Casey Scheld's Reviews
The electronic beats of Beat Rush make for a prime world to race in, but the simplistic controls limit its long term replayability.
Using a mouse with a shmup sounds like it wouldn't work, but Sniper Ships: Shoot'em Up on Rails' unorthodox control scheme manages to be its strong suit. Although the cluttered graphics prove to be a handicap, this title hits all the right notes for the genre.
Endro is a game without purpose. The poor minimalistic presentation and gameplay devoid of strategy makes this title feel like a waste of time.
SKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID's minimalistic nature is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. Boiling the racing genre down to its most basic elements means that there's absolutely no fluff, but this ultimately kills any replayability it may have had.
Tadpole Tales may be a simple shmup at its core, but its stellar audiovisual presentation and tight controls make it worth a playthrough for fans of the genre.
Miska's Cave is a simple game at its core, but its checklist of challenges and wealth of unlockables will keep players running along.
Super Raft Boat's action-crafting hybrid is a bit awkward, but is still unique nonetheless. Those that can deal with a bit of frustration will be treated to a unique take on the shooter formula.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time carries the torch for the series, providing a worthy follow-up to Crash and Coco's adventures. The trial and error gameplay isn't for everyone, but those eager for a challenge will enjoy doing so with the next-gen prowess of the PlayStation 5.
Aurora: A Child's Journey has a strong message on the dangers of pollution, but the gameplay is far too ordinary to make it worth your while.
The Imagined Leviathan tries something new with its monochromatic world and poetic prose, but the disjointed nature of its storytelling and its hollow gameplay prevent it from achieving the artistic vision the developers sought out to achieve.
Rekt: Crash Test will appeal to score chasers, but the lack of content in this teaser means that it's over before it even begins. It could use a kick of speed, but what is present now is serviceable enough for those looking for arcade-like thrills.
Despite clocking in at around 10 minutes, 10mg: Sealed Estate feels far too drawn out. A walking simulator without focus, its haunted halls are simply far too awkward to navigate.
The world of Polandball was outdated more than 10 years ago, and RollerBaller doesn't do anything to make it relevant again. The poor control scheme and rudimentary gameplay are an absolute chore to contend with, and the humor is far too one note for its own good.
Siren Head: Awakening might feature a new urban legend, but the gameplay is something horror junkies have seen countless times before. It simply doesn't do justice to the horrific creature.
Though there is a bit of a learning curve, Glyph's physics-based platforming will appeal to speedrunners and collectathon aficionados alike. Its difficulty may be a turn off for some, but those willing to cut their teeth will enjoy bouncing their way around its world.
Tiny Toy Tanks is overly simple at its core, which proves to be its greatest weakness. The formula simply isn't taken far enough, and this rudimentary approach makes its many missions feel tedious before too long.
Though it has a bit of a learning curve, StarPrey proves to be a solid arcade-like title that successfully combines speed with physics to create something grand.
Cosmic Zephyr DX is unplayable. Between the nonexistent AI, the unpredictable mechanics, and the lack of polish nothing works as it should.
Tadpole Treble Encore will be the most charming game you play this year. Despite its corny vocals, hardcore rhythm game fans will enjoy the sheer amount of replayability Baton's grand adventure brings to the table.
Barring its numerous bugs and shoddy netcode, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition captures the spirit of the IP quite well. The leveling system makes the title a bit of a cakewalk, but the presentation makes up for its shortcomings.