Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review for more information.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage started as another DLC for AC Valhalla but grew to become its own standalone game. After playing the entire game, I think this is one of Ubisoft’s best decisions. Ubisoft Bordeaux previously worked on AC Valhalla’s first DLC, Wrath of the Druids, and wanted to take Mirage back to the roots of the first Assassin’s Creed (2007) game.

The plan was to commemorate the franchise’s 15-year history of games. As a standalone release now, AC Mirage successfully brings back the DNA of the original game and builds upon it by adding the best elements from each of the iconic games in the series.

I’ve always been wary of “back to the roots” taglines for Assassin’s Creed games dev videos. But Assassin’s Creed Mirage is different. It’s the closest any game in the series has come to the original Assassin’s Creed, not just in setting but in gameplay. The setting and soundtrack are incredible, and Basim was a fascinating character right from AC Valhalla. But the real star of Mirage is the parkour. It’s like finding a long-lost love. After years of exploring vast, open worlds, I finally can experience the dense urban parkour I’ve missed so much.

Mirage has some flaws, but it’s a refreshing return to the DNA of pre-RPG era Assassin’s Creed games. You won’t want to miss Mirage if you’re a fan of the original games.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review

AC Mirage focuses on the stealth gameplay the franchise is known for. And like the early games of Altair and Ezio to days of Unity and Syndicate, Mirage packs the campaign and additional content in just under 20 hours. This is a good relief from the painful bloatware of 100+ hours the series turned into.

Gone are the massive open worlds sprawling across multiple cities and even countries in some cases. And along with that, you don’t need hours of grinding on the previous RPG mechanics to max out your favorite skills anymore.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage focuses its entire plot around Baghdad and Alamut Castle, featured during Altaïr’s story. Mirage has a short plotline, and the new limited scope of the map results in characters you might not care about with a few plot holes, but the intimate gameplay experience and fun it delivers are more than enough to make up for all its flaws.

But Assassin’s Creed Mirage is not for everyone. The main reason is the story. As you may know, games that are under 20 hours runtime usually depend on their compelling story to make them successful to an extent. I won’t apply this to roguelike games like Hades (2020) – that game would still be awesome if you strip away all its dialogues. Tunic (2022) is another example.

But since Assassin’s Creed 2 (2009), Ubisoft shifted its focus heavily on the lore part and wanted to make a deep interlinking connection across all these characters who lived across different centuries in different parts of the world. So, depending on how much you are into this pre-established lore may affect your perception of the AC Mirage. I will try to explain this as much as possible now.

Also, if you don’t care about the story since the story elements, you can directly skip the subheading to the next one below to look into the new features and gameplay mechanisms.

Plot: marhaban bik ‘ayuha al-mustatir

Set in 9th-century Baghdad under the Abbasid caliphate, Mirage follows the story of Basim Ibn Ishaq (voiced by Lee Majdoub), a young street thief under the guidance of his mentor Roshan (voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo), who joins the Hidden Ones, the early incarnation of the Assassin Brotherhood we know today.

Since the release of AC Valhalla in 2020, we now know human reincarnations of the Asgardian Isu Loki. And since Loki took the “Mead” after Odin and the other six Asgardian Isu left the Yggdrasil Chamber (bad luck to Heimdall), Loki was born in Samarra (Abbasid Caliphate) compared to all others reborn in northern Europe.

So this makes Assassin’s Creed Mirage a coming-of-age story for Basim. But don’t expect to see everything in Basim’s saga from his life as a young thief at age 17 till he meets Viking Sigurd at age 35. So AC Mirage is just part of Basim’s saga and acts as the prequel to the novel “Assassin’s Creed: The Golden City” and the events of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla game.

If I am to give anything more about the story, I will be essentially walking into ‘major spoilers’ territory. But if you have skipped AC Valhalla or if picking up an Assassin’s Creed game for the first time, then Mirage’s story might just lead you to more questions than answers.

Setting

Like previous AC games, which focus on major revolutions or wars, the main chuck of AC Mirage’s story takes place Zanj Rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate led by Ali ibn Muhammad. For your reference, here are some of the previous wars and revolutions shown in AC games:

• Assassin’s Creed – Third Crusade
• Assassin’s Creed 3 – American Revolution
• Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation – French and Indian War
• Assassin’s Creed Rogue – Seven Years’ War
• Assassin’s Creed Unity – French Revolution
• Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India – Anglo-Sikh War
• Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia – October Revolution
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Peloponnesian War (between Athens and Sparta)
• Assassin’s Creed Rebellion – Spanish Inquisition
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Viking Great Army

As a Hidden One, Basim was to help Zanj to resist Caliphate’s army (controlled by the Order) and keep the rebellion alive. Basims actions will profoundly impact the Order of the Ancients, weakening its authority and leading to a period of political instability in the Caliphate.

Major Characters

• Basim Ibn Ishaq: The protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Basim is a cunning street thief haunted by nightmarish visions of a Jinn. After joining the Hidden Ones, he embarks on a journey to free the city of Baghdad from the Order of the Ancients. In this quest, he stumbles upon the mysteries of his true nature and destiny as a reborn Isu.
• Roshan bint-La’Ahad: Basim’s mentor and guide in the Hidden Ones. Roshan is a wise and former slave turned experienced Assassin. She saves Basim during a critical moment in his life and takes him to the fortress of Hidden Ones at Alamut. She teaches Basim the ways of the Creed as his mentor. Players familiar with the first Assassin’s Creed game will recall Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad and the importance of the fortress of Alamut in the game and lore.
• Nehal: She is a close childhood friend of Basim and is one of the few people who truly understands him. She is a skilled fighter, a quick thinker, and a good strategist. She is Basim’s sole source of support and guidance and helps him navigate the complexities of his haunted visions.
• The Jinni: Source of all the nightmare torments that haunted Basim since he can recall. The Jinni never changes its appearance but never fails to make Basim feel helpless at night. Basim still struggles and fears the true meaning behind the Jinni nightmares.

Gameplay

As mentioned by devs, the main highlight of the AC Mirage, “Return to the Roots,” are the classic tools and features from the previous games. A few new game mechanisms are Assassin Focus, Black Box Missions, redesigned combat, Notoriety System, Social Stealth, Tools, and more. Here are a few of the changes you can expect in the game:

• Assassin’s Focus: A new chain assassination feature similar to RDR 2 on selected targets. It is very similar to Eivor and Kassandra’s time dilation abilities.
• Black Box Missions: Build upon the feature introduced in AC Unity and carried forward in newer Valhalla DLCs. You now have multiple opens to kill your target in the main assassination missions.
• Assassin’s Tools: Many items from previous games, like blowdarts, noisemakers, poison traps, smoke bombs, throwing knives, and torches (dedicated torch slot like in older games), return in Mirage.
• Redesigned Combat: Unlike the inhumanly fast-paced action of Valhalla, Mirage focuses much on the parry and dodge system established in the earlier titles. And taking of groups of enemies are not easy like the recent RPG era AC games.

Apart from these, there are many more, like the new Social Stealth, which plays a much bigger role in your playthrough. As hacking and slashing your way is not an option anymore (unless you are in easy difficulty), hiding among the people as the Tenets of the Creed is the main emphasis in Mirage’s social stealth aspect.

World

The city of Baghdad is a vibrant and bustling place. The world may feel smaller than in recent Assassin’s Creed games, but it is still dense and detailed. It is full of interesting characters and activities to discover. Mirage packs so many details into this area that have never been seen since AC Unity’s release.

Ubisoft Bordeaux’s decision to add full Arabic voice-over and localization breaths a level of authenticity to the game I never knew I needed. Voice by Jordanian actor Eyad Nassar, Basim never felt out of place in his surroundings. If you are a non-Arabic speaker, I suggest you play the game with Arabic voice-over with subtitles in English or any language of your choice for the most genuine recreation of Baghdad ever in mass media.

Even though Mirage’s story unfolds through a mix of linear missions and a bit of open-world exploration, all the main story missions are meticulously crafted. Also, the main assassination missions often bring back unique “Black Box” gameplay mechanics from Unity and Syndicate. These “Black Box” missions allow players to explore the target environment and find creative ways to reach and eliminate their targets. For example, by disguising himself, Basim can infiltrate a Caravanserai in one mission. But his Eagle Vision will open up more ways to infiltrate the same area by force or completely relying on stealth. This takes us to the next main segment below.

