10) 

Medieval Dynasty

Combining multiple genres, Medieval Dynasty is an engaging simulation of what European peasant life was like in the Middle Ages. 

The story is very light, with no major quests and works more as a tutorial. In Medieval Dynasty you craft your own story; through building a settlement, earning your reputation and surviving. This is very much a survival/city builder that really lends itself to the role play genre. Many RPGs keep the player interested through sprawling quests. Medieval Dynasty opts for a different approach, where the thrill is building your town, hunting, city managing and trying to survive. You are also able to form a family and raise a son who will develop his own personality. Then continue your legacy if you choose to take control of him via a dialogue option with him, once he’s of age. 

This unique RPG has a lot to offer if you’re someone who isn’t put off by somewhat of a grind and enjoys taking a step back to admire their progress.

9)

Mount & Blade: Warband

Don’t let this game's graphics put you off. Warband is a sandbox like no other. 

After answering some questions, applying some skill points, and creating your character; you’re free to make your own destiny. There is no overarching story or main questline; instead, it’s up to you to become as powerful as you want. Gameplay can be broken down into four pieces: the map screen when you travel from location to location in real time; combat, which can be anything from small skirmishes to large scale battles, to sieging a castle or being besieged; going around villages, forts and cities that work as hub areas to speak to NPC’s; and the miscellaneous stuff such as applying skill points, inventory management and some minor rabbit hole events. Often the decisions you make will have consequences. With a “Reputation” and “Renown” system, some NPC’s might despise you, while others will think you’re simply not worth their time. “Renowned” is essentially positive fame. “Reputation” is more about how people view you.  

Do you like a certain ruler? Well, you can work on becoming one of their vassals. Maybe you want to be a bandit and raid anyone who stands in your way: you can do that. Or perhaps you want to have your own kingdom, and have people march under your banner...

8)

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Just like our galaxy, Mass Effect is vast and full of intrigue. 

Taking the role of Commander Shepard, players are instantly given choices about their character. These include Shepards gender, appearance, background and class. There are six classes, all offering a unique playstyle. Your chosen class will determine some of your abilities and available gear. Combat has a satisfying mix of strategy and action, being able to command your companions without leaving fight. ME Legendary Edition has plenty of meaningful decisions to make throughout that carry over from game to game. That’s right, this isn’t one game, it’s three complete with their DLC. Some of the most popular companions and memorable characters in all of gaming also originate from this trilogy. 

If you’ve never touched one of the three games or only dipped your toes, there is no better time to immerse yourself in this legendary trilogy; and if you’ve played the originals and loved them, I can confirm it’s well worth the re-visit. Click here for my full review of Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

7)

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Not all RPGs have gripping combat, but Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen certainly does. 

With nine classes, you have plenty of choice in how you play. There are three main classes: range, magic, and melee. Melee classes are action-packed, putting you up close against your foes who you’ll sometimes be using as slashable climbing frames (especially the bigger ones). Range classes could be compared to a third person shooter, there’s a good flow and usually it’s best to keep a bit of a distance in combat. Magic classes will often stay in one spot to cast spells, but then have to quickly run away as they get overrun and make some distance between themselves and their opponents. All three-feel engaging but in different ways. You (the Arisen) will create a follower known as a Pawn. These beings are human-like and able to be any of the classes available to the player. The Arisen is able to have up to three Pawns in their party; these can be found either on your travels or by visiting the Rift. Pawns are made by other players and seeing what people have come up with can be really cool.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a very unique game that’s not quite like any other. It has a lot of RPG features common in other games, while having its own twist that mixes the formula up enough to separate it from them.

6)

Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition

Possibly one of the closest video games to D&D, Kingmaker is an ambitious RPG that fully embraces its fantasy setting. 

