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Team Talk: A Fond Farewell to TIMJ Towers

February 2, 2017, Author: The TIMJ Team

Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end; and so it is with This Is My Joystick. As the Team Talk was a regular feature on the site and was always a great way to get the team bashing heads together, it seemed an appropriate way to bow out too.

For one last time, we asked present and past members of the TIMJ family to give their thoughts on a subject; this time, what it has meant to them to write, talk, or otherwise work on the site. Read on, and thank you to you all for your patronage on the site.

INSIDE

August 3, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

Limbo was a runaway success for Playdead in 2010, back when the term ‘indie game’ actually meant something. Thanks to the growth of digital distribution and early access programmes, of course, video games are now more often ‘indie’ than not.

INSIDE is Playdead’s sophomore effort, a long-awaited return to the industry they helped shape amongst the likes of Braid and Super Meat Boy. It’s a technical progression from its spiritual predecessor, Limbo, and oppressively atmospheric. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always result in something that is fun to play.

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How We Review Games

Total War: Warhammer

July 23, 2016, Author: James Swinbanks

Creative Assembly have been making Total War games for about fifteen years at this point. That’s a lot of time, not only to refine the core of what makes your game good, but also flesh it out with other ideas. When combining that many years of experience with a narrative and universe as richly detailed as that of Games Workshop’s thirty year-old Warhammer series, it’s okay to expect something good.

I’m certainly no old hand when it comes to Total War, having only dabbled with Shogun 2 a few years ago, but this Warhammer iteration ticks a lot of boxes thanks to large-scale battles that require a deft tactical touch, meaningfully different factions and engaging mechanics.

The campaign provides two distinct layers of strategic gameplay that are probably deep enough to have an entire game focused around them. Having them together, working as cohesively as they do, is something special and makes Total War: Warhammer another must play for strategy fans, in what’s turning out to be a bumper year for the genre.

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Announcement: This Is My Joystick to close soon

July 19, 2016, Author: Andy Corrigan

It’s with a heavy heart I announce that, after seven years, This is my Joystick will be soon be halting its content production. We have a few outstanding pieces to go live over the next couple of weeks and we also have a fitting sign-off planned, but after that, the site will live on as an archive only.

The reasons are many and complicated, and the decision has been tough to make, but it predominantly boils down to the way that independent and enthusiast games coverage – and the culture around it – has changed since the site’s inception back in 2009.

While we never really hit the heights that we dared to dream of at the beginning, as owner and curator I take a lot of personal pride in the work we’ve produced together over the years. A lot of talented individuals have passed through our ranks, honed their skills with us and gone on to various successes, and I extend my sincerest thanks to everyone that devoted their time to our cause, no matter how small.

Thanks for reading,

Battleborn: A Post-Overwatch Review

July 4, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

If there’s one genre in vogue right now, it’s the hero shooter. Whilst we have Paragon, Paladins and Lawbreakers to look forward to later in the year, we’ve just been hit by two big ones both vying for our attention: Overwatch and Battleborn. If you follow video game news at all, you’ll know that one is ‘winning’ by a large margin – and it certainly isn’t Gearbox Software’s effort.

Releasing two similar, competing AAA games within a short timeframe is typically suicide for at least one. Battleborn hails from the developers of Borderlands and had the advantage of a slightly earlier release, but it didn’t stand a chance against the indomitable might of Blizzard and the hype train which had been steaming behind Overwatch for some time.

Reasons for comparison are clear. They’re both first-person shooters set in a fantasy universe with a diverse roster of heroes to choose from. To the uninitiated, they’re practically the same game. In reality, this could hardly be further from the truth. And whereas Battleborn is far from perfect and falls short of the refinement present in its adversary, it’s a distinct experience of its own which warrants a look.

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How We Review Games

Salt and Sanctuary

June 28, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

As with any entertainment media, the video game industry is endlessly derivative. From the platformers which tried to ape the success of Super Mario through to the post-Modern Warfare first-person shooter genre, imitation and inspiration is evident off the back of any popular franchise.

Just like Terraria liberally borrowed from the monolithic Minecraft whilst dropping a dimension, then, it’s no surprise that a ‘Dark Souls, but in 2D’ would rear its ominous head sooner or later. Salt and Sanctuary is the inevitable conclusion, developed by a mere two-person outfit called Ska Studios.

Unlike many past imitators, however, Salt and Sanctuary not only reaches a level of quality somewhere near the same league of its inspiration but is also a worthwhile experience in its own right.

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How We Review Games

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

June 28, 2016, Author: Tim Henderson

If forced to sum up the second and final piece of DLC for The Witcher 3, Blood and Wine, with one word, you could do a lot worse than ‘skies’.

Grammatically speaking, just ‘sky’ would be more appropriate, as this is all still one marvellously intricate, interconnected world. But it would be so far removed from the aesthetic and emotional crux of the sort of splash that the early moments of Blood and Wine makes as to actually feel like a cheekily misleading untruth.

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How We Review Games

Civilization 6 – 12 Minutes with Sean Bean

June 24, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Given recent political events it’s safe to say that, judging by my Twitter timeline, at lot of people think they could lead this country better. Well, here’s your chance to not just run a country but an entire civilization thanks to the latest Civ game – Civilization 6. Fans of the series are going to want to check out the changes being made to the game and there’s no better way to find out what’s happening than by using your eyeballs and earholes to soak in this recently released 12 minute demo. If you’re not familiar with the series it still gives you a great idea of what the Civ series is all about and it features the dulcet tones of Sean Bean. What more could you want?

Story Modes aren’t for fans of the sport

June 21, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

One of the biggest announcements to make a splash at this year’s E3 was that FIFA 17 was going to contain a ‘Story Mode’. In it you’ll play as Alex Hunter who’s an aspiring Premier League footballer who plays for Manchester United (or possibly a Premier League team of your choice). If you’ve ever seen any of the awful Goal movies, you probably know how this goes. I honestly don’t like this idea and think it looks pretty awful.

How can this be? People that don’t even like real football are now interested in fake football. Even those so disinterested in the sport are digging this then surely I, a self-confessed football fanatic, should be going nuts for this?

Overwatch

June 20, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Do you ever have it where three or four games all merge into one in your mind? For the longest time, Overwatch, Battleborn, Paragon, Lawbreakers – it all became too much and turned into white noise for me. I simply stopped paying attention to them all.

This stopped for me when the review code for Overwatch landed in my e-mails, so I had no choice but to take an interest. This was lucky for me as it turns out Overwatch is an outstanding multiplayer shooter, though there are some caveats that I need to discuss.

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Hitman – Marrakesh

June 17, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

You should all be aware by now that Hitman is releasing a new level every month. If you didn’t know that – you do now. I’ve had the pleasure of playing the previous two so it made sense for me to have a look at the third one too. This time it sees Agent 47 visit Marrakesh, which is new, and his job is to kill two targets. Which isn’t new.

Strutting through the crowded markets, making your way to the rooftop of the bazaars before finally entering the Swedish consulate, it’s a real journey that Agent 47 goes through, but is it a journey filled with intrigue and suspense or is it a dull trek past a bunch of stalls selling tat on a hot day?

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World of Final Fantasy – E3 Trailer Despite it Not Being E3 Yet

June 9, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Some news has been ‘leaking’ of late – none of which we’ve posted here on TIMJ. The thing is that ‘Pre3’ (the art of ‘leaking’ or simply posting news before E3 starts) is just such a blatant ploy at getting in front of the big games and letting websites feel like they’ve got a ‘scoop’ that I just try and ignore it. Yet, here we are. An E3 trailer drops long before E3 has started and we’ve gone and picked it up.

