Day: 1 June 2018

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

Out now – Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

by Jack Boyles, posted in Videos

What is that sound? That distorted surge making my eardrum cling to all hope; is that my own breath exasperating? I think it is.  As I stand here in this cold and withered mausoleum it is the walls that regain my memories of the past five minutes.

Walls decorated with blood tell me of the battle I just participated in, but it is the floor, it’s the floor that tells me of the outcome. The red reservoir populated with bone and sinew speaks of a Genestealer ambush. As I spectate the carcasses, I notice familiar pieces of steel sporadically scattered throughout the turmoil.

Steel frames occupied by men, my men, noblemen now nothing more but an object amongst a clutter of death. It is I who is left standing, it is I who is alone, and it is I who is victorious.

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

Being a gentleman from Nottingham, it only seems right that I write a news piece about a Warhammer 40K game – this time it’s Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition.

Made by the Nottingham-based board giants Games Workshop, it happens that my best friend is a graphic designer for them as well. And no readers I can’t get you a discount.

But a long time ago I use to play Space Marines with my father along with Hero Quest (yeah, sit down board game nerds), I painted the figures with him too – my father not being too impressed when I painted one completely in gold with my child-like imagination.

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition

So, anyway, an enhanced version of Space Hulk: Deathwing has you fight through hordes of Genestealers in claustrophobic confines that the series is known for. You gain new skills, abilities and weapons along the way in both single and multiplayer modes.

Key Features Of The Enhanced Edition Include:

  • Play as a Space Marine Terminator, including a powerful new class – the Chaplain and his powerful Crozius Arcanum power mace
  • Customize each class in solo and multiplayer and unlock devastating weapons, including an expanded arsenal exclusive to the Enhanced Edition
  • Plunge into the Space Hulk and experience a desperate battle against the Genestealers, including new, deadlier enemies
  • Special Missions bring infinite replayability to both solo and multiplayer modes, with randomly-generated objectives and enemy spawns for every game chapter

The original version received average scores at best, so hopefully, the Enhanced Edition irons out some of the kinks and makes for a more polished and overall better gaming experience. No doubt the game will be somewhat successful with Warhammer’s loyal community pushing its sales.

Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition is out on PC and PS4 now. For the Emperor!

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Review

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Review [Nintendo Switch] – Hello Old Friend

by Casey Mcstefan, posted in Reviews

It has been far too long since I experienced a Castlevania game. It wasn’t until I played Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon that I realised the full meaning of that statement either. Regardless of what Konami wants to do with the ‘Castlevania’ name, this is what the real future of the franchise now looks like. And it’s looking bright.

Let me just say, though, that it’s an increasingly common trend in the games industry. That being where the original creator, (Koji Igarashi in this case), has to fight back for the same individual and creative control they once knew. I won’t digress any further on that point, don’t worry, but it’s great to see a positive outcome in such a mad, fickle world.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Review

So, here we are with Curse of the Moon and the short answer is: it’s essentially everything you might expect and want from a ‘classic’ Castlevania game. What I mostly mean by classic is the absence of the Metroidvania exploration and, to a degree, upgrades we all know and love. That’s not a bad thing at all…

What we have instead are levels, with multiple paths within them, that all nevertheless lead to the same ending point. At the end of the levels are challenging bosses that remind you of how tough video games of the past used to be. You’ll have to fight your way through endless creatures of the night and avoid nasty traps to get there as well.

You might even ‘battle across a bridge’ or ‘through a room’. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Review
Zangetsu in action

Fundamentally then, what Iga and the extremely talented Inti Creates have produced here recaptures the magic of the very first 2D Castlevania games from the NES and SNES days. That includes an awesome soundtrack (of course), gorgeous 8-bit graphics and the ability to control four different characters. The latter is an area in which Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is fondly remembered for.

Four Characters, Eight Stages

In Curse of the Moon, we have the exorcist Zangetsu who fights with a sword, the heroine Miriam who deploys the classic whip, the latest ‘incarnation’ of Dracula called Gebel, (although not officially), who can turn into a bat or summon them from his cape and, lastly, the alchemist Alfred who can use powerful magic. Each of these characters is unlocked at the end of the preliminary stages. All of them have individual life bars too, making things a bit easier.

You’ll be switching between the group to get through the eight stages, although, for a first playthrough, Miriam’s range of attack with her whip is a safe bet. There are also diverging points on each of the levels that can only be accessed through certain character abilities. Finding these points will take you through a variety of scenarios that keep Curse of the Moon feeling fresh.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Review
This magic spell is essential

It wasn’t until I completed the game twice on ‘Veteran’ (Spoilers: there are multiple endings), that I truly started to understand where each character excelled. Basically, the more deaths I endured, the easier it became. Yes, there is certainly a high difficulty to overcome in Veteran (probably not as tough as some of the older Castlevania titles), but purists will most likely love every masochistic second of it.

Veteran Or Casual?

Have no fear though. Players that are new to the series or just want to take a smoother ride are also well looked after with the ‘Casual’ style of play. Casual removes the dreaded knockback from enemies and lives are unlimited. The game asks you whether you want to change the style frequently, encouraging either more challenge or a break from the stress. This is a great implementation.

I can’t say Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon does anything truly new for the series, but sometimes that’s perfectly ok. What it does do, however:

  1. Recreates the classic games, to brilliant effect
  2. Continues the dormant legacy of the wonderful Castlevania series
  3. Makes the wait for Ritual of the Night much harder

For most people, that will definitely be an enticing proposition worthy of their time and money.