Justin Oneil's Reviews
Like I said in the opener Shu is yet another platformer that does enough different to capture my interest. I’m so thankful to the indie game space for still creating unique new platforming experiences like Shu. Its got its own unique gameplay elements and the art style is gorgeous and fun to look at. I was only disappointed when the game came to an end as it isn’t very long. Hopefully Coatsink will do more with Shu in the future as it’s absolutely something I’d love to see more of. For any fan of platformers however you can’t do much better than Shu this year.
There is no doubt in my mind that racing games can be one of the genres to benefit the most from virtual reality. Driveclub VR has shown me that racing will never be the same again unless I actually feel like I’m in that car. It nails that sense of immersion for sure. It has it’s issues especially in the graphics department but if you can look past that you’ll experience a racing game unlike any other.
"After finishing Aragami I will say I was satisfied with my experience. Despite the performance issues the game offers a great stealth experience and reminded me a lot of the old Tenchu games I loved. The game offers a lot in my opinion for the asking price giving you a lengthy campaign and encouraging you to play it over to get better scores or play with a friend in the online co-op. If you’re a fan of stealth games Aragami is one of the best ones you can buy right now."
Overall though I found The Bunker very entertaining despite it’s brief lasting time. It tells a well thought out and well acted story that will have you guessing and trying to figure it out until it ends. I really hope to see more FMV games like this one in the future as it’s a unique gaming experience unlike most others. Sit down, turn the lights off, and enjoy you’re stay in The Bunker.
By the end of this train ride I enjoyed my ride with it as it presents an interesting tale along with tense gameplay. I enjoyed searching through the different locations and trying to keep my survivors alive even though I didn’t always succeed. The controls could have been better as could the ending. I also feel like the game is a little high in price for the short run time and really the lack of replayability. As it stands though this is a train worth boarding if you want to experience an interesting post apocalyptic tale.
Overall while I enjoyed my time with Binaries it really just proved to be too frustrating to have to control both balls at the same time. Yes the game is beatable for me which is more than I can say for other games such as Super Meat Boy but getting the S rank seems just as hard as those other games. I really think much like those other brutally tough games that Binaries isn’t for everyone. If you are a fan of hard puzzle/platformers or just want to try something a little bit different I do recommend picking it up.
Overall for this being my first time playing a game in this franchise I felt the game was a pretty solid offering. It was pretty easy for me to pick up and play but it has that depth the more hardcore fighting game fan may be looking for. I prefer 1v1 fighting games but the 3v3 didn’t bother me too much and it works well with the huge roster on display here. I’m also not a big online player in fighting games so I wish there was more single player content as the story mode isn’t very long. I don’t think this is the king of fighters but I do think The King of Fighters XIV is worth checking out.
While it doesn’t quite live up to some people’s expectations No Man’s Sky is still a great game and some of the things it does are truly a great achievement.
While the game is a lot of pointing and clicking the tale that Alone With You tells is absolutely worth experiencing. It was an emotional tale for me and one that left me really pondering some of my choices. I'm looking forward to heading back to the colony to see how making some different choices may alter the outcome. Fans of anything sci-fi and strong narrative driven games shouldn't miss this one.
Inversus is absolutely for you if you love score chasing, addicting games or if you have local friends to play with. I’m glad it has online multiplayer even though it may be hard to find players on it. I wish the single player mode was a bit longer but other than that the game is great. For such a simple looking game it really surprised me with how fun it turned out to be.
Brut@l is one of my favorite dungeon crawling games that I’ve played in a very long time. The visual style of the game is striking and beautiful, the combat is smooth and fluid, and the game has tons of replay value both with it’s level editor and the randomly generated dungeons. If you like trophies the game has a full set including a Platinum to go after as well. The altars in the game feel a little unfair and I wish you could have more than one level created and shared at a time but those are minor nitpicks in this great game. Brut@l is for you if you’re seeking a unique challenging new dungeon crawler.
If you're looking for a enjoyable exploration game on a distant planet then you may want to check this one out. The story is very interesting and the planet is fun to explore even if the controls don't always do what you want them to. However the price tag is kind of high for something you can finish in a few hours and if you want something with more action than you better avoid this as action is not what Lifeless Planet: Premier Edition is about. If none of that bothers you than by all means come explore this Lifeless Planet.
I really enjoyed my time with Dex for the most part as it scratched that cyberpunk itch that we just don’t see enough of in games. The game is meaty and is not short on content by any means. The quests in particular the side quests were very interesting unlike a lot of other games. I wish the voice acting of pretty much everyone in the game outside of Dex was better and that the combat was a little more fun. If you’re looking for an interesting cyberpunk world to explore and a game that will last you awhile give Dex a look.
Riptide GP: Renegade is a major improvement from Vector Units last game and shows the developer is learning and trying to build a better game. The game has plenty of content with a good length career mode, local multiplayer, online multiplayer, and lots of things to unlock. If they can improve some of the things like animations and get rid of the annoying things from the career mode they could have something truly special. If you’ve been wanting a fun new wave racing game you need to check out Riptide GP: Renegade.
Overall if you are looking for something original and funny I can’t recommend The Magic Circle: Gold Edition enough. Getting to play through a story about a game in development hell is unique and unlike anything else out there right now. The voice acting is done well and being able to change the properties of the creatures and things in the game is pretty fun too. It has some issues but if you can look past those minor flaws you’ll find a great experience here.
Super Mutant Alien Assault is fun and challenging so if you’re in the mood to blast aliens with lots of different weapons and abilities check this one out. The game is rather inexpensive and it can be fun with a friend. I recommend it.
The Park tells a dark and very disturbing story, the park itself is a joy to explore, and the voice acting is top notch. I've played a few horror games already in 2016 but The Park is so far my favorite.
Other than the small text issues Invisible Inc. really is an awesome tactical turn based strategy game. It offers so many ways to tailor the itself to your playstyle whether you are a novice to the genre or a hardcore player. It has plenty of content and even comes with the expansion on PS4 for even more value. Give this one a try for sure.
There really isn’t anything wrong at all with Severed. It is one of the best Vita games on the system and I can’t recommend it enough. Drinkbox took a big risk releasing this game on on the Vita but it takes full advantage and is probably the best use of the touchscreen to date. The combat is so satisfying, the world so beautiful and fun to explore, and the music and sound effects so great to listen to. I loved every second I spent severing all of those monsters limbs off and making Sasha stronger with them. I hope to see more of Severed in the future and if you own a PlayStation Vita this is a must buy.
In conclusion, does Salt and Sanctuary borrow a lot from the From Software games? Yes it does but it doesn't try to hide that fact and Ska Studios has put their own stamp on these kind of games in my opinion. Salt and Sanctuary nails the atmosphere and the combat and I highly recommend it if you enjoy 2D RPG's or if you are a fan of any of the From Software games. The game doesn't hold your hand and will deliver that same brutally hard experience that you loved about those other games. I can already say that Salt and Sanctuary is going to be in the running for my personal pick for game of the year in 2016.