Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (2020)

Even though Assassin's Creed is one of the biggest video game franchises ever created, I have never played one all the way through. However, that has now changed as I have just played through an Assassin's Creed game in Valhalla. After over 70 hours of gameplay, here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees a group of Vikings travel to England where they look to build a new life and gain power in the country. 

Characters

The main character Eivor can be either Male or Female. I chose the male option and played through the entire game this way. Eivor grew on me as the game progressed, at first I thought he was just a brute but he actually became pretty charming. He grows as the game progresses and his character development is well handled. 

Basim is back from previous games and here he is a cool companion to Eivor, Sigurd and the settlement. He is always a bit mysterious and as you delve into his story he is an interesting character that I didn't really know about as I haven't played previous games. 

Sigurd is the leader of The Settlement and he is pretty cool if not pretty complex. As the game progresses he goes through a lot and his relationship with Eivor becomes more strained and it's then that you see his character shine. 

You meet so many characters in this game and they are all well voice acted and well performed raising up some of the mediocre plots. 

Story

I like the characters stories and the development of these group of Vikings from a small settlement to booming colony. The character clash and have real progress which is nice to see. However, the game has a repetitive story. You go around England attempting to recruit allies and there is a large amount of these with many feeling very similar which gets a bit dull. Also, to someone who isn't a fan of the franchise, the ending is really confusing and I had no clue what was going on and how it linked to the overall lore of Assassin's Creed. 

Side Content

As you saw above, this game took me ages to complete and that is because of how much content is here. I enjoyed some of the side content, I enjoyed helping the people at the settlement and committing raids for resources and gold. Though, this game has some really boring side content too that feels like a quantity over quality approach which I don't think ever works in a game. 

Gameplay

The Gameplay is really good, it took a bit to get used to but I loved the Combat. You have lots of choices when it comes to weapons and they all play differently. There is a good amount of enemies with a lot of challenging boss fights to keep you on your toes. The stealth isn't as good but with practice I managed to even start getting good at this element of the game. 

Graphics

Probably the best part of the game is the graphics. The game looks drop dead gorgeous and nails its feeling and aesthetic. It is great to travel through the world on your long boat and attacking all the interesting locations. 

Overall

Overall, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is a great game that I had a lot of fun playing. It is a long game with plenty to do but it is well worth it and I would suggest this is a game to play, but probably when you have played the other games so you have a better grasp on what is going on. 

Rating - 8/10

L.A. Noire (2011/2017) Review

While playing video games, you get games that have associations with big organisations that maybe don't get as much love as they should and I feel like L.A. Noire is one of those games so I decided to re-play the game and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees a War Hero & Rookie Cop rising through the ranks of the L.A.P.D during the 1940s. 

Characters

Aaron Stanton plays Cole Phelps and he is our main protagonist here and he is fantastic. Due to the technology used for this game we really get to see the extent of his performance and the depth he gives Cole. Cole is definitely a flawed hero and has some real issues that we have to deal with as players and Cole was a great character. 

Later on in the game we end up playing as Jack Kelso played by Gil McKinney and he was also a great character. He is a bit more intense then Cole and we don't spend as much time with him but he slips into the protagonist role really well and it feels seamless. 

Over the course of the game you are paired with different partners and they are all great characters and have great chemistry with Cole. Michael McGrady playing Rusty Galloway is my favourite and his development over the Homicide desk is really fun. Adam J Harrington as Roy Earle is the biggest slime ball in the game and he relishes in it making him one of the most memorable characters in the game. Sean McGowan as Stefan Bekowsky & Keith Szarabajka as Herschel Briggs are good partners and add a lot to their desks. 

There isn't one bad performance in this game and the technology really enhances these performances and makes it closer to TV or Film. Some of my favourites being John Noble as Leland Monroe & Peter Blomquist as Dr Harlan Fontaine. 

