VGamingBargains: Nintendo Switch June 2021
I know what you’re going to say VGamingBargains fans – where in the world was the May Edition?! Well, we’re not going to lie to you all – May was a very busy month for us in the VGaming offices, what with the world opening back up and some huge releases hitting our desks, so we needed you to fend for yourselves last month! But we haven’t forgotten you, Bargain Hunters! We’re back with another list full of fantastic games for less than the price of a decent pizza.
As always, the games are split into three levels, based around their price points:
Level 1 – games in Level 1 cost between £7.50 and £10.00 and tend to be the larger titles available in our price range – they’ll take most of your budget here but offer the most full-game experience for a small amount of money
Level 2 – costing between £3.50 and £7.49, games at level 2 give you a little more flexibility on how to spend your money but might be a little shorter or perhaps a little older than games in the top level
Level 3 – rounding out the list are our cheapest games, from those that are absolutely free up to a cost of £3.49. These games tend to be made by independent developers and are often a shorter experience, but make no mistake – while they might only be a few hours long, the games in Level 3 still offer a lot of enjoyment – even better, you can mix-and-match a few for your money
VGamingBargains is a monthly feature, published near the start of each month to highlight a few good deals available on the eShop soon after each pay day. Keep an eye out for future editions and we’ll do our best to put you onto a couple of great games that won’t break the bank!
| Level | Title | Cost | On Sale Until |
| Level 1 | Okami HD | £7.99 | 14/06/21 |
| Fury Unleashed | £8.99 | 16/06/21 | |
| Level 2 | Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas | £5.39 | 24/06/21 |
| Tools Up | £3.59 | 27/06/21 | |
| A Short Hike | £4.71 | 14/06/21 | |
| Lair of the Clockwork God | £4.74 | 04/07/21 | |
| Level 3 | Planet Alpha | £3.19 | 17/06/21 |
| Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King | £3.37 | 24/06/21 | |
| HyperParasite | £1.86 | 20/06/21 | |
| Feudal Alloy | £2.69 | 26/06/21 | |
| Ibb & Obb | £2.69 | 16/06/21 |
Level 1
The jewel in the crown of this month’s list is the incredible Zelda-like Okami HD. Originally released for the PS2 way back in 2016, the already stunning Okami has since received a HD facelift and remains an absolutely must-play game for fans of hack and slash, action adventures. Set in the times of ancient Japan, the story is deeply bedded in Japanese folklore and sees you play the role of Amaterasu, the wolf-bodied incarnation of the sun goddess who has to overcome the forces of evil and bring safety back to the island. Depicted in a jaw-dropping wood block and watercolour style that mimics traditional Japanese artwork, you’ll find yourself gawping at the visuals almost as much as you enjoy the story and gameplay. Despite being critically acclaimed, I still call Okami HD an underrated gem, and believe it might be the greatest Zelda game never made by Nintendo.
Fury Unleashed is a rogue-lite platform shooter that sees you battle through the dangerous world of a living comic book! The story is an interesting one and sees you not only take on Fury’s battles between the pages, but see the toil of the artist creating the comics themselves – you have to keep winning with Fury to keep the writing coming! It’s a fantastic premise that sees you blast and slash your way through randomly generated levels, working from the top-left frame to the bottom right of the page before facing off with a fearsome boss, before moving on to the next comic book world in the collection. Collect ink to spend on upgrades and weapons, and with all of customisation available, you’ll get a unique experience every time – and taking an average of 30 hours to 100%, you’ll get plenty of playtime for your pennies here.
Level 2
Another Zelda-like makes the list now, with Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas sailing onto the list for just over a fiver. You play as a young boy on a journey to find his missing father and destroy the titular monster, Oceanhorn. It’s a fun seafaring adventure with a fun art style and a nice soundtrack featuring the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, and comes with all the gadgets and quests you’d expect and a few RPG elements too. A sequel was released in October 2020 as well, so this purchase might give players a whole new series to explore.
Another game following the recent trend of turning mundane activities into multiplayer mayhem is Tools Up!, where players must work together to renovate homes against a time limit. Very much in the vein of the incredible Overcooked, this four player couch co-op will have you laughing and screaming at your friends in equal measure as you move furniture, lay flooring and paint the walls, while trying to overcome one-another’s incompetence! There’s a few hours of fun on offer here for only a couple of quid, but it’s definitely one for households where a few gamers can get together – if you’re on the unpainted fence, there is a demo that you can try out too.
A Short Hike might be the most adorable little adventure that you’ve never heard of, where you spend a few hours climbing up the mountainside and helping people you might meet along the way. Very much a peaceful, ‘take it at your own pace’ experience, this one is short indeed, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a game more well loved by it’s fans – try it out! Rounding out Level 2 is the incredibly quirky Lair of the Clockwork God that ambitiously merges the point-and-click and platform genres in one game! Switch between friends Ben and Dan as they work together to try to avert disaster and stop the Apocalypse, in a mix of puzzle and platforming that’s truly unique.
Level 3
Tense spacefaring platformer Planet Alpha headlines the Level 3 tier, offering a stunning and atmospheric experience that far outshines it’s megre price tag. Marooned on an alien world, you must use your ability to alter the night and day cycle of the planet to avoid the hostile natives and solve tricky puzzles in order to escape. This one isn’t so much about the challenge as the experience, with music and visuals driving the storytelling, but with the absolutely stunning landscapes and creatures depicted in the game – Planet Alpha is memorable indeed for just a few shiny pound coins.
This month is brimming with Zelda-likes on sale, and we have Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King in the lowest price tier. Play as Lily, Knight of the Rose, and battle your way through all manner of dungeons and baddies in a multi-generational story that sees you influence how the tale is passed down from grandfather to grandchildren. It’s got some cute, traditional pixel visuals, a big map and some enjoyable dungeons in a package that’s bound to appeal to old-school action-adventure fans.
Feudal Alloy is a quirky Steampunk Metroidvania where you play as a goldfish-controlled robot (!) who has to find his way back home after raiders attacked his village. Cool hand drawn visuals and a touch of strategy make it a nice addition to the collection for about the price of a Big Mac. There’s also twin-stick bullet hell HyperParasite for less than two pounds, where you play as an alien body snatcher who must control a host of human characters on your way to bringing down humanity itself! Ibb & Obb rounds out this month’s list, and is entirely different to anything else we’ve suggested so far. A stylised two-player indie platformer where the gravity works both up and down, and set to a beautiful warm melodic electronica soundtrack, you’ll need to use teamwork to overcome puzzles and progress.
*Game requires Online membership to play online
The recommendations made in this article do not come from any paid promotion and are solely influenced by our enjoyment of the games highlighted and their perceived value for money
Prices accurate at the time of publication
Average play times are sourced from HowLongToBeat
GIVEAWAY: Save Me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition
We’re back with another competition and this time we’re offering two lucky winners the opportunity of winning a digital copy of the brilliant Save Me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition.
One code will be the Steam version, the other will be for the Nintendo Switch.
For the Switch version, we will ask if you have a UK/EU or North American account. We’re unable to offer any other regions at this time.
You can read our full review of the game here – Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition!
Entries and full T&Cs are below:
Resident Evil – Top VIII Characters
With the month of May drawing to a close, it’s time to reveal the final entry in our Resident Evil roundtable feature, where we celebrate everything that makes the series so dear to us, and to gamers all around the globe.
Resident Evil wouldn’t have had close to the same success without a great cast of characters that players could really connect with, and we’ve been treated to some great ones over the past 25 years. And so, without further ado, we’ve collated the official, not to be argued with, absolutely 100% accurate list of the Top VIII Characters in Resident Evil franchise history. Thank you to everyone who’s read and interacted with these columns the past few weeks – we’ve had an absolute blast putting them together!
VIII. James Marcus (First appearance: Resident Evil Zero – 2002)
“Obedience breeds discipline. Discipline breeds unity. Unity breeds power. Power is life.” This is the Umbrella Inc.company motto that James Marcus blares out in Resident Evil Zero, and it tells you a lot about drive and single-mindedness that sums up Marcus as a character. He is one of the founding members of the Umbrella Corporation and is ultimately responsible for all of the horrors they unleashed on the world, especially considering he educated both William Birkin and Albert Wesker. While he was ousted from the company long before any of the games take place, Marcus and his various experiments are brought to light during the events of Resident Evil Zero, where his own DNA is mixed with the T-Virus and a healthy dose of leeches that combine into a horrific and memorable final boss. The grandfather of Umbrella Inc., we have to give a nod to the man who started it all.
