Home » Articles and Reviews by 'Shaun Walton'
Cosy indie sensation Unpacking is heading for mobile this year
Whilst Humble Bundle is mostly known for its eponymous bundles of cheap video games that bloat our Steam libraries every month, they also operate an indie video game publisher, Humble Games. They have had quite a few hits, but now one of their undisputed top titans, Unpacking, is coming to mobile devices. Developed by Witch Bean, Unpacking is pretty much what it says on the tin. You follow the life of a female protagonist as she moves into eight different abodes through the years, from 1997 to 2018, and it is down to you to unpack her boxes and organise your new home. You will start with a single room to unbox and decorate, before advancing to multiple rooms, to a full house. It is a very…
Blade and Soul Revolution tackles the biggest MMO bugbear
Anyone who has ever played an MMO can attest that the most tedious task you are practically required to do is to grind, whether that is to complete the story missions or go ahead and tackle the endgame content, its a slog, however thankfully Netmarble is giving players a reprieve in Blade and Soul Revolution. A new training ground has opened, dubbed the Skyforest Plateau. Whilst the name sounds quite pretty, the main draw to this new area is the XP potential. You will be able to hunt high-level monsters whilst spending more stamina to maximise the among of experience you will gain, helping you reach that required level much easier. After you have achieved your slightly not-so-hard-earned l…
Celebrate a decade of chasing bananas with Minion Rush
It has been ten years since Gameloft first linked up with Illumination and Universal Games platform to release their hit runner Minion Rush, and it is safe to say it has been a tremendous hit. To celebrate this decade of success, there is a new story and new quests, with the opportunity to unlock a brand-new Minion for your troubles. Our hapless heroes are determined to make this anniversary one to remember, and what better way to do this than to carve the face of their fearless leader, Gru, onto the Moon? It is a nice little callback to the first movie for the fans, and one that will require you to collect the necessary oxygen tanks, hammers, and parts to build the rocket and laser needed.…
Indie developers are thrust into the spotlight in the inaugural Pocket Playfest
Some of the best games out there aren't the highly-financed AAA titles from affluent developers and studios, but instead, the humble Indie scene, developed by Barry and Dave in a shed in Devon after their day jobs. TapTap, the games discovery platform, is shining a light on these independent idealists, with the Pocket Playfest: An Indie Celebration. This inaugural event will kick off June 16th, and last until June 29th, 14 days on indie magic. TapTap will be inviting dozens of developers to showcase their creations to a wider audience, one that an independent studio might otherwise not reach which is incredibly invaluable. Participants will be able to play and vote for their favourite games…
Two new characters enter Battlerealm to claim a powerful Asgardian artefact in Marvel Contest of Champions
The race is on to claim the World Seed in the Contest of Champions, with two new characters being frontrunners. Strike Fear will see Dani Moonstar and Lady Deathstrike face off to claim this powerful Asgardian artefact, with the winner drastically altering The Contest for good. Lady Deathstrike began her life as Yuriko Oyama, daughter of the mad Japanese kingpin who mastered the art of grafting Adamantium to bones. After dispatching her father in pursuit of vengeance, Yuriko became obsessed with protecting her family's honour, going as far as transforming herself into a cyborg with healing capabilities and claws to hunt down the man she deemed to of stole her family secret, Wolverine. Dani…
Tarisland opens its gates for June Closed Beta Test
After many years of development, which you love to hear, it is time to venture into the world of Tarisland as the Closed Beta period has been announced. It will be available on Android in Brazil, Canada, the Philippines and the United Kingdom will be able to sign up for the test, starting June 27th. As with all MMOs, your journey will start with the most challenging step, picking your class. There are seven to choose from, making the choice even more problematic. For those who like to get up close and personal, you can melee and tank with the righteous Paladin, sword-wielding Warrior, or the dual-axe whirlwind of the Barbarian Fighter, who gives off major Norse energy and I love it. The Ra…
FunPlus joins the Green Game Jam to commemorate World Environment Day
It is World Environment Day today, and what better way to commemorate the occasion than learning about the danger to animals whilst you beat zombies with bats in State of Survival? FunPlus is joining the Green Game Jam to help raise awareness about the environmental issues we are already facing. Not doing things by half, the campaign is named The Apocalypse is Already Happening to Animals, a shrewd angle to take because who doesn’t want to protect our fluffy little friends? Lasting until June 7th, this immersive experience is aiming to give players a first-person perspective of the consequences of deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon. During this campaign, as you play State of S…
NetEase Games announces perfect crossover for its asymmetrical survival horror Identity V
