It is easy to lose a lot of time in Portal Knights. The gameplay is really addictive and feels free, rewarding, and varied. It is, however, poorly balanced later on. It truly feels like the game at times artificially extends its own playtime, something that should not be required in an open world sandbox title, even if it has strong ARPG influences. The overall experience is so great, though, that it is easy to forgive it for that.
It is refreshing to see something that feels fresh in a genre that often sadly feels all too similar, and the ingenious part is that the developer has simply taken familiar elements to do this. Anyone who has ever played any Magic: The Gathering-inspired TCG is going to feel right at home with the card structure, but the board adds much complexity in a form rarely seen in the genre. This complexity and single-player makes it a perfect game for both veterans and newcomers to the genre who want to dip their toes in the deep waters and get a fully competitive experience.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack is a mix of many small and elegant changes that ultimately helps the core game becoming the best it can be - the best sort of expansion in other words. On top of that, there is the new meaty prestige system that really helps shape the officer life into a much more entertaining experience than in the core game and could easily have been sold on its own. This makes it a mandatory expansion to own for both veterans and new players alike if they are looking for the best possible experience.
Creative and colourful are two words that perfectly sums up both the spirit and gameplay of de Blob. It is refreshing to enter a more open 3D platformer in which there are several ways to proceed through, rather than going on a preset route, or fail doing so. The challenges are neatly balanced with the rewards, and the way it is possible to instantly retry something without any requirements to do so means that even the more difficult challenges feels fair and rewarding rather than punishing. If looking for a game that plays with you rather than against you, this is a warm recommendation.
Just Dance 2018 does not offer much new, but it truly does not have to at this point. The things it does offer adds to the already great experience in unexpected ways. The mojo gashapon adds yet another addictive component to the mixture of feel-good-hormones the game has offered for ages in a way that is obviously clever once explained. What players are here for, though, is the fun and addictive dance gameplay, which is as strong as ever with the ever growing Unlimited library. This makes Just Dance 2018 well worth a go for fans and newcomers alike.
Pinball FX3: Universal Classics Pinball is a very solid pinball pack offering three tables that offer varied experiences. At least one table will catch the flavour of almost any pinball player with the wide appeal of the package. The faithfulness to the movies mixed with the usual Zen Studios quality makes this an easy purchase for pinball fans and Universal movie fans alike.
If you are into puzzle-platformers, why are you reading this instead of playing Sling Ming right now? Sling Ming is an extremely creative experience, rivalling many great names in the pure enjoyment stakes, and comes with unique gameplay that is not found elsewhere. It is certainly a must-buy for all fans of the genre, no matter if people want some casual fun or rather prefer brain-teasing puzzles to keep their minds sharp.
It is a wonderfully designed point-and-click adventure that truly plays on the emotions, with players having to make tough choices where no option is really good or fully satisfying, just like in real life. This being set in a Supposedly Wonderful Future adds much to the experience as it both opens up for interesting choices with unfamiliar topics, but also shows of a great cynicism, and at times hope and curiosity.
It is a good game that completely lacks mass appeal. If just wanting to dip the toes into the farming experience there are far better options out there, but for farming or simulator enthusiasts, a great game awaits to fulfil that sweet spot that only a great simulator can do.
While the gameplay is fun, it is poorly laid out, though. The fact that almost all components are delivered in the tutorial, with no new elements added during the rest of the game, makes the latter half of Schrödinger's Cat feel more like a chore. Other than that, it is a great game with top quality ideas, and one that is certainly worth looking up for fans of the genre.
As a co-op game, this is a treat that should be on any co-op gamer's shelf. The multiplayer brings up the fun at any gaming weekend, and is likely going to become a favourite in most gaming circles. However, without people to play with, Magicka 2 turns very boring very fast, and its sometimes unfair difficulty and even unwinnable extra missions do not help against that. If into co-op, Magicka 2 is a must-buy. If not, it is a game that should be passed on.
While a wonderful game, sadly Splice may not actually get the chance to prove itself to anyone outside of its niche audience due to the high initial investment of trying to figure out exactly what to do, why, and what results it leads to. With that said, for its intended fan base, and to those who will like it and make it past the initial barrier of figuring the game out, Splice will be a fantastic, creative and brain-teasing experience that is well worth the time and money.
The beautiful gothic fairytale Dokuro is a great looking game with some creative mechanics. However, its gimmick and source of its creativity is simply not as good on PC as it is on a device with a touch screen. This can be forgiven due to the beautifully dark journey players are taken on in the quest to save princess Dokuro from the Dark Lord. If looking for a escort puzzle-platformer, Dokuro is one of the top contenders in this category, but it is recommended getting it for the PS Vita instead, unless owning a touch screen PC, since drawing is one of the biggest…draws.
While Senran Kagura: Estival Versus has some content that will be repellent towards many potential consumers, the game is so honest about it that it would be unfair to hold it against them. Yes, this is a title that focuses mainly on Yuri fanservice, but it does it in a sometimes elegant and really nuanced way, offering some really solid gameplay and entertaining enough characters to keep the game entertaining, instead of just offering pure naughtiness.
Overall, Ar nosurge Plus: Ode to an Unborn Star is fantastic. There are a lot of things it does better than most others in the genre. The characterization is on a level rarely seen outside visual novels, and the models are extremely pretty. It isn’t without its flaws; the weird difficulty spike right after the first third of the game sabotages the rhythm of progression, and the fact that the final boss is little more than a massive time-consuming wall is very apparent. The careless way Gust has chosen to play with the fourth wall (mainly in the second part of the Cass and Delta section of the story) makes it all too transparent that this story device was used as nothing more than a cover-up to excuse plot holes that were already of the nature that people expect and to a certain degree forgive. When the leaning of the fourth wall is used well, it helps improve the experience, but when it’s not, it damages more than it helps, and hopefully this will serve as a lesson learned.
Asdivine Hearts doesn't reinvent anything; far from it. But it takes the JRPG formula and balances the combat to perfection.
While Table Top Racing: World Tour is a wonderfully designed racer, the lack of local multiplayer does hold it back from reaching its full potential as a party game - most of the fun of the genre is removed when there is no way to see or hear the reactions of the opponents when they fall into the malicious trap laid out for them. The campaign will at least last for a while, however, giving it some hours of fun and plenty of value - and who doesn't enjoy the charm of toy cars driving around in a sushi restaurant?
Chambara is a very strong local multiplayer title that catches some of the appeal of the late 90's deathmatch experiences, added with some stealthy hide-and-seek elements. While it's fun while it lasts, the fact that at least two players are required to play, mixed with the feeling of being one of those "in between" games that are played for like 10 minutes, makes it difficult for it to last as well as some of the older classics, and makes it hard to build up a great gaming night on its own, but the time it gets in the spotlight will be remembered fondly by those present, and will be revisited again and again.
Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet catches the feel and tempo of the titles in the Touhou franchise, but it still contains enough to make this experience different from the main titles. The biggest weakness is that it has a poor single-player experience due to how easy it is, but it shines as a multiplayer game, and it is certainly a title that fans of the franchise can pick up and play with their friends or online.
Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits is, at its stronger parts, a fantastic game about being young, curious, and free - a pleasant feeling most either feel or miss from their childhood days. Mixed with this is a huge feeling of impatience, fed by terrible gameplay choices to extend playtime during some of the worst sections of the game, which makes this sometimes feel like it is overstaying its welcome. Overall, it is a good catch 'em all game, but it is rough around the edges.