In our defence the game in question is World of Final Fantasy. It’s noteworthy for a few reasons; it’s unbelievably cute, it looks like it’s a cross between Final Fantasy and Pokemon and also it’s due for release on Vita. This has ticked all of my boxes with one swipe of a Buster Sword.

Dark Souls III

May 30, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

What’s the first thing you do after being away for a few days? If I was to take a guess, you’re like me and crawl into the warm comfort of your very own bed, pull the covers up and drift off into a nice slumber – safe in the knowledge that this is the bed that had been calling to you all weekend.

Dark Souls III is much like that bed after a few days away. It provides the safe, warm comfort of pitch-perfect gameplay and challenge the series is known for. This time round there are a few changes thrown into the mix, as well as it being a breathtaking visual feast.

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Hitman – Sapienza

May 13, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

It’s safe to say that I’ve had my fill of Paris. I’ve spent time pretending I’m a model, making poisonous cocktails and offing fashion designers that weren’t my target but were too annoying to ignore. In fact, so much time went by that I was starting to worry that Hitman wouldn’t be able to meet its deadlines after promising us we’d have a new level every month.

Luckily, slightly more than a month later, we arrive at Sapienza. A quaint and seemingly quiet Italian beach-side town. You’re greeted with a fantastic view of the piaza, a splendid church and a briefing that tells you there’s a deadly pair of scientists to murder and a deadly toxin to destroy. Sorry Agent 47, this is no holiday. The only break here is the one in your target’s neck.

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Zen Pinball 2: Aliens Pack

May 13, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

I’ve mentioned it a number of times now, but for those that haven’t been paying attention – I’ve fallen in love with Zen Pinball 2. I know, I sit here with technology capable of amazing things, able to transport me to amazing new worlds and whatnot, but what do I do? I emulate an old-fashioned arcade staple which is now practically extinct.

In my defence, Zen Pinball 2 does things that no real-life pinball table could do. Most tables contain all sorts of outrageous animatronics and ramp formations that just couldn’t or wouldn’t get made. So, not only does Zen Pinball 2 create amazing tables, as the title of this post suggests, they pick up some amazing licenses too. It’s fair to say that even if I wasn’t a massive fan of ‘Aliens’, I’d still have glowing things to say about these tables.

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Severed

May 5, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

I’m no stranger to DrinkBox Studios’ releases. Whilst I found Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack an enjoyable romp, Guacamelee! is genuinely one of my favourite Metroidvanias – and in fact, platformers – of all time.

Naturally I was excited to learn of Severed, the developer’s next project – and a PlayStation Vita exclusive, no less. Whilst what I found in its six-hour adventure lacked the endearing charm and whimsy of Guacamelee!, it absolutely featured the level of style and creativity which makes DrinkBox games so special.

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How We Review Games

DiRT Rally

April 25, 2016, Author: James Swinbanks

It’s almost nine years since Codemasters introduced the DiRT name with the fantastic Colin McRae: DiRT, a game that is remembered well for two reasons. One is that it was both ambitious and enjoyable and set a new bar for rally titles, the other is its release the day before a tragic helicopter accident took the life of Colin McRae, his son and two others.

Since then, Codemasters had not only dropped the use of the Colin McRae name but switched focus from the traditional style of rally entirely. The results were DiRT 2, 3 and DiRT Showdown. These three games, whilst really good in their own right, all had a general focus on the less traditional forms of off-road racing like Gymkhana and Rallycross. They included point-to-point stages, but they were short and typically low in numbers. As a bit of a purist when it comes to a few facets of motorsport, I enjoyed the last few DiRT games to an extent but always felt like Codemasters had lost their way just a little.

Fast forward to a year ago and you can colour me, as just about everyone else, surprised when a Codemasters title named DiRT Rally popped up on Steam Early Access. It was the first case I could remember of a large AAA developer using Steam’s Early Access as a platform for an already established franchise, and I had to jump in on it. I bought into it, and as the months rolled by I watched as the game slowly had content and features added, as well as how engaged the developers were with the community about their development plans going forward. Not only this, but they seemed to be heading in a very good direction. More focus on point-to-point rallying, with long and open stages, as well as Hillclimb, Rallycross and a host of online features. Throw in a focus on simulating real-world handling techniques and vehicle dynamics, and DiRT Rally showed more promise on this front than we’d seen from the previous DiRT titles combined.

It was only a few short months ago in December that DiRT Rally was released properly on the PC, so the wait for it to head to the modern generation consoles hasn’t been a tense nor long one. After spending hours sliding, rolling, spinning and crashing as many rally cars as possible, it’s easy for me to tell you that whilst DiRT Rally redefines console rally games – once again cementing Codemasters’ position at the top of the racing development pyramid – its brilliance shines heavily on the areas it falls short, holding it back from being something truly special.

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Zen Pinball 2 Getting ‘Alien’ Tables Pack

April 23, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

As if Zen Pinball 2 didn’t already demand enough of my time, it’s been recently announced that a pack of tables based around the Alien franchise is to launch on the 26th of April.

The pack will contain 3 tables each based around a different Alien title; Aliens – classic movie, good choice, Alien: Isolation – brilliant game, no complaints here, and the Alien Vs Predator film – oh. Here’s a trailer of the Alien: Isolation table to get your acidic blood pumping.

Ruiner – Ironically, it’s Made my day

April 22, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

I never knew I wanted a ‘Hotline Miami meets Akira’ game. I’d never considered that ‘Diablo meets Blade Runner’ would be amazing. You know who did? Reikon Games.

Reikon Games, made up of people who’ve worked on The Witcher titles, are now in cahoots with Devolver Digital to bring us what looks to be a fast-paced slice of violence. It’s called Ruiner and we’ve got a trailer for you to check out.

Super Mario Huddle – A Game That Doesn’t Exist

April 22, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

It might not seem like it but I spend time thinking about exactly what should be posted as ‘news’ on this site. Press releases, trailers, hot-wing challenges – it’s hard to know what to give my attention to. However, today I’ve found a new well to tap – games that don’t even exist.

That’s right. Today I’m going to show you ‘screenshots’ of a game titled Super Mario Huddle. Problem is, they’re not really screenshots at all. They’re just renders that a fan made. If Super Mario Strikers, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis then why not Mario American Football?

Tom Clancy’s The Division

April 20, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

Tom Clancy’s The Division has been on the radar of many for a long time. Touted as a potential Destiny-killer, it’s the newest entry in the increasingly popular new-gen pseudo-genre of adding MMO mechanics and persistence to everything – in this case, a third-person shooter. With Ubisoft proudly stating that it’s the fastest-selling new IP ever made based on week one sales – yes, even beating the aforementioned Destiny – there’s no doubt that it’s been a commercial success at the very least.

Initial sales for an MMO are only the first battle of a long war, however. Have Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment laid down a solid enough framework to build on with new content and expansions over the coming months and years? Will the endgame keep players satisfied long after reaching the level cap? Is this even a world you’ll want to spend your time in, anyway? After investing a good chunk of time into The Division since launch, I’m not convinced that I can give a wholly positive answer to any of these questions.

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EGX Rezzed: 10 Games to Check Out

April 19, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Gaming expos are often all about the newest, the biggest and the best…est. EGX Rezzed is about two of those things as its focus isn’t on the biggest blockbusters, but the newest and the best of PC and indie titles. This year’s EGX Rezzed offered up a range of amazing titles that I got to play and it’s only right I tell you about them.

