Once again, the central character here is our physically and mentally scarred young heroine, Senua. She struggles with the constant whispering voices of her schizophrenia-like psychosis.

Of course, in Senua’s time, the swirling voices in her head are thought to be spirits that whisper doubts and encouragements; they open paths and give insights as Senua pushes toward her hallucination-laced goals. (The game is designed to be played with headphones in place. And that binaural immersion intensifies the disturbing and disorienting aspects of Senua’s ongoing inner torments.)

Senua’s Saga picks up where the first game left off. The embattled protagonist has allowed herself to be captured by Northmen who keep raiding her lands and enslaving her people. That may seem to be a self-destructive choice, but Senua and her voices know that she is a battle-hardened and raging fighter. And her goal is to allow the slavers to draw her into their fold where she can then gut them from within. She’ll have the chance to find justice for the innocent while also, she believes, atone for her own past sins.

However, Senua’s vengeance-soaked mission isn’t as simple as she hopes. Through the struggles of an Icelandic shipwreck, encounters with mystical hazards of the lands, torrents of bloodthirsty and cannibalistic monsters, and battles with enormous giants, she finds that blood-boiling rage doesn’t solve every problem.

As Senua slashes her way toward a cathartic solution, it becomes clear that monsters are made, not born.

Gameplay is focused on melee combat involving attacks, parries and dodges; exploration through large, graphically defined landscapes; some character interactions; and solving environmental puzzles. This third-person action-adventure game is single-player and it does not require an online connection after the game is installed. There are four levels of difficulty to choose from.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is photo-realistic in its movement capture and graphic presentation. And between those highly detailed images and the binaural sound immersion (featuring always moving, breathe-in-your-ear voices), the gameplay is incredibly impressive.

In the game’s opening screen, we’re told that psychiatric professionals assisted in its realistic depiction of psychosis. The game therefore gives players insight into how schizophrenia can torment people who suffer from it. And the ongoing story also points to how extreme feelings of grief, loss, rage and guilt can reshape people into monsters they never wanted to be.

“Darkness outside makes darkness inside,” the game tells us.

On the other hand, Senua’s Saga also suggests that people always have choices. Even when dealing with uncommon struggles, you can choose better paths; you can reach for help.

CONTENT CONCERNS

All of the above positives noted, however, potential gamers should also take note that this is an intense and very M-rated game. The incredible graphics can showcase a radiant sunset, but they also make this game’s entrail-spilling gore all that more realistic. Blood spews and spatters at every turn.

Scenes focus on cannibalistic savagery; people are hacked apart and left in piles of dismembered limbs and fly-speckled gunk. Bloody body parts are recrafted into suspended, dripping displays. And feral men gobble the contents of cracked-open skulls. You face screeching, sinewy killers who swing swords, throw axes and spew flames. The game certainly leans into its barbarically gruesome elements with glee.

And this title’s incredible immersion qualities also drag gamers into a very dark and creepy domain of growling, unseen tormentors with a corrupting demonic feel about them. In fact, Senua’s entire Icelandic world feels nightmarish, ready to rip and tear into anything and everyone unfortunate enough to exist there.

GAME SUMMARY

This sequel lives up to the graphics and gameplay expectations of its predecessor. But it also drags gamers through gruesome gore while baring gristle filled teeth.

The post Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II appeared first on Plugged In.

Tove Jansson was a Finnish author, novelist, painter and illustrator who created a series of children’s books in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. They focus on little troll/cow characters called Moomins. And if you’ve never heard of the artist’s work, well, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley gives you a laid back, cozy introduction to that world.

The game focuses on a human adventurer named Snufkin who bids farewell to his pal Moomintroll as late autumn draws nigh. Moomins hibernate for the wintery months, of course, so Snufkin ventures on and promises to stop back again in the spring.

But wait! When Snufkin gets back to Moominvalley, there are changes everywhere. There are gated parks scattered about now. Signs are posted, warning people not to eat, smoke, walk, camp, and even sniff in certain areas. And human police officers are assigned the duty of keeping the various parks orderly and trimmed.

