Pass the Controller | Latest news, reviews and reviews in video games
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Forum
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet the Team
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Forum
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet the Team
>

Far Cry 6 review | PS5

19/10/2021

 
Dani scales rooftops in Far Cry 6

The Far Cry series is now over 15 years old, giving Far Cry 6 a lot of different expectations to live up to. With any established franchise like this, it can be a challenge to surprise players without making the established formula too different - losing what made people fall in love with it in the first place.
James Michael Parry

​by James Michael Parry

Twitter logo

​@james_parry

Far Cry 6 box art
Developer: Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Players: 1-2

Right off the bat, some decidedly Far Cry boxes are ticked: there’s a seemingly idyllic island setting, a bow available as the primary weapon, plus a charismatic antagonist. The latter is Antón Castillo, as portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian), who looms over the Cuba-esque island of Yara as dictator.

After a cinematic introduction, with opening credits you might see at the beginning of Sicario or a James Bond film, we’re introduced to protagonist Dani Rojas. Dani can be male or female, though, either way, is prevented from fleeing the island by Castillo. Not taking it lying down, Dani joins up with the Libertad, a group of resistance fighters, to help liberate Yara. 

The Libertad hosts a cast of colourful characters that are archetypes at best, stereotypes at worst. Yara itself is potentially more memorable; the setting is vast, spanning across several zones spread across land and water. Although it seems minor the water effects are underwhelming, particularly on the coast, which you come across quite often while exploring a series of islands.

Exploring the map is a mixed bag. Locations can be claimed for Libertad via a familiar stronghold-capturing mechanic, though not if they relate to a specific quest. Visiting locations too soon leads to being unable to claim the area, all while enemies spawn endlessly to take it back.

You can travel around by horse, which, though it feels a little floaty compared to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, is more practical than using a car on uneven terrain. You’re quickly introduced to a grappling hook for climbing, but the complimentary parachute is handed out a little later, which can lead to a few unnecessary deaths early on.
Giancarlo Esposito as Antón Castillo in Far Cry 6
Initially mainlining the story is a good idea to get properly equipped, though it also allows for teaming up with a friend. There’s no narrative explanation for the delay, which might rub anyone looking to jump straight into co-op the wrong way.

Choosing to carry on solo isn’t a solitary experience, however, thanks to a selection of animal sidekicks. Amigos range from a crocodile to a sausage dog and each have different abilities, adding alternate tactical elements to encounters.

​
There’s a reasonable selection of weapons for Dani to equip, plus a bunch of customisation options in the form of useful attachments and cosmetic alterations. Far from the gunsmithing of Ghost Recon you only get the basics here, but some credit is due for not falling into the trap of needlessly overcomplicating things. There’s a carry limit of three primary weapons at a time, though that might include a beefy flamethrower which you somehow manage to stash about your person.
Dani uses the flamethrower in the rain in Far Cry 6
While there isn’t a huge amount about Far Cry 6 which really breaks its own mould, the gameplay is dependable.
FC6’s signature weapon, and something of an ultimate attack, is the Supremo - a rocket launcher backpack which fires a salvo of missiles into the (fairly unpredictable) distance to act as crowd control. This can be upgraded as well, but is more a fire-and-forget ability for the beginning or end of encounters.
While there isn’t a huge amount about Far Cry 6 which really breaks its own mould, the gameplay is dependable and there are enough hidden shortcuts, unique weapons and against-the-odds encounters to make exploration feel worthwhile. At the same time, buying into the world can be difficult when (for example) there’s no penalty for attacking Libertad allies in full view of their leader.
Dani meets a horse in Far Cry 6, which you can pet
This is a minor symptom, but one of several actions that lack consequences that could add weight to players’ actions; it’s key to creating a believable experience, helping people to forget that they’re playing a game. Perhaps the DLC content, which puts you in the shoes of some of the series’ prior antagonists, might prove more engrossing.

​
Anyone that fancies an island getaway could do a lot worse than taking a trip to Yara. Far Cry 6 is an entertaining means to blow things up and mindlessly shoot people, though probably won’t prove to be memorable in a few years’ (or possibly even months’) time.

Pros

  • Another charismatic antagonist
  • Gameplay is solid and dependable
  • Some new ideas nestled within a familiar formula

Cons
​
  • Plot and characters feel a little wrote
  • Can be quite linear for an open-world experience
  • Lacking character mobility

7/10
0 Comments

Alan Wake Remastered review | PS5

13/10/2021

 
Alan faces three Taken at Bright Falls Deerfest
There are few gaming protagonists with a more intriguing first outing than Alan Wake. Remedy Entertainment are now well-known for their love of narrative and willingness to experiment with sequencing and structure, thanks to more recent games like Quantum Break and Control. Back in the mid-2000s, however, they only had the first two May Payne titles and Death Race under their belt, a lot of ideas and an eagerness to do something original.
James Michael Parry

by James Michael Parry

Picture

​@james_parry

Alan Wake box art
Developer: Remedy Entertainment, D3T
Publisher: Epic Games
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Players: 1

Thanks to a publishing deal with Microsoft, Alan Wake released exclusively on Xbox 360 in 2010, before coming to PC a couple of years later. The launch of this remaster presents PlayStation fans with their first opportunity to explore Bright Falls as the troubled, titular writer - fortunately, it holds up well.

Coming to the game having already enjoyed those later Remedy titles, things do feel a little rough and ready. The character control isn’t very smooth, particularly when you need Alan to jump across gaps or perform any sort of fine movements. Fortunately, the central gameplay is fairly straightforward – point your torch (“flashlight”) at a dark, shadowy being until the darkness burns away and they’re ready to receive a few gunshots.

The introductory section does well in teaching the mechanics, though, as somewhat of a survival horror experience, the difficulty can be fairly punishing even on easy mode. This tutorial sequence also serves as a primer to the surrealistic setting on which Wake’s psyche has an impact.

