Willem Hilhorst
This game feels like one of those small hidden gems that's going to stand the test of time, one that doesn't require tweaking with cars or switching between manual or automatic shifting. It isn't clinging to the past but rather celebrating those that came before. Let the meter run a little bit longer, because being stuck in this parking garage has been nothing but pure joy.
Given that it kept me entertained and enthralled for a full weekend does say something about the quality on display here. Even if I've had my fill of this particular type of game for now. I'd be happy locking it away in a tomb, hoping that someone else may stumble upon it in the future one day and get some enjoyment out of it.
The small tweaks are welcome for those who've played Tetris religiously but the game lacks modes and variation to keep coming back to. With no online multiplayer you must really enjoy score chasing in singleplayer Tetris to stay hooked. While the guides and other modes taught me some valuable skills I can hopefully deploy in other games of Tetris, TGM4 knows that it is only there to provide you with just Tetris. For that goal it is perfectly adequate and plays great. For anything else you're probably much better off playing a different version of Tetris. There's a plethora of options out there even if TGM4 isn't for you.
It is clear that the developers had a lot of fun designing the world and characters to keep players on their toes. While it does have a bit of a learning curve that could've been smoothed out and the luck factor can never be underestimated, Dungeon Clawler is a great time. If you're looking for something to sink a lot of time into, but want to save your quarters on, this is a roguelike you shouldn't miss.
By the end I was left disappointed because all the ingredients and potential was there. Maybe the colorful visual style and cozy, slowed-down gameplay is exactly what you may be looking for. But to me To a T is not something I care to see again.
But as a game and a story I was hoping for something with a little more kick. Perhaps, much like an actual mixtape, it will get a nice place somewhere and you'll think about it every once in a while. Going back however will probably show the cracks in the foundation that were always there.
If you had told me that one day Bubsy would be part of the 3D platformer renaissance I, and many others, would've laughed you out of the room. But here we are. It's Bubsy's world once more and we are just living in it.
At the end of the day this is a beautiful title that uses both its themes and mechanics to tell an important story. I do not need all my games to reinvent the wheel. Constance is another standout within this particular genre.
While they have been going back to the well and redefining a lot of their long-running series, it makes sense that Pragmata stands on its own. It is a fresh idea honed to near perfection and I would love to see what else this team can do. Whether you're playing on Switch 2 or any other system, Pragmata is a great time.
Great controls with tight level design that encourage the player to replay it over and over again to get the best time and find the collectibles. Yet, too many times I felt like the meat was left cooking too long. It's bent into very specific ways to adhere to that original game, instead of standing on its own two meaty legs.
Whether you will stay long after the credits have rolled is ultimately up to you. But I can guarantee you that this is truly a unique game in every sense of the word. It will be the benchmark that future puzzle games will be measured against and that's no small feat.
I really cannot ask for much more than that. Well maybe aside from another entry in the PARANORMASIGHT series that is. Consider me a fan now!.
It is a disservice to the beautiful world on display here that I was reset back to the start so many times and lost a lot of the meaningful progress I had made. MIO - Memories in Orbit is at odds with itself too much for my personal taste. But I also cannot deny that if you are a fan of this particular genre, MIO is one that should not be overlooked.
It is filled with love and passion, but frustration and despair, often stretching at the seams. I do not know Sam Eng, but I have a feeling that I got an insight into what he loves about making games. I may never be a skating game diehard, but Skate Story is a story worth sharing.
But they are important in their own right and collections like these give them the respect they deserve. I simply had a fantastic time with the Simogo Legacy Collection. It is everything one can expect from a collection celebrating a legacy. My hope is that other studios are taking notes and can learn from what Simogo has achieved here.
To me, it is the combination of this particular historical setting and its varied gameplay that is keeping me hooked. This world and its characters feel like the next step for the Assassin's Creed series. It may have taken a while for the series to get (back) to Nintendo, but what a fun return it has been so far.
The Nintendo Switch version runs fine enough, but can have a bit of a hard time with the framerate and loading of stages. For puzzle game die-hards, especially fans of Portal, The Talos Principle and Superliminal I'd recommend Viewfinder in a heartbeat. But if you're hoping to find something beyond that incredible viral video, I'm afraid that Viewfinder will not be able to change that perspective.
BALL X PIT filled a hole, or a pit if you will, for me that I wasn't aware I had. The only thing I can do is keep crawling back out, shouting that others should join in, before I'm dragged back into its depths again. I don't think I'll be leaving the BALL X PIT anytime soon.
Not just mysteries or dark tales, but fun and creativity are what drive Blippo+. There is no game like it I've played all year and is something that I will often be thinking about in the months to come. If you're looking for a game that's both passive and creative, you will simply need to tune in to Blippo+.
It's a shame that Outlaws was overlooked last year, but perhaps now it is time for a reappraisal of what Star Wars Outlaws is, rather than what it could be. I am genuinely of the opinion that in ten years we'll look back at Star Wars games and go: "you know what, this Outlaws game is pretty fantastic". Just know that you've heard it from me first.