Starting your first playthrough can be daunting, but that’s outweighed by how exciting it is. Character creation is deep and perfectly encapsulates the feeling of playing a tabletop game. For example, there are nine menus to navigate when starting a new game, one of which contains nine races to pick from. You also have the ability to import a custom image for your character's portrait. Hell, you can choose if your character is right or left-handed. Kingmaker really lets you create your ideal character. The map screen is how you travers, and locations are covered by clouds until you journey to said location. With so much to do and choices to make you’ll want to explore every part. Often, decisions made early on will be relevant later. Graphically Kingmaker is nothing to scoff at, and while it’s not as breath taking as newer games or those with a bigger budget, it’s pretty to look at while in game and does a great job at keeping you excited. 

If you want a traditional; fantasy RPG rife with quests, adventure and decision making. Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition Might just be for you.

5)

Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 

This mature RPG set in Los Angeles is edgy, lore rich and packed with memorable quests. 

With seven playable clans, this cult classic is designed for different play styles. Some clans will force you to rely on a sewer system, so you don’t get attacked as much. While others require a silver tongue. The skill tree really does help with the versatility of the game. In terms of combat, you can use guns, melee weapons, your fists and abilities. There is also a stealth mechanic. You need to make sure to have enough fresh blood in you (yes, I do mean fresh; taking it from a rat or a person that the game deems to be of a lower social standing, may negatively impact you). Bloodlines is a really great RPG with a lot of character. However, it is problematic in a technical sense and also in a social sense. For one, you need to download an unofficial patch to get the game to run, or else it will likely crash before it starts up. It had problems with development and later in the game areas don’t look as refined as they did early on. There are also harmful stereotypes and problems with representation. These are of course big issues and worth highlighting, as I don’t want it on this list without a caution.

Bloodlines does get a lot wrong and is problematic for sure. However, as an RPG it gets a lot right. If you decide you want to stay away from it because it’s problematic, that is perfectly understandable.

4)

Pathologic 2

Not many games stand out quite as much as Pathologic 2. It’s one of those experiences that you’ll either love or hate. 

Many other survival games make you feel like a mere tourist, in Pathologic 2 you’re just as vulnerable as everyone else. One of Pathologic 2’s biggest strength is how difficult it is. Where other survival games will have specific meters that you’ll need to take time to replenish without much consequence, Pathologic 2 forces you to really consider how you spend your time. You only have twelve days to cure this plague. Not every quest will be completed, they may only be available for a single day. Time quickly becomes a resource as scarce as food, with people getting desperate, you’re constantly having to think of the most efficient way of doing things, while also not pissing too many people off. There’s a reputation system that will affect who is willing to trade with you along with who’s hostile. Depending on your actions and choices, the positive or negative impact will vary in both the number of districts it affects and how much of an impact it has. This game is not easy, but that’s what makes it so immersive. You will die, the game plans for you too and when you do, it’ll slap you with debuffs just to make it harder. 

If you want to be challenged in atmospheric choices matter RPG, I highly recommend Pathologic 2. 

3)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Likely needing no introduction, Skyrim was an instant classic that introduced me and many others to The Elder Scrolls. 

From slaying dragons, to exploring dungeons, to joining the illusive Dark Brotherhood. This iconic fantasy game has so much to lose yourself in. With ten playable races, a branching skill tree that depends on your playstyle, and other optional features, such as survival mode. The replayability value is really something to behold. In one playthrough you might be the honourable Dragonborn, while in another a vampire lord that drinks the blood of sleeping towns folk or a werewolf who wants nothing more than to terrorise a village. With countless quests and possibilities, it’s easy to get lost in Skyrim.

As much as the community jokes about the number of re-releases this game has, it’s also no wonder. If traversing a reactive province filled with; beasts, quests, ancient ruins and a rich history, sounds like an adventure you want to be a part of. Get ready player one, a new quest has been added to your journal.

2)

The Outer Worlds

If there’s one thing this RPG has in abundance, it’s personality. The Outer Worlds is a sci-fi that’s all about player agency. 

