Knack 2 review (PS4)

Long, repetitive, but saved by stellar platforming


I missed out on the first Knack game, partly because I never got the PS4 at launch, and partly because other games have been of higher priority to me, despite its very low price. But I decided to dip into Knack 2 because I wanted to play something that wasn't overly complex, and the platforming looked good from the videos I had seen.

Like most platform games the story is bare bones and badly told. In the most basic terms, an army of goblins and robots have invaded the world and it's up to Knack to try and find out how to stop it. Knack, for those of you who don't know, is made from ancient relics that give him mysterious powers, the more that he collects the more power he has. He's also able to separate himself from these relics so his size is much smaller, alternating size is a big factor in the gameplay and the puzzle solving.

**

Knack 2 works in two ways, one part of the game sees you play as Knack in his larger and complete form, smashing up baddies as he moves from one section to the next. At various points the enemies can be a little frustrating, not because they are difficult but because they tend to appear in large swathes all at once, and unlike most platformers the AI is noticeably quite aggressive.

There is a skill tree where you can upgrade your abilities, but to be honest the techniques you gain don't really switch the game up too much, they just make it easier to banish the enemies. There are also power ups that you gain for the purpose of puzzle solving, one example is the ability to transform the relics into a statue to hold down a ground switch so Knack can press the other switch or walk through a door. It's those kind of puzzles you'll come across, there's nothing that is particularly hard, you just have to pay attention to your surroundings. If you ever do get stumped it won't be long before the game gives you a hint.

The second aspect of the game is playing as Knack in his smaller, miniature form. I love this part of the game because this is where the platforming takes centre stage. The platforming is in the vein of getting past obstacles and reaching places you can't when you're fully formed. With the help of the fixed camera, the character controls really well and mistakes don't feel cheap.

The intricacy of the two play styles is the game's saving grace, alternating between the two to solve puzzles is pretty damn fun. It certainly breaks up the dominant beat em up aspect of the game, which does become monotonous the further you get. In fact the beat em up part of the game reminded me a lot of Sonic Unleashed, it's not bad it just becomes repetitive beating up the same enemy types with an underwhelming move set that brings little excitement while you're doing them.

You are presented with some Quick Time Events at various moments, and they are in no way difficult, they literally require minimal reaction time. To be honest I think they've just been included to mix the game up and show off some cinematic set-pieces.

**

The game is visually impressive but its aesthetic is bland, the worlds you explore are generic and uninspiring. There's decent interaction with the locales you visit but the colour palette is pretty dull. This is in no way a distraction from the overall fun, but for a game of its type it could have been better with a more cartoon look to it. Compare this to last year's Ratchet and Clank, and it really does come up short.

While it's only a minor gripe, the human character designs are a bit odd looking, they remind me of the humans in Pixar movies but without the world to fit them into.

**

There is a co-op mode that I did not delve into, and you can also go back and roll your abilities over into a new game as soon as you have finished it for the first time, so there is some replay value.

**

Verdict: 

Knack 2 is a decent platformer, nothing more, nothing less, and that's not a bad thing when you consider how much the genre has kind of disappeared until the recent nostalgia trips of Yooka Laylee and Crash N.Sane trilogy. And I enjoyed this game more than the two of them, It's just a shame that moments of brilliant platforming can't hide its flaws, and the fact that it outstays its welcome once you get to a certain point.

I would recommend this for anyone who likes platform games, and most importantly it would be a great gift for a child. If they like the Lego games, they will be right at home here.

6.5

  

Destiny 2: my thoughts (PS4 version)

I came across Destiny rather late, I bought the Legendary edition in the PlayStation store about a year ago, and to be honest I went into it a little on the blind side. First person shooters are not typically my kind of thing, the rebooted Doom was one of the biggest surprises of 2016, I generally had a blast on it. So it might have been a factor in why I decided to jump into Destiny at the time.

And I was pleasantly surprised once again, I loved Destiny, the core gameplay is sublime, the visuals immersive, and the looting and grinding insatiably addictive. I was lucky that I went into the game when most of the expansions were released, and an added bonus of a reduced price.

It's only on further playthroughs and closer reflection that Destiny's flaws become more pertinent, such as its bad and short story, cumbersome AI, repetitive missions, the list goes on.

But I was still excited to get my hands on the sequel, and having completed the main campaign and spent between 40-50 hours on the game, I have a good understanding of what I liked and what I didn't like, and where it could have been different.

Unlike most new games I write about, this is not an all out review because it's content is not complete in its entirety, so I decided to structure my thoughts a bit differently.

What's to like?

Shooting is a lot of fun

Like its predecessor, Destiny 2 is a joy to play, the gunplay is precise and agile, the aiming is completely on point. Blasting your way through hordes of enemies is a bundle of fun, unlike other first person shooters it doesn't feel like you're just watching a gun floating in the middle of the screen.

