Aza Hudson
In an RPG landscape dominated by third-person political thrillers, it’s a relief to sit down and play a game that takes us back to the golden age of video games. Seven: The Days Long Gone certainly holds that charm and appeal, thanks to its wonderful aesthetic. Unfortunately, its poor design consistency and frustrating mechanics make it unrecommendable for anybody but those starved for another game in a beloved genre.
Is this a colourful entry into the series, or is it like watching paint dry?
Phantom Doctrine is a game I was excited about, and that excitement had some serious staying power for the first few hours
MachiaVillain is a fun game at its core but poor UI, fun stuff being suffocated by the pillow of frantic micromanagement, and subpar presentation threaten to drag it down
Kirby is back in a new platforming adventure and this time he’s bringing some friends aUp in the air, where the eagles fly, there exist excellent 2D platformers that pay tribute to older games while still retaining their own identity. Rad Rodgers came so close to soaring alongside them, but its wings melted a bit, so it has to glide for a bit and look down at the scattered bodies of Kickstarter nostalgiabait…and their own wings. Their very crappy wingslong for the trip
Dream Daddy comes from a nice idea, but is often hard to take seriously. It’s good fun for at least a couple of hours, but if you’re playing for the ‘novelty’ you won’t be playing much longer than that.
A strong sense of identity, solid scripts, and a willingness to take risks may just make this game a cult classic amongst enthusiasts. I know I won’t forget it for a while.
If you want a 90s game like how Kung Fury was an 80s movie, give Strafe a go. But if you want a more fleshed-out 90s game…just play a 90s game
While it’s nice to have back what’s become something of a legend in its absence, you know what they say about meeting your heroes
Crossing Souls has charm in spades, from its perfectly emulated presentation of the Golden Age of Film to its engaging exploration. While its combat leaves a lot to be desired and its puzzles are shrug-inducing most of the time, Crossing Souls won’t walk away without some new fans
A historical game made with plenty of passion that succeeds in most areas
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante hits all the right notes of a choose-your-own-adventure game, with just enough of its own spin to stand out from the crowd. A dark fantasy world rife with pseudo-historical politics and tensions is just the icing on the cake.
Nantucket is a small but charming strategy title that nails almost everything it sets out to do
Oddworld: Soulstorm isn't without its issues, but the good far outweighs the bad. Its crafting system will prove controversial, but it is an overall boon to the game. A visual treat through and through that hits its stride after the first few levels.
Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert may have gotten one of the best audiovisual overhauls I think I’ve ever seen in a remaster, but it’s still the same old story – for better and for worse
Warsaw rises to fight tyranny in one of the best strategy games of the year
The Church in the Darkness is a thought-provoking experience that should absolutely be on everybody’s to-play list
Irony Curtain is the funniest game of the year. It’s also a great tribute to the PC clickers of old, and a good PnC game in its own right
While its scope may turn off people looking for a more focused game, you simply couldn’t ask for a better representation of the time period — even when it strays from what the books say for the sake of a consistent narrative
In a world now devoid of high-profile point-and-click games, Trüberbrook is more than qualified to become a cult classic some time down the road