Last time, we had a sniff around AMD s latest entry-level pixel pumper, the Radeon RX 460. It was not impressive. This week, it s time for the 460 s nearly-but-not-actually competitor from Nvidia, the GeForce GTX 1050. Except I ve actually got the 1050Ti, which is in turn the 1050 s slicker, slightly more expensive sibling. So, can the Ti win where the 460 failed and deliver good-enough gaming at an affordable price? … [visit site to read more]

Given that the term “exclusively” in video games often has an invisble “until a deal we can’t tell you about expires” attached (if you’re curious: this is visible only by the light of a blue moon), it’s probably not a surprise that Crytek’s PlayStation VR exclusive dinosaur adventure Robinson: The Journey [official site] is now headed for a PC version. Yup, Crytek may be closing several studios and laying off staff but they’re not done just yet. In January, the cybergoggle dinoventure will hit PC for Oculus Rift goggs. … [visit site to read more]

Debate’s long raged/wanked on about whether we in the West should really call the Resident Evil series by its Japan-given name, Biohazard. With the demo for the upcoming Resident Evil 7 [official site], that debate is over. There could be no more fitting name for its new house of horrors than Resident Evil. … [visit site to read more]

The Black Mesa [official site] gang have shared a first look at Xen in their Half-Life remake. You might remember that they launched Black Mesa without Half-Life’s oft-maligned final chapter, set in the alien world of Xen, because doing it right was taking yonks. You might further remember they’re planning to launch Xen in summer 2017. You might… well, I> was surprised by this first peek at a Dear Esther-lookin’ cavern. … [visit site to read more]

Batten down the wallet hatches, stow the pounds below deck, eat the fivers – barely a month after the closing of the Autumn sale and its awards, the Winter sale has descended on Steam like a terrible maelstrom, demanding tithes and sacrifices, disappearing all who stand in its way and eating their hearts. I don’t know where this metaphor is going. The sale is either a storm or an Aztec god. Make up your own mind. … [visit site to read more]

Telltale’s The Walking Dead [official site] comes back into our lives after just over two years away, but is it a welcome return with fresh water and bandages, or a shambling wreck of fetid corpse. It’s the second one. It’s fucking awful>. Here’s wot I think: … [visit site to read more]

As Jalopy [official site] continues to trundle on through early access, the roguelikelike roadtrip ’em up has added Bulgaria in an opt-in beta. It’s not perfect but if you fancy pootling over the holidays, it should see you right. Along with adding the twisty and hilly new land, the update adds different road conditions and different tyres to go with them, plus new hazards like oil spills, and pot holes. … [visit site to read more]

SOMETHING BEHIND THE DOOR IS SCREAMING AND PULSING AND THROBBING AND THE BEAT GOES ON EVEN WHEN BONES HAVE VIBRATED TO DUST

Behind door 22 of our Advent Calendar, which celebrates the year’s best games, you’ll find the best music game of 2016. It’s Thumper [official site].

… [visit site to read more]

So sure, Night in the Woods [official site] is delayed once more but, y’know, stuff happens. At least this latest delay is only a few weeks. Besides, given the state everything will be in after New Year, I probably wouldn’t have time for it on its original date of January 10th. The cute explore-o-adventure about a college dropout cat returning to her home town, where something strange is happening in the woods, is now expected in early February. … [visit site to read more]

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game retrospectives. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.>

Roundabout [official site] is the game about a chauffeur and limousine. The limousine is constantly spinning, which makes navigation difficult, and the live action cutscenes are sweet, funny and a bit Wes Anderson.

… [visit site to read more]