Anyone who's a fan of this type of puzzler will be in for a good time with Sparkle 2, but the last four achievements will definitely take some time and effort.
As a fan of the tower defense genre, there were high hopes for Krinkle Krusher, but the game was found lacking. Between the unimaginative gameplay, the stale humor, and the need to repeat levels so often to get the three stars, the title quickly becomes monotonous to the point of being annoying. Considering the repetitive nature of the game and the the game's relatively short length, its $9.99 price tag seems a bit high. The achievements aren't unreasonably tough, but unless you're in dire need of quick gamerscore (or you just love zapping little critters who are all mouth), you might want to wait until this one goes on sale before you pick it up.
Overall, Wondershot is a fun game for brief spurts of time, especially if one has friends with which to play. When alone, however, the game quickly becomes tedious and frustrating, and this can become a real problem since online play is not an option -- a serious oversight by the developer since the game is geared to be a party game. While it boasts fun graphics and sound effects, those cannot compensate for the sameness of gameplay. Since neither characters nor weapons level up, one must become increasingly skilled to progress through the game, and with its difficult achievement list, it could prove a real trial for completionists. The game's $12.99 price seems fair for the amount of gameplay available, but it will be neither a quick nor easy game to finish.
While a bit slow to start due to the sub-par tutorial, the game becomes more absorbing as you get a feel for it, research new tools, and try to save the crystal. The recruitment of new characters along the way adds variety, as well as researching new builds with which to beat back the enemy in new and interesting ways. The game would benefit from better explanations and perhaps a glossary of terms, as well as local multiplayer for when the going gets tough. Overall, despite the bugs, it's an enjoyable experience that requires the player to stay on his or her toes while keeping the crystal's light alive.
Azkend 2: The World Beneath is a fun, if sometimes frustrating game well worth its asking price.
Not a Hero is a lot of fun with its cheesy humor and simple game mechanic, but players can expect to die A LOT in their bid to help BunnyLord gain global domination. The game quickly becomes quite difficult, especially for people new to shooters. With any number of ways to kill and die, the game has a good bit of variety, but running through buildings endlessly gets monotonous at times. Over half of the achievements can be picked up in the normal course of a casual game, but it will take a long time to 100% this one and you can expect to experience a lot of frustration along the way. Overall, it's a fun addition to your game library, especially for shooter fans who enjoy a challenge.
One Piece: Burning Blood is enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with the anime, but the game is at its best for those who already have some knowledge of the story's events. Some of the fights are brutal, making it increasingly difficult to progress the story, especially if the player isn't proficient at fighters and making combos. There are also some balancing issues that can make fights more difficult than they should be. Outside of the campaign, other modes add a nice variety of gameplay, and players can fight alone or with a friend both locally and online. Overall, this is a fun title but is not a completion for the faint at heart.
Deadlight Director's Cut is a unique take on survival horror as a side-scrolling platformer and, as such, is a fun experience.
Unfortunately, the game offers nothing innovative or entertaining; it's simply a way for the company to make a quick buck based on better games in the series.
Tumblestone is a fun game for the first several hours but then it starts becoming tedious from the sheer number of puzzles that you face.
The game is straightforward and fun except for the frustrating lack of instructions on how things work.
Star Trek Online is a nice addition to the Star Trek family. Despite some awkward controls and less-than-exciting missions, the game gives a loving nod to the Star Trek universe. Its fine eye for detail in the Star Trek mythos and its excellent customization options add an extra dimension of depth to what would otherwise have been a hum-drum game. For non-fans of Star Trek, the game could begin to pall rather quickly, but for trekkies the game is well worth the ride.
Manual Samuel is a fun game with its quirky humor and innovative concept.
The Bug Butcher is a fun arcade title that has the player exterminating bugs at an increasingly frenetic pace until all bugs have been destroyed. The easy-to-operate game mechanic and variety of difficulties that are available make it fun for all skill levels, but the challenging achievement list and buggy saving could squash some players' enthusiasm like...well, like a bug.
Clustertruck is an okay game that has the player jumping from truck to truck as a cluster of semis destroy themselves, careening through eight different worlds with increasingly difficult obstacles along the way. Abilities and utilities that are earned along the way can make the game easier, but it will still take a lot of repeating levels to make one's way through the game. While it's a fun for a while, the game soon becomes frustrating and repetitive, especially for those of us who aren't great at jumping.
While the whole experience is fun, especially in Versus mode, the game could have used more content seeing as all six chapters of Story mode can be finished in an hour or two.
Overall, the game is no more than average in any way.
Despite the enjoyable characters, fast gameplay, and retro fun, you might want to let Friday Night Bullet Arena go on sale before you invest.
Candleman is a great platformer with beautifully rendered graphics and wonderful attention to detail. You will find yourself cheering on the little candle as you help him navigate the many obstacles in his way as he tries to reach the magnificent beacon shining from the lighthouse. The gameplay is simple yet challenging, nicely varied, and requires a studied balance of using light, shadow, and movement.
If you really enjoy the retro genre and a truly challenging game then this might be for you, but you can expect some serious punishment along the way.