Story

The story is really interesting and nailed the tone of the 1940s and the brutality of Los Angeles. All the cases are interesting and as you get different partners throughout it keeps things fresh. The desks are Traffic, Homicide, Vice and Arson, Homicide was my favourite and I loved playing though the different cases on the desk, the others are really good and the story gets more focused in the final 2 cases. There are flashbacks that further enhance the story and shows Cole and Jacks journey while they go though their cases. The main issue for me is the ending of the story, it just feels a little weak and sudden, it kind of fits the tone of the game but it just left me not satisfied and I wish we had got a bit more. 

Side Content

This game doesn't have a lot of side content. The main one being the street crimes you can deal with and these are short but somewhat entertaining and break up the pace of the main cases pretty well. But it feels like there is a lot missing here and there was potential to have a more interactive world, more activities could have fleshed the game out and given the beautiful world life. 

Gameplay

The best part of this game are the interrogations, these interrogations are so unique and have never been done since and I have no idea why. These are the best part of the game and trying to decipher whether people are lying or telling the truth is a real challenge and kept me engaged throughout. There are gun sequences, car chases and foot chases that are all well done but they clearly aren't the focus compared to the interrogations. 

Graphics

The game looks fantastic, especially with the re-mastered version that I played. The technology used adds to every performance and makes every character feel like real people and made the interrogations feel more difficult. The locations are beautiful and I think it does add a lot to the background of the game. 

Overall

Overall, L.A. Noire is a great game that has so much good to it. This is such a unique slower paced game that won't be for everybody, but if you can handle that then you will fall in love with this game and want to keep investigating. 

Rating - 8/10

Mass Effect 3 (2012/2021) Review

It has finally happened that I have finished playing the Mass Effect trilogy and after two really good games we will have to see if the trilogy can finish it off in style and here is my review for Mass Effect 3. The premise of the game sees The Reapers finally invade the galaxy, Shepard must recruit the other species to work together to ensure they stand a chance against the greatest threat of all time. 

Characters 

For the final time, we get to play as Commander Shepard and once again I am a Male Shepard voiced by the excellent Mark Meer and he absolutely nails it in this game. You really feel the wear and tear that goes on this character as he has to deal with this war. He has great emotional moments and quick humour that makes this a legendary character that encapsulates this overall franchise. 

This game has an insanely large cast bringing characters back from the previous two games and they are all pretty much the same as they have been but a lot have them have way less time to shine here which sucks. One character that gets plenty of time is Liara T'soni played by Ali Hillis, she is back as a full time squad member this time around and she is a great character that sees progression here. She was my romance choice and I think she is one of the most fleshed out romances of the franchise. 

Brandon Keener is back as Garrus Vakarian and once again he is awesome, he is just such a cool character and I really like how they show how the war affects people through him. He is a bit more ruthless with his thinking and is dealing with the greater responsibility that he is given. 

Ash Sroka is also back as Tali and her story is actually quite similar to Garrus. She is given more responsibility in her government and she really struggles with it and isn't sure exactly what the best way to help her people is. She is once again a great character and even though she isn't introduced till later there is still plenty of time for her. 

There's some new squad mates in this game. Starting with James Vega played by Freddie Prinze Jnr and I must say I enjoyed having him around more in this playthrough then I have previously. He is quite charming and I like his relationship with Shepard, he is probably the best Alliance squad member that we have had in the franchise. EDI played by Tricia Helfer gets a body this time and joins the squad and similar to James I enjoyed her more here, she has a dark sense of humour and her development is really clear and I thought it was well handled. Ike Amadi plays Javik the last Prothean, he was originally DLC but in the Legendary edition he is in the game proper and he is fantastic. He is a very angry and violent character that also has a clear development over the course of the game. 

One last character to mention is The Illusive Man played by Martin Sheen, I forgot to mention how amazing a character he was in the previous game so I am going to mention it here and say that I love this character and the performance of Sheen. They make some questionable character decisions with him here but Sheen still delivers an effective performance. 

