Simon Brown's Reviews
A satisfying colony-building sandbox with a lot of replayability that suffers from a lack of polish in the UI. A great aesthetic and quirky sci-fi take on the genre mean there is a lot to like here, it just takes a little digging to get there.
A fast, furious and fun shoot ‘em up that brings some interesting gameplay changes into its different modes. Doesn't do anything groundbreaking but plays like a dream and looks and sounds exactly as you remember shmups do!
A fun little momentum shooter with a drab visual style that is perfect for quick bouts of play. The difficulty and repeat play design won't be for everyone but if you are after a Luftrausers-esque title at a budget price you can't go wrong.
A great improvement over the original that almost nails the aesthetic and feel of the games it lovingly recreates even if it is a little rough around the edges. For those yearning for Burnout's Crash mode or that just enjoy score attack games there is a lot to enjoy here!
A fun, interesting dungeon builder that lacks confidence in its own identity. Clever mission design with an interesting overworld/dungeon dynamic is overshadowed by an over reliance on pop-culture parody.
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock finally gives us a solid game based on the popular franchise. It doesn't attempt anything new but some polish issues aside it's a solid strategy game that does a good job of translating the feel of the show.
Castle of Shikigami is a decent port of a fun but difficult bullet hell SHMUP. With some nightmarish enemy designs and plenty of replay value it's a solid package let down by a dated appearance and its lack of extras.
A competent if uninspiring roguelite platformer that provides a fun, challenging time with lots of things to unlock. Satisfying combat and challenging enemy AI makes the moment to moment gameplay worth a look.
Nitro is a challenging and fun motorcycle game that doesn’t really do much wrong, the difficulty curve and lack of bike customisation being the main standouts. It’s a really solid title that is well worth considering.
All in all, Heart&Slash is a fun brawler rogue-lite with a quirky and charming presentation, it has a good sense of humour and a lot to offer fans of both genres. The unique elements it brings to the table definitely make the genre more approachable.
Marvel’s Women of Power brings two fun new beginner-friendly tables to Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball FX2. Focusing on the female-side of the Marvel Universe makes a nice change although the lack of meaningful interactions with the A-Force and Champions characters seems like wasted potential.
Another solid chapter with a lot to keep you invested, the only real complaint is that it's more of the same. An interesting cast of supporting characters and the core mystery keeps the campaign engaging.
An entertaining and charming rail shooter that finally makes its way to the rest of the world. The lack of a translation for what little text it has harms the overall polish but it's a fun way to spend time with Cotton and her friends.
Cruis'n Blast is an excellent return for the series and genre as a whole. The lack of online multiplayer hurts but there is a lot to enjoy for solo players and those who can play locally. Fantastic visuals and track set-pieces make this an engaging, fun time.
Fun retro-styled twin-stick shooter that feels satisfying to play. Wears its early Konami inspiration on its sleeve whilst taking it to new places! Easy to recommend to shmup fans!
A great collection of legitimate classics that are still fantastic fun to play. If you enjoy run and gun games and have never played the Turrican games this is the best way to experience them today.
Extremely well put together remasters that stay true to the original games. Travis' brash personality is fun to inhabit and the combat is still extremely satisfying. The series is well worth your time, especially if you missed out on them originally.
Assassin's Creed brings beautiful English countryside to the masses whilst fixing a lot of the series' recent missteps. Some genuinely fun and surprising moments with some great writing make for a fun time.
A fun little bullet hell that has a ton of replay value and a charming visual appeal. Quite an approachable entry for those daunted by other shoot 'em ups with a scoring system that rewards skill.
A fantastic adventure with some at-times brain bending puzzles that stays remarkably true to the original game. Some minor technical issues mar the experience slightly but it's a great return for Foster and Joey.