Frantics at MEATMission

For those who know me well, they will tell you how much I like to get round the Big Smoke especially if involves good burgers and drinks.

My recent escapades in London took me to MEATMission in Shoreditch. I’m sure MEATMission needs no introduction. Well-known purveyors of mouth-watering upmarket burgers, these guys have chains all across London from MEATMarket in Covent Garden to MeatLiquour in Bond Street.

This one in Shoreditch is particularly striking for its quirky decor and its done a grand job in including many of the features of this former mission building from stained glass and salvaged-wood tables.

But it wasn’t just for the upmarket burgers and hot-dogs I was here for. I was here see the launch of Frantics, a brand new game for PlayStation 4.

As a kid, I loved computer games and I still am a huge PlayStation fan. I don’t usually get these invites so, when I saw an invitation from the lovely peeps at We Are Romans and PlayStation, I jumped at the chance. To be honest, I was already sold when the night promised beers, burgers and games.

Exclusive to PlayStation, Frantics is about controlling your rascally character and fighting your way to glory against your mates or family over 15 wacky mini-games.

These mini-games can be anything from frenetic action arena brawls to strategic turned based games to wacky races. If I could, I would invite all my mates for an all-nighter. Alas, we don’t live in an ideal world, but I still got to play these fun little mini-games:

• Dough Knights – I had to collect as many doughnuts as we can within a time limit in a jousting arena where others can jab and ram each other out of the way.
• Bomb slingers  – I avoid falling bombs in an action turned arena – preferably by throwing them at your opponent.
• Friendless Runner – be the first to cross the finish line through a track full of random and fiendish obstacles set up by the dastard fox.

Throughout, the fox is your host. But he’s not just the face of the game He’s there to stir trouble up using bribery and cryptic messages sent directly to your phone (and just you) and give you the upper hand. You’re encouraged to sabotage and backstab your way to glory with his helping.  Just remember he’s probably doing the exact same thing for your rivals.

Games are always better when you play with your mates. With Frantics, up four players can fight, sabotage and brawl their way to bragging rights as king of PlayStation.

We’ve all been there before when there aren’t enough controllers for everyone to join in the fun. But this is 2018, and with Frantics, you can use your smartphone or tablet to control the rascals onscreen to swipe, tilt, swing, shake, flick, snap your way to victory. using the genius PlayLink system.

PlayLink games are all about games that everyone can enjoy. So, I reckon even my parents, who can barely work out how to turn a computer on can play (probably).

I’ve been out of the game for a long time, but I quickly learned that Frantics is a game for everyone. But with Frantics, it’s a level playing field so, even the casual gamer like me knows what he’s doing. So if you’re organising a party with the chums on a weekend, this game is ideal. It can be competitive but in the best and fun possible way and super easy to play. It’s refreshing to see Playstation to mix it up a bit and produce a title aimed at groups and family rather than the hardcore gamers.

To my readers, have you played the game? Give me a shout and tell me what you think.