Verdict

The 9th century Baghdad is a vibrant and bustling city, full of life and color. Mirage does a fantastic job of bringing this world to life with its detailed architecture, bustling markets, and diverse characters. The city feels handcrafted for players focusing on parkour, stealth, and assassination. Mirage’s combat system is a refinement of the formula introduced in Assassin’s Creed, and it feels better than ever.

Mirage’s stealth mechanics are also the best in recent games. Players have various tools and abilities to help them take down their targets without being detected. The AI is also intelligent and challenging, making for some tense and rewarding stealth encounters.

Mirage has some technical flaws, like frame rate drops on older-gen consoles. These issues are not game-breaking, but they can be distracting at times. But the devs made the game look its best in the Anvil engine for PC and current-gen consoles.

Unlike previous games, where players complained that the world map can feel a bit empty even though it is filled with activities, Ubisoft Bordeaux listened to the fans and created a city to make this feel like the original AC game.

They even added a blue color filter to make the game look like the first Assassin’s Creed game from 2007.

Even though there are fewer side activities and points of interest than in the recent three main Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage does a wonderful job of keeping them fun, and you never feel like any of the activities are repeating. Everything in this game feels unique, from geometrical designs on the buildings to more open areas around the City. Each area has its unique properties to set it apart from each other.

Mirage’s story is engaging and well-written, but it could have been longer and more developed. The game’s main campaign can be completed in around 12-20 hours, which is evident that this game started as a DLC for AC Valhalla.

Nevertheless, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a great game, and Basim truly strives to take the second position below Ezio’s grandeur in our hearts. But only the future can tell what will become of Basim.

I highly recommend Assassin’s Creed Mirage to fans of the series and newcomers to the genre. It’s a focused and polished experience that captures the essence of what made the early Assassin’s Creed games so great. While it’s not perfect, it’s a must-play for any fan of stealth-based action-adventure games. Immersive and atmospheric open world with fluid and satisfying combat added to robust stealth mechanics that are both fun and challenging, something I was dying to say about a new Assassin’s Creed game due to my love for the older ones.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit The Crew Motorfest Review – A Welcoming Entry! for more information.

Ubisoft is at it again, and this time, they’ve thrown a complete curveball in its arcade racing genre with the latest release of The Crew Motorfest. It’s like they took the script from the previous installments of their hit-and-miss The Crew series and tossed it out of the window. But here is the real kicker: you might be pleasantly surprised. From the get-go, the game is reminiscent of Forza Horizon 5, and that’s no understatement. But boy, does the ride feel exhilarating and breathtaking at times. And if you are a die-hard fan of the open-world racing genre and have been yearning for a fresh release since FH5 in 2021, well then, Motorfest has zoomed onto the scene. After playing The Crew Motorfest for a week, here is a review of what we think about it and if it’s the rival Forza has been waiting for at the start of the line.

The Crew Motorfest Review

Right off the bat, you will realize that The Crew Motorfest is a breed apart from its previous counterparts in the Ivory Tower’s revolutionary arcade driving series. Nevertheless, none of the previous Crew iterations have followed the same rulebook twice and were very contrasting. The first entry, The Crew, took you through a campaign story with you infiltrating a criminal ring by completing races and defeating different rivals in events. The second, aptly named The Crew 2, focused on your character becoming a racing legend in the United States. And what does The Crew Motorfest do differently than these two? Well put, everything you can imagine.

“It’s a Motorfest Branded, Lovingly Crafted Car Culture Celebration.”

The Crew Motorfest welcomes players to a themed festival in majestic Hawaii, more specifically on the island of O’ahu in the campaign. Sounds familiar? Well, it might be the similar trope we got to experience in the 2021 edition of Forza, featuring the gameplay around the scaled-down version of Mexico. But I would say what Motorfest does is it tries to cater to players with an unapologetic car fest experience, with breathtaking visuals and at times, exhilarating events. It surely leans its inspiration more from Forza Horizon 5 than its siblings, but it does this while setting its ground.

In the campaign, players will come across different Playlists centered around different themes and dealing with various events and races. Each playlist has its unique ability to woe car aficionados, with most focused on different cars for each race and event. While some even feature specific car manufacturers altogether. I enjoyed playing the carefully curated “911 Legacy A Porsche Story” playlist. Driving those beautiful and legendary 911s around the landscapes of Hawaii made the petrolhead in me focus everything on my screen. Although with around 15 playlists, you will find some barely on par with everything, which can make the campaign a bit dull. It’s not a genre-defining experience, but it’s one that you can truly get behind.

“There’s No Better Place to Express Yourself and Show Off Your Flair Than in Hawaii.”

If you expect a colossal map much like The Crew or The Crew 2, you are in for a surprise. The backdrop of O’ahu is much smaller and compact than the entire USA setting The Crew Motorfest’s predecessor boasts around. But this time, Ubisoft Ivory Tower has made an audacious decision to go deeper than wider. Instead of stretching its map indefinitely, they’ve focused more on the attention to detail part, creating a backdrop that’s not just beautiful but also breathtaking at times. The lighting does most of the parlor tricks and is exceptional.

The graphics and colors set the game apart from the rest. Although other than Hawaii’s actual environment and setting, you will find the map duller. There is the occasional traffic that you might slam into, mistaking it for the so-called AI racers the game handles. But other than that, the map is pretty dull, with people only being around to cheer you in the events and races.

“With These Cars, It’s Not Just About the Looks or the Nostalgia; It’s the Way They Drive.”

There are around 600 vehicles, including planes and boats, that you will experience in The Crew Motorfest. And let me tell you, every beauty on that roster is heavily detailed and a sight to behold. And boy, oh boy, do they sound good. “Like music to a Petrolhead’s ears.” However, it feels slightly less considered that the roster doesn’t include just the cars. Nevertheless, driving around in them on the asphalt or even offroad, if that’s your thing, feels quite good. And given that few playlists focus on planes and boats, you will drive them most of the time. The handling is much more improved and efficient with any mode you choose.

Switching to a car from a plane in mid-air, no matter when you are in the altitude, the game slams it neatly on the ground with bare minimum scratches. For instance, the same is true with the damage caused by interacting with elements like brick walls or poles. This is just a scratch. Besides that, the game physics is on point and can even surprise you at moments. The character rotates the steering wheel as required to even tassels of your hoodie affected by gravity while doing a barrel roll in a plane.

Verdict

If you ask my opinion, The Crew Motorfest is a welcoming entry to the open-world racing genre. The latest entry in The Crew series has seen various improvements and even one-ups its predecessors most of the time. However, there is some room for improvement. For instance, since the cars you purchase in-game are mostly used for traversing from one point to another and rarely used in actual events, the value of the extensive roster feels less. The AI racers can be annoying, and the car physics can sometimes be zany. Seeing how Ubisoft rolls out updates post-release for events, challenges, and even vehicle rosters will be interesting.

But keeping these minimal things aside and though it tries to be like Forza too hard, it’s safe to say it will take the checkered flag for the second place. Not to mention, PlayStation users will finally get an open-world racing game much like Forza Horizon 5. I call that a win-win.

If you enjoyed reading this review, head to our dedicated Review category to check out our insights on other newly launched games on Gamer Tweak.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit The Crew Motorfest Review – A Welcoming Entry! for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon Review for more information.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a fresh robot fighting game by FromSoftware that brings hours of high-tech combat, customization, and challenging multiplayer missions. The game is divided into different objectives settled into the mech-vs-mech universe. Players will have to control fast-paced machines that can be customized for more firepower, speed, and durability.

To spice up the gameplay players can add their favorite decals to make it look dangerously friendly. This is our test and viewpoint on AC6, this review talks about gameplay mechanics, the 4K performance test, and whether should you buy this or save money for Starfield.

Gameplay

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon offers a substantial gameplay experience with its main story spanning approximately 30 to 40 hours, complemented by an additional 8 to 10 hours of content in a new game mode. The game incorporates multiple endings, which are determined by player choices, adding replayability to the experience.