VII. William Birkin (First appearance: Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Capcom has a long running theme of idealistic scientists becoming too ambitious with their plans for the T-Virus and failing miserably. William Birkin was the first such scientist, appearing first in Resident Evil 2 as the man responsible for developing the G-Virus. Once Capcom retconned the backstory in the Resident Evil remake, Birkin was tasked with working at the Arklay Laboratory after Marcus’ presumed death, leading to he and Wesker conducting experiments on Lisa Trevor. When Wesker left to infiltrate S.T.A.R.S, Birkin took his experiments of the G-Virus one step too far, ultimately becoming one of the Tyrants you have to face off against. While not the most significant boss, Birkin is certainly an interesting character; always seeking perfection for the Golgotha virus, going so far as to even test on children, much to the outrage of Umbrella. Yes, apparently Umbrella had limits.
VI. Claire Redfield (First appearance: Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Just because Claire Redfield is lower down on the list it’s not to say that she’s an insignificant character. Oh no. To begin with, Claire isn’t part of some huge task force whose job it is to investigate Umbrella – sure, she can shoot and take out hordes of the undead, but this is the result of her being forced into those situations. What makes Claire Redfield unique on this list are the stories that she’s a part of. She came to Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2 to look for her brother Chris; things went south along the way and she had to survive, but rather than care for herself, she never wavered in her mission of finding her brother. She brings a decidedly more human value to the series – more so than most people on this list. While others might be concerned about saving the world, Claire is content in helping those close to her. This is evident in later games too, whether it’s finding Chris in Code Veronica X, or keeping Barry’s children safe in Resident Evil Revelations 2. She is the true mother figure of the series and we love her for it.
V. Merchant (First appearance: Resident Evil 4 – 2005)
How can a non-playable character who appears in only one entry of the franchise possibly crack the Top VIII Characters list, you ask? Quite simply, the Merchant from Resident Evil 4 makes such an impression in the short time you’re exposed to him that he made himself absolutely impossible to leave off the list. As the first entry in the franchise to use a shop and upgrade system, the Merchant quickly becomes a friend to the player, offering both respite from the Ganado and the opportunity to bolster your arsenal with some extra firepower. Not much is known about the Merchant, but you’ve got to respect a man who’s out there hustling for a few extra pesetas in a village filled with mutated nutcases! What absolutely cemented his inclusion on the list was his voice acting, with the lines “Whaddya buyin’?” and “Whaddya sellin’?” seeing the Merchant breakout as a global meme. We reached out to the Merchant to congratulate him on making this list and his response was simply, “Heh heh heh… Thank you!” What a guy.
IV. Leon S. Kennedy (First appearance: Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Any man who tells you his middle initial when he introduces himself has got something about him, and Leon S. Kennedy is no different. First introduced to us in Resident Evil 2, we meet Leon on his first day as a member of the Raccoon City Police Department, where he’s met with a ruined city filled with the undead. He cemented himself as a fan favourite when he reappeared in Resident Evil 4, having been sent to a rural Spanish village as a lone operative in order to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter, Ashley. Armed with a much extended script that showed off his feisty character and with allusions to a murky history in the special forces, Leon is upgraded from a stereotypical golden boy into a well-rounded character who steals the show.
III. Jill Valentine (First appearance: Resident Evil – 1996)
The original and best heroine from the series, Jill Valentine, picks the lock of our list and lets herself in at number 3. Making her debut in the very first game, Jill has been a favourite from the very start – not least because she offers plenty of gameplay benefits over Chris in the original Resident Evil, like the lockpick and access to the grenade launcher. But it’s her level-headed approach, good heart and playful manner that shines through and really endeared her to the fanbase. Jill is also the first recurring playable character in the franchise, returning to battle her way across Raccoon CIty in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, successfully fighting off the freak with the rocket launcher before taking a well earned hiatus from the carnage. In a bit of shock, she pops up as a reluctant villain in Resident Evil 5, but we can’t hold that against her – Jill’s always been one of the good guys, and it was a very cool moment to see her make her reappearance. Last but not least, she gets bonus points for having the bravery to wear a beret to work – you can’t hate on a girl with that kind of confidence.
II. Albert Wesker (First appearance: Resident Evil – 1996)
Arguably one of the greatest videogame antagonists of all time, the blonde baddie himself, Albert Wesker, swaggers onto the stage in the runner-up spot. We should have known from his ‘too cool for school’ look in the original Resident Evil that something wasn’t right about Wesker, but our tender young minds were looking elsewhere for the villain and the double-cross-reveal came as a massive surprise on the first play through. Wesker is the ultimate do-it-all bad guy – having worked as a lead scientist on the T-Virus before officially leaving Umbrella Inc. to work as a covert operative, leading to his infiltration of the S.T.A.R.S team. Presumed dead after the Spencer Mansion explosion, Wesker pops up in various files and photographs that weave him into the fabric of Umbrella Inc. and the lore of the series as a whole, before becoming a much more apparent B.O.W. threat in Resident Evil Zero and 4. His deep backstory and nefarious tactics build a complicated love-hate relationship between Wesker and the players, and we were equally elated and saddened when he met his Terminator 2-inspired ending in that volcano in Resident Evil 5.
I. Barry Burton (First appearance: Resident Evil – 1996)
“Barry… Where is Barry?”
For us, the top ranked character could not be anyone but Barry Burton. Jill’s sidekick has been a favourite of ours since we first discovered Resident Evil, and gloriously wooden lines like “It might be handy if you, the Master of Unlocking, take it with you”, will forever be etched in our memories. But underneath the shoddy voice work lies a complicated and tormented character that totally contrasts his hulking frame and oafish exterior. Through the events of Resident Evil it’s revealed that Barry is being coerced into helping Wesker bring down S.T.A.R.S and cover up the outbreak at Umbrella’s Spencer Mansion. We’re not sure why Burton didn’t just press that massive hand cannon between Wesker’s eyes and pull the trigger, but who are we to question the logic of our man Barry B? While he appears at various points in the series, it wasn’t until Resident Evil Revelations 2 that Barry was handed a full-blown story and players finally got the chance to shoot that oversized magnum, and what a moment it was! As a man who has proven time and again that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his family safe, Barry Burton can give himself a pat on the back knowing he’s the number one Resident Evil character of all time, at least in our humble opinion.
Honourable Mentions:
- Tofu (First appearance: Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Unlocked after completing Resident Evil 2 on the hardest difficulty setting, Tofu is infamous for being, well, a giant block of tofu. We’re not sure whether it’s true or not but he was supposedly created to test the game’s hit detection, and somehow squirmed his way into a bonus playable mode. Ultimately what we have here is a human sized block of coagulated soy milk and bean curd goodness, wearing a RCPD hat and wielding an AK-47. That’s totally enough explanation for us and we absolutely love it.
- Hunk (First appearance: Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Another unlockable character from Resident Evil 2, Hunk, for us, is one of the most intriguing characters in the entire franchise. Sent by Umbrella to retrieve the G-Virus sample from the chaos of Raccoon City, it’s the first time we learn of the lengths that the company would go to in order to protect their assets. The idea of Umbrella having their own special forces was incredibly cool when Resident Evil 2 was released and Capcom allowing you to play a bonus mission as Hunk opened up a realm of possibilities for side missions and storylines for years to come.
- Chris Redfield (Resident Evil – 1996)
We know we’re going to catch some flak for having Chris Redfield relegated to the Honourable Mentions list, but the list is just too crowded to fit everyone up there. Chris is one of the OG’s – making his debut in Resident Evil, his scenario is the more challenging of the between he and Jill. Much like Leon, Chris’ popularity really caught fire at the second bite of the cherry; he became a full blown badass in Resident Evil 5 and gained a lot of shine by virtue of Sheva being so thoroughly maligned by the fanbase. Sporting some sizable biceps and squeezed into a schmedium sized shirt, Chris has to make this list for the boulder punch at the end of Resident Evil 5 if absolutely nothing else.
