Robby Bisschop's Reviews
The Xbox port of Peglin might drop the ball in a few places, but it's definitely high on the fun scale. Even long after playing, I can still see balls bouncing around in my head, so be wary of its lasting effects on your dopamine-hungry brain!
If you’re the type of person to read the accompanying leaflet when you buy a new toaster or coffee machine, you’ll be happy to know that Nintendo has made an interactive version of just that for their new console.
It pains me to say, but Xbox definitely is not the best place to play Final Fantasy XVI. It’s still the great JRPG it was at launch on PS5, but the graphics have taken a hit and I miss the DualSense more than I expected. For fans who only own an Xbox, this is amazing and finally brings all mainline titles from the series to a single console.
Quite possibly the best RPG of its kind. Epic story with heartfelt moments, best-in class combat, gorgeous graphics and music that will linger for the rest of my life. I’ll be humming some of these tunes in the retirement home. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the real thing. This game will go down in history as a must-play RPG.
Pilo and the Holobook is a short, fun and cozy indie game that’s definitely worth a quick scan, but it doesn’t “stick” around for long.
Despite my many remarks on things that felt a little off, like the repetitive combat, sometimes wooden platforming and disappointing final boss, there is an undeniable charm to South of Midnight that makes it a must-play for all Xbox fans. The music is fantastic and well-worth listening to outside of the game, the stories and legends told hit all the right emotional strings and it looks great too. For telling the story through songs alone, I’d wholly recommend everyone to give this a try and the good vastly outweighs the bad.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD can be pretty frustrating at times, and if there is one thing I don’t like in my games, it’s frustration. There is a lot of content here and especially for people like me who never played the original you’ll keep busy for quite a while. But there are better 2D platformers under Nintendo’s wings and I recommend playing them first.
A Short Flight with a lot of bugs. I really wanted to like Mika and the Witch’s Mountain as it’s exactly the type of game I normally enjoy, but the many bugs and weird collision detection gave me more headaches than satisfaction. There are some nice ideas here, so it’s a shame there is so much standing in the way for me to enjoy them.
Naiad is a relaxing, soothing game that will swim warm circles around your heart if you let it. It’s an extremely satisfying game to just explore at your own pace, with the only frustrations coming from my own completionist urges and some design decisions that feel like they are going against the stream of such a playthrough. The gorgeous visuals and enchanting music alone makes this a recommended play. The fact that it actually calms down my children is a bonus side-effect!
Super Mario Bros Wonder is another great first-party Nintendo release in a stellar year full of massive hits. The new upgrades, wonders and badges bring plenty of new gameplay elements to keep players engaged, and it does so in a typically colourful jacket overall that is sure to please gamers of all ages.
Lake – Season’s Greetings has genuine human interactions, a bright visual art style that is like a balm for the soul, and a no-stress approach to story-telling. You’re guaranteed to come out of it a more relaxed human being after playing it. It’s also the perfect DLC to get into the holiday mood!
Neva is a short emotional adventure with canvas-worthy art design and a beautiful soundtrack that I instantly added to my spotify playlist. The platforming gameplay is tight, the combat is simple yet satisfying and the relationship between you and your titular antlered wolf pet feels incredibly wholesome.
Metal: Hellsinger is a rhythm FPS that has all the elements you need for a delightful symphony full of fast-paced action and heart-pounding metal music. It was one of my favourite games of 2022 and the musical crescendo it built up to resonated so much with me that I was excited to play through it again in VR.
Phantom Spark delivers an exhilarating experience for fans of fast-paced, time-trial racing games, reminiscent of Trackmania. Its focus on constant improvement and speed will satisfy those who love pushing for faster lap times. However, it’s not for everyone. if you’re not into high-speed precision and repetition, it may feel less appealing.
Invector Rhythm Galaxy is the perfect follow-up to an already perfect rhythm game. Its eye-popping visuals light up my living room as its bass lines make my teeth chitter in pure glee. This game makes me happy and that is probably the best praise I can think of.
This minesweeper roguelike swept me away. It took a few runs to get into things, but eventually, it managed to plant its flag into my daily rotation, and I was hooked.
Princess Peach Showtime pirouettes onto the scene, delivering a standing ovation-worthy performance that’s easy enough for kids, but dazzling for all ages, proving you don’t need a mustache to save the day.
With its blend of whimsical humor, clever mechanics, and charming artwork, Lil Guardsman earns its place among this year’s finest indiegames, leaving me eagerly anticipating my eventual return on my quest for completion. If you’re into point & click-style adventures or just enjoy laughing at bizarre situations with even weirder outcomes, then this is a game you shouldn’t miss!
Stunt Paradise is a great little indie game that will provide a few hours worth of fun while you discover its setpiece stunts. I’ve played it together with my two kids and that only added to the enjoyment as seeing them cheer with glee after beating a level is pure bliss.
Balatro deals a winning hand with its innovative twist on an age-old formula. It breaks the rules of poker in many fun yet unfair ways, with playthroughs that are as varied as a shuffled deck. It’s a title I can see myself sinking hundreds of hours into and if other 2024 titles hope to have a shot at Game Of The Year, they better up the ante!