T3 India

review

Review: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

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Back to basics
Rs. 3,499; PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Ubisoft’s recent releases of Assassin’s Creed games hovered more on the RPG elements and combat. We liked the changes to the extent that we spent a questionable amount of hours playing them but there’s also the fact that the revamped formula deviated the series to something different. Enter Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

Dubbed as a tribute to the original, Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings the elements that made the early Assassin’s Creed games fan favourites. Mixed with modern gameplay, the Mirage takes place in the 9th century and tells the story of a young Basim and how he becomes the Hidden One to take on the Order of the Ancients. He is the same Basim that we came across in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla but the Mirage touches upon Basim’s pickpocketing days and his ambition to do something bigger.

Unlike previous Assassin’s Creed games that featured a huge map to explore, Assassin’s Creed Mirage concentrates on a smaller area. The events in Mirage happen in the lively and vibrant city of Baghdad. The well-designed historic architecture and simple elements like hearing the call to prayer (Azan) give an authentic feel of living in an Islamic city. The game also lets you learn the rich heritage of Baghdad by discovering sixty-six historical sites, each dropping some knowledgeable insights.

You will find plenty of crowds to blend in and the NPCs are smart as well. The NPCs observe Basim’s actions and if he’s caught pickpocketing or doing something illegal, they report it to the authorities. The game also adds the notoriety feature and depending on the unacceptable activities you do, citizens will report you, making it difficult to lose the guards or you can bribe someone (Munadi) to take down the notoriety level.  

The Mirage aims to be close to the original games and this is why you’ll see focus on gameplay elements like parkour, stealth and assassination. Parkouring through the buildings of Baghdad feels natural and requires looking for handholds for successful climbs. Mastering it also plays to the advantage as it becomes easier to lose the enemies.

An ideal assassin is the one who completes the mission undetected and that’s what Mirage wants us to do. The risk-to-reward ratio for engaging in a fight is less compared to completing the objective without being detected. Moving like a hidden assassin is also more satisfying. The combat is swift and relies on sword attacks and parrying for maximum impact. The story is on the shorter side and can be completed in about 20 hours for the campaign.

Despite the shorter length compared to the previous Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage perfectly encapsulates the franchise’ loved features.

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Gameplay, Detailed world
WE’D IMPROVE Skill tree
THE LAST WORD Assassin’s Creed Mirage goes back to the franchise roots by bringing parkour and stealth to the fore 

Review: Cricket 24

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Big Ant’s Cricket game is back with more licensed content
Rs. 4,299; PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

The release of the Cricket 22 had a tepid response and it was mainly due to a long list of bugs and janky AI, but to its credit, Big Ant Studios patched it over the next few months to make it an enjoyable video game for cricket fans. With over 70 hours of game time over the last two years, Cricket 22 is still a good cricket game with strong community support. This year, Big Ant Studios is following up with Cricket 24 and has timed the release with the Cricket World Cup along with Sony backing its support by releasing a special bundle for the PlayStation 5 in India. But does it deliver?

One of the biggest highlights for a sports game is its licensed content and this time around, the developer has done a commendable job securing official licenses for tournaments The Ashes, the KFC BBL and Weber WBBL, The Hundred, the Caribbean Premier League and the Pakistan Super League. The Ashes has been a mainstay for the developer and features a dedicated game mode which isn’t surprising but Big Ant managed to score several IPL teams, including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and five more. However, they are not allowed to use the IPL name.

The result of the official licenses is the use of real player names, kits and most importantly, the player semblance to the ones in real life, thanks to the full photogrammetry of over 200 players. Big Ant has confirmed they will continue to add more players’ photogrammetry but in case you can’t find one, there’s the community to the rescue. Similar to Cricket 22, the Cricket 24 community allows users to change the unlicensed roster and teams with the actual ones with better kits and player likeliness, all created by other Cricket 24 players.

