STACK #204 Oct 2021

GAMING REVIEWS

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NBA 2K22

SPORTS MULTIPLAYER

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2K’s official NBA experience is back for another go round and, like last year, brings different packages for new-gen and previous generation consoles. Whether it’s the “advice” shouted at you by fans while you’re taking a free throw, or the fresh take

on the RPG-like MyCareer mode, there are plenty of new turns on the NBA 2K22 road. Every year we wait anxiously to see how the changes 2K have made will play out. One thing

ALLEY-OOP! Unlike last year, NBA 2K22 isn’t offering free upgrades between versions. If you’re waiting on a new-gen machine to arrive sometime in the next 12 months, you’ll want to invest in the 75th Anniversary Edition , which gives access to both generations, as well as some handy timesaving bonuses.

that’s more noticeable than most is the game speed. Where once it was a high octane, end-to-end, basketball highlights reel, now we

Philadelphia 76ers and their stellar defensive line-up, particularly hard to play against. Previously you had to worry most about superstar scorers dunking on you; now you also have to worry about not being able to respond once the shots start flying. It’s a fantastic change that means shot blockers and top tier defenders are much more valuable assets. Allowing hot action on both ends of the court evens out the overall experience, which makes for less blowout score lines and more tight, competitive gameplay. Shooting the ball, with the new shot timer, is a challenging minigame in its own right. And boy do the slow-motion replays of dunks and slapped-out blocks look spectacular! NBA 2K22 is one of, if not the, best-looking sports sims going around, and well worth the price of admission. DN

have a deliberately slowed down, technical beast. There’s no more barging through every contest, or dominating the court with ankle-breaking ease. Highlights include the movement controls, and trick moves becoming easier to access. NBA 2K22 also brings in more dynamic defending, with chase-down blocks and shot contests being much more effective. This makes some teams, like the

LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS

ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER

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The hugely popular interactive story series returns – this time a full-length tale that puts Life Is Strange back on course. It’s brilliant to see Deck Nine back in the driver’s seat, with the much longer story penned by a team of four writers who are clearly well attuned to the series’ vibe. You play as Alex Chen who, having grown up in a foster home,

arrives in the town of Haven Springs for a reunion with her brother. Alex, it turns out, has a very special skill – she can see and

COLOURED STONES Music is an important element once again, with Australian duo Angus and Julia Stone providing the songs – some of which play during “zen moments” in-game so you can relax with Alex and enjoy the music.

happened and why… If you’ve not played a Life Is Strange game before, be prepared for a slow-paced, story-led, emotional experience, where key choices you make can have meaningful consequences down the track. Graphically, True Colors looks like its predecessors – the textures in these games are reportedly hand-drawn, and the overall experience sits in a strange place between reality and stylised animation. At times it’s almost like playing a moving graphic novel. Voice acting is excellent throughout, with Erika Mori’s Alex a standout – not least because it’s her first-ever voice acting role. If you’re already a fan of the original Life Is Strange and its sort-of- prequel, you’re in for a treat with True Colors – it’s a welcome return to form for the series. AH

read other peoples’ emotions. Coloured auras swirl around people to reflect their moods and feelings, and empath Alex can get inside their head to understand what they’re going through – but, in the process, she has to experience those feelings herself. Alex quickly feels at home in Haven Springs, making friends and picking up work at the local bar. But it’s not long before tragedy strikes, and Alex has to employ her empathic powers to understand what

14 OCTOBER 2021

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