Oh, and Moomintroll has disappeared!

As Snufkin, gamers set out to uproot signs and topple statues; outfox the guards and the rogue Moomin Park Ranger; and return the overly trimmed and paved parks back to their naturally green and bushy state. Snufkin and all of the Moomin residents believe that the valley is much prettier when it’s free and growing. Snufkin’s efforts wouldn’t be complete, however, until he could also find out the whereabouts of his good friend.

Gameplay-wise, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley combines platforming challenges with simple puzzles and smiling nods to the joys of nature, represented through Jansson’s distinctive art style. As the title would suggest, Snufkin must find and use a harmonica and other instruments in his puzzle solutions. And the game offers scores of easy-to-obtain quests over a fairly large mapped out area.

Melody of Moominvalley is a single player game that doesn’t require an internet connection.

POSITIVE CONTENT

This game talks of friendship and helping others. And it’s overall challenge to restore harmony and balance to nature is also an encouragement for young players to keep our world healthy and green.

And in a gaming age packed with photorealistic, 100-hour, run-and-gun, grinding adventures, this little title is as relaxed as a video game can be. There are no battles. The puzzles are fairly easy to suss out. And even younger players will be able to navigate the appealing environs without much difficulty.

CONTENT CONCERNS

There are some lightly perilous moments in the mix (such as getting caught in a forest fire and attempting to hide and sneak past park guards). But if they caught, gamers simply retreat to an earlier point to give the challenge another try.

There are some potentially threatening creatures in the story mix. But they either show themselves to be helpful or retreat when gamers use the right musical instrument. A park sign represents a smoking pipe.

GAME SUMMARY

Sometimes young players just want to snuggle up with a cozy game and a blanket. And Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley has got them covered.

The post Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley appeared first on Plugged In.

The game starts off, very true to its name, by simply asking players to straighten picture frames hanging on a wall. Then it eases you into organizing a jumble of colored pencils, stamping envelopes, stacking messed-up papers and sorting through a disheveled junk drawer.

By the time you graduate to trimming house plants, organizing a garden shed full of tools and the like, you begin to realize that the keys to solving each puzzle are right in front of you: colors, patterns, object sizes, etc. As you work through the logic of each puzzle, the game underscores your efforts with soft, soothing music, using small tones to indicate when you’ve made a correct choice.

Those beginning steps may sound almost too simple, but challenges become ever-more difficult with every new creative image. And there are often up to three possible solutions for each puzzle.

You won’t encounter enemies to blast or a story to follow, but the game throws some extra disorder into your nicely stacked solutions. It shows up in the form of a white cat that may occasionally swoop in to grab at your work with a curious paw or swish everything aside with a fluffy tail. That mischievous kitty adds a bit of kitchen-counter charm to the homey puzzles and clean-up tasks. And by the game’s end he’s a frequent addition to your puzzle-solving quests.

If the conundrums become too tough, there is a simple hint system built in. Or gamers can skip any given puzzle they choose to. A Little to the Left offers more than 40 conundrums to figure out and, depending on your playing style, that can amount to anywhere from about 4 to 9 hours of play. Previously solved puzzles are generally given a new spin during replay. And the Daily Tidy is a special mode that provides fans with fresh puzzles every day.

This is a single player game that can be played offline.

POSITIVE CONTENT

A Little to the Left can be a very satisfying game. For one thing, when your head-scratching over a tangled muddle resolves in a nicely tied solution, it gives you a sense of gratification. And the clean-up and tidying aspect of the game plucks a basic human need to organize mess, delivering a comforting inner sigh. In fact, for those into relaxing after a stressful day with a casual game, this one is an easy choice to pick up and work through in small, satisfying bites.

The game’s art style is softly pastel and appealing. You can even pet that fluffy cat if you’re so inclined. Altogether, this is a pleasant little game.

CONTENT CONCERNS

No nasty bits to worry over. However, I encountered a few mechanical issues when playing the game with my Xbox controller. Small item adjustments were a tad finicky. (Some have said that a PC mouse is their preferred interface.). Younger players might have a difficult time seeing the onscreen clues and logic connections necessary to solve some of the more complicated puzzles.

