Now Playing: FORM & Twilight Path (VR)

I purchased FORM and Twilight Path in a bundle deal, so I figured I’d review them together. They’re VR puzzle games, developed by Charm Games. In terms of tone, story and visuals they’re both very unique, but they share much in common mechanically.

Each game is pretty short – an hour or so for FORM, an hour twenty for Twilight Path – but it depends upon how quickly you solve the puzzles, or how often you take a moment to appreciate the VR environments. There’s not much immediate replay value to either game, although I’m sure I’ll play through them again in the future.

That said, they do serve as rather good VR demonstrations. Their short length, ease of progression and simple, intuitive gameplay all serve to promote both games as great ‘entry’ style VR experiences.

In FORM, you play as a scientist investigating a mysterious monolith, whereas in Twilight Path, you play as someone transported into a spirit realm who must find their way home. Both games are very impressive visually. FORM is dark and (initially) oppressive, whereas Twilight Path is bright and colourful. They’re easily two of the most immersive and visually striking VR experiences I’ve played.

Considering these are obviously not high budget games, the level of production quality in terms of visuals, sound, VA and technical stability is very impressive. By keeping the games short, the developers have been able to deliver two very well crafted VR experiences that punch above their weight in terms of development cost.

They also do a good job of keeping the puzzles varied, with no single puzzle mechanic outstaying its welcome or becoming too repetitive. The games mix things up as you progress, introducing new mechanics to keep things fresh and engaging. I do wish, however, that the puzzles had grown in complexity – there’s no real challenge to solving puzzles in either game. You never really need to take a step back and consider how to proceed, followed by that wonderful eureka! moment when you hit upon the solution.

If I had to choose between FORM and Twilight Path, I’d say I enjoyed Twilight Path more. There’s more variety to the game in terms of visuals, characters and mechanics. Whereas FORM is a more isolated experience, simply moving you from one puzzle onto the next, Twilight Path offers a more expansive, narrative based experience. There are characters with whom you interact, and a story with more direction.

Overall, I’m glad I purchased both games, but I’m also glad I got them in a bundle deal – these are games I’d certainly recommend if you have a VR system, but I’d also recommend them on sale. I know Charm Games are working on a sequel to Twilight Path and I hope that they can build upon what they’ve already achieved and deliver a more substantial VR experience, with a little more challenge and complexity.

FORM – 6/10 Twilight Path – 7/10

The Clayton Awards 2019

Game of the Year 2019 – Astral Chain

Astral Chain was an easy pick for my GOTY. It seemed to arrive at just the right moment, as I said in my review -

‘It’s a timely reminder of just how colourful, unique and crazy video games can be.’ (Full Review)

Most Disappointing Game of 2019 – Red Dead Redemption 2

And if Astral Chain was an easy pick for my GOTY, then Red Dead Redemption 2 is an easy pick for my Most Disappointing Game of 2019.

This might be something of a surprise if you’ve read my rather glowing First Impressions post, but rest assured, I’ll be explaining why I’m so disappointed by Red Dead Redemption 2 in a full review early next year. And do remember – disappointing doesn’t necessarily mean bad.

Now Playing: Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 is the first game in the DMC series I’ve played, but I doubt it will be my last. It’s a series I’ve always wanted to try but never quite got around to. If you’ve followed my blog you’ll know I’m a fan of fast paced, third person action games so I was pretty excited to get stuck into DMC 5.

The game comes with a helpful little recap video for new players to bring them up to speed on the ongoing story and characters. And although the story of DMC 5 may not be the most important aspect, it’s a decent – if predicable – tale that helps string the missions along from one to the next. But honestly, once you’ve seen the story scenes once, you’ll likely just skip them on repeat play – aside from (maybe) that Dante dance number.

