PC Game Reviews

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Our detailed reviews help you make informed decisions about your next PC game purchase. We provide a thorough analysis of gameplay, graphics, story, and more.

Project Motor Racing ReviewProject Motor Racing feels like an early access game that hasn’t actually been identified as such, and is simply not a better racer than its 2017 ancestor Project CARS 2.

IGN PC ArticlesNov 28

Review: A Better World Leaves You Questioning Choices With the concept of time travel also comes the supposition that the act could be used for the greater good. If someone who knows the outcome of certain events travels to alter them, would we be better off? Ludogram and ARTE France offers a chance to see if that could be true with the visual novel A Better World , though it quickly becomes a moral lesson both about what comes from messing with the established order and allowing a corporation that kind of power. A Better World begins with our avatar joining the titular organization. On the surface, it operates as an insurance company. It’s secretly using time travel technology to allegedly make a “better” future. We start at the lowest possible rung with the mascot “advisor” program Globos assisting us with the “easy” tutorial task “Make Someone Ordinary Extraordinary,” but quickly end up dealing with larger scale decisions even in that first assignment. Doing well sends up us the ranks, making bigger scope changes to the world like eliminating junk food. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-OGlBehsy8 While we can look out the window to the right of our station in A Better World , much of the game tasks us with reading missives on a station and making decisions based on little information. For example, the best way to explain is to look at that first task. Our goal is to “Make Someone Ordinary Extraordinary,” and Globos looks out the window to pick out Henry Hellman. We then go to various points in his life to make him a business, cinema, or musical icon. His parents owned a grocery store, which was about to go under, so trying to influence the course of that business via regulations or adopting a new direction are an option. When televisions end up in every home, we can embrace that. However, there’s also a possible love interest and person in the same building named Anna Huang, and the effects of altering Henry’s life can change hers and fulfill unknown conditions that lead to another ending that fills the requirement. Since the sweeping choices offered by the company could also affect the world, like trying to head off the JFK assassination or “banning selling products at a loss,” it could also mean major tampering just to fill a small request. Very early on, it means seeing sweeping repercussions. Which is interesting! It also means heavy-handed, implied commentary on decisions and time-traveling early on. I didn’t mind this, but someone looking for nuance won’t exactly see it here. The idea in A Better World is using the visual novel to offer choices that clearly have the game suggesting that choices matter and can go awry immediately. Images via Ludogram and ARTE France Said repercussions are mainly brought up via dialogue on the computer screen, and it can be perfunctory. We’ll get a summary of results and see how that affects our next jump or choice. So a possible outcome can be ruled out very quickly. This ensures some replayability, though it isn’t very easy or fast to skip through to unseen text. Since the game itself can be completed in under three hours, that isn’t a huge deal. The scene outside the right window can also shift, but I really only found that interesting when it was a big alteration. There are some elements of A Better World that made me wish there was either more to it or that elements were handled better. It isn’t really well optimized for a controller, though it can run on a handheld gaming PC like a Lenovo Legion Go with no issues. This can make toggling through all the console buttons a bit cumbersome. I also wish there was a designated Globos button so I could tap that to check in with her or continue her commentary, since there are a lot of times when you need to consult with the mascot in order to advance the story. Since there isn’t a designated button, that means moving back from the terminal, moving to look at her and focus on the mascot, click, then turn back to the console, focus again, and return. Images via Ludogram and ARTE France I also think A Better World would benefit from more information being offered for each major decision in the game. Considering the choices we make affect the future and this is a company with access to time travel, I suppose I expected a little more insight or opportunities to get context for the choices I’d make to meet goals. Especially if some of the elements involved moments in actual history. Instead, we’re occasionally offered only a sentence or two. A little more insight into individuals, locations, and situations would be great, as otherwise decisions can feel rather arbitrary until you make one that sends you to a premature end and forces you to rewind. The idea behind A Better World is interesting and the morals make sense, but the game’s execution could be improved. A little more time could have been spent building up to the choices and better explaining and sitting with the repercussions so our ensuing decisions carried more weight. A few quality of life adjustments that would make it easier to go through when replaying or move things along at a better pace would be appreciated too. The ideas explored and way of handling situations is thought-provoking, at the very least, and the free demo should help someone see if it is for them. A Better World is available for PCs, and there is a free demo for the game on the official site . The post Review: A Better World Leaves You Questioning Choices appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraNov 27

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies ReviewThis year's iteration isn't bad, but it feels like a remnant of something greater.

IGN PC ArticlesNov 26

Cricket 26 ReviewCricket 26 is a bit like fledgeling Aussie opener Sam Konstas – undoubtedly capable of genuine brilliance in bursts, but still clearly a work in progress not quite ready for the top of the order.

IGN PC ArticlesNov 26

Possessor(s) ReviewThe devil you don't The post Possessor(s) Review appeared first on WellPlayed .

Reviews PC – WellPlayedNov 24

Hymer 2000 ReviewLove you and leave you The post Hymer 2000 Review appeared first on WellPlayed .