Don’t get me wrong, there were a couple of ‘big’ titles that looked cracking. Dark Souls III looked nice, though my time with Dark Souls II has made me certain of never playing it. Total War: Warhammer also looked great. I’m not talking about them though – here are ten games (in no order) that I really liked whilst at EGX Rezzed.

Far Cry Primal

April 8, 2016, Author: James Swinbanks

From the moment it was announced, Ubisoft’s decision to make Far Cry Primal was met with intrigue and more than a few questions: How well would a Far Cry game work without guns? Is fighting with stones and sharp sticks going to be as satisfying as with a flamethrower and grenades? Some of my friends thought it was a ‘brave’ move, and all I could ponder was the vast scope of great stories that could be told from that era of human life.

After 30-odd hours of skull-bashing and crouching in the reeds, I feel confident in saying that Far Cry Primal is not really brave, but it does put forward a big AAA take on primitive tribal life, all the while remaining true to the series’ recent direction.

As Takkar (or as his people call him, the Beast Master), it falls to you to explore the land of Oros and reunite your people, the Wenja tribe. Along the way you’ll take on other enemy tribes, hunt down and be hunted by animals and beasts, light giant bonfires and explore a vast and lush wilderness that is as arresting as it is threatening. It’s an inviting mix on the face of it, but ordinary melee combat, stale progression mechanics, a complete lack of co-operative multiplayer, and a narrative that lacks any kind of meaningful hooks make Far Cry Primal fade into history without making any significant impact.

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Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

April 4, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

What’s the antithesis to the idea that modern games are devoid of colour? Put simply, CyberConnect2’s latest Naruto game, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. This is a game that will bathe you in bright lights and pretty colours for as long as you chose to spend playing it.

If you like Anime, love Naruto, or just want a surprisingly solid fighting game, then this is the game you want to play. It’s not without flaws, but I was genuinely surprised by the way it drew me in, even if I had my fill without extensive play of the other modes.

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Arslan: The Warriors of Legend

April 1, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, is both something of a mouthful, and also the latest non-Dynasty Warriors Musou title to be released by Omega Force and Tecmo Koei. Based on the first season of a new anime series, itself based on a manga, which is based on a long running Japanese book series, which is based on a tale from Persia (thanks Wikipedia!), given it is a Musou game, there’s likely to be little in the way of surprises.

Is it worth a go anyway?

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Team Talk: Which games would we like to see remade?

March 31, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

With some big hitters in Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil 2 being re-made as I type, the TIMJ team discuss which other titles they feel are ripe for a remake in this month’s Team Talk.

The Crew: Wild Run

March 30, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

The Crew was a slightly odd proposition, taking Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry open-world formula and applying it to a driving game. Now with Wild Run, we’ve got a number of additions that add both graphical touches and a few changes to the existing formula in the guise of The Summit.

Does it hit its peak, or is it running on fumes?

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What are we playing? (Mar 2016)

March 29, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

Another month, and another eclectic set of games from the TIMJ team, with nary a shooter in sight! If there’s not been a lot of shooting, what have the TIMJ team been up to?

A combination of walking, running (away from scary things), getting killed (by more scary things), and puzzling. Intriguing? Read on to find out!

Street Fighter V

March 26, 2016, Author: Andy Corrigan

The Street Fighter series has been a constant comfort in my life (regardless of my fluctuating skill level over the years) so, like many others, I was massively hyped when Capcom announced Street Fighter V as a PS4 and PC exclusive at last year’s E3.

It’s finally here, and while its focus has certainly shifted away from single-player content – if only for now – Street Fighter V’s quality ensures that the series remains the best competitive fighting game experience that money can buy.

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Hitman

March 18, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

They say that practice makes perfect and it’s clear that IO Interactive believe in this saying. They’ve been making Hitman games for decades now, as this is now the sixth ‘main’ Hitman game. IO have also taken this idiom as a starting point for Hitman’s structure. This is a game that expects you to play through each level multiple times, finding the multitude of ways that you can complete each mission.

I say ‘each level’, yet this is a game that currently only has one full level and two tutorial levels to its name. This is because Hitman is now an episodic title with new missions being released every month. This somehow isn’t a problem and might even prove to be a real strength, assuming future levels are as strong as this first offering.

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Playstation VR: On Your Marks, Headset, Dough

March 18, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

This VR stuff is actually happening, huh? It’s no longer just some elaborate gimmick that you see at events, heard talked about on podcasts or see pictures of on websites. These headsets are actually launching and launching very soon. So, why only talk about them now?

My main reason for ignoring both Oculus Rift and the Vive is because they’re not realistic products. They require insanely beefy computers and they both cost well over £500. With the Playstation VR we have something approaching affordable and that has fewer hurdles to jump over than most VR solutions. It’s launching soon, with a release date of October this year, so let’s have a look at it, shall we?

SteamWorld Heist

March 15, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

I really don’t play my 3DS nearly as much as I should. I don’t think this is all my fault, though, as a lot of developers keep on making huge, sprawling epics rather than bite-sized chunks of joy that I actually have the time to play. If developers could bear in mind those of us that have full-time jobs, significant others and interests other than gaming in mind, that’d be great.

I say all of this because I’ve found that SteamWorld Heist is a perfect package in just about every way. It’s a perfectly accessible, turn-based strategy game, meaning I didn’t have hours of tutorials to work through. It’s perfectly suited to the 3DS, taking advantage of the layered 3D effects. On top of this, it’s the perfect length, meaning ten hours later and I’d seen and done mostly everything, leaving me completely satisfied.

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Isometric, Futuristic, Looks Fantastic – Divide Coming To PS4

March 15, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Get excited everyone! Divide is set to launch this year according to the Official Playstation Blog. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself – I guess I should explain what Divide is.

Essentially it’s an isometric dungeon crawler but it’s not dungeons you’re crawling through. Instead you’ll be creeping through futuristic offices of sci-fi mega corporations set in a Blade Runner-esque world. You’ll also be able to use stealth to work your way through the levels, so it’s more of an ‘office creeper’ than a ‘dungeon crawler’. It also looks lovely.

Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders

March 11, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be Hercule Poirot, star of Agatha Christie’s long-running detective series? If the answer is yes, then here is your chance; just pick up Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders to become the detective himself.

Except, don’t do that. The latest game from developer Artifact Studios does a terrible job of making you feel like a detective at all, let alone one of the most famous fictional sleuths of our time. Add to that poor design, technical issues and some of the worst voice-acting I have ever encountered and it is simply not worth your time or money.

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Physical Release of Hitman Delayed, Chuckle Brothers Dismayed

March 11, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

Hopefully that headline tells you everything you need to know. Hitman, which I’m in the process of reviewing and which had its first episode launched today, won’t be getting a physical release until 2017. That’s the bad news. Oh dear, oh dear.

The good news is that to celebrate the digital launch of the previously mentioned first episode Square Enix have decided to present to us ‘The Chuckle Brothers Play Real Life Hitman’. I assume Barry and Paul are gutted about having to wait for the ‘full’ game to hit the shelves as they seem to really dig the whole ‘being a Hitman’ thing. The video is about as stupid as you’d imagine, though hats off to the PR company behind this. It says a lot that this is the first piece of ‘news’ that I’ve written about in months.

Mad Catz Fightpad Pro

March 11, 2016, Author: Andy Corrigan

Despite first discovering fighting games in the arcades during my youth, I’ve actually spent most of my life playing them with gamepads rather than arcade sticks, mainly because the SNES controller was a great fit for Street Fighter II thanks to its perfect D-pad, and most of Sony’s pads seemed tailor-made for Namco’s Tekken.