The core of AC6 revolves around its combat system, which offers a variety of weapons and abilities. Players can extensively customize and modify their mechs, utilizing a detailed in-game menu to buy and sell upgrades as they progress. Aiming to enhance the challenge, the game encourages players to achieve S-Rank ratings in missions, which unlock better rewards.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, AC6 provides players with a range of super-hero abilities, including super jump, super sprint, and dash attack, enhancing the mech’s combat capabilities. While there may be a slight learning curve for controlling the robot, the game efficiently introduces mission objectives without excessive briefings or cutscenes. The focus is on delivering a fast-paced combat and action-oriented experience.

Graphics:

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon consistently runs at 60fps across various resolutions, namely 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, provided that the hardware specifications are met. Our tests confirm that frame rates remain stable contingent on the capability of the hardware to support the chosen resolution. The game exhibits efficient rendering performance during high-fidelity scenes, encompassing scenarios such as explosions, high-velocity aerial maneuvers, and rapid combat sequences.

Featuring intricate mech designs and expansive arenas, the game offers an immersive machine-on-machine combat experience. Set within a mechanized science fiction environment devoid of human intervention, players are tasked with selecting a mech and executing set objectives. We ran the game on 1080p and 4K @ 60ps to find out how well the game can perform. A 4K resolution test was done on a Ryzen-powered gaming PC running on RTX 4080 GPU. 1080p and 4K were tested on a gaming laptop – Alienware x17 R2.

Performance Test:

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon showcases stable performance and is largely free of technical glitches. Mission load times are present, but they’re within reasonable limits. Our assessment took place on the Alienware x17 R2, both at 1080p on the built-in display and at 4K using a connected 32-inch LG 4K monitor. The gameplay remained seamless throughout our testing period.

It’s noteworthy to mention that for optimal performance, particularly at 4K resolution, it’s advised to keep the Alienware x17 R2 connected to its power source; our tests indicated noticeable lag in the absence of direct power. However, at 1080p, the game’s execution was exceptionally fluid. This laptop comes equipped with a Core i9-12900HK processor and an RTX 3080 Ti GPU.

During 4K testing, both the CPU and GPU temperatures reached their peak, but the system maintained resilience, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay. Users may observe high fan noise and heat output, yet our evaluation confirms the Alienware x17 R2 is capable of handling such load.

On our secondary setup, we utilized the Ryzen 9 7950 system paired with the RTX 4080 FE GPU, tailored for serious gaming enthusiasts. Its 12GB of GPU memory ensures sharp, uninterrupted graphical performance. The game, when set to high graphical settings, delivered impressive visuals. When paired with a 4K display, the clarity of the images is notable, bringing the large-scale mechs, combat robots, and expansive landscapes to life.

Verdict:

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon stands out as a notable addition to any gamer’s collection. After quite a long time, gamers have seen a nice and direct, robot combat-centric game. While customization and modifications enhance the gameplay, the heart of Armored Core 6 lies in its forward-thinking combat. Players have the opportunity to elevate their mech’s performance, optimizing upgrades for both health and energy metrics. Even after hours of gameplay, replaying missions remains engaging. Gamer rage will overpower you in between objectives but if you can control your bot well you are unstoppable.

In Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, there’s a clear emphasis on raw gameplay mechanics, sidelining an intricate narrative. The game’s focus is combat, ensuring a streamlined player experience. Extended cutscenes and deep character backgrounds are minimal; the machines take center stage. Machines are smarter, they will do specifically what they are built to do.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon Review for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Immortals Of Aveum Review – Lethally Magical! for more information.

Immortals of Aveum serves a new perspective to the genre of FPS Fantasy Games. It is basically a first-person shooter, but you deal with Magic instead of bullets and throwables. Ascendant Studios has done a great job in portraying Medieval battlemages with a pinch of Modern English and light sarcasm. Despite being a little slow at first, the story catches up incredible pace through its single-player campaign. After testing it out for a week, we are ready to give you our insights without spoiling anything through our Immortals of Aveum Review.

Immortals of Aveum Review

In a World where Magic has taken over, only two major Kingdoms remain which include Lucium and Rasharn. Separate from all this, we play as Jak, who lost his everything after the invasion of Rasharnians on his settlement. This Canon Event in Jak’s life awakens the special powers that allow him to wield 3 types of Magic simultaneously. This versatility makes him a Triarch Magnus – a spellcaster capable of wielding all three forms of Magic. However, the Mana flowing through Jak’s body might kill him if not given proper guidance. This is how you will take part in Everwar, an old time conflict between the 2 Kingdoms.

Just like in classic lore, this is the point where our protagonist meets his mentor, the Grand Magnus Kirkan. Under her guidance, Jak will become one of the crucial members of the Order of the Immortals – the only force that can resist the tyrant of Rasharnians in Lucium.

Not all Battles are Won with Guns

The Combat in Immortals of Aveum is all about Magic and the ability of the spellcaster to make the most out of it. Surprisingly, there are no weapons or staff for dealing Magical damage to the enemies. Instead, you will be using your hands to aim and unleash the wrath of magic on your opponents. Does that feel boring? Well, not at all! Developers have tailored the Combat system so beautifully that you won’t miss Guns and other weapons at all. The Blue, Red, and Green Magic takes the place of all major weapon classes.

• Blue Magic (Rifles)
  • For those who love to fire steady rounds of fire, like Rifles, you can use the Blue Magic.
• Red Magic (Shotguns)
  • Players who like to keep things aggressive in short-range combats can use the Red Magic.
• Green Magic (SMGs)
  • Players like me who want to fire multiple rounds can use the Green Magic.

Besides combat, these Magic types can also be used in surroundings to get past obstacles easily. But for now, I won’t be spoiling it much. One more thing that compels me to play Immortals of Aveum is the secondary attacks for all Magic types. Also, the hand animations while casting a spell seemed super cool to me. It sort of reminds me of Doctor Strange from MCU.

The Graphics & Colors Offer Visual Delight

I played this game on PS5 and the visuals were looking insane. Throughout my entire playthrough, I wandered across all the corners of the map. Be it Castles, War Chambers, Caves, or Forests, or the entire environment, everything was pretty solid. Apart from the surface world, there were other realms that justified their purpose. The best example of it would be the Challenge Realms that took place on the floating islands. Such Realms will require you to use your Magic for both Combat and solving puzzles.

Friends are Friendlier & Foes are Merciless

Thanks to Jak’s humor and friendly nature, you will make several friends while completing quests. There are some humorous NPC interactions. This compensates for the long and unskippable cutscenes. Also, while interacting with NPCs, you get to select dialogues sometimes. This option usually shows up toward the end of the conversation and is also a good way to get more information regarding the next objective. Zendara and Devyn, your very first companions after joining the Order of the Immortals will be helping you out throughout the game. Especially Devyn, he will make sure you feel at home from day one.

Speaking of friends, you will definitely encounter enemies each time you explore the map. The same henchmen will show up, with at least one brute among them. This kind of feels like Power Rangers honestly. Apart from these smaller enemies, you will also come across enemies that are extraordinarily giant in size. They’ll make sure that you are making proper use of your resources.

Immortals of Aveum Verdict

If you ask me, Combat and Graphics are a massive push to this game. But, there are certain factors which is pulling Immortals of Aveum from reaching that mark of Greatness. For instance, the story is predictable but that doesn’t mean everything will come from the textbook. You will face never seen before enemies who’ll only fall weak if you have proper knowledge of all the moves from your spellbook. However, the X Factor? This game slightly missed its chance of becoming the Best Magic Game of all time.

A more gripping storyline would have created a new benchmark in its genre. It certainly did open the gates for Fantasy FPS Shooters but failed to create a hook. Despite having that potential, this game failed to create an impact in the gaming community. But being the first of a kind, Immortals of Aveum is a good game with some must-try content. It is available on Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and X. If you are looking to get it, then you are good to go.

If you liked this Immortals of Aveum Review, then be sure to check out our dedicated section for Review Guides. Since there are games released every now and then, you can use our insights for a heads-up.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Immortals Of Aveum Review – Lethally Magical! for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Mortal Kombat 1 Review – A Flawless Victory? for more information.

