WKD Play

31/01/2024

MY NEW PLAYDATE UNBOXING:

Panic’s new console is a sight to behold, despite its tiny footprint. The screen is clear and highly reflective. I’m really impressed. The crank handle feels like a well oiled joint and is smooth to spin. There’s a mic, speaker and headphone jack at the bottom. The handheld itself just has a cross-key, A and B buttons, a crank and power button. Simple is the name of the game with this 1-bit B&W handheld. This is for modern day retro gaming fans who love the indie scene. As you can see this little fella screams presentation and user friendliness right up to the packaging, with the presentation being top notch.

20/10/2023

MARIO WONDER COLLECTOR’S EDITION (NINTENDO SWITCH) UNBOXING:

Mario Wonder for Nintendo Switch is out and here’s my collectors edition. The game is already ranking high with an average of 9/10 review scores.

24/07/2023

Pokémon Go Plus+ unboxed..

21/07/2023

A bunch of Pikmin 4 goodies came in today with the game.

31/05/2023

Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Link Amiibo.

31/05/2023

Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Switch OLED Carrying Case.

31/05/2023

Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Pro Controller.

31/05/2023

Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Limited Collector Edition Unboxing..

22/04/2023

ADVANCED WARS 1+2 REBOOT (NINTENDO SWITCH) REVIEW:

My memories of the GBA have been revived with this modern reboot of 2 classics. AWR is very similar to Fire Emblem, but more like military chess for those delving into the turn-based strategy genre for the first time, without being overwhelming. Even though with its simplicity, it’s still quite involved and gets you thinking on a deep level.

GREAT PRESENTATION:
The presentation is excellent and the cuts scenes will please anime fans. The battlefields are presented in a board game fashion that’s quite endearing indeed. The frustration from losing a battle is still there, but with patient strategies you’re sure to win. Even if you’re a veteran, getting those S class rankings is quite the challenge.

A LOT OF PERSONALITY:
The charm of the game is in the Commanding Officers (COs) extravagant personalities and flamboyancy of the units. There’s helicopters, gunships, bombers, super tanks, missile launchers and more to master. The way all the units work together is amazing, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, especially when the tide of battle turns for the better or worse. I would often let my weaker units get sacrificed while the stronger ones control the battlefield - that is until they get battered and then the weaker ones become instrumental in victory. The dynamics of change are intriguing.

A HARDCORE EXPERIENCE:
Don’t let the colourful graphics and simplicity fool you, this is a hardcore experience that keeps throwing surprises at you when you least expect it. The fog of war and climatic changes really add a lot of punch to the formula. With subtle looks, be prepared to experience the pain. It’s a fun sort of pain, so don’t worry. Once you get that S rank, you get a real sense of achievement and reward.

GAME MODES GALORE:
There’s plenty of game modes - local, online and offline. Getting some friends together is a laugh, although I hope they patch in playing with strangers and not just your friends. That’s a bit of a lazy move, especially in today’s online world.

SHOP WITH GAME CREDITS:
I liked the interesting shop mode in the main menu that allows you to purchase extra maps, artwork and music for ingame points. It’s such a cool idea. Of course the main feature is being able to create your own maps. The tools are intuitive and the whole idea is lots of fun. I was expecting greedy microtransactions, but thankfully this has been avoided with honour.

GRAPHICAL INCOMPETENCE:
Some people complained about the graphics being too modernised or nothing special. Although not amazing like Fire Emblem Engage, they’re still good and more than serve their intended purpose. I would have liked a lot more love to be poured into the units and possibly a retro pixel art option, as well as 60fps gameplay. However, it wasn’t remastered by Intelligent Systems, so unfortunately unnecessary compromises were made. With the game’s launch delay, they had plenty of time to rectify this, obviously they don’t care.

AUDIO SCORE:
The game presents you with remasters of the classic audio scores that us old skool gamers are accustomed to. It’s certainly fitting for the atmosphere and is highly memorable. The sound FX are still as good as we remember them, especially when coupled with the excellent use of HD Rumble. As the screen splits during attacks, we’re treated to a unique haptic experience in each hand for each side - the attacker and the victim. Feeling the missiles go off in one hand, while landing and destroying with explosions in the other is something to be awed by.

A BARGAIN PACKAGE:
This is a great package with 2 classics bundled into one, while offering some of the best HD Rumble yet. There’s plenty of gaming hours and strategic fun to be had here. Retro fans will certainly be pleased to feel the nostalgia come back after over two decades from the original GBA experiences. You might feel it’s a tad overpriced, but once the game in your hands, you soon realise that this is a full package and a lot more. It’s great value offering tons of fun. I’m so happy to have this in one cartridge and have hopes for Nintendo to release the DS games, as well as continue the franchise with new AW experiences. A point was dropped because some quality of life enhancements weren’t made, but overall, I’m ending this review with a smile on my face, full of contentment and excitement.