In fact, despite switching back to sticks in recent years (triggered mainly because of a thoughtful Christmas gift from my wife a few years back), my most successful period with Street Fighter IV happened when I was hammering combos on a standard Xbox 360 controller. With that, it’s natural that I still like to dabble with gamepads from time to time, and I spent considerable time with both Mad Catz’s phat and smaller offerings last-gen, always curious to see if, given my background, they could improve my form. The results were spotty.

Nonetheless, with Street Fighter now on a new generation and a fresh wave of controllers with it, including Mad Catz’s brand new Fightpad Pro, it’d be rude not to give gamepads another go, right?

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XCOM 2

March 9, 2016, Author: James Swinbanks

It’s 2035, 20 years after the aliens successfully invaded earth. The XCOM team couldn’t hold back the threat of occupation, and were ultimately betrayed by the same countries that had once entrusted them with their protection. XCOM is but a shade of its former self in terms of resources, but it still has plenty of fight left in it. It’s taken up the lead in the resistance fight against the alien’s new world order-cum-government, ADVENT, which has in the years post-invasion managed to convince a fair share of the population that it was in fact Earth who started hostilities, and that the aliens actually came in peace.

We, of course, know this to be a massive load of bollocks. The aliens not only showed up with their massive guns pointed firmly at our heads, but they started pulling some War of the Worlds type shit by harvesting humans for all sorts of nefarious purposes – there may have even been probing. Nevertheless, the resistance is now fighting back, and it’s up to us to stop the aliens one turn at a time.

There are plenty of bumps and a few sucker-punches along the way, for both the soldiers and in terms of XCOM 2‘s technical performance, but it’s still an excellent game that is as challenging as it is rewarding.

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Firewatch

February 26, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

What is Firewatch? That question became a bit of a joke since its announcement, but now Firewatch is with us and I can categorically inform you it is indeed a game; a game about two people, and no destruction, no shooting and no aliens.

Set in the Wyoming wilderness, Firewatch presents an intriguing tale set against gorgeous scenery. Not everything fully works in its gameplay, but if you are in the mood for a sedate and well written story, this could well be for you.

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What Are We Playing? (Feb 2016)

February 22, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

Welcome to the first “What Are We Playing?” of 2016! Hopefully Christmas brought you both the presents and time to enjoy some gaming goodness as it did for the TIMJ team.

Read on for what we’ve been enjoying so far in the New Year…

Team Talk: Which games are we looking forward to in 2016?

February 19, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

2015 ended up being a better year for games than some of us anticipated, especially with so many delays pushing titles into 2016. What that should mean however, is that a good 2015 should be fully eclipsed this year.

With that in mind, in this Team Talk, the TIMJ staffers pick through the masses to highlight the titles most on their radars.

Oxenfree

February 18, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

You know how it is: Your best friend lets you know about an all night drinking sesh on a remote island, you agree, bring along some friends and a new step-brother, and of course think it will be a barrel of laughs. Then you get to the island and realize not all is what it seems, and those spooky caves feel spooky for a reason…

This is the basic setup of Oxenfree, the first game from developer Night School. It’s a heavily scripted side-scrolling adventure, with some decision-making thrown in and a good dose of artistic expression and atmosphere. It doesn’t always get it right, but as a first game for Night School, Oxenfree is a great start.

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Hands On: Hitman (beta)

February 17, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

IO Interactive’s latest Hitman game has been getting quite a lot of attention of late and not for entirely positive reasons. You may have heard that the game has recently adopted a episodic structure, meaning players will get new levels every month, meaning people that had pre-ordered the game had their orders cancelled and that the ‘full’ game would ‘only’ launch with two levels to play.

Luckily I had a chance to get some time with the beta this weekend and I have to say my impressions are very positive. Whilst the beta was made up of two basic tutorial missions, the fact I replayed them both a dozen times over is a good sign that Hitman looks set to hit its mark.

Hands On: The Division (Beta)

February 12, 2016, Author: Jasper Pickering

Having spent a weekend with the Beta for Tom Clancy’s The Division, it was a pleasant surprise not to immediately fall into a coma at the rehashing of yet another mindless cover shooter. It still clings onto the elements that made cover shooters morose in the first place, but the Beta promises to deliver an experience to those who found their time was well spent with games like Destiny, where XP and loot are king.

Rainbow Six Siege

February 10, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

We’ve all had moments when playing a game where a plan comes together. There’s nothing more satisfying that setting up a trap or carrying out an attack that works flawlessly. This feeling of accomplishment is only multiplied when carried out in a team setting and you get to see everyone doing their bit to complete one goal.

Rainbow Six Siege tries to evoke what Left 4 Dead and, to a certain extent, Payday has done before: Give you a tough task and a team, and force you to work together. Sadly, Rainbow Six Siege is totally unforgiving, meaning the moments where your plans work are amazing, and the more common moments where they don’t are a real buzz kill.

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Diary of a Geek Dad: Artful Relationship

February 9, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

Welcome to another edition of Diary of a Geek Dad. To kick things off, let me say that baby’s first Christmas was a success. We had very little crying on the day, even managing to get her off for a half hour nap. The crackers didn’t scare her, and while she clearly had no idea why the house was suddenly filled with new stuff, she was very happy the whole time.

I think future Christmases will prove much more fun than the first, just because she will understand what is happening more and we can do things like put a glass of milk and cookie (or mince pie) out for Santa. It was fun though, and I can’t wait for next year…

So, what have I been thinking about over the last couple of months? Well, the thing about this series, and I found, being a dad, is that you are constantly thinking about the future. I think about what my daughter is going to be like in just a few months time, in a few years time, when she is a stroppy teenager, and I try to plan out the key points of what needs to be taught to her, trying to work the best way to do so…

Pony Island

February 8, 2016, Author: James Sheppard

It’s rare that a game is so heavily crafted with surprises that it’s physically difficult to even write a review about it without giving everything away. It’s for this reason that Pony Island is a first for me in not only the experience it provided whilst playing it, but the challenge it set in summarising and evaluating it for you, dear reader.

I’ve honestly tried my best to avoid specifics wherever possible, but please be aware that the mildest of spoilers are contained within.

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That Dragon, Cancer

February 5, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

This is probably one of the hardest reviews I will ever write. Not because That Dragon, Cancer is a bad game, or that I have put so much onto it that it can’t live up to expectations, but because of what it’s about.

It is an autobiographical game focusing on Joel Green, a four-year-old diagnosed with cancer. The game was made by his parents, and tells the family’s journey during Joel’s four-year battle. Brave and bold, it is a game that everyone should play.

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Teslagrad

January 26, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

If you’re wondering why a Teslagrad review now, it’s semi-recently come to the PS Vita, so I’ve had the pleasure to take a look at it on the handheld. Having read reviews from when it had released on Wii U, I was quite looking forward to giving it a try, and in the main, am glad I did, with some minor reservations.

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Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

January 25, 2016, Author: Matt Parker

I’m finding that an awful lot of my reviews start with an admission of ignorance, and this review’s no different. I’ve never played a Disgaea game before and had no idea what to expect. After doing a bit of Googling, it looked like I was about to get involved with something similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. Great news – I love Final Fantasy Tactics.

You know what else I love? Meaningful and well explained systems that compliment each other. Engaging stories that involve interesting characters. Varied and challenging gameplay that doesn’t turn into a total grind. It’s because of this that I found it really hard to enjoy Disgaea 5.

