REVIEW: IXION on PC (Steam)

UPDATE: 20/12/22 - Development Studio Bulwark have responded to various clomplaints made in my review as well as complaints from users. I have added their notes at the bottom, so please do read.

Review by Jon Donnis

IXION is a space-based city building game from Bulwark Studios, you are the Administrator of the space station Tiqqun, and after a warp like jump, you seemingly cause the destruction of the Earth and are now charged with finding a new home for humanity.

Including city building mechanics, as well as survival elements and space exploration, the game is advertised as a thrilling space opera.

As the game starts, you have access to a sector of the space station, from here you will start to lay the foundations of what you hope will be the start of the survival for humanity.

To start with you will build storage units to store various things you will find, mine or grow. You need places for your workers to live, food for them to eat and so on.

Everything is pretty straight forward, however the way it is first laid out is terrible, you see the tutorial is awful. There is no real hand holding here. Basic instructions that miss a lot of the important things. 

Luckily you will eventually figure out basic things, for example a building needs to be attached to a road, but only from a certain direction, you are not really told this. So expect lots of screaming at the screen, when it tells you to do something and you think you have done it, but the building needs to be rotated 90 degrees, of course it is too late now as you built it, meaning you either destroy it, which wastes valuable resources, or you build endless roads to connect things, which then wastes space.

There are endless little issues like this, that are frustrating beyond belief, but eventually when you figure it out, you will just start the game over and get a bit further along, well until the next annoying thing.

The prologue (which is supposed to be the tutorial), is set before you destroy the earth, once you have build an air lock, various types of ships etc, you can then make the jump that causes everything to go wrong.

General gameplay has you sending your science ship to investigate planets, and other issues, a mining ship to erm.. mine, and a cargo ship which goes and collects things. You will eventually get to send out probes which will scan areas, and unlock new quests etc. And you can unlock new sectors on the space station that you can then use.

The game works from 3 viewpoints, inside the space station, immediately on the outside, where you will need to build solar powered units and constantly fix the ship (this is beyond annoying and dumb), and finally galaxy view, where you can see the planets, asteroids and stars etc. You can speed up and slow down "cycles".

You will need to maintain your crew's trust in the corporation that started this, and if you reach 0% trust, it is game over. As you play you will find other survivors in cryopods which you can rescue and reanimate. You have a tech tree so you can unlock new buildings, and in general expand and explore.

For what is the final release of the game, it plays much more like an easy access game, there are countless bugs and balancing issues, the tutorial is poorly written, and at £27, there will be a lot of disappointed players.

I even waited a few days after release to write this, because I knew there would be a lot of complaints, just to give the developers chance to release a few fixes, but this game is at least 6 months away from being the finished article.

It is disappointing as there is a good game here, it's just so badly made, with so many issues that it just stops being fun. You will find yourself frustrated more than anything.

The balance of what you do, to what you achieve is way off. The learning curve is way too steep. And there are pointless elements in the game that you need to keep an eye on, that just become tedious.

I understand that the developers wanted to make a serious game, but this game needed to be more fun. Even if they just added a dumb mode, for people, so they could just have fun building their little space station, explore the galaxy etc, without the constant threat of game over. Things get stressful way too quick, and I play games to have fun, not shout at the screen in frustration.

The Good

The graphics are good, and I like the detail used in telling a story.

The Bad

Terrible tutorial, poorly designed game mechanics, a way too steep learning curve, over complicated menus and lack of general fun.

Overall

A lot of time and effort has clearly been put in the game, and it is salvageable, but it needs the developers to humble themselves, admit they messed up on a few issues, and think seriously about a redesign of the game. Make it fun, make it simple, and listen to what people are telling you. Not everyone is a hardcore city building game fanatic. 

I score IXION on PC (Steam) a disappointing 5 out of 10. This game has potential, and if this was an early access game, 6 months ahead of release, I would give it a much higher score. If I was the developers I would move it back to beta testing, fix all the issues after reading the thousands of pissed off reviews on Steam. And then try a new release in the future.

Out now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113120/IXION/

UPDATE: 20/12/22 - Press Release from Development Studio Bulwark

Following early feedback from the tens of thousands of players that played IXION since release, we have addressed a number of issues in a new update. This wide-ranging update fixes the most common bug & balancing issues. Steam reviews have seen a dramatic up turn since the patch went live yesterday.

