Casey Scheld's Reviews
The aesthetics of Under What? make for an interesting showpiece, but the downtempo beats and solid art can't hide its poor story and lack of direction.
Karate Cat is simplistic by design, but this also takes away from the overall package. Its incredibly cheap price point reflects this, but it does not offer enough to encourage players to pursue it for the long term.
Terrawurm is a structurally sound arcade-like title, but its overly simplistic design hampers its replayability. It's fun for what it is, but don't expect to be engaged in the long term.
When the Past Was Around – Prologue might be a demo of things to come, but its obtuse story and busywork gameplay fail to establish a foundation for the full game.
Climb With Wheelbarrow has an interesting premise, but the controls and camera are simply not up to the task. Expect a healthy dose of frustration should you want to make the climb.
Total Party Kill is a short but sweet puzzle platformer with a unique concept. Though stages begin to bleed together after a while, the planning that goes into each level is worth experiencing at least once.
Spring Falls provides a relaxing experience that offers up challenging puzzle gameplay without ever being unfair. Though this is a one and done type of title, its trek to nature is worth it for those looking to get away from it all.
Treading new ground in the visual novel genre, Arcadia's fusion of technology and jazz provides an incredibly fresh experience that leaves a lasting impression.
All those hoping to get a taste of Timmy's Cooking Show will leave with a bad taste in their mouth. The food is bad, the pacing is poor, and the gameplay is nonexistent.
From Head to Toe does a fair job at setting up an intimate atmosphere, but the lack of context in its script and unpolished design somewhat take away from the title.
Gorytale might not be a polished affair, but it does offer mindless shooting entertainment. Those that don't mind turning their brain off can enjoy a shooter than trades aesthetics for sheer mayhem.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD has a novel concept, but the incredibly fidgety camera puts a ghastly stain on the overall package.
Accel's flight mechanics hit all the right notes for an arcade title, but it proves to be far too short for the long term. Those looking for a brief respite between longer titles can have fun here, but don't be surprised if you're done sooner rather than later.
Though it aims to provide a casual ice skating experience, Pirouette fails to captivate all those who attempt it. A distinct lack of effort went into this title, and the awkward controls will turn players off long before players see everything this game has to offer.
Gunkid 99 is a fast, frantic arena shooter with an interesting hook. Putting the focus on the weapons rather than the enemies is an interesting proposition, and its tight platforming mechanics seal the deal.
Those looking for a challenging rhythm game in Pride Run best keep on marching, but RTS fans may get a kick out of its unique management mechanics. Those that can deal with some frustration can experience what is quite possibly the most unique game of the year.
The Grandmaster is overly simplistic by design, but this clicker proves to be too repetitive for its own good. It serves as a serviceable time waster, but it lacks the staying power to keep people coming back.
Skyrift's defensive style of play provides fast-paced arcade action, albeit with a few quirks. It's not the deepest game around, but those looking for a different kind of bullet hell could do far worse than this title.
The idea of dating the figurehead of KFC is a novel one, but I Love You, Colonel Sanders! is a joke with no punchline. Dipping into the absurd is fine, but the lack of follow-through makes this visual novel drier than the fast food chain's biscuits.
A very select few might appreciate the back to basics platforming found in Speedrun Squad, but most people will be turned off by its simplicity and lack of effort put in its design.