Games of the week – Biomutant, Very Very Valet, Miitopia and Knockout City
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Knockout City
Platform: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre: Multiplayer
Price: £17.99
Age rating: 7+
The big hitter hits the city
For anyone who has played dodgeball – or watched the 2004 movie – it can be a brutal game. Knockout City takes it to the next level, where the principles of the real-life game are very much the same, but the rules feel like they’ve been thrown out the window. Particularly the physical boundaries, which swap a traditional boxed environment for a big, colourful city to dodge, throw, dive and much more. It’s very easy to pick up and play this competitive multi-player, and the very fact it can be enjoyed with friends and others online adds to the excitement. Some elements can be annoying though, such as how you and anyone else can essentially ram into someone and grab their ball, but that seems to be the brawl-like nature of the game. There are also some great style-up options for your crew.
Skip to the end: A bullish and bright take on a classic sporting activity that is simple to play and filled with as much adrenaline as the real thing.
Score: 8/10
Biomutant
Platform: Xbox, PlayStation
Genre: Action RPG
Price: £54.99
Age rating: 12+
Furry friends
This open-world, post-apocalyptic, kung-fu action RPG title is all about mutated animals who roam the planet, faced with a new disaster ruining the land, causing the so-called ‘Tree of Life’ to bleed death from its roots. It is certainly a broad mix of combat styles, bringing together melee, shooting and mutant ability action. You are left to make some critical choices from the offset, which will dictate where you end up ultimately in the role as a mammalian warrior, which you can customise at the beginning. The graphics and mechanics have real charm but some quests and missions are repetitive, which erodes some of the overall shine.
Skip to the end: An interesting and welcome mix of combat coupled with a beautiful open world and well-told story, but quests falter.
Score: 7/10
Miitopia
Platform: Switch
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Age rating: 7+
Saving face
Mii characters are undeniably associated with Nintendo, so it feels only natural that Miitopia, first seen on the 3DS, should make its way onto Switch. As before, it sees you create your own characters and take on a dark lord who is stealing people’s faces. The Mii creator remains the front feature, which has been upgraded with a new make-up system so you can get more creative. There is also an online feature to download other people’s creations. Gameplay itself is pretty safe, sticking to a basic turn-based system.
Skip to the end: Another Nintendo revival that builds little on its former self, though the small additions and improved visuals are welcome.
Score: 7/10
Very Very Valet
Platform: Switch
Genre: Simulation
Price: From £19.99
Age rating: 3+
Drive you round the bend
In the latest career simulation game comes Very Very Valet, taking a pretty serious job and turning it into a silly, fun frenzy, best enjoyed with friends. Of course, this is no simple parking – in fact it can quickly descend into a chaotic mess, thanks to oddities like ramps and portals. It starts fairly normal; you collect a customer’s car, before needing to place it somewhere. The customers are numbered so you can return their car to them later – though that’s hardly plain sailing, with a timer and all the obstacles that gradually come your way. If the timer runs out, the customer is abducted by UFOs.
Skip to the end: A fun co-op party game that does not take itself too seriously.
Score: 8/10
