So, does Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League stand out in a crowd of games struggling to survive, or is this, as some feared, the downfall of Rocksteady?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review

Kill The Justice League’s story follows the traditional superhero trope: There’s an impending world-ending event of biblical proportions that only Earth’s greatest heroes could hope to overcome. Well, that was if the entire Justice League hadn’t been turned into Brainiac’s mind slaves.

Instead of the usual spandex-wearing goody-two-shoes, players take the mantle of the Suicide Squad, a ragtag group of Arkham convicts set loose on Metropolis. This was pulled off by Amanda Waller, who, quite honestly, may just be the greatest villain in the entire DC Multiverse. She’s more terrifying than any of the Suicide Squad; I’d rather go toe-to-toe with Brainiac.

The story follows Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, the latter of which has quickly become one of my all-time favorite characters. They all set out to take down the Justice League and destroy the evil Brainiac before he enslaves what’s left of the human population.

It’s a rewarding narrative, one that toes a careful line between routing for the antihero and just flat-out destroying our childhood dreams before our very eyes. Its most impressive feat is the ability to create a bond between the player and members of the Suicide Squad that’s strong enough to endure some of the heinous events of the latter stages of the story, events that could sour the experience for some.

Unlike the humor, which is smashed out of the park in the first 30 minutes. The writing is fantastic, effortlessly blending a rather doomsday-like scenario with quick one-liners and banter between allies, all timed and delivered to near perfection. Some of the game’s funniest moments don’t even require words; the facial animations are some of the very best this industry has to offer. An entire joke can be delivered with the raising of an eyebrow or the rolling of the eyes. Supported by fantastic performances throughout, it left me feeling both fulfilled and empty. As a live-service title, the story was so much better than I was expecting. Despite this, it left me lovesick, wondering how much more we could have had in a more traditional single-player setting.

Running in at about 10-12 hours, the story felt short. It does flow through the games-as-a-service end-game style grind in fantastic fashion, arguably the most thematic we’ve seen in the genre to-date, but if that GaaS style end-game grind isn’t your thing, the experience may not feel deserving of the price tag.

Each of the four main characters – Deadshot, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Harley Quinn – each boast their own arsenal of weapons, abilities, and traversal powers. I typically struggle with games that require diverting of attention between too many skill trees and loadouts. While Suicide Squad’s user-interface makes it a seamless and effortless process, I still found myself drawn to Deadshot – a character I played throughout much of the game.

Once the story is over, when the GaaS grind begins, these games live and die by the quality of the combat. Thankfully, Kill the Justice League’s combat system is one of the most exciting I’ve played in a long time. Hulking brutes, long distance snipers, armored melee units, fortified tanks…the game throws a bevy of different enemies at you, each requiring different tactics and solutions. The satisfaction of stringing together the perfect counters, launching to the next group of enemies with combined traversal abilities, and hitting special attack to clear an entire platform never grows old or feels stale.

After every cutscene and story segment, I was eager to get back to the skies of Metropolis and just kill stuff for the fun of it. Both fitting of the genre and the theme, I suppose. However, that enthusiasm did dwindle somewhat when it came to the boss battles. While none of them were bad – you battle against the majority of the Justice League at one point or another – none of them really stood out either. Not really a crime, but when you are battling against characters as iconic as those seen in the Justice League, I expected combat on far grander scales.

As with all the GaaS launches of recent years, much of the pre-launch discussion was sharing the woes and concerns of the genre. I get it, they are not for everyone. Grind and repetition are often seen as negative elements of the gaming experience, but there’s still a large audience that thrives on the challenge and lives to log in each and every day. Is this that game? I’m not sure, but it has a hell of a lot more chance than I thought it would have.

The live-service elements, while limited in variety, do boast an impressive array of character customization and loadout options. Every aspect of the characters can be enhanced and improved. Personal stats, weapon rarity, weapon traits and perks, special abilities, there’s a huge list of min-maxing opportunities that offers the perfect playground for fans dedicated enough to withstand the limited mission choices of the post-game scenario.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is a great game for a certain type of player, having all the hallmarks of a fantastic single-player cinematic experience. It features a great story, excellent voice acting, beautiful environments, and captivating characters, but it all feels cut short to service this live-service model. I had a lot of fun playing through, and I’ll likely dive more into the end-game grind. Still, I still can’t help but ask: What if?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review: Running on GaaS? appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review

Granblue Fantasy: Relink follows an airship captain (your character) and their crew as they search for the Promised Land. There’s just one thing: The skies on the way to the island they are searching for aren’t safe. Your tutorial fight is with some Wyverns, and eventually a Bahamut summoned by your ally Lyria. For some reason, this summon briefly turns on the team, but Lyria eventually gets him back under control. With the ship in rough condition, Lyria slips and falls overboard, with your character trying to catch her. You both fall to the land below and somehow manage to survive. You find Lyria, save her from monsters, and reunite with your crew.

Your ship in shambles, players will then head to a local village to find some new transportation. A captain named Rolan agrees to take you all on his ship if you help him out. Naturally, the first island you go to is under attack by goblins, putting you to work. As it turns out, it is also being affected by strong, unnatural winds that make it hard for ships to leave. The goblins aren’t a big threat, but the Primal Beast rampaging concerns your character. You set out to calm the beast, and hopefully secure the island. The story is very quick, clocking in at about 15 hours for me. That being said, the story is a tiny portion of Relink.