Difficulty

IXION is intended to be hard. Learning from your mistakes and replaying saves is part of the process. That being said, some players - especially newcomers to the genre – have struggled with the difficulty. While the balance updates will help to a degree, we will be looking to address this early in the new year to add difficulty sliders/options to allow for different playstyles. There will however still be a recommended setting to play how it was intended.

Next Steps

As Bulwark are a small dev studio, they will take a well-earned rest and return in 2023 where they will look at:

Continued Balancing - We feel passionately about continuing to refine and update IXION’s balancing to bring you the best experience possible.

UI improvements - There are some areas of the UI we would like to review and improve, to ensure player understanding and enjoyment.

Accessibility Options - We would like to add further accessibility options to support IXION’s players.

REVIEW: Never Alone: Arctic Collection - Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Never Alone is a platform/puzzle game, developed in full collaboration with the Iñupiat, an Alaska Native people. 40 members of the Iñupiat contributed to the game. And includes the Foxtales DLC that was originally released on PC.

You play as Nuna and a friendly Fox, you are in search of the source of the blizzard that threatens the very survival of everything they know. Set in the Arctic, the world around you is very harsh, and it will take smarts to survive and progress.

Switch between controlling Nuna or the Fox, to help you navigate through the landscape, solve puzzles, and evade various creatures. The further your make your way across the frozen landscapes, and underground passages, the more you will find out. At its base the game is a platforming game, but you will find yourself running from Polar Bears, swimming under ice cold water in underground caves, climbing, jumping and running. You can play with a friend controlling one character and you the other, but in single player mode, you can simply switch between Nuna or the Fox, depending on the challenge ahead. The fox for example can crawl through small gaps, run faster and jump higher. You might need the Fox to reach an area and then let down a rope for Nuna to use to climb up.

Nuna has their own benefits, they can move heavy objects, swim under water, and throw a "bola" at targets to help you solve puzzles, The bola is a kind of slingshot. Maybe use it to break some ice blocking the way, or to distract a polar bear.

You will also come across Helping Spirits, which in communication with the fox, can also help you navigate around a level and reach a higher platform.

One of the interesting parts of the game is that as you play you will unlock video clips. These clips feature the Alaskan Native people and historians as they share stories about their culture, beliefs, as well as the Arctic surroundings. With over 30 minutes of interviews and clips to unlock, this is a welcome addition to the game, that really allows you to learn about a culture as well as just play a game.

Although the game is relatively short, the fact you are learning as you play, it really gives you a fulfilling feeling, it's just more than a platform game.

The graphics are beautiful, the sound effects are spot on, and when you are involved in a moment of action, or tension, the music kicks in and really helps you feel part of the game.

With all this said, there are a few problems with the game itself. The platforming elements can be a bit hit and miss at times. There are a few moments where I found myself in something of a death loop. For example when you die you respawn, but because two characters are respawning instead of one, I found one point where every time I respawned, the fox would instantly die due to the location he was respawning, and it was only after countless attempts to quickly take control of the fox, and with a bit of luck was I able to escape the loop.

The Good

The graphics and storytelling aspects of the game are of the highest quality. And if you have any interest in Native peoples, then the Iñupiat are a fascinating group to learn about.

The Bad

Some of the platforming elements are lacking, and really should be better.

Overall

Despite the few problems, I enjoyed this game a lot, and really felt like I learned something while playing.

I score Never Alone on Nintendo Switch a solid 7/10

Out Now On Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Never-Alone-Arctic-Collection-2172916.html

NEWS & TRAILER: Witchcrafty on Xbox March 24th

 

Witchcrafty is a magical platformer that incorporates some metroidvania features and transports you into a world of sorcery. Within the Kingdom, odd occurrences are taking place: carnivorous flora now inhabits the forests, previously peaceful communities are now engaging in conflict, and goblins have been spotted in the depths of the mines. A young witch embarks on a quest for answers and uncovering the truth behind these peculiar happenings. Who is responsible for these events? Can she rely on strangers she encounters during her journey? And, most importantly, who has stolen the witch's mail?