You begin the game by playing as Nero, but within a few short missions you’ll switch to playing as V. Both characters play very differently – Nero attacks directly with a sword and gun, whereas V has demonic ‘pets’ that do the fighting for him. Nero also has a mechanical arm which, as you progress, you will unlock multiple variations of, each with its own unique attack style and ultimate ability. But I must say, my initial impressions of DMC 5, based upon these two characters, were a little mixed.

 

When you begin you only have a very basic level of abilities available to you – you can’t even double jump or perform a proper dodge, for example. And Nero only has a single, sword based combo. Combat during these early missions, at least on your first run, will feel very limited. To be fair, the cost of many of your more basic skills is quite cheap, so you won’t have to grind too many ‘orbs’ in order to unlock them.

The ‘orb’ system is a point of contention that must be addressed. Pretty much every skill in the game for every character and weapon type can only be unlocked by spending red orbs at an ever increasing cost. I don’t know the total cost of all skills in the game because – even though I’ve now completed it twice – I’ve still not unlocked them all. Most, but not all. And I doubt I’ll ever grind the NINE MILLION orbs required to unlock each character’s final ‘taunt’ move.

I can understand wanting to give players a goal to strive for through repeat play, but I do feel that the cost of many of these skills is too damn high. I really shouldn’t need to play through the game 3-4 times (maybe more) to unlock everything. And like I said, it does make a good portion of your initial run feel very limited because there’s so much you haven’t yet unlocked.

And those unlocks are very important, particularly for Nero and V. Nero becomes far more fun to play once you’ve unlocked the majority of his skills. And V? Well, V does get better, but he’s still, by far, the weakest component of DMC 5. But let’s focus on Nero first, shall we?

 

Nero’s mechanical arm is what really sets him apart and I love the notion of each arm you unlock having different styles of attack. That said, when I unlocked my second arm I must have spent 5 minutes trying to figure out how to switch between them . . . before I realised that I couldn’t. This is one aspect of DMC 5 I really don’t like. I understand the intention behind this design choice – to make switching your arms a tactical choice – you can only switch by destroying your currently equipped arm which will then automatically equip the next arm you’ve ‘queued’ in your inventory.

But frankly, I prefer games that give me creative flexibility – I wanted to be able to quickly switch between arm types as and when I pleased, to switch to whatever arm felt the most appropriate for that particular moment. I don’t hate the system they have, it just feels needlessly restrictive to me – as if Nero (if you’ll excuse the pun) is fighting with one arm tied behind his back.

As for V, it’s a little strange playing as him after playing Astral Chain – a game built around a combat system in which you summon and control a ‘pet’. And maybe it’s not fair to compare them considering that V is only one part of DMC 5, whereas Astral Chain is entirely designed for that style of play. But fair or not, V is the weakest part of DMC 5. He’s just not – at least to me – all that fun to actually play as. He gets better with new skills, but during my first run through the game, I can’t say I particularly enjoyed his missions.

In fact, I was a little concerned as I progressed. Considering all the ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reviews on Steam, I wasn’t exactly loving what I was playing. Nero was fun, but felt limited, and V was . . . kinda crap, to be perfectly honest. But then I unlocked Dante and Dante is f**king amazing.

 

Dante is fantastic to play as right from the very start, before you’ve even unlocked any of his (extensive) skills. Not only is he my favourite character to play as, but in terms of the story and characters, he’s just a fun lad who you can’t help but love. And once you do unlock new skills and weapons with Dante – including a chainsaw motorcycle – he just keeps getting better and better. Hell, the entire game could have just been playing as Dante and I think I would have liked it even more because the amount of combo options Dante has, the sheer amount of attack styles and weapon types is absolutely crazy.

And that’s what I love about Dante – he’s great to play as regardless of if you’re new to the game, or a veteran of the series. He’s instantly accessible but there’s so much depth to his gameplay to master. Playing as Dante was what really turned the game from being good to great for me. It’s just a shame he doesn’t show up until about half way through.

