From the onset, you are thrown into a vast and mysterious world. You will also die almost very sudden, and also very often.
The beauty of death is what makes this AAA title stand out. We were all fully aware of the hype surrounding this game, a combination of Director Hidetaka Miyazaki (of Dark Souls fame) and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, which culminated in what we are covering here today.
I waited until I had fully explored this enigmatic world before I decided to give a full scale review. So here we are, after hours upon hours, and dying upon dying, I have finally come to a conclusion on my time in a world that truly surprised me, and at many times throughout the game — shocked me.
If you have played the Dark Souls series, you had clear expectations for what a Miyazaki game was going to bring to the table. However, we got something different this time around.
Miyazaki has a formula when it comes to gaming, you die very often, and in very much sadistic and dramatic fashion. But in Elden Ring, what we received is not the typical style of gaming from the director. In terms of difficulty, it definitely has its moments where you feel as if you want to tear your hair out, but it seems to be a tad bit easier than most games in his daunting titles of death and misery.
The Dark Souls series always seemed to be lacking a bit in narrative, and not to give away too much here, but this game seems to add just that in terms of a story, which is probably due to the inclusion of Martin, which is a pretty big deal. Think about if Tolkien was able to collaborate on a video game, not making a comparison between the two, but this is just how large of a figure Martin is within our generation of storytelling.
I never found myself knowing what was going to come next, and I think what made this game so diverse and different than anything I had ever explored — was how it kept me guessing at nearly every corner.
Elden Ring does a great job of providing various degrees of exploration, surprising you at every corner as a different enemy appears, or something or someone interesting to tell a tale or provide you with a bit of entertainment as you can lose yourself outside of just side and main bosses.
The ability to use runes to level up is refreshing, and truly causes (and possibly forces you) to explore its vast lands.
With a fantastic leveling up system, which truly makes you feel accomplished after taking down a huge foe, as defeating a side boss that may seem as hard as a main one, gives such rewards in terms of runes and also equipment, you feel as if this game not only motivates you to explore, but also makes it worth your while.
What the game also brings in terms of switching up styles here, is the classes that are available upon starting this game. It is a fun and tasking dilemma to pick which class you will enter into this world as, and to this day, I think if I made the choice that truly fit my preference.
You have the ability to pick a samurai, astrologer, confessor, prisoner and vagabond. Each class has its perks, some are more geared towards magic, while others value strength and mastery of swords. I won’t get into which each brings, just because each comes with something that will surprise you and give you something more that another just will not.
The game also does a wonderful job of not sticking to just “one class”, through exploration and meeting various characters, a said physical character still has the ability to add magic to his stable of attacks. This is what also makes this game stand out, you get to a certain point where you do not even recognize your character, you have the ability to build a character that has multiple avenues of attack and abilities.
Exploration is the name of the game here, and we have not received a game with such grand exploration options since BOTW (Breath of the Wild), but this game is larger, much larger, and also much more difficult, and at every corner you must be prepared because you never know what you are up against, or what may appear literally out of thin air.
To say there is a game that rewards you this much for exploring is something I struggle with. In may open world games, the world just seems to become a repetitive mess of rinsing and repeating, just in a different looking city or next environment. Elden Ring erases this system altogether, and every new city, castle or cave looks different, and gives you a new challenge you never faced before.
Tactically, this game really tests your ability to adapt, and also gives you a sense of patience that is unlike anything we have ever seen before, rarely are you going to take out that boss the first time, no matter your level or ability. Each boss has a set of moves that causes you to memorize and adapt. This is not a new system, and many games have these level of bosses, but the diversity and options of bosses here is what sets Elden Ring apart from its competition.
There are not many games I have played in all of my years of gaming that are this rewarding, and after seeing such sparkling reviews, I was skeptical this was just one of those AAA titles that many reviewers had just become too excited for, however I am here to tell you — the hype is real, and not only is Elden Ring , but one of the best in recent memory.
You are doing yourself an injustice by not exploring the realm that is Elden Ring, if you even have a passing interest in gaming, this is the game you must dive into now.
New trailer for I Am Jesus Christ. The game will include biblical events, such as, The Last Supper and Jesus walking on water. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus in this incredible first-person retelling of the story of Christ from birth to resurrection. Perform amazing miracles, interact with a cast of biblical figures and travel around the Holy Land from Jerusalem to the Galilee. Become the Messiah in ‘I Am Jesus Christ.