GAME SUMMARY

Do you like the feeling of organizing a disheveled mess into orderly, color-coded sweetness? Well, A Little to the Left might be just the itch-scratcher you’re looking for.(Just don’t forget to pet the cat.)

The post A Little to the Left appeared first on Plugged In.

The Inquisitor could easily be labeled as a narrative-driven adventure mixed with a murder mystery. But there’s more going on here. Based on a book by Polish writer Jacek Piekara, The Inquisitor is driven by a dark, faith-focused fantasy.

Gamers play as Mordimer Madderin, a holy inquisitor from the Middle Ages. It’s his job to hunt down heretics, vampires and the like and enforce the Christian laws of the land. But this version of Christianity is very different from the one you know.

In this alternate fantasy reality, Jesus refused to sacrifice his life on the cross. Instead, he broke free and set off on a bloody rampage across the land, unleashing his vengeance on the Roman Empire and becoming something of a warrior god-king. So now, 1,500 years later, Mordimer and others like him work to ensure that the all-powerful Church’s oppressive will is obeyed without question.

As Mordimer, you enter the 16^th century city of Koenigstein in search of a rumored vampire. But soon after arriving, you discover clues that hint at a much more sinister plot in the making. It’s a plot that involves ritualistic murders, stolen relics connected to Jesus himself and the possibility of an unfolding apocalypse.

In the course of the Inquisitor’s investigations, gamers must traverse the expansive districts of Koenigstein; talk to and eavesdrop on citizens; interrogate wrongdoers; examine murder victims and crime scenes; solve puzzles and dig up clues; jump into sword-clashing conflicts; and weave together the potentially world-ending conspiracy that’s afoot.

When talking to merchants, nobles, officers and locals, gamers have dialogue choices. And though those choices don’t always seem to make a great difference in the action, your choices may trigger one of several different game endings. While using prayer—praying in what appears to be Latin—Mordimer can see glowing indicators of where to go next.

The Inquisitor is a single player, offline-only game.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Mordimer is an individual who stands by his convictions and strives to do what’s right. And even though he’s as dour and grim as the dark world around him, he makes choices to aid the innocent.

Gameplay—in particular the investigative, clue-piecing side—can be interesting and fun.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Despite its small positives, however, The Inquisitor is a very dark and often disturbing game.

The game regularly uses biblical scripture—such as Matthew 10:34, Nahum 1:2 and Exodus 22:18—and twists the meaning of those passages to attribute a sense of vengeance, hatred and deadliness to the Church.

In fact, in this alternate reality, nearly everything people of faith would avow as true is twisted backward. For instance, Mordimer can stop and kneel to pray at altars for improved abilities. And while seeking the bloody death of foes he regularly prays for things such as “ruthlessness in fighting my enemies,” and that God would “bereave us of weakness, lest we forgive those who trespass against us.” He seeks to “cast the first stone” and praises God’s “bloody works.” There are references to faith and the beliefs of “good Christians” here, but anyone taking their cue of what constitutes faith in Christ from this game will be sorely drawn astray.

Even putting that concept of faith aside, other dark spiritual elements infect the grimy gaming mix. For instance, Mordimer must repeatedly enter into a corrupt “Unworld” populated by a Cthulhu-like deadly abomination. He has twisted spiritual visions, must deal with demonic entities and even fight a fallen angel.

Then there’s the violence of this game. Characters are murdered in foul rituals. We see torn-open bodies and a severed head on display. One insane individual tortures others ruthlessly, rips corpses open gleefully and tosses their organs here and there. Mordimer must closely examine some of those naked and gashed open bodies, both male and female. And Mordimer is called upon to kill attackers as well.

Foul language is an integral part of the dialogue here. We hear f- and s-words and uses of “b–tard,” “b–ch,” “d–n,” “a–” and the c-word.

GAME SUMMARY

Some people seek games that focus on faith. And The Inquisitor could be said to fit that bill … but in all the wrong ways. It’s grim and despairing, and it generally paints faith in Jesus with a blasphemous brush.