The newest installment in NetherRealms Studios ever so popular arcade fighting series has arrived on the scene and there are so many things to talk about. With the reigning champion of Mortal Kombat and now Fire God Liu Kang rebooting the entire timeline, you might wonder if the series has lost its charm to the constant trope or does it continues to be as epic and impresses everyone. After a week of trying out the chaotic realms of Mortal Kombat 1 and going through every mode it has to offer, it’s safe to say that the game has the true potential to be one the best the series has produced. There are a lot of things that the latest iteration of the series does right. And some that might arguably be the best decisions so far. However, does it pull off a flawless victory? Here is our spoiler-free review of Mortal Kombat 1 and know what we think about the latest development.

Mortal Kombat 1 Review

First off, kudos to NetherRealms Studios for revamping the timeline while keeping the Mortal Kombat essence intact with the installment. The game stays true to its franchise’s gameplay recipe that we have seen and loved throughout the series since its inception. But there’s more – the addition of the Kameo mechanic and Invasion mode breathes life into the gameplay. The Kameo mechanic is something I looked forward to since the game’s closed beta, it stays true to its hype.

“You’ve chosen to defy peace, then you have chosen war with a god”

After taking control of the hourglass and wielding the role of Keeper of Time, Fire God Liu Kang has reset the timeline to create a new and peaceful era this time around. However, “with great power comes great consequences”, and that’s the entire crux of the narrative. The Mortal Kombat tournament has been once again invoked. But this time it’s more of a time-honored tradition, with the Earthrealm protector gathering all the combatants aka our beloved characters to face off against Outworld competitors. While the initial chapters won’t feel like much, the game story drastically shifts the narrative to a more compelling one within a matter of acts.

All of the characters have a unique and completely different origin story in Mortal Kombat 1, unlike their previous counterparts. It makes the campaign story feel more fresh and captivating, to say the least. Not to mention, it holds answers to many questions that might have gone unanswered in the previous iterations of the series. Ever wondered how the Tarkatans came to being or how Kenshi lost his eyes? The game has intriguing answers and one that you can truly get behind.

While the story slows down a bit in between chapters, it has a well-maintained pace overall. You will be cruising through the story acts in no time. I breezed through the storyline within six hours, except for the occasional breathers. The story genuinely doesn’t feel dull at any point and keeps you engaged throughout. It might even be the most refined one that NetherRealms Studios has come out with all these years. After completing the story I gave myself enough time to explore other modes and mechanics that the game had to offer. And to put it simply, this is where things get even more interesting.

“If you fail to prepare, your preparations will fail you”

The talk around when Mortal Kombat 1 was still in its closed beta phase was the newest Kameo mechanic that the game had to offer. And well, it’s one interesting feature that I’m sure most of us would be welcoming towards. The mechanic has a lot of potential with its unique combination of different characters. Kameo characters are “assist companions” that players can call out for help or even to extend combos. Each Kameo character has unique abilities of their own that will aid the main characters in Kombat.

It is a new versatile option you can explore and prefer on any occasion you want in combat. However, you will need to keep a tab on the Kameo meter above. Most of the Kameo moves use up half of the meter, meaning you will be able to call for assistance for a second time. But some will cost you the entirety of it.

There are many things that you will have to get used to in this newest installment. Chief of which is the addition of new mechanics like upper block, super meter, aerial combat, etc. Nevertheless, even with this addition the game feels easygoing. For someone who is just starting in the fighting series, you will feel Mortal Kombat 1 to be more than friendly. Although I would recommend learning the character kombos before going through the story mode. The game directly puts you in the shoes of the specific characters and pits you against your opponent, so better to learn them beforehand.

Fatal Blows, Brutality, and Fatalities are as brutal and barbaric as ever. On top of that, there are two different fatalities and quite a few brutalities that you will unlock over time for each character. Along with them, the customization also offers gears, different skins, and even taunts. You will unlock all of them as you progress through the different modes and level up the characters.

“Like the weird portal to other realm – in my bedroom”

Speaking of invasion mode, think of it as a mix between Krypt and Towers of Time from Mk11, only this time on a board. While the overall premise of the mode may sound happening and compelling, I for one found it pretty dull. In the mode, you will go through various encounters in different settings and realms like Johnny Cage’s Mansion for example. And it’s here, where you will find different rewards varying from character gears to taunts. The invasion mode does have much to offer but it feels a little less thought out than its previous versions.

“Honestly, I’m surprised too”

Surprisingly, even after running on Unreal Engine 4, Mortal Kombat 1 really stands out in the visuals department. NetherRealms Studios hasn’t cut any corners and has delivered graphics that are on point and breathtaking. The backdrop of every realm and even different settings are as immersive and realistic as they can be. The colors and design of the game are really what separates the game, even with its vibrant yet, at times, dark themes. And it might just be one of the most beautiful games of 2023 so far.

The voice actors have delivered a fantastic performance yet again, and the sound score has been positive. Interactions between characters after character selection are interesting in Mortal Kombat 1. The sound design and effects have backed the gameplay and interactions well.

Verdict

Mortal Kombat 1 stands out as one of the greatest installments in the beloved fighting series and with everything considered, the most refined of them all. I would say it is one of those games that will allow players to settle in. It will also take some time to become familiar with the new Kameo mechanic, story changes, and other additions to the game.

The invasion mode too tries to leans its inspiration from the Krypt and Towers of Time but it lacks depth and becomes dull way too quickly. It will be interesting to see if seasonal changes and rewards will lift the mode up. Playing the game online is a different experience altogether and depends on each individual. The lack of a crossplay option really hinders the game.

Nevertheless, setting aside these minor issues the game has excelled in most of the areas. It surely is a more than welcoming entry in the arcade fighting series. And arguably even does most of the things better than its predecessors. In my opinion, while it may not be a flawless victory, NetherRealms Studios was surely close on this one.

If you enjoyed reading this, we recommend you check out more of our reviews right here on Gamer Tweak.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Mortal Kombat 1 Review – A Flawless Victory? for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Venba Review – Food Is Love, Food Is Life for more information.

Venba is described as a narrative cooking video game, but to my surprise, it was much more than that. Underneath its colorful graphics is a game with soul, and heartbreaking moments that will make you tear up. I played and completed Venba via Game Pass on Xbox Series X in about 2 hours (yes, it’s a super short game), and here’s my review.

Venba Review

Venba is all about an immigrant Tamil family coping with their life in Canada in the 80s and 90s. The main character in this game is Venba, a lovely lady whose journey as a mom trying to give her family the best possible life will end up tugging at your heartstrings. Soon, Venba and her husband Pavalam have a child named Kavin.

What connects the parents to their roots in India is food – delicious, mouth-watering food. But since Kavin is born and brought up in Canada, things are different from his perspective. I won’t give much away but this, basically, forms the core of the simple story of the game.

Players will emotionally connect to Venba and feel for her, as she grows old and her son grows up in a foreign land. I found myself silently sobbing toward the end, all because it’s a completely realistic scenario that most parents go through. If you are someone who can relate to the story first-hand (of being an empty nester, being an immigrant parent, or a child of one), this game is going to stay with you for a while.

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. – Harriet van Horne

For most of the game, you will be pressing a button to take the conversations further. Occasionally, there will be dialogue options to choose from, as responses. As you’ll see, Venba and Paavalan undergo trying times related to jobs and fitting into the new society which is completely different from India. You’ll see Venba’s attempts at ensuring Kavin doesn’t forget how to speak his mother tongue, while also helping her husband cope with rejections and struggles. Amidst the future which looks bleak at this point, the one thing that lifts spirits is food – but Kavin seems to reject it, much to the dismay of Venba. The story goes through multiple time jumps and the cooking happens at all stages, for different reasons.

Cooking is love made visible. – Anonymous

While the cooking mechanics are simple – just drag and drop the item into a cooking pot (or on one occasion, a Puttu maker) – it isn’t a cooking game that only involves mindlessly bringing the ingredients together in a pan. They are puzzles with a challenging aspect to them, which can be confusing if you aren’t much of a cook or haven’t dabbled in cooking South Indian food before. The gameplay revolves around cooking based on an old recipe book that has faded text and torn pages. The tough part is understanding the order of adding ingredients, figuring out what the missing lines of text could be, and creating a flavorful masterpiece without a single error. The whole process is engaging and keeps you hooked. Just make sure to not press the ‘revert the entire thing’ button right in the middle of a complicated recipe accidentally (like me).

