Justin Oneil's Reviews
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.
The Ascent is a highly enjoyable sci-fi twin-stick shooter with outstanding visual and audio presentation. It is let down at times by some boring downtime while moving through areas and some inconsistent AI but the overall gameplay is a blast whether you’re playing solo or with friends. Fans of twin-stick shooters and cyberpunk worlds will want to have this on their to-play list for sure.
Z-Warp is very much just another shoot ‘em up but one that is very affordable and that offers a decent challenge. The most unique thing about it is how the bombs work as it adds a bit of strategy to the standard SHMUP gameplay. If you are looking for a cheap new retro shoot ‘em up to spend a little bit of time with then Z-Warp will be for you.
Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? Is a fun murder mystery FMV game that is sure to please fans of this genre.
The trip through Royal Frontier is full of randomness and challenge and if the gameplay grabs you then you can spend a good amount of time here. For me, it didn’t do enough to keep me wanting to play it for more than a few hours but for someone else you could spend dozens. If you fancy a low priced turn-based roguelike adventure then give it a shot.
Gunborg: Dark Matter is a short and sweet action platformer that is sure to test you. The 80’s synthwave soundtrack mixed with the neon colors makes the presentation very attractive while the gameplay is super smooth and fun to control. It won’t last you but a few hours but if you don’t mind that then you’ll have a lot of fun in that short time.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax may be eight years old but it’s still one of the most polished, stylish, and approachable fighting games around. The game has a huge roster of fighters that you can build up with the RPG mechanics and the visual novel story mode is pretty enjoyable if not a little too text heavy. There isn’t a ton here to make it a must-play recommendation to prior players but if you’ve yet to experience it and you’re a Persona fan then I can’t recommend it enough.
Pretty Girls Breakers! is a fine brick-breaker game that is affordable enough and just different enough to warrant checking out if you enjoy them. It doesn’t have a lot of stages to last you very long but I liked that you actually had to do more to hit the ball and were rewarded for doing it well. If you’re looking to spend a few dollars for a slightly different Arkanoid clone then give it a shot.
Splash Cars is a fun casual arcade game that you can enjoy solo or with some friends locally. Driving around and splashing color all over the place is quite addictive even if you have to grind a bit and run into some difficulty bumps along the way. With a good amount of levels, various cars to unlock, and paint jobs to customize them with you can get a good amount of playtime out of this one for a handful of dollars.