Category: Xbox Series S

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“Williams Pinball Volume 8” for “Pinball FX” Review

 

When the good people at Zen Studios make their original pinball tables for Pinball FX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC), they always pair realistic physics with unrealistic mechanics by, say, having the ball move like it would in real life, but on a table that has Mechagodzilla firing laser beam warning shots or K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider doing donuts.

But when it comes to their versions of classic pinball tables originally made by the iconic pinball company Williams, they have typically been faithful to the originals, both mechanically and aesthetically.

The operative word there being “typically.” That’s because for the three tables Zen have remade for Williams Pinball Volume 8— Banzai Run, Black Knight 2000, and Earthshaker! — they’ve added some unrealistic (but optional) mechanics to these classics…and not everyone will be happy with the results.

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PC Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Indiana Jones And The Great Circle” Review

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle

 

Much like with Star Trek, The Lord Of The Rings, and The Matrix, there have been way more video games influenced by the Indiana Jones movies than there have been games where you get to be Indiana Jones.

But while Indiana Jones And The Great Circle (Xbox Series X|S, PC) somewhat balances the scales, fans of the adventurous archeologist are forewarned: While this is faithful to Indy’s early films, it’s actually more like Indiana Jones And Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull and Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny in that it may not be what fans are expecting, or hoping for, but it is still a fun adventure.

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PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Sprawl” Review

 

As an old fool, I sometimes kick it old school.

And not just by making dated references. I listen to music on CDs, watch TV shows on a TV, and eat food that wasn’t grown in a lab and sold under a name that would make Charlton Heston fans nervous.

It’s also why I was curious about Sprawl (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC), a cyberpunk sci-fi first-person shooter very much in the vein of Doom, Quake, and other old school shooters.

Though as old and foolish as I may be, I was happy to find that Sprawl wasn’t completely vintage.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6” Review

 

For the last few years, Call Of Duty‘s multiplayer mode has been the center of attention for players of this first-person shooter series.

But for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC), it’s actually the story-driven campaign that deserves your attention.

And no, I’m not just saying that because I don’t play well with others…

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Camp Bloodbrook” for “Pinball M” Review

 

To fans of video game pinball, the good people at Zen Studios are best known for creating original tables based on movies (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Princess Bride), TV shows (Battlestar Galactica, Twilight Zone), and other video games (Goat Simulator, System Shock), as well as accurate recreations of classic real pinball machines by Williams (Funhouse, Dr. Dude And His Excellent Ray).

But they’ve also, on occasion, put their considerable pinball design skills to use on original ideas, such as 2022’s Wrath Of The Elder Gods.

Which is where we find them again with Camp Bloodbrook, a new table for their horror-themed pinball simulation system, Pinball M (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Switch, PC).

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“The Princess Bride Pinball” for “Pinball FX” Review

 

There are a lot of things that don’t seem like they would work well, but end up defying expectations. Like Cate Blanchette playing a comic book villain in Thor Ragnarok. Or the rock band Phish getting their own ice cream flavor. Or a video game in which you’re a complete jerk…and a goat.

And now you can add to that inexplicable list The Princess Bride Pinball, the latest movie-inspired virtual pinball table for the video game Pinball FX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Switch, PC).

By paying homage to that classic fantasy comedy in a way that makes it feel like it’s as old as the movie itself, this video game pinball machine works so well that it ranks as one of the best movie-inspired tables for Zen Studio’s pinball system.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Goat Simulator Pinball” for “Pinball FX” Review

 

There are video games that are weird, and there are video games that are weird.

And then there’s the video game Goat Simulator. Which is really, really weird.

Thankfully, it was also really fun. Well, assuming you like knocking into things and generally being a destructive jerk.

Well, now that weirdness is taking a different form courtesy of Goat Simulator Pinball table for Pinball FX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Switch, PC). Which — like the Pinball FX tables based on such video games as Doom, System Shock, and Borderlands — provide an entertaining mix of the titular game’s conceits and, well, pinball.

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PC PlayStation 5 Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

More Thoughts About “Star Wars Outlaws”

 

When you write a review of a video game, especially a game as big and deep as Star Wars Outlaws (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC), you think of a lot of things that just don’t belong in a review. Like, how you’d make it better, or how you wish it a different kind of game. You’re supposed to review the game as it is, not as you want it to be.

But you still think of these things. And I had a lot of these thoughts when I was writing my review of Star Wars Outlaws.

Here are a couple I could remember now that my review is done and the game is out.

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PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Star Wars Outlaws” Review

Star Wars Outlaws

 

From the beginning, the Star Wars saga has had good guys and bad guys. But some of the more interesting characters — be it Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, or Anakin Skywalker when he was an impetuous young Jedi — are the ones who manage to be mostly good but also a little bad at the same time.

It’s to that list that we can now add Kay Vess, a low-level criminal who’s the main character in the new open world action game Star Wars Outlaws (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC).

And she’s an apt choice for this game, too, since Outlaws is also mostly good but a little bad as well, while also managing to be interesting.

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