Story

The story is a real mixed bag. I love the feeling of this game and the tone of just how massive this war is and how it totally affects everybody in the galaxy. I also really liked how the two big storylines involve the Genophage & The Quarian/Geth war which are two things that have been talked about since the first game. However, it is the last act of storytelling is where it falls off a cliff. Turning Cerberus into moustache twirling villains was a real mistake and the ending just falls incredibly flat which is such a shame for this amazing franchise. 

Side Content 

This game has lots of side content and for the most part it is very good. This is where you meet the majority of characters from previous games including squad mates from Mass Effect 2 such as Jack, Grunt & Samara. There are some annoying mini games where you cna collect objects to help the war effort, but these aren't essential and can be skipped. The 3 DLC's Leviathan, Omega & The Citadel are all brilliant and worthwhile editions that are now a part of the game due to Legendary Edition. 

Gameplay 

From a pure gameplay perspective this is the best game so far in the franchise. Shepard is way more athletic and he can move a lot better which allows you to execute different moves. There is also a way better melee weapon which sometimes encourages play that gets you close to the enemy. The dialogue is also at its best and characters usually have something to say and actually interact with each other which is a big upgrade on the previous games. However, this game tries to limit how much fun you can have to play. For example, they add weight to the weapons which means you are incredibly limited to what weapons you can use as it affects your power use which I need being a Biotic. 

Graphics

The game looks beautiful, the new weapons and armour really adds plenty to the game. The vast battlefields that shows the destruction by The Reapers is realised really well for the majority of the game. The character models also look great and I really enjoyed the look of the universe that is plagued by war. 

Overall

Overall, Mass Effect 3 is a great finish to the Mass Effect trilogy, it just falls a little short of expectations. I had a great time playing a game and think it still has plenty of merit despite its poor ending. 

Rating - 8/10

Mass Effect (2007/2021) Review

When I was younger, one of the first games I really got invested in was Mass Effect and I have played through the whole trilogy many times. I decided to once again go through the trilogy and the spinoff Andromeda and review them. I really got back into the franchise when the legendary edition was released and all of the reviews will be the legendary versions of the game, so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees in a future where humans discovered they weren't alone in the universe, an elite human soldier must lead a team to save the world from a rogue agent. 

Characters

For this playthrough I decided to play as a Male Commander Shepard, but I have done previous playthroughs as a Female Shepard and Jennifer Hale is fantastic in the role and in the near future I am sure I will do another run-through as this version of the character. Mark Meer plays the Male version of the character and he is also fantastic, he feels really believable as this soldier and as the squeaky clean soldier is good. He is also really funny with his deadpan lines and Meer nails it for sure. 

My favourite character from this game is Urdnot Wrex who is voiced by Steven Barr. He is a Krogan mercenary and he is the coolest character, he is the most intense and renegade character in the game but he has a sense of honour and the relationship that he builds with Shepard is really well handled. 

Brandon Keneer plays Garrus Vakarian and he is decent here, he is a character that is clearly struggling with his place in the galaxy and sees working with Shepard as an opportunity to find his way. There is very much a professional relationship between him and Shepard which mean he doesn't quite have the chemistry that would be developed in future games. 

Ali Hillis plays Liara T'Soni & Ash Sroka plays Tali and they are both good in the game but similar to Garrus they don't fully hit their stride in this game and are setting up the intrigue and they are good character but we only start to really delve into their character here

Last of the squadmates is Kimberly Brooks playing Ashley Williams and Raphael Sbarge playing Kaidan Alenko. As the only human squadmates they are naturally less interesting then their alien allies but the game does give them character and the voice actors do good enough work to make them valued part of the team. 

There are so many fantastic characters in this game. Saren is a brilliant villain for this game and is perfect for this story. Captain Anderson played by the legendary Keith David is an awesome mentor for Shepard and Joker played by Seth Green is a great addition to the group. 