But DMC 5 is certainly a game that you’ll enjoy more on repeat play. I know it’s a strange recommendation – it gets really good once you’ve finished the game – but it’s true. I enjoyed DMC 5 far more on my second run with all the new skills I’d unlocked.

The game has a good selection of enemy types and some enjoyable bosses, but what it really lacks is environmental variety. This is probably my primary criticism of the game and why it doesn’t get a higher score – the environments kind of suck. The early levels are pretty decent as you traverse a city amidst a demonic invasion. But roughly half way through the game, pretty much every level becomes the same – you’re traversing the interior of a ‘demonic tree’.

 

I got f**king sick of that tree, I’m not going to lie. Every mission just looked the same. Don’t get me wrong, visually speaking, DMC 5 looks great – including the levels set within the demon tree – but I really didn’t need half the game to be set there. It kind of reminded me of the Hell levels in Bayonetta 2.

They were, visually, a great change of pace, but the game knew when to kick you back to reality. DMC 5, unfortunately, doesn’t and you’re stuck traversing that bloody tree until the end of the game. I also would have liked to see Nico, Trish or Lady play more of a role within the game – they just kind of disappear half way through.

I’m suddenly realising that this review is probably sounding more negative than positive, but I’m just laying out why DMC 5 didn’t quite manage to hit that higher score for me – why, as good as it is, it ain’t no Bayonetta, baby!

Overall, Devil May Cry 5 is a great game that’s worth checking out even if, like me, you’re new to the series. And – if I can find the time – I’m certainly going to check out the earlier games in the series to see how they compare.

8/10

Now Watching: They Live

Over the years, I’ve seen most but not all of John Carpenter’s films and a couple of them – The Thing (1982) and Big Trouble in Little China (1986) – are two of my favourite films ever. But I’d never seen They Live (1988) until recently.

They Live is a science-fiction film that focuses on John Nada (Roddy Piper), a drifter who stumbles upon a global conspiracy involving alien invaders and subliminal messages. It may seem silly not wanting to spoil the plot of a film released 30 years ago, but I think They Live is best enjoyed if you go in not knowing exactly what to expect. That’s how I viewed it, at least, and I’m glad I did, so that’s why I’m going to keep this review short and light on details.

I think the film is best described as ‘short and punchy’. In an age where very movie seems to be at least 2 hours, They Live is refreshingly trim and tidy. It gets off to a deliberately slow start as we’re introduced to Nada who, despite his less than fortunate circumstances, still has faith and hope within society and the ‘system’. He’s a simple man who just wants to earn an honest wage, and if people would just give him a shot, he’ll repay them in turn.

But of course, his belief in society and the system is soon shook and crumbles as he discovers that the world isn’t quite what it appears. Nada, as our hero, is reminiscent of the blue-collar heroes of The Thing and Big Trouble – they’re just guys trying to make a buck who get caught up in something much bigger.

As I said, it’s best not to know too much going in so you can figure out what’s going on alongside Nada. And that’s when the film really picks up pace, as Nada practically bulldozes his way forward. There’s not much in the way of elaborate planning to his actions – he just reacts and lashes out at the world he has now discovered is a lie – a world he previously had faith in. There’s nothing subtle about Nada but his direct action is certainly effective.

Overall, They Live has become another Carpenter favourite for me and it’s something I’d highly recommend. With a combination of stunts and practical effects, it still looks great today. And I think more importantly, the themes it explores are just as relevant now – if not more so – than they were at release, particularly in this social media obsessed age.

If you’re a fan of science-fiction, of mystery and action – because there’s also plenty of that – then be sure to check out They Live. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

8/10

Now Playing: Resident Evil 2 Remake

With the Resident Evil and Resident Evil Zero remakes completed, it was time to jump into the more recent remake of Resident Evil 2. I played Resident Evil 2 when it released on the Dreamcast in 2000 but honestly, I’m not even sure if I finished it. I do remember parts of it, but it hasn’t stuck in my mind the same way the original has.