The post The Inquisitor appeared first on Plugged In.

We’ve seen over a dozen Prince of Persia games since the title’s early beginnings way back in 1989, when it was a side-scrolling amusement built for the Apple II computer. The franchise has evolved plenty since then, and you might remember Prince of Persia as an open-world adventure or even something closer to a hack-and-slash actioner.

But Ubisoft’s new Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown harkens back to earlier builds and gives fans a well-constructed, side-scrolling platformer packed with battles, complicated acrobatics and puzzles.

The Lost Crown assigns gamers the role of a muscular, mop-haired warrior named Sargon, a member of the Persian kingdom’s elite “Immortal” force. After fighting off a neighboring realm’s blood-thirsty army, the seven Immortals are sent to rescue a kidnapped crown prince. But for some reason, that important royal was snatched up by Sargon’s own mentor and taken to a temple called Mount Qaf.

When Sargon and crew arrive at Mount Qaf, they discover that time and space are twisted out of shape: What seems like an hour to them ages someone else 30 years. Bizarre mythical creatures, powerful gods and even doppelgangers of themselves can be encountered and battled in the mysteriously distorted passageways, hidden chambers and foul dungeons. And Sargon is called upon to unravel the sprawling shrine’s secrets before the prince—and perhaps Persia itself—meet a dire end.

As mentioned above, this game’s action focuses on combat, environmental puzzle-solving and tightly-timed acrobatic platforming moves. In fact, in the game’s early hours, Sargon won’t have the skills to best the challenges before him or fully explore the gigantic hidden map. His early combat is also kept fairly simple—comprised of rather basic, repetitive strikes on easy foes.

With time and experience, however, players’ skill sets grow based on the effort they invest. The quests gamers take on and the items they discover, for instance, give Sargon improved jump, dash and special time-based abilities.

Even then it won’t be an easy trek: The platforming challenges often require stringed-together combinations of dash-jump-shoot-leap-slide-swing movements that must be memorized and performed to perfection before passage is allowed. Likewise, the big-boss battles become extremely difficult: Players will need to  seek out, learn and master an expanded arsenal of attack and defense moves to steer clear of a deadly ending.

It’s important to note that this game requires a Ubisoft account and an internet connection for play. And this is a single-player-only game, with no multiplayer or co-op options.

POSITIVE CONTENT

In light of the fact that the gaming challenges become extremely difficult at times, The Lost Crown offers gamers a variety of difficulty settings to choose from and even an option to “custom-design” their play. (For instance, those who hate platforming but love extremely tough combat can adjust play to their liking.)

That said, the game is well balanced, and though the challenges can get tough, they’re also pretty exciting as Sargon (and, by extension, the player) pulls off impressive acrobatic and death-defying feats.

The Lost Crown also offers some interesting additions that make play more inviting. A collected “Memory Shard,” for instance, allows gamers the option of taking a picture of a point of interest and attach it to their map, giving them a reminder of someplace they will want to revisit for a quest or treasure. …

CONTENT CONCERNS

… The necessity, however, to constantly backtrack in the game can become agitating at times, especially in light of the fact that there are very limited options to fast travel around the expansive, trap-filled map. The game also focuses on a lot of deadliness. There’s only light blood spatter (The Lost Crown is rated T) but Sargon dies over and over as his challenges intensify. And each revisited area is repopulated with characters who attack with blades and launched projectiles.

This world also is packed with mythological beasties, gods, goddesses and powers. We see sword slashes and impalements along with flashy special attacks and finishing moves as Sargon gives battle to fellow Immortals; massive multi-eyed gods; undead warriors; mythological creatures such as the Jahandor (a creature with the body of a lion, the face of a man and the tail of a scorpion); and he vies for godly powers and a spiritual energy source called Athra.

Sargon and other Immortals go shirtless to showcase their ripped torsos. We also encounter some female characters who draw attention to their muscular, but femininely curved forms. And there’s a bit of language in the mix in the form of a use or two of the words “d–n” and “a–.”

The central story swirls around vile betrayal and past and present murders, both perpetrated for the sake of gaining great power.

