Transient Extended Edition is a great concept, but the implementation is flawed on every level. The art style is stunning, but the graphical engine can’t keep the pace. The game world is truly different, but there is not too much to do in it. The puzzles are too simple and feel like a filler so you wouldn’t call the game just a walking simulator.
Punk Wars offers a very classic take on the turn-based strategy space. The four corporations have personality and their own deranged charm but there’s not enough here to make the setting truly compelling. The tactical combat is solid but favors the defensive so much that battles never feel exciting, with too little space to execute complex plans.
This Is the President has a good premise and some fun moments and choices. Playing as a scumbag who’s willing to do almost anything to get complete immunity while screwing or manipulating everyone else can be a hoot. But the concept clashes with the tone of some of the events and decisions in weird ways. You can think about being a good president but the need to get the amendment through overwrites any attempt at actual politics.
Sam and Max Beyond Space and Time Remastered targets the same audience as the Save the World Remaster. The same developers, the same recipe, the same heroes and references. So, there was little chance for things to go off-track. Still, Sam and Max Beyond Space and Time Remastered is a precious lesson in how a remaster should be put together. Without altering too much the original content, the developers managed to make the game feel relevant and modern. Just as the previous remaster, this one is mandatory for the nostalgic and the point and click fans.
Sam and Max Save the World Remastered is good game and a good remake, despite what the hardcore fans of the original release state due to the new voice of Bosco. If you liked the original, you’ll love the remaster. If you are new to the genre, it is a must play peace that will keep you occupied for at least 15 hours.
Heavenly Bodies is not your average cup of coffee, not even for indie games. It has a very specific audience it set its target on and delivers on its promise of challenging players through the control system. Visually and atmosphere wise it is clearly inspired by the classic, realistic sci-fi movies. The game itself is pretty short, but due to the control scheme, you will spend quite a lot of time even on the simplest tasks. Heavenly Bodies is not for everyone, but those who enjoy this kind of games will have a blast with it.
I wished for the game to have less of Catman's running and, maybe, more ways for its secondary characters to interact with one another. But these are minor issues with a great experience. Wolfstride shows how well OTA IMON can blend narrative and gameplay and I look forward to seeing what kind of game they work on next.
The developer understands what makes a physics-driven puzzle experience work for players. But they need to find more ways to draw gamers into the worlds they create. A Little Golf Journey is a great snack of a video game that is just a little too happy to push players to replay holes.
Hammerting is a good example of how solid individual mechanics sometimes fail to offer more than the sum of their parts in terms of gameplay. The development team has put together an interesting dwarf clan simulation and management title. It has even created an engaging if derivative universe for the player to interact with.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is a memorable game, maybe the best produced so far by Frogwares. It is not a classical adventure game, rather an open world Victorian tour de force in the early days of the most famous detective. As such it is not easy, mainly because the developers decided to let players figure out how a detective’s mind works.
Grotto is an interesting experience that might lose many of its players around halfway through the first play-through. The idea of telling a small number of characters what to do, from the small to the big questions, is an intriguing one. The universe that the developers create is intriguing. I like the way the game moves towards a deeper plot and begins to show the player something deeper than the first few interactions.
Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive is a solid experience that might have some trouble finding an audience. I appreciate the battalion-level simulation, the care shown in presenting the battlefields, and the historical situation. The game does take time and solid energy investment to master. The mechanics themselves, from reaction fire to line of sight and command and control, work well but feel dry.
The Legend of Tianding shows how indie developers can mix solid mechanics and cool history-based protagonists to deliver a fresh take on the classic side-scrolling brawler experience. The game is tough but fair, asking players to master a series of moves and constantly finding new ways to test their skills. I would have liked less backtracking and, maybe, more meaningful side quests but simply engaging with the core missions is very fun.
After the disappointing Cold War, Vanguard was the game that many fans have put their faith in. But due to rocky start, the countless bugs the completely unbalanced multiplayer and the incomplete zombies mode, this year’s Call of Duty is just another nail in the coffin of once great franchise.
Football Manager 2022 is a great take on the most popular sport of the world. It provides ways for both casual and obsessive fans to get more involved with their favorite club or almost any other team they want. The new animation system changes the experience quite a lot, both visually and tactically. Some transfer action might feel a little unreal and the game still generates new players that sometimes make little sense. But this is a solid game with a lot of options and plenty of incredible moments.
The gimmick of using a PlayStation 1 presentation might attract an audience. But the game needs more than style to keep players engaged, even if only for the around three hours the story needs to reveal itself. Chasing Static has some good elements but it never manages to get the right mix for a truly engaging experience.
Airborne Kingdom is not a long game, it can become repetitive quite easily and it lacks the depth city building fans are accustomed to. Yet the way the different elements are tied together, turns this game into a memorable experience.
All in all, The Medium is a good game, but not revolutionary and certainly not the new king of the genre. The story and atmosphere will stay with you long after finishing it, but the gameplay has a lot of room for improvement. If you prioritize a good story and a masterfully crafted atmosphere The Medium will not disappoint.
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a good game for anyone looking for hours of well-designed puzzles in some interesting locations. I appreciated how it organically expands the ways the two characters interact with the world. I liked the puzzle design, especially when it emphasizes how important it is for Emma to create paths for Fenton.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a good superhero game. It may not be the best out there, but it is in the top 5. If you are a true Marvel fan familiar with the Guardians of the Galaxy universe it hits the perfect notes in almost perfect order. It tried to balance the videogames gameplay with a cinematic experience, focusing on delivering a quality single player experience.