• Moving from the original’s spooky atmosphere, the game emphasises resource management and strategic combat against the Taken.
• Despite occasional pacing issues, Alan Wake 2 stands out for its creatively told, infectiously enthusiastic narrative.
• Exploring Remedy’s shared universe, the narrative adds depth to Alan Wake’s mythology, enhanced by creative storytelling techniques.
• Despite narrative complexity, the game’s blend of horror, humour, and exploration leaves players with a memorable experience.

In the realm of Remedy Entertainment’s creations, Alan Wake 2 stands as a testament to the studio’s unabashed personality, weaving a mesmerising tapestry of creative storytelling and visual extravagance. Published on October 31, 2023, by Robin Valentine, this surreal survival horror sequel doesn’t just follow the traditional big-budget game formula; it catapults players into an idiosyncratic journey, embracing Remedy’s every eccentric idea with self-indulgent flair.

Set 13 years after Alan Wake’s mysterious disappearance in the first game (spoilers!), the sequel introduces Saga Anderson, an FBI agent investigating ritual murders in the sleepy town of Bright Falls. The narrative unfolds through the parallel stories of Alan’s attempts to escape the Dark Place—a dimension of psychological nightmare—and Saga’s pursuit of the truth. The unique narrative structure allows players to switch between the two characters, crafting a personalised order of reveals and twists.

While tonally different from its predecessor, Alan Wake 2 immerses players in a proper survival horror experience, demanding resource management and strategic use of light to fend off the menacing Taken. Remedy’s expertise in combat shines through, creating tension and release with impactful gunplay. However, the game deviates from the seamless rhythm of its predecessor, focusing instead on keeping players on edge and working for moments of respite.

Despite occasional struggles with enemy deployment and pacing, the survival horror elements play only a part in the overall offering. Alan Wake 2 places a paramount emphasis on storytelling, delivering one of the most creatively told narratives in gaming. The narrative dives deep into meta territory, blurring the lines between the game’s story, Alan’s written work, and references to the real world and Remedy’s past games. Infectiously enthusiastic, the game balances overwrought ideas with humour, making it both frightening and the funniest game of the year.

The storytelling brilliance is complemented by creative techniques, including live-action sequences, investigation cork boards, and a myriad of visual and auditory elements. The ability to switch between characters becomes a pivotal aspect of the narrative, revealing fascinating connections and parallels.

Visually stunning, Alan Wake 2, powered by a beefy PC setup, maintains a mix of medium and high graphics settings for optimal performance. While the intricate narrative can be challenging to follow, the game’s exploration of Remedy’s shared universe adds depth to the Alan Wake mythology.

In the end, Alan Wake 2, stands as Remedy’s boldest experiment yet—a beautiful storm of surreal storytelling and genuinely frightening survival horror that leaves a lasting impression on players.

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About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

• RoboCop: Rogue City is a faithful adaptation of the classic 1987 film, with a few modern twists. The game is a first-person shooter with RPG elements, and it features a variety of weapons and gadgets that RoboCop can use to take down his enemies. The game also has a branching storyline, so players can choose how they want the story to unfold.
• Overall, RoboCop: Rogue City is a solid first-person shooter with a lot to offer fans of the film. The game’s visuals are impressive, and the gameplay is satisfying. However, the game’s story is a bit predictable, and the RPG elements are somewhat shallow.
• If you’re a fan of RoboCop or first-person shooters in general, then RoboCop: Rogue City is worth checking out. However, if you’re looking for a deep and engaging RPG experience, then you may want to look elsewhere.

RoboCop: Rogue City may not be flawless, but this ambitious budget shooter, inspired by the iconic ’80s film, stands out for its exceptional combat. Unlike the prevailing trend of fast-paced shooters, Rogue City breaks the mould by immersing players in the deliberate, clunky movements of the titular character, RoboCop. The surprising aspect is not just the enjoyment derived from embodying a slow-walking tank, but the evident care and thought invested in crafting this RPG shooter, even if it occasionally overlooks the satirical nature of the original film.

Set in the timeframe between RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3, Rogue City introduces players to a narrative that kicks off with a hostage situation in a corporate news building. RoboCop is called in to resolve the crisis, leading to a series of events that involve uncovering the identity of the enigmatic “New Guy,” exposing OCP’s secrets, and addressing RoboCop’s persistent malfunctions.

While the narrative may not boast stellar writing, the voice actors succeed in infusing the main characters with enough personality to keep players engaged. Notably, Peter Weller reprising his role as RoboCop adds authenticity to the experience, complete with his iconic tone and likeness.

