Going into Ever Oasis, I expected something akin to the delightfully cute Animal Crossing series, but what I experienced was surprisingly different. Mixing the town-building and cutesy characters of Animal Crossing with action-based RPG gameplay, Ever Oasis is a hybrid of styles, but one that works brilliantly as a whole package. The first thing I…
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When I completed my first major quest line in the original Elder Scrolls Online, I promised myself one thing – I would never come back. For hours, I’d toiled, and I as I was sucked further into the world of the game, I realised that if I went too far, I would never emerge. Proving…
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The debut of Nick Murphy’s Missing Link at the Opera House was not so much a concert as it was an odyssey – a journey through the life and death of Chet Faker, and his rebirth as Nick Murphy. Much has already been said about the change in Murphy’s moniker, but from the opening moments…
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WWE Superstar, rapper and film star John Cena is set to tour Australia’s east coast in July for a series of world exclusive evenings, where he’ll be discussing his life and career. Fans will be able to hear Cena’s untold story in his own words, from his childhood aspirations to his eventual rise in the professional wrestling…
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RiME is a game that plays it’s cards close to it’s chest. Waking on a mostly deserted island, the games protagonist is seemingly lost, and must find his way through the island, conquering puzzles as he travels. RiME is largely guided by its mystery, as players seek to discover the secrets of the boy, the…
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Last week, I was given the opportunity to journey into the newest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online, and explore the island of Vvardenfell, the gorgeous Vivec City and the surrounding mountains. For those who follow The Iris on Twitter or Instagram, you may be aware of the beautiful trip a number of Australian games…
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The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is the newest chapter in the content-driven MMO franchise, and adds new depth and story to the ever-growing Elder Scrolls universe. Revisiting the beloved world of Morrowind will be both familiar and new to Elder Scrolls fans, and provides new and beautiful cities for players to explore. Given the legacy…
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I will admit to have very little prior experience with the Fire Emblem franchise, having deliberately avoided the series due to its deep lore and extensive history. Despite this, I largely enjoyed my time with its newest entry, Shadows of Valentia, which presents a simple, but surprisingly accessible story for new fans and long-time players…
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There’s nothing quite like the fear and paranoia that Prey induces the moment you step into a room of the vast Talos I station. The tension I felt while playing Prey was palpable, thanks in no small part to the edge-of-your-seat atmosphere the game builds. Through the combination of a haunting score, brilliant level design…
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What Remains of Edith Finch is the beautifully told story of titular protagonist Edith Finch as she explores her family’s mysterious history, and her connection to the family’s curse. While many might be quick to dismiss the game as ‘just another walking simulator’, what Edith Finch brings to the table is an entirely new and…
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Earlier this month, I attended Xbox Academy’s games design workshop. The workshop, part of an initiative from the Sydney Microsoft Store to foster up-and-coming Australian games development talent, teaches students the basics of the industry, fundamentals of game dev and tips for getting a foot in the door. The class was led by Jennifer Scheurle, a…
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It seems ironic that the more video games improve and grow, the more gamers yearn for the simpler classics of their past. Sure, graphics might have advanced to the point of near-photorealism, but what’s more impressive? That, or being a low polygon Australian mammal with the ability to double jump? For many, it seems the…
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Comic book stories make for some great game adaptations, with the likes of Batman: Under the Hood and Ultimate Spider-Man receiving the video game treatment. As mentioned in our previous article, XII and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction were both based on stellar comic runs, while games like Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and Injustice took only…
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In a lot of ways for me, revisiting the Kingdom Hearts franchise is a lot like coming home. The original game was one of my first Playstation 2 titles, and one that’s stuck with me for a long time. From the deep, immersive lore of the series to the unrelenting positivity and charm, Kingdom Hearts…
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Some of the first games that I ever played were desktop point and clickers, a genre that has waned in popularity ever since the introduction of console video games. From classic MS-DOS titles like The Treehouse and The Backyard to the gorgeous and cartoony Putt-Putt series, the point and click genre really ignited my passion…