Identity V has had quite a few crossovers by this point, as well as amassed quite a big cast of Hunters and Survivors, but very few have hit the nail on the head quite as squarely as this latest team-up with physiological horror IP, Angels of Death. It has taken long enough for these two properties to cross, as the dark, morbid nature of Angels of Death definitely meshes well with the themes of Identity V. When a young girl named Rachel wakes up in the lowest basement in a sick and twisted murder game, she teams up with serial killer Zack to escape, on the condition that when they do, he will dispatch her, based on Rachels own wish. Morbid indeed. The Manor Escaping Project will task you t…
Bolster your team with two new buffing beasts in King of Fighters Allstar
In virtually all team-based games, as beloved as the glass canon, heavy hitters are, it is the support characters that really anchor the group, and boy has Netmarble released two support superstars in the latest update for The King of Fighters Allstar. If you are looking to bolster your Yellow teams then Lady Goenitz is one to pull for. A Balance type Yellow, her leader skill increases ATK and Critical Hit Rate for all Yellow characters. Paired with her battle card that increases Critical Hit Rate after using a skill, Goenitz can hold her own whilst buffing her allies. The battle card also works well with her unique skill, which increases her ATK and Finisher Skill damage after using a Blas…
Neowiz release its highly-anticipated RPG Magic Stone Knights
It's been a long wait, but Neowiz has now launched its RPG puzzler Magic Stone Knights. Dive into a mystical adventure featuring an extensive cast of unique heroes, where your decisions could shape the future of a realm. If you played Neowizs smash hit RPG Brave Nine, previously known as Brown Dust, you will find yourself running into some familiar faces. Fan favourite characters such as Celia and Granhildr have made the leap, and find themselves stronger for it. Magic Stone Knights has a more diverse playstyle than its predecessor, with each character's unique traits allowing them to do more them simply attack and defend. The main campaign will be enough to keep you hooked, but even so, t…
Never fight alone in new mode for Boxing Star
FourThirtyThree inc has announced the implementation of a new mode for their sports simulator Boxing Star. Tag Mode is the newest way for you to enjoy the action, and will be adding a whole new dimension to gameplay for your to master. As the name suggests, Tag Mode takes a little step away from the reality of Boxing and borrows a bit from wrestling matches. You pick two characters before the fight, and then can freely switch between them as the action unfolds. It is an interesting concept for the sport and one that opens up a lot of tactical possibilities. You could start with a fighter with high stamina to slowly whittle down your opponent, before tagging in your more fragile but stronge…
It's about time to get some answers about The Baby in Yellow with the latest update launching now
It has been a long time coming, but finally the newest update for The Baby in Yellow. The Black Cat will hopefully shed some light on the mysterious feline that has been popping up throughout the adventure, so long as the troublesome toddler does not apprehend you. Prepare for spoilers, as when we last left off, our protagonist escaped through a portal following the updates’ titular black cat when fleeing the demonic child. You will find yourself in a weird and haunting new world, but you will not have to face this land alone, as you will venture with a new robotic companion, Newt. With your new friend, you will have to navigate through twisted landscapes, solve difficult puzzles, an…
Blue Archive raids the dictionary for its latest chapter name
NEXON has announced the latest chapter as the main story for its RPG Blue Archive. Perhaps taking the prize as the longest quest name in history, you can now play through Vol. 2 Clockwork Flower Pavane, Ch. 2 ‘The Romance of Friendship, Courage, and Light (First Half). In this mouthful of a chapter, the story follows Rio, Millennium's Student Council President, as they visit the Game Development Department to deliver a shocking revelation. You will be tasked with handling the crisis that follows with the department members, such as Aris and Momoi. To help with the problem, you can recruit the latest Millennium Science School student, Himari. She is a piercing support character best s…
Old School Runescape gets a shake up with the return of a fan-favourite minigame
One of the best parts of any MMORPG is heading into the PvP mode and duking it out with the best of the best and emerging victorious, so the return of the iconic Bounty Hunter minigame in Old School RuneScape comes to much fanfare. As you enter the battlefield, called the Crater, you will be assigned a target to hunt down and slap into submission. Don’t worry, there's a new system to ensure you are matched with a similar combat skill level so it’s fair. Bear in mind though, it won’t just be you two in there, fighting will be erupting all around you so stay sharp as you meander through the melee. If you manage to take down the target, you will get all their loot as is PvP…
30 Ninjas announce the release of their AR thriller Asset 15
30 Ninjas have announced the release of their augmented reality thriller for mobile devices, Asset 15. You will work your way through a gripping mystery to discover the potential threat of secret AI technology as you try to save your sister. Asset 15 puts players in the shoes of Flux, played by Hunger Games alumni Amandla Stenberg. You will play through five chapters as you strive to uncover the secrets behind an experimental AI technology that caused Flux’s sister, Petra, to fall into a coma. Through her job at Helios, Petra was working with the transcranial MR glasses, Asset 15, which allows its users to upload their memories to Helios’ cloud platform. It will be your job as…
