Kieren Munn
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Writing For
Checkpoint GamingLatest Reviews
In a world were video gaming homages are all the rage now, it can be a difficult task to step out of the shadows and stand above the rest. In the wake of the Dark Souls trilogy, particularly, players are now looking for similar games that test a gamer’s skill, tenacity, and patience – one such game that has achieved this and has still managed to keep its own “soul”, as it were, is Bandai Namco’s latest release Code Vein. Having been exposed to a slew of game trailers in the lead up ...
The thirteen year-long wait for Square-Enix’s Kingdom Hearts III is finally over. The road leading up to Kingdom Hearts III has been long and winding, with several new side stories and many re-releases of previous titles; one had to wonder if we’d ever see the final chapter of Sora’s story. Arguably, it would be hard not to expect anything short of gaming perfection from a release like Kingdom Hearts III due to its lengthy production. Being a huge fan of the series, I had waited patient...
Over the last few years Sword Art Online (SAO for short) has blazed its own path through the anime world; with a story premise that video games can transport you literally into a fully immersive VR world, who wouldn’t love it? You can’t help but fawn over main protagonist Kirito and his ever increasing harem of platonic female friends as they fight their way through a slew of dungeon bosses. As a gaming series, it just lends itself to the RPG genre so well. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bul...
After the announcement of a Dragon Ball FighterZ and seeing its 2D stylised form of combat I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this latest iteration. Dragon Ball games have taken on many forms in years past, each series with its own unique spin on the popular anime’s style of battle. FighterZ, for me, has to be by far one of my favourite renditions of the series’ gaming legacy since playing my first Dragon Ball Z Budokai on the PlayStation 2 many moons ago. It’s clear that developers...
When people think of South Park most assume it’s a show about seeing who can be offended the fastest and the worst. However, as the years have progressed, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have honed the series to be more of a comedic and satiric commentary on todays’ social subjects. Their latest game The Fractured But Whole is a combination of both with a return to their classic storytelling, appearing to have fun with the South Park franchise and its themes, but also using their plat...
Anyone who asks me what my favourite type of gaming genre soon learns that role playing games are my jam. The fantastic stories, vast world exploration, and in-depth characters developed, combined with a smooth battle system, will keep me playing for hours on end. Japanese-based RPG’s in particular appeal to me in such a way that it’s hard to me to start a game and, at minimum, invest a good sixty hours of time into.
When offered the chance to review Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age and delve back into the nostalgic pit of my late teen gaming years, I’ll admit I was a tad nervous. Having last played the original over ten years ago; being the bright eyed gamer geek with little concept of honestly critiquing this role-playing game, I was not sure if fond memories and a love for this classic gaming series would be enough to keep me engaged. However, I was nothing short of blown away when returning back to...
What happens when you cross one of Japan’s most successful gaming series with a gaming developer hailed for its excellence in Hack n Slash RPG’s? Well, you get yourself a gaming gem like Dragon Quests Heroes II, that’s what happens. Returning for a second round, after its previous installment was released in 2015, Dragon Quest Heroes II was bound to be just as fun and pleasurable a game as its predecessor – and I wasn’t disappointed.
Giant demons, fast paced battles, and RPG elements, all taking place in Feudal Japan? What more could a gamer ask for in Toukiden 2? This JRPG had a lot to live up to in my mind. After seeing an innumerable amount of trailers showcasing a diverse range of gameplay aspects. After playing Toukiden 2, it felt as though the game was coasting on the popularity of another well-known Japanese gaming series – Monster Hunter. Of course not a complete carbon copy, Toukiden 2 does its best to stand ou...
Being a loyal Square-Enix fan, I had eagerly been awaiting the release of NieR: Automata since it was announced in 2014. The lead-up trailers had promised fantastic hack and slash mech battles, scenic world exploration and a unique story in which androids battled for the fate of humanity. One could argue that NieR may have been overreaching in its scope trying to encompass all this, and more, to a patiently waiting gaymer such as myself – but you’d be wrong. NieR: Automata is an exception...