Usually, you’ll have a choice on how you tackle obstacles. Maybe you’ll outwit a worn-down employee or fight to get your way. Perhaps choose to betray a character for your own gain, you have the freedom to be as good or bad as you want. There are multiple endings, and unlike some of its contemporaries, outcomes feel meaningful and the world reactive. This game really begs to be replayed to explore different outcomes. It has a satisfying progression system that's not overly complicated. You have the ability to slow down time, use disguises and command your companions to perform takedowns. Speaking of your followers, they are one of the highlights of the game. Each follower has their own personality and feels believable. It was a joy getting to know them all. Different planets also have a unique feel. You have a handful of worlds, each with their own enemies and creatures. Worlds are big enough to explore but not too big that traversing them seems like a chore.

The Outer Worlds is a very humorous first-person RPG with a lot of different systems at play and intriguing characters who you will want to get to know. 

1)

Fallout New Vegas

There’s a reason why many argue that this is the best Fallout game. 

New Vegas gives RPG fans two things they often crave but seldom receive, freedom and a blank slate. By freedom, I mean that the wasteland is yours to explore, conquer or charm. When doing quests, you’re free to decide how to do them. If you want; you can kill almost every NPC or complete the game as a pacificist. The blank slate is given to you by starting as a courier. For the most part you can project any backstory you want on The Courier and it’s unlikely to be contradicted. There’s no family assigned to you; you're not affected by the chosen one syndrome. The Courier is very versatile because they're a nobody. Speaking of characters, NPCs are interesting, everyone has an opinion. It's your choice who you believe, help and betray. Be warned though, not everyone will like your actions because of the reputation system, and in the end it’s you who will have to deal with the fallout (no pun intended). New Vegas does an amazing job of building upon the rich lore already established without overwhelming the player.

New Vegas (despite being set in a wasteland) is a breath of fresh air. Achieving what many RPG’s can only claim to deliver.

Honourable Mention

Mount and Blade Bannerlord is a prequal to the aforementioned Mount and Blade Warband. Unlike its predecessor, it’s visually stunning for all the right reasons. Bannerlord is also adding new features, such as a dynasty system and weapon customisation. The only reason I don’t feel I can recommend it is due to it still being in early access and with it not feeling complete. I am hopeful about Mount and Blade Bannerlord and it’s looking like it’ll be a promising RPG.

Here are some of the reasons that Mass Effect Andromeda didn’t appeal to me and what I hope BioWare considers next time we venture into this vast universe. A quick disclaimer; I’m not saying anyone is wrong for liking the game, we all have different tastes and there are some things I like about it. That said I ultimately feel it was a missed opportunity and really want a game that closer resembled the original trilogy.

How Andromeda Fails At The Mass Effect Part.

For all its sci-fi elements, the Mass Effect trilogy felt very grounded. This was in large part down to the colour pallet and lighting. For instance, the Normandy is dark with cool tones to make the player know that this is somewhere serious. The use of red is harsh, communicating to the player that the people working there are alert and handling something important. Andromeda on the other hand, is very bright. In some ways this works as the larger environments can be really beautiful to look at. The issue for me is that it’s too bright. I don’t mind it having a brighter tone, it makes sense. You’re exploring, broadening humanities and other species horizons. A brighter tone symbolizes hope. However, it’s rarely (if ever) contrasted, killing any tension that could help you empathize with characters.

Another thing they changed was the colour pallet for some of the species. For instance if you compare Liara to Peebee you’ll notice how Liaras skin is a bit darker. Similar can be said about some of the other species such as Turians. Not only this but Mass Effect 3 made their characters look more realistic while Andromeda looks simplified. I could be wrong but it felt as though Andromeda was trying to appeal to a larger audience instead of focussing on its already existing fan base. The characters all felt very stylized and less believable to me. Peebee (a rogue-like character) has a marking over her eyes similar to a black masquerade eye mask. I might not have minded maybe a side character having something similar, as Aria T'Loak had somewhat stylized markings. But, hers were more subtle. In Andromeda a lot feels fake and unrealistic. Sure this is a sci-fi fantasy, you have to allow yourself to suspend disbelief, but that’s usually so you can immerse yourself in the story, Andromeda felt at times cartoonish.

