REVIEW: Family Island (Farming game) on Android / App Store

Review by Jon Donnis

I rarely if ever review mobile games, I don't see the point, especially on ones that are free to download, as anyone can just try them and makeup their own mind.

I thought I would make an exception for Family Island. Read on to find out why.

Let's take a look at the official blurb.

"What would your life be without modern technology on the deserted island? Dive into simplicity of the primal world with the modern Stone Age family in this thrilling offline adventure game. Stranded on the remote island, a family of four - Bruce, Eva and their kids - needs your guidance and help starting a new family home from scratch and navigating through various family life situations with humour.

After their previous city had been destroyed by a volcanic eruption, help this family build a thriving town, all while looking for a way to reconnect with their family and beloved tribe. In this farm game, their world might seem ancient and alien without modern day technology, yet their daily family life and relationships are very relatable in today's world."

So to start with there has actually been an effort made to have a story, which is rare, especially in farming games. The general gameplay is simple, start off on your own little island, slowly construct things needed to survive, use the resources around you, build bigger and better things, as you progress learn to trade, and finally explore other islands. The game is full of time limited quests, and lots to explore.

Now comes the problems and sadly this is a problem with pretty much every game of this type. Every action you do uses up energy, and energy is time limited. So lets say you have a full bar of energy, say 60 energy points, to cut down a tree it might cost 20 energy, but in doing so you will earn wood needed to construct things, and you might even get a few points of energy back. Early on the game, this isn't much of a problem as you will level up pretty soon, each level up resets your energy. As you complete tasks you will get energy, so for about the frst 10 levels of the game, you will fly through it, and it is a lot of fun. Then the problems start, everything starts to become a grind, play for 5 minutes then you have to stop and wait a few hours because you have no energy, every task seems to take longer, and get harder as you need more things to complete, but you dont have them, so you have to do multiple other tasks first, but everything uses energy, and just as you pass level 10, the game believing you are hooked, will now start throwing endless links at you, for you to pay using real money, to buy energy, diamonds, everything in the game.

In other words the game tries to get you hooked, and then slows everything slows down so much so that the only realtistic way for you to progress is to spend real money, but the problem is that we are not talking about a few quid here, some tasks may literally cost you tens of pounds. And since this game is clearly advertised towards little kids, this becomes a major issue for me.

I managed to get to level 15, and then I just gave up, as everything just became a chore, I used every trick in the book that I have learnt over the years on games such as these, I followed advice online, but at the end of the day if I want to get further in the game and in a fun way, I need to spend money, and I refuse to do so.

When you start the game, you have to cancel about 5 pop ups which are all trying to get you to spend real money, it becomes frustrating, especially if you are just trying to play for a couple of minutes to use up your energy and then wait again til later. Oh and I never even mentioned the endless ads to watch, to get small rewards just to progress.

Games like this have two purposes, get you addicted, and then try to get money out of you.

Is the game fun? YES it is a lot of fun, upto about level 10. But then it becomes a slog, unless you want to spend real money.

Be very careful allowing your kids to play games like this, and make sure they have no payment details attached to the play store on the phone they use, as otherwise you might get a nasty surprise.

The Good

Nice story, fun graphics, addictive gameplay.

The Bad

After a few days of fun, everything turns into a drawn out slog, and you are bombarded with endless pop ups trying to get you to spend real money.

Overall

A fun game that is ultimate spoiled by greed.

Don't let kids play this, and only play yourself if you are familiar with this time of pay to play type game.

I score Family Island on Android a 6/10

Out Now on Mobile Formats.

TRAILER: Bumballon - From Ratalaika Games, Angelo Gamedev & 9Ratones

Come and join Bumballon on a cute but frantic adventure that spans across an incredible world full of dangers!

Explore seven unique worlds that overflow with beautifully animated graphics and retro game nostalgia.

Overcome various perils to save Bumballon's magical kingdom and rescue the beautiful Princess Moon.

In Bumballon's tough but fun and rewarding journey, every mistake becomes a lesson to overcome future obstacles.

Features:

Beautiful animated graphics.

Explore 7 worlds.

35 different levels.

5 unlockable skins.

Variety of action mechanics.

Bumballon  will be priced for 4.99 $ / € for all platforms and is out now!

REVIEW: Resoraki The Racing on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Resoraki is an interesting little arcade racing game, you can play solo or against friends online. There are the usual modes, championships, arcade, and time trial. Plenty of cars to choose from, and a nice selection of tracks in countries like Poland, Finland, Australia, or Greece. Different difficulty settings, and also Steam leaderboards.

Graphics are very cartoony, and are pretty eye catching. And the music is very catchy too.

In the time trial mode after completing a lap you will get the obligatory ghost car, in championship mode you need to win races to unlock more tracks, and in arcade mode, well you just get to choose your own races and have fun.

There are plenty of achievements to collect, which range from simply unlocking a track, to using a certain brand of car, there are even shortcuts to find.

Over 50 cars to choose from which range in style from Rally type cars to just regular ones.