During the game, you can take on quests at a quest board. Think of it like Monster Hunter World. You pick a quest, and you can set out with your party to do the objective. If you play online, you can have three other allies or do them offline with your NPC party. After you beat the game, these quests open up a lot more. You get the more difficult missions, bosses, and other modes you didn’t have during the main story. I might have beef with the boss fights in the main story, but online quests immediately put players in action. And with Quick Quest, you can join a team in seconds. The main story is a slow burn, but the post-game is quick and snappy.

Relink is a character-action RPG, and the combat is excellent. First, there are over a dozen characters, and they all play differently. As overwhelming as that sounds, it also helps ensure you find a character you like. Everyone has the same button layout with basic attacks and strong attacks, but some have stances or other mechanics that help power them up. Where things get tricky is your special skills. You can only bring four of them with you, meaning you need to be picky. Do you want more damage, an AoE spell, heals, buffs? Whatever you choose, choose wisely; you can’t change mid-fight, and only having three good moves really hurts your chances of being the highest scorer online.

The other way you power up your characters is by weapons and sigils. You can craft new weapons with various elements and upgrade them for more damage and effects. I play Yodarha, a fisherman who uses katanas as his weapon. I stacked my blades with crit chance and ripped enemies up with him. My Percival, on the other hand, hits like a truck, so I just stacked damage on him. Sigils are similar to accessories, buffing you in various ways. The most common sigils will give you more damage, more HP, and things like that. Other, more rare sigils might give you a skill buff, earn you more cash, or provide you with life steal. My point is that you can make the type of character you want if you are willing to put in the effort.

During your downtime, you can visit the towns and do side quests or trade with Siero, a traveling merchant who likes to trade in treasure and sigils. The side quests always involve killing or retrieving something, but the rewards are worth it. You can go to him for crafting parts and new characters. The prices can be a bit steep on certain materials, so be sure to save your coins. As for the characters, the game isn’t a Gacha, so you can pick who you want and spend a voucher to hire them. You can only test them after you get them, which is a bummer. You can recruit them all eventually, so you don’t need to worry about missing anyone.

Just be warned: Granblue Fantasy: Relink was in development for a long time, and it shows. The areas and zones are very small, but there is no map. It isn’t needed online because most of the fights are arenas, but the towns should have them present. The boss fights during the main story can also be annoying; players can have a boss on the ropes, only for them to suddenly stop losing HP. When this happens, you’ll have to sit there for a move or cutscene to go off. These story boss fights disrupt the rhythm of a game with such quick-paced combat. You have to wait to leave lobbies between online matches until everyone agrees, or the timer runs out. I hope they can at least fix the online issue.

While it takes a while to get going, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is well worth the wait. Fans of quick-paced co-op action RPGs shouldn’t hesitate to check it out.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review

So you take a new job from an old friend and head to Hawaii to atone for past sins and to move on with your life. Sadly, things do not go much better here. You are mugged, drugged, and left on the beach naked. Eventually, you gather some new allies and set out to try and figure out what is going on on this island. The game is the longest in the series, and as of writing this, I have 91 hours in it with plenty left to do.

The Like A Dragon series has turn-based combat but still has the Yakuza flair. Your basic attacks feel heavy and impactful. Your special skills have you breathing fire, using cheese graters on enemies, or tossing dynamite at them. You can pick up weapons mid-battle and smash them into enemies, knocking them to the floor. My point is that even though it is turn-based, it is still entertaining, and you still have to think to succeed. There is an auto-battle option, but the AI does some silly things during combat so I rarely used it. Also, if you are at a high enough level, you can one-hit entire enemy groups, which feels good.

It’s vital that combat feels satisfying to play because there is a ton of it. I don’t know how much actual crime is in Honolulu, but this game makes it seem like you’ll be attacked on every street corner. Since I enjoy the combat, I’m fine with that; some players might not be. Another way they help keep fighting fresh is via the class system. Most characters can switch between five or six classes after you unlock them. Each of them has their own skills, stats, and weapons. That alone would incentivize players to try new classes, but the skill inheritance makes it even more juicy. Grinding up a character to an incredible skill and bringing it to a new class really encourages you to try everything. Honestly, all the classes were good, and I enjoyed playing each.

When you aren’t fighting, you have lots of choices of side activities to do—the arcade returns, with Sega Bass Fishing being the big game this time. The crane game, darts, Shoji, Majong, and a few others also return. One of the new, somewhat passive side activities is called Aloha Links. All you do with this is walk around the island, waving at people with green faces over their heads. Do this enough, and you become friends with them and get a stat boost to your personality. As you’ll see, the game constantly encourages you to explore the island and find hidden treasures and secrets. You can tell the devs are confident in their game world, and that confidence extends to nearly all avenues of the game.

Before I forget, let’s talk about the personality traits. Ichiban has six core stat that rise as he does things in the game. For instance, fighting enough bad guys will raise your Passion skill. As that skill goes up, you get more and more passive buffs like sleep and fear resistance. It’s not just fighting that earns you points for your personality. It’s almost everything in the game. Your challenge list details how to get more points, but here are a few examples. Eating at restaurants, riding taxis, spending money, swimming, playing mini-games, and chatting with random citizens are all things you can do to raise those stats. Again, go out and do something, and you’ll be rewarded.

The meat and potatoes mini game of Infinite Wealth is Dondoko Island, an Animal Cross lite mode. When you start working at Dondoko Island, it is a trash heap with hardly any value. You clean it up and turn it into a resort for tourists. When you start, there are two or three buildings on the island, and it is up to you to create and place more. You mold this island in your vision and slowly raise the rating of the resort. Eventually, you invite some customers in and start making a little scratch on the side. These customers will all have their wants and needs, and you can give them gifts to raise their happiness. The more happy a guest is, the bigger your tip will be. It is simple to understand and a blast to play. My only complaint is that you can get to the max star resort pretty quickly if you focus on it.