Story

This story is fantastic, it really does a great job of introducing us to this universe and cast of characters. The different species and motivations are well realised for sure. The main character being on the hunt for a rogue agent sounds quite simple but it really works and the more focus on the main plot with a few longer main missions is an interesting but effective choice. The ending is pretty epic and does an amazing job of setting up the future games with lots of effective choices for the player to make that will also affect the future. 

Side Content

There is plenty of side content in this game and some of the missions have really interesting subject matter that keeps things interesting when not focusing on the main plot. It allows the player to make their own decisions and gets to learn some more stuff about your squadmates. However, some of these missions are quite repetitive, the bases look the same and a lot of them just feel very similar which is a shame. 

Gameplay

The gameplay has definitely been improved with the Legendary Edition. The gunplay is good and this game has the most RPG feeling of the trilogy, you get plenty of armour, weapons and mods to use which makes the gameplay feel fresh as you play. However, it still isn't that great and it is the weakest part of this game, it is weaker gunplay then most modern shooters that you get today. The Mako is brought back and again, even though it is improved it is still frustrating to use and hindered my enjoyment of the experience. 

Graphics

Because I played the Legendary Edition version of this game, it looked fantastic. The character models are much improved and the planets themselves look a lot different and just feel unique. The cutscenes are really well rendered and it just made everything more exciting. 

Overall

Overall, Mass Effect is a great game. It rises above some of its weaknesses and introduces people to this amazing world and franchise that will continue to provide great content. If you haven't played this game then get The Legendary Edition a go and start this trilogy. 

Rating - 8/10 

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) Review

After playing Asylum & City, I have now competed Rocksteady's Arkham trilogy with Arkham Knight and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees Gotham City evacuated after a terrorist threat from Scarecrow, along with a new villain called The Arkham Knight he aims to take down The Batman. On one night, Batman has to use all of his skills and gadgets in order to take down all of the villains currently lurking in Gotham. 

Characters

The late Kevin Conroy is back as Batman/Bruce Wayne and he is tremendous here and is probably his best performance in the trilogy. They really make it clear that this is the biggest challenge that Batman has ever been through and Conroy really conveys that. He is still intimidating as Batman but also has some emotional moments and scenes with other members of the Bat Family. 

John Noble takes over the role of Scarecrow and I really like the depiction of the character here. He is really calculating and cruel and Noble really delivers a chilling performance as this character that is worthy of taking over the responsibility of being the main villain. 

Jonathan Banks plays Commissioner Gordan here and this is the game where he has the most impact and Banks fills the role well with his gruff and intensity adding plenty to the character. The chemistry between himself and Conroy is really good and feels very believable. 

Ashley Greene and Matthew Mercer take over the roles as Oracle & Robin and I thought they felt pretty natural for this game and fit it in really well with Batman and the game. They are good in their roles and I thought they were great additions to this game. 

Story

The story here is all over the place, there is so much the game has to do that it loses its way. I really like the personal story Batman goes through in this game as he deals with all of the stress that comes with the night and other factors that come into play and it has a very interesting ending. But the game fumbles plenty of things, particularly the portrayal of The Arkham Knight, there was so much hype for him but it falls flat and he is a really disappointing part of the story here. Other characters from the previous games such as Two Face & Hush are totally underutilized and could have been a major part of the main plot instead of smaller side missions. 

Side Content

This game is huge, it is one of the biggest maps I have ever played and there is loads for Batman to do, along with lots of DLC where you play as not just Batman but other members of The Bat Family. Unfortunately, its a mixed bag in terms of the side content. There is some really good side content, for example the Professor Pyg investigation and Azrael's story are some of my favourite butt there is just too many misfires. Basically everything to do with The Arkham Knight's Militia is really repetitive and mind numbing and certain characters are in side missions that aren't given the time to matter or truly care. 

