NBA 2K 21: PS4 Review

Released by 2K Sports

Developed by Visual Concepts

Another year, another basketball sim.

Only this time around, the NBA has lost a little of its shine, given there's not much been changed.

Again, 2K's annual sporting franchise gets rolled out onto the court for 2020, and ballers rush to lap it up means that it's the usual antics - you play as NBA players, and have to win. It's not rocket science, and it plays perfectly well.

But there's a feeling that the game really needs to do something a little different - no matter how polished MyCareer is and how accurate the character renderings are, the franchise does feel a little like it's the same year on year.

Cut scenes have been stripped back to concentrate largely on the action, and the feeling of being bombarded with microtransactions can also irritate as well. 

It's nowhere near a three pointer for NBA 2K21, and to be honest, while it's definitely doing what it says on the tin, the fact it is choosing not to do more is a bit frustrating that what was once a great sim is now simply a competent sim. 

Serious Sam Collection: PS4 Review

Published by Devolver Digital

Platform: PS4

There's not much to say about Serious Sam that doesn't go further than simply saying it's a run and gun game that doesn't take itself too seriously.

If you're being cruel, you could say it's a pastiche of Doom and the Mummy movie franchise with its tombs and endless hordes of creatures piling towards you. Graphically, the game's no great shake on the PS4, a mix of blocky schlocky pixels that is functional and looks fine. 

And yet, despite the game's obvious shortcomings, this collection is stupidly fun, a reminder that first player shooter games don't all have to be Call of Duty or Destiny. 

Blessed with sarcastic dialogue, Serious Sam isn't anything but its namesake, and from some laugh out loud lines to iconic baddies, the game works on many levels, but also doesn't take itself much more seriously than the B-movie genre it's come from.

While some of the collection's games feel a little repetitive, and there's less of an emphasis on maps and finding you way about, the Serious Sam Collection is a disposable enough title to ensure people dipping into it have fun, and nothing less.

The Dark Pictures: Little Hope: PS4 Review

Developed by Supermassive Games

Platform: PS4

The Dark Pictures mythology and series continues with Supermassive Games' latest.

Once again mining the world of horror and jump scares with the formula perpetuated by Until Dawn, Little Hope once again uses a fantastic cast and some good atmospheric jolts to provide something going bump in the night.

Will Poulter joins the cast as the story jumps around in time, back and forth, as a group of college kids find themselves stranded in Little Hope, a town that's somewhat less than normal - and a mystery to solve.

Inspired by The Witch, the Salem trials,The Blair Witch Project and the Mist, the game draws heavily on, and leans heavily into its horror machinations - all to achieve a somewhat chilling effect.

Building on some of the weaker edges of the predecessor Man of Medan, The Dark Pictures: Little Hope once again uses great graphics and the current gen consoles to achieve a game that has a way of getting under your skin - despite some of the ropier dialogue and obvious horror conceits.

Once again utilising the pass and play method where a controller can be given to another player to ensure their involvement, The Dark Pictures: Little Hope does a lot to be as immersive as it can for more than 1 player. It's a good solid touch and one which ensures the social edge of the horror can remove some of the tension.

Better than Man of Medan, The Dark Pictures: Little Hope is a ride worth taking. Much like a fairground horror, the game is there to spook, but with a little refining, this franchise and its eight episodes could provide something longer lasting than a carny atmosphere and a candy floss approach.

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla: PS4 Review

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal
Published by Ubisoft
Platform: PS4

The twenty second Assassin's Creed release sends everyone back to the past again.

This time though, it's to Viking times we head with the tale of Eivor, a Viking (male or female, it's your choice) who's caught in the middle of the conflict between the Vikings and the marauding Anglo-Saxon hordes.

Caught in the invasion, Eivor's world is further complicated when he/she meets the Hidden Ones and joins the fight against the Order of the Ancients....

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla starts with brutality as Eivor's family is slaughtered in front of them, and the brutality continues through, from the kind of attacks Eivor can launch to the stealth attacks. It's a gory game, but its bloody atmospherics work well.

There are a few bugs here and there, with Eivor occasionally crashing into mountainsides, and buildings, at the most unexpected and inopportune moments. It's a shame that Ubisoft didn't sort these before launch.

But much like Assassin's Creed: Odyssey did, the game delights in its open world - and occasional side quests. From events like having to outdrink a co-villager (an intriguing use of quick time) to more chunkier missions, the game's open world comes to life and breathes on its own terms. Being guided from mission to mission feels a little less like a grind this time around, and while there are hundreds of hours to kill within, the choice is there to dawdle or to follow the game.

And in parts, it looks beautiful too. From blood-soaked encounters to gorgeous sunsets and rises along coastal areas, this is a game that clearly prides itself on its visuals - they'll look even more spectacular on the next gen engines.

At the end of the day, it's an Assassin's Creed game, and it really doesn't flout what you've come to expect of the series - it's playable enough, despite glitches, but its timesuck is only worth it thanks to the story and the visuals.

Fuser: PS4 Review

Developed by Harmonix

Published by NC Soft

Platform: PS4

It's time to get back behind the turntables in Harmonix's Fuser.