Bright Falls is an escape for Mr. Wake, it turns out, as the famous author has been trying to write another best-seller for two years without success. Wake’s wife, Alice, whose fear of the dark is telegraphed as an important plot point very early on, tries to get him in the writing mood by bringing a typewriter along. This leads to an argument, and things start to get very dark from there.

While progressing through the story, you’ll find hints in the form of manuscript pages which foreshadow events that either just happened or are still to come. This makes gathering what are essentially collectables more meaningful, since they can give you a tactical advantage when you get into a situation with prior knowledge.
Alan Wake broods in the darkness
Remedy knows how to reward players who pay close attention, and the live-action Night Springs TV show, which heavily borrows from the format and style of The Twilight Zone, also hints at upcoming plot elements. 

In fact, the presentation overall carries an episodic format; there are quick credits sequences and “previously on” recaps as you progress. Looking back, it’s clear to see how the multimedia stylings of Quantum Break came about. Disappointingly, though, the prequel live-action miniseries Bright Falls isn’t included in this remaster.
​
Darkness is an ever-present companion in the narrative, with various story beats necessitating that Wake be out in the woods, alone, at night. It gives the game an isolated feeling similar to early examples of survival horror (compounded by slightly awkward character controls).
Alan faces off against a digger
Whether or not the game is for you depends on how exciting untangling a supernatural mystery sounds.
Additional weapons and light sources gradually become available, which help to mix up the gameplay and more efficiently eliminate harder enemy types. While this is all well and good, the unfolding narrative intrigue is the real draw. Whether or not the game is for you depends on how exciting untangling a supernatural mystery sounds. The game puts its case forward early on, telling you what you’re letting yourself in for and sticking to its guns.

​
In terms of the remaster itself, the visuals and particularly how it uses light – which is especially important here – are noticeably improved by Remastered developers D3T. The official comparison trailer makes it clear that the original was already punching above its weight, but now it looks sharper and plays smoother than ever thanks to 4K at 60 FPS performance on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC.
Alan Wake takes on three Taken with a flashlight
The ominous atmosphere and presentation goes a long way to immediately bring you into the story. Narratively the game can be hammy and far-fetched at times, though it’s absolutely aware of what it is; it’s easy to recommend to any fan of Remedy that hasn’t played Alan Wake before.

​
For returning players, besides the inclusion of the hit-and-miss DLC you may not have played, there’s not anything new or particularly different to bring you back. Since the experience was designed to remain faithful to the original release, however, that’s not a huge surprise. It might even be a positive for purists looking to relive an old favourite in search of nostalgia.

With the spooky season officially upon us, you could do far worse than picking up Alan Wake Remastered and discovering an action-adventure classic. Now’s the perfect time to book a trip to the surreal town of Bright Falls.

Pros

  • Intriguing story and good characterisation
  • Updated visuals, with impressive lighting and shadows
  • Discover ties to the world of Control

Cons
​
  • Movement and animations can feel awkward
  • Occasional performance drops and texture pop-in
  • Not much is new for returning players

9/10​
0 Comments

Diablo 2: Resurrected review | PS5

5/10/2021

 
Lighting and fire in Diablo 2: Resurrected
“Just keep putting skill points into Thorns” – this was the advice we received the last time we played Diablo 2, over 20 years ago, but we'd need more than that to fend off the demonic forces of hell.
Picture

​by James Michael Parry

Picture

​@james_parry

Picture
Developer: Blizzard North
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch
Players: 1-4

In Diablo 2: Resurrected, Blizzard haven’t made many changes, though the visual improvements do look nice. Character and enemy models have had a tune up, and the lighting, fire and magic effects all have more impact. For example, you'll now see dynamic shadows behind pillars as you explore the dark underground dungeons.

There is an odd disconnect between the renewed cinematic cutscenes and the game itself, with the former firing on all cylinders, before then plunging players into a dated-looking isometric viewpoint. By comparison, the in-game improvements don't make the gameplay feel quite as up to date.

This feeling continues into the combat. Basic attacks don't carry much weight, making things feel a bit button mashy at times, even with some rubber banding and animation overlap. The minimal rumble, and little noticeable use of the DualSense features on PlayStation 5, suggests this version hasn't been given much platform-specific thought.

​Getting to grips with the procedural maps and unforgiving death system can be somewhat of a shock, given there's no in-game explanation or hints to make sense of these quirks. In fact, the level of tutorialisation and guidance in general is minimal, but purists might say that's the point.

While it might not be an RPG which veterans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Skyrim would find familiar, there's an awful lot of depth going on beneath the surface, giving you the power to fully micromanage your character's build over time.
The Necromancer class in the character selection screen of Diablo 2: Resurrected
Those with a background in Dungeons & Dragons or anyone who knows their dexterity from their vitality will feel right at home, as the player is given five precious attribute points each level to spend however they like. It’s even possible to respec, though only once per playthrough without some extra legwork.

Levelling also pays out skill points, which are more immediately tangible, granting additional active abilities which consume mana, or passive traits which become more and more significant with each point invested.

Certain gear requires meeting specific class and attribute thresholds, which is something else to keep in mind. Looting is a big deal in general and you'll quickly find the limited inventory space filling up as a result, so item management is also a key part of getting the most out of the experience.​
Dialogue in a dungeon of Diablo 2: Resurrected
Keeping gear up to date is vital to avoid getting caught out and brutally cut down in your stride; even a change to one or two equipment slots can grant huge bonuses against certain enemies. Since dying drops all money and equipment until it’s retrieved from your corpse, character loadouts are something to always stay on top of.
It's clear time and care has been put into the remaster, but perhaps, in the end, Blizzard should have gone for a remake.
Baddies come in all shapes and sizes, from elemental beasts to savage demons, and at times the screen can be filled with a horde of different targets. Targeting isn't as precise as it could be on a controller, unfortunately, which can lead to some annoying deaths.

