Adrian Burrows's Reviews
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn looks the part, this is a sumptuous 2D scroller that clearly loves the 1990s with unabashed and borderline obsessional desire. It effectively emulates the experience of playing a game from that era too. The problem is that includes dodgy controls, plentiful gameplay frustrations and difficulty spikes so sharp they'd make a 42-year-old man cry. And they did.
With an engaging lead, amusing story, crunchy combat, thrilling platforming, and a fascinating world to explore, Crypt Custodian is a near purr-fect metroidvania. Litter-ly one of the best I've ever played.
A game about racing massive trucks that look like dinosaurs should not be boring, and yet Monster Jam: Showdown achieves the seemingly impossible; this game is an absolutely slog of an experience. Best avoided, even for Monster Truck loving aficionados.
In a crowded genre, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, stands out with its wonderful hand-drawn visuals and rewarding platforming focused gameplay. The demanding difficulty won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for those after a challenge, it's well worth seeking out.
EDF 6 is, without a doubt, the very best entry in the series so far. Tremendous fun from top to bottom, from beginning to end, it is everything an EDF fan could have hoped for.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – Complete Edition is, without a doubt, the ultimate form of Team Ninja's soulslike series. It's just a shame that no attempt has been made to make this edition more accessible for a new player and to explain the game's complexities more clearly. Still, if you wanted things easy, then you wouldn't want Wo Long.
Horizon Chase 2 is a fantastically fast, fun, and frenetic old-school arcade racer; improving on the original game in almost every way. With its budget price and great multiplayer options, this is an absolute must for those who like their racers stuck firmly in the 1990s.
Astor: Blade of the Monolith offers an enjoyable action RPG experience with charming visuals and character design. However, with weak combat and a lack of things to see and do in the overworld, it's an experience that will soon be forgotten.
Crown Wars: The Black Prince is not just a medieval XCOM, it is very much its own thing. A turn-based game offering fast and frenetic strategising, it's hamstrung by weak AI, an inconsistent camera, and too many bugs.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is almost an insult to side-scrolling beat 'em ups. Worst of all, despite this being a budget release, it costs more than the fantastic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge from last year. One to avoid like some green ooze on the sidewalk.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an ambitious game, and this kind of endeavour should be applauded and encouraged. Seeking to harness the difficult topic of grief in the form of a Metroidvania was always a big ask. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it proved a challenge that simply hasn't been met.
Harold Halibut looks great, like one of Aardman's finest, only as a video game. Unfortunately, it's the game part that underwhelms, offering a distinctly tedious narrative adventure that is a chore to play.
Torn Away is a peculiar game. Numerous technical issues do their determined best to spoil an otherwise powerful narrative; one that is elegant in its simplicity. Those haphazard controls, visual limitations, and laughable stealth sections will succeed in turning many players away, but, if you manage to put up with them, you'll find that Asya's tale is one to relish.
What Valiant Hearts: Coming Home lacks in engaging gameplay, it more than makes up for in story and characterisation, and on these specific terms it is an unprecedented success. With a historical authenticity that would make many AAA games green with envy, the developer tells a brave and deeply moving tale with seeming ease. Valiant Hearts: Coming Home certainly doesn't pull its punches, and is all the better for it.
For a brief moment of brilliance, Contra: Operation Galuga is the modern interpretation of a 2D run 'n' gun that we always wanted. But it's a fleeting moment, and what comes after is a deeply onerous experience that proves a trudge to see through to completion.
Manic Mechanics is a reasonably sufficient attempt to do Overcooked! in a garage, but lacks the magic that made its influence such a classic. Entirely disposable fun for a weekend then, just don't be expecting your friends to be begging to play more next week.
Classified: France '44 does so much right; historical authentic tactical combat, tense decision-making, and a minimal amount of stealth. Naff Stereotype-driven characters and technical issues aside, this is a confident and assured debut from Absolutely Games.
Skull and Bones is a very odd game and there are plenty of aspects to it that will leave a great number of players stone-cold. But, there is also something wonderful about it as well; the sense of exploration, the cathartic combat, the glorious visuals, the welcoming online community, and the ridiculously catchy sea shanties. In short, like the very best pirate, Skull and Bones will be loved by some, and hated by others. For my part, and in spite of its issues, I love it.
When it comes to co-op rogue-lites, This Means Warp doesn't do anything particularly new - so you certainly won't be going where no man has gone before - but what it does do it does with aplomb. Gather your crew, try to do the tricky Spock hand gesture thingy, and shout out 'Beam me up' at random; This Means Warp will provide the rest of your Star Trek fantasy.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the finest metroidvanias I've ever played and a fantastic way to start 2024. Thrilling and kinetic platforming, thumping combat, and a vast game world that demands exploration, and makes it a joy to do. It's time to kick nostalgia firmly in the unmentionables; this is the best Prince of Persia ever.