GAME SUMMARY

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a game of muscular heroics, tightly timed acrobatics, hacking combat and environmental puzzle solving, all locked into a side-scrolling structure. Pretty good stuff if you can navigate the light bloodiness and exotic spirituality of it all.

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown appeared first on Plugged In.

You can call it an action/adventure, an open-world shooter, a gathering and crafting title, or maybe even an environmental activist’s dream game. But whatever else it is, the new Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is definitely a movie tie-in game. And it’s flat-out the best way to swoop through James Cameron’s beautiful world of Pandora with a game controller in your mitt.

Fans of the movie franchise should note that this game’s story runs concurrently with what’s been on the big screen. We never meet the hero, Jake Sully, but we do see how his choices impact the human’s Resource Development Administration and the Na’vi tribes of Pandora.  

Gamers play as a male or female Na’vi, and are part of a small group captured as children and forced into a reeducation program. The goal of the program was to raise up human-friendly natives that could be used to either persuade or fight against the indigenous residents of Pandora. But that program is shut down when things go sideways (thanks to Jake Sully’s in-movie actions).

The surviving kids are hidden away in hibernation pods by a caring human and then, 16 years later, escape to rediscover their heritage and their people’s connection to nature.

Gameplay focuses on climbing, running and leaping through the dense and beautiful open world of Pandora—a sprawling vista of jungles, plains, mountains and caves. The goal initially is to meet and interact with Na’vi tribe members; reconnect with the enviro-spiritual world at large; and explore and craft weapons, tools, food and protective clothing from the incredibly expansive biome around you.

In fact, Frontiers of Pandora pretty much demands that players engage with the game’s hunting, gathering, crafting and cooking mechanics to move forward in the story.

The other side of play is the shooter/combat interaction. Your Na’vi may be experimenting with this new world, but you’re constantly reminded that those evil humans are still polluting and corrupting the environmental goodness of the land. So along with hunting meat, you’re using bows, assault rifles, swooping in with winged mountain banshees called ikran and applying a massive amount of melee strength to destroy the RDA and its evildoers.

You’ll need to go online to set up the game, but after that, players can game offline. After completing an early quest, gamers can also play co-op with a friend, which does require an internet connection.

POSITIVE CONTENT

The biggest positive for Frontiers of Pandora is its beautiful and majestic world, and the joy of climbing, leaping and flying through it. The traversal system is fluid and smooth and a number of bouncing and swinging plants and trees aid your parkour-like progress.  

The Na’vi characters and interactions are well-designed and crafted. The story is immersive and focused on valuing and maintaining the lush beauty of our environment and its animal inhabitants. …

CONTENT CONCERNS

… That said, the game can sometimes feel militantly focused on the environmental ills and misdeeds of humanity. As with the movies, humans are definitely vile villains here, except for a few who side with the Na’vis’ environmental cause. And even the good humans repeatedly complain about how humanity let the Earth die away.

It can feel strange to be so fervently focused on impaling, shooting, pounding and burning humans. The battles with those human foes are intense and lethal, though generally bloodless.

And this is definitely a one-sided tale. The humans of the RDA are seemingly focused solely on decimating the indigenous population and raping the mineral-rich world at large. Gamers play and see things through the Na’vi, portrayed as completely innocent, pure and spiritually in tune.

The spiritual beliefs of the Na’vi’s often seem to echo those of Native American religions as well. The Na’vi worship a goddess known as Eywa, the Great Mother, a deity that seems both personal (the Na’vi pray to her) as well as encompassing the collective energy of Pandora’s living creatures. The Na’vi also lift up a prayer of thanks to an animal they kill.

As mentioned above, it should also be repeated that the crafting and hunting side of play is central to this game. Those who aren’t so excited about the gathering of a wide variety of tree bark, mosses and animal hides will find some of the game to be rather grinding.

We hear uses of the s-word, “a–hole,” “d–mit” and some misuses of God’s name in the dialogue.

GAME SUMMARY

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a fun, questing romp through a beautiful world. But it also has a lot to say about how terrible we humans are.

The post Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora appeared first on Plugged In.