SCORE: 4/5

04/03/2023

METROID PRIME REMASTER (NINTENDO SWITCH) REVIEW:

Compared to the original GameCube game released over 20 yrs ago, this version is far superior with a night and day difference. It’s more remake than remaster. I bought it on GC and Wii years ago and still have them in my huge Nintendo collection of games.

Considering the Switch hardware is the old Tegra X1 chip, this game is a remarkable masterpiece and shouldn’t be possible on Nintendo’s handheld. It’s graphically the best looking game that I’ve seen on the console/handheld by far. It looks, plays and sounds just as good whether playing on your TV or on the go.

The most impressive feat is seeing all the visual FX and new textures that bring it up to scratch for the modern gamer. The way the rain falls off your arm canon and your visor is nothing short of stunning. I love the glowing lighting and mist effects too. With all of this it runs as smooth as butter and is a true FPS experience for the Switch.

The audio got equally as good treatment, however the voiceover gets lost in the music during cutscenes and needs adjustment.

I tried out all the control methods, being a long time Metroid fan and found the Pro Controller with dual stick and motion controls to be the best method of input. It feels as though the game was both made and designed for this controller in mind. I got the most accurate feel with this combo. The HD Rumble is awesome and used to excellent effect in this game, but best experienced with the JoyCon.

Gameplay wise, this is the best FPS on the Switch and feels right at home. This is how Metroid should be made and is the pinnacle of what the franchise should be. You explore, scan and shoot your way to glory as you hunt down Ridley - the winged pterodactyl like menace. The use of elements and the way the game opens up as you explore is true perfection in gameplay design, even two decades later, as this game was ahead of it’s time back in the day. The more you put in, the more you get back. The map is still as finnicky as ever, but serves its purpose. The bosses all have unique attack patterns - true Nintendo style. Scanning them reveals their weaknesses, but this leaves you vulnerable. Observe and destroy as you figure them out.

When it comes to the atmosphere projected by this Metroid experience, Retro Studios truly made an alien world that is both strange and wondrous. It’s a marvel to look at and begs you to venture into its realms with your jaw wide open. You really feel like your in another galaxy. I can’t wait for the sequels to release after this phenomenon. We’re going to be seeing a lot more of Samus in the future. You just can’t get this experience on any other console.

I’ve attached some screenshots of my game. These are just early shots of the first area, nothing to spoil the experience.

NOTE: if you’re playing on an OLED TV and suffer in the dark areas, temporarily set your Switch TV output | RGB Range to Limited. You’ll lose a bit of the shine, but at least you’ll be able to see things in the dark.

SCORE: 5/5

24/01/2023

FIRE EMBLEM ENGAGE - THE BEST YET!

As a fan of the Fire Emblem games, especially on the 3DS, I didn’t take much of a liking to Fire Emblem: Three Houses due to the gameplay being diluted into other distractions. So, for purists like me, I feel at home with FE: Engage. I haven’t felt like this since Fire Emblem Fates (3DS). Going back to the roots was a good choice.

As the game starts, it’s a bit slow to move forwards and doesn’t seem to have the initial dramatic grip of the previous titles. However as you play on a few chapters, things change a lot and FE:Engage becomes a beast of a game. There’s so much depth and I’m so happy that I don’t have to traverse a big map in the hub area. This new shrunk down hub is far more manageable, while the battlefields are extensive in design.

The graphics are some of the best I’ve seen in a Fire Emblem game, let alone on the Switch - it’s one of the best looking games on the platform. The way the maps switch to 3D gameplay in battles is nothing short of breathtaking. There are also 3D environments with really smooth camera movements as you traverse the battlefield and the hub area. Graphically it’s amazing what Intelligent Systems have managed to squeeze out of the Switch, considering its severely outdated mobile chip. I don’t understand why Pokémon can’t do the same.

One thing that caught my eye was the varied environments. There’s some nice attention to detail here in the level design. It’s a nice way to keep things interesting in a strategy game.

The sound department is where the game baffles me, in todays age of surround sound, this game seems only offer a stereo mix. A huge miss in my opinion. The sound FX and music are very well done with some really catchy tunes in the mix.