- Rebecca/Billy (First appearance: Resident Evil Zero – 2002)
On their own, Rebecca and Billy wouldn’t have scratched the list at all. Rebecca is brutally undervalued outside of Resident Evil Zero, sitting firmly in the “Chris needs a medic” camp throughout the series and Billy has been missing since the train incident in RE0. However, together we felt they needed at least an honourable mention. They are the only characters in the series to be controlled simultaneously. Their dynamic growns from prisoner & medic to two people looking out for each other culminating in Rebecca covering up Billy’s survival. It’s a shame Capcom hasn’t explored the duality system in more detail, nor followed up on Billy’s story.
- Richard Aiken (Resident Evil – 1996)
Stumbling upon the heavily wounded Richard Aiken in one of the corridors of the Spencer Mansion is a stand out moment in the original Resident Evil. He’s the first living member that you encounter from Bravo Team, making you think that the mission wasn’t entirely lost, despite the mansion being overrun with zombies.His character model is one of the more graphic in the game, and really makes you wonder at what could possibly have done so much damage. As with every character from the original game, his script is ropey and his voice acting not much better, but his mention of the “terrible demons” in the house was a very memorable moment.
Feel like we missed somebody, or not happy at where your favourite character was ranked? Let us know in the comments section here or on our socials!
Resident Evil – Top VIII Ridiculous Moments
The month of May marches on and the team at VGamingNews are continuing our look back at the Resident Evil franchise and discussing what makes it one of the best, and most popular, series in gaming. While the series prides itself on scares and gruesome monsters, we can’t ignore the franchise’s B-Movie roots and some of the silliness that we’ve been treated to throughout the years. So below are our rankings of the Top VIII Most Ridiculous Moments in the Resident Evil franchise; some simply raised an eyebrow while others literally had us laughing out loud, but they certainly helped make Resident Evil what it is today. Let us know your favourite ridiculous memories from the series in the comments!
VIII. Chris Punching Boulders (Resident Evil 5 – 2009)
When we started Resident Evil 5, we immediately noticed that Chris had decided to hit the gym and get ripped. Those big beefy arms were certainly out of place compared to his usual appearance, but it was convenient that steroid-induced Redfield had been juicing when it came to the climax of the game. The stage was set for Chris to finally face off against series stalwart Albert Wesker, in a volcano no less. Why no one is questioning how a normal human is withstanding temperatures that would evaporate skin is beyond us, but as the battle progresses, a boulder the size of a large bus gets in Chris’ way. Not wanting to waste any time, he decides to punch his way through. No guns, no grenades, just pure brute force. We don’t know if it was the ‘roids doing the business but Chris certainly got it done, and now “Press X to punch” is one of the most iconic memes, not only in the series, but the whole of videogame history. In later games, this ridiculous feat gets brought up and is still as funny today as it ever was. Thank you Capcom.
VII. Derek the Dinosaur (Resident Evil 6 – 2012)
Before Capcom’s rethink of the entire series, Resident Evil 6 happened. It threw everything at the players, including a copy of Jurassic Park on DVD. While we could have easily made a Top VIII out of this game alone (flying a helicarrier, really?), the part of the game that takes it too far, even for a Resident Evil game, is Derek Simmons. The antagonist has a few different forms throughout the game, each sillier than the last but what makes no sense is his transformation into a dinosaur. The series has seen the DNA of various creatures being spliced with whatever virus Umbrella has cooked up; snakes, sharks, and spiders have all been genetically altered. In fairness, these can actually be found in the wild but the transformation of Simmons into a freaky T-Rex-type monster left us scratching our heads. Did someone find usable dino DNA? Has Umbrella invented time travel? The best theory we can come up with is that two Umbrella scientists, Susan and Gary, had an argument over the plausibility of Jurassic Park during a heavy sesh. Susan decided to take matters into her own hands and a few weeks later she certainly proved Gary wrong.
VI. Gone Fishin’ (Resident Evil 4 – 2005)
We’re showing our age with this one, but back in secondary school, before the internet really took off, daft rumours around video games circulated via magazines and word-of-mouth. The ones like being able to catch Mew in Pokémon Red if you traded two Mewtwos and pulled the link cable out half way through the trade – outrageous stuff, but with no-one able to confirm or deny, these things spread like wildfire. One such rumour was a simple one to do with Resident Evil 4 – don’t go fishing or something bad will happen. It seemed harmless enough at the time, but unlike the Mew trick, this one was real, and for later rereleases built into the trophy/achievement lists. When you take Leon to the lake, head out onto the dock and start shooting at the fish nearby, Del Lago, the huge Salamander boss will want to have a word with you. With his teeth. It’s a silly and somewhat frightening experience but after the shock, we couldn’t help but laugh at this ridiculous Easter Egg.
V. Neptune (Resident Evil – 1996)
We had to suspend belief a few times in the original Resident Evil, but you could find some twisted logic in there if you looked hard enough. But all that logic goes right out of the window as you clamber down a ladder (hidden behind a couple of bookcases in a random bedroom no less), and discover a broken 750,000 litre aquarium and a few angry sharks swimming around in a basement lab. I genuinely have a multitude of questions… Who exactly is buying genetically modified-shark weapons? Who approved building a lab under a guys bed? How do Umbrella plan on getting the sharks out of that lab? And who had to pay the water bill after filling that tank up?
IV. Tofu (Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Unlockable characters and outfits come as a badge of honour for players, especially when a game makes it particularly tough to access them – and because they’re tough to get, you’re almost certainly offered a very cool character as a reward for all your hard work. That isn’t really the case with Resident Evil 2 though, where designers took the decision to program in an entire scenario where you play as a giant block of tofu with arms and feet as the very last reward in the game. You might argue that Tofu shouldn’t make the list as he’s only available in a bonus scenario and certainly not canon, but we’re not having it – what is a list of ridiculous Resident Evil moments without mentioning the sentient block of bean curd running through RPD Station?
III. Accessing the Secret Lab (Resident Evil – 1996)
With industrial espionage becoming more advanced than ever before, companies are going to greater lengths to keep their secrets safe, but no-one comes close to how far Umbrella Inc. went to hide their secret lab beneath the Spencer Mansion in Resident Evil. Thinking about it now, how exactly did anyone get any work done, when it must have taken the best part of an hour just to get to your work station in the morning. Get the Eagle Medal from the book, get the Wold Medal from the caves, plug them into the fountain, wait for the water to drain and ask Kevin the intern to put the medals back for you while you take the elevator down to the lab. I find it a hassle having to bring an ID card to work with me, and I struggle to remember my IT passwords most days – there’s no way I’d hack working in the Arklay Facility for more than a week with all that faff required.
II. Live Action (Resident Evil – 1996 / Resident Evil Movies)
To this day we can’t fathom why Capcom took the approach of using actors to chew the sets of a faux forest, trying to escape from a zombie puppet dog, but we’re glad they did.. Jill awkwardly runs through the field like, well, a videogame character, Wesker can’t leave his perfect hair alone and Chris looks like a sweaty mess despite everyone else looking rather kempt. It’s ridiculously hilarious and the uncut version is even better with gratuitous amounts of blood splashing across the screen in full colour. It’s an opening that’s completely disjointed from the rest of the series and definitely daft, but we can’t help but love the amount of ham presented. If this wasn’t proof enough that live action and Resident Evil don’t go hand in hand, the early noughties big screen adaptations certainly reaffirmed this notion. The movies might share the same name and characters, but across the span of six big budget adaptations, the look and feel of a B-Movie was never far away. They are awful, yet somehow rather watchable, in a ‘rubbernecking at a car crash’ kind of way. Maybe we’re being too harsh. Or maybe Paul WS Anderson only saw the opening five minutes of the first game and said “I’ve seen enough, I’ll take it from here”.