The most frustrating foes to watch out for, who come in various forms throughout the game but start appearing very early on, are the shamans, who have the power to revive their fallen allies. Of course, for those that choose to play the Necromancer class, it’s possible to beat them at their own game.
Taking out enemies in the ruins in Diablo 2: Resurrected
Whatever the class, it’s always possible to hire a mercenary to help out in combat and draw some enemy fire, which can make a huge difference when it comes to crowd control. This helps to make the experience feel less lonely, but, of course, you can also team up with fellow adventurers in online co-op multiplayer.

In the end, Diablo 2: Resurrected can feel a little archaic and even out of touch with what draws many to modern action games. It's clear that time and care has been put into the remaster, but perhaps, in the end, Blizzard should have gone for a full remake – look at the recent successes of Final Fantasy VII and Demon's Souls as a couple of examples within the genre.

With many fans eagerly awaiting Diablo 4, D2: Resurrected is a good opportunity to try the game that put the series on the map. The company's current lawsuit may cause some players to think twice, but as far as judging the game on its own merits, there's a lot to enjoy, and it's easy to see why the original gained such esteem two decades ago.

Pros

  • A faithful visual upgrade to an undisputed classic
  • Dive deep to discover the lore
  • Kill a few demons in many different ways

Cons
​
  • May stick too close to the aging original for some
  • Minimalistic music is fairly underwhelming 
  • Little help to ease in new players

7/10
0 Comments

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Review | PS5

26/5/2021

 
A Reaper touches down

It’s been almost a decade since we last set foot on the Normandy, Captain Shepard’s iconic spaceship, and it feels good to be back. While Mass Effect: Andromeda was a perfectly passable Mass Effect experience, arguably with some of the most refined action in the series, somehow it didn’t have that special something. We just didn’t warm to the protagonist in the same way we did with Shepard - in fact, we’d struggle even to remember their name...
Picture

​by James
Michael Parry

Twitter logo @james_parry

​@james_parry

Picture
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: EA
Platforms: Xbox X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, PC
Players: 1

With a whole generation of new fans ready to become galactic paragons and renegades, the remastered trilogy puts players in the boots of Commander Shepard. Alongside a cast of varied companions, he or she must fight against an ancient race of mechanical enemies known as Reapers.

Not everyone has played these games before, so let’s start with a bit of a primer. On the surface, Mass Effect is about a soldier in an intergalactic military who gradually wins the support of both the establishment and the galaxy’s civilian races. Decisions during combat and in conversation decide if players do this virtuously, or with an iron fist.

Wielding skills in diplomacy can decide whether or not users need to pull out a weapon, right from the start. As the trilogy progresses, however, players increasingly come up against enemies which can’t be reasoned with. As a result, ME2 and ME3 rely more heavily on action to get the job done.

This was historically one of the series’ main sticking points, though there are a few tweaks in the Legendary Edition that attempt to tie all three games together as a more cohesive whole.

​ME1 brings much more of a traditional RPG approach, with a significant number of skill points to be spent across a large number of abilities that differ between classes. Later games simplify the process, with only a handful of active skills and a more deliberate upgrade path.
Shepard fights the Geth on Feros
There are tons of weapons, though they all conform to the familiar shotgun, pistol, assault and sniper rifle archetypes. In the first game these work on a cooldown rather than needing to reload, which can make for more strategic combat encounters. Any excess weapons can be assigned to teammates, sold and/or broken down into omni-gel used to skip hacking mini games and repair Shepard’s land vehicle.

In the second and third games, these more unique elements are nowhere to be found. Weapons need loading with thermal clips (presumably to speed up combat), for example.
There’s so much to cover here that it feels like we can only scratch the surface in terms of what players might discover.
Getting back to the first instalment, which has undoubtedly seen the most change, Mass Effect now has smoother combat mechanics in general. Improved cover mechanics, squad orders and a dedicated melee button are cribbed from its sequel to give players more control. That said, utilising biotic and tech powers (essentially magic and tech-based skills, respectively) can still feel quite clunky. Faster enemies are especially hard to take out, as they overwhelm the relatively immobile Commander Shepard easily.
BioWare have taken the time to smooth out the visuals and performance, too. While there’s still the odd janky animation here and there, players will notice the lighting improvements in the first game in particular, which would often require squinting to make out characters’ faces when they had helmets on.

The game runs from a fairly pedestrian, but reliable, 1080p at 30fps, all the way up to 4K UHD at an eye-watering 240fps on PC – provided the graphics card can handle it. What users get ultimately depends on whether they go for the “favour quality” or “favour framerate” graphics mode. For example, the Xbox Series X outputs up to 60fps at 4K UHD on the former setting and up to 120fps at 1440p on the latter.​
Garrus Vakarian
Characters and companions have always been the Mass Effect series’ crown jewel, however. While there are too many noteworthy examples to shout out individually (though we have discussed some of our favourites), it’s fair to say the depth of interaction varies quite significantly both between games and between squadmates and general NPCs.

The first title doesn’t go into too much detail straight away, but, in time, players learn about how companions differ and their individual values. Relationships with some characters can develop into romantic entanglements, all depending on how users behave. 

Where this system - and the accompanying dialogue - can start to creak is when users do things the game doesn’t really expect. In ME1, for example, an Asari consort is having problems with a client. Since the mission structure is fairly open, especially in the bustling Citadel, players might follow this quest line through to completion before another NPC suggests they check on the (already solved) situation.​
Liara T'Soni, your Asari companion and love interest
These kinds of inconsistencies follow through to romantic connections as well. Characters that are romanceable in one game aren’t always in the next, and being reunited with them can feel jarring instead of a natural continuation as would likely be the case in a single, longer game.

Dialogue options directly link to a meter which awards users points for paragon (noble) and renegade (ruthless) behaviour, too. There are benefits to hitting either end of the spectrum, which can lead to the system feeling like it encourages suboptimal decisions in certain situations.

