Louisa Bhairam
An excellent horror experience for both seasoned and newbie gamers. Despite some minor shortcomings, Layers of Fear brings some classic elements while adding new depth, creating a unique and fear filled journey that you won't be able to tear yourself away from.
Although it still has much to achieve, Street Fighter V is already a very impressive comeback for the iconic fighting series. Stunning visuals and new fighting mechanics add to this game's already winning formula. Though it is promised for later, missing content is a disappointment. What is here is good enough quality to please fans though.
A unique and excellent adventure, with puzzles and mystery at every turn. Although its main appeal will be to retro gamers, there are enough strong qualities to attract those who may not normally play within this genre. Graphics and soundtrack are charming and a joy to experience.
Day of the Tentacle: Remastered is a fantastic update of the original. What has needed to be updated has been, without losing the charm and cleverness of the original.
Samorost 3 is a beautiful game and definitely worth experiencing if only for the visuals and musicality. It is a pleasant adventure with some great ideas, but is let down by its short gameplay and sometimes frustrating puzzles.
The Beggar's Ride is a cool little game to play if you just fancy a few hours of escapism. The shortcomings lay in the execution of some of its puzzles, within the slow pace of the protagonist and its basic platforming aspect. Despite these niggles, it is a solid and clever game with colourful graphics, a charming story and pleasantly challenging game play which will appeal to both experienced and casual gamers. The coins are a good option for anyone looking to play longer, and the narration is a smart touch. Definitely one to enjoy on a rainy afternoon.
There are so many JRPGs to choose from that it would be easy to overlook Asdivine Hearts, but it is definitely worth a try. Although simple in terms of graphics and battle style, the game has strengths where needed with its story and humorous characters. There is plenty to do for those who take the time to complete all the quests, and the addition of features such as the rubix system and the trust bar allow Asdivine Hearts to be a little different. Plus, there's a God trapped inside a cat, and how often does that happen?
Olympia Rising is a good platformer, but in such a saturated genre it needs to impress more than in does. The characters, story and visuals contribute to the positives, but more care needed to be taken with controls and hit points to make the game less frustrating. There is much to be enjoyed if you are able to look past the negatives, and if that's the case with you it is a worthy addition to your library.
Sssnakes is a very basic game, and this can be a good or bad thing. It works well for those who might have limited time to play whilst on a commute, but for those who are looking for something to immerse themselves in it's definitely not that kind of game. For the low price of entry it's worth having on your 3DS just to relive the nostalgia of the Nokia version, but we would not expect Sssnakes to be one you rave to your friends about. It does not have the originality of other classic action puzzle games, and unfortunately the graphics and music do little to reel you in.
If you like match-3 puzzles the Queen's Garden is a good addition to your Wii U library; there is a lot of gameplay to be had for the price. However, if you are looking for the customization and social side of a gardening simulation game this will disappoint, as the 'garden' element leaves a lot to be desired.
Sweetest Thing leaves a lot to be desired. Fans of the time management genre may find a modicum of enjoyment, but it just seems like 'My Kingdom for the Princess' reskinned to include candy. The game gives it all away upfront, so once you have played the first couple of levels there isn't much more to discover; it proves to be mundane after a while. Approach this one with caution.
Although Color Symphony 2 introduces an original idea, it needs to work on some aspects in order to draw the player in. The story needs to be fleshed out more, and extra variation in graphics and audio would work wonders to stop the game feeling repetitive. Those who enjoy puzzle platformers will enjoy the premise (at least for a little while), but this could do much more to reel in a wider audience.
Kirby: Planet Robobot manages to appeal to a new audience while sticking to the series' traditional formula. Fun gameplay, smooth graphics and lots of content make this title a must for your 3DS library.
Digger Dan DX is a good game for those who want something non-committal to fill a few moments. You can play a level or two at a time, which serves well for occasions when you want something light to play. Despite its simple exterior, there is a surprisingly amount of gameplay to be had thanks to the 100 levels and the replayability factor of finding all the gold stars. Digger Dan DX is well worth its price tag, and recommended for puzzle gamers especially.
WordsUp! Academy will please those who are savvy and quick with words; for others, however, it can be frustrating. It's recommended for those who want to build up their skills in this area, though a few glances at a dictionary will certainly be needed when this one shows off its vocabulary.
Although lacking originality, Infinite Dunamis is a classic JRPG with a sci-fi twist, and fans of the genre will enjoy its vast gameplay and character customization.
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is an enjoyable game at its budget price, with a pleasing mix of adventure, humour and some head scratching puzzles. There are some negative points which stop the game from being a fully fledged win, but it is still an enjoyable and nostalgic experience for any gamer with a love of point-and-click styled experiences.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games offers fun in its Co-op and Heroes Showdown modes, but suffers from being too light on content with not much left for the solo challenger.
The 3DS version of Rubik's Cube gets the job done in the same minimalist way as the Wii U iteration. Those who enjoy physical Rubik's Cubes will enjoy the portability that comes with this version, and it's a no frills way to pass some time on the go without too much commitment.
Rubik's Cube does exactly what it says and does it relatively well, though lacks creativity in taking the core concept further. For the price it can be a good addition for those who love puzzles and prefer them virtually. Unfortunately for those who don't, there isn't much else to it.