Some puzzle games have a set of brainteasers that drive an interesting story forward. Others are just about the puzzles themselves. Cocoon, one of the highest-rated indie games of the year, settles gently and quite brilliantly in that latter category.

And it’s really great to look at, too.

Cocoon is an abstract environmental puzzle game that establishes fantastic worlds-within-worlds and then challenges you to think your way in, around and through those puzzling places.

You start out as a winged beetle that drops into a colorful land of geometric rock and hill-like formations. It’s a bug-mixed-with-alien-technology kind of place. And as the environment itself nudges you forward—stairways disappearing behind you and rising before you—you quickly realize that your game controls are as basic as possible. You use one movement stick to get around and one button to interact. And those mechanics stay the same throughout the game.

Oh, but if you think that means it’s all going to be simple and boring, you need to think again. After the first few rudimentary puzzlers, you discover that your little buggy protagonist can carry translucent colored orbs and move them from here to there, revealing pathways, opening blockades and powering up alien plant devices.

For instance, an orange orb reveals invisible bridges that allow you to cross from one cliff area to another. A green orb gives you the ability to jump up through columns of smoke. But these found orbs are more than just pretty balls with puzzle-unlocking powers. They’re also worlds within themselves—or more accurately, containers that each hold their own little uniquely designed orb-world. And at specific points in the game, you can hop right into those worlds as part of your puzzle solving.

In fact, you can take another orb (or two or three) with you in pursuit of whatever conundrum solution you’re chasing into an orb-world. Think of these worlds as Russian nesting dolls—with each inner realm potentially holding a key to moving on. Next thing you know, you’re three orb-worlds deep trying to wrap your brain around how to get from A to Z.

It’s all really quite ingenious. And though you will find yourself scratching your head over a solution from time to time, the game always gives you subtle clues and hints that are built right into the alien worlds around you. And the more difficult the challenge, the more rewardingly cathartic the solution.

Each new orb level also ends with a boss battle against an insect-like foe. But even those battles are more puzzle focused than scary and zappy. One bee-looking boss, for example, tries to hit you and throw stinger minions your way while you dodge and search for ground-thumping orbs that will send him off to greener pastures. If your protagonist is hit, you reappear at an earlier hub-point to give it another go.

Cocoon is a dialogue-free single player game.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Again, it’s all about the puzzles. The environs are pleasant and almost soothing to look at. But it’s the brain-teasing obstacles, passage blocking foes and alien-tech conundrums that make the play fun.

Cocoon is also a game that can be easily broken down into short play stretches for players who have to head off for bed or homework duties.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Nothing much to worry over in this E-rated title. The orb “insect guardians” do run after and throw/shoot things at players. But it’s not overly intense or scary.

The only real concern may be that some puzzles can be tough for young players who have a hard time thinking outside the lines. That can then require some adult assistance. (But then again, that might be a plus, too.)

GAME SUMMARY

Cocoon is an alien bug-focused puzzler designed to get your brain humming and clicking … without driving you buggy.

The post Cocoon appeared first on Plugged In.

Skye Tales is a puzzle game that wears its cozy moniker like a soft blanket on a rainy day. Some may view it as a purely kid-focused title. And that’s fair. But adults kicking back after a deadline-heavy day can find the light puzzles refreshing as well.

The story takes place on the cozy little island of Brinn. It’s home to a community of happy, friendly folk. That doesn’t, however, mean that these cheery citizens are all that resourceful. They rely very heavily on the help and inventive prowess of a problem-solver named Theo. But hey, even a big-brained inventor needs a break sometimes. So Theo makes plans for a three-day holiday.

Of course, Theo is well aware that his absence could cause a bit of non-cozy anxiety for his friends. So he creates an enchanted dragon called Skye, otherwise known as … you.

You’re not a sharp-clawed fire-breather, however. You’re a friendly dragon who magically floats through the sky or under the water to solve environmental puzzles, play low-pressure games, run merrily through obstacle courses and the like. Skye can pull objects, dash short distances, pluck strings, knock over blocks and even sing a little when the need arises.