I want to mention a few other things before we wrap this up. There is a pizza delivery mini-game that is very much like Crazy Taxi, and it is very fun. I lost hours to it and still want to play more. You can upgrade and craft weapons, making the game easier for you. There are fewer dungeons, but there is a dungeon area where you can farm mobs and materials. The game has choices, but they only affect your personality, and drinking with your buddies is a great way to raise your bonds. And lastly, cars will hit you if you get punched into them.

As for annoyances, the game is turn-based, and you can always see who is next but not the whole turn order. When fighting certain bosses, they would skip the turn order and get multiple turns in a row. I’m not sure if it was based on agility or what, but that got me killed a couple of times. The game has an English dub, but certain characters are not great, and they stick out. Also, I still don’t understand Majong or Shoji and don’t know if I ever will.

Tech-wise, the game ran great, and I didn’t see any frame drops, bugs, or crashes.

2024 picks up right where 2023 left off with a banger of a title in Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth. Anyone who likes big, meaty RPGs should give this one a whirl.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Review

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown follows the story of Sargon, one of the seven Immortals that are the strongest fighters in the kingdom. Sargon and his allies stop the invading forces of Kushan to protect Persia and its ruler. For Sargon’s part in defeating the enemy general, he is awarded a Royal Sash, which are only the best of the best warriors. After the ceremony, you meet up with your friends and celebrate into the evening. At some point, there is a ruckus, and the prince is kidnapped, leaving you and the Immortals to try to rescue him.

Before you get a chance to save the prince, he is slain, and you are blamed for his death. You soon realize there is some sort of time distortion issues in this place as you face off with another version of yourself. Once you beat him, you are told you can still save the prince if you learn to master time. To do that, you’ll have to collect all the relics and powers that are scattered throughout the game world. In all, you’ll probably spend 15-20 hours getting through the game.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2D metroidvania, which means a lot of backtracking, a lot of death, and a lot of platforming. At first, this isn’t a problem because it’s simple jumps and dashes, but it gets tricky fast. One of the more annoying platforming obstacles is these platforms that switch depending on which way you are looking. For example, one platform might be out for you to jump on if you look right, but it goes back into the wall when you look left. It forces you to fight that instinct to correct yourself midair and instead rely on faith that you won’t fall off. It threw me for a loop quite a few times, but players looking for platforming challenges will find them here.

Combat in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is fast-paced and simple, bringing with it a solid counter and dodge system. Similar to the platforming section, you’ll have to fight smart to survive. With trash mobs, you can spam your combo attacks and get through, but bosses and mini-bosses will put you in the dirt if you try that strategy. Watching the enemy tells and correctly reacting makes the game much more manageable. Deflecting the enemies and landing a huge attack only to then dodge them and land another slash on their back feels great. You also get a bow and a chakram for ranged weapons, which help add to the variety. It also means they can add flying enemies, which are always annoying.

All this fighting and platforming exudes cool, but you need upgrades to avoid dying often and losing A LOT of progress. There is only one currency in the game and it is used for weapon and skill upgrades, new amulets, hints, and general buffs. Weapon upgrades make you hit harder but you can also get more arrows or get extra amulet slots. These upgrades come at a high price, making the economy very balanced. Amulets are stat boosts and other buffs, like revealing hidden treasures or adding extra temporary HP. Hints are also nice because you don’t have directions, just markers on where to go. I always had something to work towards to get myself slightly stronger or more durable.

Speaking of secrets, the game is flooded with them. Breakable walls, invisible chests, hidden areas – you’ll find them all. If you pre-ordered, you get a bird that helps you find the secrets; otherwise, you’ll have to smack every wall to test them. These areas are necessary for you to find the crafting materials needed to upgrade your gear to higher levels. Lore items and side quests can also be found hidden throughout the game world. These are typically basic fetch quests or smash-and-grabs that help give you more reasons to explore. Just note that some of the hidden areas and side quests have some of the most challenging platforming sections in the game.

There are a couple of things I don’t like about the game. The fast travel system is very inconvenient. You need to find a statue and then warp from there to another warp point statue. The problem is there aren’t very many in the game, and you can’t warp to them from the map. This means you are doing a lot of needless backtracking. I also think the check points could have been more generous. You lose a lot of time dying to one-hit death spikes and pits.

Tech-wise, I didn’t have any bugs or run into any crashes.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a beacon of hope for a franchise that’s been gone for far too long. Fans of the series will be happy with this series’ new direction.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader Review

My knowledge of the Warhammer 40k universe is limited, but Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader taught me a lot.

Things kick off with you making your character, picking your class, and becoming a Rogue Trader. In the Warhammer Universe, Rogue Traders act as explorers, conquerors, and even merchants under the authority of the God Emperor. Put simply, you are a VERY big deal in the game. Still, you are meant to be taught the basics before being sent out into the universe. It ultimartely becomes a trial by fire, and you need to figure it out as you go.

The ship you start on is attacked, your Rogue Trader teacher is slain almost immediately, and you need to rally the troops and reclaim the ship. After you take back the ship, the crew looks to you for the next command. Your first job is to rebuild the ship, get a new navigator, and contact the nearby imperial settlement. Things quickly erode as the enemy of humanity (the Xenos) steals the system’s sun, and you are forced to flee to another sector of the universe. I’m not sure how long the main story is, but I have over 100 hours and still haven’t done all the side content I want to do.