I. Voice Acting (Resident Evil – 1996)
Unable to pick just one line for the top spot, we agreed to give the crown of ‘Most Ridiculous Moment’ to the entire voice cast in the original Resident Evil. Adding voice acting to videogames was such a double-edged sword in the 90s. On one hand it offered the chance at immersion and storytelling like never before, but you also had to contend with strained budgets, dubious translations and a very limited pool of actors willing to work on a game. All of these factors culminated in a perfect storm and led to some spectacularly hammy lines that have since worked themselves into the very fabric of videogame lore. The bad script and awful actors worked hand-in-hand to deliver us such golden moments as the terribly wooden, “I hope this is not Chris’ blood”, the overly specific “It might be handy if you, the Master of Unlocking, take it with you”, and of course, the shining star atop the trash heap, “That was too close! You were almost a Jill sandwich!” The entire game is littered with dodgy dialogue, and truly, it’s that B-Movie charm that helped launch the franchise into the hearts of so many players around the globe. Put a smile on your face today by checking out the supercut that brings all of the ridiculousness together under one roof.
Resident Evil – The Top VIII Moments
Still celebrating the release of Resident Evil Village, the VGamingNews team continue our look back at past entries in the series and discuss what makes the series so successful. Below are our rankings of the Top VIII Moments in the Resident Evil franchise; whether memorable for breaking tradition or simply being incredibly fun to play through, these stood out to us as the coolest moments in the series. Spanning 15 years, there’s countless incredible moments across the series – make sure to let us know what your favourites were!
VIII. Jeep Pursuit (Resident Evil 5 – 2009)
We open up our list with one of the cooler action sequences from the series, the fantastic jeep chase in Resident Evil 5. After battling a flappy nightmare in the mining area, Dave Johnson rolls up in a jeep to carry you to Kijuju when you’re ambushed by a huge number of majini on motorbikes and flatbed trucks. Hurtling across the African plains and spewing bullets from a heavy machine gun at a horde of bloodthirsty bikers is incredibly cool and injects a real sense of urgency to the story. Culminating in a battle with a towering Ndesu, the jeep scenes break up the general gameplay in a really memorable way.
VII. Crimson Heads Chase (Resident Evil – 2002)
In our last piece, we brought up the subject of Crimson Heads. After further discussion with the rest of the VGN team, it seems that Joe wasn’t alone in being utterly terrified of them. When you’re walking the halls of the Spencer Mansion in the first Resident Evil, you quickly realise that heading into another room means that creatures aren’t able to follow you, allowing some breathing room. Giving zombies the ability to not only sprint but to open doors, takes away that safety net and adds another layer of fear to an already tense situation. The first time this happens is different for every player, as it depends on exactly where you backtrack to first, but one thing we know for sure is that every player certainly remembers the experience!
VI. Knife fight with Krauser (Resident Evil 4 – 2009)
Perhaps an unexpected entry on the list, the knife fight between Leon and Krauser left a real impression on the VGN team. Ambushing Leon in the power plant, the player is treated to a stand off between the two men where action and story come in equal measure. We vividly remember being on the very edge of our seats as the slash-off between two twitchy ex-Special Ops members played out, trying to concentrate on the visuals and the story unfolding whilst waiting for Krauser to strike. Perhaps maligned for the use of Quicktime events, it’s impossible to understate how effective they were at building tension in what would otherwise have been a pretty standard cutscene..
V. Discovering Barry’s Secret (Resident Evil – 1996)
Playing through Resident Evil as Jill Valentine, Barry Burton becomes your safety blanket – arriving just when you need him to save your skin or give you some useful item or another. So it came as a shock when you found out he’d been working with Wesker the whole time, manipulating you in the hopes of getting you out of the way. As adults who understand plotlines a lot more clearly, we realise this isn’t half as surprising as on the first playthrough, but Barry pointing his magnum at you felt like the ultimate betrayal as younger gamers. The saving grace was learning that Barry had to do it all against his will to save his family, and seeing him knock Wesker out with his gun certainly didn’t hurt either.
IV. Arriving at the Derelict House (Resident Evil VII: Biohazard – 2017)
After years of focusing on heavy action and predictable jump scares, for Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, Capcom decided to not only throw the formula out of the window, but blow it to bits while it was still in the air. Everything was changed. There is only one character to control, it was set in a first person view – hell, even Roman numerals were adopted. For us, the most iconic moment is the introductory section itself. The opening cinematic sets up the story; Ethan’s wife Mia has gone missing, he’s received footage and sets off to find her. A driving sequence that pays a nice homage to The Shining is played out and you arrive at an abandoned house where players are given free reign to explore and get used to the new first-person view. Being a Resident Evil game, you’re constantly on your guard for a number of unholy beasties to rip your face off, especially as corridors are dimly lit and there is some questionable meat in the kitchen. As you explore, Capcom teases the big scare, your flashlight starts to flicker, or you fall off a ladder, but ultimately the fear is in your own head. Resident Evil VII is a masterclass of keeping you on edge. While the action eventually ramps up, the claustrophobic introduction really stands out as one of the best in the series.
III. Zombie Attack on the Loading Screen (Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Everybody knew that when things got hairy in Resident Evil you could go through a door to the safety of the room beyond, with enemies unable to follow you. So imagine our surprise when zombies lurch through the door of a loading screen in Resident Evil 2 – in a Save Room, no less! Hot on the heels of crows bursting through the windows of the station, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Capcom might give you a few minutes before trying anything too outrageous, but you’d have been dead wrong. No one could foresee the introduction of a scare in the most unexpected place, and you’re then kept on edge as every other door swings open in case they pull the same trick again, adding to the tension of an already fantastic game.
II. Mr X Through the Wall (Resident Evil 2 – 1998, 2019)
Out of all of the pursuits we’ve suffered over the years, from Nemesis and his gatling gun, Crimson Heads bursting through doors and even the loading-screen-zombie, Mr X has had the most impact on the team. Dropped into RCPD by Umbrella, he is stalking the corridors, not far behind you. You can knock him down by ploughing a number of bullets into him, but he soon rises again after you’ve made your getaway. Our most memorable moment with the trenchcoat wearing tyrant comes just after completing a puzzle; as the final torch is lit, Mr X bursts through a wall completely unexpectedly and lunges for you. After taking him out, scooping up the item you were after and breathing a sigh of relief, Capcom pulls out another jump scare as he batters through another wall in quick succession. When we played this on the original PlayStation, it stuck with us. When we played the remake… Well, let’s just say even though we knew it was coming, we’re glad we wore our brown pants that day.
I. Dog Through The Window (Resident Evil – 1996, 2002)
For the second week in a row we have a unanimous decision at the top of the list, with the dog leaping through the window in the original Resident Evil voted by far the greatest moment in franchise history. Having loaded up the game and watched the hammy opening FMV, you’re asked to explore the Spencer Mansion for the very first time. Whilst the first couple of zombies are a little unsettling, they don’t do anything to frighten the player – that first legitimate scare is reserved for a few rooms later. Drew remembers literally dropping the controller with surprise when the dog burst through the glass! And running away only compounds the problem too, with another one jumping out in front of you, leaving you at the mercy of your mastery of tank controls not half an hour into the game. It was physically impossible to talk with another gamer about Resident Evil without them saying “that bit where the dog jumped through the window scared the crap out of me!”, making it the only choice to take the ‘Best Moment’ crown.
Honourable Mentions
- The streets of Raccoon City (Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Where you spent the first Resident Evil exploring confined spaces, desperately trying to return to the outside world, Resident Evil 2 starts in a very different manner. You’re able to see first-hand the carnage that Umbrella Inc. has wrought upon Raccoon City, as you weave between burning cars, smouldering debris, and dodge burning zombies on your way to the R.P.D. Station. It’s a shocking scene that gives the impression of an entire city infested with zombies, giving the game a sense of scale that the original can’t compete with.
- Tyrant Battle on the Helipad (Resident Evil – 1996)
We touched on this in our last feature, where Tyrant also made it onto the Honourable Mentions section. Running around the helipad and being completely unable to harm Tyrant is incredibly tense on your first playthrough, and it’s a very cool moment when Brad finally drops you the rocket launcher so that you can blow him away and finish the game. If it wasn’t for some impassioned arguments for some of the other moments in the series, this would have definitely made the main list.
