As a whole, Metal Tales: Overkill does feel like a very bare-bones version of The Binding of Isaac, just mixed with arguably a much better soundtrack, but a lot less item variety. It’s a good start, a solid foundation for better things to come, and if the game continues to get updated, it could really pull a lot of fans of the game genre, and music genre, into the game’s atmosphere. As it stands now, it’s a good start, but definitely not a huge amount of variety from run to run.
Do not be fooled by the source material. My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure may have been a pretty simple play and completion for an adult whose life is essentially playing video games, but it was still enjoyable. The lessons taught in the game are key and really important for a younger demographic, and it does look great as a whole. This should definitely be a pickup for most kids, and some adults should consider adding this to their library as well. If nothing else, it’s a pretty easy achievement/trophy list without ever feeling completely condescending, so why not?
Souldiers is an all-around joyful experience; its three classes being unique enough from each other, warranting different playthroughs. The use of different elemental types to fight enemies and gain an advantage, plus using them to traverse the world, is a great implementation. Characters feel unique, enemies are distinguished and not just reskins throughout, and the ambient sounds are all great. A genuinely memorable game all metroidvania fans should check out.
Anuchard is fast-paced and is pretty satisfying. This is definitely a game for anyone who enjoys dungeon crawling indie games like Boyfriend Dungeon or even Hades . Honestly though, just about anyone could get into it pretty easily.
Revita is a great indie roguelite, dungeon crawler that can genuinely hit the same levels that something like Exit the Gungeon can provide. If its developer can continue to provide players with content and updates here and there for the game, then all it takes is a little bit of word of mouth to get Revita flying the way it should. This base game is definitely a great starting point, and with so much to do in every run, and so much to collect, it’s a nifty little title that people will stick with if they know there will be more to come.
Roguebook certainly needs some adjustments, between long wait times on cards being played and scaling of difficulty in the later chapters. Those issues aside, however, there’s a lot to love in here. It has some great ideas, beautiful art design, and some fun gameplay… when it decides to run properly. Roguebook has the potential to replace Slay the Spire in this style of game, it just needs some tweaks.
Imp of the Sun was a pretty enjoyable little play from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the fact it didn’t even remotely try to hold my hand, telling me to figure my path out right from the getgo. I also really enjoyed its postgame offerings, with a pretty decent (and challenging) NG+ mode which made things a lot more tense on my second run.
Unbound: Worlds Apart is an adorably charming indie game that really shows the strength of Alien Pixel Studios’ craft. Throughout the 6+ hours I spent with it, I’ve encounter various puzzles, a bunch of sneaky enemies I couldn’t fight back against, and even some bosses I had to survive in order to solve the problems that face the world. A total package, Unbound: Worlds Apart is an absolutely adorable indie title. It hits the ground running and doesn’t stop from beginning to end.
Rune Factory 5 has been a lot of fun and has a ton to offer regardless of how you plan to tackle the game. Hopefully it doesn’t take Xseed another eight years to make the next game in the series, or maybe we get some big updates or DLC, but if it does, then I’m more than certain that this game has enough to do to keep people coming back and tackling more and more, even if it’s just exploring different love interests, or only wanting to be a potato farmer.
This game might have been hyped beyond belief by streamers, but this is one game you should avoid.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a huge step forward for what is achievable in the Pokémon series as a whole. This is a defining step in the franchise that shows just how much gas is still in the tank. The staleness of the mainline series and the need to remake the older generations is being shown it’s not needed any longer. New gameplay mechanics show just how far this series can be pushed, and still feel like a Pokémon game.
Beat Souls does genuinely deserve the –Souls title. This game’s Hell Mode is genuine hell and I challenge anyone to see what kind of a level they can achieve in it.
Pokémon Shining Pearl was a nice way to revisit the Sinnoh region, and would be a great introduction to anyone new to the Pokémon series. For any returning players, the lack of what could be considered a “Legacy Mode,” letting players turn off the full party XP share, can take away from the “challenge” of the game. All around it was plenty enjoyable and definitely made more for fans who want to continue their adventure post-game and hunt shiny Pokémon.
Loop Hero is a faithful release on Switch that plays well both with controller and with touch screen. The game is completely up to date, and for anyone who didn’t stick with it on PC, it’s a great game to play on-the-go and be able to stop or pause whenever needed. Even though the PC version game out nine months ago, I’m likely to have spent more time playing on Switch already, accessibility really does Loop Hero favours.
If you’re looking for some childhood nostalgia, look no further than Monster Rancher 1 + 2 DX. If you have never played these games before, this will probably do absolutely nothing for you because, to be honest, these games are much more sluggish than they ever felt back around release. Welcome to the joys of the evolution of gaming. Some games can withstand the test of time, others can not. Monster Rancher is unfortunately a game that should be returned to solely for nostalgia’s sake.
In the grand scheme of things, Dadish 2 could have very easily been a DLC pack for the first game, but given its cheap price, it’s absolutely justifiable to pick up this sequel game if you’ve enjoyed the original. Sure, it’s pretty much just more levels on the same engine, but that’s not entirely bad. It’s a good time if Dadish was your thing.
All in all, Lyrica2 is an interesting traditional “Chinese music + Tap Tap Revoluton” blend. The way that this game puts together a lesser explored style of Asian music and brings it into the limelight with a more modern style, especially in rhythm game format, is really interesting. Providing more traditional takes, alongside more modern remixes also allows for the music and the game itself to be more accessible to people who may be turned off by the idea of not understanding most of the words in the songs.
Save for some small changes to each of the individual game modes, it’s obvious that most the effort in Vanguard went into multiplayer, which makes sense. Zombies has been brushed almost entirely to the wayside, and while the campaign is fairly lengthy and has a story that actually makes sense, not involving brainwashing, it’s a big win for Call of Duty this year. The hope now is that the season updates, new maps, and hopefully some new Zombies content, can help to fully flesh the game out effectively.
While Dadish is a pretty simple platformer, with some fun puzzles and a few harder-to-find stars (its main collectible macguffin), it is actually pretty fun, and it will offer you a good time. It’s a cute little game with some pretty funny dialogue and, especially near the end, some levels that will definitely take you a handful of tries to finally be able to do and collect its prizes. You could a lot worse than tackling this odd but adorable little indie title.
As a whole, Sheepo is quite short and simple, but very sweet. This game is a lot of fun, and if you’re after achievements, going for the “no death” speed runs can be challenging, but very welcome, given how enjoyable this game’s overall loop is. While it might not be the most traditional metroidvania game, it’s one that’s absolutely worth taking a look at if you’re looking for something you can knock out in one session.