Justin Oneil's Reviews
Gynoug should be a fun trip for anyone looking to see what one of the oldest shoot ‘em ups has to offer. The game is punishing but newly added options make it so anyone can see it though to the end. It will only last you a couple hours but considering it’s only a few dollars you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck here.
G-Darius HD still holds up as a great shoot ‘em up even over twenty years later. The game can be a little intimidating due to it not explaining its systems clearly but difficulty options and unlimited continues should help alleviate that somewhat. This is still very much the same game as it was back in 1997 however and whether that’s worth paying $29.99 for is up to each individual. If you’re a fan of shoot ‘em ups though and you never played this game then I recommend you get it at some point.
Fans of 3D platformers would do well not to overlook Demon Turf this year. The game’s visual style is unique and one of the best things about it but the platforming is equally as enjoyable.
Youtubers Life 2 is a deeper experience than the first game and is a solid new addition to the life simulation genre. There is plenty to do to keep you busy while trying to rise through the Youtuber ranks but to me it got a bit repetitive.
Space Invaders: The Invincible Collection is a good collection of Space Invaders titles that have released over the past forty years with a couple of nice extras. It includes more titles than the recently released Space Invaders Forever but for double the price this is going to be a steep ask for a lot of people. If you have really been wanting to play titles like Space Invaders II or Majestic Twelve and you’re fine paying the asking price then you will find a lot to enjoy here.
Hell Let Loose is a different type of shooter from what most players will expect but one that is rewarding so long as you have proper teamwork. When you are on a team that is properly communicating and coordinating the feeling you get from this game is awesome. On the other hand, when you aren’t on one of those teams it can make it very easy to want to jump ship into one of the many other shooters available.
Lemnis Gate is a unique, strategic, turn-based first-person shooter that has some good things going for it. The mechanics work well together and trying out different operatives and strategies is fun for sure. That said, there isn’t a ton of content here and whether there will be anyone to play against will depend on whether Ratloop can push out ongoing content to keep players coming back.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a great remake of some of the best Super Monkey Ball games ever made. There is a ton of content here and plenty of reasons to replay it whether it be to unlock all the content in the shop, set new best personal online leaderboard times, or sitting down to play the mini-games with friends locally. The only things that could’ve made it better was more online functionality and maybe some slight changes to the physics. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a must for fans of the franchise and a great way to celebrate the 20th anniversary.
Embr isn’t a must-play in my opinion but if you want to see what it’s like to bust into burning buildings and toss people from rooftops to save them then it can be worth checking out. The game is perfectly playable solo but is much more fun when playing with others online just to see what kind of crazy and absurd things all of you might do.
If you’re a fan of cartoony co-op games like Overcooked or Moving Out then Merek’s Market is a worthy addition to your library. Between the crafting and haggling I liked that the game feels different enough from those other titles to stand out.
Deathloop is a smart, stylish first-person shooter full of great writing and some really cool puzzle solving. It has some issues when it comes to AI and the conclusion wasn’t exactly satisfying but the rest of it is quite brilliant.
Monster Harvest is a nice mix between Stardew Valley and Pokemon but it’s missing some stuff that makes both of those other games great.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate brings a decade old game to a modern audience and despite some prevailing franchise issues it’s still an overall good time. Racing through these levels, using the Wisp powers, and picking up all the collectibles is fun so long as the controls aren’t getting in the way. The game’s new lick of paint makes it look really good and performance is super smooth as it should be. I missed this game when it originally released and am glad I got the chance to experience it now. Hopefully the next new actual Sonic game can figure out the control issues though.
Pile Up! Box by Box is a colorful, fun puzzle platformer for the family but there just isn’t enough of it to last. Figuring out different ways to solve each world’s puzzles is enjoyable, there are tons of collectibles to hunt down, and there is some fun mini-games. The downside is that you’ll need local players to enjoy this to the fullest even if the core game is playable solo. If you’re looking to play as some cardboard boxes and solve some puzzles with the family it can be worth a look.
Blitz Breaker is a fun single-screen platformer that can be had for a very affordable price. The game doesn’t do anything special but the platforming is responsive and it looks and sounds solid while you’re figuring out how to get to the end of each level. Trophy hunters will also find it is yet another easy EastAsiaSoft list in that regard. If this is your thing and you got a few bucks to spare then give it a whirl.
Pretty Girls Klondike Solitaire is your basic game of solitaire only with some fan service anime girls to look at and listen to while you play. The game is at a budget price making it easy on your wallet but it doesn’t have a ton to offer. You’ll easily unlock all of the outfits for the girls in no time and after that it’s back to just moving cards around. If that sounds like the type of game for you then check it out.
Bishoujo Battle Mahjong Solitaire is pretty much more Mahjong Solitaire for anyone who may be looking for that. If you already played the Delicious! Pretty Girls variant of this then it’s basically identical to that except with girls who are less fan service looking. It’s cheap, will appeal to trophy hunters, and does offer quite a lot of layouts to keep you busy if you’re into the game. Give it a try if matching tiles is up your alley.
WRC 10 returns most of what made WRC 9 great and builds on it with anniversary content and more. The physics model still feels great while playing and there is a ton of content here to play through. Getting to relive the history of the sport through the Anniversary events and cars was also awesome. The DualSense support on the PlayStation 5 version is also once again fantastic and the platform I recommend you play this game on. Some areas of the visuals can still be improved on in future entries but despite those blemishes this is one of the finest rally racing games on the market.
Deadly Days is a solid retro looking rogue-lite game but may not be for everyone. It has plenty to keep you busy so long as you don’t mind doing a lot of the same types of objectives over and over.
RiMS Racing is absolutely a game aimed at bike purists as they will be the ones to get the most enjoyment out of this game. The game is challenging and having to constantly maintain your bike by buying and swapping out parts won’t be for people out there who are just looking to get in and race. The selection of bikes here is small but each one is full of detail. Some parts of the game could’ve used with a bit more polishing but RiMS Racing comes out as a solid winner for motorbike fans out there.