Going into to Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector I had high expectations based on my experience with the first game, and I’m so happy to say that it absolutely smashed those expectations out of the park. It builds on the world and mechanics of this first game – changing and expanding enough that it feels like a fresh experience. For fans of TTRPGs, the two similar but distinct gameplay loops will scratch that mechanical itch. And for those that love storytelling, the choices you make as you play through the game will absolutely leave you eager to fire up a second playthrough to explore what happens at the end of another road.
Overall, my thoughts on the morphing feature reflect my thoughts on Project Tower as a whole. It’s a small and very ambitious project from a tiny indie team, and what they’ve accomplished is great, but it seems like a jumping off point for a bigger more fleshed out game.
Despite it’s ropey start Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is being rightly praised for being one of Asobo’s best additions to the series. Its expansive content, realism, and immersive gameplay make it a step up from the 2020 outing I loved so much. The Career Mode especially made it feel a little more game like for me, and helped me focus on a progression path to learn new aviation skills. I’m not sure if this mode is exactly what die hard flight sim enthusiasts were looking for, but hopefully the core experience from 2020 and the new in depth plane upkeep and business owning mechanics are offering something for everyone.
All in all, “Transformers: Galactic Trials” doesn’t have a lot going for it. The concept of combining racing with Transformers-style combat is intriguing, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. I think I would have preferred each mode to be separated to be honest. The Transformers themselves are generally well-represented in both visuals and audio, but the rest of the game almost screams mobile game ported to PC. There’s no microtransactions currently, but the reward box animations are so reminiscent of lootboxes I’d be surprised if they weren’t introduced later.
Ara: History Untold is absolutely gorgeous, the ambient sounds and music and event dialogue is wonderful. The focus on building and developing your nation rather than combat, alongside it's great tutorial makes it feel very accessible to newcomers, while also being a lot fun for fans of the genre.
I’ve played a lot of deckbuilders over the years, and 2024 seems to be a great year for them. Pyrene included – it’s merging of intriguing and heartfelt stories with a compelling gameplay loop make it quite difficult to put down. There’s a lot of variety and this variety ensures that each playthrough provides a fresh experience, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies and hero combinations.