There’s so much to cover here that it feels like we can only scratch the surface in terms of what players might discover. For those who’ve done it all before, the nuanced characters might feel more primitive than you remember, and the gameplay transition between each game can take some getting used to.​
Shepard fights a Husk with an omnitool
For those who are new, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a real treat. It’s filled with thoughtful touches and memorable moments that are up there with some of the most dramatic set pieces in gaming history. It might not feel quite as polished as a modern game, but BioWare and EA have done the work to smooth out some of the rougher gameplay and visual edges. It’s now easier and more enjoyable than ever to follow the journey of Commander Shepard from beginning to end, allowing players to fully appreciate the epic space opera in comfort.

Pros

  • Colourful characters you want to go on continued adventures with
  • Freedom of choice in where to explore and how to treat others
  • Pleasant visual and gameplay upgrades throughout the series

Cons
​
  • No dedicated PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions
  • Binary choices can feel arbitrary at times
  • Progressive lean towards action trades style for substance

8/10
0 Comments

Assassin's Creed Valhalla review | Xbox One X

19/11/2020

 
Eivor fights a boss with two axes in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

There's nothing like clambering over a snow-capped mountain while exploring the hallowed lands of the Norse. Assassin's Creed Valhalla makes this experience, and many more, nothing short of breathtaking.

Picture
by James Michael Parry

Picture

​@james_parry

Picture
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox X|S, PS5, PC
Players: 1

After your customary introduction to the game's systems (with little emphasis on stealth or assassination), you'll reach your first settlement, Fornburg, where your tribe and adopted family stand outnumbered against the enemy.

From here there's time to explore your surroundings before journeying to England and kickstarting the main adventure, as you search for wealth and solve mysteries to bolster your skills and equipment. Quests don't get too much more involved than sneaking, stabbing and sailing, but the setting feels spaced out enough to avoid the repetition which plagued some earlier Assassin’s Creed titles.

Ever since Origins, the series has had more of an RPG flavor, and, far from the largely cosmetic character development in Syndicate, Valhalla's Eivor will unlock not only abilities but a variety of upgradable gear to help on his or her quest. Exploring will also reward you with fancy new abilities which run on a cool down, helping to bring your clan's enemies to a swift end.

This open-world gameplay direction can initially seem at odds with the core stealth mechanics. In time, however, the freedom of movement in a wider space proves more challenging and exciting as you analyse the best ways to approach each situation.
​

Present day check-ins with the returning Layla provide a few smatterings of context for new players unfamiliar with the overarching Abstergo and Animus storyline, though Valhalla is really Eivor's story. That draws a stark contrast to recent Ubisoft stablemate Watch Dogs Legion and its protagonist-less approach, with this game being much stronger for it.

Even during the prologue it’s easy to care about characters, especially the genuine bond with your adopted brother Sigurd. It’s straight from the pages of Game of Thrones, as is the power struggle around which the main story is built.
Norway in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
There's no compromise on scale, though as you travel around you'll notice the odd bit of texture pop-in. Performance is fairly solid on the whole, though we did get stuck in the environment once or twice while searching for goodies in the wilderness.

The approach to uncovering those goodies is fairly unforgiving, with only a vague spot on the in-game map to shoot for. It's a difficult balance to strike, since players tend to roll their eyes at unnecessary hand-holding, but the odd understated voice line to suggest you’re getting colder or warmer would be beneficial in some of the more complex areas.​
Valhalla can suffer from a lack of direction at times, but its Nordic influence seeps into every pore, leaving plenty to get excited about.
Environments are very much divided into things you can interact with and things you can't. You can pick up health from odd pots of food that the locals seem to have absent-mindedly left simmering, but a pile of fresh apples and other fruit in a barn aren't deemed edible, for example.

​
Elsewhere there are more inconsistencies, with Eivor being able to climb mountains endlessly - no stamina needed, à la Breath of the Wild - yet a few consecutive dodges during combat will quickly tire the protagonist.
Eivor and her raven in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortunately, combat as a whole is reassuringly savage and satisfying. Lower level enemies are entertaining fodder, but more advanced foes require you to keep your wits about you.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can suffer from a lack of direction at times, but its Nordic influence seeps into every pore, leaving plenty to get excited about. Strong characters, choice of approach and presentation make it a great choice for those breaking in a new next-gen console or sticking with an older platform.

Pros

  • Impressive visuals, even on the old consoles
  • Likeable characters pull you into the story
  • Tried and tested gameplay is more polished than ever before

Cons
​
  • Inconsistent environmental interactions can hamper problem-solving
  • Skill tree can be overwhelming
  • Combat can initially be hard to crack

9/10​
0 Comments

Watch Dogs: Legion | Xbox One X Review

6/11/2020

 
Hacking a drone in Watch Dogs: Legion

While we're not quite living in the dystopian future that Watch Dogs: Legion predicts, Ubisoft Toronto couldn't possibly have imagined the world it was releasing its latest game into. 

James Michael Parry

​by ​James Michael Parry

Picture

@james_parry

Watch Dogs: Legion
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Stadia
Players: 1+

Besides the impact on personal freedoms in response to global catastrophe, Ubisoft itself is reeling from substantial accusations of abuse, mistreatment and corruption along with a series of resulting dismissals. Perhaps that explains why coming into Legion's version of London doesn't have quite the same sense of wonder and escapism we might be used to – it's all a little close to home.

Ironically, the game's London setting is one of its most captivating features. Fairly comprehensive, if obviously condensed and altered, the entire map is open from the word go, and, though obscured by a shroud, navigating it is fairly straightforward thanks to plentiful fast travel points. Of course, there’s also a plethora of vehicles to forcibly commandeer and recklessly drive with little consequence.