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Just Cause 3

January 22, 2016, Author: Dan Moore

I admit, I haven’t played any of the Just Cause games before, so when the hype began for the third game my interest was definitely piqued. I had always heard of the sheer joy you could experience in Just Cause 2 by running around and blowing stuff up, finding creative uses of the tether and generally having fun. It sounded like the perfect dumb sandbox, so I went into Just Cause 3 hoping for much of the same.

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The obligatory ‘Game of the Year’ article 2015

January 1, 2016, Author: Andy Buick

Well here it is… No, not ‘Merry Christmas’, that’s sadly gone for another year already, but it’s the TIMJ GOTY awards, so rejoice regardless!

It’s been a pretty strong year, but read on for some not so surprising choices in the main, plus a couple of games you may want to take a closer look at…

The annual ‘Disappointment of the Year’ article 2015

January 1, 2016, Author: The TIMJ Team

It’s that time of year when we look back at what’s happened over the past twelve months. Our obligatory ‘Game of the Year’ piece will follow very soon, but first, what disappointed the team in the world of games in 2015?

What are we playing? (Dec 2015)

December 31, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

We’re between Christmas and the New Year now, which means the release silly season is now well behind us, and while we (nearly) all had games on our Christmas list (check out the latest Team Talk if you haven’t done so already), of course it wouldn’t be like us if we hadn’t already bought into the latest and greatest.

So, what’s been keeping us entertained over the festive season?

Blood Bowl 2

December 24, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

Let’s start this off by saying I’m a big fan of Games Workshop. They have produced a number of great worlds and amazing miniatures which I appreciate even though they’re expensive and I’m crap at painting anything smaller than the walls of my flat.

Despite my keenness, I’ve never actually ‘played’ any Games Workshop game. They take ages to set up and are full of dice rolling which is a little slow and a lot tedious. This is where Cyanide’s faithful recreation of Blood Bowl comes in. Its biggest strength is that it’s a streamlined version of the somewhat clunky to play miniature game with some nice visuals. Its biggest weakness is that it’s a streamlined version of the somewhat clunky miniature game with some not so nice bugs.

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BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend

December 24, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

BlazBlue is one of those fighting game series that I really admire, but have never been able to truly master. The last time I delved into the series was for review, in fact, back when BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend launched alongside Vita. Though I declared it one of the finest fighting games ever made, due to its complexity I’ve still yet to hit the same rhythm that I’ve always found so natural with the likes of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and, after many attempts, Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

With their latest entry, BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend, it seems that Arc Systems Works have taken great strides to ensure that this BlazBlue not only flows a lot more naturally, but is a lot more welcoming to all…

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Halo 5: Guardians

December 24, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

Ever since I bought my very first Xbox with Halo: Combat Evolved in the bundle, I have been a massive Halo fan. It was the fiction that drew me in, that first game creating a universe I wanted to invest time in. Each subsequent game has added to it, and now with books, films and comics, the fiction has become massively fleshed out.

The latest release in the epic saga is Halo 5: Guardians, with a story that goes in unexpected ways and interesting changes made to the multiplayer. Not all of those changes seem to work, but 343 Industries latest game is still a fantastic shooter.

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Sony’s PS2 “Emulation” and why it makes me a hypocrite…

December 11, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

I am a massive hypocrite.

There I said it.

Prior to last weekend’s lively PSX event, a handful of folks at Sony had made off-the-cuff remarks about how they were working hard to bring PS2 emulation to PS4, presumably in direct response to Microsoft’s recently launched and brilliantly executed 360 Backwards Compatibility for Xbox One. PlayStation fans were excited, with discussions ensuing across the internet as to which games would and should make the list.

That was, of course, until the news broke the night before PSX that what Sony actually meant by ’emulation’ was not really emulation at all, at least not in the way that everyone had hoped, mainly due to choice wording.

Need for Speed

December 11, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

Having grown up a fan of the original Need for Speed series since its early days on PC during the mid-nineties, I was one of those that watched the series’ transition from exotic, high-performance sports cars through to the Underground, tuner-era Toyotas and Nissans with disgust. That dash of car-related elitism, combined with my rather cynical view of the typical EA blockbuster formula, put me off many NFS games since. Of the few that I did actually play, I was put off even further by the feel of the driving, which is a failure to nail the most integral feature in any car game.

I’ll completely admit it: I came into this expecting the worst. Let’s be honest here, it’s really easy to be cynical about Need for Speed. Ghost Games decision to use story through live action footage has been endlessly dissected before release, and with good reason: It’s bloody terrible, but I’ll unpack that more in a moment or two. Plus, how many times have we seen the term “reboot” become associated with under-realised potential?

In many ways, my preconceptions were entirely unfounded; in spite of some spectacularly poor design choices that hold it back from being something truly special, Need for Speed nails the fundamentals vital to an arcade racer.

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Team Talk: What do we want for Xmas 2015?

December 10, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

It’s that time of year again. Crazy money will be spent, mulled wine and other festive drinks will be consumed (in large quantities.. by me!), and we’ll probably all eat too much and fall asleep with the afternoon film on telly. On the off-chance that any of the TIMJ team manage to stay awake for a bit of gaming goodness, what would they like Santa to bring?

Read on festive gamers! Ho Ho Ho…

Star Wars Battlefront

December 4, 2015, Author: Jasper Pickering

A long time ago, in a galaxy not too far away from this one (because it is this one) I, like many Star Wars fans, got very excited at the prospect of playing a new Battlefront. The series was, in my opinion, one of the best Star Wars franchises to come out of Lucas Arts, and their dissolution came as sad news to all that were hoping the rumours of the in-development Battlefront III would become a reality. When EA took up the mantle of the White Knight to ensure a Battlefront release on DICE’s Frostbite 3 Engine, people were rightfully excited.

Since that initial announcement however, EA did what it does best by slowly and surely letting down its user base with news of less maps, less game modes and lower player caps. The final product has me mimicking my reaction to the to the Star Wars movie prequels: A sense of awe at once again being immersed in the Star Wars Universe, but also an uneasy hollowness, as it only digs superficially under the surface of the immense source material…

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Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

December 3, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

‘Sic parvis magna’, Sir Francis Drake’s motto, means ‘greatness from small beginnings’. It seems an apt way to start this review of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, bringing the first three entries in the series to PS4 from their previous home on PS3. So Re-Charted if you will…

Uncharteds 1-3 were perhaps surpassed last generation by Naughty Dog’s own The Last Of Us, but were a genuine highlight in what was ultimately an extremely strong era in gaming. They showcased Naughty Dog’s wonderful handle on storytelling, and whipping along at a matinee film pace that George Lucas or Steven Spielberg would be quite happy with. It might not be entirely accurate to say that Naughty Dog, as a company, have ever really had small beginnings, since they’ve been releasing games at the top of the crop throughout the life of the PlayStation brand, but it would surely be fair to say that they have honed their craft to achieve the aforementioned greatness over the course of the PS3’s lifespan.

Back to the review in question: with all three Uncharted games on one disc, the only thing that could possibly go wrong would be a really poor conversion to PS4. Of course that’s not happened, so read on for one of the least surprising reviews this year, along with some honest appraisal of the odd shortcoming…

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Persona 4: Dancing All Night

November 27, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

With the existence of fighting game Persona 4: Arena, and last year’s 3DS excursion Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, it’s clear that Atlus love a good Persona 4 spin-off. Having reviewed both of those games and Persona 4: Golden, to be quite fair, so do I. That said, being neither a massive fan of rhythm or dancing games, I had written off any interest in Persona 4: Dancing All Night way ahead of its recent release.

