It doesn't matter if you play video games for fun or for a living; having the proper tools can improve your enjoyment.
There is a lot of necessary equipment that every player should have in their toolbox, from cosy chairs and headsets to cutting-edge graphics cards and monitors. The top five accessories that every gamer needs are covered in this piece.
At its core, this experience (I hesitate to call it a game) is a puzzle action horror, with the visual style of a graphic novel. It’s hauntingly beautiful, with even the mundane settings (including a farmhouse and a kebab shop) being painted in sepia tones or pastel reds to give them an otherworldly effect.
Blocks Tracks Trains is a creative and unique offering developed by a one-man Indie developer and is a real labour of love to be enjoyed by everyone! Since its soft release a few months back, it has garnered lots of interest and has been improved and extended. Now with a full release, Blocks Tracks Trains is unveiled in all its glory on PC and Steam Deck. It will entertain and fascinate those of you eager for something different and its creative potential is endless! Blocks Tracks Trains is, by definition, not a game, as it has no real obstacles or goals. It is a creative building toy. There are no resources or hours of grinding - it’s a limitless sandbox that will stretch your imagination. |
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I reviewed Mikel’s Zelda and Chill from Black Screen Records back in 2021, and thought the lo-fi aesthetic really worked with those familiar melodies and tracks.
When I found that I would be covering this record, I had a faint worry that it would be quite close to Mikel’s take on the songs – but those worries were unfounded, because whilst Mikel’s stripped-back, mellow journey through Zelda is a work unto itself; focused on enhancing the groovy, lullaby aspects, this album takes a far more moody and expressive, jazz-fuelled take through the songs that are more engaging and alluring when compared to the more hypnotic and Zen approach of Mikel.
Your character is a forever-bouncing girl on a pogo stick who must bounce her way through twenty levels – with each group of five representing one of the four seasons.
The natural repetition of the genre is spiced up here by an insane amount of unlockables that make the grinder part of me twitch into action.
There have been some tasty games in the genre over the last year or two – mainly courtesy of DotEmu - (and I know it’s older than that, but I have to mention Mother Russia Bleeds) and Fight ‘N Rage absolutely has to be mentioned in that conversation.
From the Wayo Records website:
Initially released in 2005, KiRite is a collaborative album of music and story
presented by the legendary duo of Yasunori Mitsuda (composer) & Masato Kato (game creator), both are widely known for their work on cult games such as Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross.
The universe of Masato Kato is fantastic, strangely cold and yet warm and soothing.
The Five Seasons of KiRite will immerse you in the fascinating story of Kotonoha and KiRite,
Its dreamy melodies and the bewitching voice of Eri Kawai will make you travel through the five seasons of its unique universe.
Fully translated into English and remastered for the vinyl format,
KiRite's story and music are now available worldwide in this new 2 x LP Gatefold format.
Don't wait any longer to (re)discover this masterpiece by Yasunori Mitsuda!
But - and this is a big but - it’s interesting. And interesting goes a long way.
The past few years have seen a renaissance in throwback first-person-shooters attempting to recapture that retro magic, with highlights including Ion Fury, Dusk, and Prodeus. But, for me at least, few have nailed it quite like Fashion Police Squad.
Originally published to huge acclaim and popularity in 1984, with over 12 million copies sold, Joe Dever’s classic Lone Wolf gamebook series have been fan favourites ever since but not widely available.
Author Joe Dever passed away from cancer in 2016. It was his final wish that his son, Ben, complete the remaining unfinished books in the series and bring all of the books back into print for a new audience.
In the case of I’m Too Young to Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters, it was the sections on oddities and ultimately unsuccessful titles that had grazes with greatness that really caught my attention.
It was eye-opening to find out just how much experimentation was going on, especially in the world of PC gaming in the mid-’90s, and I found myself marking a page to watch some gameplay footage of these games - that had somehow passed me by in my formative years – before continuing my reading and inevitably repeating the process a few pages later, always a good sign when reading a book such as this.
Whilst the action/RPG entries are what really stick with me, it’s quite astonishing how well the original game holds up as a high-score arcade classic; not to mention the co-op goodness of Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair.
Leading digital lifestyle accessories brand, Trust Electronics Ltd, is pleased today to announce the launch of its brand new Muta and Muta Wireless gaming controllers. An exciting addition to the company’s portfolio, the controllers offer attractive features that every gamer is sure to enjoy and they have also been designed with sustainability in mind for greener gaming.
The Trust Muta is available to buy now from Amazon for £39.99.
Basements & Basilisks is a visual novel paying satirical homage to the world's greatest TTRPG. Make important choices, roll countless dice, build lasting relationships, explore magical lands and experience all the rest of the crap you expect from a fantasy game without the hassle of finding actual friends to play with!
