Justin Oneil's Reviews
Unpacking is a wonderful gem from an independent team that tried something drastically different from their last game and succeeded in the execution. It manages to tell an emotional and intimate tale just by having you unpack objects over and over and that is to be commended. If you’re looking for a relaxing game to spend a few hours with that doesn’t ask a lot out of you then Unpacking is the game for you.
The Serpent Rogue can be a bit daunting to get into but if you fancy an action/adventure roguelike game that doesn’t hold your hand and dabbles in a lot of crafting then you’ll really enjoy it. The world is fun to explore and there is always something new to find or something new to research and craft to use. It has some things that can be improved but overall, I really enjoyed this cel-shaded medieval fantasy trip.
Metal Tales: Overkill’s twin-stick shooting gameplay and metal soundtrack is enjoyable for a short while but it falls out of tune fast. The game is kind of ugly to look at and you’ll likely finish it or grow bored of it pretty fast as I did. The game also needs a patch or two to fix some annoying bugs. It can be a fun time waster for an hour or two either by yourself or with a friend locally but it doesn’t have much to offer outside of that.
Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a challenging and beautiful 3D puzzle platformer but one whose design could frustrate some players out there. I enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of the game and for the most part didn’t struggle too much with solving the puzzles. For others though, I can see how they could get stuck with not really knowing where to go or what to do and that is worth considering before making your purchase.
Andro Dunos II is a solid side-scrolling shoot ‘em up that should please any fan of the original but one that also doesn’t have a lot going for it. It is very light on content in terms of modes and without it even having online leaderboards, you’ll probably be done with it in a couple hours. My overall stance on it is that it was fun while it lasted but I don’t think you need to rush out and play this shoot ‘em up right away.
This War of Mine: Final Cut is an emotional and meaningful survival game that will give you a really good idea of what people are going through in places where war is raging. This new version is the most visually detailed version yet and the DLC is worth checking out with it. It’s a game that deeply affected me emotionally back in 2014 and now in 2022 has done it all over again with what is going on in the world today. I honestly can’t recommend this one enough.
Marble Maid seemed like a fun kind of Monkey Ball game up until I got frustrated with chasing down those annoying dust bunnies while the clock ticked away. There were moments of enjoyment in it but unless you really want to play it for the fan service material then I’m not sure you are missing out on much by skipping it.
Rogue Lords is another solid roguelike game for fans of the genre but one that also has some issues with RNG and repetitiveness. I really dug the art style and voice acting but the gameplay doesn’t hold up as well over the long haul of these chapters. Altering things in your favor though with the risk/reward essence mechanic did feel pretty unique though and I don’t regret my time playing the game at all. If you’re a fan of the genre and don’t mind it feeling a little unfair at times then you’ll likely enjoy this.
Sockventure is a colorful and challenging 2D platformer that is sure to please anyone seeking a challenge. Deaths will occur quite often so if you don’t typically enjoy the tougher platformers that require pinpoint movements this may not be for you. Things like Super Meat Boy are typically a little too challenging for my taste but Sockventure feels a bit less punishing than that which led to me enjoying it overall.
Cathedral is an enjoyable retro styled Metroidvania but also doesn’t do a lot new that we haven’t seen before in the indie space. It will challenge you and there is a ton of secrets to find, puzzles to solve, and quests to busy yourself with as you explore this world. If all that sounds up your alley then you’ll get plenty of enjoyment out of this.
Slap the Rocks is an OK casual puzzle game but one that is over quick and just feels like you are going through the motions while playing it. I’ve certainly played better from eastasiasoft and unless you are just venturing in for the easy trophies I recommend you pass on this one.
TAITO Milestones is a nice collection of arcade games from the 1980s but one that most likely won’t be to everyone’s tastes. Many of these games can be quite ugly and may not hold your attention for long. It is a nice way to see how TAITO’s games evolved over the span of that decade though from Qix that released in 1981 all the way to The Ninja Warriors that released in 1987. Fans of retro classics should take a look at this collection while everyone else may want to approach it with a bit more caution.
Ayo the Clown is a great 2.5D platformer that should appeal to players regardless of their age. I loved the visual style of it and the level design offers up a ton of room for exploration that you normally wouldn’t see in this type of game. It doesn’t pull off every idea that it tries but despite those few issues it is a wonderful time.
Pretty Girls Rivers is another solid entry in the ongoing series but also one that very much feels like the others. If you have enjoyed the other titles in the series up to now then this one will be a no brainer for you. If you just want a cheap and relaxing game of matching tiles to hold you over for a couple hours with a little bit of fan service on the side then this will also be for you. For everyone else, this likely isn’t targeted at you and you can go find another game to enjoy.
Revita doesn’t do a lot new that I haven’t seen in other 2D roguelites but it managed to be a challenging and fun time anyway. I really liked the whole trade health for power mechanic and thought it added a nice bit of risk to the gameplay. You can feel like you are seeing a lot of the same rooms as you are fighting through them but the wide variety of artifacts and ways to change up the game help keep it fresh. I recommend it if 2D twin-stick shooter roguelites are your thing.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim on the Nintendo Switch feels like the platform it should’ve been experienced on from the get-go. The game manages to tell so many different stories and weave and intertwine them so well and being able to play a bit of them or jump into a battle real quick in portable mode just feels right. The art style makes it one of the best-looking games I’ve ever played and despite the combat not being as interesting as I would’ve liked, it didn’t hurt the experience much in my eyes. Please, if you somehow missed this game on the PlayStation 4 then give it a try now on the Nintendo Switch.
Slipstream is a wonderfully crafted throwback to 90’s arcade racers and well worth checking out for anyone who was a fan of Outrun. It has a nice array of modes and being able to play it with others locally is fun too. If you initially struggle with the difficulty you can also use one of the many options they offer to give yourself a better time with it. Overall, the game is a great value for the price and should please arcade racing fans.
If you’ve yet to play Lucky’s Tale and you’re looking for a cute new 3D platformer to play on your PlayStation VR then I do recommend it. The game looks a bit dated and doesn’t do as much with the medium as some other games have but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. It will provide a few hours of lighthearted fun that anyone in the family can enjoy and the time trials are present for the more skilled players out there to conquer. Hopefully we see more of Lucky in VR in the future.
Kombinera is quite different from most of Atari’s other games but if you’re a fan of tough puzzles then this will be right up your alley. With over 300 of them in total, you’ll be spending quite a bit of time trying to work out how to beat each one. Add the time trials and hidden crowns on top of that and you can get a lot of playtime out of this one. The difficulty won’t be to every player’s tastes out there but if you enjoy working your brain then this will be for you.
Before We Leave is a relaxing and colorful city builder that is fun for a few hours but starts to grow a bit repetitive in the long term. The focus on just building your civilization without dealing with threats is something I quite enjoyed but the game needed a bit more variety in the late game as I felt like I had seen all it had to show me by that time. Fans of the genre who seek more depth in their city builders may want to look elsewhere but if you want one that is just a bit more chill then Before We Leave may be for you.