Circumstances, however, meant that the responsibility of review would ultimately fall at my feet, and having now played it extensively, I’m so very glad it did. You see, it turns out that I hadn’t considered one very important factor about the prospect of a music game based on Persona 4: Persona 4’s soundtrack is fucking incredible, and makes the reality of Dancing All Night vastly more appealing than I had given credit for.

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Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

November 26, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

Whether you love it or hate it, Assassin’s Creed has been coming and going on a yearly basis for a little while now. After the abysmal time Ubisoft had with the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Unity, it looked like the series might have started going the way of its once-beloved Desmond Miles. Alas, Ubisoft Quebec have done a pretty good job of helping pull the series back up on its feet, but sadly it’s still wobbly in some of the usual places.

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You know what? Wolfenstein 3D still holds up pretty damn well…

November 24, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

Two weekends ago, Microsoft rolled out their ‘New Xbox One Experience’ to the masses and, aside from a slightly more annoying dashboard that puts the features I like to use five clicks further out of my reach, with it came the hotly anticipated Xbox 360 backwards compatibility; a welcome feature to Microsoft’s previously maligned machine.

Last Saturday morning I set about choosing which 360 games to install, eventually landing on Beyond Good and Evil, the remaster of The Legend of Monkey Island and its sequel, LeChuck’s Revenge, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, and id’s classic trio of Doom, Doom 2 and Wolfenstein 3D.

Transformers: Devastation

November 20, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

“A cursory evaluation of Decepticon capabilities indicates a distinct tactical deficiency.”

Perceptor calls that out to Ultra Magnus during the attack on Autobot City in the 1986 classic Transformers: The Movie, and it pretty much sums up the war between them.

Optimus Prime and company took on a superior force, one that has no regard for sentient life, and won every time. Yes, it became predictable, but Transformers hasn’t become a classic franchise for nothing. The brand may have been diluted with the recent Michael Bay movies, but Platinum Games have just released Transformers: Devastation; a G1 inspired game that ticks all the right notes for fans of the bearer of the Matrix, but it might leave more casual fans, especially younger ones that only know the live action movies, a little cold.

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Why I am annoyed with Metal Gear Solid V…

November 18, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

This year saw the release of latest Metal Gear Solid game, The Phantom Pain. Supposedly the final MGS game from series creator Hideo Kojima (we’ll gloss over the bit where he has said that repeatedly for the last decade…), it represents one of the biggest gaming releases in some time.

I received a copy to play with in the intention of coming up with some kind of editorial on it, the subject; anything I wanted. In trying to offer a different angle, I had suspected that I’d be going against the grain, maybe focusing on something I didn’t like or found fundamentally flawed, and that it would only be the story I liked because the overall lore is so bat shit crazy.

Then I ran into a problem: Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain is an undeniably brilliant game…

Football Manager 2016

November 13, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

According to my Steam library, I have spent a collective 690 hours on Football Manager games since I first discovered the series back in 2008. Make no mistake though, in Football Manager terms, that’s as casual as you can be. Die-hards can put in well beyond 1000 hours of playtime – that’s per game, mind you – and you can be assured that every one of those hours will be filled with the same heart wrenching and fist pumping moments that we love about football. Despite it being a few years since I last spent heaps of my spare time with Football Manager, I not ashamed to say I’m well known in my apartment block for my over-enthusiastic reaction to a screamer from 30 yards out.

Football Manager 2016 is now available, and I’m happy to say that the folks at Sports Interactive have seemingly worked hard to keep the most ardent of fans enthusiastic, whilst not making newcomers (or those who have been away for a while) feel too overwhelmed by some of the busier, more menu-heavy areas and the depth of squad management. Football Manager 2016 sees a return to the more iterative improvements that refine this already well-defined and unrivaled series, and is a worthy update for anyone that wants to try their hand at being the next Pep Guardiola.

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Team Talk: Favourite Game Opening

November 11, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

Much as with films, the opening sequence can make or break a game. It may wow you into getting stuck in, or bore you into indifference. We’re here today to discuss the opening sequences that have amazed and inspired us the most, plenty come to mind straight away but which really stood out for the TIMJ team?

WARNING: Opening sequence spoilers ahoy (obviously…)

Grand Ages: Medieval

November 6, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

I’m the sort of player that would rather use subterfuge, diplomacy and economic muscle to rule a planet or country or whatever it is that’s there to be ruled over. This is why I was so looking forward to getting my hands on Grand Ages: Medieval, which promises to put you in charge of an unassuming kingdom and let you use brains as well as brawn to take over the place.

Sadly it doesn’t quite keep its promises. Grand Ages: Medieval soon becomes bogged down with an overly complicated and poorly explained economy, boring combat that requires and offers little room for tactics and diplomacy that boils down to paying-off kings and queens. On top of this it moves at a snail’s pace.

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What are we playing? (Oct 2015)

November 5, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

It’s that time again where we discuss the games taking up our precious free time. From epic shooters to mobile phone time wasters, what are the TIMJ team enjoying (or otherwise!)?

Masochisia

November 2, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

Masochisia is a self-described 2D horror game by developer Jon Oldblood that deals with some pretty heavy themes. Its opening is not only accompanied by a warning, but it also has a dedicated link in the main menu encouraging those suffering from thoughts of depression and suicide to seek help.

This sets the tone for what is a short, unflinching and powerful narrative-driven point and click game that will only take two or so hours to complete, but it’s one that will remain firmly in your thoughts for days and weeks after it’s done.

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The Golden Joystick Awards 2015

October 30, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

Who doesn’t like receiving a pat on the back? Well, the gaming industry isn’t shy from giving and receiving said back pats and so we have The Golden Joystick awards. For the 33rd time a whole bunch of gaming luminaries gathered together and let the public decide who wins what.

Most award winners weren’t particularly surprising (it turns out PewDiePie is popular) though there were some awards that raised an eyebrow or two. Have a look at who won what.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

October 29, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and its sequel, Goodbye Despair, were two of my favourite surprises last year. These ‘visual novels’ provided plots as fascinating as they were twisted, set in a world where classmates at an elite school are forced to murder each other at the behest of an evil plushie called Monokuma. After being delighted by brilliant characters, strong themes of despair and paranoia, and an eccentric story woven in masterfully with crime scene investigation and trial elements, I was pretty much down for whatever Spike Chunsoft’s next installment would bring.

Only, after the dialogue-heavy, point and click nature of the previous games, I wasn’t expecting that next installment, Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls, would be a spin-off action game with Resident Evil-style shooting mechanics. I also wasn’t expecting that it’d be uncharacteristically… well… a bit rubbish…

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Why I hate the decline of local multiplayer

October 28, 2015, Author: Simon Weatherall

Gaming in split-screen is a time-honoured tradition amongst best buddies, and is the first multiplayer experience that most people have had in their gaming lives. Much like playing in an arcade, you were able to socially interact and challenge your friends in everything from Street Fighter to Mario.

The ability to play with others locally provided a way to keep communicating and having fun with others when online gaming was just a dream. Sadly, it seems there is a decline in the number of new games allowing local co-op and multiplayer, and soon it may be a thing of the past entirely.

I still have the memories, though.

Bedlam

October 23, 2015, Author: Jonn Blanchard

The premise behind Bedlam is intriguing. Taking its cue from a book that itself is a love letter to gaming history, the game is an first person shooter that jumps around a few genres. Unfortunately, this grand idea is let down by some very poor execution.

