I know Antihero isn't going to suddenly become the most popular game and get Call of Duty numbers, but it definitely deserves your support if you like well made surprisingly deep strategy games that are easy to pick up and even easier to get hooked. Where else can you play a video game over days if not weeks with email notifications letting you know when your opponent has moved? I highly recommend everyone try that experience at least only once.
Also, there's a lot of potential here for some real mythology to be created within this universe-in-need-of-saving. Until then, Chroma Squad is a nostalgic step in the right direction but it might take some time before we take bigger strides in giant mech feet.
The only people I wouldn't recommend this to are those looking for a challenging, more-traditional puzzle game or those who have a distaste for games that can be labelled ‘casual'. But those with a PSVR should take this as a heads-up, this game is a great addition to the still limited PlayStation VR line-up. And it's also a good title to have in your normal PS4 library as well. GNOG serves as a great way to spend an afternoon and one of those rare occurrences where you'll want that earworm (albeit a relaxed, whimsical one) floating around in your brain.
The concepts patched together in the narrative, the multitudes of cool monster designs, and the unique boss fights make Last Stitch Goodnight worthy of a jolt of electricity to the slab that is the PS4.
For people such as myself who fall in the middle, the title acts as a nice distraction to pick up and play everyone once in awhile. The racing element is bogged down with all the minutiae and it’s hard to get really into everything without becoming frustrated. Too much detail in the wrong area can cause even the nicest ride to become bumpy and unpleasant.
Joe said ‘Never settle’ in his message and I hope he takes this advice to heart. For players, I can dispense the same advice. There’s more that can be offered in GunWorld and I do think that M07 Games is on the right track to create an even better version if they ever make a third installment.
The ultimate frustration is that I was left wanting to play more of the game and get wrapped up in the story again, but the choices around skipping text and saving made that an unexciting experience. That coupled with the voice audio issues and narrative still being on a mostly locked path means that I probably will never unlock all the mysteries of Cypress Knee.
Whether you’re a hardcore fan of the show, someone who watched the original series as a kid, or someone who’s excited for the new movie, I’d stay away from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle. The Rangers deserve something that’s more than a cheap cash-in, but I doubt we’ll see anything like that anytime soon.
You can’t forget to put in good game design. If you do, players will actually want to forget the name of your protagonist, not to mention the rest of their frustrating experience.
All in all, Rise & Shine isn’t a bad experience. It’s just one that has a lot of wasted potential. If the AAA barrage on indie games is real, then this game would not make a good soldier to fight in that battle. The gameplay is good and the game doesn’t overstay its welcome at 10-ish hours, but the sudden ramp up in difficulty plus the finicky aiming blemishes the experience. If you want a game that touches upon the horrors of military engagement, try This War of Mine. If you want a game that parodies/honors video game culture, try Super Meat Boy or Scott Pilgrim. If you want a weird mash-up of the two, I guess this experience was made for you.
While it would be easy to dismiss the GO series as another mobile game cash grab of a recognizable franchise, it's definitely much more than that.
Slain: Back from Hell is that mural on that beaten down van painted by someone sporting a mullet; the first time you walk by you quickly glance over and think, ‘hey, that’s cool.’ But after going by a bunch of times you notice the faded colors and the incomprehensible scene of violence going on. It’s like the artist wants you to take the time to appreciate the art but, honestly, it’s not worth the effort. There are a few spots that stick out like a segment where a warrior turns into a wolf or the bright blues and reds that border the fresco. But really, there are no secrets to be found here (and not many in the game). The mural is here to distract you for a short period (6 hours) and once you’re done taking it in, you’ll find it difficult to recall the experience.
The (very strange) ending of the game seemingly sets up for more dungeon crawling adventures in some interesting settings. I’m curious to see what Psytec Games Ltd improves upon if they continue with their VR games.
Amnesia Collection retails for $29.99 USD on both the PC and PS4. If you own Dark Descent on PC, I would suggest skipping the collection and just buying Machine if you’re curious enough. But if you’re someone who’s never tried the series (especially if you own a PS4 but don’t have a PC strong enough to handle the original game) I highly recommend picking up the compilation. Sometimes it’s worth it to go out and seek out those scares that will stay with you a long, long time.