The game’s charming puzzles are relatively easy in the beginning. They become progressively more difficult as Skye rolls on, but they’re never mind-boggling. In fact, each rail-connecting, rubberband-tugging, bubble-popping, shape-shifting task also comes with easily accessible hints that help point you in the right direction if you get a bit lost.

Speaking of directions, four relatively large valleys are full of challenges to clear: the bucolic countryside land of Avieshire; tropical Raina Falls; sand-swept Whispridge and the underwater vacation spot of Coastin.  But one of the joys of Skye Tales is that you and Skye can head in pretty much any direction you please. There are colorful areas to visit, quests to take on, huge instruments to play and collectables to gather as you help with a spring festival, aid in setting up a concert or search out a deepwater treasure.

I should also mention that there is a digital sticker book in the mix, for those who enjoy such things. (Yeah, I saw you sit up.) And Skye can be adorned in a variety of outfits, too. Hey, if a sweet-looking dragon is fun, a sweet dragon dressed up as a duck or decorated with cake and sprinkles is, uh, funner, right?

POSITIVE CONTENT

The words “charming” and “gentle” fit this game perfectly. Skye’s world is bright and colorful, and its puzzles and activities are relatively easy. And if a challenge does stump a younger player, a helpful mom or dad can pick up the game controller and easily slip in to give a bit of aid.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Kids likely won’t notice any problems. But the repetition of some of the puzzles could leave adults a tad bored at times. Younger players might find one timed race a little difficult. And in one challenge, players must pick mushrooms for a character wearing a witch-like hat and stirring a big cauldron. This character then creates several potion bottles. (The words “witch” or “potion” are not part of the action, however.)

GAME SUMMARY

Skye Tales is a bright, friendly, puzzle game for young players, or a low-impact bit of fun for grown-ups in search of a little “cozy” on a rainy day.

The post Skye Tales appeared first on Plugged In.

Venba actually refers to the woman—a daughter, wife and mother—at the core of the story. She and her husband, Paavalan, immigrated to Canada, a new home where they hope to get a fresh start and raise their family. But the couple have a tough time slipping into their new country’s language and culture. And so, even though Paavalan has a doctorate in science and Venba is an excellent schoolteacher, jobs are almost impossible to come by when they first arrive in 1980s Canada.

And then there’s new baby, Kavin. Will he be able to thrive in their new home, they wonder? Will he adapt to another culture but still hold fast to the things that Venba and Paavalan value? Will he learn to speak Tamil? Will he learn to appreciate his Indian heritage?

Those questions are a part of the 30-plus year timeline this game covers. But as the tale begins, we quickly learn that Venba does most of her communicating through the food she lovingly prepares. Whether she’s sharing the joy of being pregnant or celebrating a small family victory or giving Kavin a taste of her history, the kitchen is where she starts.

Gamers get to share in that process by helping create the dishes from a battered old cookbook that Venba’s amma (mom) gave her. However, over the years, the recipes have become smudged and difficult to read in places. And the cooking utensils may be unfamiliar to those who haven’t prepared Indian cuisine. So the Tamil-based dishes aren’t just about following the instructions; they often amount to puzzle-solving challenges.

Those puzzles, however, are forgiving. And the game offers gamers tips and patience as it helps guide them through.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Venba’s artwork and cooking visuals are colorful and appealing. And the finished meals (which you can then potentially take and cook in the real world) offer cooking game-lovers a sense of rewarding accomplishment. But it’s the visual novel aspect of the game that draws players into the lives of the story’s characters. And after moments of victory and failure the story ends with a bittersweet reward of its own.

Venba also displays Indian aphorisms that the tale then illustrates. For example, we see bits of wisdom such as: “Those fallen from their resolve are stripped of respect, like hair fallen from a head.” And “Nothing, no mater how dear, should be sought at the expense of one’s honor.” And the story you play through supports the truth of those platitudes.

The game suggests that persevering love and consistency will reap rewards, even if the ultimate outcomes aren’t always the ones you hope for. It also points to the enriching importance of learning from the past.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Venba earns its T-rating because of violence and death. For instance, someone is mugged. However, we don’t see the attack, just the slightly bloodied and bruised aftermath. An individual also dies in the course of the story. We’re not told how, but we do see the lonely, grieving results.