Eye candy

It's visually stunning and in a scale that is far bigger than the first Destiny, the actual arenas and levels can be a bit bland, but there is far more activity within the worlds you explore. And the skybox for each of the worlds are gorgeous, at certain points you simply have to gape in awe at the visual designs.

Looting and customisation

Progress is based on random loot drops you can pick up by completing various kinds of missions, as well as searching for secret treasures on the various maps. It is a bit of a gamble as to which gear you'll pick up, the good thing about this is that you're never sure what you'll get, and it gives the game plenty of added replay value.

The loot you pick up allows you to build a character that fits your play style, you can also toy around with the way your character looks with the gear you pick up. With the use of shaders you can also change your gear colour, its not too big a deal, but it compensates a little for the rather poor character customisation at the start of the game.

A narrative that focuses on something

Destiny 1 and 2 do not have great stories, there's interesting lore hidden beneath the story, but it's not particularly explored much in either games. However, Destiny 2's story does have a more coherent narrative to follow, there is an overarching villain this time, by the name of Gaul, who plays a key role.

Overall there's more at stake, and the world within the game is better for it. It also gives the player character more of a purpose.

For the players

Playing in a fire team with your friends is amazing and quite intense, especially in the tough Strike missions that become available. The PvP is limited but still fun nevertheless, there can be balancing issues with matchmaking people of the same skill level, but it's not an overwhelming problem because a lot of your success will depend on skill as much as luck.

What's not to like?

It's the same game, more or less

Sequels don't necessarily need to evolve the gameplay formula, especially the first sequel, but they do still need to mix things up a bit. Destiny 2 doesn't really do this, it refines some of the technical and visual elements but the core gameplay is exactly the same. Missions are either fetch quests or horde modes, you'll have to go from point A to B, blasting your way through an avalanche of bullet sponge enemies, with a few platform sections in-between. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just the same old stuff really.

Lack of new ideas

The enemies are the same, from the little minions that litter the worlds to some of the boss battle designs. It doesn't detract from the experience, but it would have been better with a bit more innovation.

The new worlds leave me with mixed feelings, while they have a lot more going on they're not that distinctive from one another, and they're less exotic compared with the first Destiny.

And remember those fantastic ships that you could look at in the loading screens, they return but offer nothing else. Maybe it was asking for a bit too much, but it really does feel like a waste to include them in the game for the sole purpose of decorative eye candy.

Forced feeling of customisation

While there's a great hook to grinding out more loot, and not knowing what that loot is until you pick it up, it is still glorified gambling. You can grind for long periods of time and end up with poor rewards, it's a forced way of getting you to replay the game.

The customisation also gets to the point of no return, there will come a time where powering up just feels like you're going through the motions. While you can certainly create your character in a certain play style, the actual weapons of the same type have minuscule difference from one another, they are just more powerful.

On a side note, the character customisation at the beginning of the game has not changed whatsoever from the first game, which is such a shame because it was pretty basic in the first place. I know you spend all of the the missions wearing a mask but it would have been an added bonus if they had made a little bit more of an effort.

Should you buy it?

If you liked the Destiny you'll love this, it's a more refined experience that has more day one content, just don't expect anything new or out of this world.

Is there anyone else who should play this? Gamers who like first person shooters, the game is a joy to handle and there's an abundance of content until you rinse it to death.

And perhaps those of you who are simply looking for a fun online game to play with your friends.

For anyone else, not really, Destiny 2 is a fun but shallow experience, it's never quite the sum of its parts, which is a shame.

So what's my score?

This is really tough and I'm going to be a bit of a spoilsport, I really could not decide between 7.5 or an 8, so I'm going with....... 7.7

But this is not a definite score, it's just my feelings at the moment, and this could change for the worse or the better by the time the game is a complete experience.

It movie review

Director: Andy Muschietti
Running time: 135 minutes


Impressive, but it still managed to remind me of every other modern horror movie.

It is an adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel of the same title, I loved the novel, but to be honest I can't remember much of the mini series from the nineties, outside of a few scenes.

This adaptation is directed by Andy Muschietti (Mama) and the story has been brought forward to the late nineteen eighties from the source materials fifties. Set in the suburban, American town of Derry, where every twenty seven years a mysterious, shape shifting evil comes out from the sewers and preys on the children.

The main focus of the story is on a group of school misfits, better known as the losers club, who come together through a series of events. It is the performances of the children that really give the movie a rock solid foundation, their friendship is believable and shown wonderfully in each of the scenes they appear. Touching moments of them all together, along with comedic dialogue give the movie a lot of heart and character development.

They individually bring their own dimension and nuances to to the group, and for me they were the best part of the movie.

**

Bill Skarsgard's portrayal of Pennywise the clown is sinister and conniving, within a flash he can transform from an innocent man child to an intimidating, nightmarish psychopath. With his bunny teeth and less colourful make up, this version of Pennywise feels like an evil entity that happens to be dressed up like a circus clown, rather than Tim Curry's portrayal in the mini series, which looked like a weirdo dressed up in a borrowed clown costume.