Then again, unlike the original, I haven’t played it in 19 years, so I guess it’s not a surprise I can’t recall it very well. Which means that this review can’t really serve as a comparison of the original versus this modern remake. I just don’t remember the original enough to judge this remake on those terms – what it’s gained, or what it might have lost during the transition.

 

What I can say though is that the Resident Evil 2 remake is a fantastic game, as enjoyable and engaging as the Resident Evil remake – perhaps, dare I say it, even more so. Set a couple of months after the first game, the action picks up in Raccoon City, now infested with zombies and other mutated nasties very eager to bite your face off. 

You can choose to play as Leon Kennedy, a rookie cop, or Claire Redfield, who has come to Raccoon City in search of her brother. Like the original game with Jill and Chris, Leon and Claire’s stories kind-of-but-not-quite run in parallel.

Both characters will progress through largely the same areas, puzzles and enemies, but each has their own unique sequence of story events, and there are some areas / gameplay sections which are only accessible to one character or the other.

 

It’s not exactly a perfect system if you want to believe that both stories are occurring simultaneously, because it doesn’t really work like that. But there is enough story, location and gameplay variation to make playing through with both characters worth your time. And when you complete the ‘A’ playthrough for each character, you’ll then unlock a ‘B’ run which mixes up various items and progression for each character to give you a familiar, but fresh experience.

Visually, the Resident Evil 2 remake is fantastic, with excellent use of lighting and shadows to create a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere. With modern controls and camera angles, Resident Evil 2 is quite a departure from the more ‘traditional’ Resident Evil and Zero remakes. It seems like nearly every area of the original has had a modern overhaul to one degree or another – the way your inventory works, for example, or the lack of ink ribbons to save – at least on difficulties below Hardcore.

 

There’s a nice progression of weapons and enemies as you go, and the infamous Mr. X really cranks up the tension whenever he appears. Your initial entry point in the police station is very reminiscent of the mansion of Resident Evil 1 – with secret passageways and various keys required in order to open new areas. And overall, I’d say Resident Evil 2 does a better job of varying up the environments as you go, although as you might expect, you’re always going to end up in an Umbrella lab beneath the surface.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing through this remake with both Leon and Claire. I don’t know if a Resident Evil 3 remake is in the works, but I hope one is, because that’s another game I played many years ago but can barely recall, and I’d love to complete the set.

If you’re a fan of the Resident Evil series then this is a must buy. And it’s not a bad place to jump in if you’re new to the series, combining the best of classic survival horror with a modern gameplay twist.

8/10

Red Dead Redemption 2: First Impressions

I was going to wait for the Steam release of Red Dead Redemption 2, but when I discovered it would require the Rockstar launcher anyway, I figured I might as well purchase it through that platform and save an extra 15 quid. I also, coincidentally, had a week off work, so I had some free time to really get stuck into it.

I guess the first thing to address is the launcher itself and any technical issues I’ve had. The launcher is . . . basic, to say the least, but I’ve not had any problems with it. No crashes, no update issues. It works. That’s all it does, but I guess that’s all it really needs to do. As for the game itself, I’ve had a couple of crashes during my first 15 or so hours of play, but no other problems.

I’ve not encountered any bugs or had any issues with any quests. In terms of performance, I’m running on mostly High settings with a few cranked up to Ultra and I’m getting a fairly stable 60FPS, with the occasional dip into the 40-50 range depending upon the scene. But given the slow paced nature of RDR2 it’s not particularly noticeable.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original in which you play as Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. If you’ve played the original then some of these characters will already be familiar to you and you’ll also know where their path will eventually lead. It certainly gives the game something of a bitter-sweet edge to its story. 

And the story and these characters are really at the heart of RDR2. The game revolves around you and your gang. They’re your family. A wild, dysfunctional family, perhaps, but a family nonetheless. The game opens with a fairly short initial chapter that not only serves to introduce you to the basic gameplay mechanics, but also to the people with whom you’ll embark upon this journey.