As the Rogue Trader, you do get to lay claim to settlements and planets throughout the galaxy. However, doing so then has them falling under your protection. If they fall, you will then look weak to the other Rogue Trader houses – and weaklings do not last in the Warhammer 40K universe. Still, the benefits of having multiple settlements add up quickly. You get to make buildings, claim resources, get new weapons and armor, and sometimes even get permanent stat boosts. The best part is that you can do it all from the start menu, so you rarely need to go back to planets. You just hit the settlement manager, pick your project, then play as it completes – EZPZ.

One downside to landing on these colonized planets is that you are almost always ambushed when you land or meet the governor. The game mentions a couple of times how we expect to be attacked when we land for the first time. It wouldn’t be so bad, but you are always outnumbered, and the AI allies are pretty bad – even when it comes to shooting you. I get that the universe is chaotic and dangerous, but I have heavy flamethrowers, a Psyker who can call lightning down, and a dude in heavy armor with a huge sword. I have a feeling the dagger-wielding bandits might stand down after seeing us.

Since Rogue Trader is a tactical RPG, the combat is from the top-down perspective and is turn-based. If you’ve played that series, you can think of it like X-Com because the 95% to hit shots still miss. What starts off as a simple game of finding cover and taking potshots quickly evolves into a profoundly satisfying combat system that sometimes takes too long to finish. You level up so fast that you constantly get new abilities and tools to use for battle. It can get overwhelming, but if you focus on key traits and skills, you can wreck the dozens of enemies the game will sometimes throw your way.

Ship combat is another part of the game, but overall it isn’t that complicated. Once you learn how the cannons and torpedoes work, you can easily take on five or more ships yourself. The most difficult part of the whole process is figuring out where to park your ship each turn so you don’t get hit with missiles, and the bad guys don’t run away. Thankfully, your ship also levels up and can get new moves, such as a 180 flip, which makes the enemies behind you less annoying. Along with leveling, you get new parts, cannons, shields, and engines for your ship. If you can’t tell by now, there is a ton to upgrade and do in the game.

Naturally, as a Rogue Trader, you will also be doing some trading. The economy is unique in the game, and it grew on me very quickly. Instead of gold or credits, you get Profit Factor. Your Profit Factor is your total wealth as a Rogue Trader and only goes down if you pick choices that make it go down. So if you have 12 Profit Factor and the merchant has five items for 12 or under, you can buy everything and your Profit Factor will remain the same. Instead, you donate loot to certain factions, and they give you Rep. The higher your Rep, the more gear you gain access to. It was nice not needing to make choices on what items to buy because I could get them all.

Exploring the universe itself was similar to Mass Effect. You scan planets, see if there are any resources or outposts, and then land or head to the next system. The only downside to jumping from system to system is the fact that the Warp is unstable. The further you jump, the more you risk your ship being damaged or, even worse, Chaos Forces invading the ship. You can calm down the Warp with Navigator powers, but sometimes you just need to risk the jump.

One last thing I want to hit on is the class customization. The base classes are pretty easy: melee fighter, gun user, support officer, or a debuffing operative. While each class has its skill list, you can easily make an officer into a melee guy if you want. However, at level 16, you unlock the more advanced classes. My sniper character was pretty dangerous until I made him into an assassin, and he became downright lethal. My critical hits keep doing insane damage, and the chance to get them increases. If you like a particular play style, this game will let you buff it up as much as you want.

Now for the bad; this game is very buggy at the moment. Crashes, frame drops, no text during conversations, T-poses, items under the floor, and me under the floor – among other minor annoyances – plague the game. I could fight through most of it if not for the crashes and lockups. They have done a ton of work in the couple of weeks I’ve had it, but I still crash occasionally. I don’t know how bad it is on PC, but the PlayStation 5 version could have used a few more months to cook.

Even with the bugs, Warhammer 40K fans will enjoy Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader immensely. If you are a tactics RPG fan looking for your next fix, this is your game.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Like a Dragon Gaiden The Man Who Erased His Name Review

Like a Dragon Gaiden has you playing as Kiryu after he has “escaped” his former life. Hoping to protect his foster children, he joins up with a group called Daidoji and becomes one of their secret agents. Still, being this close to home can only end one way, as someone figures out who Kiryu is and forces him back into the Yakuza line of work. Maybe a name change to something other than Joryu and a disguise better than a pair of glasses would have helped him stay hidden.

Now that he is back in the Yakuza, he finds out the boss of the Omi Alliance was looking into Kiryu’s death anyway because he didn’t believe it. With that info, Kiryu is put back to work and tasked with finding a woman named Akame; a jack-of-all-traders fixer, as they put it. She gives you missions, helps you stay hidden, and is your way into the Coliseum, where you can prove your strength. If Kiryu does as he is asked, he will be reunited with his foster kids again. You’ll be done in around 10-15 hours if you rush the story.

Since this is a Kiryu Yakuza game, you will be doing real-time combat with thugs on the streets. One thing the series never gets wrong is how satisfying the impact of fighting is. You truly feel as powerful as Kiryu, and when you take out ten thugs in under a minute, you feel like you can take on the world. With the new easy mode, you can spam attack buttons and look like an expert, which is an excellent addition. The reality is, though, because the game is so short, they force fight after fight after fight on you. It’s fun, but getting a breather would also be nice.

While Like a Dragon Gaiden is the smallest Yakuza game, it still brings some new tools for you to use. Being a secret agent, Kiryu gets access to some new weapons and gear. You have the spider shot, a string that can bind enemies up or grab weapons from a distance—the hornet, and a drone that crashes into targets. The firefly is a cigarette you can use as an explosive, and finally, the serpent shoes that make your shoes into jet shoes for ramming over enemies. Each of these adds to your combat skills and combos, helping you find an opening for your heat attacks.