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2016

October 22, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

There was a time when Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) used to be the unrivalled king of football games. Sure, FIFA’s always had the official licenses and had the privilege of using real footballer’s names but PES was always better. Having my beloved Arsenal be referred to as North London Reds was a price worth paying.

Notice I said ‘was’. FIFA is now not just the official product of the officially corrupt governing body of world football, but EA’s games have been absolutely cracking for the last six or so years and as such, PES lost its crown and has been nothing more than an also-ran in the race for football game supremacy. This year? It’s safe to say that this is a beautiful rendition of the beautiful game.

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Destiny: The Taken King

October 15, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

In the infinite vastness of the universe, a year is but a moment. A fleeting period that adds little to the ever expanding void, but to sentient beings can seem like forever, where even a fraction of it can change their lives forever.

In gaming terms, a hell of a lot can change in just one year. The Taken King is Destiny’s newest expansion, bringing with it a raft of changes and an update to the version number: This is Destiny 2.0 and the game is all the better for it, feeling like this is the game Bungie wanted to put out in the first place.

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FIFA 16

October 9, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

In terms of football games, with the exception of the excellent (and infuriating) Football Manager series, nothing really matters outside of the realms of FIFA and PES, right? As things have panned out for the past several seasons, FIFA has had the upper hand both on and off the virtual pitch. Whilst I agree largely with that sentiment, I’m not so sure that’s going to remain the case with FIFA 16. Off the pitch, FIFA is still number one with all the licences and the high-end production values that you’d expect from an EA title. On the pitch it’s a different story though, with very little change overall from last year’s entry.

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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

October 5, 2015, Author: Jasper Pickering

After confirming the identity and location of an injured prisoner from a Soviet Compound in Afghanistan, I could make my escape. The prisoner in question is an expert in biomechanics and extracting him to my offshore military base would allow me to develop the technology to increase the durability and power of my prosthetic arm, making enemy close-quarter takedowns more time efficient. Unfortunately, his injuries won’t allow him to sustain the shock impact of a Fulton extraction, so he would have to be carried out of the base to a safe distance where the support helicopter could land without sustaining heavy damage and pick us both up.

The sun was rising and without the cover of nightfall, I was at risk of being spotted by one of the guards in the tower. With little time, I opted to ‘go loud’ to ensure the quickest optimal route. By taking out the base’s air communications satellite with a C4 charge, my support would be able to land close to my current location and evacuate quickly before the Soviets could effectively respond. It was a risky move. The helicopter sustained heavy fire but I was able to lay down suppressing fire with the chopper’s Gatling gun for just long enough to exit the hot zone. The mission was completed but I had lost points for raising an alarm and killing the guards as the chopper ascended to ‘Flight of the Valkyries’ blaring out of the speakers. Had I equipped myself with the appropriate camouflage for the rocky terrain or invested in a more durable suppressor for my tranquilizer gun before attempting to rescue the POW, I could have netted myself those extra points and a better mission rank.

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Diary of a Geek Dad: Spartan Woes

September 24, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

Welcome to the first in what I hope will be a regular feature: The Diary of a Geek Dad. I am hoping for this to be more a collection of thoughts, worries and obstacles that lie in front of me as I traverse the minefield of fatherhood as an open and honest geek; sometimes stupid, sometimes sweet but, most of all, real.

So, just to get this out of the way, I have a beautiful baby daughter now who is doing brilliantly, despite the fact that I may have thought she was a boy when I first saw her (don’t judge, Homer Simpson did the same thing). We spent about a week in the hospital just due to mum having an infection and a clerical cock up, but have been home for a couple of weeks and all are getting into the swing of things.

Allison Road is Kickstarting Horror

September 24, 2015, Author: Matt Best

I remember when I first played Gone Home. I spent my time expecting something to jump out of the shadows and scare the pants off me. When I discovered it wasn’t that kind of experience, despite the dark sense of foreboding, I felt a mixture of relief and disappointment.

This experience I wanted may soon be available however, thanks to Lilith Ltd who have recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to develop Allison Road, which they describe as ‘a narrative-driven survival-horror game developed by entertainment industry veterans and life-long game enthusiasts’. 

Rugby World Cup 2015

September 21, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

When I think about it, sporting World Cups are pretty amazing things unto themselves. Millions of fans, usually from all corners of the globe, converging to the one place to celebrate the sport they adore and to watch the best players in the world battle it out on the field. The planning and dedication it takes from everyone involved in pulling these tournaments off is quite staggering, but it’s all done for the good of the game.

From the opening kick-off, it becomes flagrantly apparent that Rugby World Cup 2015 does not care for the ‘good of the game’. Not only is it poorly presented, with its bland menus and outdated looks, but it’s essentially a re-skinned version of the previously released Rugby 15. That, in itself, raises a whole bunch of issues in my book, but I won’t touch on them here. All you need to know is that Rugby World Cup 2015 is objectively, a bad game.

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Sony’s TGS Conference Update

September 15, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

As the games industry trade show season nears its end, it’s Japan’s turn to enjoy the buzz and hype with the Tokyo Game Show, home of many a weird and wonderful game announcement over the years. Having missed Gamescom this year, Sony promised to be back with a bang at TGS, and today was the day.

How could they possibly follow on from their blockbusting performance at E3? Did they really even try?!

Team Talk: Fallout 4

September 15, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

At E3 this year, Bethesda may not have surprised too many people with their announcement of Fallout 4. However, what perhaps is a surprise, is its release date. 10th November this year! What do the TIMJ team make of it all? Is this instantly on their most wanted list? Christmas fodder? Or are they actually not all that bothered? 

Team17 gives us the nickel tour as new trailer for The Escapists The Walking Dead tackles Woodbury

September 11, 2015, Author: Andy Corrigan

Anyone that knows me at all knows that I’m a sucker for any kind of zombie fiction, and Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead is firmly one of my favourites. I’m a massive fan of the comics, both TV shows and, of course, Telltale’s games, so related news is always a delight to me, especially when it involves Woodbury…

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

September 4, 2015, Author: Matt Best

I’ve never been one to subscribe to the whole ‘video games as art’ argument. I consider it an attempt to unnecessarily legitimise our pastime to the wider community. Like any other media, games can leave us spellbound with an engaging story, breathless with stunning visuals, or riding the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by its characters. Sometimes they can leave us saying ‘I have no idea what I just experienced, but bloody hell it was awesome’. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter definitely falls in the latter category.

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What are we playing? (Sept 2015)

August 31, 2015, Author: Andy Buick

Hey folks, it’s been a while but we’re bringing back our monthly team articles, starting with what’s keeping our joypads, keyboards, mice and fingers busy at the moment. Read on to find out…

God of War III: Remastered

August 28, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

God of War III: Remastered is, as the title heavily implies, the remastering of God of War III – a Playstation 3 exclusive released in 2010. It tells the story of quite possibly the angriest protagonist ever created, Kratos, as he continues his quest for revenge after some naughty ancient Greek gods tricked him into killing his wife and child.

With little to nothing added to the game, it’s hard to see why this remastering was even needed. As it is, God of War III: Remastered only serves as a reminder that the action-adventure genre has moved on in the five years since its first release, and so too has video game storytelling.

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F1 2015

August 27, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

In the real world, the Formula 1 paddock is currently on its summer break with the teams and drivers all enjoying a well-deserved rest. The rest of us, meanwhile, are left wandering the landscape looking for ways to get our F1 fix. Is F1 2015 the best way to get that fix? Well… yes, but that’s also like describing Pastor Maldonado as a Grand Prix winner, which in fairness he is. But he’s still Pastor Maldonado.