Features:

- Dynamic action gameplay: combo attacks, dodge, dash and magic. Incinerate enemies with fire, pierce with lightning, or chill their ardor with ice magic. Even your wand is not just a magic accessory, but a melee weapon that will save you at a critical moment.

- Exploration of the world: magical forests, dark caves, icy mountains and abandoned castles - they are all full of secrets and treasures ... and dangers.

- Each new element that you master opens up new opportunities and paths. Deep water ceases to be dangerous in front of ice magic, and lightning can split even rocks in your path.

- Adorable pixel art graphics: pixels have never been so cute!

Witchcrafty will be released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft Store on March 24’th! Price is just 9.99 everywhere!

Also available on Nintendo and Playstation.

TRAILER: Alterity Experience - Coming to Xbox on 17th March

 

You are Anton Cornwell, a Californian farmer. Recently, your ranch house is prey to strange and unexplained phenomena. Invaded from all sides, you need to be reactive by using your mind to prevent any intrusions. Will you survive the eventful night ahead?

ALTERITY EXPERIENCE is a closed-door adventure game playable in first-person. The action takes place in present Lucy County, northern California, a region known for its unexplained phenomena. Many local farmers have found their farms covered in a mysterious purple substance.

In turn, you are confronted by the same phenomena. For some time, your neighbors claim to have seen them not far from your property. Your reactivity and a home automation application are the only weapons you have. An object of unknown origin might be the key to your survival; yet, it is hidden somewhere inside your home.

ALTERITY EXPERIENCE is above all:

An immersive world: Explore the Cornwell Family Ranch, immerse yourself in the scenes and sounds of the 1970s and 1980s science fiction films.

A test of survival: Prevent strange phenomena from entering the house. Move as fast as possible to block access directly or remotely through a home automation application.

An enigma from elsewhere: Discover the location of a mysterious object whose origin is unknown to you and try to understand how it works by manipulating it. What good is it?

A family story: Enter into the intimacy of the Cornwell family, review the numerous documents, and explore several rooms in the house for useful clues.

REVIEW: Papertris on PC (Steam)

With the announcement that Papertris is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 30th 2023, I thought I would re-up my original PC review.

Review by Jon Donnis

As soon as you put "tris" in the title of your game, you know you are most likely going to be playing a block falling puzzle game, and let's be honest here, there are literally thousands of such games, so does Papertris stand out in a crowded field? Let's find out.

The first thing you notice with Papertris, and this might be given away in the name but everything has the appearance of being made of paper. What at first glimpse looks like a simple Tetris clone, quickly proves to be much more. Groups of 3 vertically stacked coloured cube blocks drop from the top of the screen, you decide where to place your cubes as they slowly fall, the aim being to match up the colours to three or more. Throw in "power cubes" and a few other special types of cubes and things seem pretty straightforward, that is until you start to progress through the various levels. 

The part that makes this game different, outside of the paper graphics is that there can be layers to the playing area, meaning that you can match cubes on your current layer, with those on a layer behind, bringing a whole new type of difficulty to finishing the levels.

The main mode you will play is the Challenge mode, whereby each level has a different challenge, usually involving the matching of a certain number of coloured cubes. The further you progress the harder the challenges you have to complete.

Endless mode is exactly what you would expect, you just play until you eventually run out of space and reach the top of the playing area.

There is a 2-player mode, which I was unable to test, but it revolves around matching cubes, and sending cubes to your opponent's screen to block them and so on.

With the nature of such a game, there is an ever more popular colour-blind mode included, as well as a dark mode.

There is clearly a lot of love been put into this game, and the graphics look fantastic, and although the gameplay isn't exactly original, it is all presented well, and offers a decent challenge to any puzzle fan.

The Good

Fantastic graphics, great soundtrack, fun and simple gameplay.

The Bad

With the dropping cube blocks only in one shape, a vertical stack of 3, it limits slightly the potential, which would offer a whole extra level of difficulty.

Overall

A simple and fun puzzle game, that although the basic mechanics we have seen before, it is presented in a new and original format.

An enjoyable game, which I score a solid 8/10

Review by Jon Donnis

Coming to Nintendo Switch on 30th March - https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Papertris-2330669.html

Out Now on PC Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1633640/Papertris/