The main reason I play Yakuza games these days is for the big minigame, and sadly, Like a Dragon Gaiden is kind of a stinker on that front. You do have the Coliseum, which is fun, but like I said earlier, you get more than enough fights in the streets. You do get to build up a team that can fight alongside you as well for specific battles, but I felt I did most of the work in those. Pocket Circuit makes a return for the masochists who enjoy going through that time and time again. Akame gives you plenty of side quests, from beating thugs to delivering food. And, of course, you have the arcade, cabaret clubs, gambling, and other minor minigames. It is fine, but you can easily get all that and more in another Yakuza game.

Let’s talk about the economy real quick. By now, Kiryu has been a multi-millionaire multiple times over multiple games. Like a Dragon Gaiden is very similar; you get rich quickly. The difference is they learned to make the skills for upgrades cost more, so the cash has more value. You also need Akane points to get specific skills, meaning you must grind. They tied to two currencies to each other, so most of the time, completing a side quest will reward both. So now you can get a skill, complete a quest, get a new skill, and satisfy your dopamine need.

As for bugs and crashes, I had none. The dub is horrible, but I’m sure everyone knows that by now, so just play in Japanese with subs.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is the quickest Yakuza game ever, and in 2023, that is exactly what is needed. Fans of the series can pick it up and breeze through in a weekend.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Achilles: Legends Untold Review

Achilles: Legends Untold follows the story of Achilles directly after the Trojan War. You begin at the shores of Troy, fighting your way up to through the city to take back Helen. Even the mighty Hector is no match for you at this point, as you cleave him down as well. When you reach the top of Troy, Prince Paris kills you, and you awaken in a land you don’t recognize; you’re not even sure if you are alive or dead.

Eventually, you find out you are somehow back in Greece. Your former home runs rampant with bandits, beasts, undead, and otherworldly monsters. The only way you will find out what happened is by fighting your way through. You even get to face off with heroes from the Trojan War, like Menelaus and King Agamemnon. Capturing the feel of the era, this helps Achilles: Legends Untold truly feel authentic.

The game is a CRPG like Diablo, but it’s more akin to the old-school Champions of Norrath with only one character. Combat is pretty simple, with a quick attack, a heavy attack, and a few special attacks. While you won’t pull off any crazy combos, you’ll quickly master your weapon strikes as a result. Special attacks vary, but include damage buffs, area-of-effect attacks, crowd control, and heals. You can only have two equipped at any time, with the third skill always being your shield toss. It helps add to the variety for combat, but I think most people will find a build they like and stick with it.

The lands of Greece are full of treasures, side quests, and other events to find. Clearing out enemy camps will give you access to the chest inside. You get rare materials, new weapons, and new skills like this. Weapons will scale based on your stats, not unlike the Dark Souls series. I found a two-handed sword that went off strength and wrath early in my adventure and used that most of the game.

Also like a Soulslike, enemies will reset if you die or rest. Outside of that, though, most of the game is much easier than the genre is known. You get plenty of healing potions and other healing items. Consumables like fire pots, poison pots, throwing knives, and other projectiles can keep enemies at bay. There are even landmine-type traps you can craft to debilitate your foes. All of this combines with the skills and basic strikes to make a robust combat system that anyone cane enjoy.

Side quests vary from area to area, but mainly involve killing bad guys, breaking objects, or finding something. Sometimes, you get new gear from these quests, but mostly, you earn EXP and materials for crafting. There is a huge skill tree you can spend points on. Most of it is more stat boosts like more strength or HP, though there are some passive skills also. Combine that with weapon and armor upgrades, and you really start to dish out some damage.

Dungeons are scattered throughout Greece that you can explore and conquer. You can think of them as the tiny cellar dungeons in Diablo 4, consisting of a quick fight with quick loot. Other events you can find include mini-bosses, prisoners in need of rescue, and puzzle chests. The puzzle chests initially confused me, because you don’t have the shield toss when you use a two-handed sword. Basically, you need to find the symbols for the chest, break them with the shield or strike, and then get the loot. Sounds easy, but sometimes those symbols are hidden well.

When it comes to Achilles Legends Untold’s boss fights, they are challenging but not overwhelming. What I mean by that is that you will be beaten, but you’ll only have to die a few times before winning. After defeating your foe, you are typically given a choice to spare or kill them. I’m unsure what happens if you spare them, but killing the boss will net you their weapon or skill. Also, if you like history, it is fun to face the heroes of Greece.

Another type of boss in the game lurks in the overworld and can kill you in a shot if you aren’t careful. They are fought under special circumstances, though, so I don’t want to spoil much there.

While there were a few frame drops in the game’s later areas, there were no bugs or crashes during my playthrough.

Achilles: Legends Untold brings history’s strongest warrior to video games in epic fashion. Fans of Soulslikes – or action RPGs in general – shouldn’t hesitate to pick it up.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Achilles: Legends Untold Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

RoboCop Rogue City Review

RoboCop Rogue City takes place between the events of RoboCop 2 (1990) and RoboCop 3 (1993). A hyper-violent Detroit, still gripped by a deadly Nuke drug epidemic, struggles to stay alive as an evil mega-corporation, OCP, fights to privatize the police force in order to deploy its latest batch of crime-fighting cyborgs. All the while they were trying to swindle citizens out of their homes to build a new mega-city, Delta City. The story is so closely tied to the original movies to be predictable throughout but it never felt cheap or uninspired, more an honorable nod to a beloved franchise that has survived over three decades. A worthwhile story for seasoned RoboCop fans, and a fantastic glimpse into a dystopian Detroit controlled by corporate superpowers for those jumping into the RoboCop world for the first time.