I had fun while trying to figure it out and honestly ended up learning a lot about Tamil recipes. There’s lots of detail in the chalk-drawing style 2D graphics because the food looks super yummy on-screen. I am definitely going to try making Rasam, Biryani, and more in real life. Thanks to Venba and her mum’s recipe book!

The people who give you their food, give you their heart. – Cesar Chavez

Verdict

Overall, if you have 2 hours to spare on a quick, casual visual novel – you should play Venba. It’s a fresh theme for a game (previously only seen in films, series, and books) that weaves the cooking gameplay almost seamlessly into its story. The graphics are unique and eye-catching and the awesome music takes things up a notch. As the credits appear on a book with pages being turned, it’s evident that this game is all about transformation – of people, of relationships, and of food.

If you liked this Venba review, be sure to check out our Reviews category for more!

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Venba Review – Food Is Love, Food Is Life for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 Gaming Laptop Review for more information.

Alienware x16 R1 series introduces a new edition powered by 13th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU. The same variant has an i9-13900 HK CPU Model followed by similar specs. Thanks to Dell for providing us with this new variant that effectively touts a seamless gaming performance at 2k resolution. However Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 variant still holds enough power to deliver gaming at 4K resolution but with some hiccups. This is what this review is all about, in short for buyers who have lined up an Alienware gaming laptop in their shopping list then do read till the end.

Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 Specs & Features:

• Model: Alienware x16 R1
• Color: Lunar Silver
• OS: Windows 11 Pro x64
• Microsoft Office & Student 2021
• 1080p @30fps, FHD RGB+RI Camera
• AlienFX RGB Backlit (per-key) Alienware CherryMX Mechanical Keyboard
• Multi-Touch Gesture Premium Precision Gass Non-RGB Touchpad with AlienFX Lighting LED
• Dual Array Microphone
• 2x 2W Tweeter Speaker
• 4x 3W Woofer Speaker
• AlienFX Light Zones Chassis

Hardware:

• OS: Windows 11 Pro x64
• Display: 16” QHD (2560×1600) 165HZ IPS
• CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700 2.4Ghz
• RAM: 16GB (Expandable Upto 32GB)
• GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 12GB
• SSD: PM9A1 NVME Samsung 1TB (Expandable Upto 4TB. 2 Slots)
• Wifi: Killer 6E AX1675i 160Mhz
• DirectX: 12
• 6 Cell, 90h BAttery

Design:

The Alienware x16 R1 model tested by us comes in Lunar Silver color with Alienware LED branding on the back. This adds a serious look to the laptop, which makes the model specifically stand out as unique, as it’s a premium piece of machine. On the front side, there is a 16-inch QHD display that produces a max resolution of 2560×1600 @240Hz. Below is AlienFX RGB Backlit CherryMX mechanical gaming keyboard. Due to the small form factor, there are no separate numerical keys. Gaming is smooth on the keyboard and backlit does add vibrant looks to the entire model.

Below the keyboard is the RGB Touchpad, it stays in sleep mode and triggers on touch. This multi-touch gesture touchpad features LED AlienFX Lightning. All connectivity ports sit on the backside which makes it much easier to use on a Desk setup. Here is a list of all connectivity ports.

• 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 with PowerShare
• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort
• 1 Thunderbolt 4 Port with Power Delivery & DisplayPort
• 1x HDMI 2.1 Port
• 1x Mini DisplayPort
• 1x Headset & Mic Combo
• 1x MicroSD-Card Slot
• Intel Killer Wi-Fi 160Mhz
• Bluetooth 5.0+

Alienware x16 R1 does not come with a LAN port but Dell provides a Type-C to LAN Adapter. There is nothing on the right and left side. Speakers sit on the front above the keypad and they are loud enough for gaming. Anyone sitting around 3 to 4 feet away from the system can enjoy loud audio.

Overall Alienware x16 R1 has a premium look with a gaming touch. It is an attractive machine and the light-dark color combination makes it look amazing. Opening the lid is effortless, there are strong and stable hinges holding the screen. It would be correct to say it is a slim model but holds the power of a high-end gaming machine.

Gaming Performance:

In our test, Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 variant is powerful enough to deliver seamless gaming performance at 1080p and 1440p. Pushing it to 4K is still possible, yet the system gets hot soon and the fan noise is loud. With DLSS On, graphics are crisp and life-like. Thanks to the RTX 4080 12GB that can easily take load of any DLSS support video game at their max graphic settings. But still, the performance varies as the resolution changes. For example, games like Forza Horizon 5 do not budge at 1080p or 2K resolution. On 4K with screen recording on the game, lags are visible at the start. Later when everything is loaded there are no artifacts and lagging issues.

A common problem at 4K is heat and low ram warning with all possible settings on. Our test shows the Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 variant is good enough to handle 2K gaming at the dual screen. On battery, the overall gaming is good but with a power cord attached. On battery, it is not fair to expect long hours of gameplay. Here are some of our tests played on different resolutions for different games. All games were tested with DLSS On.

1920×1080 Gaming Test:

2560×1440 Gaming Test:

3840×2160 Gaming Test:

Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 can deliver 4K on a secondary monitor. The laptop’s display supports a max 2K resolution. Gaming is awesome at 1080p and 2K, got more battery life on a lower resolution, and when graphics are set to medium. But there is an RTX 4080 card, so it’s a waste of power if you are not enjoying anything at or above 2K. The laptop does have a USB-C + DisplayPort combo. Thanks to these multi-connectivity options gamers can enjoy seamless resolution on HDMI or DisplayPort.

All games tested are with DLSS On. The graphics were crisp, clear, and life-like. RTX 4080 12GB is a beast sitting in the model that easily handles high-end graphic settings. It looks like 1080 is a distant picture now, where 2K becomes the new favorite if there is a machine like Alienware x16 R1 Core i7. With gaming, the system is also perfect for video editing and rendering. Having 1TB of storage resolves the issue of low storage, which is quiet enough and necessary for gaming models. With three games installed approx 500GB was easily consumed and due to enough space left, it is easy to use up for Screen Recording. An ideal storage size for content creators. But if you prefer 4K rendering then it is necessary to expand the same up to 2TB to 4TB at a minimum. It adds the freedom to install a lot of games, with enough space left for another important task. Also, it is best to have a minimum of 32GB RAM when it comes to higher-end gaming.

For battery, during games, it is not more than an hour while on standard usage you can get 2 to 3 hrs of max battery life. Performance-oriented usage will demand more power, this is where you will have to keep the power cord attached.

Benchmarking Reports:

Here are some actual benchmarking reports run on the Alienware X16 R1 i7 model. The goal of these reports is to evaluate the overall capacity of the model. Starting from the SSD. Alienware X16 R1 uses a Samsung NVMe SSD drive. There are two slots so you can expand that max to 4TB. SSDs are necessary components that have a direct impact on the system’s performance. Especially when you are playing games with DLSS on.

Verdict:

Alienware x16 R1 (Core i7) is a powerful 16-inch gaming laptop. Heating is a common noticeable issue in gaming systems. This is our first gaming laptop test, so I will not really put this as a drawback. The potential hides in the amount of heat the system can handle during playing games. And while using Alienware x16 R1 (Core i7) I am quite satisfied to see even though the chassis is running hot, there is no issue with the performance. It is right to say if you are ready to pay for the performance then Alienware x16 R1 will deliver what is promises. Dell has been able to pack all gaming features into this tiny 16-inch form factor offering an enjoyable gaming experience.

Alienware x16 (Core i7) is slim, yet heavy. 6 Pounds (2.72 kg) with a huge 330w power brick it is not easy to move with. This is a common scenario with all gaming laptops. What matters is the amount of gaming features they carry. This is where Alienware x16 (Core i7) proves to be a satisfactory and performance-oriented gaming laptop.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Alienware x16 R1 Core i7 Gaming Laptop Review for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Ride 5 Review – Peak Virtual Motorsport for more information.