Combat is an area that I actually enjoyed. It was fluid, the weapons felt punchy to use and I overall had a good time. That said, I am conflicted about the jetpack. On the one hand it allowed for interesting traversal and an engaging way to interact with your environment, especially in combat. However, I’m not certain it makes sense for them to have jetpacks. I also believe that slower combat, if done right suits the series a lot more. To me the jetpacks feel like yet another way to appeal to more players, and makes the experience more arcadey. Sure, zooming around an environment is fun. But smaller environments where you have to be tactical is more satisfying. I’m not saying I want all the combat to be slow, just that some of these features (even some that I enjoy) do make the game feel more casual.

Conclusion

Mass Effect Andromeda is not the well crafted RPG that its predecessors were. At times it falls victim to the same problem Fallout 4 does, becoming more of an action game. I’m sure some people really enjoyed it. For me though, I’m hoping for a more immersive, mature Mass Effect game that goes closer to its roots and can expand on the rich lore forged in the original trilogy. Andromeda can be a fun distraction, but it never feels meaningful and I didn’t much care for the characters as the tone was very one note and lacking much depth. A lot of the artistic vision felt very off brand when compared to the original games. Such as the combat suits not looking like anything in previous Mass Effect games. Picture this, you go to a hospital and your Doctor is wearing their belt so it misses a belt loop, making one side of the belt fall lower. If you’d struggle to take them seriously, well you’re not alone. Your team feels like a group of trendy young adults, instead of the highly trained professionals they claim to be. Additionally, whether or not you found Ashley or Kaidan attractive, they were in no way airbrushed in the same way Cora and Liam were. Andromeda didn’t feel like it was made for me or other long time fans of the franchise. The focus was on appealing to a more casual audience, resulting in a very forgettable and generic sci-fi game that lost most of its Mass Effect identity.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a narrative driven, sci-fi/fantasy, RPG comprising three games and their DLC. The game is rated 18 for violence, bad language and gambling. It should be noted that the gambling does NOT involve real world money. Mass Effect Legendary Edition is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Initial release date 14 May 2021.

Disclaimer

I have completed Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3 but not the remaster. As I have spent a long time with the trilogy already and completing it, I decided to play for a few hours in each game to get an overall feel of what the remaster was like. Also this review may contain moderate spoilers.

Graphics

Right off the bat Mass Effect 1 looks the best it ever has. It being the oldest, you’d hope for the most improvement and it certainly delivers with better lighting and more detail. I always thought the default male Shepard looked as if he were made of plastic, similar to an Action Man figure but now he looks human and the galaxy is a better place for it. I’ve heard some people say that certain characters look a little more creepy in the first game now, such as Anderson. I didn’t notice it at first, but now I’ve seen it I can’t unsee it. Overall though the visual improvements are very much appreciated. Even the third game, which already looked good has been made to be a lot sharper. When playing I only experienced some frames lost in one section of Mass Effect 2 but even then it wasn’t much of an issue and I found the trilogy to run smoothly for the most part.

Gameplay

There are six playable classes in each game; adapt, soldier, engineer, vanguard, sentinel and infiltrator. These will affect weapon proficiency along with equipment and armour available to the player. I played as a soldier because I enjoy gun play. For this reason, I was locked out of using bionics and tech abilities. I mostly play Mass Effect for the story and to roleplay but do enjoy the combat. Even in the remaster, the first instalment does show its age in how combat works. It was never awful in my opinion, the focus was just more on being a roleplay rather than an action game. This changed with the second and third instalments to the franchise. Many consider Mass Effect 2 to be their favourite out of the trilogy, striking to what they see as the perfect balance between roleplay and action. I personally prefer the first game in part because of some small quality of life features like; being able to crouch, toggle walking and the grenade system. But, that’s one of the things that is great about this trilogy. There is so much to each game and they all have their own identity in both gameplay and tone. While I disagree that the second game is better, I can fully appreciate why someone would feel that way.