There are many game modes to play, including official tournaments but the Career Mode is interesting because you can create a player and live through the struggle of a struggling cricketer. The career mode is detailed and fun but can take a while before you can represent your favourite country or team. One thing we would have liked is the transfer of career progression from Cricket 22 like how MLB The Show does. This would save the trouble of jumping over the same hoops in the career mode in the new game. Batting, bowling or fielding is straightforward with Arcade or Pro control schemes but you may need some time to get used to it.

If Cricket 24 shines through the licenses and the gameplay, the game disappoints with the fielding AI and random bugs. For instance, fielders would slide in every ball to field even if it came directly to them. The batsman hitting the ball and running would reach the non-striker’s end first then the runner. The AI will overthrow or just throw the ball to another fielder allowing you to steal an extra run. Many times, the commentators are out of sync with what’s happening in the match. The bugs are not frustrating but take the fun out of what can be a promising outing at the Lord’s or the Wankhede Stadium.

In its current form, Cricket 24 is purely for the fans who seek licensed content. For Cricket 22 players, there’s little incentive to jump and should wait till the bugs are ironed out.

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Official licenses, Community
WE’D IMPROVE Bugs, AI
THE LAST WORD Cricket 24 offers a lot for cricket enthusiasts but that is undermined by the erratic AI and random bugs

Review: Mortal Kombat 1

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The new Mortal Kombat’s fast-paced action is backed by a good story 
Prices vary; Sony PS5 (reviewed), Xbox X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC

Mortal Kombat has carved a niche for itself in the fighting game genre despite some solid competition. In its thirty years of existence, Mortal Kombat games have introduced new elements while staying true to its original premise – gory and fast-paced action. 

The Mortal Kombat 1 carries the mantle ahead with a wonderful story, over-the-top action and non-stop fights. MK1’s story continues after the events of MK11 with Lui Kang, the Keeper of Time stitching a newer, peaceful timeline. This peace, of course, is short-lived as we discover playing through a tight 5 to 6-hour-long Kampaign, and admittedly, it feels like a long movie with fights thrown in between, but it’s certainly not a bad thing. 

The alternate timeline premise allows the game to experiment with some of the characters’ storylines that are introduced in a series of chapters giving MK veterans fresh and an interesting perspective while giving context to new Mortal Kombat players. Overall, the storytelling is engaging and keeps you hooked while advancing through the story. 

Crucial to the narrative is MK1’s fights, and the game nails it beautifully. Button mashing works for a few odd fast-paced fights but it’s the combo moves that will help you advance. The good thing for newer MK players is that they are not difficult to remember. Another major addition to MK1’s combat is the Kameo system. This lets you pick another character from a separate roster that can help you gain extra damage or break the attacks with a press of a button. However, the use of Kameos are limited so the players can use them sparingly and strategically.

Moving from the story, MK1 offers a few other ways to enjoy the game. It has the Invasions mode that brings RPG elements, and enhanced challenges for different fights with unique rewards. There’s also a variety of multiplayer options to get the MK1 fight fix. 

As a fighting game, MK1 looks similar to its predecessors, yet it is so different. It tells a story that keeps players immersed with its twists and turns while delivering a satisfying fighting experience with the new Kameo system. 

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Story, visuals, combat
WE’D IMPROVE Story length
THE LAST WORD Mortal Kombat 1 is a strong entry in the franchise that not only offers an engaging story but an improved fighting experience

Review: Ride 5

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Superbikes paradise
Rs. 4,799; PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC

Motorbikes don’t get as much love as cars in racing games. However, Italy-based Milestone srl is an exception in the industry where they have been consistently releasing bike racing games. Ride 5 is their latest release that aims to make the franchise bigger and better.

Ride 5 is a racing simulator that gives players a vast roster of motorbikes to ride on and more importantly, how realistic they behave. The initial lineup is over 230 motorbikes from 20 different manufacturers with the count expected to cross over 270 in the coming months with DLCs. 