- Itchy… Tasty (Resident Evil – 1996)
If you say the phrase “Itchy….Tasty” to anyone who knows about Resident Evil, they will know exactly what you’re referring to. It’s a phrase used in the diary of a scientist working in the Spencer Mansion who has been infected by the T-Virus; he remains pretty coherent until he finally succumbs to Umbrella’s greatest creation. Throughout the journey into zombification, he chronicles the changes to his body before finally eating one of his co-workers. It’s a brutal and incredibly memorable read that makes the player think about the backstory as much as the gameplay.
Resident Evil – The Top VIII Enemies
To celebrate the release of Resident Evil Village this month, the team at VGamingNews are looking back at some of our favourite parts of the Resident Evil franchise, beginning with the most memorable aspect of the series – the enemies. Below are our rankings of the Top VIII Enemies in the Resident Evil franchise. Whether they made the list by being the most formidable, or simply the most iconic, these eight antagonists certainly left a lasting impression!
VIII. Giant Majini (Resident Evil 5 – 2009)
We’re kicking off the list with an enemy that’s perhaps a little out of left field. Not the most dangerous or memorable foe from the series, but certainly one of the most characterful, the Giant Majini adds some much needed African flair to Resident Evil 5. Super-sized majini, these mutated tribal leaders patrol the wetlands villages and worship areas, threatening Chris and Sheva with a huge bone club should they get too close. They’re most notable for their awesome gold masks that not only protect them from headshots, but make them a stand-out enemy in one of the most action-focused games in the series.
VII. Forest Speyer (Resident Evil – 1996)
Discovered on the balcony having been pecked to death by crows in the original Resident Evil, Forest isn’t a particularly formidable enemy but he’s certainly significant to the experience. The spooky lead-in and his Forrest’s bespoke character model makes this a pretty shocking moment on your first play-through, and sets the tone for how your search and rescue mission is going to go. Having your former S.T.A.R.S. teammate lurch back to life lets you know that you’re in for a grisly ride from there on in – no-one is safe and nothing is off limits.
VI. Lickers (Resident Evil 2 – 1998)
Some people will be unhappy we’ve placed Lickers so low on this list. During their first appearance in Resident Evil 2, they were horrifically gruesome wall crawlers that dropped down in front of Leon and Claire before swishing their tongues in that general direction. If one got you, there was no coming back. Unlike other enemies on this list, Lickers are slow enough for you to plot an escape. It’s only when you get up close and shoot at them do they react. Most of the time they’re on a wall or ceiling, which in our eyes is a pretty notable weakness. In the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake, they retained much of their gory appearance and the size was adjusted to be more menacing. Are they iconic? Absolutely. Lickers have one of the best enemy designs in the series. Do they scare the bejesus out of you? Not so much.
V. “Bag Head” (Resident Evil 4 – 2005)
Dr Salvador, or as “Bag Head”, as he’s lovingly known in the VGN offices, was one of the earliest enemies that gave us a bad time in Resident Evil 4. When you hear the revving of a chainsaw throughout the game, you know you’re in for a bad time. Bag Head looks like a knock-off Leatherface, but he’s certainly formidable. Like all of the larger enemies in the series, his story is tragic.His face was used to host the Palaga virus, causing a massive mutation, so horrific, that his face was bagged. He’s understandably not too happy about this and takes his aggression out on poor Leon. If you get pinned into a small space, his bulk means he’s hard to manoeuvre around, and if that chainsaw makes contact then it’s the “You are dead” screen for you as he expertly separates Leon’s head from his body.
IV. Lisa Trevor (Resident Evil – 2002)
A new addition since PS1 original, the frightening yet tragic Lisa Trevor updated the tone of the GameCube remake entirely. After being injected with the Progenitor Virus as a child, she spent much of her life chained beneath the mansion, mourning the loss of her family. With superhuman strength and near impervious to damage, Lisa is a misunderstood but significant threat throughout the game, who can quickly bludgeon Chris or Jill to death with her shackles if you get too close. Inspired by the macabre style of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Lisa Trevor helped upgrade the B-Movie theatrics of the original into a legitimate horror blockbuster.
III. Mr X (Resident Evil 2 – 2019)
An absolute powerhouse, T-00, or Mr X as he’s known by fans, is a lumbering, fear factory. Dropped into the RPD station by Umbrella Inc. with a mission to eradicate any survivors, he’s relentless in pursuit of Claire and Leon in order to achieve his goal. Appearing when you least want him to, Mr X brings scares a plenty and just eats ammunition, putting you on edge as an ever present threat. We’d be remiss not to give a nod to his appearance in the original Resident Evil 2 ‘B’ missions, where him bursting through the wall came as a huge shock having not seen him at all in the ‘A’ missions. We’ve also got to appreciate the modding community out there who have given us some hilarious alternatives too (careful – there’s some strong language in the linked video).
II. Crimson Head (Resident Evil – 2002)
Joe vividly remembers the first encounter with Crimson Head. 2002 was a time where He’s learned the position of all the bumbling, groaning zombies infesting the original mansion, so taken aback by an unusual bloodied corpse on a set of stairs in the remake of Resident Evil released on the GameCube. After investigating it for a few moments, Joe shrugged off as a background change and proceeded through the door at the top. Little did he know that it wasn’t just an aesthetic change, but a new type of enemy; a zombie that could not only sprint after you, but open doors. There is little more terrifying than a zombie running at you full pelt having just passed through a door where you thought you’d be safe! What’s worse is that a Crimson Head was unrelenting – unless dealt with, he would chase Chris or Jill around until his head was removed or he consumed your flesh. A truly eject-your-bowels monster of the highest calibre.
I. Hunter (Resident Evil – 1996)
This decision was unanimous in the VGN office. Hunters are often forgotten as one of Resident Evil’s truly terrifying monsters, but they’ve been there from the very beginning. Spliced with reptile DNA, these creatures are fast, powerful and hard to handle one-on-one, let alone when facing two or three of them in a confined corridor. They are the series equivalent of the Xenomorph from Alien. Hunters take their time with you; they jump out when there’s little hope of escape and when they do, you better pray you have some shotgun shells as they can tear you apart in just a few hits. Much like the Xenomorph, a few variations of the menace have been found throughout the series; there’s the Gamma Hunter from Resi 3 and the Hunter B.O.W. found in Revelations, but we kept coming back to the OG entry that inhabits the Spencer Mansion for their methodical, impressive, and creative ways of causing you to throw your controller in rage and terror.
Honourable Mentions:
- Neptune (Resident Evil – 1996)
In rural America you can find reptiles, spiders and even snakes just by opening up your toilet bowl. But you’d be hard pushed to find a Great White shark in the bath. Somebody at Umbrella Inc. not only took the time to go into the ocean and catch one of the greatest hunters on the planet, but felt the need to infect it with the T-Virus too! They caught a shark to conduct horrific experiments on, in a pokey, unsecure mansion in the mountains. A shark.
- Tyrant (Resident Evil – 1996)
The final boss of the original Resident Evil, Tyrant is such a memorable enemy that he had to make this list in some capacity. With his enormous sickly-white frame, exposed heart and huge mutated claw-arm, Tyrant is easily the most horrific looking enemy in the original game, and the two encounters with him are fantastic. Watching him kill Albert Wesker before turning on you in the tank room, and the tense helipad finale are truly iconic moments that helped launch the franchise.
- Ooze (Resident Evil Revelations)
After years of action shooting, Capcom took Resident Evil Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS back to it’s horror roots. While they were at it, they binned off one of the series staples – the humble zombie and introduced creatures known as ‘Ooze’ as their default enemy. Sliming their way through the vents of the cruise ship and moving in an utterly inhuman way, the faceless suckers were uncomfortable to look at, required a different approach to attack them, and generally mixed up the formula for basic enemy number one.
Think we missed something, or don’t agree with where an enemy ranked? Let us know which enemies made your Top VIII in the comments section.
VGamingBargains: Nintendo Switch April 2021
With the UK on the verge of opening back up, if you’re anything like me, a lot of your budget will suddenly be assigned to frivolous purchases of elaborate restaurant food and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Keeping that in mind, you might not have as much cash floating around for gaming as you’d normally like, so let us help you out by steering you on the best games to pick up for less than a tenner. Scratch the itch without breaking the bank – that’s our goal here, people!