This rhythm game gives you the chance to spin the wheels of four record players, and build mixes into songs. In the single player storyline, you get to progress through clubs, add mixes to tracks and generally build your reputation as the next Armand van Helden, or Fatboy Slim. Mix in time and you can make four elements literally sing to the crowds.

It's about what you'd expect from the geniuses that made Guitar Hero and Rock Band but it represents an evolution from the publisher as the game can be played without any additional bits to the console, meaning it's literally all there in your hands.

It helps the developers have had access to a great back catalogue of hits, mixing all genres from dance to pop - there's not likely to be something on this soundtrack that doesn't get you into the vibe of the game, and that's a great thing for setting some atmospherics in a year that's seen dance parties well and truly off the agenda.

Fuser is also an exceptionally social project too, with users being able to share mixes, and effectively creativity. It's a great touch given the main raison d'etre for music is to inspire others. 

But if you want to learn more than the basics, Fuser's also a great tutorial. From looping beats to dropping tracks, this is a music sim like never before - it's well worth it and may inspire you in ways you'd never have expected.

Should you buy an XBox Series S?

Microsoft's next gen consoles have launched, and while the majority of them have sold out globally, the company says more are on the way, as gamers scrabble to join the future of their hobby.

But should you choose the digital version?

The design: There's no denying the cuteness of the XBox Series S. Its sleek white thin design is one of the smallest consoles on the market. While some mocked its big black fan that sits on one side of it, making it look like the kind of turntable a FJ may have had in the 80s, its minimal appearance means it can sit comfortably in any home entertainment unit, and not look out of place. Better than the PlayStation 5's new look and the almost monolithic XBox Series X, the S is easily the design winner of the next gen launches.

The controller: Bit of a disappointment this one. Not only does it look like the last gen's controller, there's no real feeling it's been adapted for the next generation, which is massively underwhelming. While it does feel chunky, and not in any way clunky, the insistence on pursuing a battery-led solution for power feels more 2010 than 2020. And even though the batteries last for a long time, there will still come a time when the ominous empty battery logo will appear on screen.

The start-up and set up: Easy as to do, thanks to using the XBox app, the console can be up and running in moments alone once out of the box. There's a simplicity that's easy to appreciate here. It's noticeably quicker to power up than its last gen brothers, with a nice melting logo coming to life on the screen. And all you have to do is press the XBox button and away you go.

The HUD: Again, this feels slightly underwhelming for a next gen console. It's essentially the same as the last generation in terms of look and feel. You negotiate your way around as usual, and never the twain shall meet. It's still simple and clean, easy to use, and concentrated more on ensuring you can just get on and play. But it doesn't have any next gen bells and whistles.

Load times: They're a bit quicker admittedly, but most people won't really notice, as there's an expectation you launch a game and you're into it. It's not rocket science, but there is a noticeable difference when the custom SSD kicks in and makes sure you're at your destination rather than fiddling on your phone while you wait. Long term, as the games get bigger, and the graphics quality pushes the load times, you'll see a difference.

The storage: This is perhaps another minor issue with the "lesser" version of the console. With only 364GB of the 512GB available for use, the console's somewhat stymied by the lack of space to store games. It's even more noticeable when you remember this is a digital-only console and you can't pop out a game disc to load up later. And given some games these days are upto 150GB (Call of Duty, Destiny), this is a stinger that can't really be sweetened by the use of an external drive.

The games: Bit of a double-edged sword this one. Unless you have an aversion to launch titles. Whilst the last gen launched with a new Halo, and a range of other titles (Ryse: Son of Rome, Zoo Tycoon- all part of the 23 strong launch bunch back in 2014), this latest has launched on XBox at least with not a one. It's massively disappointing, and while Halo was delayed, it does make you wonder why a launch title couldn't have been procured. Most of the titles on the next gen are about upgrades - so if you already own it, then you can update to the next gen version. Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla launched near to the XBox Series S launch, so that's an easy crossover. 

Where the digital XBox Series S comes into its own is with the Game Pass subscription. Essentially an instant library, the 100-plus titles will grow as time goes. And the fact you can use these titles anywhere across PC and XBox means Microsoft is positioning itself strongly as an enabler, not a destination for games, which is a big thing for the coming years.

Overall, if you're wanting to join the next generation, then the XBox Series S feels like a nice starter level entrant. It's becoming clearer that Microsoft is looking beyond traditional gaming models, from the use of its GamePass to the crossplay elements with PC and XBox, so perhaps in a strange way, the consoles themselves are becoming gradually redundant. 

While download times are still way too long on a XBox (even with fibre, some titles take upwards of a day to download), the pros just about outweigh the cons with the XBox Series S - that is, if you can find one before Christmas.

Win a double pass to see Words Between Walls at the cinema

To celebrate the release of Words Between Walls in cinemas December 10, you can win a double pass, thanks to Sony Pictures.

About Words Between Walls

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to not be defined by his condition.

Starring Charlie Plummer and Taylor Russell

Words Between Walls is in cinemas December 10