The gameplay is very deep with a gripping story. The relationships between each of the characters presents a strong form of attachment with the NPCs and the gamer. I found myself really caring for my battle companions and it feels like a family. Each character has a strong personality, some more than others. It’s so immersive. One stupid emission though is the lack of HD rumble, where is it?

There’s amiibo compatibility with this game, where you unlock costumes, songs and other things. Fortunately I have a large collection of Fire Emblem amiibo.

In conclusion, this is one of the best Fire Emblem games I’ve ever played and is only eclipsed by Fire Emblem Fates - the best in the series.

SCORE: 4/5

20/01/2023

FIRE EMBLEM ENGAGE (NINTENDO SWITCH) UNBOXING:

This boxset is absolutely stunning with beautiful artwork throughout.

20/01/2023

MONSTER HUNTER RISE (PS5) REVIEW:

Hunt down gigantic monsters and use their parts to buff up your warrior in the hit multiplayer game.

Following on from the previously released Nintendo Switch version we now are treated to 4K 60fps HDR or 1080p 120fps on PS5/XBOX SERIES X, bringing it more in line with upgraded PC version.

From all the recent bells and whistles, the Switch shortfalls do show, but don’t hamper the experience, only reminding us that this was built for inferior hardware. It’s worth mentioning that despite this, it’s still a beautiful game and now more so with the higher framerates and HDR offerings.

Exclusive to PS5 is the adaptive trigger, however using it to block felt limited with what the controller is capable of. XBOX gamers have a better deal with the free release on GamePass. PS5 owners need not worry so much though, as the game is only £32.99. I am however disappointed with the limited use of haptics and feel that Capcom underplayed Sony fans.

The audio options now thankfully offer surround sound or 3D audio in a compatible headset. You really can hear the separation and beasts creeping up behind you. The sound of the wind is particularly pleasing, creating an atmosphere never heard before in a Monster Hunter game.

The game is still every much as playable as before with the new wirebug ability, making you feel like Spider-Man in a prehistoric world. The simplicity of the graphics actually works in the game’s favour, making thing clearer and less intimidating to new players. The ability to ride wolf-like Palamutes never gets boring and aids this edition with a necessary means of transport. I can’t imagine another Monster Hunter game without them - I’m sure they’re here to stay in future iterations.

Overall, the game is a brilliant adventure to experience with your mates, where teamwork is the goal in a game where everyone can find their own individuality.

SCORE: 4/5

15/09/2022

SPLATOON 3 WITH PREORDER BONUS:

I preordered the game and got a beautiful gym bag with amazing graffiti artwork. There’s a nice pin badge too. I think the boxart was really well done this time. It might be simple, but this purchase is worth more than the cash I paid for.

30/08/2022

NINTENDO SWITCH OLED SPLATOON 3 EDITION:

This has to be by far my favourite limited edition of the console yet. Having said that, the Animal Crossing version was really attractive too.

From the vivid colours and detailed artwork on the JoyCon, this is a sight to behold in person. Even the dock has intricate detail. I also really love the back of the Switch with the artwork subtly infused into the black. This is a console designed for street cred in mind and would go perfect with a skateboard. It’s just so beautiful.

SCORE: 5/5

14/07/2022

RECOMMENDED M.2 SSD FOR PS5:

We recommend the 2TB WD_BLACK NVMe M.2 SSD for the PS5. It’s fast enough and easy to install, as you can see from our pic.

As well as being cost effective, it’s stylish and well within the Sony’s compatible parameters. We do recommend that you get the heatsink version.

14/07/2022

HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR PS5 MEMORY:

https://youtu.be/1XRrHHsOx_o

23/02/2022

PSVR2 FINAL DESIGN:

Here's the final design for the PS5's next VR experience. It will offer 4K HDR OLED gaming at 2000x2040px per eye at 90/120Hz. The circular design depicts the 360-degree visual surround experience you'll be getting in-game.

28/01/2022

POKEMON LEGENDS ARCEUS (NINTENDO SWITCH) UNBOXING:

It’s here.. nothing compares to the excitement of a first party Nintendo title. You just know you’re in for a treat with the gameplay and the joy factor will last till the next one.

06/01/2022

POKÉMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND & SHINING PEARL WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT:

Initially ILCA Inc had drawn up some artboard proposals for a very different experience which was shot down by Gamefreak and canned in favour of the current abomination we have now. Much of the assets of the original proposals were instead lifted into Pokemon Legends Arceus.

I can't help but think of what could have been such a beautiful game was again a victim of Gamefreak giving us the short end of the stick once again. Lately they seem to be behind everyone else in the graphics department and disappointing many fans. Even the art style of Arceus is questionable and has many gamers worried.