As always, the games are split into three levels, based around their price points:
Level 1 – games in Level 1 cost between £7.50 and £10.00 and tend to be the larger titles available in our price range – they’ll take most of your budget here but offer the most full-game experience for a small amount of money
Level 2 – costing between £3.50 and £7.49, games at level 2 give you a little more flexibility on how to spend your money but might be a little shorter or perhaps a little older than games in the top level
Level 3 – rounding out the list are our cheapest games, from those that are absolutely free up to a cost of £3.49. These games tend to be made by independent developers and are often a shorter experience, but make no mistake – while they might only be a few hours long, the games in Level 3 still offer a lot of enjoyment – even better, you can mix-and-match a few for your money
VGamingBargains is a monthly feature, published near the start of each month to highlight a few good deals available on the eShop soon after each pay day. Keep an eye out for future editions and we’ll do our best to put you onto a couple of great games that won’t break the bank!
| Level | Title | Cost | On Sale Until |
| Level 1 | Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty | £8.99 | 14/04/21 |
| Cozy Grove | £9.89 | 14/04/21 | |
| Darkwood | £9.09 | 14/04/21 | |
| Level 2 | The Flame in the Flood | £3.74 | 13/04/21 |
| Crypt of the NecroDancer | £3.59 | 15/04/21 | |
| For the King | £6.79 | 13/04/21 | |
| Silence | £3.59 | 27/04/21 | |
| Level 3 | Flashback | £0.89 | 14/04/21 |
| Doom, Doom II & Doom 64 | £1.99 (each) | 15/04/21 | |
| Syberia 1 & 2 | £1.50 | 14/04/21 | |
| Quarantine Circular | £2.39 | 28/04/21 | |
| AER: Memories of Old | £1.79 | 27/04/21 |
Level 1
Shining atop our recommendations list this month is the fantastic Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, a beautiful remake of the iconic 1997 PS1 platform-puzzler Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. For those unfortunate enough to miss out on the original, you play as Abe, a friendly mudokon who works as a janitor at the Rupture Farms meat processing plant. Whilst performing his duties, he stumbles upon a plot hatched by the greedy Glukkon bosses to use mudokon meat in their upcoming line of tasty treats! Help Abe dodge whirling blades, outsmart gun-toting Sligs and outrun ancient beasts to lead his people to safety and overthrow the Glukkon overlords! All new graphics tart up what was already an attractive original, the puzzles and secrets are as fun to play as ever, and for players of the original, the nostalgia hit from playing this remake is too much to pass up.
For fans of Animal Crossing New Horizons, Cozy Grove offers a similar island-life experience but with a more story-driven focus. Having washed ashore on an unknown island, you play as Spirit Scout, a girl who must help the ghostly bear inhabitants of the island perform their final wishes, leading them into the afterlife and bringing colour back to the island. The game encourages you to play a little each day before encouraging you to log off and come back tomorrow, ensuring that your time isn’t as monopolised as it might be by Animal Crossing. Fish, harvest and collect strange items to learn wonderful tidbits of story about the spirits trapped on the island that are guaranteed to keep you coming back daily. With a beautiful, hand-drawn artstyle and a soothing soundtrack, Cozy Grove is a fantastic option for players who want something new that isn’t going to command hours and hours of time each day!
Just a quick Google search of the trailer for Darkwood will convince horror fans that this grisly top-down affair is a must-buy. Darkwood is a survival horror in the truest sense, requiring you to craft items, barter for goods and hide cowering in a corner as much as you have to fight your way through hordes of nameless horrors. Exploring the forest is a tense enough affair during the day, but at night it can be truly harrowing, with a truly palpable atmosphere permeating the game. There’s some Silent Hill-like visuals and a horribly eerie soundtrack that creates a fantastic horror experience that relies on genuinely frightening experience without resorting to cheap jump-scares.
Level 2
A very different survival experience headlines our Level 2 recommendations, with post-apocalyptic downstream explorer The Flame in the Flood currently on sale for less than a fiver. Play as Scout and her faithful dog-companion Aesop (or Daisy), and make your way across randomly generated islands, scavenging food and supplies in an attempt to keep yourself warm, dry and injury free. The art direction has a bleak, dystopian feel that matches the tone of the world perfectly but the soundtrack is what really brings the whole game to life with a final crescendo that provides an overwhelming sense of achievement. Fend of angry wildlife and trade with other disconcerting survivors in what is a grindingly difficult, but incredibly satisfying survival experience.
I have never been more bemused by the concept (or title!) of a game than when discovering Crypt of the NecroDancer, a rhythm roguelike where matching your actions to beat keeps your sword arm swinging! Take on the role of Cadence, daughter of a legendary treasure hunter who must search through randomly generated dungeons in the hopes of finding her missing dad. Battle your way deeper into the NecroDancers lair, upgrading your weapons and armour along the way, bouncing to an ever thumping soundtrack. This is a strange one, to be sure, but rhythm and/or roguelike fans should definitely give this one a whirl.
Also in Level 2 we have tactical-RPG-strategy For the King, where the adorably quaint art style belies the tough challenge the game poses. Following the death of the King, Chaos threatens to engulf the land – set off as a band of three adventurers on the Queen’s orders to keep the kingdom safe! Play alone or with up to two friends in either couch or online* co-op, and fight off evil in this fun, but punishing adventure board game. And rounding out Level 2 is the stunning point-and-click adventure, Silence, a pseudo-sequel to 2010 adventure The Whispered World. There’s no need to play the original, but you reprise the role of Noah, a boy who must help his sister, Renie, out of the land of Silence, a limbo between the worlds of life and death. Play this one in docked mode to really take in the wonderful environments and characters – it will not disappoint.
Level 3
Leading the line for Level 3 is a Flashback to a 1992 platformer that absolutely captivated me as a child. In 2142, having discovered a race of shapeshifting aliens that have infiltrated human society, intelligence agent Conrad Hart gets captured and has his memory erased. Escaping from his captors, you must help Conrad to escape the jungle and fight back against the aliens, all-the-while getting his memory back. Gameplay carries some heavy Prince of Persia vibes with action, platforming and puzzles found in equal measure. As it boasts animations that were groundbreaking for its time, rich environments and a compelling storyline, you’ll find nothing else more deserving of your 89 pence, I assure you!
Level 3 also holds a treasure trove of classic first-person shooters, with Doom, Doom II and Doom 64 all on sale for the bargain price of £1.99 each! What can we say about the Doom series that hasn’t been said before? As absolute pioneers of the genre, the series is, in my opinion, a must-play for nostalgia fans and gaming historians alike. Listen, it’s not going to be pretty, but we all know that graphics are not the be-all-and-end-all of gaming. Blast your way through swathes of monsters and demons, spurred on by a banging, and equally iconic soundtrack.
Other notable games for Level 3 include the double-pack of Syberia 1 & 2, graphic adventure games in the vein of Broken Sword. Help Kate Walker in her journey across Europe to unravel mysteries of an old family business and the consequences of her discoveries. £1.50 is a bargain for two Incredibly immersive games, with solid graphics and well-written scripts. Offering a very different flavour from any of the other recommendations is AER: Memories of Old, a relaxing exploration game set amongst the skies. Guide Auk, one of the few remaining shapeshifters, on a pilgrimage to the Land of the Gods, and enjoy soaring amongst the clouds in a distinctive and beautiful world. Arguably more of an interactive story than a true gaming experience, we’d recommend playing AER even if that’s not usually your cup of tea – who knows, it might open your eyes to something new. Last, but certainly not least, is conversation-text adventure Quarantine Circular. Control a group of scientists amidst a worldwide pandemic, and interrogate an alien lifeform in the hope of discovering it’s true intentions. Short but sweet, this one-sitting story certainly packs a punch, and fans of Subsurface Circular (recommended last month) should definitely check out this spiritual sequel.
*Game requires Online membership to play online
The recommendations made in this article do not come from any paid promotion and are solely influenced by our enjoyment of the games highlighted and their perceived value for money
Prices accurate at the time of publication
Average play times are sourced from HowLongToBeat
VGamingBargains: Nintendo Switch March 2021
So readers – let’s address the elephant in the room… the huge February Nintendo eShop sale that we didn’t cover…
I’m sorry. I built you up with a promise of glittering bargains galore and I didn’t deliver. I only hope you can forgive me, because below we do have such glittering bargains, albeit not as many as we could have had!
