...With some fixes the game’s aspirations may yet shine through and make this at least a decent campy exploration in the horror genre some time in the future. For now at least, players can only help but wonder what could’ve been.
Finji has done well in introducing a wide variety of choices in strategy games, and of course some cute cuddly companions.
...a celebration of 80's horror nostalgia and has enough intriguing elements to make it worthwhile.
There's so much love poured into this game. It's a game well worth exploring if you're looking for something that just celebrates games' iconography over the years.
It's crazy how a simple concept such as a box making extensions of itself can be manifested into an artfully unique package.
A special game that may in nature not be loved by all but between its cast, humor and excellent setting, developer BTF have truly made something special here.
The Touryst is a secret indie gem that I really hope will gradually make some waves.
Lust From Beyond is a terrible game with weak ideas so juvenile they’re laughable and exhausting.
Supermassive fans deserve better. The horror genre as a whole deserves better. No recommendation can be provided for this dark plunge.
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch is a sad tale for the much-needed resurgence of equestrian-focused video games. Littered with poor design choices and endless amounts of bugs, every attempt to seep some joy out of the game was hindered. This comes as a shame. The bones of a good game are in there from the exploration of an interconnected world to a good start in both horse gameplay and town management and restoration. Boiling down to more than just a game released too early, Horse Tales also is a game too ambitious for its own good and not what was expected or needed. Take this one out to the pasture, they're done.
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.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a huge fumble for an otherwise fantastic series. What began with a promising opener only really leads to a great big pile of disappointment and heartbreak. It's filled with visual and audio bugs and a mystery that turns baffling and misdirecting in abominable ways while also being downright disrespectful to its lore, canon and cast. It is a painful thing to watch my favourite franchise destroyed in front of my very own eyes. Worst of all, the game teases that follow-up ventures are only going to follow suit even more. Not even the adorable Max Caulfield and her sapphic ventures could save me from having a good time in the snowy, miserable Midwest. Like many media you can point to today; just because you can bring something back, doesn't mean you should. Like our superpowered best friend in her endless searches across timelines, I'm left wondering where the hell it all went wrong.
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.
Disney Illusion Island may be striving to be a flashy and exciting 2D Metroidvania experience, but its depth remains one-dimensional. It starts at a snail's pace with its drip-feeding of basic and essential abilities and from there it never really picks up. This is unfortunately thanks to floaty platforming that will disinterest most along with the most uninspired Metroidvania-level design I've seen in some time. Though there are classic and picturesque Disney flourishes aplenty, it's not enough to make the game an enjoyable experience to investigate every nook and cranny for secrets. Be warned, this is an island voyage not all that worth taking.
A silky, suave graphic novel art-style and engaging Cyberpunk world can't save Sunday Gold. With every strength on offer comes some weird design choices or bugs that will ruin your fun at every turn. This game is an experimental risk, blending both the point-and-click genre with turn-based combat, peppering in RPG progression. That mixture shows promise at the start but ultimately ends up being an average net loss. A gamble that's not worth taking. Don't place your bets on this one. Go all in elsewhere.
Even though Button City is the feel-good game I absolutely needed right now, it’s not at the level of polish it should be. I love the atmosphere and the magic captured in the game’s writing and setting, but performance issues and weak minigames hold the title back. Despite some cute and cozy moments experienced in saving a closing arcade, a lot more refining is needed to make this wholesome adventure all the more worth it.
Mario Golf: Super Rush is one of the few games Nintendo puts out that every now and then is a bit of a miss. While trying its best by adding new modes, it doesn’t have the charm, polish and even satisfaction that have come from previous superb titles in the Mario sports series. What it needed to succeed was more doubling down on those beloved Mario characters, more time in the oven and plenty of ways to sink your time. Despite some moments of promise, it failed to match on almost all those fronts.
Unlike the original, Little Nightmares 2 isn’t a game I can envision reaching cult success. It’s sad to see, too. Already the predecessor was quite noble, flaws aside, it just needed some upholstering. Instead, the follow up just adds more frustration and more jank over a longer time period. There’s absolutely striking imagery and wonders worth seeing in Little Nightmares 2. They’re just quite hard to recommend amongst all of the challenges the game presents.
...one of the slowest and painful games to play this year.
Survival Kids doesn't take any big risks in its kid-friendly approach to survival games. Yes, it is technically kid-friendly in mood and scope, but that's also underselling the maturity and capability of children playing games. Its level-based approach doesn't evoke a sense of wonder and exciting exploration that its counterparts are known and beloved for. Its tasks are monotonous and very quickly become repetitive, almost as if they're not trusting you to understand the same thing they're teaching and showing you every few minutes. With only nine levels, but with rough pacing in those missions, it's an experience that somehow passes you by in a flash, but also feels like a slog. There's fun to be had if you're with friends in the silly and chaotic gameplay moments, also working together as a refined, well-oiled survival production machine. Still, at the end of the day, Survival Kids isn't all that much of a successful return, remaining hardly a splash in the ocean.