In contrast to the sunny Tuscan countryside, Martha Is Dead is a melancholic drama with few bright aspects, but it adheres to the norms of interactive storytelling games more that we would like. Although it makes some small steps forward compared to the developers' previous game, they are not enough to make it stand toe to toe with the top representatives of the genre.
The arrival of Maiden of Black Water makes for a major addition to the PC horror games catalogue. The use of the camera in dealing with tortured spirits and the blend of fiction and folklore from Japan is delightful. The slow pace of the plot and repetition of areas, however, make Maiden of Black Water less scary and memorable than we would have liked.
Although Tails of Iron is made with care, exploration and player freedom could be emphasized much more. Thrilling combat, meagre optional content and some simplified quests strewn over a small gameworld comprise a game of contradictions. We hope it is successful enough so that we can see a more ambitious sequel at some point.
Steel Assault is one of the cases that I would compare to a good cup of coffee. Enjoyable while it lasts, but something you'll probably forget after a few days. The wide gap between difficulties and the lack of variety in its action set pieces diminish its replayability and lasting appeal.
Boasting good puzzles and solid level design, Tormented Souls doesn't break new ground, but it does well what it set out to do. It's not a game I would recommend to everyone since you have to get used to the clunky combat and the lack of guidance and be equipped with enough patience to overcome the initial difficulty barrier.
It's a shame that Cris Tales' design held promise for something grander and although it tries to do something innovative with the combat and the implications of our decisions, the end result leaves the impression of a somewhat lite version of its best influences. Maybe we'll get there on their next game.
Orcs Must Die! 3 is a highly entertaining blend of action and tower defense. Although the formula hasn't changed substantially from the previous installments in the series, the game promises unadulterated fun, especially in co-op play, and slaying orcs in creative ways is still something we'll never get tired of.
Unfortunately, this contemporary Ninja Gaiden trilogy has been surpassed by other games of the genre. Awful camera, lack of target lock-on and, at times, unfair difficulty makes this whole experience a chore. If you do not have strong nostalgia for them or are not a die-hard fan of action games, you will not miss a lot by skipping it. You would be better off playing Nioh 1 & 2, which distilled some good elements of NG resulting in a couple of vastly superior games.