Games of the week – Hidden Through Time, Totally Reliable Delivery Service, The Complex and No Way Home
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Hidden Through Time
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android
Genre: Puzzle
Price: From £2.49
The Where's Wally of gaming
Sometimes, the simple things do it best and Hidden Through Time fits right within this group. The aim is very much inspired by Where's Wally, except these are motion spaces, which developers describe as depicting a "wonderful history of our world". The difficulty gets progressively harder, requiring you to zoom, scan painstakingly slow, and even snoop into buildings as you are tasked with finding a list of different objects in each level.
The trickier ones will bug you for the rest of the day – and even make you a bit angry – but there's also something quite fulfilling about finally uncovering them. There are some hints to give you a hand, but don't expect these to help you too much. What's even greater is the Map Editor, allowing you to build your own levels and share these with other players online – and there are some really impressive creations to have a go at, providing the game with longevity.
Skip to the end: A challenge that can easily frustrate but is also satisfying once you find the required objects. The Map Editor also gives you more game for your buck, which is always welcome.
Score: 9/10
Totally Reliable Delivery Service
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
Genre: Simulation
Price: From £11.99
Who dreamed being a courier could be so fun?
If you're looking for something silly to take your mind off things, then look no further than Totally Reliable Delivery Service. Taking parcels from A to B on a map may seem like a simple feat, but it's less so if you have rag-doll physics and need to go through extremely absurd methods such as going down a hand glider to get each mission done.
Playing alone is no fun, but adding three others locally or online takes the chaos to a new level, bringing out its true, slapstick, humoured self. However, getting stuck inside objects can be frustrating and leave you wondering if it's deliberate or a game bug – we're inclined to believe it's the latter. Pop-in graphics (where elements suddenly appear as you move around the map) also fail to impress given the basic nature of the game, but the concept provides enough light entertainment to look over this.
Skip to the end: Slapstick silliness best played with others for optimal results, Totally Reliable Delivery Service is everything a courier wishes they could be – minus the bugs.
Score: 6/10
The Complex
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac
Genre: Interactive movie
Price: £9.99
A niche gaming-movie crossover
So, The Complex is not strictly a game but it is a fine example of how the line between games and movies is continually blurring, leaving the gamer or viewer (you decide which you consider yourself) to make choices for the lead, Amy, in this sci-fi thriller. Comparing it to the big budget of Netflix's Black Mirror: Bandersnatch might be unfair, despite their obvious similarities, but The Complex holds its ground with eight different endings and well-polished visuals, as well as seamless transitions between each scene.
Decisions can vary from deciding whether or not to take a phone call, to more drastic choices such as choosing who lives or dies. Gaming roots show in the relationship and personality screen, which details how you well – or not – you're getting on with others. Acting was not always very convincing, making this a more solid game entry than a movie one.
Skip to the end: A welcome addition to the interactive movie arena with real promise from the relationship and personality screen and a well-rounded storyline.
Score: 7/10
No Way Home
Platform: iOS
Genre: Adventure
Price: £4.99 per month on Apple Arcade
Space explorer we've seen all before...
Sat in an escape pod, appearing to be the only survivor of a tourist space cruise, No Way Home sets you on a journey through the galaxy to find civilisation. The principles are basic and nothing new – explore, encounter alien bad guys and strange objects, follow objectives and carry out tasks, as you go about the search for Earth. Going back and forth can be a bit tedious when completing activities but this is a minor setback. And despite your character being a little whiny, the banter between you and your robot companion fill what would otherwise be a very silent game. Visually, the cartoon artwork approach suits No Way Home perfectly but the repetitive nature of game play left us wanting regular breaks.
Skip to the end: Easy controls, simplicity and beautiful cartoon visuals not enough to make up for unoriginal concept.
Score: 6/10