Gameplay

This is easily the most fluid combat system for any of the Arkham games and flows incredibly well. The extra use of gadgets in combat and the way that Batman moves more aggressively makes it a much more enjoyable experience. Onto the elephant in the room and that is The Batmobile, a huge part of the marketing was the use of The Batmobile and I can't deny that it is fun to use. Facing Tanks in the car and traversing through Gotham with it is really enjoyable but there is no denying that it is overused and does become a bit repetitive at times. 

Style

Maybe the best part of this game is the style. It is a beautiful game and this game came out 9 years ago looking way better then most modern day games. Gotham itself feels huge and looks great with the horrors of the night being emphasized well. 

Overall

Overall, Batman: Arkham Knight is a great game. Replaying the game has given me a different perspective and realise that there is lots to really enjoy here and that it deserves to be played by Batman fans and alike. 

Rating - 8/10

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009/2016) Review

Ahead of the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, I thought I would go back and play the Arkham games that lead into that spin off. This starts with the first game in this franchise Batman: Arkham Asylum, I played the game when it originally came out and have replayed it as part of the Return to Arkham remaster recently and here is my review for the game. The premise of the games sees The Joker taking over Arkham Asylum, Batman has one night to figure out his plan and stop him and the other super criminals from taking over. 

Characters

Reprising his role from Batman: The Animated Series, the late great Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman and he is phenomenal here. He just fits the role incredibly well, his stoic nature nails the quiet confidence that he has. It really feels like this is an experienced Batman and that he has a built in relationship with all the other characters in the universe. For me, Conroy is in the discussion for the best ever Batman and that is no different here. 

Also reprising his role is the tremendous Mark Hamill as The Joker. He is such a star here, Joker is amazingly well realised and comes straight out of a comic book or the animated series this game is heavily inspired by. He has so much recorded dialogue here that you probably here him more then Batman and it is written and delivered incredibly well. The two of them are amazing together and the best part of the game. 

This game is filled with comic book characters that are all handled really well. Harley Quinn is once again voiced by the late Arleen Sorkin and she is also brilliant. She is really playful and evil as she should be and Sorkin is just what every other actress who has played the role has had to live up too. 

Other characters such as Scarecrow, Killer Croc and Poison Ivy are given quite a lot of screen time as secondary villains and they are a lot of fun. The boss battles are all different and unique and fit the characters really well. 

Story 

The story is really good. It is really interesting seeing Batman work his way around Arkham Asylum searching for ways to stop Joker and the other villains. It is the atmosphere created by the location and the feel of the narrative that drives the game through. The relationship between Batman and Joker is at the forefront and even though they only share a few scenes together you really understand the dynamic. 

Side Content

Unlike the other Arkham games, Arkham Asylum is not an open world game and is a more linear experience. It has some challenge maps where you can play as either Batman or Joker and they are entertaining to play and I definitely got a kick out of it but there isn't that much depth to it. The collectibles and Riddler trophies in the main game are just window dressing to the overall game. 

Gameplay

The gameplay for this game actually turned out to be revolutionary, it inspired so many other games to use combat styles just like this game and it is good here. Batman moves pretty quickly and is able to take down a group of thugs pretty easily which is fun to play as. The boss battles are mostly fun too with Poison Ivy and Scarecrow being unique and fun to play. It is just there are some issues with the combat in that I found it hard to string combos together at times and it feels like this is the start of this idea and will be improved in later games. Also the final boss battle falls really flat and doesn't feel like a boss battle that fits this games high quality. 

Style

With the remastered version, this game looks beautiful. The character models (Apart from Gordon) all look fantastic and the cutscenes flow incredibly well. As I mentioned above, the overall feel and intimacy towards this location using sound and style is one of the best highlights of the game. 

Overall

Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a great game that is a clear starting point for a new video game Batman franchise and I had a great time with it and any fan of this franchise needs to take the time to play this game. 

Rating - 8/10

Grand Theft Auto V (2013) Review

It has been over 10 years since Grand Theft Auto V was released and it has seen many remasters and re-releases since then. The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was released recently so it inspired me to go back and once again play GTA V and see how I found it all these years later. So I have completed the main story and done the majority of the side missions so it is time to review GTA 5. The premise of the game sees 3 criminal brought together in their aims of survival, progress & hitting the biggest score ever. 