Ride 4 brought impressive visuals to the fore and Ride 5 elevates it. The bikes have impeccable attention to detail. The 44 real and fictional racetracks are well-detailed and with volumetric clouds and Dynamic Weather system, it adds a layer of realism while you’re burning rubber around the track at high speed. The game works without any hiccups or stutters on the PS5 and utilises DualSense’s adaptive triggers exceptionally well with instant feedback while applying brakes or riding on a kerb, gravel or grass. 

The physics of a two-wheeler works differently than a car and you’ll soon realise how difficult it is to master if you have no experience with it. One braking or turning error and you’d fly around the track as a ragdoll. To combat this steep learning curve for a newcomer, the game comes with riding aids. This is not turning down the difficulty setting but rather a detailed and customised riding aid that lets you change different aspects of riding so you can master them, which will help to earn higher rewards. 

There are multiple game modes starting with the career that brings over 200 races segregated between primary and secondary events. The aim is to be the world’s best racer which can be monitored with the progress you make on the leaderboard. The endurance mode lets you ride the bikes for hours, test their durability and manage pit stops. Interestingly, this mode lets you save in-race if you cannot complete a race in one session. 

Playing with friends and family is possible through the conventional split-screen interface or if you’re looking to play with other Ride 5 players, there’s online multiplayer. Online races work cross-platform as well. 

Despite being evolutionary, Ride 5 is a step in the right direction with a vast motorcycle selection and different playable modes. Now all we need is a Forza Horizon-type game for bikes!

Rating

WE’RE IMPRESSED Graphics, Couch co-op
WE’D IMPROVE Difficulty for new players
THE LAST WORD Ride 5 delivers a well-packaged racing simulator for motorcycle enthusiasts

Review: Star Wars Jedi Survivor

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The new Star Wars game continues Cal Kestis’ galactic adventure
Prices vary; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

A narrative-driven Star Wars game is what many wanted and the 2019 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order gave that to its loyal fans. Now building on the strong base laid down by the Fallen Order, the Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is the latest instalment in the Star Wars saga that continues Cal Kestis’ journey and his fight against the Empire. Playing the previous game is recommended but newcomers to the series will also fit right in as the game offers a quick recap at the start. 

It’s been five years since the events of the Fallen Order with Cal now arrested by the Empire. The arrest, however, turns out to be a ruse for the Jedi to extract more intel but the mission goes sideways and expectedly, the game wastes no time to put Cal’s combative skills and abilities to test early on. The good thing about the sequel is that it retains skills from the previous game without having Cal relearn or unlock them. 

However, some abilities and features get unlocked over the course of the game. One of these are stances and there are five stances to choose from that help you define the combat playstyle. Our favourite is the one where you can wield a lightsaber and a blaster that lets you fight enemies from a distance and the crossguard lightsaber that delivers the most damage but at the expense of speed. These different playstyles coupled with the detailed skill tree add depth to the combat, which only gets better from the previous game. A successful attack, defence or parry is satisfying but the game also punishes for dying. Death during a fight means you lose the accumulated experience points, respawn at a meditation point (save point) and the only way to get it back is to strike (and hopefully kill) the enemy who killed you in the recent fight.

The game allows customising Cal, weapons and his robot friend BD-1. Right from Cal’s appearance to BD-1’s body material and paint to the lightsaber’s colours and materials, it brings lots of customisations to make the central character look different for different players. 

Jedi Survivor takes Cal to six different planets throughout the game and each region is well-designed, elaborate and distinct that will want you to explore and discover secrets of the place, find loot boxes for customisations, new shortcuts and pathways. Traversing the regions can be done on foot or take help from some tamed animals that will allow them to fly or ride them. The game also involves a decent amount of platforming with wall runs, air dashes and double jumps.  

Our playthrough on the PS5 was relatively issues-free. We did experience one random crash and performance issues like screen tearing and graphical glitches but that did not hamper our overall playing experience. 

In conclusion, the Jedi Survivor took good things from the previous game and made it fitting for a sequel with great combat mechanics and a decent storyline. 

RATING


WE’RE IMPRESSED Combat, story

WE’D IMPROVE Performance

THE LAST WORD Jedi Survivor brings great action and story, making it a must-play for every Star Wars fan