The game ingeniously tackles the challenge of portraying RoboCop, a character not known for agility. By embracing the character’s limitations, Rogue City delivers a unique and refreshing shooter experience. Players navigate through waves of criminals, revelling in the power fantasy of obliterating everything in their path with an outlandishly powerful automatic handgun. The absence of traditional health management mechanics sets Rogue City apart, allowing players to push forward relentlessly.

Initially, the game’s ease of combat raises concerns, but as players acclimate to the mechanics, Rogue City introduces challenges with armoured thugs, well-equipped mercenaries, and relentless robots. The increasing difficulty adds depth and intrigue to later encounters.

However, Rogue City’s commitment to the power fantasy of being RoboCop clashes with the satirical tone of the original film. While the game explores RoboCop’s identity during therapy sessions, it falls short of fully embracing the deeper themes present in the source material.

Deviating from a typical first-person shooter, Rogue City adopts a smaller-budget Bethesda RPG approach. Players earn XP, level up, and can enhance stats or unlock abilities using skill points. Surprisingly, the game involves substantial interaction with the environment, including solving crimes, scanning for clues, and engaging in conversations.

The open-world aspect allows players to impact the game’s outcome by earning public trust through helpful actions. Despite some bugs and performance issues encountered during the 12-hour playtime, the game’s unique blend of RPG elements and methodical combat contributes to its memorability.

While Rogue City may not claim the title of “Game of the Year,” it remains a commendable effort by passionate developers aiming to capture the essence of RoboCop within budget constraints. Despite its flaws, the game’s slower, more deliberate combat sets it apart from recent shooters, ensuring its lasting presence in gaming conversations.

About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

Op-Ed By Rick W. Hindi

L.A. Noire is a neo-noir detective game developed by the defunct Team Bondi and published by the ever-successful Rockstar Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2011 and has since been ported to other platforms, including Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The game is set in Los Angeles in 1947 and follows the story of Cole Phelps, a LAPD detective who investigates a series of murders. It’s also the only thing that I’ve been talking about for the past couple of weeks (I sincerely apologise for my roommate).

L.A. Noire is one of the most visually stunning games ever made, and the graphics still hold up. This is mostly thanks to its groundbreaking facial animation technology. The game’s characters are able to display a wide range of emotions, from subtle facial expressions to full-blown outbursts. And although this might sound daunting, the gameplay itself is quite simple in concept, but works perfectly for allowing players to choose their own direction during investigations. Evidence and clues can be missed or overlooked and information and hunches can be confirmed or rectified by heading to locations connected to persons of interest or the crime.

L.A. Noire’s interrogation mechanic is one of its most unique and innovative features, it blew the fan off of my PS3 in 2011 and it continues to blow my mind to this day. NPC faces are modelled after real actors to produce realistic facial expressions that indicate whether someone is lying or telling the truth (more on said actors later). 

Players can miss information or even arrest the wrong person if they don’t question witnesses and suspects effectively or if they overlook important evidence. This means that while cases have a correct ending, players can come to different conclusions, including the wrong ones, and admittedly, the only thing that will suffer is your sleep – the game won’t punish you for sending James Tiernan to deathrow but your conscience will, or should.

During interrogations, players must carefully observe the suspect’s facial expressions and body language to determine whether they are lying. This adds a layer of tension and excitement to the game, as players must use their detective skills to solve the cases, and – you know, you need evidence. 

L.A. Noire’s gameplay-first approach sets it apart from other detective games. While many detective games focus on overarching stories, L.A. Noire centres around the experience of being a detective. This is reflected in the game’s gameplay, which gives players the freedom to investigate cases at their own pace and come to their own conclusions. In L.A. Noire, each case feels like its own contained story, with its own unique challenges and rewards.

This keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, as players never know what to expect next. In contrast, other detective games tend to be more linear, with players simply following along for the ride. L.A. Noire’s dichotomy of telling the story of a detective and being a detective is what makes it one of the best detective games ever made. 

We also cannot ignore the fantastic acting that we’ve seen in the game; a shocking number of actors who’ve worked on Mad Men found themselves in L.A. Noire, with Aaron Staton, who played the big-hearted Ken Cosgrove, playing the main character, and all around good cop/mentally unstable cop/possibly-tap-dancing-expert cop, main protagonist, Cole Phelps. 