In fact, the game as a whole feels almost bereft of consequences. Completing borough missions will turn the area defiant, supposedly signaling a public uprising against the government, oppression and surveillance, but the in-game impact is minimal. Tech upgrade points get marked on the map, in true Ubisoft open-world fashion, but NPCs still go about their usual routines and the city feels exactly the same.

Building up a team is a key element of Watch Dogs: Legion, since you'll need certain outfits and occupations to access different areas and complete specific missions. The main conceit we heard about when the game was announced is true – you really can recruit anyone just walking around on the street, or even the guards that oppose you – though characters won't be fans of you and returning hacker outfit, DedSec, if you choose to beat them up beforehand.

Fortunately, the aptitude of average Londoners seems to be exceptional. It’s straightforward to wander into a restricted area, like Buckingham Palace, and take down trained police and security officers as any old amateur.
Big Ben's clock tower in Watch Dogs: Legion
Firearms are sparse, as you'd expect in England, which favours the tech-orientated culture this series is known for. Drones of all shapes and sizes are everywhere and vehicles, as in previous titles, can be diverted with a quick hack. Environments are so interactive, in fact, that it's often difficult to focus on the small keypad in front of you as opposed to items in the surrounding area.

An option which helps to set Legion apart from the swathe of similar Ubisoft games is permadeath; if operatives die with this setting enabled, they're gone for good. Problem is, recruitable characters lack personality, so rather than hitting on a personal level it’s just annoying to lose whichever special skills or items they had access to.
Connections between characters raise questions like "Why is that construction worker being targeted by a hitman?"
One nice feature, which admittedly has the potential to get out of hand, is a HUD element that displays connections between existing recruits and recruitable characters. It raises questions like "Why is that construction worker being targeted by a hitman?" and encourages you to start to build out a wider team, members of which are connected by emergent stories. When you get into recruitment itself, however, the variety of missions is fairly limited.

​
Characters in general have a few shortcomings. Animation transitions are abrupt and occasionally wonky, while speech seems very skewed towards British stereotypes. That isn't necessarily a surprise, but, since you're hearing the same voice line or two whenever you get into a conversation, it gets old quickly. ​
Watch Dogs: Legion scanning at Tower Bridge
While cosmetic customisation is possible via numerous shops, some of the initial character designs clash with their intended roles. It isn’t a major issue, but it is another thing that highlights the shortcomings of procedural generation in Watch Dogs: Legion. It’s much harder to care about these characters than it would be a lovingly hand-crafted cast.

Watch Dogs: Legion’s core gameplay is good fun for the most part, but its procedural cast of soulless characters don’t lend themselves to helping players be absorbed by alternate London. Still, the sights and sounds of Blighty’s capital are exciting to explore - especially in lieu of being able to amble around the city in person at present!

Pros
  • Satisfactory hacking mechanics still shine
  • Exploring near-future London is great, especially as a local
  • Spiderbot and drone side missions are a nice change of pace

Cons
  • Bugs are fairly commonplace
  • Mission variety is sparse, plus flying around on a delivery drone makes most tasks trivial
  • Characters feel disposable and your actions have little impact

7/10
0 Comments

In Death: Unchained Review | Oculus Quest

23/7/2020

 
In Death Unchained Review Oculus Quest - Pass the Controller

In Death: Unchained brings the VR Rogue-lite to Oculus Quest for an untethered, wireless experience after its debut on PSVR and PC. Clever subtitle aside, the procedurally generated shooter has been expanded with all-new content to ramp-up the difficulty and keep players busy for longer. Packed with religious iconography, is this trip to the afterlife destined for heaven or hell?

Picture






by Sam Sant


Picture

@SlamShotSam


Picture
Developer: Superbright
Publisher: Superbright
Platforms: Oculus Quest
Players: 1
Porting In Death to Quest has been handled by Superbright, in place of original developer Solfar. Though the game might look ever-so-slightly worse without a PC or PS4 powering it, it’s not hard to argue that this is the definitive version. The additional Abyss level takes the game’s total to a healthy three, while its hellish theme makes for a more complete tour of what may lie beyond the mortal realm.

As far as a storyline goes, that’s about the extent of it. You battle through purgatory, heaven and hell - in that order - whilst confronted by challenging enemies and randomised level layouts. You’ll die over and over again until you finally get proficient enough to reach a level’s boss encounter, then probably die again. Each time you’ll head back to the start and face an altered challenge, your choice of longbow or crossbow in hand.

Levels do adapt somewhat to mirror player proficiency, but there’s no getting around the fact that In Death: Unchained is difficult. In a VR market stuffed with lite “experiences” it can be bruising to begin with, though dying does actually facilitate progress. As you play, you’ll unlock a variety of in-game achievements (unfortunately, they don’t appear on a system level in the Oculus Scoreboards app) which grant different buffs.

Landing a certain number of headshots in one run rewards you with a permanent boost to headshot damage, for example. In addition to receiving these tangible benefits, your manual skills should also develop over time; the result is an engaging sense of progression that helps to take the edge off permadeath.
 
Earning some unavoidable achievements can work against you, however. Killing large numbers of specific enemy types will summon their meaner counterparts, which prevents you from just snowballing in, power unchecked. 
Since unlocks aren’t a complete crutch, developing your physical skill is key. Aiming takes genuine finesse without crosshairs or any form of aim assist, and getting a feel for the gradual drop of an arrow or bolt also takes some time. At first you’ll be whiffing shots at close range, before eventually hitting headshots over long distances like it’s nothing.

Solid motion tracking on the Oculus Touch controllers makes things painless, which is handy, as combat requires juggling way more than just archery. There’s a defensive shield (which can also be turned to offence with a close-range shield bash), though it often pays to physically dodge incoming projectiles and melee strikes so as to not obscure your vision. The Quest’s lack of wires can really help out here.

It’s possible to briefly trigger slow motion by bringing up the real-time arrow switching menu, which helps if you’re in a small play area and need to be careful with regards to how you move. If space is at a real premium, you can even opt to play stationary and seated. Firing teleportation arrows is probably the best movement option to match, though there is also a free locomotion setting available at launch.

