Beyond The Loading Screen
Online resource for video game news, reviews, opinions and general ramblings.
For years, the video game industry has portrayed mental health in a negative light; inherently depicting a character with mental illness as “bad”. We only need to look to games like Outlast and Resident Evil for examples of villains where their motivations behind their actions are simply “because they’re crazy”. Hellblade: Sensua’s Sacrifice looks to rectify this. Within the opening […]
“You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.” Never has an expression felt more appropriate than when playing through What Remains of Edith Finch which sees the titular character return to her family home seven years after leaving with her mother to uncover the secrets behind a curse that has haunted the family for generations. A curse […]
Developed by Brighton-based PaperSeven, Blackwood Crossing is a first-person, narrative-driven experience that explores the fractured relationship between two orphaned siblings. The game begins with older sister Scarlett waking up on a mysterious train and searching for her brother Finn. It begins innocently enough with a few simple rounds of ‘Simon Says’ but before long the player is thrown into what […]
It seems these days there are subscription boxes for everything. Whether you love cheese, wine or have a desire to receive a regular delivery of mystery meat, there is someone out there who is more than happy to send you a monthly box full of goods to feed your addiction. For those that have read this blog before, you’ll know […]
If I were to choose just one word to describe Coldwood’s 2016 2D platforming puzzler, Unravel, it would be “charming”. Everything about this game oozes charm; from the muted visuals, unique puzzles and of course, our knitted hero, Yarny. The game has a quiet confidence that knows exactly what it wants to be and tells the kind of story it […]
Back in February Sony made the very bold statement that they anticipated Horizon Zero Dawn protagonist, Aloy, to become the “PlayStation icon of the future”. Was this a premature comment thrown out there weeks before the game was released? Or was it simply a Publisher so confident in its latest IP it couldn’t wait to express its role in the […]
I’m of the firm belief that Virtual Reality and horror are a match made in heaven. So when I finally acquired a PlayStation VR Headset, Here They Lie was among the first titles I wanted to play. Developed by Tangentlemen, Here They Lie, is a three-hour, first-person psychological horror game that places you in the shoes of its main character. […]
“It’s too short!” You hear the internet cry in uproar. Whilst it’s true that Arkham VR clocks in at just over one hour, those who criticise the game’s running time are overlooking one significant aspect: it’s one hour you get to be Batman. Putting on the cowl of the Caped Crusader is something many have long waited for and with […]
Following months of anticipation, pre-order chaos and the all too familiar feeling of disappointment to an “out of stock” notification, the PlayStation VR headset became increasingly more elusive. However, over one hundred days since its original release I now find myself with a lighter wallet and the proud owner of a PSVR Headset. 2016 was the year that VR launched […]
Games that are set under the deep blue always leave me with a certain anxiety. From the stress of ensuring your character doesn’t drown and always has access to an air supply to the uncertainty of what may lie beneath the surface of the waters. However, Abzû removes both of these pressures and instead delivers a serene and enthralling experience. […]
“You see Julia.” We are told in Firewatch’s opening text followed by a touching prologue from 1975 that follows the relationship between her and your character, Henry, over the next 14 years. A relationship that is littered with both joy and sadness and does an excellent job telling the player about Henry’s life. Fast forward to Summer 1989 and Henry […]
Telltale have played it smart with their Batman offering. Shifting the focus from the caped crusader to Bruce Wayne proved to be a gamble that paid off as it gives players a new look into what it’s like to be Batman. What’s more, with Rocksteady’s Arkham games concluding just last year, you could argue there isn’t much new ground to […]
Having been in development since 2007, the hype surrounding The Last Guardian has been ineffable and I can’t remember the last time a game was so heavily anticipated for such a long stretch of time. However, after a number of delays and holdups, the game has finally been released seven years since it made its debut at E3 in 2009. […]
Every now and then I like to put down the PS4 controller and revel in some childhood nostalgia. Partly because I enjoy the feeling of being transported back to my youth and partly because I want a break from the constant barrage of upgrades, trophy hunting and system updates you get with modern titles. In my last Throwback Thursday post […]
Originally released in 2013 on PS3, PC and Xbox 360, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons became somewhat of an indie darling before being released for later gen consoles in 2015. The game follows two brothers (go figure), Naiee and Naia, who are on a mission to save their dying father by locating the Tree of Life and consequently the […]
When a sequel to Dishonored was announced last Summer, I was sceptical that Arkane Studios would be able to recapture what they were able to create with the original. With its immersive world building, unique gameplay and an engaging story of betrayal and revenge, Dishonored rightfully earned the title of ‘Game of the Year’ in 2012. With its second instalment, […]
Beyond The Loading Screen 