2023 is the year when virtual motorsport starts peaking. Having already tried F1 23 & MotoGP 23, Ride 5 is another brilliant motorsport racing game that I have come across, and here are my two cents on the game with this review. While Ride 4 provided realistic motorcycle racing, it was overshadowed by MotoGP 21 and the freshly released RiMS. However, Milestone have come back strongly with Ride 5. There are numerous improvements in the new installment which make the overall gaming experience a worthwhile one. However, one of the most notable additions would be the Qualifying feature. Ride 5 also ups its ante on graphics, rideability, and realism. With numerous Riding Aids, even beginners will have minimal trouble if they want to step into the world of motorcycle racing.

Ride 5 Review

Ride 5 is a revelry of bikes with more than 270+ motorcycles available for in-game purchase. From Ducati to Kawasaki, there are legendary bikes all around that can be unlocked, customized, and taken out for a spin. The textures, details, and graphics of each motorcycle will make you feel as if you are currently riding a real one. Additionally, each bike has different features and the Bike Setup menu provides valuable options for bikers to make various changes.

One of my favorite additional options with these bikes was the ability to Edit them as per my needs. Although Liveries and Stickers are limited, players can check out numerous options if they are concerned about aesthetics. As you delve further into this Ride 5 review, you’ll understand why the game is a safe space for motorcycle fans to get riding.

Along with the bikes, players are in for a treat with how riding around the tracks feel. The dynamic weather system makes things pretty interesting with one mistake leaving you at the back of the pack. Players can toggle between clear weather, cloudy weather, or even include rain and thunder to bring an immersive experience of real motorsport to a game. However, the game is pretty accurate on track limits with no room for errors. That means players have higher chances of crashing out of qualifying and time trials rather than actually getting through them.

Ride 5 packs numerous different modes with the likes of Endurance, Career Mode, and Custom Races being the top choices. The Career Mode is a feast of events and tracks that players will get to lap across with 20 AI-controlled players. Along with that, auto-generated rivalries with other players will make you want to push even harder and reach the top of the championship. With multiplayer to pop up soon enough, players will get the chance to bring their name to the top of the global leaderboard. And if you simply want to boast in front of your friends and beat them, Private Servers or Split Screen will be quite useful.

Rideability

Ride 5 improves massively with numerous changes made to the texture, graphics, and physics to bring realism to the game. With dynamic weather changes added to the fold, players are about to get an immersive experience around some of the famous circuits of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Whether it is the speedy corners of Monza or bumpy rides through Suzuka, players will have to go through different gameplays.

On release, the game will have 44 real and fictional tracks, each of them containing a new challenge. Weight transfer, lean angle speeds, braking, cornering, and other aspects have probably never been as important in virtual motorsport as they are now. And the pre race Bike Setups are really useful if you want some hands on customization before a race.

Game Modes

If you are a MotoGP fan, you might want to have the glamour of the motorsport with the official tracks, athletes, and maybe even your favorite teams. However, Ride 5 is nothing like that. But if you were to ask me, what Ride 5 has to offer is much more and, hopefully, you can realize the potential of the game with this review. Players can go for normal Races, Endurance mode, Career Mode, or simply play multiplayer. Personally, the Career Mode is the best one among all of those. You get a variety of tracks to go through with different types of events and tours available while collecting points and trophies to climb the top of the leaderboard.

It’s quite possible that you might not want to bark up the AI tree but the Multiplayer mode will also bring amazing challenges. Additionally, players can choose to create private servers and hold tournaments and races of their own. Since Crossplay is enabled in the game, you could have other platforms joining your race. However, one of the things that all the game modes are missing is podium celebrations and hopefully, Milestone adds this going forward. I would absolutely love to see some good emotes that I can use to brag in front of my friends.

AI & Competition

The AI competition is probably more challenging than ever before and new players should start with Very Easy settings if they want to get anything out of the races. Like Ride 4, opponents in Ride 5 are pretty aggressive and might crash into your back while overtaking. One of the most annoying parts, when that happens, is that they somehow manage to ride further instead of falling themselves. Additionally, the difficult mode for AI is on a different scale and that is one challenge that I have not been able to take up yet. Overall, the game is full of overtakes, and victory or defeat drops down to the barest of margins.

Ride 5 Verdict

Ride 5 is peak virtual motorsport and whether you are a beginner or a veteran, you are going to enjoy this ride. Testing this game for the last few days has been fun, immersive, and overall a solid experience. Whether it is the Rideability, the game modes, or the graphical experience, there aren’t many complains from my end. Since the final product will be polished a little more, it’s unlikely that players will find any problems with the game. So answering the most important question, considering that Ride 5 is a massive upgrade on Ride 4, it is definitely worth playing. Hopefully, this Ride 5 review is what you needed. Since there are numerous new games releasing, check out our Reviews section. Also, check out the 2023 Games Calendar if you want to plan which games to buy while you are here at Gamer Tweak.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Ride 5 Review – Peak Virtual Motorsport for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart PC Performance Review for more information.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart was revealed during the PlayStation 5 reveal event on June 11, 2020, and the game was released on June 11, 2021, for the PlayStation 5. It is one of the first PS5 exclusives to showcase raytracing and utilize the console’s full potential. With little to no loading screens in various game segments, it pushed the boundaries of what a next-gen game can do.

The game was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is the ninth main installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and a sequel to Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus. Rift Apart was praised for its visuals, gameplay, and humor, and it received a score of 88/100 on Metacritic. A PC port was released on July 26, 2023. Were you thinking about getting it? Read till the end for everything you need to know.

What’s New in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PC Port?

Here’s what’s new in this PC port:

• PC Optimized Graphics
  • Experience the latest performance-enhancing upscaling technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2, Intel XeSS, and Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection.
  • Unlock your framerate and enjoy the smoothest possible gameplay.
  • Enhance your image quality with NVIDIA DLSS.
• Ultra-Wide Monitor Support
  • Immerse yourself in the game with ultra-wide support for 21:9, 32:9, and 48:9 resolutions.
  • Experience the game’s vast world in all its glory.
• Ray-Traced Reflections and Shadows
  • Bring the worlds of Ratchet and Clank to life with ray-traced reflections and shadows.
  • See your surroundings’ reflections in metals, water puddles, and other surfaces.
  • Experience the shadows of buildings and objects cast in real time.
• Controls and Customization
  • Play with the DualSense controller to experience haptic feedback and dynamic trigger effects.
  • Or choose a mouse and keyboard and customize your controls to your liking.

In-game actions come to life in your hands with haptic feedback and dynamic trigger effects while playing on a wired connection, thanks to the PS5 DualSense controller. Also, the wide range of graphical choices guarantees that you will play the way that best suits your style. And as a cherry on top, you have many aspect ratios.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart PC Review

To save you time, let me tell you if the game is worth it. Yes, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a great game. It has won praise from critics for its humor, playability, and aesthetic appeal. Plus, it was acclaimed for having some of the most stunning visuals ever seen in a 3D platformer, and it started as a “next-generation” visual showcase during the PlayStation 5 reveal event. The seamless and captivating gameplay and the top-notch, humorous plot components also received acclaim.

Here are some of the things that people liked about Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart:

• The visuals: The game is breathtaking, with some of the most gorgeous visuals ever seen in a 3D platformer. The game runs smoothly at over 60 frames per second on most high-end PCs and has extraordinarily rich character models, scenery, and effects.
• The gameplay: Just as spectacular as the graphics is the gameplay. New gameplay elements in the game include the capacity to switch between several planets in the new dimension. Also, when compared to earlier Ratchet & Clank games, the fighting is more agile and exciting.
• The humor: The game’s clever language and slapstick comedy will have you giggling the entire time you play it.

As a whole, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is an excellent game that will undoubtedly delight both series regulars and newcomers alike. The PC port is the best way to enjoy this fantastic game since it has excellent graphics, apart from its cleaner gameplay (on PC with new improvements), and humor. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a 3D platformer you should check out if you like the genre. It’s a fantastic game that will keep you occupied for many hours.

Story

In Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Ratchet and Clank collaborate with Rivet and Kit, their dimensional counterparts, to stop Nefarious from destroying the multiverse. Ratchet now receives a new Dimensionator from Clank, which was supposed to enable him to traverse dimensions and track down his family. But this new Dimensionator was taken by Dr. Nefarious. Nefarious uses it to cause havoc in a separate dimension after teleporting the group there. Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and Kit must utilize the Dimensionator to stop Nefarious and preserve the entire multiverse.