Regardless of your preferred settings, a short-range teleportation shard also occupies your arsenal for clutch dodges and quickly popping around corners or through doorways. You can best use it to your advantage in attracting enemies’ attention and then retreating slightly to draw them into choke points. The AI is pretty exploitable if you pull enemies gradually, though things get hairy when you mess up and they bombard you all at once.
In Death Unchained Review Oculus Quest - Pass the Controller
Special arrows can save your afterlife in these situations, doing things like freezing enemies in place and sticking them with explosives, channelling the iconic Gears of War Torque Bow. They’re an absolute must during boss encounters as well; bosses annoyingly spawn in waves of minions, so your best bet is to end the fight before it has a chance to really begin using your heaviest artillery.

Emerging victorious will grant you access to the next level, though being able to start a run from that level (i.e. opting to begin from two at the menu instead of clearing one to get back there) requires hitting an arbitrary overall completion percentage first. Gating is probably intended for players’ own good, but when we’d nearly finished the final level and died it was annoying to learn that we’d need to backtrack and earn 7% more in order to spawn there for an immediate second crack of the whip.

Still, returning to the previous level, Paradise Lost, wasn’t all bad. Cathedral architecture is elaborately laid out amongst the clouds and we found that being mobile and aggressive worked best on the armies of flying cherubs and grounded witches. It can be easy to get lost in the lavish labyrinth and cherubs in particular have a nasty habit of appearing right behind you for cheap hits, but it's still a lot of fun to play the role of ordained executioner.
In Death: Unchained features an engaging sense of progression that helps to take the edge off permadeath.
In Death Unchained Review Oculus Quest - Pass the Controller
A major strength of virtual reality gaming is the use of 3D audio, but the implementation here is underwhelming. Enemy sound effects never really cut through the bog standard atmospheric background score, which makes it hard to instinctively pinpoint their locations and can lead to missing enemies standing right by you.
 
In Death: Unchained is immensely replayable and, impressively, a grander prospect than its higher powered PC and PlayStation 4 counterparts. It’s challenging and moreish, while also being a great fit for the Oculus Quest platform specifically. Permadeath and towering reliquaries – shrines that serve as in-game shops and save points – make the game easy to play in short bursts, lending itself well to the headset’s portable nature and limited battery life.

Pros

  • Challenging, involved and skill-dependant gameplay
  • Definitive version thanks to new content
  • Progression and procedural generation make for huge replayability 

Cons

  • Bosses are uninspired and rely on spawning in drones
  • Audio is limp, with enemies being especially underwhelming
  • Cherubs can teleport directly behind you and steal cheap hits

7/10
0 Comments

Vitamin Connection | Review | Nintendo Switch

11/3/2020

 
Vitamin-Connection

Created by Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse developer WayForward, Vitamin Connection is a new and exclusive IP for the Nintendo Switch. It tasks players with saving the fictional Sable family (and by extension, the world) from an all-consuming pathogenic outbreak. Far from a sombre reflection of the present-day Coronavirus situation, Vitamin Connection and its cheery, colourful gameplay could very well prove to be the antidote for those seeking shelter.

Picture

by Liam
Andrews

Picture

@liam_andrews5

Picture
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: WayForward
Platform: Switch
Players: 1 - 2

Rather than combating microscopic germs with self-imposed quarantines and better hand washing routines, Vitamin Connection sees players take control of the Joy-Con-esque Capsule Ship. It’s piloted by two silent protagonists, Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl, as they endeavour to navigate maze-like 2D levels.

​The game’s six campaign missions - each of which takes place inside a different member of the Sable family, from the baby to the dog (and even the TV) - include a handful of infected locations that players must clean up. That gameplay loop is bookended by cartoonish cinematics through which snippets of the game’s rather bonkers plot play out.

Forward momentum through levels is handled automatically, with players only needing to move and rotate the Capsule Ship in order to avoid obstacles and battle enemies. The latter is done through a combination of the ship's Vitamin Beam (a directional attack mapped to the right stick) and an extending claw that can pinch and pull apart tougher bacteria, and also grab floating obstacles to use as makeshift shields.

Clearing out the main infected areas of any given host is achieved through the completion of challenges, titled sub-games. These usually only take a few minutes to complete, and, while some can fall a bit flat (like Escaper, which requires getting from A to B without collisions), the Dance Festival, Wire Coaster and Medicine Ball (read: air hockey) games are plenty fun. Even more so in co-op, in fact, with players able to replay favourites at any time once they’ve beaten and unlocked them.
Vitamin Connection definitely feels like it’s best experienced in co-op, and while it’s possible to see and experience all that the game has to offer solo, it’s certainly more enjoyable with a partner along for the ride. It’s a shame, then, that progression between solo and cooperative campaigns isn’t shared and there’s no drop in/drop out support for spontaneous sessions. 

​Rather than simply throwing in another Capsule Ship for a second person, Vitamin Connection’s asymmetrical co-op mode sees players splitting the duties of a single craft. With the left Joy-Con, one player controls ship movement and activation of the Vitamin Beam, while the other, using the right, deals with rotation and aiming.

The added layer of teamwork helps lift the relatively straightforward gameplay and adds a whole new level of humour to proceedings as players endeavour to coordinate attacks and evasions. Sub-games also benefit from the addition of a second player, with WayForward making good use of some of the Joy-Cons’ lesser utilised features, such as motion controls, and even the IR sensor for reflex-based challenges.
Vitamin-Connection
Dance Festival has players pulling off moves in time to a musical beat, and is great fun with a partner in tow.

It’s innovative touches like these, along with a ridiculously catchy J-Pop soundtrack and a bright, cartoony aesthetic, that help Vitamin Connection, at times, feel like it could have come directly from Nintendo themselves. Unfortunately, however, the game also has more than a few frustrating quirks that spoil the fun and stop it from being something really special.