It succeeds in creating a monster from something that exists to entertain children. Disguise is one of the best forms of horror and mystery, so Pennywise has his place in popular culture, much to the disappointment of real life clowns I'd imagine.

**

But Skarsgard's performance is somewhat let down by the moments in which the movie is trying to scare you. For all of its great use of creepy atmosphere and foreboding direction, it falls into the trap of overly using sound as a substitute for real tension. It's something that every modern horror movie appears to do these days.

There aren't too many cheap jump scares but moments when character's ought to be frightened or in peril, are drowned out by loud banging effects. Because of this nothing feels natural, it's just an unimaginative way of using sound effects to try and prod the audience into feeling scared.

Is the movie scary? Not really, I say that as someone who's never really found any horrors scary, but there are disturbing moments of gore that might unsettle certain people. Both of the supernatural and natural kind.

There are also a few clever moments when Pennywise frantically chases towards the camera in pursuit of his victims. It's only in these fleeting seconds that we feel the characters fear reflect onto ourselves, which is a shame.

It's also to the movie's credit that it was made for the sole purpose of an adult audience in mind, a bit of a rarity for modern horror movies.

**

It is an impressive horror movie overall, it was better than I had always expected, but it changed nothing from what we have already seen before. It's held together by the fantastic performances of its cast and a surprisingly human story. For me this is a definite recommendation, whether you are a horror fan or not.
 

Verdict: 3.5/5

Life is Strange: Before the storm (episode 1) review

*PS4 version

It's great to go back to Arcadia Bay in this promising beginnings of a prequel


Life is Strange was a huge and wonderful surprise when I played it, I jumped in rather late into its release, around the the fourth episode and not too far from the fifth and final one. It was Centred on student Max Caulfield, who discovers that she has the powers to rewind time. Despite its flaws it was engaging and thoughtful from start to finish, and it had me completely hooked.

Before the Storm is a three part episodic prequel focused on Chloe Price, who was one of the most important figures in Life Is Strange. This episode's story is relatively bare bones and doesn't have a mystery box hanging over it like the first game, for the moment it's more character driven and focused on Chloe's mourning of her dead father and her relationship with another student Rachel Amber.

The game is best described as a point and click adventure but with greater freedom to interact with the environment. The environments are contained but work as puzzles that drive the game forward, this might mean you have to interact with objects and NPCs in a certain way to get to the next narrative point. A good example of this is in the beginning of the game when you have try and get into a concert by persuading the bouncer, if that fails you have to sneak your way inside.

**

The rewinding time power that was such a unique function of the last game has gone and replaced with a backchat option which is part of the dialogue choices you have to make, it comes into play when you get into heated arguments. While it suits the boisterous character of Chloe it does feel a little tacked on and lacks the dynamism of the rewinding time ability. But it is just a small function of the game, it's a reactive tool rather than a narrative plot device.

There does seem to be less gameplay agency as well, cutscenes also seem to be a bit longer, but i think this is because of the shift in a more character driven direction, and the narrower story beats (so far).

**

The graphics are basic and nothing to shout about, they certainly aren't what you'd call a current generation. And while the eyes convey character emotion, the facial animations are not particularly good, there's no difference between a character's sadness and their happiness. But the experience is so rewarding none of this was game breaking whatsoever, in many ways it gives it an odd charm, but I'd be lying if I said that it was something to gloss over.

**

With so much focus on emotional choices connected to the character, the dialogue is thankfully an improvement over its predecessor, it's still a bit patchy and unnatural in places, but there is nothing here that is noticeably cringey. If you're engrossed in the story and the emotional beats that the game is trying to portray, you'll be able to turn a blind eye to what is one of the series evidently weaker features.

**

Seeing as we return to Arcadia Bay, some of the locations do return, this might be a problem with prequels in other game series but I loved going back because the setting feels like a character itself rather than just a backdrop. While your exploration is restricted, the locations feel like they are lived and breathed in, little nuances will be familiar to your own everyday life.

This is helped by the game's sombre atmosphere, there's a great use of daylight as a visual cue, it always hangs over Arcadia Bay in a peculiar way. Making its isolation feel uneasy but peaceful.

Aside from Chloe there are a few returning characters from the first game, usually in slender cameo roles, although there's a possibility that they could have a bigger influence in later episodes. But I was surprised by how much I really cared for Chloe herself, a person who I'd struggle to like in reality, and one who was a bit overbearing and often quite annoying in the first game. But I really warmed to her this time round, while she has a teenage angst that results in conflict, her brashness is naive but sympathetic. She has become a character I feel personally invested in.

Verdict: 8/10

This is a promising start and I can't wait to see where it goes in the next two episodes, even if I do know the eventual fate of the main characters. I found myself getting really emotional at times as I began to understand the inner strengths and weaknesses that Chloe possesses.

If you were a fan of the first Life is Strange this is a must have, for those who have not played the first one I'd recommend you try its first episode, it's free on almost all platforms. If you like it then buy the rest of the episodes as well as this one, the price isn't steep for what you get in return.