They encounter several new people that aid them on their trip, such as Gary, a cosmic prophet, and other new characters, as well as the new dimensional equivalents of fan favorites Captain Qwark, Skidd, and Pierre.

This fast-moving, entertaining drama has a lot of humor and action. The voice acting is excellent, and the characters are well-developed.

Both the game and the narrative are entertaining. Fans of the series and those who appreciate 3D platformers must play it. This game has spectacular visuals, including some of the most amazing 3D platformer images ever created.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is among the greatest in the whole franchise. The fighting is exciting and fluid, and the controls are precise and responsive. The game also includes many brand-new gameplay elements, like the capacity to traverse several dimensional planets with almost no loading screen.

The sensation of speed in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s gameplay is one of its strongest features. You’ll move quickly through stages, hopping across platforms and shooting opponents as the game is always in fast-paced motion. With a large selection of weaponry (unlocked in your journey), the fight is also quite enjoyable.

Another fantastic improvement to the gameplay is the capability to move between various planets in the new dimension (it’s so good, I have to mention it once again). By doing so, you can discover new worlds, secret treasures, and challenges. There are parts of the game where you are ported across many dimensions and even encounter brand-new enemy types from various other dimensions. Each of the dimensions has a distinct ambiance and is aesthetically gorgeous.

Fans of the franchise and newbies will enjoy the fast-paced, captivating, and aesthetically spectacular gameplay in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.

Sound

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has excellent audio. The voice acting is top-notch, the sound effects are immersive, and the music is catchy and cheerful.

Mark Mothersbaugh, who also created the music for the earlier Ratchet & Clank games, composed the soundtrack for Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. The song’s symphonic and electronic composition effectively encapsulates the game’s fervor and thrill in this new age.

You will also love the new outstanding voice acting as well. Characters come to life thanks to the performers, whose energetic and personable performances make these new-gen characters more lifelike.

Even on a mid-range gaming headphone, you will notice it has immersive sound effects. Weapons firing, explosions, and beating enemies with your melee all provide beautiful sounds. Additionally, the sound effects contribute to the game’s mood.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has an outlandish sound design overall. It contributes significantly to the game’s appeal. The sound effects, voice acting, and music are all of the highest caliber, enhancing the gameplay beautifully.

Graphics

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has stunning visuals. The game’s in-house Insomniac Engine v. 4.0 technology produces some of the most graphically stunning 3D platformer visuals ever. The game operates at about 140+ fluid frames per second on high-end PCs. It features extraordinarily complex character models with hair & fur, landscapes with high draw distance, raytraced surfaces, and spectacular particle effects.

Ray tracing’s utilization in the game is exceptionally excellent. For new gamers, Ray tracing is a technique that can produce almost photorealistic graphics by simulating how light interacts in the actual environment. Ray tracing creates realistic reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

The locations in the game are also quite intricate. Every location, from the lush Sargasso woodlands to the futuristic neon-lit alleys of Nefarious City, is rich in detail. These new worlds are also teeming with life. Big animals, smaller sentient species, wandering robots, and other enemy types exist in many of them.

The character designs in the game are also excellent. The movements of Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and Kit are smooth and lifelike, and each character is highly detailed. The opponents in the game are likewise attractively made, and their voice lines appear straight from a comic book. All these elements make this one of the best platformers a PlayStation Studio ever produced.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has excellent visuals throughout. The game is a sensory feast, and the graphics significantly affect how pleasant it is. Even the pickiest gamers will be blown away.

Here are some aspects of Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart’s visuals that I found appealing:

1. Ray tracing is effectively used throughout the environment.
2. All the levels in the game are highly intricate.
3. Top-notch character models with fabulous fur, thanks to DLSS frame generation.
4. On most high-end PCs, the game plays well at over 144 frames per second.

An NVIDIA RTX card is now essential for connecting these. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart looks better than ever, thanks to Ray Tracing, the new DLSS 3, and other technological marvels.

PC Performance & DLSS 3

New Deep Learning Super Sampling technology from Nvidia called DLSS 3 is intended to boost gaming performance and visual quality. In DLSS 3 (to put it in simpler terms), lower-quality pictures are upscaled to higher resolution using AI, producing smoother framerates and crisper graphics.

One of the numerous new games that support DLSS 3 on the PC is Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. The game looks fantastic on PC, but DLSS 3 ups the ante. The visuals are much clearer, and during my testing on RTX 4080, the game touches 180 frames per second with DLSS 3 enabled.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart has four distinct DLSS 3 settings: Quality, Balanced, Performance, and Ultra Performance. The Ultra Performance level offers the highest performance, while the Quality setting offers the finest visual quality. A reasonable compromise between image quality and performance may be found between the Balanced and Performance settings.

On my review unit Alienware laptop and my computer with an RTX 4080 graphics card, as mentioned, I tried DLSS 3 on them. The game played at a smooth 80+ to 120+ frames per second at 4K resolution and a whooping 180+ FPS in 1440p with the Quality option while DLSS 3 was enabled. Compared to DLSS 2.0, the generated frames’ image quality was much better, and no artifacts were visible to the eyes of a regular player (unless you are looking for them like me).

I also put DLSS 3’s Performance and Balanced settings to the test. The game played smoothly at 144+ frames per second at 4K resolution while using the Balanced option, and the visual quality was exceptional. The game played smoothly at 200+ frames per second at 1440p resolution when the Performance level was used, even in heavy fight scenes. The visual quality was still respectable.

All around, DLSS 3 in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart impressed me. It offers a sizable speed gain and a perceptible image quality enhancement.

The advantages of DLSS 3 in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart are as follows:

1. Increased performance: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s performance can be seriously improved using DLSS 3, enabling you to play the game at higher resolutions and framerates.
2. Improved image quality: DLSS 3 can further enhance the visual quality of Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, giving the game a better, more detailed appearance.
3. Less obvious artifacts: DLSS 3 creates less obvious artifacts than earlier DLSS iterations.

Here are some of the drawbacks of using DLSS 3 in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart:

1. Not all cards support DLSS 3. Especially if you go back a generation.
   • DLSS 3 only works with NVIDIA’s 4000-series RTX graphics cards.
2. DLSS 3 may introduce some minor visual artifacts which are being fixed by the devs in recent patches.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart gains a lot with the addition of DLSS 3. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s DLSS 3 should be enabled if you have an RTX graphics card.

Options in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

A prominent game changer in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is the various upscaling technologies the devs managed to add to the port. You can switch between the different upscaling algorithms to suit your needs. They include Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection, NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2, ad Intel XeSS.

Compared to Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection (the default on the PS5), some upscaling methods enable you to play the game at a higher resolution than the PS5 version. For example, DLSS 3 was the best choice for me here. Tinkering with various values of DLSS 3 and other NVIDIA settings produced a sharper image with fewer overall jagged pixels. You will surely notice these differences when you are seated near your display.

I picked DLSS 3 over others mainly because it supported the game’s ray-traced reflections and exterior shadows. Talking about the raytracing, both my test units, an Alienware x16 (review coming up soon) and my main rig with an RTX 4080, were able to create reflections far better than the ones in PS5.

All the objects were reproduced in raytracing must clearly and were not blurry as in the PS5 version. Apart from raytracing, DLSS 3 always came on top among all the upscaling options. It performed better in high-action scenes with action-packed, particle effects were crisp, and even hair & fur on the characters were much more detailed.

If you plan to use the raytracing set to high, AMD FSR 2 lacks the capabilities of other algorithms. Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection and Intel XeSS were to perform well in high RT options. And as PlayStation games are known to use the checkerboard rendering technique, carried to the Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart if you opt for a high RT setting. And as DLSS 3 and checkerboarding run on different principles, you will find a slight mismatch in the reflected visuals. Apart from this, DLSS 3 is the best one to select among all the options.

DLSS 3 also works wonders on ray-traced shadows, which is lacking in the PS5 version of the game. But there is an issue with the game. Ray-traced shadows do not work on moving objects. This means when you look at the trees and plants moving with the wind, the RT shadows don’t reflect this. This is due to an issue at the game dev’s end rather than your GPU. We hope this will be fixed in a patch in the future.