Let’s be honest – there were so many games in that last sale that any old schmuck could’ve put his hand on a winner! But not this time friends – I’ve scoured the eShop so you don’t have to, and pulled together a list of games worth throwing your pennies at. In a strange turn of events, and entirely by accident, Level 1 seems to be dominated by turn-based games, Level 2 by puzzlers, and Level 3 with more narrative games – check them all out below.
As always, the games are split into three levels, based around their price points:
Level 1 – games in Level 1 cost between £7.50 and £10.00 and tend to be the larger titles available in our price range – they’ll take most of your budget here but offer the most full-game experience for a small amount of money
Level 2 – costing between £3.50 and £7.49, games at level 2 give you a little more flexibility on how to spend your money but might be a little shorter or perhaps a little older than games in the top level
Level 3 – rounding out the list are our cheapest games, from those that are absolutely free up to a cost of £3.49. These games tend to be made by independent developers and are often a shorter experience, but make no mistake – while they might only be a few hours long, the games in Level 3 still offer a lot of enjoyment – even better, you can mix-and-match a few for your money
VGamingBargains is a monthly feature, published near the start of each month to highlight a few good deals available on the eShop soon after each pay day. Keep an eye out for future editions and we’ll do our best to put you onto a couple of great games that won’t break the bank!
| Level | Title | Cost | On Sale Until |
| Level 1 | One Way Heroics Plus | £9.44 | 10/03/21 |
| Here Be Dragons | £7.91 | 27/03/21 | |
| Level 2 | Evan’s Remains | £4.19 | 16/03/21 |
| Bridge Constructor: Portal | £5.39 | 24/03/21 | |
| Archaica: The Path of Light | £3.57 | 04/04/21 | |
| Level 3 | Goetia | £0.89 | 31/03/21 |
| My Brother Rabbit | £1.34 | 31/03/21 | |
| The Way | £0.89 | 28/03/21 | |
| In Between | £1.65 | 10/03/21 | |
| Subsurface Circular | £2.39 | 24/03/21 | |
| Lumo | £1.99 | 17/03/21 |
Level 1
Turn-based apocalyptic side-scrolling roguelike, One Way Heroics Plus, sprints onto the list and takes the highlight spot this month. In a universe being overrun by the darkness of the Demon Lord, you must outrun the perpetual wall of evil and defeat him in order to save the dimension. You’ll run through procedurally generated pixel art environments and slay hordes of RPG monsters, all-the-while having to stay ahead of the onrushing wall of darkness that’s consuming the world. You can use XP and Dimensional Gold Coins to level up your heroes between runs and progress to new worlds in need of your help. The learning curve will have you dying a lot early on before making some headway, but in a game chock-full of replay value, you’ll get plenty of hours for your money here, particularly if you’re a completionist. Much like the game, you’ll have to act fast to grab this one, as it’s only on sale until Weds 10/03/21!
Another turn-based affair rounds out Level 1, with the naval strategy romp Here Be Dragons coming in at a shaving under eight quid. Before the great Christopher Columbus could set sail to discover the Americas in 1492, the player must take charge of a ragtag group of crazy ship captains to clear the oceans of countless mystical menaces like the kraken, ghost ships and Leviathan. I can’t lead off this recommendation with anything other than the incredible art style, with Red Zero Games giving late-1400s exploration a quirky ‘living map’ feel and brings the monster to life with some awesome imagery. The well-rounded dice-based mechanics and tricky level design will offer you plenty of challenge for the price tag, and with some fun characters and dialogue thrown in, you’re definitely onto a winner.
Level 2
Physics-puzzler Bridge Constructor: Portal headlines Level 2, offering a peek into the dubious experiments conducted by the sadistic GLaDOS in the name of science. Use bridges, ramps, and towers to safely guide automatically moving vehicles across a myriad of real-physics obstacles before moving onto the next experiment. Fans of previous Bridge Constructor games will find all of their favourites here, with the added confusion of portals and other Aperture Laboratories inventions that require even more ‘out of the box’ thinking. The graphics are crisp and clean; a nice soundtrack and for Portal fans, Ellen McLain returns as the ever-dry voice of GLaDOS.
Evan’s Remains is a beautifully depicted platform puzzle game centring around the mystery disappearance of boy-genius, Evan. You play as Dysis, who must run and leap her way through platform-based riddles that rely on having on having a sharp mind rather than quick reactions or precise jumps. More mechanics are introduced every few levels, and eventually combined, to ease up the difficulty and keep you thinking. Although rather short, the nicely told story and the stunning pixel art make this one worth purchasing for fans of the genre, for sure.
The final game in Level 2 is Archaica: The Path of Light, an atmospheric puzzle game revolving around the use of light, crystals, and mirrors to solve ancient mysteries and save the world from disaster. The realms are beautifully crafted, and the puzzles offered are unique and well thought out. Puzzle fans looking for a quick fix should enjoy this one for only a few pounds.
Level 3
I’m not exaggerating when I say that The Way might be my favourite bargain that I’ve ever stumbled across – it’s an absolute masterpiece. For less money that a bottle of Pepsi, you can play through a stunning pixel art adventure that sees an explorer head to an alien world in search of a way to bring back his beloved, without whom he is crushed. Inspired by retro classics like Another World and Flashback, The Way has an immersive sci-fi setting and storyline, driven by rich locations and head-scratching puzzles. Can you solve the alien enigmas and revive your lover? You should most definitely spend 89 pence (!) to find out.
In Subsurface Circular you play as a robot stationed on an underground railway car in order to investigate the sudden disappearances of a number of working-class robots, and the threads of fate that lead to something more sinister. A revamp of old-school text-based games, you have to talk with other commuters and collect words; you then use these words as points of interest that allow you to broach new subjects with other people in order to progress the plot. It’s undoubtedly short, but for only a few pounds you get a really nicely constructed sci-fi-mystery, with some polished graphics, enjoyable riddles and an intriguing plotline.
Rounding up the offers we have In Between, a gravity-based puzzle-platformer set inside the mind of a man struggling with illness. It’s a thoughtful, and oftentimes bleak look, at struggle and self-belief with a physics-based mask on it – sound and graphics aren’t the main event here, but the thought-provoking monologue. Goetia is a point-and-click puzzler set inside the rotting mansion of a Victorian family, whose estate is haunted by Abigail Blackwood, the once-youngest member of the household, now risen from the grave. As Abigail you must float through walls and possess objects to interact with them, in order to solve the mysteries of your father’s estate.
Another point-and-click adventure, My Brother Rabbit, is conjured from the imagination of siblings going through a tough time together. As rabbit you must solve puzzles, find hidden objects, and play mini games to help your unwell friend recover, all set in a land of incredible landscapes and strange and fantastic characters. Beautifully drawn and with a wonderful soundtrack, this is a must for point-and-click fans. Last, but certainly not least we have Lumo, an isometric platformer that harkens back to classics such as Land Stalker, but with a vibrant, new coat of paint. After being sucked into a malfunctioning computer at a videogames expo, you must explore over 400 rooms, discover secrets, and even play a few mini games to escape! It’s only short, but old-school fans might want to try out this self-professed love letter to the ‘golden age of gaming’.
*Game requires Nintendo Switch Online membership to play online
The recommendations made in this article do not come from any paid promotion and are solely influenced by our enjoyment of the games highlighted and their perceived value for money
Prices accurate at the time of publication
VGamingBargains: PlayStation Indies Sale March 2021
We make no secret of loving indie games. Some of the best experiences in video games don’t have to be an all-out blockbuster, or a 1000-hour epic RPG. They can be short and sweet games, created by a team of a handful of people. In this VGamingBargains article, we’re taking a look at those independent games that are currently on sale on the PlayStation Store.