They need to listen to the reviewers and their loyal fanbase. This stubborn ego they have is very counterproductive to the industry. There are games that launched 5 years ago with the console that put Pokemon games to shame on a graphical level. I really hope Pokemon Legends Arceus is the game I want it to be.

06/01/2022

POKÉMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND & SHINING PEARL (NINTENDO SWITCH) REVIEW:

The aim of the game is to be the best Pokemon trainer out there from ground up with nothing but a starter Pokemon. My choice was Chimchar - a fire type. There's not many of those in the game. The others are Turtwig, the grass type, and Piplup the water type. It's just a matter of what your preference is in gameplay. What type of elements you use to battle the gym leaders in each town, before reaching stardom and claiming your legendary Pokemon. The difference between the two games is the exclusive Pokemon you get, as well as the legendaries.

A GRAPHICALLY BAD REMAKE:
These games are remakes of the classics on the DS and have finally come to the Nintendo Switch. Although fans may be pleased to relive and rekindle their old times from back in 2006, newer gamers might be somewhat shocked and disappointed in the art style with its bland textures, strangely though, there are some excellent reflections that make no sense in this Frankenstein stitch up of a game. Compared to the originals, I myself preferred the orignal direction on the DS due to the newer graphics being abysmal under the direction of Gamefreak. There are all kinds of glitches with the framerate dropping under 30fps, to flickering and glitches. The day and night cycle switches a bit too instantly too, creating a jarring sensation of confusion. Another stupid thing is the overuse of exaggerated blooming - I really wish I could turn that off.

WEIRD ART STYLE MIX IS STRANGE:
A main concern for me was the chibi art style in the overworld where you run freely, but the NPCs still walk in a grid formation, and the battle scenes consisting of a Sword/Shield artstyle, which throws me off. The battle scenes do have nice backgrounds, but after playing Sword/Shield, I miss the bells and whistles, especially the Gigantimax abilities.

AUDIO IS GOOD, BUT HAS PROBLEMS:
The support studio who made the conversion of this game is ILCA Inc, known for assisting in the development of Yakuza 0, Nier Replicant, Code Vein, Metal Gear Rising and more.

THE PREVIOUS SWITCH GAMES ARE WAY SUPERIOR:
The sad news is that the game looks worse than Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee and Pokemon Sword/Shield. There's even indie games that look better too. This breaks the immersion of what is a great game underneath, with one of the best maps ever to appear in a Pokemon game. There's all kinds of areas, like grasslands, deserts, frozen tundras, cities, small villages, beaches, caves and more.

QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS:
With quality of life improvements lifted from Sword/Shield, this game does benefit from modern gameplay in some ways, like the simultaneous levelling up of your party. They have also integrated the Pokétch watch in the top right corner using the R button. With this device you can perform special abilities to access the game's hidden paths and areas.

HIDDEN AREAS:
Speaking of hidden areas, there's a place called the Grand Underground where you can find rare Pokemon, kind of like in the Wild Area of Sword/Shield. There are also treasures to be found where you mine the walls before they cave in, after which you claim whatever b***y you've dug up. These areas are varied and are some of where the most fun is had.

CATCHY REMASTERED AUDIO:
The audio has been remastered and offers some of the most catchy music in the franchise yet, however it is lacking in surround sound. My preference is again with Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, which is a surround sound audio masterpiece, offering remixes that are serene to listen to during gameplay. Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl's audio does suffer from glitches from time to time to and can be a bit grating at points with repetition.

GAMEPLAY IS FUN, BUT CAN BE FRUSTRATING:
With gameplay, you do get used the shortcomings and technical issues. Although there are some modern improvements to the playability, there's still some awkward repetitive grinding moments that are unwelcome. I was at one section and every two steps I took, I got into battles with invisible enemies like the old days or RPGs. There was even a point where I finished one battle and went into another one immediately after. I got so frustrated that I wanted to rage quit and never turn the game on again. This game really needed the Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee level of modernisation to really shine. Right now its neither brilliant or shining and quite the opposite. Also where's the HD Rumble?

SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
It's not all bad news though.. there are some really interesting pokemon to catch, embedded in a great storyline. I love the transportation too, particularly with how I was awarded a bicycle with the colour of my choice. This was rather personal and actually felt like an exciting moment of my childhood. The attention to detail is phenomenal with a gear system affecting how you traverse terrain - absolute genius. There's tons to unlock and explore in the world, with loads of surprises around every corner.