Reviews PC – WellPlayedNov 24

Review: Galaxy Princess Zorana Is a Worthy Heir to Long Live the Queen Zorana will die. Probably a few times. I’m sorry, but that’s just how it will go. It’s not your fault. I’m sure you’ll do your best the first few times going through Galaxy Princess Zorana , but as a Long Live the Queen successor in the Princess Maker -like category, it’s going to demand foresight and planning that only comes from multiple runs. And there will be multiple runs, as each death will make you even more determined to help her reach any ending where she’s still alive. The emperor of the Celestial Empire is dead. When inspecting a lab to see progress on a type of teleportation technology, there was an unfortunate accident. In the rumble, it was discovered he was gone. Not long before he did, he pulled his daughter Zorana out of boarding school exile. Which is good! It means there are options, especially as the prepared heir, her elder brother, abandoned the empire and was disowned in the process. The bad news is, as she was the “spare,” she never had any formal leadership training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i3rwFg-2ZE This means it is crunch time in Galaxy Princess Zorana , as there’s a little more pressure when building her stats like in Princess Maker than there was in Long Live the Queen . The first order of business is to ensure she starts to get some experience in various categories that relate to book smarts, street smarts, emotional intelligence, physical prowess, governing, and actually managing intergalactic travel and rule. The second is to manage her mood in order to get boosts in certain topics to build her up faster. The third is to travel around the galaxy to build ties, meet electors, and create a cabinet of her own officials to aid her. The fourth is to stay alive long enough for all of that to matter and maybe get her elected to the role of Celestial Empire empress. Compared to Long Live the Queen , there are already some types of quality of life adjustments in the actual scheduling element that help a little with Galaxy Princess Zorana survivability and personal development. It’s still putting a wall of boxes in front of us, which might be overwhelming! On the lefthand side, there are categories that feel like general knowledge she’d need that feature three specific spheres under them. So her Emotion area would feature Allure, Empathy, and Menace as areas to focus on, while Condition would involve Reflexes, Strength, and Tumbling. On the right are topics more focused on elements of ruling, like Bureaucracy, Galactic Relations, Imperial History, Intrigue, and Media. This time around, we always know what our subject’s mood is at the top of this grid. How that influences growth during that turn will also be immediately visible. If the background is green, it’ll result in a bonus if you study that topic during one of the two slots that turn. If it is a shade of red, you won’t do as well and it should be avoided. Images via Hanako Games The element of picking people for important roles to both ensure their votes in the election and offer support in different ways is also a boon. When we start the game, we pick a pet for Zorana that can help bolster two stats, making it easier to survive checks on them during events. When we pick cabinet members, their influence can also affect performance and provide a boost. However, it’s also important to know who to pick. Some folks will very easily support Zorana, which means you shouldn’t pick them. Others may have enemies of their own, and that makes her more of a target. They also might just have trash skills, which can hurt you. As you’re probably gathering, Galaxy Princess Zorana is a game that will involve multiple playthroughs. The first two or three runs feel more like tutorials and learning experiences than genuine playthroughs. Those familiar with games like Long Live the Queen and Princess Maker will already be in a good place to approach Galaxy Princess Zorana and be fine, but for newcomers to the genre I imagine it will be daunting! Especially since, though there are some explanations, they aren’t especially extensive or helpful. Images via Hanako Games The general progression of a turn in Galaxy Princess Zorana follows a set pattern. You pick a destination on the Celestial Empire map. You pick two subjects to study that turn. You interact with people at that destination, which can involve investigating them, making a proposal to win them to your side, taking a side quest for them to prove yourself, proposing marriage, or blackmailing them. You also choose how she will spend some free time, thus changing her mood for studying the next turn. On some turns, you’ll be briefed about situations in the Celestial Empire that will affect your situation or require a decision, such as a potential hazard or a disease hitting a region. Other events can also come up when not studying, which in turn affect the experience. But about 50% of the time, maybe more, those events can end in death. Is Zorana too oblivious about a topic to realize somebody is a threat? Dead. Did you ignore combat skills? Very dead. Is she unaware of some spiritual element? Dead! Oh, you forgot to teach her about how the internet works with Media classes? That will kill her dead. You decided she should spend her free time writing in her diary alone in her room? Turns out she wasn’t alone and she’s dead! At least you might get to see some fun chibi art of dead Zorana whenever that happens! Images via Hanako Games Since Galaxy Princess Zorana is such a text-heavy game, the stories that come up need to be interesting to keep someone invested. Fortunately, the ones I’ve seen are fascinating. Early on, if you don’t invest in Empathy, you won’t pick up on folks’ intentions toward you when you first meet them, but I appreciated how even that could help set the tone for elements. The personal quests and “tests” from certain electors were interesting, and I loved how one basically involved helping a mother with her kid and, even if you aren’t perfect, there’s a pretty fun result. As expected from a game that can get quite political, there’s a lot of potential for intrigue here, and replaying can help provide opportunities in check out plotlines and learn more about some folks. The art is also pretty solid, and even portraits for characters like the Heru tend to have some distinguishing features for ones you should probably remember as a notable potential ally or enemy. Because of the nature of Galaxy Princess Zorana , that does mean it isn’t going to be for everyone both due to the Princess Maker -like stat building demands and the Long Live the Queen degree of difficulty. Like it is the Dark Souls of simulations. When I played, I had a series of notes nearby to mark down areas I should focus on based on certain early altercations and experiences. I’d mention stat checks that came up a lot, so I’d know to invest in those. I’d mark down observations about certain electors and possible marriage prospects, so I’d know who was useful and dangerous. It demands patience and attention. Galaxy Princess Zorana is a worthy successor to Long Live the Queen and a stat-management sim Princess Maker fans shouldn’t ignore. Is it harrowing? Absolutely. Will you need to keep notes and a slew of save files? Definitely. Is it worth all the trouble? I think so! However, if you’re unfamiliar with the Hanako Games’ previous entry or the genre, I’d recommend going with something more forgiving like a version of Princess Maker 2 or Mushroom Musume before attempting to help Zorana take the throne . Galaxy Princess Zorana is available for PCs . The post Review: Galaxy Princess Zorana Is a Worthy Heir to Long Live the Queen appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraNov 23