I personally have a bittersweet feeling about Aaron Staton, he’s an idol of gaming characters, especially amongst the fans of L.A. Noire, often dubbed as one of the most realistic characters in video game history, with acting that could have easily won awards in L.A. Confidential (1997) or Chinatown (1974). On the other hand, he is yet to escape this typecast. Searching for the material used in this blog, one cannot help but notice a hail of “Cole Phelps, Badge Number 1247” comments. As far as I’ve found, he’s been in a few indie flicks since the completion of Mad Men in 2015 as well the cancelled reboot of the Right Stuff (2020)

Circling back to the bitterness of, L.A. Noire, it is not without its flaws. The game’s gameplay can be repetitive at times, and the lack of innovation in some areas may deter some players. Another criticism of L.A. Noire is that its story is not as tightly paced as it could be. There are some slow sections in the game, and the ending may feel rushed to some players (I personally wanted more). 

Furthermore, the city is … lonely. Although 1947’s Los Angeles is considered the perfect rendition of digital time-travel and tourism, there’s something solidly upsetting about the content. Chinatown has nothing to do with China, even Gun (2005) did a better job at the diversity based on region. The perfectly detailed streets feel false, like a simulator running out of CPU, and the map’s GPS is worse than Barbie’s Horse Adventures. More unfortunate being that these issues weren’t remedied in the remastered version. 

Despite its flaws, finding a copy of L.A. Noire last month was like finding an unfinished love letter that you’ve never sent. A time capsule of a gorgeous dream, an era when things were more hopeful, experimental and absolutely ambitious in the world of gaming, and 12 years later, no one has yet come close to recapturing that thrilling sense of adventure in developing nor narrative. It may not be perfect, but it’s mine to relive and re-experience, and that’s what matters. Phelps, Badge 1247, signing off for now. 

About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

By Rick W. Hindi

Dark Souls is one of the most acclaimed and influential video game series of all time, but it didn’t come out of nowhere. There were a number of games that came before Dark Souls that helped to pave the way for its success, and in this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable ones (and yes, we’re aware that Demon’s Souls is one of those games but it doesn’t count).

Severance: Blade of Darkness

Severance: Blade of Darkness is a 2001 action role-playing game developed by Rebel Act Studios and published by Codemasters, it’s also the reason why I couldn’t sleep for a month in the 6th grade out of sheer frustration. The game is set in a dark fantasy world and features brutal combat, challenging environments, and perishable weapons. It’s no wonder that many gamers consider Severance to be a precursor to Dark Souls.

One of the most unique aspects of Severance’s combat system is the ability to use the dismembered body parts of slain enemies as weapons. This adds a gruesome but satisfying element to the game’s gameplay. Unfortunately, Severance was never a commercial success, but it has since gained a cult following among fans of hardcore action RPGs. It’s also been uploaded and optimised for Steam, as well.

King’s Field

King’s Field is a first-person dungeon crawler developed by FromSoftware and released for the PlayStation in 1994. It is the first game in the King’s Field series, which is considered to be a spiritual predecessor to the Souls series.

King’s Field features many of the same core elements as Dark Souls, including difficult combat, challenging exploration, and a deep backstory. The game also features a stamina metre, which is another staple of the Souls series.

While King’s Field was not a critical or commercial success in the West, it was very popular in Japan. The game’s success led to the development of two sequels, King’s Field II and King’s Field III.

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular and influential video game franchises of all time. While the Zelda series is not typically associated with the Souls genre, it did have a significant impact on the development of Dark Souls.

Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki has cited Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link and Ocarina of Time as two of the games that inspired him to make video games. Miyazaki has praised the Zelda series for its brutal combat experience, deep lore, and increased combat difficulty from Zelda 2 onwards.

While the Zelda games that inspired Dark Souls may not have had as vast lands to explore as Demon’s Souls, they did check two other important “Soulslike” criteria: deep lore and challenging combat.

Severance: Blade of Darkness, King’s Field, and The Legend of Zelda are just a few of the games that helped to pave the way for the success of Dark Souls. These games all featured elements that would later become staples of the Souls genre, such as difficult combat, challenging exploration, and deep lore. If you’re a fan of Dark Souls, then you should definitely check out some of the games that inspired it. You won’t be disappointed.

About us: Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

Konami’s recently released Metal Gear Solid: The Master Collection has been met with some criticism from fans, due to its performance issues on PC and Switch. The game is locked at 30 FPS on all platforms, and it has been reported to experience frame drops and stuttering on both PC and Switch.

PC Performance Issues

On PC, the game’s performance issues seem to be most noticeable during cutscenes and gameplay sequences that are heavy on particle effects. Some players have reported that the game is unplayable at times, with frame drops that can dip below 10 FPS.

