It’s time to look back on the week we’ve just had! What did the weekdays look like for our writers? What was the biggest news from the week? And what are we looking forward to playing during the upcoming weekend? Our Eyes on the Week article will answer all three of these questions! We’re curious about your opinion and played games, so be sure to share your stuff on our social media channels!
Victoria
Overwatch didn’t quite get as much attention as usual this week, and that’s because other games took up more play time. Lewis and I still played a couple of games, but they went well, and I’m looking forward to the mid-season patch next Tuesday.
Lewis and I also managed to complete RV There Yet?, and it was a bittersweet feeling. I’m happy we managed to get all the achievements, and we had a great time doing so, but I’m also sad it’s over. The developers have said they are working on a third and final map, which we will return to play when it’s released.
I also managed to get back on Quarantine Zone: The Last Check as the developers managed to release a patch addressing the crashes and other issues. I finished my first full playthrough of the campaign, but need to complete a second playthrough to reach the other ending. I had a great time, and can definitely see myself playing endless mode afterwards. Starting with all the medical gear and needing to discover all the symptoms should be interesting.
Last, but by no means least, Lewis and I ventured into the madness which is Palworld. It has been the greatest breath of fresh air I’ve experienced in a long time, and I’m here for every second of it. Originally, I didn’t think I would get on with the game’s base management mechanics, but it has been relatively easy to get a grasp on. I can see myself sinking hundreds of hours into Palworld because I want to fully experience everything there is to offer. It’s going to be my main game for quite some time. Sorry Overwatch!
Most interesting news of the week: Four backwards-compatible titles now have achievements?! Definitely a step in the right direction.
Looking forward to playing: Plenty more Palworld!
Robby
I’ve played a ton of games this week, as I was home alone with full access to the TV without kids fighting over it. I also got a lot of movie-watching done, like Project Hail Mary (loved it!!) and Masters of the Universe (started OK but was too long and got bored halfway)
I’ve also started playin Denshattack! But my opinion is a little more mixed than Benny’s at the moment. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I expected this to blow me away and become one of my favourite games of the year, and while it’s impressive at every turn, I can’t quite put my finger on the reason why it’s not sending chills down my spine or why I hesitate a bit to keep playing. Will get back to this later after I’ve played more.
On Steam Deck, I’ve beaten Helix: Descent N Ascent, a delightful Belgian puzzle game with a superb visual style (that really pops on my OLED screen), but I’m ashamed to admit I’ve been pestering the devs all week asking for tips on various puzzles as a lot of them had me stumped. By the time you read this, it should be out on Steam and Nintendo Switch; give it a shot!
I’ve been completely hooked on Ring of Pain on Xbox, a roguelike where you battle weird creatures as you try to grow your character by gaining stat buffs and equipment that totally changes the way you play each run. I’ve only managed to reach the boss once so far, but it’s super addictive, and I can see myself playing this for weeks to come.
Most interesting news of the week: Xbox brought achievements and backwards compatibility to 4 more original Xbox titles. Huge win, and I hope they do it for many more titles to come.
Looking forward to playing: Ring of Pain & Lost In Tandem.
Colombo
I’ve completed 100% of LEGO Batman, with the only achievement remaining being finishing a level I co-op, which I’ll do with a friend eventually. I also started replaying LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, and it’s noticeable and unfortunate that this one doesn’t have FPS boost; the framerate noticeably drops sometimes, but it’s still a fun game to play.
I’m still playing Junkster as my go-to Xbox Game Pass game, and I’m enjoying this charming platformer quite a bit.
My Nintendo Switch is getting some love with me still playing The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. I imagine it’ll take me quite a while to finish it, but it’s been great so far.
Most interesting news of the week: Backwards compatibility coming to PC and original Xbox games gaining achievements.
Looking forward to playing: More The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Junkster, LEGO Batman 2 DC Super Heroes and replaying my newly acquired Batman Arkham Origins on Xbox.
Benny
I’ve now finished Denshattack!, and I had an absolute blast with it. I loved how new mechanics were introduced gradually, which kept the gameplay feeling fresh throughout. I also appreciated how forgiving the game is. Whenever you crash, you’re simply sent back to the last checkpoint to try again, without a game over screen or being forced to restart the entire level after a certain number of failed attempts.
The controls can be tricky at times, but I don’t think I’ve ever played a game quite like it. It’s a refreshingly unique experience that’s well worth checking out. Better still, it’s currently available on Game Pass Ultimate, making it an easy recommendation if you’re a subscriber. If you’d like to read more about my thoughts on the game, you can read my full review [HERE]
I’ve also started Star Ocean: The Second Story R, which has just released on the Nintendo Switch 2. I’m new to the Star Ocean series, but after recently playing The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I jumped at the chance to review Star Ocean: The Second Story R, especially as it features the same stunning 2.5D visual style. I’m still fairly early in my playthrough, but I’ll be sure to bring you my full review once I’ve finished the story.
Most interesting news of the week: Halo: Campaign Evolved has officially launched with upgraded visuals, modern gameplay enhancements, and classic action for a new generation. The release also marks the first Halo game to launch on PlayStation, giving a whole new audience the chance to experience Master Chief’s iconic first adventure.
Looking forward to playing: Helix Descent N Ascent and Splatoon Raiders.
Hello, I’m Victoria. I’m from the UK and have been playing video games for as long as I can remember; back on DreamCast. I’ve pretty much fallen for Xbox since I was around eight years old and remember BioShock being my first game on the Xbox360. Although I find it thoroughly enjoyable to not only experience gameplay, I also find comfort in getting lost and engrossed in the online worlds that sometimes differ greatly from what we know. Another side of my Xbox passion would be achievement hunting and gamerscore. I thrive when I hear the little sound of one popping up on the screen and I’m always finding ways to work on my backlog when possible. Horror is my favourite genre so if you have any recommendations, don’t be afraid to send them my way!