Even if the rest of the game was complete garbage, which it’s very much not, RoboCop Rogue City is worth playing for the fan service alone. The level of passion and attention to detail in delivering a believable installment in the RoboCop universe is incredible and had me grinning from ear to ear throughout most of the game. Chasing down a stolen 6000 SUX, RoboCop mentions Acapulco being a warzone, the computer screen being an exact match of the one in the archives room in the original movie, a Sunblock 5000 side quest, even the way RoboCop drives the police car out of the garage is near identical to the movies. Most of these are tiny, almost insignificant elements of the movies but when tied together, it gives it a level of authenticity I was not expecting.

It’s a heartwarming combination of iconic characters, lines of dialogue, and world-building that makes RoboCop Rogue City one of the most authentic video game adaptations I’ve played in years. As a huge fan of RoboCop growing up, I felt as though I was exploring a new movie, a new saga in Alex Murphy’s journey. Simply put, this is a must-play game for RoboCop fans of the 80s and 90s.

Although it’s easy to remember the original movies as nothing but over-the-top, mindless violence, RoboCop has stood the test of time because it was always so much more than that. Alex Murphy’s inner battle of man or machine, struggling to come to terms with the loss of his family. The moral dilemma of protecting the people of Detroit or obeying his very creator, OCP. Teyon managed to create an immersive balance of both sides of the man, the one in the metal suit and the man underneath.

Much of the game centers around RoboCop and his relationships with his friends, allies, and the people of Detroit. This manifests in the game using a choices and consequences system that plays out throughout much of the experience, offering alternative endings and encounters depending on RoboCop’s interactions. You can choose whether to aid these people or turn them in to OCP, although not all choices are black and white. It’s a meaningful system, not one that merely presents an illusion of choice, but the lack of proper save functionality meant I didn’t get to explore as many alternative routes as I would have liked.

Rogue City’s combat system is arguably the games most impressive element. It perfectly captures RoboCop’s superior fire power and machine heightened reactions and senses, whilst still maintaining a level of vulnerability and threat. Walking into a room, scanning around with RoboVision, analyzing threats and taking out targets, it never gets old. Every encounter throws you into the middle of a ridiculously over-the-top 80s action movie and it doesn’t apologize for it. Ever.

It features a robust selection of enemy types as RoboCop takes on everything from ED-209 to rampaging bikers and well-armed mercenaries, all with an arsenal equally as impressive – even if most of them feel a bit weak compared to an upgraded Auto 9. It’s near perfect pacing of investigatory and passive exploration scenes meant I was foaming at the mouth in preparation for the next glorious opportunity to explore how many body parts I could remove before my enemies fell to the floor.

Whether you’re blasting through halls, busting down a door in slow motion, or cleaning up the streets of Downtown, RoboCop’s iconic stomping and his rapid-fire Auto-9 provide equal measures of nostalgic highs and good old fashion fun.

RoboCop’s iconic “that fucking gun” side-arm, the Auto 9, features a unique, engaging, and rewarding upgrade mechanic that allows RoboCop to effortlessly shred an ED-209 to pieces. Throughout the game you discover Circuit Boards, upgrade paths that can be installed in the Auto 9 with various paths and upgrades. You also discover chips that can be placed into the slots of each path to unlock powerful upgrades and bonuses.

It’s a mix-and-match style approach, with certain nodes accessing new features, while others may lead to weakening the weapon overall. As you discover and craft better quality chips, you can further enhance various attributes of each weapon. This is a vital part of progression as it has the power to turn difficult enemies into, well, a bloody pulp. One of the upgrade paths turns up the gore setting to 11 while another gives RoboCop’s weapon infinite ammo without the need to reload. Yes, it’s as glorious as it sounds.

I walked into a pristine courthouse with marbled pillars, expensive art adorning the walls, a glorious statue taking pride at the center of the building. After I’d finished RoboCoping everyone inside, it was a mess of rubble and body parts. The explosive nature of Rogue City’s fantastic combat system combined with meaningful and impactful weapon upgrade mechanics is a thrill to explore and execute.

On the other hand, the games skill system doesn’t feel as rewarding or well planned. There are several skill trees you can invest it, increasing everything from your damage to how well you can speak with suspects and allies, but the either or approach means some of the games best features are tucked away behind late-game upgrades and progress. That’s not to say you don’t have a choice, you can level any skill whenever you want, but the game holds a gun to your head and unless you want to miss vital bonuses, you’re going to stick to a certain path.

Maybe it’s all my years of being denied loot and opportunities in Bethesda games but given the choice in Rogue City, I spent much of the first half of the game leveling my Deduction and Psychology skills. Deduction allows RoboCop to read hidden notes to discover the combination to a nearby safe, containing items to give more XP, and the Psychology skill highlights favorable dialogue options – something I couldn’t avoid if I wanted to end the game on a positive note.

Once I’d invested enough in those to be confident I wouldn’t accidentally give OCP the run of Detroit by the time I was done, I started exploring the other skills. Focus, providing an insanely satisfying slow-motion system, Scanning allowing me to ricochet bullets in case a baby needed saving, and Vitality, a skill that let me drain energy from fuse boxes to restore health. All of the skills are rewarding, I just wish some of the more exciting ones were available on out of the box RoboCop, without needing an upgraded model.