As always, the games are split into three levels, based around their price points:
Level 1 – games in Level 1 cost between £7.50 and £10.00 and tend to be the larger titles available in our price range – they’ll take most of your budget here but offer the most full-game experience for a small amount of money
Level 2 – costing between £3.50 and £7.49, games at level 2 give you a little more flexibility on how to spend your money but might be a little shorter or perhaps a little older than games in the top level
Level 3 – rounding out the list are our cheapest games, from those that are absolutely free up to a cost of £3.49. These games tend to be made by independent developers and are often a shorter experience, but make no mistake – while they might only be a few hours long, the games in Level 3 still offer a lot of enjoyment – even better, you can mix-and-match a few for your money.
| Level | Title | Cost | On Sale Until |
| Level 1 | Metal Wolf Chaos | £9.99 | 10/03/2021 |
| My Friend Pedro | £7.99 | 10/03/2021 | |
| Level 2 | The Complex | £7.49 | 10/03/2021 |
| Hollow Knight | £4.63 | 10/03/2021 | |
| Guacamelee! 2 Complete | £3.79 | 10/03/2021 | |
| EMMA: Lost in Memories | £3.24 | 10/03/2021 | |
| Level 3 | Broforce | £2.99 | 10/03/2021 |
| Donut County | £2.99 | 10/03/2021 | |
| Outlast | £2.32 | 10/03/2021 | |
| Goat Simulator | £1.99 | 10/03/2021 |
Special note: These are the sale prices for non-PS Plus members. If you have a PS Plus subscription, then some of these games could be cheaper.
Kicking off our level 1 games, we have Metal Wolf Chaos XD. Created by the Dark Souls team, FromSoftware, this third-person mech-shooter has you play as the President of the United States who has to stop a coup from his Vice President. Metal Wolf Chaos was released in Japan as an Xbox exclusive to help bolster sales of the original machine back in 2002 and after gaining a cult following, probably owing to the epic plot we’ve just outlined, it was remastered and localised for the western market in 2019. Yes, it does look a little rough around the edges but this is one silly, arcade style game that will give you some entertainment.
Speaking of silly games, we highly recommend checking out My Friend Pedro. This strange 2D shooter has you on a murderous rampage all thanks to your friend, Pedro, who just happens to be a banana. As you progress taking out mobsters in stylish Matrix inspired ways, you’re given a rank on how you do. It’s so bonkers, we’re finding it hard to describe and do it justice.
Headlining our recommendations for Level 2 is Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight. This is undoubtedly one of the finest 2D adventure titles we’ve played of the console generation, and with a sequel due at some point this year, there’s no better time to jump into the Gothic world of Hallownest. As Knight, you have to explore the world and stop it succumbing to ‘The Infection’. Tight platforming controls and epic boss battles pepper the land and it simply has to feature in any collection.
If you’re looking for a more colourful 2D adventure based on the world of Mexican wrestling, look no further than Guacamelee! 2 Complete. We once again step into the role of luchador Juan although he has grown out of shape since we last saw him. He has to once again don the mask of Tostada and become the saviour of the Mexiverse. The game is more combat focused than Hollow Knight which is why we’ve chosen to include similar genres in the list.
Next up we have The Complex, a live action video game where you follow the exploits of Dr Amy Tenant as she deals with a chemical attack being carried out in London. The decisions you make not only impact on how characters form bonds with you, but it will also lead to one of eight different endings.
Rounding out the list we have EMMA: Lost in Memories, a 2D puzzle platformer that requires strategy and cunning to navigate the world as everything you touch starts to disappear. It’s a clever platforming game that can get frustrating, however the visuals just ooze charm.
Donut County is an absolute must buy. It’s as simple as that. You play as a hole controlled by a raccoon that has managed to confuse selling doughnuts with reallocating townsfolk involuntarily into the ever growing hole. Donut County doesn’t require much thought in how to progress but still packs in a hilarious story. The game has a brutally short playtime – only a couple of hours, but it still manages to pack in a solid plot with good character development and there are secrets to find throughout the game’s locations..
Next we have Broforce, a run and gun game full of puns and the macho-ness of 1980s action films. You play as one of many ‘Bros’ such as; Rambro, Conan the Brobarian and Brochette. They are tasked with the liberation of the world’s countries, whether they want it or not. Expect American flags, shredding guitars and explosions galore, but despite all of the over the top action, there lies a game that’s surprisingly addictive and a joy to play.
Goat Simulator took the world by storm when it was released in 2014. The game riffs off classic skateboarding sim, combined with an over the top physics engine that comes together in a crazy sandbox experience where the aim is to cause as much destruction and mayhem as possible. Finally, if you’re looking for something a little more mature, you can’t go wrong with Outlast. This first-person horror game has you exploring an insane asylum trying to find out the secrets of a shady company that has been conducting gruesome experiments.
If that wasn’t enough for you, we have a bonus shout out this month. The PlayStation Store is host to the “Instant Indie Collections” volumes that contain 3 games apiece. Each bundle is currently discounted by an insane amount. We could’ve made our list on these games alone, and I’ve gone on long enough already but if your budget is super tight then you can’t go wrong with one of these bundles.
Instant Indie Collection Volume 1 – £1.79 includes:
- Stealth Inc 2
- Thomas Was Alone
- The Swapper
Instant Indie Collection Volume 2 – £1.99
- The Swindle
- Nova-111
- Pumped BMX +
Instant Indie Collection Volume 3 – £1.99
- Action Henk
- Stikbold!
- 10 Second Ninja X
Instant Indie Collection Volume 4 – £2.49
- Dear Esther: Landmark Edition for PS4
- Hue for PS4 and PS Vita
- The Flame in the Flood: Complete Edition for PS4
Instant Indie Collection Volume 5 – £2.19
- Human: Fall Flat for PS4
- Manual Samuel for PS4
- The Little Acre for PS4
The recommendations made in this article do not come from any paid promotion and are solely influenced by our enjoyment of the games highlighted and their perceived value for money. Prices accurate at the time of publication. Average play times are sourced from HowLongToBeat or our own personal experiences.
Sony’s State Of Play Presentation 25th February 2021
Sony hosted another State of Play digital presentation on 25th February to give information on up and coming titles for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Here’s how the event went.
Crash Bandicoot 4 About Time
Crash Bandicoot 4 About Time kicked off the show with updates compared to the PS4 version. The game includes native 4K/60FPS upgrades and heptic feedback and you can transfer your save file over from the previous game. Free upgrade to PS5 version if you have the PS4 game.
Returnal
Returnal was shown off ahead of it’s 30th April release date. The interesting mechanic of this third person shooter is that every time you die, the world and its environments will change & enemies will regenerate in different places and even different amounts. Collecting upgrades is essential but will constantly change your play style.
Knockout City
Knockout City was announced last week, but we have a PlayStation Beta next week as well as the announcement of 1v1 dodgeball action.
Sifu
Sifu is a new kung-fu brawler coming to the PS5. Developed by Sloclap, the independent studio behind Absolver. Play as a young Kung-Fu student on his path of revenge throughout the city. We’re keeping our eye on this one.
Solar Ash
Solar Ash shows off gameplay for the first time. It is shaping up to be a fluid third person platformer. Combat has been crafted so it doesn’t hinder your flow and it looks to be sliky smooth from the trailer below. Coming to PS4 & PS5 later in the year. Players take on the role of a Voidrunner named Rei who traverses through the biomes in hopes of saving her home world from the Ultravoid, a massive black hole that swallows entire worlds.
Five Nights At Freddy’s Security Breach
Five Nights At Freddy’s Security Breach announced for both the PS4 & PS5. The colourful survival horror comes out at some point in 2021.
Oddworld Soulstorm
Oddworld Soulstorm is out on 6th April and utilises the heptic feedback in the Dualsense controller so you can feel Abe’s heartbeat when he gets into sticky situations. If you buy it on PS4, and are a PS Plus subscriber, you get the PS5 version for free.
Kena Bridge of Spirits
Kena Bridge of Spirits looks lovely. Is now coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 24th August.
Deathloop
Deathloop has a shiny new trailer and a James Bond 007 esq theme song. No confirmed release date.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade comes to PS5. Free upgrade for PS4 players as well as a chapter focusing on Yuffie. There are the usual visual and frame rate upgrades, a new Normal (Classic) difficulty and a photo mode. It’s coming out 10th June 2021.
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