New trailer for I Am Jesus Christ. The game will include biblical events, such as, The Last Supper and Jesus walking on water.
Walk in the footsteps of Jesus in this incredible first-person retelling of the story of Christ from birth to resurrection. Perform amazing miracles, interact with a cast of biblical figures and travel around the Holy Land from Jerusalem to the Galilee. Become the Messiah in ‘I Am Jesus Christ.
Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action souls-like game set in a cruel, dark Belle Époque world. All of humanity is lost in a once beautiful city that has now become a living hell filled with unspeakable horrors.
Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action souls-like game set in a cruel, dark Belle Époque world. All of humanity is lost in a once beautiful city that has now become a living hell filled with unspeakable horrors.
Release Date: 2023
Developers: Neowiz Games, Round 8 Studio
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Engine: Unreal Engine 5, Unreal Engine 4
Genre: Role-Playing video game, Adventure game, Fighting game
“Jurassic World Evolution 2” is the critically-acclaimed sequel to Frontier’s highly successful “Jurassic World Evolution” which builds upon the ground-breaking and immersive management simulation. With it came a new narrative campaign that features new tools and awe-inspiring new dinosaurs brought to life through captivating authenticity. The results and outcomes of managing your own Jurassic Park/World are now bigger and better.
Set before the dramatic events of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Dominion, you’ll experience new challenges and exciting opportunities that Massively expand the film and the scope and scale of the game itself as you help lead a brand-new enterprise in Malta. Work alongside Cabot Finch and key figures from the film, including Kayla Watts (voiced by DeWanda Wise), Soyona Santos (voiced by Dichen Lachman), Barry Sembène (voiced by Omar Sy), and Lewis Dodgson (voiced by Campbell Scott) as you set up parks across three Mediterranean locations. Establish key buildings, and trade on the dinosaur exchange to acquire more species, eggs, and even genome data. Work with both the Underground and Authorities and build trust with these organisations via various actions to unlock further opportunities such as hatchery upgrades, locations and more.
The Dominion Malta Expansion also includes a variety of new dinosaur variants and skins authentic to Jurassic World: Dominion and the PDLC launched together with a free update that offers existing players a range of new features and mechanics, but more on that later. Coastal House Media and I would like to thank Frontier and Heaven Media for providing us access to the new Expansion so that we can get our review coverage out to you all, I’m so excited to get playing the DLC as I’m such a big fan of this series of games.
if you’d like to read my In-depth review of the previous DLC The Dominion BioSyn Expansion, you can do so by clicking here.
This review may contain spoilers that are central to Jurassic World: Dominion’s plot so if you haven’t seen it, I’d recommend watching as I had a terrific time, especially with the extended version, otherwise please continue. Here’s just a taste of what the Dominion Malta Expansion will offer.
Campaign Review
The Frontier Development team have truly knocked it out of the park, especially with the scope and scale of this DLC expansion further extending what Jurassic World Dominion brought. The campaign starts with an outstanding opening cutscene narrated by DeWanda Wise’s character Kayla Watts bringing the events set before Dominion to life showcasing how the world looks with dinosaurs roaming modern-day earth and being traded on the black market.
We head to the Mediterranean in the latest DLC showcasing sunnier shores, sand, and sea which compared to the BioSyn expansion’s snowy landscape offers much richer gameplay, especially in sandbox mode. As I began to sink my teeth into this campaign, the Dominion Malta Expansion will have the player manage three parks across the Mediterranean as each location needs to be rebuilt from its decayed and dilapidated state with guidance from Cabot Finch, scientists, and Barry Sembène (voiced by Omar Sy). The locations are absolutely stunning to play through, with one island featuring a natural lagoon perfect for the aquatic dinosaurs.
The expansion also introduces a new system to the campaign which brings to life Dinosaur management through the new Acquisition Centre, which gives you access to the “Dinosaur Exchange”. This exchange truly brought an extra new layer to the gameplay, through this system you have to do some deals on the market to purchase dinosaurs, eggs, and genomes. However, you’ll have to do these exchanges with the authorities or the underground black market. The authorities are more trustworthy with their information letting you know of the selected dinosaurs’ aliments and providing reliable information prior to purchase.