When you’re not shooting down scum, RoboCop: Rogue City uses familiar yet effective methods to engage players in more authentic police work. Using RoboCops advanced scanning and detection systems, you’ll be searching crime scenes for clues, taking statements, and chasing down suspects. It’s a system of simple design, merely scanning around a picture to locate things out of place, but it never gets frustrating or overwhelming.

Rogue City’s demo was not without its problems and while many of those were improved or fixed, the full release is not without it’s buggy woes. I lost about 2 hours of progress due to a bug that wouldn’t let me open a door. Secondary Objectives, the games side quest style system, would often play out multiple times after completion. Characters would vanish when shot, certain areas struggled in the FPS department. All in all, nothing major, most mere minor inconvenience, but a bit more work under the hood is needed post-release.

RoboCop Rogue City pays homage to its source material like no other. A faithful recreation of a beloved character and world over 30 years in the making. At its core, it’s a fantastic over-the-top 80s action shooter but dig a little deeper and you’ll find a dark, dystopian tale of man and machine more relevant today than ever.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post RoboCop Rogue City Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Ubisoft’s latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise sees a return to its roots, its stealth foundations that led the way for one of the most recognizable franchises of today. Returning to the Middle East to revive the near-forgotten origins of the franchise is almost poetic but such a drastic change in direction seldom goes well. If you’re looking for another 100-hour epic with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you’re going to be left disappointed. However, as a newcomer to the franchise or perhaps a long-time fan left behind in the wake of those time-consuming RPG’s, this is quite simply the best stealth Assassin’s Creed game to date.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review

As a standalone tale, it’s a riveting story, one filled with unexpected twists and turns as Basim and his allies attempt to lift the veil that shrouds and protects the infamous Order. The writing and dialogue are well delivered and although the voice-acting is top quality throughout, Roshan (voiced by the distinguishable Shohreh Aghdashloo) completely steals the show. As Basim’s mentor and trainer, she plays a vital role throughout the adventure, and I hung on every word she said each time she appeared.

For those with a greater understanding of the expansive narrative found throughout the Assassin’s Creed games, there are some iconic moments to be found. I won’t spoil them here but learning about Balsim’s motivations and goals, meeting important characters he’s yet to fully understand, it’s delivered in such a way that does not make newcomers feel like they are missing out, while giving franchise veterans exciting new developments in the story.

Much of my time playing through Assassin’s Creed Mirage was a challenge. Not in the sense of difficulty, but in the shedding of expectations and habits picked up playing the more recent games. Everything about Assassin’s Creed Mirage is smaller, more compact, and whether or not that appeals is very much on a case-by-case basis. You can say goodbye to the repetitive camps and map objectives, slaying the order isn’t some daunting 70 hour affair, and exploration is more a welcomed reprieve than core focus of the experience. It’s also a game more rooted in realism, you won’t be hunting down mythical creatures or slaying gods but that, again, is something some fans will welcome. You can complete the entire story in 15-20 hours and probably all of the side content around the 20-30 hour mark.

This creates the most accessible Assassin’s Creed game in years. While I’m sure some fans will miss the scope and awe of the more recent games, it’s a perfect homage to the games initial design, it’s original goal of creating an immersive and exciting stealth action experience. While the size of AC Mirage is dwarfed by its larger predecessors, the level of detail and quality in the world building still takes the spot as some of the best in the industry.

I don’t claim to be an expert on Egyptian lore or Nordic mythology but I am infinitely better versed in both of those eras than 9th Century Baghdad, an era even historians are fuzzy on. My ignorance of the era did leave me struggling to connect with the world in places, but the game has all the right tools to immerse you in every tiny detail. The in-game codex, a compendium of information gained from interacting with characters and important structures and locations found throughout the world, is arguably one of the games greatest features. It’s rare I spend so much time reading through in-game documents but learning more about the culture and history of Baghdad is probably my biggest takeaway from the entire journey.

Learning about the evolution of the Shurta, the power of the qadi in the judicial system, learning why a structure was called the Dome of the Ass, it’s yet another fascinating and rewarding dive into culture and history in a way that only Ubisoft does. I have no idea how big the team is that works specifically on these elements of the Assassin’s Creed games, but the time, energy, and passion they pour into these aspects of development is evident throughout.

At its core, Assassin’s Creed Mirage has far more in common with the earlier Assassin’s Creed games. Combat is simplistic, offering two types of attacks and the ability to either dodge or parry. It’s responsive, fluid, allowing for some impressive battles against multiple opponents, but you’re not going to be slaughtering camps of 30 raiders with a massive battle axe. It encourages a slower, more methodical approach, one that shines with the smaller scale – allowing developers tighter control over specific scenes and encounters.

Taking down each member of the Order is an exciting challenge. Almost all of the missions can be approached in a multitude of ways. Finding a disguise and sneaking your way in a side door. A hidden underground entrance that leads to the heart of the compound. Nearby rebels you can pay to cause a distraction. I approached each mission in a different way, creating fun and interesting challenges that never felt repetitive or stale – words quite often associated with some of the lesser creative elements of the bigger games.

The only real frustration with this more compact approach to mission design are the bloody doors. My objective, mere feet away the other side of a door, but it’s one I can’t use. No rhyme or reason, I just can’t use that door. The other side, a door barred from the inside. Used infrequently these wouldn’t be much of a problem, but it’s a persistent issue throughout the game and one that really got irritating towards the final hours.