We’re also shown the sadness that comes from not being accepted by a community at large and rejected by family members.

GAME SUMMARY

Venba is indeed a game that challenges players to try their hand at Indian dishes. But there’s a lot more cooking here. And the visual novel side of this gaming recipe encourages players to remember their own family’s traditions and cultural heritage.

The post Venba appeared first on Plugged In.

This physics-based virtual reality title was first released in 2022 (currently available for Rift, Quest and Oculus VR headsets). At its simplest, it’s a broad, and somewhat bizarrely meta, action game. But the game’s makers declare that Bonelab’s gameplay experience is designed to be 33% plot, 33% sandbox and 33% user-generated content. We’ll get to that latter side of play in a bit.

Bonelab drops players into a 360-degree, fully immersive VR gaming world called Fantasyland. They play as a former NPC (Non-Player Character) that attempted to break out of its designed roll and is … about to be hanged by other NPCs. But after cutting the hangman’s noose and dropping into a pit, the character sets off to find its way through, and out, of a large virtual labyrinth that plays out like a cross between an abandoned multi-storied factory, an old amusement park and a series of disparate video game levels.

Players discover that someone named Jimmy is trying to help them escape, and he sends them through a variety of challenges to gain access to different avatar types. They subsequently gain the ability to switch between Heavy, Light, Tall, Small, Fast and Strong types—all essential to besting the games challenges.

Through subsequent levels, gamers must pick up various weapons; solve environmental puzzles; give battle to robots and NPCs; and navigate platforms, tunnels and tracks.

But in a way, the game campaign of five to 10 hours feels designed more like an introduction to game movement, level possibilities and weapon types than anything else.

As mentioned above, Bonelab was designed with user-generated content in mind. And though most average gamers won’t be “modding,” that is, modifying the game’s code (all of which is accomplished with external software and programming skills), the game has certain built-in elements that make doing so easier.

Bonelab encourages players to import custom-built avatars, maps, vehicles and weapons. And at this point there are literally thousands of modded VR maps, campaigns, characters and sandbox items that users can download and experiment with.  

POSITIVE CONTENT

Bonelab offers a large, immersive VR world that’s relatively easy to navigate and adapt to. Modders will find it to be a very creative sandbox to work with as well. And as programmers offer up their own creations, it gives gamers fun new campaigns and interesting environments to enjoy.

Available mods introduce everything from jetpacks to Ferraris as modes of transportation. And your character can change as well, letting you play as a superhero, characters from other games, robots and recognizable real-life individuals. You’ll also find campaigns based on everything from bank robberies and ghostly quests to sandbox play in a waterpark filled with hundreds of waterslides. 

CONTENT CONCERNS

Even without mods, Bonelab is filled with quite a bit of violence. Players bash and shoot NPCs, animated skeletons and robots with axes, knives, bludgeons and a wide selection of pistols, rifles, shotguns and automatic weaponry.

Those NPCs attack back and slump over and moan as they’re killed. When gamers die, the screen blinks to black and they restart at an earlier point in the game.

While violent, the unmodded deadliness is relatively gore free and the characters are often humanoid but unrealistic looking. The worst of the gush is a little splash of blood from more well-defined human characters.

Modded additions, however, can open the door to much messier content. Characters can be programmed to gush fountains of blood. Bodies can be hacked, slashed, crushed and dismembered. Flame throwers, hacking saws, explosive devices, and overpowered guns can make the play much more destructive and potentially goopy. And language can get increasingly nasty, too.

In addition, the VR controls of Bonelab can feel a little awkward at times. Unlike the new PSVR2 games (such as Horizon Call of the Mountain) Bonelab’s hand physics are sometimes oddly wonky, gripping things and climbing can require multiple attempts.

GAME SUMMARY

2022’s Bonelab is a VR adventure that invites experimental play. But its M-rated violence has a tendency to be increasingly severe in user-generated offerings.

The post Bonelab appeared first on Plugged In.