And these introductions continue into Chapter 2, which is when the game really begins to open up and let you explore its impressive open world. Each early mission serves a dual purpose – to unlock new weapons, tools or gameplay systems and to let you get to know another member of your gang. These missions also expand as you progress, pushing you further and further from your camp.

It’s a clever means of progression that not only ensures you get to know each gang member in turn, but also unlock new tools and systems at a steady rate, whilst also revealing more and more of the open world.

At the time of writing, I’ve just wrapped up Chapter 2 and my gang and I have relocated to a new location in a new part of the map. I don’t believe this will be the last relocation and it’s another clever way of continually pushing you across the map throughout the course of the game. And I have to say, I really love the gang camp.

The camp can be improved over time by investing in various upgrades, some of which may be purely cosmetic, but others which offer useful gameplay benefits – such as a fast travel map, or the ability to recall your horse to camp. You can restock food and ammo, catch some sleep, have a shave or change your clothes. But the camp is more than just a rest and resupply point – if the gang is your family, then the camp is your home.

One of the things I love most about RDR2 is the contextual conversations. You can speak with other gang members within the camp and whilst there are the expected ‘stock’ replies, there’s lots of situation specific dialogue. Some will be comments about current events, or recent missions you’ve undertaken, whereas others will refer to whatever activity your currently engaged in. The gang have their own routine. They talk, argue, drink and sing amongst themselves. They don’t just ignore you if you pass by or sit down with them, but actively engage with you.

And this contextual dialogue applies to the wider world, too. You can greet and converse with everyone you encounter. You can be rude, attempt to defuse a hostile situation with words, or perhaps trigger a conflict. And NPCs will sometimes refer to recent events that you were a part of. In one case, I was approached in a saloon by an NPC who wanted to talk about a bar fight I was in a few days before. In another, an NPC who I’d helped on the road arrived in town and offered me a free item of choice from the local gunsmith.

Sure, you can argue that these things are all just cleverly disguised scripted events, but the way they’re presented in the game feels very natural and spontaneous. There’s a real emphasis on immersion in RDR2, far more than any game I’ve played in recent memory. All of the expected gameplay systems are present, but they’re disguised in such as way as to make everything feel more ‘real’.

To give a more specific example – looting bodies. In say, The Division 2, loot dropped by enemies pops up in a little virtual box from which you can loot a specific item or everything at once. It’s a fast and efficient system, but hardly realistic. But in RDR2, Arthur has to physically search each and every body. It’s a short animation, no more than a few seconds, but like so many minor aspects of RDR2, it builds a sense of realism, carefully disguising the video game systems running beneath.

And I can totally see why some players would be irritated by this. Why they’d be annoyed by having to take their time to search every dead body, or why they don’t want to have to remember to retrieve their weapons from their horse every time they dismount. I can see why some players may find these little minor systems based upon realism to be tedious and unnecessary.

But RDR2 wants to immerse you in its world and isn’t afraid to slow things down and make the player take their time. And for me, it really does work. It’s not just one single thing, but a combination of design choices, each of which build an incredibly immersive and realistic world to explore.

RDR2 isn’t afraid to take things slow, to build to the action. And the game gives you plenty to keep you busy outside of the story based missions – hunting, fishing, bounty jobs, treasure maps, robberies, ‘stranger’ side missions and all manner of random encounters throughout the world as you explore.

Okay, I should probably wrap this up so I’ve got some material left for my review. That review may be some time away because once I complete the single player side of RDR2, I also want to get stuck into the Online mode. But at the moment, I’m thoroughly enjoying RDR2. It’s a very impressive game with amazing visuals and an incredible attention to detail. It’s immersive, fun and thoughtful. If it keeps this quality up, we’ll have another strong contender for my GOTY.