Outside of the main story, there are plenty of activities for explorers to sink their teeth into. Tales of Baghdad, the games side quest system, are all relatively quick and simple quests, more designed to offer deeper insight into the characters and culture of the game than to present any great challenge or reward. Many different collectibles dot the horizon offering new gear and equipment, Lost Books to return to the House of Wisdom. It’s all very familiar, delivered in Ubisoft’s traditionally map-filled way, but it’s scope makes these achievements, well, achievable. Without having to invest half your free time each week to make any progress.

There are some casualties with this cross of old-school foundations and more modern game design. I didn’t particularly enjoy the leveling system. Instead of the experience-based approach from the recent titles, Mirage offers milestone-based progression. This made a lot of the combat and exploration feel less rewarding, as I immediately knew whether or not this particular activity was going to result in any kind of character advancement. This is very much a subjective take though, as I imagine just as many people will be glad to know there is no required grind. The game ensures you are ready for each challenge it throws at you.

Similarly, I didn’t much enjoy the gear and equipment system, it felt redundant. I played through nearly the entire story without upgrading my gear or seeking out new equipment, purely a personal choice as I was really enjoying the story, but I never really had any drive or requirement to try and make Basim stronger. The game encourages stealth gameplay, tactical decisions, and killing an enemy in one shot was as effective at the beginning as it was at the end.

There are some new tools in Balsim’s arsenal that I really enjoyed. The focus takedown, an ability that allows Balsim to target up to five nearby enemies and assassinate them almost instantly, is absolutely fantastic. It created some cinematic moments of pure awe, working equally well as a tool of death to that of a method of reaching difficult areas or high structures. Between that ability and the incredible stealth options available, it’s rare to get into a proper melee battle.

Mirage is the Assassin’s Creed many have been waiting for. It pays homage to its roots, bringing with it the challenge and satisfaction of a well-planned and executed stealth assault. It effortlessly blends together the old-school approach with updated design philosophies, a deeper and more immersive game world, and a story that enthralls from start to finish.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Fate/Samurai Remnant Review

In Fate/Samurai Remnant, you play as Edo samurai Miyamoto Iori. Skilled with a sword, you sometimes do work cleaning up thugs and Ronin in town. After finishing your work for the day, mysterious assassins attack you while you sleep. While beating them down, an elite warrior shows up and easily handles you. Before you are finished off, another warrior appears to help you.

This warrior is called Saber, and you are their master. After the battle is over, Saber explains what is going on. People are being chosen to partake in this Waxing Moon Ritual, and Iori is one of the participants. In total, there will be seven masters that fight to the death. The one who wins will have their wish granted, both master and servant. With that goal in mind, you set out to become stronger and to stop the other masters in Edo.

The streets of Edo are not always peaceful. You start off facing thugs and Ronin, but it quickly escalates to monsters and even enemy servants. With Saber backing you up, you can power up quickly and hold your own in fights. You learn magic, get new fighting stances, and unlock a huge skill tree. On top of that, each area has bounties for taking out enemies and monsters, so you gain even more experience and cash.

The combat is simple and involves a lot of hitting square and following up with a triangle attack. Every fight has a boss mob to defeat and many weaker enemies as fodder. You smack them around to build up your special attack and then use that for significant damage. It’s basically a Musou game on a much smaller scale. And while you play Iori most of the time, you can play Saber as a special move. Once the special bar depletes, you switch back, but it is still fun to play as your servants.

While you fight a lot, there is plenty to see in Edo itself. Rogue servants hand out in different areas, fighting with you or even giving you some quests. Dogs and cats are all over the place, and you are rewarded for finding them all. There are food stalls and general stores to heal you and restore your special meters. And there are plenty of shining items to pick up off the floor. The game gave me slight Yakuza vibes; low-budget Yakuza, but still Yakuza nonetheless.

The rogue servants are how you get most of your side missions. If you help them, they eventually help you. Nearly all of them end in a fight with some sort of boss, but sometimes, it’s a simple story request. Playing as the rogue servants is a fun break from Saber and Iori, especially when they have their special attack ready. And since Iori only uses swords, trying other servants is the only way to use a spear and other weapons. It’s also good fan service if you like the series.

When you aren’t roaming the streets of Edo, you will be back at your home base. Here, you can spend your resources and cash to buy new upgrades like better stats, lower shop prices, or the ability to change a rogue servant anywhere. It’s a smart system to add because you are typically drowning in money with nothing to purchase in these games. You can also upgrade your gear here, make Buddha statues, and perform maintenance on your sword. It’s all simple mini-games, but the benefits make it worth doing.

Since you are part of the ritual, you gain access to the Leylines of the area. Basically, in order to get into another area of town, you need to use the Leylines as a connection point. It’s not as easy as just walking, though. There is a whole tactical mini-game involved, and it was one of my favorite parts of the game. During the Leyline game, you take areas of the map to claim the enemy base. On the way there, you have to fight enemies and clear the path. If you claim the whole board, you get a better reward and access to a new area.

The biggest disappointment is that you don’t play the Leyline game very often. There are only so many areas to unlock; beyond that, you only get a few side quests to enter the Leyline. I guess because you get permanent stat boosts, they didn’t want you becoming overpowered—still, a few more matches there would have been nice. The other thing you’ll have to deal with is how repetitive the combat gets. Some bosses are HP sponges and have multiple shields, which is annoying. My strategy lately has been to spam food to get special attacks and then spam the attacks. I wouldn’t call it fun, but it is effective.

As for tech problems, I didn’t have any crashes or bugs. I did have the odd frame drop here and there, but nothing serious.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is a great palate cleanser after all the massive games of 2023. Fans of either the Fate series or Musou games shouldn’t hesitate to check this one out.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
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