​Levels often feel samey, despite belonging to different hosts, and sub-games are repeated throughout the campaign with only slight variations to colour and design serving to set them apart. It’s also far too easy for your ship to get stuck in narrower sections of levels and end up being left behind, doomed to a slow death, as the screen, cut scenes and action all continue to move on without you.
Vitamin-Connection
Levels are littered with these ribbons, which are incredibly satisfying to break with the corresponding colour.

Away from the actual gameplay, a number of technical issues also dog Vitamin Connection. Controls can become unresponsive after switching from handheld to TV mode, or vice-versa, and the Joy-Cons too easily lose calibration during co-op sessions. The latter is particularly frustrating during the Dance Festival sub-games where precision is key; since you’re unable to recalibrate until the challenge is over, the only choice is to either continue using wonky inputs or reboot the game and start over.
Vitamin-Connection
Vitamin-Connection
Medicine Ball and Wire Coaster were two of the standout sub-games.
Still, when everything’s going well, Vitamin Connection is a fun party game that’s both challenging enough to keep regular gamers hooked and intuitive enough for casuals to keep pace. With around 5 – 10 hours of content as standard and the challenging post-game Pro Campaign to boot, there’s plenty on offer for the £15 price tag. 

While it might not be an entirely sweet remedy, Vitamin Connection is certainly no bitter pill to swallow.

Pros
​
  • Bright, cartoon-like aesthetic
  • Great in co-op
  • Catchy soundtrack
  • Novel use of Joy-Con features

Cons
​
  • Repetitive levels and challenges
  • No drop in/drop out support
  • Joy-Cons often lose calibration

7/10
0 Comments

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | Review | Xbox One

27/11/2019

 
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | Review | Xbox One - Pass the Controller

Force fever is running high once again with the triple threat of a new Star Wars film - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker - Disney+ series The Mandalorian and video game Jedi: Fallen Order all occupying the zeitgeist at the same time.

Picture

 by James
 Michael
 Parry


Picture

@James_Parry

Picture
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Players: 1

Despite feeling a little like overload, if you're at all inclined to visit a galaxy far, far away then Fallen Order will grip you from the get go. The game’s visual design and music in particular immediately succeed in pulling you deeply into George Lucas’ beloved world.

Cal Kestis, played by Gotham's Cameron Monaghan, is a fairly typical, plucky and sarcastic Star Wars protagonist. He’s joined (just as Battlefront 2's Iden Versio was) by a helpful companion droid, model number BD-1. As you might expect, the pair quickly form a bond and as the game progresses little BD gains helpful new tricks such as the ability to hack (or "splice") locks and robotic enemies alike.

Coming from the developers of Titanfall, and, more recently, Apex Legends, we came into the game expecting to discover that Respawn Entertainment’s trademark hyper-mobile movement was possible out of the gate. Instead, players are eased into utilising Cal's full suite of Jedi powers slowly as he rediscovering them throughout the story.

Set after Order 66 was enacted in Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi Order has largely been eradicated, with Cal's former master amongst those lost. He's been keeping a low profile, working in a starship scrapyard and not tapping into the Force, until the events of the narrative (ahem) force his hand. 

Controlling Cal is a weightier affair than franchise fans might be accustomed to from the comparatively arcade-y Force Unleashed series or the hero sections in the Battlefront series. Not being able to wall run at first seems odd when there are clearly telegraphed locations littering levels, but thankfully this is a skill you quickly remember from your early training as a child (with careful use of a flashback). Still, it's obligatory element like this which appear the most game-y, considering the polished and cinematic presentation as a whole.
Your lightsaber can be a brutal weapon, particularly when it comes to performing finishing manoeuvres, which you'd expect from the samurai sword the concept was originally based on. It feels surprisingly personal too, by the simple notion of letting you heavily customise your saber with collectibles found strewn about the game's various worlds, alongside the existing cosmetic microtransactions and pre-order bonuses. Before long, the offering will almost certainly be expanded to include tantalising new DLC linked to The Rise of Skywalker.

Exploring multiple worlds is the name of the game - and seemingly the flavour of the autumn after The Outer Worlds - thanks to friendly transport ship the Mantis, which you can also customise to an extent. Traversing around is a mix of platforming and climbing which borrows from titles like Tomb Raider and Breath of the Wild, but it's the collective library of FromSoftware that Fallen Order pulls its strongest influences from.

Falling in battle sees you respawn at a designated checkpoint that’s never too far away, with these meditation spots being equivalent to bonfires. You can upgrade skills there, while also replenishing your health and healing items at the cost of reviving lesser enemies. Should one of them kill you, you'll need to return to the perpetrator and land a single hit to retrieve the experience gained since earning your last skillpoint.

You'll know danger is around the corner when grumbling strings start to creep in, helping to build a sense of tension whenever enemies attack – often from blindspots as you move through doorways.
After the initial tutorial level, which is fairly cinematic and exposition heavy in its attempt to introduce a lot of mechanics, you'll find the game opens up and lets you explore. It’s possible to wander into locations where the difficulty spikes or you don’t have the necessary equipment to explore, which is an indication to turn tail and come back later. It can feel odd to do so, since we’ve been conditioned to see gaming Jedi as unstoppable, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with shifting expectations.

Having only been a youngster when the order fell, Cal isn't a master; not to mention it's been a while since he flurried a lightsaber around on a daily basis. You can knock the difficulty down at any time, however, dialling back enemy aggression and damage while giving you a wider window to parry attacks.

Fallen Order challenges you to discover the Force, just as Cal is rediscovering it, and on that front it definitely succeeds. Combat is satisfying and has the bite of challenge a lot of fans will have been looking for, and the setting is a delicious meal of sci-fi Star Wars goodness. Where it hits a few stumbling blocks are mostly technical issues and things which remind you that this is, after all, a game. Texture and enemy pop-in is fairly common, performance can occasionally slow down, and minute-long load times can really kill your momentum after being defeated in battle.

