Don’t expect Lemon Cake to blow you away. Management sims come much better and more sophisticated than this elsewhere. But if you like to keep things simple and have fond memories of playing the likes of Diner Dash, then this will scratch that nostalgic itch deep inside of you. Sure, it’s repetitive, but sometimes a straightforward, goal-oriented game to switch off with is all we need.
It’s safe to say that We Are OFK won’t be for everyone. As far as interactive narrative adventures go, it’s one of the most passive we’ve encountered, feeling more like an animated TV series than a video game. Add in characters that are difficult to get to know and dialogue that’s likely to grate, and you’ve got an experience that’s tough to recommend. Thankfully, the excellent music videos do offer some redemption, and if you stick with it, you’ll eventually warm to its colourful cast. However you feel about them though, you probably won’t have played anything else quite like this.
If you thrive on completing puzzles, you’ll likely get a kick out of working your way through each of Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles’ levels. But be prepared for plenty of repetition in both puzzle design and the environment around you. For most players, it’s likely boredom is going to set in long before you reach the end.
I can’t quite recommend Little Orpheus, and not just because of its unfortunate choice of narrative given the current climate. Its story is at least told in an interesting way, and it presents you a colourful, well-realised fantasy world to explore. But its platforming is dull and uninspired; you’ve seen it all before in other games. Though being inside a whale is cool, I guess.
Ultimately, Blackwind is very much a budget experience. If you go in knowing what to expect however, there’s a lot of fun to be had here. Its combat is competent and engaging, there’s a solid upgrade tree to work your way through, and solving puzzles to explore its environments adds a little more variety to the mix. Its environments lack any real excitement, however, and it’s missing a spark of innovation. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide enough entertainment for those looking for some basic action.
There’s a lot to like about Firegirl, but it’s not free of issues. You’ll undoubtedly grin with glee whenever you’re lucky enough to successfully complete a run, having rescued all survivors. But chances are you’ll come across insurmountable frustrations more often than not, bringing your time with the game to a grinding halt. Continually upgrading Firegirl‘s abilities certainly helps, but the mechanics need a bit of tweaking before this is as enjoyable as it deserves to be.
Ultimately, Monopoly Madness is a novel twist on the Monopoly formula, which can be fun to play in short bursts. But it doesn’t quite scratch the itch of playing the classic board game.
I’ll reiterate: Back 4 Blood isn’t a bad game. But it could have been so much better. Its difficulty needs balancing, as does the amount of enemies thrown at you at any one time. Ultimately, most levels simply have too much going on to be enjoyable – and each Act would have benefitted from being substantially shorter. Get a competent group of friends together and you might have some fun, but chances are zombie fatigue is going to set in long before you reach the end of the campaign.
Although playable in single-player, it’s hard to recommend KeyWe as a solo experience. This has been very much designed with co-op play in mind, so unless you have someone to play with, don’t bother picking it up. It’s a commendable concept and fun can be had in short bursts, but ultimately the tasks given to these adorable kiwi birds boil down to nothing but repetitive busywork.
There’s a lot to like about Clid the Snail. To say this is from a small team, the worldbuilding and ingenuity is second to none. But while ‘unforgiving’ may have been the developer’s intention, the game’s boss encounters are far too frustrating to be enjoyable. With a bit more balancing to Clid and his armoury, this will be a must-play twin-stick shooter. Until then, only those with patience as hard as Clid’s shell will be able to truly enjoy what’s on offer here.
It’s entertaining while it lasts, and developer Mighty Yell has absolutely nailed the 90s cartoon aesthetic. But The Big Con is devoid of much real substance. Had there been more narrative, better character development and more engaging missions, this could have been something special. As it is, it feels like an underdeveloped concept that falls short of its promises.
In the end, I enjoyed some of my time with Twelve Minutes. Its story is genuinely gripping, and the cast’s performances are excellent, solidifying the game as a believable world. In many ways, developer Luis Antonio has created something truly remarkable here. But so much of Twelve Minutes is an exercise in frustration and repetition.
As unpolished as it may be, though, there’s no denying that Crash Drive 3 is entertaining. It doesn’t try to be the best racing game or the best stunt-driving game, but it is a fun sandbox of exploration, competition and vehicular mayhem. If you’ve got a friend or two to join in with, it’s a perfectly adequate way to while away some hours.
It’s hard to fully condemn Legend of Mana Remastered, because the original game’s choices are unusual, and some players will certainly find merit in its hands-off approach to steering the gameplay. Others, however, will undoubtedly find the lack of direction infuriating. So, Legend of Mana Remastered won’t be for everyone then. Its combat and lack of engaging narrative holds it back, but its soundtrack – both the original and rearranged version – is truly a standout feature.
Farm Frenzy: Refreshed is likely not something you’ll want to play for long periods of time. But in short bursts, it’s entertaining enough, and offers a nice palate cleanser between more involved, demanding games. Just be prepared to do plenty of grinding on your quest to unlock all the upgrades.
Like the apocalypse itself, The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom is rather messy, and not everything works like it should. It doesn’t quite do the series justice, but there are glimmers of a fun game here. Just be prepared for some glitches, and a lot of repetitive missions. Still, for kids who are fans of the Netflix show, the use of the actual voice cast for the main characters adds some worthy authenticity.
Battle Axe packs in a lot of personality thanks to its trio of colourful protagonists and its wonderful art style. But its gameplay likely won’t keep your attention for much longer than an hour or two. It’s a great flashback to games of yesteryear, but outside of a nostalgia hit, there’s no real reason to keep going back.
For all its imperfections, Cozy Grove is enjoyable enough, even if it does start to get monotonous after a little while. Its limited daily playtime is suited better to a mobile device, but even on console there’s something nice about having somewhere to visit for a short while each day. There does need to be more to keep players occupied outside of a handful of quests, though. And performance is an issue that really needs to be addressed. Don’t expect a replacement for Animal Crossing, but Cozy Grove will raise a smile or two.
Had The Game of Life 2 been sub-£20, it’d be easier to recommend. But its asking price of £30 feels far too steep for what’s included here. One game will last only around 30 minutes, and since you’ll see the same random opportunities and job titles come up again and again, you’re probably not likely to want to keep playing. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the board game, wait until it’s on sale. It’s enjoyable in small doses, but not at RRP.
Pumpkin Jack is an unspectacular 3D action platformer, but considering it’s largely the work of just one man, it’s quite an achievement. There’s a nice variety of gameplay on offer, some solid visuals, and an enjoyable soundtrack. And even though some gameplay elements outstay their welcome, they at least offer a reprieve from the annoying combat. If you can grit your teeth as you spam the attack button time and time again, there’s some enjoyment to be had here, especially if you’re a fan of the genre.