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer ReviewThe new wall run and jump mechanics add so much to the fun.

IGN PC ArticlesNov 21

Escape From Tarkov 1.0 Review in ProgressThe pioneer of the extraction shooter is still enticingly challenging, but a rocky 1.0 launch shows its age.

IGN PC ArticlesNov 20

Review: Dispatch Makes Superheroes Exciting Again Superhero media hasn't enjoyed the roaring success among mainstream audiences since the early 2010s, with burnout and fatigue thanks to a certain comic cinematic universe pulling it down. Dispatch and its shining roster of heroes might be the sort of second wind the genre needs. Boasting a star-studded cast and choice-oriented gameplay to make an adventure your own, it’s a heartfelt story about heroism, redemption, and dicks. In Dispatch , we play as Robert Robertson III. He was the third Mecha Man until a fight against Shroud, his arch-nemesis who murdered his father/the second Mecha Man, went south. The Mecha Man suit was destroyed, effectively forcing him to retire. However, fellow superhero Blonde Blazer approached him with an exciting opportunity. The Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) can help him repair the suit if he’s willing to work as a dispatcher for the company. Screenshot by Siliconera As a dispatcher, Robert’s job consists of taking calls from SDN subscribers, listening to their problems, and sending the right hero to save the day. Unfortunately, he’s in charge of the Z-Team, which is made up of reformed villains at the bottom of the SDN scoreboard. As if the Mecha Man thing wasn’t bad enough already, he also has to deal with workplace drama. Dispatch ’s gameplay is similar to other adventure games that allow player choices to dictate the story's direction. Some major choices, like who you hire or fire, result in different scenes and gameplay. Given how short each episode is, as well as the inclusion of save slots and scene selection, it's worth seeing the future you didn't pick, especially if you're a fan of the characters or world. The plot will still play out the same, though. So if you're expecting a game where you can fully mold this interactive superhero movie, that's not this. The cast delivered a stellar performance in this. Laura Bailey and Matt Mercer never miss and, while Robert's register can become too gravelly and monotone, I feel like that’s more a voice direction issue than one with Aaron Paul. I also didn’t know that Jacksepticye and MoistCr1TiKaL had previous voice acting experience until I looked it up, but it explains a lot. They sounded so comfortable in their roles that it took me a few chapters to realize they were in this. Lies! I fell for people the game didn't let me romance! Screenshot by Siliconera. Playing this game on its original weekly schedule felt like a different experience than playing it all at once. Each chapter feels quite short at only about an hour. When I was still waiting for updates, I had little patience for the love triangle subplot between Robert, Blonde Blazer, and Invisigal. They both came on so strong, and Robert can take his relationships with them to the next level way too quickly. The game commits so little development to the relationship or chemistry that I found it incredibly difficult to care. That kind of sucked for me, since the romance bogarts the first half of the story. I’d rather the time be used to get to know the rest of Z-Team. The pacing also felt off. By the time Shroud finally reappears, it’s almost at the end. My immediate reaction was disbelief, because I became fully convinced that Shroud was a sequel hook and wouldn’t show up again in the first season. However, the pacing issue includes the wait between chapters. When marathoning the game, the romance doesn’t feel as jarring. I still enjoyed this episodic release, since it reminded me of waiting for new superhero comics. So I hope if Dispatch continues, the writing is tighter or more balanced in each episode. Screenshot by Siliconera Dispatch is a fun and exciting adventure set in a world full of characters and factions I’d love to see more of. It’s hard not to get attached to this ragtag team of misfits and their exhausted work dad. I didn’t even realize how much I’d grown to like them until the more hard-hitting scenes. Here’s hoping that we’ll get a second season and that Phenomaman and Royd—the best boys, second only to Beef the fat dog—get more screentime then. Dispatch is available on the PS5 and Windows PC . The post Review: Dispatch Makes Superheroes Exciting Again appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraNov 20