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As someone new to the Persona series, the newest entry had me equal parts curious and baffled. Coming into a series with little prior knowledge or experience is a daunting experience, but Persona 5 had me wrapped around its finger from the moment it began. With the introduction of the game, which features a mysterious…
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This week, I was given a preview of the newest attraction at the Sydney Royal Easter Show – VR Land, a virtual reality experience with a host of different and exciting games. The set up at the Easter Show features several double-cabin egg pods, as well as single or three-person pods, and smaller game-based machines…
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In our final instalment, we’re looking at some of the more obscure, lesser known and forgotten titles that never got the chance to show off what made them so special. While many mourn the loss of blockbuster games, there are often great video games from smaller studios that slip under the radar and are never heard…
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Recently released photos of Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider film have sparked much attention and interest for the newest in a long line of video game films. By their very nature, video game films spark scepticism, and a hefty dose of it already accompanies the release of the film. The…
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There are two kinds of people in the world – people that will love Paradigm, and people that can’t stand to see perfection. Paradigm is everything that it needs to be – uncomfortably strange, genuinely hilarious, oddly touching and highly memorable, all at once. For a game that stars a deformed, vaguely European mutant and…
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Microsoft has announced the release of their highly anticipated Surface Studio, as well as their Windows 10 Creators Update, which will roll out on 12th April across Australia and New Zealand. The Surface Studio devices are designed to provide new, more flexible ways of creating, and will be coming to Australian and New Zealand markets…
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A new teaser trailer and accompanying poster has been revealed for upcoming sci-fi Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets from The Fifth Element director Luc Besson. The film is based on the popular French science fiction comic series Valérian and Laureline, and takes place in the distant 28th century, where Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara…
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In our last two installments, we explored a slew of major franchises with promising games abandoned before they ever saw the light of day. From the enigmatic ambition of Peter Molyneux’s Fable franchise, to the never realised depths of the Pirates of the Caribbean games, it’s clear that even the most popular franchise often suffer…
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Growing up playing video games, there was never any need to pay more after an initial purchase. You’d walk down to your local Toys”R”Us, pick up your brand new copy of Digimon World 3, plonk it in the disc drive of your scratched up PlayStation and you’d be off. If there was an issue with…
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Transmission Films have announced that the brilliant BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy will be travelling across Australia to promote his upcoming film, Their Finest with special event screenings in Sydney and Melbourne in April. “The opportunity to host an actor as beloved as Bill Nighy is an absolute privilege,” said Transmission Films…
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The Spanish Film Festival has just revealed the stellar line-up for its 20th anniversary, with a star-studded line-up of films featuring performances from Penélope Cruz, Steve Coogan, Maribel Verdú and Rob Brydon in a new installment of The Trip, alongside a whole plethora of brilliant Spanish films. The centrepiece film this year will be Berlinale…
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Sony Interactive Entertainment Australia is today celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Playstation Store and a full decade of downloads with great sales across a wide range of titles. To mark the momentous occasion, players can enjoy the ‘Only on Playstation’ sale, now live on the PS Store until April 5th. On sale are a…
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The team at Microsoft Store, Sydney have today announced an exciting new opportunity for Australian students with a passion for gaming and graphics. Xbox Academy will be a videogame-fueled educational establishment opening its doors in April to a multi-talented student cohort of designers and developers. In partnership with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Australia’s most…
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Games projects are abandoned for a variety of reasons, from financial loss and over-ambition, to corporate meddling, and sometimes, it’s a little something in between. Loving video games is hard sometimes, but seeing our most anticipated titles cancelled without warning is harder. Last time, we took you through some of the most disappointing cancellations in…
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Toshiba has today announced the release of the highly anticipated Portégé X20 premium convertible PC, which functions as both a notebook and tablet. The Portégé X20 comes equipped with the latest 7th Generation Intel® Core™ vPro processors, and runs on Windows 10 Pro. The Portégé X20 aims to deliver advancements in security, performance, manageability and connectivity…
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