Characters

The first character we meet is Franklin Clinton played by Shawn Fonteno. Franklin is a local gang member who is down on his luck and not achieving the success he wants. Franklin is a really cool character, we see his progression throughout the game from local hood to leading big heists. He is really funny and his dynamic as the new member of this friendship group is handled really well. 

The second playable character is Michael De Santa played by Ned Luke. Personally, Michael is my favourite of the characters, he is super flawed but it is cool seeing this older criminal who has clearly done well and lives a kind of Soprano life style. His past transgressions come back to haunt him but Michael goes through a journey of trying to better himself and it is well realised. 

The final playable character is Trevor Phillips played by Steven Ogg. This is probably the most memorable character in the game, he is pretty crazy and is the character you use when you are in the GTA mentality of causing chaos. Though, Trevor clearly has a soft side and you see how he has true loyalty to the people that he works with. 

There are so many characters you meet in this game that it would take hours to discuss them all, but everybody is fantastic in their roles. The characters you are meant to like are well realised and the characters you are meant to dislike come across as bad guys. 

Story 

The story is a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked the characters individual stories and how it progresses throughout the game, the three work together really well and the huge amount of dialogue really fleshes them out. But the actual story isn't really fleshed out that much, so much crazy stuff is happening that it becomes a bit weary and non-important. The game has three endings but that kind of feels like window dressing as two of them suck and I would estimate that around 90% of players will pick the same ending. 

Side Content

There is so much side content in this game, I mean hours and hours of content and with any game like this that makes it a mixed bag. Some are really fun such as Trevor going on his Rampages or Franklin doing Assassinations for Lester. But there are some really dull ones, mainly the fetch quests that are never a priority. Also, Michael has a lack of side content which is a shame because it means you probably spend the least amount of time with him. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is great. The gunplay is a lot of fun and the amount of weapons that can be used manages to keep it varied enough to keep it entertaining. There is plenty of variety in the things that you can do such as flying, driving and fighting and for the most part it still holds up well. The activities such as darts and golf also feels good and it is a fun thing to do when you aren't shooting people. 

Graphics

As, I have mentioned this game has been re-mastered a few times and it looks great. Los Santos is incredibly vibrant and it clashes well for when you visit San Andreas and it is really dull but gritty and it really fits Trevor's character. 

Overall

Overall, Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most influential games to ever exist and it is a really great game. It still stands up to to date and though it isn't the best Rockstar game, it is still a really great experience. 

Rating - 8/10

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Review

Over the last few years I have become a fan of Mortal Kombat, the first few trailers for the new game Mortal Kombat 1 had me super excited for this sequel/reboot and I have now played enough of it to review it, so here is my review for Mortal Kombat 1. The premise of the game is set after the events of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Liu Kang has created a new timeline which sees legendary characters reimagined and able to make their own decisions in the new era. 

Characters

After the events of the previous game Lord Liu Kang is now the protector of Earthrealm and I really like his character progression. He is now the god in this universe and he plays the role really well, he has clearly tried to help as many characters get a fresh start and his new timeline is interesting. 

There are some iconic characters who are changed up such as Raiden, Kung Lao, Scorpion & Sub-Zero. They are all so different from the previous timeline and I like how the game really doubled down on it and gave them the attention that they deserve. 

But some of the lesser known characters also got time to shine with Reptile, Baraka & Mileena all having way more to do then they have in previous titles. It makes this game feel fresh and new to fans of the franchise and I give the game real credit for that. 

Pretty much every character is great (apart from Nitara) and I really give credit for to the developers for fleshing them out and making them more interesting then they have ever been. 

