Game reviews

3 Big New Games & Whether You Should Buy Them or Not

We review OnRush, Vampyr, & Lego: The Incredibles!

Published

7 years ago

July 3, 2018

Jeremy Proome

This past month, the gaming release calendar has quieted down a bit, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t had a handful of titles worth your attention. We got our hands on some of the biggest games of the month to find out if they’re worth a play or pass.

Onrush

Available on: Xbox One | PS4 | PC

What is it? Developed by veteran racing studio Codemasters, who are the guys to go to when it comes to solid titles (the Dirt and F1 series being prime examples of this), Onrush utilises the developer’s pedigree of excellent racing mechanics with a fun, flamboyant twist – destroying other racers and completing objectives, rather than racing for pole position.

Is it any good? It’s admittedly unusual to be playing a frenetically-fast, over-the-top offroad racer where you’re actually not trying to come first, but rather finish a bunch of objectives. Onrush delivers that boost-filled, arcade feel that gets your adrenaline pumping, and there are some great tracks to indulge in, but it’s not without its speed-bumps. While there are a lot of vehicles and classes to enjoy, they do tend to feel rather similar, but the bikes are a nice change of pace to the action, making you feel a little more vulnerable in exchange for manoeuvrability. There’s no denying that even with a few misteps, Onrush is doing something unique – so, if you’re a fan of the Motorstorm and Burnout games from the PS3 and PS2’s heyday, but also love the competitive edge that games like Overwatch bring, Onrush is something worth considering.

Vampyr

Available on: Xbox One | PS4 | PC

What is it? Vampyr is an action-RPG which puts players in the blood-soaked boots of Jonathan Reid, a doctor who has turned into a vampire during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 London – resulting in a lot of slow-paced yet captivating exposition, supernatural combat, and tough decisions that need to be made.

Is it any good? The story of protagonist Dr. Jonathan Reid having to go against his nature (helping people) in order to quench his thirst for blood while uncovering the vampiric underworld is an extremely interesting tale. Gameplay wise, Vampyr features a healthy blend of stealth, shooting, and melee combat, mixed up with some spooky supernatural powers, that’ll satisfy fans of familiar action-RPG games, like The Witcher or Mass Effect. Of course, this is much smaller in scale and budget, so you have a much more focused take on the genre rather than an all-out blockbuster. There are some technical shortcomings and rinse-repeat combat mechanics, but there’s a certain charm and potential with Vampyr that other bigger-name games often overlook.

Lego: The Incredibles

Available on: Xbox One | PS4 | PC | Switch

What is it? It’s another Lego game using the familiar formula we’ve come to love, but this time, wrapped up the in the spandex-clad world of Disney’s superhero family, The Incredibles.

Is it any good? The tried-and-tested gameplay blueprint of exploring, platforming, collecting, and smashing and bashing Lego blocks worth well within the framework of The Incredibles. It’s not unlike Lego Marvel Superheroes, where each character has unique superpower abilities that need to be used to defeat a certain enemy or reach a particular platform; but there’s a focus on working together as a team (family?) to get through each well-paced level. On top of that, there’s an open world Lego city to explore and rid of crime too, providing a fun distraction for those looking to add to the replayability a bit.

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