Conscript is a good survival horror game but not the fantastic one it should have been destined to be. Its fierce and very apparent survival horror devotion is incredibly admirable, shining best when depicting war in quite simply the best way I've seen it in games to date. The sound design, art style and general mood make the vibes palpable like you're there on the ground in the thick of it. This loyalty to the genre is also a double-edged sword though, not quite having enough quality-of-life additions and progression slowing to a halt when you're hunting through a labyrinth for that one key to unlock that one door. For better or worse, Conscript is a homage to classic Resident Evil, through and through. Isn't that enough?
Anger Foot is a good shooter but it's not always a compelling shooter nor the best it should be. I feel it important to give flowers to the unique use of hardstyle music and the fun implementations of new abilities granted by the different pairs of shoes you unlock. Though the polish and sheen are undeniably present with its gorgeous presentation and frenetic and fun gameplay that sees a symphony of flying kicks, bullets and grenades, it's let up by ways the game could've been better refined. The humour found within gets old after a while and it has some of the most dull and uninspired boss designs I've seen in a shooter for quite some time. Yes, the minute-to-minute is good but the pitfalls feel like a square, hard kick in the head. Ouch.
With Trails Through Daybreak, The Legend of Heroes name is the best it's ever been. With an incredible and sweeping story that pays off by the end, a vibrant cast of characters that will steal your heart, some of the best of turn-based combat, and streamlined mechanics, this is quite simply just a damn good and comfortable RPG well worth your time. It may ask a lot of you with its long runtime, breadth of content, and layered lore to wrap your head around but stick with it and you're in for one of the best from the genre this year. Job well done.
Until Then is a must-play for lovers of narrative-focused games everywhere. The game already depicts living the life of a teenager in the Phillippines in the 2010s beautifully with its thoughtful and authentic writing, combined with a picturesque world. That alone would be enough, but it goes above and beyond, adding breathtaking pixel animation, an intriguing mystery and a palpable geopolitical subplot. The cast of characters is incredibly endearing and you'll grow to love them all, building to the final emotional gut punch of the game that takes the wind out of you. Joining the plethora of quality narratives in 2024, Until Then is a game you won't soon forget.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble's offerings are exactly what you'd expect, a fun and bananas time that is easy to pick up and hard to master. The new gimmick of the spin-dash feels quintessential and juices the experience of working through 200 arcade levels just that little bit more. Though there's room for improvements with online matchmaking and some levels perhaps being a bit too hard for hard's sake, there are just as many quality additions in gameplay assistance tools and the ability to doll your monkey up in dozens upon dozens of cute fits. There's no monkeying around here when it comes to quality- Super Monkey Ball as a franchise remains the belle of the ball.
If Capes' biggest crime is that it isn't the most original game and that its fights require more thought than some might like, then I'd call Spitfire Interactive's debut a hearty success. Within its deep tactics gameplay is plenty of exciting and creative party DNA to tool around with. It even has a surprisingly refreshing tone and take on the superhero genre that is the most authentic I've seen in a while. So why not go save the world? I promise a super duper good time awaits.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is well worth the wait and is a serious game of the year contender. Senua's follow-up journey is the best exploration of mental health that we've seen in games to date, using incredibly striking visual imagery, metaphors and immersive soundscapes to have you feel right there next to her. In what has to be the most photo-realistic game of all time, you're guaranteed to be constantly taken by the hero's adventure as you take in the beautiful and often haunting Viking Iceland. Through mud and dirt, blood and bones, Senua and Ninja Theory in turn bare all to you, the player. A masterpiece, benchmark and magnum opus, Hellblade II is crucial storytelling you won't soon forget.
Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike hit and another win for Aggro Crab. Proving the genre can be more than just darkness and grit, offering colour and whimsy all within a memorable nautical world. Though it might not always be the most original, that's easily forgiven thanks to damn good action RPG combat, a healthy dose of accessibility and thoughtful environment design you'll get lost in for hours. Ducking in and out of shells, toppling great big bosses and zipping around with a grappling hook is SO. MUCH. FUN. This journey to the deep is well worth the plunge.
Life Eater is a game I'm a little sad I can't rate on concept and premise alone. Snooping through timelines of activities of potential targets and investigating tidbits to try and correctly take down those requested is good on paper, offering the same highs of franchises such as Hitman. However, its execution is a little underbaked. The qualifiers for targets are equally too vague and too simple with little variety, leading to friction and distrust about whether or not you're on the right track. There is quality design in the way you're managing meters to avoid suspicion and maximising your time, along with some stellar returning performances from the likes of Xalavier Nelson Jr. However, Life Eater needed a little more time bunkering down, taking notes, and just getting every little thing right. The perfect hunt it is not.
Children of the Sun is an incredibly vivid and creative puzzler-shooter. It is thoroughly engaging to find the perfect thread of headshots to line up, poking holes in a setpiece cultist encampment, linking each bloody kill to the next with both finesse and inventive solutions. It is quite simply the best sniping game I've ever played and, better yet, it has a story, vibes and atmosphere you just want to bathe in, much like the blood of your enemies. In the plethora of 'cool' video games to have graced our screens over the years, Children of the Sun is near the tippy top.