Story

The story is a reboot/sequel and it does a brilliant job changing up establish characters and setting this up as a new but exciting timeline. It gives lesser characters important roles and is a fresh story that kept me guessing throughout. However, I do have a complaint and it is one I had in Mortal Kombat X. There are 2 characters here who play major roles in the story but are paid DLC, it means they are complete and Neatherealm are making us pay extra for characters that should already be a part of the roster. Also I am used to having dialogue between the characters in the other modes but it isn't here and it makes the game feel a bit lifeless. 

Side Activities

The game adds a new mode called invasions. It is basically a board game type simulation where you go between short fights with modifiers and gaining unlocks. I actually enjoyed it and switching between characters for tactical advantages. I mean, I couldn't play it for long spells because it becomes repetitive and dull but in short doses its pretty fun. I also had quite a lot of fun with multiplayer, I am not great at the game but for the most part I managed to hold my own and get some wins. Towers is the same as usual and does a decent job in keeping me interested with some good character endings. However, it just feels like something is missing. The lack of creativity in the customisation and the lack of a Krypt this time does make certain aspects feel a little under developed. 

Gameplay

The one thing that hasn't let Mortal Kombat games down is the gameplay. The game is a lot of fun and flows really nicely. All the characters feel unique and that time has really been taken to craft them and make them play really well. This game introduces Kameo Fighters, they assist you in battle and all feel different, its a fantastic addition to the game and adds more layers to the gameplay. Fatalities are brutal as always and violence is definitely still here in the bucketloads. 

Graphics

The game looks fanatastic and continues the great graphics from the previous game. It looks incredibly life like and full of colour. The Stages that the battles take place on are so in depth and it is clear that care has been put in to make it all unique. As I mentioned Fatalities and Brutalities are over the top and the violence is still at the forefront of the franchise. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a great game that I thoroughly enjoyed, It feels like a great fresh start for the franchise and though I still think improvements can be made this is a great step in the right direction. 

Rating - 8/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2007/2016) Review

It has been announced that we are set to get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 this winter, in preparation I thought I would go back and replay some of the other Call of Duty games and I started with Call of Duty Modern Warfare which was first released in 2007 and then remastered in 2016 which is the version I played. The premise of the game sees a group of soldiers from different countries working together in order to stop Nuclear War. 

Characters

In this game you play as two characters Soap Mactavish and Private Jackson. These characters have no dialogue and they are just vessels to what we play as which makes them not that interesting. I have never been a big fan of voiceless characters and COD will do a better job with this in future games. But I will say, the way the game is filmed and made, did a good job in making me care about these characters and build some emotional scenes. 

This game introduces the iconic Captain Price, voiced by Billy Murray, Price became the poster child of this franchise and he is an awesome companion here. He is a cool leader and has some of the most iconic lines in the franchise and is easily the best character here. 

You have quite a few characters that work with you such as Gaz, Lt Vasquez and Sgt Griggs and they are all well done. Gaz is a fun Englishman that has some great one liners whereas Vasquez & Griggs are your pumped up American marines which is a nice change of pace for sure. 

But there is an issue with the villains and the fact that they just aren't interesting. They set up a backstory between Price and main villain Imran Zakhaev but they don't go far enough with it and they don't even really share a scene together in the entire game. Zakheav is just a pretty generic villain and they would get better at writing villains later on in the franchise. 

Story 

The story is really well done here. You alternate between the two main characters and the missions feel completely different and unique. The characters you are with are given a personality and I liked how the story raises the stakes to a ridiculous and over the top level which made it feel like I was playing to save the world. Yes, the villain isn't great but it doesn't hold back too much here and I really enjoyed the ending of the story, it isn't a long story but it is really effective. 

Side Content

To be fair to this game, because of its release date there is basically nobody on the online anymore. But I have played a bit and it is really fun, updated for the modern game and has great action. The maps were all fun and different with plenty of different game modes such as Team Deathmatch, Search & Destroy and Free For All. But there is pretty much no single player side content, this is a shame as it does feel like this game is a bit light on its overall content. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is fantastic, the gun play is exciting and it feels like your character is stuck in these massive battles. This game also has one of the most iconic missions in COD history All Ghillied Up, which is a major stealth mission which would inspire so many missions following. Whether single player or multiplayer this game is always exciting and challenging which is great to see. 