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Do graphics make the game?

August 24, 2015, Author: Simon Weatherall

Fallout 4 is one of the most anticipated games of 2015. With millions of people watching every video, reading every article, it’s hard for it to not come under some kind of scrutiny. As a reviewer its my job to both criticise and praise works on a variety of platforms, but for me I prefer to do that over a finished product.

I have seen games that look the bees knees, yet when I have played them they have been bland. AAA games like The Order looked nice from the outside with some of the best character designs I’ve ever seen, but when you get to the nitty-gritty it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

With Fallout 4 under the microscope in particular, people have gone as far to say that the graphics are kinda last-gen. Current builds (not even the finished article) have been pulled apart and dissected by critics and the general public. It started to make me think about other games and I began to wonder: do graphics make the game?

The Worries of a Geek Dad

August 11, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

I am less than a week away (potentially) from being a father for the first time. It’s an incredibly exciting, scary time in my life, one that will change it permanently, and I honestly cannot wait to meet our little bump.

It’s strange because anyone who has had kids before me gives me advice on anything to do with them, which is absolutely welcome because I know no matter how hard I try to be prepared, I’m simply not. Not for the real deal, not one bit. However, a lot of people know I am a big geek and a massive games player, which then leads to comments like, ‘you won’t have time for any of that crap soon!’.

MotoGP 15

July 31, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

Motorcycle racing, even just motorbikes in general, are pretty difficult to translate into a fun video game. Compared to cars, bikes are unresponsive and difficult to maneuver. This rings true in MotoGP 15, and being more a racing car guy, I found the transition from four wheels to two to be not only frustrating, but also challenging and rewarding at times. It’s not going to set the racing world on fire, but MotoGP 15 is a good representation of modern-day motorbike racing that fans will mostly appreciate, although it suffers a few technical setbacks along the way.

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The Witcher III: Wild Hunt

July 27, 2015, Author: Matt Best

There’s not much that can be said about the latest instalment of The Witcher franchise that hasn’t already been said. Visually it is impressive, with an engaging story, set in a world overflowing with character, life, and humour. Having missed the boat with Dragon Age: Inquisition, it was nice to truly engage myself with this world and its inhabitants.

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Her Story

July 22, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

Have you ever dreamed of being a detective? I’m not talking about the hyper-cool, one-liner spitting, guns-blazing ‘John McClane’ type of detective, but the guy who has to interview witnesses, record statements and use his brain to figure out the intricacies of a case.

If you have, then Her Story is the game for you. If you haven’t, but want to play something very different to the norm, then you should play Her Story. In fact, just play Her Story; it will only take you a handful of hours, and you will be immensely rewarded for your time.

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Toukiden: Kiwami

July 20, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

Toukiden: Kiwami is probably the best game its developer, Omega Force, has made. Please do not confuse that statement with it being a good game; it most certainly isn’t. It does at least work, the graphics are fairly bright and pretty, and to be fair there is plenty of content.

Unfortunately, Omega Force is a developer known for its highly repetitious games, and there is no change here. While it tries to be Monster Hunter-lite, what you actually get are wasted opportunities, the same enemies to kill over and over again and environments that barely change – all this while receiving little reward.

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Splatoon

June 29, 2015, Author: Dan Moore

The shooter genre is pretty new territory for Nintendo; the online shooter even more so. The likes of Call of Duty and Halo have dominated the area for years, leading many to abandon all hope of ever being competitive – yes, I include myself on that list.

Luckily, these new upstarts have crafted the online shooter you should play if you don’t really like online shooters. Splatoon is a game where killing all opponents all the time isn’t the aim, though it certainly helps, and allows you to feel competitive even if you never get a kill.

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Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters

June 26, 2015, Author: Matt Parker

Who you gonna call? Well, if you live in New York City, it’s a safe bet you know exactly who to call, but what if you’re in Tokyo? Who do you call then? The answer is ‘Gatekeepers’, a team of anime stereotypes who love bustin’ ghosts, and are the stars of Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters.

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters is a weird blend of RPG, turn-based strategy and visual novel. It’s a fairly brave mix, but then so is Bailey’s, gin and lager. Sadly, the resulting game is just as appealing as said cocktail, though like with most things in life, I’m sure there are some that will enjoy it.

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Heroes of the Storm

June 19, 2015, Author: James Sheppard

My experience with MOBAs is short-lived – it wasn’t until the release of SMITE last year that I finally learned to play and enjoy the infamously daunting genre. From there I dipped my toes into League of Legends, and I had fun for a time. But then I hit a couple of roadblocks. For starters, I never did fully get my head around the item shop. In the heat of battle, I had far too little experience to find and choose the perfect upgrades for my build. This was mitigated by researching build guides online, which always felt like a cop-out but at least let me be somewhat competitive.

What was more of an issue, as daft as it sounds, was actually devoting enough time to a full game. All-in, a match can take anywhere between half an hour to a full hour. Play an FPS online and you can happily drop in and out as you please without repercussions. Leave a MOBA game early, however, and you seriously handicap your team whilst incurring a penalty on your account. I tried my best to allow a full hour before committing to a match, but real life always managed to get in the way. The final straw was when I was forced to leave or go AFK several times within a short period, for reasons beyond my control, and I was hit with a seven day account suspension. It just wasn’t practical.

Imagine my interest, then, when I read about the features of Heroes of the Storm. Shorter matches spanning between 20 and 25 minutes. Completely reworked character system, swapping out the item shop for abilities and stat upgrades selectable as you level up. Otherwise very familiar MOBA mechanics, mixed up with a different objective for each map. It’s as if Blizzard had painstakingly designed a MOBA (or ‘Hero Brawler’ as they’re stubbornly calling it) just for me.

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SteamWorld Dig (Xbox One)

June 18, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

SteamWorld Dig has been out for almost two years, and is on basically all of the platforms imaginable. Back in August 2013 on the Nintendo 3DS it received a very warm welcome, as did the following Wii U and PlayStation releases. Just recently, Image & Form put its action-digging platformer on the Xbox One, and I had my first chance to check it out. As has been echoed by Neil Hickson in his review, SteamWorld Dig is simply wonderful. It’s not a long tale, the campaign coming in at just over 6 hours for me, but so fulfilling and well-paced is the journey that you could easily return for a second or third playthrough.

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Project CARS

June 12, 2015, Author: James Swinbanks

The rain is driving down hard at Watkins Glen International as the rolling grid moves towards the start/finish line. I’m starting well towards the back of the 36 car grid in my LMP1 Prototype, and I can hardly see a thing. The setting sun is heavily veiled by storm clouds as I turn my headlights and wipers on, but there is already such little visibility from the cockpit that there is almost no point. My mind turns to survival; I have to make it through the first lap, and from there I can build a rhythm.

One corner at a time“, I tell myself as the field edges closer to the green flag. My race engineer barks loudly over the intercom. “We’re coming to the green… I’ll call it for you” he says. The tension rises as I roll towards the lights, waiting for the call.

Green green green!

Project CARS is a unique racing title brought to life by the experienced crew at Slightly Mad Studios (SMS), of Need for Speed: Shift fame. Funded via their unique, in-house WMD (World of Mass Development) Portal, SMS positioned themselves as such to allow player involvement from the very outset of development. The result is a broad-reaching, highly scalable simulation that succeeds in pushing the limits nine tenths of the way, only to sputter across the finish line.

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