Being Commander Shepard, you have command of your squad that’s made up of two NPCs. Squad mates can be used strategically; telling them where to go, who to attack and what weapon to use. But it’s usually ok to ignore this entirely if you want to. I really enjoy this, as NPCs follow the same class system that you have to follow. This is great because it makes room for experimenting and using squad mates together can feel very rewarding.

Mass Effect 2 and 3 really expanded on combat, with Mass Effect 2 adding a heavy weapon type and Mass Effect 3 going all out making the weapons feel bulky and even letting you hijack a mech. According to BioWare the AI was improved for the remaster but I didn’t notice much difference. The command HUD is simple to use. From there you can select your weapon, order your squad and change your quick slot. You are able to do most of these things outside of the command HUD but it’s still very useful and who doesn’t like choice in how they play? The only complaint I have is that you can’t assign a hotkey/quick access slot to weapons. It can be jarring having to either cycle through weapons you don’t want to use to get to the one you do, or step out of the action and go into the command HUD to select your weapon. But really that’s my main issue followed by the sometimes nonsensical AI. The Mako in Mass Effect 1 has also been improved. It can still be somewhat awkward to control but it is better. I  didn't think it deserved as much slack as it got and have always enjoyed it to explore but that’s where I’m coming from when writing this review.

A much welcome addition to the trilogy is photo mode which allows players to take some really great shots of the game and let out their creative side. It’s a feature that more games would really benefit from as it adds another way for community interaction. Props to the photo mode community because they can produce some really awesome visuals.

The Roleplay

Mass Effect has always been known for telling intriguing stories, character development and meaningful choices. If you’re jumping in for the first time, this is a great way to see why. Voice acting is solid across the board and partly why players have such strong attachments to characters and the franchise. The trilogy uses a paragon/renegade system, where the player can be morally good or bad in certain situations through speech options and quick time events. There are also neutral speech options to investigate what interests you as well as add to the overall role play aspect. Depending on your choices, characters will react to Commander Shepard differently and if you make certain choices some characters might die. This isn’t exclusive to minor side characters but also your companions, who you’ll likely form some sort of attachment to. For a game with so many decisions to make with meaningful consequences, it’s ironic that the ending of the trilogy is where most of the criticism is directed at for not taking this approach. 

Customisation is for many people key for an RPG. Mass Effect Legendary Edition does have this. With a character creation system that is the same for all three games, being able to pick between a male and female Shepard and some choices (albeit limited) of clothing, make Shepard a somewhat versatile character. This really works because unlike some RPGs Mass Effect isn’t trying to say be anyone. It has a set story that it want’s to tell and your job is to fill in the details and discover what happened to those close to Shepard, learn about and explore the often harsh galaxy they inhabit.

As mentioned earlier each game has their own tone and feel. One of your main antagonists in the first Mass Effect game is the bureaucrats. While Shepard faces many deadly foes, it’s the council that consistently gets in the commander's way. Mass Effect 2 is more cloak and dagger, with emphasis on the shady underworld and those who are more than happy to profit off of someone else’ suffering. In the third instalment there’s a lot more urgency, with the Reapers invading whole planets and nowhere truly being safe. The danger is prolonged with many characters still having their own motives and putting self interest above all else, or simply see the Reaper threat as a moot point if other factors aren’t being addressed. Shepherd's mission is desperate and in a time where our own Reaper in the form of global warming is destroying the lives of many and the rich and powerful are reluctant to make progress, the game can almost feel too realistic. Throughout the series corruption is ever present, but is nowhere more apparent than in the final game of the trilogy where you see a real mixture of desperation and greed. From the corrupt elite, shady gangsters, to the more human… or alien moments, there’s so much to experience. BioWare explored many themes such as racism in ways that feel believable and layered. With these issues often having a lot of history that you can really immerse yourself in.