You might first notice the hair quality when playing on a 4K monitor. The hair quality on PS5 is comparable to the medium hair quality option on PC. From here, the detailing goes up.

But the game still feels not polished yet by the developers considering the artifact issues and antialiasing glitches you see when DLSS Frame Generation is turned on. Considering how well Insomniac managed to implement RT & DLSS into their previous PC ports, like Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which Nixxes Software, Ratchet & Clank also ported: Rift Apart feels like it needed a bit more time to utilize the full potential of a new RTX card.

This lack of polishing by Nixxes Software was evident in the game during the launch day. Thankfully, most of the bugs & graphical instabilities were fixed in newer patches. But Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart feels like a game that missed an opportunity here to fulfill the eye candy dreams of a high-end PC user.

The game is not flawed in any way at all. It is just this port missed the mark by a bit. A few more months in the ‘port’ cycle might have done it justice. But as of now, we can only hope for further patches from devs to improve the game’s graphical fidelity.

NVIDIA Reflex: Make Your Gameplay More Responsive

Yes, DLSS 3 is exclusive to 4000-series RTX cards. But for older GPU users, something magical is also in store here. NVIDIA Reflex may be activated in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart by users of GeForce GTX 900 Series graphics cards and newer. NVIDIA Reflex can cut system latency by up to 48% once turned on. This implies that every gaming action will happen more quickly, providing you an advantage in multiplayer games and enhancing single-player games.

With the help of the NVIDIA Reflex technology, your gaming experience will be more responsive. This will enable you to successfully execute difficult leaps, evade opponent assaults, and generally improve your game experience.

Open the NVIDIA Control Panel and select Manage 3D Settings > Programme Settings to turn on NVIDIA Reflex. Pick Ratchet and Clank: Rift. Activate the NVIDIA Reflex option after removing it from the list of programs.

The system latency should significantly decrease if NVIDIA Reflex is activated. Using the NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer, you may gauge the reduction in latency. The following are some advantages of using NVIDIA Reflex:

• Improved response times: NVIDIA Reflex can help you respond to game events more quickly, providing an advantage.
• Playing more fluidly is possible thanks to NVIDIA Reflex, which helps lessen input latency and increase responsiveness.
• Accuracy is increased thanks to NVIDIA Reflex, which makes hitting targets simpler.
• NVIDIA Reflex is a fantastic choice to enhance your gaming experience.

All GeForce GTX 900 Series graphics cards and newer users are eligible to use this technology for free. So give it a shot and see how it can improve the responsiveness of your games.

NVIDIA RTX IO GPU Accelerated Storage Technology

New GPU-accelerated storage technology called NVIDIA RTX IO is used in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This revolutionary function speeds up the loading of assets, facilitating Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s fluid portal-jumping action. This aids in quickly loading all the worlds you see during the dimension-hopping scenes if you have watched the game’s trailer.

Verdict

Fans of the franchise or anybody who appreciates a decent platformer must download Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a graphically spectacular and entertaining action-adventure game. The game has excellent aesthetics, many tools and weaponry, and hectic and captivating gameplay.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s strong PC port supports various resolutions and frame rates. The game also has multiple extra features, such as DLSS 3 and support for DualSense controllers.

Visually gorgeous game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart gains a lot from DLSS 3. With DLSS, the game’s vivid colors and intricate settings come to life, and the performance improvement is substantial. With DLSS turned on, you can achieve a smooth framerate even with less powerful hardware.

Along with the graphical upgrades, DLSS also lessens input lag, improving the game’s responsiveness. This helps immensely in quick-paced action scenes.

DLSS is a need if you wish to play Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on a PC. The game looks and feels better, thanks to the free performance improvement.

The pros and cons of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC are as follows:

• Pros:
  • With DLSS enabled, stunning visuals
  • Significantly improved performance
  • Minimizes input latency
  • Similar options for customization, like Spider-Man ports
  • Support for DualSense controllers
• Cons:
  • A few graphics issues
  • It needs a new gen GPU to operate at high settings.

In conclusion, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an excellent PC version with considerable advantages from DLSS 3. If you enjoy platformers or are just looking for a visually impressive action-adventure game, you should check it out. DLSS 3 is a fantastic addition to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, in my opinion. It improves the game’s appearance, feel, and performance without a cost. Anyone who likes action-adventure games or graphically amazing games should play this one. I suggest giving this game a try if you have an RTX card and if you’re still thinking about purchasing this game.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart PC Performance Review for more information.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Payday 3 Closed Beta – First Impressions for more information.

Payday 3 is releasing on September 21, 2023, and we recently got to explore and experience its closed beta. If you’re planning on getting the game and want to know more about what you can expect, here are our thoughts and first impressions of the next installment of a hit franchise.

Payday 3 Closed Beta First Impressions

Right off the bat, Payday 3 is a wonderful co-op game made especially fun when everyone involved plays it the way it’s meant to be played – by filling their roles to pull off a perfectly planned heist. Payday 3 takes place after the ending of Payday 2 where the heisters went separate ways and left their lives of crime, but something re-motivates the Payday Gang to continue the life of crime. We were happy to see that the original crew of characters Dallas, Chains, Wolf, and Hoxton, are all here. The new location of New York City is a great change from Washington D.C. in Payday 2. New York City’s narrow alleyways and busy streets with traffic made the game environment even more dynamic.

Since Payday 3 runs on Unreal Engine 4, compared to previous installments which used Diesel engine, the graphics look amazing. Hi-res textures, mask materials, smoke effects, and ragdoll physics, all look great because of the new engine. Gameplay-wise, we enjoyed playing the same iconic formula as Payday 2 but felt that 3 refines that, adding more depth to the crimes with game-changing differences like more advanced surveillance, security guards, aggressive cops, etc.

We got to play the Closed Beta with one heist Secure Capital Bank. Based on our experience, we would suggest the Bots’ AI is made smarter if possible. As of now, they simply follow you around the entire heist. Of course, the Bots were useful in gun fights since they are always around you – they will protect you from cops while you carry out your task to complete the objective. Surprisingly, the bot teammates are pretty decent shooters and will always come to revive you when you get knocked down.

Heists

Payday 3 has challenging heists and objectives. Pulling off a perfect heist will require careful planning, coordination, communication, and skills. Every heist can be done in stealth by carefully observing and understanding the environment and then making your moves – which was great. Heists get more challenging when increased in difficulty. We loved that on higher difficulty there are more security guards, surveillance cams are indestructible and cops are even more aggressive and accurate.

Pulling off a heist with perfect precision stealth without alerting anyone feels rewarding. But if things go south, there is always room for some bullets to let loose.

Cash secured from successful heists can be used to buy cosmetics like masks, suits, paints, gun skins, etc. Or you can also convert cash into C-stack. C-stacks are encrypted currency inside CRIME.NET. Once exchanged, C-stack cannot be converted back into cash. C-stack can be used to buy more exclusive weapons and cosmetics.

As of now in the closed beta, there was not much to buy with C-stack. Character and gun customizations are plenty, ranging from mask varieties to gun skins and attachments. All Cosmetics, Guns, and Paint jobs can be purchased with in-game currency gained during the heist. More cosmetics, guns, and other gadgets are unlocked as you level up such as the type of armor, gun attachments like sights, grips, barrels, etc.

Graphics & Sound

Graphics-wise the game is a big step up from Payday 2. Unreal Engine 4 really shines in recreating an amazing New York environment, character models, guns, and other textures and effects. With stunning visuals, the game is backed up by excellent sound design. Firing Rifle rings out across New York streets sounds great and the muffled sound of a silenced pistol feels as good as other stealth games.

Based on the Closed Beta we played, Payday 3 is a great game to play with friends. The game rewards you smartly and handsomely after pulling a stealthy approach to bank robbery. Avoiding armed conflicts, most heists allow for a skilled crew to ace them without the cops ever getting involved. Built and improved on the previous installments, Payday 3 looks like a big step up on the graphical side. Waiting to see what other mission structures we get to see when the game is fully released. We’re looking forward to the next beta and final launch!

Check out more Gamer Tweak reviews right here.

Source: Gamer Tweak. Visit Payday 3 Closed Beta – First Impressions for more information.