One of the main causes of the performance issues on PC seems to be the game’s Denuvo anti-cheat software. Denuvo has been known to cause performance issues in other games, and it seems to be no different here. Some players have reported that disabling Denuvo in the game’s settings can improve performance significantly.

Another possible cause of the performance issues on PC is the game’s optimisation. The game seems to be poorly optimised for PC, and it is possible that Konami will release a patch in the future to improve performance.

Switch Performance Issues

On Switch, the game’s performance issues seem to be most noticeable in handheld mode. The game runs at 720p in handheld mode, and it can experience frame drops and stuttering during gameplay. The performance of the game in docked mode is better, but it is still not perfect. The game runs at 1080p in docked mode, but it can still experience frame drops and stuttering during gameplay, especially during cutscenes.

Overall, the performance of Metal Gear Solid: The Master Collection is disappointing on both PC and Switch. Konami has not yet addressed the performance issues, but it is hoped that they will release a patch in the future to improve performance. And I don’t know about you but I’m not paying 60 USD for the collection I already bought 10 years ago.

About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

Video games are a great way to have fun and relax, but not everyone is able to play traditional video games. This is where accessible games come in. Accessible games are designed to be enjoyed by people with all abilities, including those with disabilities.

There are many different types of accessible games available, from simple puzzle games to complex RPGs. Some games are designed to be accessible from the start, while others can be customised to meet the needs of individual players. There’s a dedicated website for disabled gamers to check games’ accessibility.

Here are a few examples of games that are accessible to everyone, according to our employees at Tamatem:

Celeste

Celeste is a very challenging platformer game that is also very accessible. The game features a variety of options that can be customised to make the game easier or more difficult, depending on the player’s needs. Celeste also has a feature called “Assist Mode” which allows players to slow down the game, turn on infinite stamina, and more.

Undertale

Undertale is an RPG game that is known for its unique combat system. Players can choose to kill or spare the enemies they encounter, and their choices have a real impact on the story and ending. Undertale also has a feature called “Battle Mode” which allows players to skip battles entirely.

What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch is a first-person narrative game that tells the story of the Finch family, a cursed family with a history of tragic deaths. The game is very accessible, with features such as subtitle customisation, text size customisation, and colorblind mode. In addition, the game has no combat whatsoever and focuses mostly on uncovering the story at your own pace.

Firewatch

Firewatch is a first-person adventure game in which the player takes on the role of Henry, a fire lookout stationed in Wyoming. The game is very accessible, with features such as subtitle customisation, text size customisation, and controller remapping.

The Last of Us Part II

The Last of Us Part II is a third-person action-adventure game that is known for its immersive gameplay and its powerful story. The game is very accessible, with a wide range of options that can be customised to meet the needs of individual players. The Last of Us Part II also has a feature called “Assisted Gameplay” which allows players to adjust the difficulty of the game, turn on auto-aim, and more. Although this author thinks that The Last of Us Part II is an excessively violent game that could turn away many players, the options above are highly praised nonetheless for their customisability.

These are just a few examples of games that are accessible to everyone. With the growing popularity of accessible gaming, there are more and more games being released that are designed to be enjoyed by people with all abilities.

About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.

Video games are a powerful medium that can teach us about different cultures in a fun and engaging way. By playing games that are set in different parts of the world and feature characters from different cultures, we can learn about their customs, traditions, and values. Here are a few games that teach us about different cultures, at least according to Tamatem Employees: 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is an action role-playing game set in ancient Greece. The game allows players to explore the vast and beautiful world of Greece, and to learn about its rich history and culture. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a great way to learn about the ancient Greeks, their way of life, and their beliefs.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is an action-adventure game that takes players to different parts of the world, including Madagascar, Scotland, and Italy. The game features a diverse cast of characters, and it allows players to learn about the different cultures that they encounter. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a great way to learn about different parts of the world and their cultures.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The game features a unique and beautiful world that is inspired by Native American culture. Horizon Zero Dawn is a great way to inspire others to learn about Native American culture and its values.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence is an action-adventure game set in mediaeval France during the Black Death. The game allows players to experience the horrors of the plague and to learn about the way of life in mediaeval France. A Plague Tale: Innocence is a great way to learn about mediaeval French culture and the challenges that people faced during the Black Death.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game set in feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion. The game allows players to explore the beautiful island of Tsushima and to learn about Japanese culture. Ghost of Tsushima is a great way to learn about feudal Japanese culture and the samurai code of honour.

These are just a few examples of games that teach us about different cultures. By playing these games, we can learn about different parts of the world and their cultures, and we can develop a greater appreciation for diversity.

About us:

Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.