Conclusion

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is ultimately a good will gesture to Mass Effect and BioWare fans after being so let down by the fiasco that was Mass Effect Andromeda. This remaster is well worth the price of admission. With hundreds of hours worth of gameplay and hundreds more in exploring the lore via the codex that each game has if you get curious (which you likely will). If you decide you want to start on Mass Effect 2 or 3 you can do a quick interactive visual novel before starting to catch up on the story or just jump right into it with the default choices made. For returning players looking to relive the glory days aboard the Normandy, there really is no better way to do that. Meanwhile, if you’re new to the series, get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. With thought provoking side and main quests, tough decisions and a memorable cast of characters. You’ll see why this trilogy is truly iconic.

MultiVersus is a free-to-play brawler that takes iconic characters from different Warner Bros licenses and properties, pitting them against each other in a handful of game modes. There are currently seventeen playable characters with more on their way such as Rick and Morty. MultiVersus is rated 12 for its mild swearing and in-game purchases.

Gameplay 

When it comes to fighting games, gameplay has to be compelling, so does MultiVersus meet that expectation? For the most part.

When starting the game you have five characters you can play as; Finn, Garnet, Reindog, Superman and Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman being available once you complete the tutorial). While these are the only characters you start with, you can play as any character in The Lab, which is essentially MultiVersus’ training area. Each fighter fits into one of five classes; bruiser, tank, mage, assassin and support. 

As of writing this the amount of game modes is underwhelming, with two main ways to play, against bots and normal. Against bots has three modes; 1v1, teams (2v2) and FFA (free for all). Normal has four, the ones available with bots as well as co-op vs AI. Other similar games have challenges such as fighting waves of enemies that spawn highly damaged and are easy to kill, the challenge being how many you can defeat in a set time or having one giant boss fight or even using your fighter to attack a punching bag and see how far you can make it go. The lack of modes feels uninspired and bland. With only four different gameplay modes, there is little reason to play it as much as other games on the market.

MultiVersus is easy to pick up and play, ideal for casual gamers while also being enjoyable for veterans of the genre who might be more competitive. There are two types of attacks, normal and special. These will vary depending on how you’re moving. For example directing your character left and using your special attack will result differently to if you were to use your special attack while crouching. Some characters allow the player to charge attacks to increase the power which forces you to make a choice, do you charge your attack and possibly be interrupted or do use a quicker attack that will be weaker but less likely to fail. The ability to quickly dodge also gives fighters more flexibility on how they play, being more aggressive or defensive. I for example dodge a lot with some success, misdirecting an opponent, but have also lost my share of matches from people who don’t dodge as much. If you’re familiar with the Super Smash Bros franchise you will be right at home in MultiVersus as players have a number under their fighter similar to the percentage meter in Smash, where the higher the number the easier it is to launch them off the map and gain a kill. For the most part I found MultiVersus to handle well, there were times where my character felt a bit stiff but wasn’t an issue that was game breaking. 

Players are also able to unlock perks and equip up to four at a time. Some of the perks are character specific and a lot more powerful than others which might be something to keep an eye on, especially for more competitive players getting into the game late. Speaking of perks, MultiVersus is clearly set around team play which you will either love or not be too fond of. This is seen in the types of perks that add buffs and stack if a teammate has the same perk equipped, the class system promotes teamwork by moves that can be used to aid teammates for example preventing them from falling off the map. If you’re playing with friends you are certain to have a blast, not only experimenting with the variety of move sets but also how to use them together to get the best results. That said if you’re more of a solo player there is less to try out and the game runs the risk of neglecting that portion of the player base. Connectivity was also a none issue, loading times in my experience were quick as was finding a match and I didn’t experience any problems with connection.