I'm so glad Konami are in the business of publishing good video games again. Entrusting the Contra franchise to WayForward for Operation Galuga was an incredibly smart decision, resulting in a thoroughly replayable and enriching return to the grandfather of the run-'n'-gun franchise. There is so much fun to be had learning levels, dying and grinding it out as you become familiar with level design patterns and weapon skills. Challenge levels are also fantastic gauntlets that'll make any seasoned Contra player sweat. Though the story is neither here nor there and the HUD driving it is a bit barebones, none of that gets in the way of the romping and stomping good time you'll have fighting for liberty and taking it to the alien threat once more. Contra is back.
Pepper Grinder is a good video game but it doesn't feel like a complete video game. The mechanic of burrowing away through different biomes is always satisfying as you make platforming leaps of faith between different bodies of ground. What exploration, world and mechanical growth is there is really strong, it's just limited and brief. Fun throughout but over before you know it, Pepper Grinder is a charming title that is just missing that extra little spice.
Alone in the Dark has fumbled once again, with this reimagining circling the drain to a pit of mediocrity. Though the game itself and the environments can be beautiful, it doesn't take advantage of its star-studded cast nor does it tell a story that is remotely sensical or engaging. Always offering just the bare minimum of staples for the survival horror genre and nothing more, it's sad to see the grand daddy of the genre be a shell of its former self. Maybe Alone in the Dark should remain exactly like its namesake.
Death of a Wish is a great moody action game that's worth adding to your list of must-play 2024 indies. It's a narrative with textbook Catholic guilt, a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, and the exploration of queer acceptance. With its pulsating chalk-like line work that makes the images and action leap off the page, a diverse combat system, and an oh-so-satisfying parry to boot-style and substance are at the forefront of the game at all times. Though you can occasionally get lost in the weeds of the prose-like writing and confusing map design, it's hard to stay mad long at Death of a Wish. It's a damn cool video game.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth defies all expectations and is the new benchmark for what a remake should be. Bold and unapologetic with something to say but also true to its roots. I've loved, I've laughed and I've cried while playing this game and if you fall into the right crowd, you very will too. Provided is an unforgettable journey, a magnetic cast, and a world that is magic and an experience that is transcending. From combat to graphics to music to side activities to writing to performances, Rebirth is one for the books and I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Taking the franchise to new heights and new locales, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the pinnacle of the longstanding franchise. The game magnificently pulls off the difficult task of giving new and loyal players the best of both worlds with a new Ichiban-led story while also nailing emotional pay-off years in the making with Kiryu's story portions. Providing quality side content that is addicting and seemingly endless, there isn't a single drip of the game that is dry, dull, or not worth your time. Never have I played a title this rewarding and satisfying with its delightful humour found in substories and over-the-top turn-based combat. It may be largely set in a different country with the picturesque and gigantic Honolulu but this is the Like a Dragon series through and through. Infinite Wealth is like an ocean. Let it all sink in. I promise it's well worth it.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is another successful voyage for the root vegetable. Making the leap to the roguelite genre is form-fitting, providing really enjoyable jaunts through a mysterious bank full of many enticing environments, bosses, and enemies as you engage in frenetic gunplay and melee action. This is achieved via valuable upgrades and a creative arsenal at your disposal to experiment with. The game would benefit from endgame content and modifiers to give it more staying power, but it's largely made up for by the weird, sometimes irreverent whims provided. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is hilarious, weird, oh-so-fun, and a joy for every second of play. I can't wait to see where our little hero goes next. A turnip-led Soulslike? A life simulator? The sky's the limit!
NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is quite the disappointment. Presenting as a step back for the series in many ways, there are simply better adaptations to spend your time with. The game comes with a middling story combined with a lack of spectacle that serves as a mediocre attempt at celebrating the IP. Whilst some fun can be had with the stacked roster and it's easy to jump into, you'll often be reminded that there are greener pastures elsewhere.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a big misstep and feels like Ubisoft's biggest missed opportunity in a while. Not even the fantastical and majestic sights of Pandora and some engaging hunts can cure the buggy, unoptimised product presented to the world. Offering a dull story while it trips and stumbles on delicate themes, it too is simply a confused formula of everything you've seen before from other titles, almost all of it ill-fitting. Two adaptations under their belt and it seems Ubisoft just can't get that voyage of Pandora right.
Come for the time-loop mechanics and Undertale inspirations, stay for the beautiful, heartfelt and guttural story. In Stars and Time is an artful indie RPG that explores a found family's battle with time. With this, it explores complex topics with grace and utmost reverence. Though it's a little long in the teeth and could have been a bit tidier in how you unravel some of its mysteries, within is a magical world much worth exploring, backed by fantastic chip-tune music, a sense of place and some real good vibes. Unlike protagonist Sifrin and his problems with memory in the time labyrinth, your foray into In Stars and Time won't soon be forgotten.