Although advertised as having full gamepad controls, I couldn't get mine to work, so had to rely on using the arrow keys on the keyboard, not the best way to drive a car, although easy enough to get used to, but this game needs proper controller compatibility and it needs it now!

Resoraki is a nice, simple, straightforward racer, with nice graphics, and easy to enjoy gameplay.

The Good

Nice graphics, soundtrack and general play. Every looks and feels good.

The Bad

I didn't like the default camera view, and not sure if you can change it. Menus are a bit lacking. And gamepad did not work for me.

Overall

Simple and more importantly very cheap game, at less than a pound, you cant really go wrong here.

There is room for improvement, but I fear at this price this will be as good as it gets.

I score Resoraki The Racing on PC a fair 7/10

Out now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2303180/Resoraki_The_racing/

Why I believe that Mario is the greatest video game character of all time

Super Mario is the greatest game character of all time. He has been saving princesses and defeating evil villains for over 35 years, and has become an iconic symbol of the video game industry. From his humble beginnings in the 1985 classic Super Mario Bros. to his latest adventure in Super Mario 3D World, Mario has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of players around the globe.

One of the reasons why Mario was a revolutionary game character is his adaptability. He can run, jump, swim, fly and even drive. Mario is undoubtedly the master of all trades, and he has mastered everything flawlessly in the game. His power-ups like the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Cape Feather give players a sense of excitement whenever they run into one in the game. Mario's unique mechanics and skills allow for a level of creativity that other game characters lack, and it's what makes him such an enduring figure in the gaming world.

Mario's personality is another reason why he is the greatest game character of all time. He's humble, heroic, and always puts others first, especially Princess Peach. He is a role model to millions of gamers around the globe, showcasing a selfless and kind-hearted personality. Mario's upbeat, cheerful disposition is an inspiration and a refreshing break from the flood of dark, brooding figures that now permeate pop culture.

Mario's influence extends far beyond gaming. From the countless spin-offs like Mario Kart and Mario Party, to the numerous appearances in movies, TV shows, and even amusement park rides, Mario has become a household name. His influence has reached into every facet of popular culture and the business world, and even those who don't play video games recognize him.

Lastly, Mario's mastery of gameplay makes him the greatest game character of all time. It is the gameplay that makes Mario a work of art. The makers of the Mario games craft an intricate world, filled with creative obstacles, enemies and power-ups to keep gamers hooked. Often, solving a game's puzzles requires strategy, patience, and quick reflexes - all things that Mario has in abundance, and yet he's accessible enough to remain easy for new gamers to grasp. The Mario games provide an unbeatable combination of skill, strategy, and entertainment for players of all ages.

In conclusion, Mario is not just a game character, he's a global icon. His adaptability, personality, influence, and gameplay make him the greatest game character of all time. His longevity and impact on the gaming industry cannot be overstated. Mario has enthralled and inspired players of all ages for over 35 years, and will undoubtedly continue to do so for generations to come.

Jump into the world of Super Mario at https://amzn.to/42X09cr

NEWS: Smalland: Survive the Wilds on PC (Steam)

With Smalland: Survive the Wilds being released on 29th March, I thought this exciting looking new game needed a shout out.

Although it is still in Early Access there is a lot of potential to this game. Check out the official blurb below and watch the trailer.

"Before the time of the giants, we lived freely under the Sun and Moon. Centuries have passed, but those stories of the surface world have been passed down through the generations. Now the giants are gone, and you, Vanguard, must venture out into the wilds once more, on an urgent mission. Be brave, and do not falter…"

Explore the vast "Land of the Small"

Traverse lake sized puddles, scale skyscraper sized trees, scramble through cavernous cracks in roads, as you experience a huge open world from a new perspective. Explore dense forests, hazardous swamps and strange ruins left over from the time before. Uncover lore and knowledge from hidden NPCs scattered throughout the world and learn to survive in this vast wilderness.

Tame and ride creatures

Uncover recipes that will let you tame and ride an array of critters. Leap huge distances on the back of a Grasshopper, zoom around on a Damselfly, scurry from place-to-place on a Spider. This world and its inhabitants are yours to conquer.

Survive together

Play alongside friends with support for up to 10 players in multiplayer. Explore together, fight together, build together and survive the wilds as a team.

Build encampments on the ground or amongst the trees

Scavenge or refine resources to build your encampment with multiple material tiers, from leaves and twigs to sturdy stone. Pick your favourite spot in the world and build, or scale vast trees and claim your own settlement at the top.

Craft powerful armour sets

Collect powerful armours that provide you with resistances and abilities and mix them up to personalise your appearance. Glide through the skies in winged armour, swing from tree to tree with the grappling hook and many more.

Survive the Wilds

Most of the creatures you encounter will see you as lower on the food chain – Ants, Cockroaches, Beetles, Wasps, and Spiders all view you as a potential meal. Weather conditions and seasons are in constant flux so if you want to survive for another day, preparation is key.

Check it out at

https://store.steampowered.com/app/768200/Smalland_Survive_the_Wilds/