Casey Scheld's Reviews
MissileDancer changes up the shmup formula just enough to stand out. It's lack of difficulty and short length hinder its replayability, but those looking for something new could do far worse than this title.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit attempts to set the stage for Chris and his heroic adventures, but the execution is lacking. Its lack of focus, along with its robust “Awesome Things to Do” chore list, make its two hour runtime drag out far longer than it has any right to.
Null Vector takes two great things and combines them to make something even better. Its short length and lack of variables somewhat take away from this title, but those who don't mind repeatedly playing through similar scenarios for the perfect run will enjoy the roguelike elements in play here.
For those who have never played a Lumines game before, Lumines Remastered is a must buy. However, though the HD upgrade adds to its audiovisual splendor, don't be surprised if it feels a little too by the books.
Dragonward's resource management and roguelike elements make for an addicting formula that'll have you seek out the perfect run. The random elements are not always fair, but those willing to play past defeat will find much to like here.
Venture Kid is a solid enough tribute to Mega Man, but it could have used a bit more polish to really stand out. It's not a bad game, but rather an uninspired one.
Micro Pico Racers has a lot of heart, but not the follow-through. Diehard Micro Machines fans are better off playing the classics rather than diving into this one.
The Big Journey's relaxed and charming atmosphere will appeal to a wide variety of gamers. There might not be a ton of variety between stages, but this is one chill title that will make players feel good.
G.O.D.S. is an interesting proof of concept that could have used more content. Though there is not a ton of variety, the sheer amount of chaos and unpredictability of its hockey mode is worth a go for those jonesing for a unique multiplayer title.
Monster Truck Drive is full of wasted potential, and feels more like a college project than anything else. While it may have an interesting concept, no work went into its world, mechanics, or even design.
Space God's core mechanics are sound, but the gameplay present here is nothing too out of the ordinary. As a result, this title feels more like a tribute, rather than a trailblazer.
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle has got the fanservice down, but it feels more like a tribute to Arc System Works' other games than its own unique beast. Its simplified fighting game mechanics, along with its reused assets, makes it only worth it for the most diehard of fans.
ONRUSH tries a number of new things with its team-based driving mechanics, and some aspects of this gamble pay off better than others. Its speed and mechanics are sound, but those looking for something a bit more traditional best approach with caution.
SPAGHET feels like an inside joke that has no punchline. Even though there is not much to the gameplay, what is here feels like it was thrown together and does not always work as it should.
Vandals' puzzle-based antics are perfect for short sessions. With a fair difficulty curve and just the right amount of elements, this is one title worth exploring
Devil Guns is an uninspired shooter with a mountain of bugs. Even the most diehard fans of the genre can safely pass on this one without missing anything of significance.
Watch Me Jump has got an interesting story, but it may be better suited as a stage play than a video game. Its brief length and rough presentation both hold the game back, which is unfortunate with a tale as solid as this one.
Fatal Stormer doesn't do enough to stand out from the throngs of other shmups on the Steam marketplace today. Though the customization features are welcome, the core gameplay gets repetitive far too fast.
Absolutely no effort went into Steel Arena: Robot War. Everything here feels like it was made with stock assets, making it feel more like a school project than a quality title.
Super Knockoff! VS feels phoned-in. It's lack of options, questionable level design, and lack of single player or multiplayer modes make it a hard sell for multiplayer gaming fanatics.