DERELIKT – Playtest Impressions

I’m not sure this can be called a true impressions article, as I dipped out of DERELIKT very early—long before any real testing could be done. The reason for this is that the game is currently segmented in a way that drops late‑game areas right after level one, which spoils a lot of things I want to keep secret until my full playthrough. Apparently, it goes something like this: Level 1, then level 4, and finally level 5. However, what I did get to test felt and looked damn good!

Continue reading →

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival – Demo Impressions

Now, this demo was a surprise. I was expecting a linear moody walking-simulator, but Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is an actual game with stealth, machete-combat London-style and the blasting of foes with guns. It was also incredibly bloody, with breasts and genitalia on full display—so very Hellraiser and Clive Barker. I found the lady with the massive flesh-constructed tongue upsetting, but not in the pearl clutching way—it was more like: It’s time to get the hell out of here!

Continue reading →

Splinter Cell: Conviction – Sam Going Loco [Review]

The one Splinter Cell game that, in my opinion, got the most flak. Not totally undeserved, but perhaps the critique was a tad harsh back when it was released. People wanted more of the slow, duct-crawling stealth kind. Instead, we got commando Sam Fisher, who has no problem with murdering people to the left and right for the slightest of reasons. This felt off with a lot of people. However, I think Splinter Cell: Conviction fits perfectly in the Splinter Cell lore. Sam is a loose cannon, and without anyone guiding his actions—he is just a brutal killer, especially when fueled by vengeful revenge. Having Sam go crazy with bloodlust, makes narrative sense in the grand story of Splinter Cell.

Continue reading →

Pulsebreaker – Demo Impressions

Wow, the Pulsebreaker demo really impressed me. If we start with the typical aspects of a classic Resident Evil survival-horror clone, it has everything that is needed. The game has a moody, short outbreak story, a dirty urban location to navigate, and zombies that just feel right for the genre. However, what Pulsebreaker also has is a somewhat innovative skill-based combat system, on top of the standard stop-and-shoot approach.

Continue reading →

007 First Light – An Update of Despair

I’m actually taken aback a little by how I feel about 007 First Light, and usually I’m pretty lenient towards these movie‑type games. Let’s just say if the story and the presentation dazzle me (jingle keys!) with a semi-competent gameplay loop, I’m essentially sold. So, while 007 First Light sure has the presentation down, and most of the moment-to-moment action gameplay—I’m having a serious issue motivating myself to continue Bond’s adventure.

Continue reading →

007 First Light – First Impressions

007 First Light is here and, technically, it’s a marvel of programming engineering and semi-competent gameplay design (at least half the time). It runs like a dream and looks the part too. However, as with all dreams, it’s easy to wake up and be ripped out of the state of bliss—meaning: it’s got problems.

Continue reading →