Wendy Zhang
Stories (17/0)
HUMANKIND REVIEW
I know, it seems obvious, easy and perfunctory to start a review of Humankind by immediately referencing Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, but what else can you do? After all, games like Humankind and, recently, Old World, are essentially banking on the fact that players know the mechanics of the Civ games. It shortens the learning curve and allows longtime 4X veterans to focus on the new elements that games like Humankind bring to the table. And Humankind does, indeed, add a handful of new ingredients to what has long been a pretty standard recipe.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
TETRAGON REVIEW
Tetragon is a 2D puzzle platformer that drops you, quite literally, into an entirely new world. One that’s complex and full of surprises. Let me set the scene. You’re in an alternate plane of existence, as Lucios, on a journey to find your son Jerry. The only thing that stands in your way is the completion of a puzzle…or two….or three. Honestly, be prepared to get completely sucked into this magical world because you’ll be here a while. It’s just that addictive.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
I EXPECT YOU TO DIE 2: THE SPY AND THE LIAR REVIEW
2016’s I Expect You to Die earned high marks from gamers and reviewers alike for its fun spy-thriller gameplay, great writing and slick production values. The sequel, I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar doesn’t necessarily push the series in bold new directions but it does deliver another worthwhile and well-crafted VR adventure that’ll have you once again using your wits to escape from sticky situations (and yes, still dying A LOT).
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
Psychonauts 2 Review
We’re all creatures of habit. Whether it is the route we take to work or in what order we put on clothes, we perform some tasks without much thought. Psychonauts 2 makes a habit out of diving into the brains of interesting characters and exploring the fantastically warped landscapes found within. The goal of these delightful brain dives is to rectify the owner’s bad habits and expose their true selves. To succeed, players will undertake third-person platforming, mental combat, and endure the game’s strange affinity for the number three. Despite a bit of repetition, Psychonauts 2 is an awesome sequel to a unique adventure game.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
Humankind Review
Certain video game genres rise and fall through the decades. Some fans would argue that the golden age of real-time strategy games is far behind us, and the future is not looking overly promising or offering much variety. Interestingly enough, despite being more complex, the 4X subgenre has managed to carry on, with a wide variety of offerings through the past few years, and more to come in the future. Players have been able to manage their empires on Earth, in space, and in fantasy settings. Perhaps the biggest franchise of them all is Sid Meier's Civilization, and few have attempted to challenge it directly. But Amplitude Studios and SEGA have tried to do just that with their new release, Humankind.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
Omno Review
The great thing about gaming is the breadth of experiences. We get it all: commanding armies, managing cities, sneaking around hostiles, solving puzzles, participating in an epic story, and trying to run into a giant shrinking circle. In one tiny corner of this vast landscape of experiences are games that set out to relax. Games that slow their pace and let players take their time. Games like Abzu or Journey. These relaxing adventures usually require minimal skill but reward players with their world design and calming nature. Omno is another light third-person adventure, with simple puzzles and basic platforming tasks. Thanks to consistency and soothing presentation, it is a game worth experiencing firsthand.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
Lifeslide Review
If you only occasionally play the PC ports of mobile games, you probably have a certain low level of expectations. Those titles typically have a very basic premise, limited controls, no depth, and repetitive design patterns to keep players mindlessly involved as they commute or otherwise need to pass the time. However, with the push from both Apple and Google to have accessible and yet more immersive experiences, in part thanks to more powerful hardware of the Apple TV or latest Android phones, the games have also started to step up. Lifeslide is the latest PC port of a game that was first released on portable platforms back in 2019/20. The PC version offers some nice improvements and looks good, but it's also rather pricey for what you get and the gameplay elements remain unmistakably mobile-focused.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
TORMENTED SOULS REVIEW
They just don’t make survival horror games like they used to, do they? Outlast, Resident Evil, Amnesia: Rebirth – they can all be quite scary in their own right, but they play and feel very different from the original fixed-perspective, slow-moving, atmosphere-heavy horror games that used to be iconic.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
MORTAL SHELL: THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE REVIEW
When Cold Symmetry’s Mortal Shell appeared in 2020, no doubt more than a few eyes rolled in cynical skepticism. Another action RPG Soulslike clone? Would the tide of wannabes never recede? Well, the naysayers were mistaken. While Mortal Shell embraced, luxuriated in, and unabashedly copped many of the mechanics of Dark Souls, it added a few really smart and engaging new ideas of its own. Maybe most important, it came closest of any ARPG to matching the gothic ambiguity, satisfying melee combat, and solid progression and mastery loop of any game not made by From Software.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
NO MORE HEROES 3 REVIEW
SUDA51 is like the Johnny Rotten of the video game industry. Laced with controversy, his rebellious nature is evident throughout each unique creation. Whilst teetering the thin line between genius and madman, he managed to find mainstream success with the No More Heroes franchise which brought R-rated violence to Nintendo’s family-centric console: the Wii.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
HAMMERHEAD TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS REVIEW
I haven’t had much luck with earbuds over the years. As someone who wears them religiously when working out, going for a hike, or just mowing the lawn, they never seem to last long. Mainly because I sweat profusely, to the point where even the best “sports” and “water-resistant” earbuds eventually get moisture in them and die. As a result, I never want to spend a great deal of money on a pair, unless I know they’ll last. Are Razer’s Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds the answer? Likely not, but when it comes to gaming and listening to tunes when you aren’t dripping wet, the Hammerhead delivers a fantastic audio experience.
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers
HOA REVIEW
Studio Ghibli’s influence on the video game industry is becoming increasingly more palpable. The cute, ethereal worlds, packed with character and signature color palette have seeped into many titles. Dripping with personality, Hoa manages to do something that only a handful of games have been able to accomplish. Perfectly capturing the essence of Hayao Miyazaki, can Skrollcat Studio ensure that the gameplay matches the ambition of the jaw-dropping aesthetics?
By Wendy Zhang3 years ago in Gamers