Graphics

As I stated at the beginning, I played this game on my PS5 with the remastered edition, thus the game looks really good. Every character model looks fantastic and the maps are detailed and planned out really well. 

Overall

Overall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a great game with that real feeling of COD magic. It was the first game they made that wasn't set in the past and was in modern times so it was a great success and a worthy addition to the franchise. 

Rating - 8/10

Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) Review

After the amazing Spider-Man game came out on the PS4, it was clear that a sequel was coming. But it probably came earlier then anybody expected with Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This game was rushed out the door so it could be one of the first games for the new Playstation 5, I've replayed the game and here is my review for it. The premise of the game sees Miles Morales as the only Spider-Man in New York, while he learns how to do his new role conspiracies in Harlem threaten to destroy the city. 

Characters 

Nadji Jeter reprises his role as Miles Morales from the first game and it is really fun to play as him instead of Peter this time. Building on the story from the first game, we see Miles develop as a character and go from a bit of an imposter to his own version of Spider-Man. He feels different to Peter Parker and I think that deserves plenty of credit and I definitely got invested in his character here. 

Yuri Lowenthal does reprise his role as Peter Parker but he has a really small role in this game. The scenes that the two Spider-Men share together are great but this is just a teaser as to what we can expect in the future. 

Other characters are great too, Miles Mother, Rio Morales is back from the previous game and they actually do a good job of developing her character arc and how the events of the previous game affected her. The two of them have great chemistry together and it is one of the nice relationships in the game. 

They introduce Ganke, who is Miles best friend who knows he is Spider-Man and is basically his guy in the chair. There is a strong chemistry there and they have a fun relationship that basically takes place over the phone. 

Other new characters such as Aaron Davis, Phin Mason & Simon Krieger voiced by the amazing Troy Baker are well done and enjoyable characters, even if they aren't as strong as characters from the previous game. 

Story

The story is okay, Miles personal story is fantastic and something different to what we had in the previous game. This was an inexperienced Spider-Man, trying to fully understand the role he has and how he can help people in his district and all of New York. But, the overall story is pretty rushed and flies by, probably because Sony rushed Insomniac in making this game. The villains aren't particularly written well and the way they are handled towards the end of the game is pretty weak. I think with a bit longer development time and better writing, this could have been a special story, instead of just decent. 

Side Content

This game has enough side content and I love the idea of Spider-Man having an app where people give him side missions. The side missions are fine, there is one in particular that I enjoyed with links to the previous game. But, some of them are pretty much replicas from the last game, and none of them stand out anywhere enough to be memorable. There is very little inspiration or care put into these and I have to be honest there wasn't enough motivation for me to complete them all. 

Gameplay 

The gameplay is great, Miles moves differently to Peter and I am glad for that. He swings differently and has way less gadgets but different ones, it made me work in my action scenes and have to come up with unique ways to take down opposition. There is still a good skill tree that made me feel like I was making progress and this linked to the Venom Powers. The unique part of the gameplay was the Venom, The Bioelectricity powers Miles has and this was used really well and I enjoyed this different aspect of the character. 

Graphics

As mentioned above, this game was pushed through early to reach the PS5 and it looks amazing because of that. The cutscenes are beautiful and some of the best you will ever see, the game flowed really nicely and allowed the transitions from cutscene to gameplay to be the best it has ever been. This game is set at Christmas time and they did a good job of creating New York in that level which was different to the previous game. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a great game. It follows on really well from the previous game and really puts the shine on Miles Morales which is great for the future of the franchise. If it had been given more time, I think this game had the potential to be as good as the previous game but it falls a bit short. Still it is a great time that is definitely worth a playthrough. 

Rating - 8/10