Free-to-Play

It’s no secret that the free-to-play formula is disliked by many gamers. MultiVersus tries to be as consumer friendly as possible while still using a predatory business model. For the most part MultiVersus gets it right; I wouldn’t class it as pay to win as characters and perks are unlockable, perks cannot be bought and there is a good time to be had without spending a penny. That said, it doesn’t take away from the inherent anti-consumer practices that the gaming community has sadly become accustomed to. As mentioned earlier MultiVersus isn’t pay to win, but it is pay for an advantage or at the very least pay for convenience, as you can use gleamium (the in-game purchasable currency) to unlock characters, again not a huge advantage but one that could become frustrating to players especially later on in the games life cycle when there are more characters to unlock. I want to mention that MultiVersus is rated 12 and a large portion of the player base will be under the age of eighteen which can lead to kids spending their parents money without them knowing and could also be seen as using guardians' kids as emotional leverage to make in game purchases and spend a lot of money over time. I spoke to one mum who asked to remain anonymous who said “my son is obsessed with dinosaurs and plays a game about them on my phone. You start with some already unlocked and each dinosaur has their own facts. His favorite wasn’t one of the free ones and he started crying, wanting to have his favorite. Eventually I gave in because I hate to see him like that, he’s two.”

I'm not saying that kids by default shouldn’t be a target market or that any products marketed towards children are inherently wrong, but this feels sneaky. Because it’s not just one substantial game where you spend more but get a lot for your money at an upfront cost. It draws kids, vulnerable people and those who likely don’t have the best financial situation in with the allure of being free-to-play then tempts people, especially children and carers to spend a lot of money for a small add-on and then another small add-on and so on. With currently three different founder’s packs ranging from £32.99/$40, £49.99/$60 and £72.99/$100, with the least expensive one only offering character unlocks (that you can do anyway by just playing the game), 300 gleamium and 1 exclusive rare banner. To put that into perspective 300 gleamium isn’t enough to unlock a single fighter. 

Sure MultiVersus is far from the worst offender when it comes to predatory business practices in the gaming industry, but is that really good enough? 

Maps and Characters

Maps are a very limited area, which is a problem exacerbated by how forgetful and similar most of them are. The Batcave, Scooby's Haunted Mansion and Cromulons are my personal favorites. But even then, the layout and overall feel doesn’t change enough to make a match on one different to the rest and other than some really nice touches they’re still a bit too familiar. It would be interesting to see more environmental hazards, bigger, more open maps and maybe more stuff going on in the background because currently the maps aren't a real highlight. That said, the soundtrack for the game is very strong. The way songs have been remixed to sound familiar while also being action packed is a great way to build atmosphere.

Character design is pretty solid. Most of them hold up really well being brought into a 3D space where they might have originally been 2D. Player First Gamers and Warner Bros. Games have stayed true to the source material and fans of the current properties featured will be impressed with characters overall look and attacks. Not to mention the amazing voice acting with favourites like Maisie Williams, Tara Strong, Kevin Conroy, John DiMaggio, Matthew Lillard and more reprising their roles. It really feels like the game does have some heart and makes it feel more authentic. That said there are some not so great character designs, I have seen a lot of discourse around Steven Universe not looking quite right and also having a different voice actor.

Verdict

MultiVersus has a lot of potential and offers a slight twist on the genre. The characters stand out from one another, combat is engaging and it does feel like a lot of passion and creativity has gone into it. That said it is still in beta and there are some bugs and things that need to be ironed out and as of now a lot that needs adding. With some things such as characters showing real creativity, while others like the maps and game modes feeling like the bare minimum. Again this is the beta, so I do expect it to improve. As for micro-transactions the jury is still out on how consumer friendly it is, as only time can really tell. But it does use the free-to-play model which I can’t advocate or support and would have much preferred a more polished traditional full price game.

There is a lot this game could be and I want that. Hearing Arya Stark trash talk Superman is exciting and I have had moments in-game that are a glimpse into what this game could become. The charming art style that makes me nostalgic of Saturday morning cartoons of days gone. The current roster of fighters, while limited, are fun and recognisable and Warner Bros do have the potential to add more iconic characters for both younger and older players. So I guess I'm hopeful but it’s a very mixed bag. What’s on offer is an enjoyable foundation and worth checking out. I just hope they can build on it and work with the community to make pricing more consumer friendly.