The Underground however may lie and deliver an unhealthy dinosaur as they won’t disclose any information and don’t care where or how they get the dinos. All they care about is profit. However, you need to build up trust with both sides to gain a reputation with them as it’ll influence their trust meter with you, the higher the trust the more exchanges become available such as dinos, upgrades, locations, etc.
Another new feature in the “Dominion Malta Expansion” is the ability to control and steer your dinosaurs. When you’re trying to capture them, you no longer need to hit them with tranquilisers and airlift them to an enclosure. You can now use your Rangers to “herd” the dinos, calling them to you, and pointing them at the enclosure gate.
New Species And Variants
Now having had a few days playing through the expansion I’ve gotten to see the majority of the dinosaurs, especially the Dominion Malta exclusive ones. The graphic and social animations of these prehistoric creatures were outstanding and I appreciate Frontier for giving each their personality and characteristics. The four different dinosaur types are,
Atrociraptor
Known as one of the ‘designer dinosaurs’, the Atrociraptor name meaning “Savage Theif” is arguably even more dangerous than its Velociraptor cousins. They’re fast, quick, and agile and able to move through and around just about any obstacle, jump great heights and distances, and adapt to changing areas. This is another Carnivore that will surely put your park management skills to the test. The game also provides you with Atrociraptor’s iconic Jurassic World Dominion skins: Ghost, Red, Tiger, and Panthera!
Lystrosaurus
Notable for its tusks and horned beak, a Lystrosaurus name meaning “Shovel Lizard” is a genus of herbivores dicynodont therapsids from the late Permian and Early Triassic Epochs. This mammal-like reptile is a very fast learner as it gains experience much more quickly than other creatures. It lived in what’s now known as Antarctica, India, China, Mongolia, European Russia, and South Africa.
Oviraptor
Oviraptor possesses an incredibly effective jaw for their size, and was named ‘egg thief’ because they were originally thought to steal other species’ eggs! It’s since been understood to be an omnivore, though. With a distinctive head crest and feathers, it offers a unique look. It lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. Oviraptor was an Omnivore, using its powerful beak and jaws to eat meat, eggs, seeds, insects, and plants.
Moros Intrepidus
Moros Intrepidus name meaning “Harbinger of Death” was one of the smallest Tyrannosauroids to have ever existed and is only a fraction of the size of its famous relative, the T. rex. This quick and nimble hunter. Its skin was covered in small, tough scales, and its teeth were sharp and serrated. Moros Intrepidus is a formidable addition to any park, It lived in what is now known as Utah in the United States.
Also to accompany the new dinosaurs in this amazing expansion pack is that you’ll be able to enjoy and customise the iconic dinosaurs from Jurassic World Dominion’s stunning Malta setting as Allosaurus, Dimorphodon and Iguanodon will all have 2022 variants. Carnotaurus will also have a 2022 skin!
Free Update 5
Releasing alongside the Dominion Malta Expansion is Update 5, which is a free update for everyone who owns Jurassic World Evolution 2. This includes some exciting additions as well as some quality-of-life updates and bug fixes, as well as the ability to import saves from PlayStation 4 consoles to PlayStation 5 consoles, and all you need to do to access this content is update your game. The update also includes the 5 DFW Campaign maps as Challenge Levels, which will become accessible once you’ve earned earns 3, 5, 7, 9 and 2 stars across all maps in Challenge Mode. You’ll also be dealing with some brand new Challenge Conditions, which will vary across levels.
Update 5 brings brand new behaviours for tiny dinosaurs, including group attacks for Moros Intrepidus and Compsognathus on guests & goats, as well as changes to navigation logic, so that Lystrosaurus, Oviraptor, Moros Intrepidus and Compsognathus will navigate around water. There will also be some changes to collision logic for Lystrosaurus, Oviraptor, Moros Intrepidus and Compsognathus, so that they no longer collide with guests or vehicles.
Verdict
Frontier has created a phenomenal expansion for Jurassic World Evolution 2, the campaign In Malta is so immersive and engaging and adds a whole new cosmetic set of decorations and species, the four new dinosaurs are incredibly detailed. The development team have added plenty of cool new features also for the DLC and the base game Update. If you haven’t purchased the expansion, which I suggest you do if you want more from this incredible park management game.