system in Flashout 3, something I never thought I would say for another anti grav racer.

The graphics as you would expect are top quality, everything looks suitably futuristic. The weapons that you can use and eventually unlock, are all fun and interesting, you do not need to "collect" them while racing, you automatically have them on your racer, and as you use them, they will heat up, overuse them and they will go off line for a few seconds. As you choose different weapons to equip, they have a different weight value, so you have to balance them with the vehicle, this is good as it makes you have to think about what to install on the vehicle, instead of just putting 3 of the most powerful weapons on there.

Weapons themselves are your usual type, machine guns, rockets, an AI drone to fire at other racers, shields, and so on. A nice mixture between offensive and defensive.

The different game modes are fun, nothing spectacular, elimination mode, destruction mode, regular racing and so on, everything you will already be familiar with.

The campaign mode has you complete various types of races, score points, and if you finish high enough you can unlock the next event.

The Good

Sharp graphics, great soundtrack and most importantly good control system make this a fun game that is punching above its weight.

The Bad

Some levels are slightly too busy on screen, so everyone firing weapons, volcanoes exploding, and sometimes you can barely see the track, and with no onscreen map, you will find yourself flying off the course and dying. Of course, you respawn quickly enough, but this does mean that at times it feels like you are doing well more by luck than by pure skill. You could always learn the tracks I suppose, but I am a lazy so and so.

Overall

I really enjoyed Flashout 3, after recent experiences with AG racers, I was expecting to have the same complaints about this one, but instead I found myself liking it almost from the get go. Clearly gameplay was the first thing in the minds of the developers, with everything else coming later, and in my opinion, this is how you make a good game. With Flashout 3D being free, and Flashout 3 being the true next generation game in the series, it is hard not to recommend this game as the current number one anti-gravity racer on the market today. 

It is fast, it is exciting and it is fun, and is fully compatible with Steam Deck too.

I score Flashout 3 a solid 8.5/10. 

Out now at 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1761870/FLASHOUT_3/

And don't forget to get Flashout 3D enhanced edition, FOR FREE at

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2022780/FLASHOUT_3D_Enhanced_Edition/

REVIEW: Tip Top: Don't Fall! - Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

I was asked to check out Tip Top: Don't Fall! on Nintendo Switch.

Tip Top is a simple climbing game, with procedurally generated routes, the idea is simple, climb from the bottom to the top, and once you reach the flag, you have completed the level. Sounds easy right? WRONG.

The game starts out with some surprisingly nice animation to set up the game. You will start off with the tutorial which should get you up to speed on how the controls work. Basically, you control each arm of the character, and using the bumper buttons one hand or the other will hold on to a surface, if that is available. You then need to position the character to reach the next ledge, switching between hands, and positioning the character in the best way is the key here. Before you know it, you will have to make strategically timed jumps, with just one mistake meaning death. You also have limited stamina in each arm, stamina runs out and you will fall, you can regain stamina by moving one hand over your chalk bag.

Luckily if you choose it in the settings, you can restart after a fall, if you clip on to conveniently placed hooks, that way if you do fall, you restart from what is the equivalent of a checkpoint, a massive help as you figure out the best route up these cliff faces.

There are of course various obstacles to overcome, as well as clouds that will get in the way, so you either have to guess, and risk falling, or wait for the cloud to pass, but waste valuable stamina.

This is an interesting game, but a very tough one, the controls will take a while to get used to, but the hardest thing to master of all is the jump, it feels very awkward to do successfully, especially as you are trying to remember which hands to hold on with, when to let go and so on. I understand that they want to make the game hard, but sometimes I feel like it is unnecessarily hard.

The Good

When you do get it right, climb to the top of a level and get past a trick spot, there is a great feeling of accomplishment, and that is a very important element in a game like this. I also liked the animations which set up the locations.

The Bad

I do not like the control system, as much as I played, I just couldn't get over the fact they could have simplified it without taking away the challenge.

Overall

A challenging and fun game, and if you like something a bit different then this is a game to check out.

I score Tip Top: Don't Fall! - Nintendo Switch a fair 7/10

Out on the 28^th September at https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Tip-Top-Don-t-fall--2269168.html

REVIEW: NeverSynth on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

From Whale Rock Games comes NeverSynth, a self described rhythm driving simulator.

The game itself is very simple, you control a vehicle on a never ending 4 lane highway, there are no other cars, no real obstacles, you just drive, pick up "beats" which is money, avoid pillars which slow you down, and that is about it. Once you have enough money you can drive in new locations and with different cars.

There are 6 locations to drive and 6 cars to drive. But forget about that, this is more about chilling out, listening to synth wave music. The graphics are pretty unique, and on the highest graphics settings are pretty damn cool to look at.

One cool feature is the ability to upload your own music to drive to. 

The Good

This is a super simple, chill out game, no real skill needed other than moving left and right to collect "beats", and that is it. If you want a break from the stress inducing games we constantly have thrown at us, then this might be just what you need.

The Bad

The lack of any real skill needed to play means some gamers will get bored quick.

Overall

For £3 this game is perhaps overpriced, but it is still worth checking out.

I think they could have done more with the game to make the music connection mean more, but if you just want to listen to some chill out synth music, and waste 20 minutes while thinking of nothing, then this is the game for you. For anyone looking for a challenge, then perhaps look elsewhere.

I score NeverSynth a simple 6/10

Out Now on PC (Steam)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2131200/NeverSynth/