Still, for those who’ve been waiting for EA to do something really special with the Star Wars licence, Jedi: Fallen Order is exactly that.

Pros

  • Gorgeous presentation and world-building
  • Lightsaber feels like a dangerous weapon, rather than a toy sword
  • Has the signature excitement and wonder associated with Star Wars 

Cons

  • Technical stutters stop the game in its tracks, even on Xbox One X
  • No setting to bridge Jedi Knight (Normal) and slightly patronising Story Mode
  • Making the camera play ball, even when locked on in combat, can be tricky

9/10
0 Comments

Gears 5 | Review | Xbox One

12/10/2019

 
Gears 5 | Review | Xbox One - Pass the Controller

Gears 5 continues the story thread that was started in Gears of War 4, dropping Kait into the role of main protagonist supported by Del and an upgraded Jack bot – the latter being playable for the first time in Gears' history – in both the co-op campaign (for up to three players locally or online) and returning Horde mode.

Picture

 by Chris
​ Brand

Picture

@SuperCrisco

Gears 5 | Review | Xbox One
Developer: The Coalition
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Players: 1-5

Boot Camp is your entry point, with series veteran Damon Baird taking you through the basics one step at a time. The short tutorial is a welcome refresher for veterans and a necessary jaunt for newcomers, explaining the game's cover and movement systems, shooting, melee abilities and active reloads (which reload the entire magazine with higher damage "active" rounds).

Once that's out of the way, the opening Act serves as an extended introduction and there's very little to differentiate it from GoW 4, visually or mechanically. However, as you push forward the game opens up, quite literally, allowing you to explore open world sections. The desolate world of Sera is at times strikingly beautiful and the skiff used for traversal, particularly in the snowy section you'll have seen in the trailer, handles like a dream, effortlessly gliding across the huge, sweeping vistas. 

Throughout the middle Acts, optional side missions allow you to acquire upgrades for Jack to further augment the abilities that are unlocked via progression. Whilst the upgrades themselves aren't mandatory, they can be handy in a pinch, offering up significant boosts to the very useful invisibility and flash abilities, for example. Bear in mind though, your upgrades won't be bestowed on Jack when he's controlled by a human player.

The short firefights to get them not only serve as a welcome, action-filled break from the quieter exploring of the aforementioned open sections, but also serve as a great opportunity to stock up on ammo, change your loadout or grab a heavy weapon to take back to the skiff.

​During our initial playthrough, we did happen to fall victim to an unfortunate bug that forced us to restart Act 2 (a hangover from the game’s rocky launch, perhaps) losing around an hour of progression, but we claimed it back in half of that time and the setback was less of an annoyance than Del's stubborn reluctance to revive us when playing solo, which resulted in many avoidable deaths throughout the campaign.

Gears 5 | Review | Xbox One - Pass the Controller
Jumping into Versus mode, the game’s multiplayer offering, for the first time can be daunting. Arcade is casual, class-based fun with loadouts unique to each character, which in no way prepares you for the competitive scene. At the other end of the scale, there's the Ranked playlist. Even with cross-play disabled, and those pesky mouse and keyboarders kept at bay, you'll occasionally run into God-like players who are capable of carrying their (and hopefully your) team single-handedly, especially in King of the Hill and Escalation. The non-ranked versus is more accessible and co-op against AI is a good way of learning map layouts and weapon spawns, while providing a safe environment in which to practice with the Gnasher, though the difficulty can be ramped up to suit all skill levels.

Horde and Escape, though very different, complement each other. The former, a mainstay of the franchise, tasks five players with surviving 50 waves of increasingly difficult enemies, whilst the latter offers a more bite-sized co-op experience. Your three-person team, having infiltrated a Swarm hive and planted a Venom bomb to destroy it from within, must escape before the deadly gas kills you, too. Beginning only with a sidearm and limited rounds, you'll want to be conservative with ammo until your party has tooled up.
In both modes, duplicate characters are forbidden, which can cause problems when matchmaking. Levelling up and completing matches will award Skill Cards to further raise your damage dealing and survivability. These Skill Cards will allow you to hold your own on higher difficulties but if someone has already bagsied your main, you're left with the choice of using an under-levelled character or re-queuing. Regardless, there's no barrier of entry and all of our encounters through matchmaking have been positive, though not always successful. 

Despite a few minor issues, the new Gears recipe is the best yet. The story has enough presence without overstaying its welcome, open world areas are a nice addition and there's adequate co-op activities outside of the campaign to complete the package for anyone averse to PvP.

Pros

  • A thoroughly satisfying campaign
  • New enemy types and weapons are designed so well that they feel familiar
  • That same Gears brand of fast-paced multiplayer

Cons

  • Horde and Escape are a little too restricted
  • The Snub pistol is more effective as a melee weapon than a firearm

9/10
0 Comments
<<Previous


    READ MORE

    News
    Features
    Videos

    Comment Here

    Categories

    All
    Action Adventure
    Adventure
    Air Combat
    Arcade
    Family
    Fighter
    Hardware
    Horror
    Indie
    Open World
    Platformer
    Puzzler
    Racing
    Role Playing
    RPG
    Shmup
    Shooter
    Sim
    Sports
    Stealth
    Strategy
    Survival
    Virtual Reality


    Archives

    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015


    RSS Feed

Pass the Controller

News
Reviews
Features
​
Videos
Forum
About

The Forums

Gaming Discussion
Xbox
PlayStation
PC Gaming
Nintendo
Off Topic
​Achievements and Trophies

What is PTC

About Us
​Meet the Team
​
Contact Us
OpenCritic
Find our reviews on OpenCritic
vrgamecritic
Find our reviews on vrgamecritic
© COPYRIGHT 2014-2019 PTC / JMP.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.