SUMMARY:
I can't really recommend this game, other than to fans of the franchise who wish to relive their nostalgia. It could have been something great, but falls short in many ways and is definitely not worth the full game price of £49.99. That's a total rip-off if you ask me. This game should have been a digital download for £19.99 in its current form. You're best off buying Pokemon Sword/Shield which is my favourite of the series so far, or wait for Pokemon Legends Arceus.

SCORE: 3/5

20/12/2021

OUR GAME OF THE YEAR FOR 2021:

Metroid Dread was our nominee for the title of 2021, however it was only just knocked off our top spot by Halo Infinite. Master Chief is back with the greatest Halo outing yet in an openworld game for the first time ever, breaking out of the linear experience. The story is well put together and seamlessly blends in with the action.

The game world is a lovable place that’s signatory in a similar fashion to Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. With memorable locations on the map, unlockable areas that expand the play area considerably and enough battles to keep the hardest warrior on edge. The AI is amazing and you just can’t put that controller down, never wanting to leave the world. This is well deserved of our game of the year award.

SCORE: 5/5

20/12/2021

OUR RUNNER’S UP FOR 2021:

This would have been our choice for Game Of The Year, but it was only just superseded by Master Chief’s latest outing.

Metroid Dread supposed in ways we couldn’t possibly have imagined with yet again definitive gameplay, especially for a 2D game. Metal Gear Solid comes into mind for the EMMI robot moments, while the bosses remind us of Contra III on the SNES. This is quite possibly our favourite Metroid game yet and the biggest selling of the franchise so far.

To truly experience the greatest that this game has to offer, you have to play it on the Switch OLED for a match made in heaven.

SCORE: 5/5

20/12/2021

OUR BEST HARDWARE FOR 2021:

The small things really do matter in life. The beautifully vibrant OLED screen really surprised us and breathed new life into our Nintendo Switch games. The superior sound, new ethernet equipped dock and metal kickstand really add luxury to the experience, especially with the larger display.

It might not be the pro we wanted, but it’s definitely the extra kick of luxury that we didn’t know we wanted.

SCORE: 5/5

17/11/2021

LIMITED EDITION HALO INFINITE XBOX SERIES X CONSOLE UNBOXING:

This console is a beauty and really stands out with its space design. No doubt it’ll be a collectors item that fetches high value in the future. The box is as glamorous as the original Xbox One Elite console’s one.

17/11/2021

LIMITED EDITION HALO INFINITE ELITE SERIES 2 CONTROLLER UNBOXING:

This beauty is worth every penny and really stands out. It feels a bit different from the original controller and has some extra features.

There’s even scuff marks in the design, as well as a contoured effect of outlines.

15/11/2021

SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI V UNBOXING:

Not a bad boxset for £50. The game, steel box, poster and keyring.

15/11/2021

ZELDA GAME & WATCH UNBOXING:

This is a nice retro collection of classic Zelda games. It’s just a shame they didn’t include the SNES classic, Zelda: A Link To The Past.

You get choices of the Japanese or English versions with lots of Easter eggs. There’s also a power button on the side. The screen is good, but not amazing, also the audio is decent.

30/10/2021

NINTENDO ONLINE N64 CONTROLLER UNBOXING & REVIEW:

With the introduction of the classic N64 and MegaDrive/Genesis games to the Switch online service, Nintendo made a replica controller for each platform. This is in line with their previous offerings of NES and SNES.

Compared to the original, the new wireless version is a nearly exact copy, were it not for the built in rumble/jolt pack, wireless capabilities, USB port and extra buttons for screen capture and home.

I really like the design and have a lot of nostalgia holding it. It’s nice to have a stick that is fresh and not worn out. Be warned Mario Kart 64 will really batter your analogue stick when power sliding during extended periods of gameplay.

This is a solid well made product and will be a treasure for collectors. You’ll definitely get the true N64 experience using this, once they sort the ROMS out.

The ZR button on the top is a nice welcome, as is the appropriately added USB-C Port. They also include a USB charging cable which is as high quality as the stock one included with the Switch console. My only issue is the steep cost at £40 / $50. Unfortunately they’re already sold out and selling upwards of £100+/$100+ on eBay. Those disgusting scalpers have no shame in exploiting Nintendo gamers.

Please don’t feed them, Nintendo are making more, just be patient and don’t let these devils break the industry.

SCORE: 5/5

30/10/2021

NINTENDO ONLINE N64 CONTROLLER VIDEO UNBOXING & COMPARISON:

We compare the new wireless N64 controller to the original. The results are interesting.

https://youtu.be/o6uHmzBFggM

We unbox the new N64 controller and compare it to the original. We even show you the Rumble/Jolt Pack and Memory Card.