Dylan Chaundy's Reviews
Though it doesn't feel quite as "high stakes" as its predecessor, Life is Strange: Before The Storm - Episode 1: Awake is a very promising start to Deck Nine's new prequel miniseries.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is an absorbing and addictive experience that combines unpredictable, tactically deep, turn-based strategy gameplay and dexterously imbues it with the humor and heart of a traditional Mario adventure.
It's scary. Like, *really* scary. But what may be the scariest thing of all, is the fact that you've probably never heard of it. So I implore you to change that. Sharpish.
Pyre is an audiovisual delight, with a mesmerizing, painterly art-style which is further complemented by some excellent, tactical gameplay, too. Simply put, it's a magical symphony of the senses.
There's definitely fun to be had in Lock's Quest, it's just unfortunately locked behind a wall of frustrating control issues.
Ultimately, the bland, dreary combat sinks the entirety of the experience and it's with a heavy heart that I must warn you to avoid this title if you have any choice in the matter. Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic is a swing and a woeful miss.
The Caligula Effect has the potential to become a bit of a sleeper hit for the hardcore Vita enthusiasts out there. It reaches a really nice rhythmic cadence with its rock-solid gameplay, complemented by a clever, well-written narrative. A few technical hiccups try to rain on its parade, but overall it's an endearing, touching and surprisingly deep RPG with a ton of character and a bucketload of heart.
It may seem reductive calling The Surge a sci-fi Dark Souls clone, but the truth is, it doesn't really try to be much more than that.
On the whole, Dragon Quest Heroes II is a mighty success and one that I'll definitely keep coming back to as the year unfolds, even if it's to simply put a big smile on my sorrowful brow.
There are definitely some cool ideas in Rain World, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is far too unsatisfying to wholeheartedly recommend.
Though it's narratively, visually and aurally filled with anguish and sorrow, I Am Setsuna's charming personality has the strength and the warmth to melt all but the iciest of hearts, which couldn't make me happier.
Ys Origin is a wonderful action-RPG that is a handy reminder to us all that timeless, scrupulous game design often ages graciously, gracefully and beautifully.
With the tight action carrying the game the majority of the way, this may well be a tough sell for those who aren’t into niche Japanese titles. However, for those who enjoy fluid combat and revel in the strange and the bizarre, this may well be exactly what Galen of Pergamon ordered.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a terrific entry point for those who were unlucky enough to miss out on one of the last decade’s best open-world RPGs.
Necropolis is a decent stab at creating a Souls roguelike. If it had that all-important "just one more go" feeling nailed, what we would have here would be something truly special. Unfortunately, it’s merely the cold shadow of a much warmer bonfire.
Bear With Me is a charming, imaginatively realized point-and-click noir adventure with a good balance of zany humour and chin-stroking intrigue. Those with a hankering for the good old days of the genre will find a lot to love here.
Score Rush Extended is a marvellous and elegant bullet-hell shmup that is fantastically balanced and very well crafted. It's a heartfelt celebration of a genre that is often, sadly, overlooked by today's gamers. Those looking for a taste of the old-school shmups of yore will quite simply be in bullet heaven with this little gem.
With a core gameplay loop that is this utterly intoxicating, it's hard not to love AAC. It's an addictive and elegant score-chaser that has the power to bring newcomers into the shmup genre, as well as the legs and tail to truly satisfy shmup veterans.
E.T. Armies is a well-made indie FPS with a few caveats that occasionally detract from a mostly enjoyable experience. The narrative is pretty forgettable and the lack of controller options may put some unsuspecting players off, but the moment-to-moment gunplay is the real draw here and it shines through brightly. If you're in the mood for some mindless, albeit budget, action then E.T. Armies has got you covered. If only it had a catchier name.