Skeletal Avenger is a solid dungeon crawler with rogue-lite elements. The graphics are not the best and the game feels a little light on the perks when compared to other games in the genre. But what one can’t deny is the amount of fun I had playing this game. Randomly generated levels with satisfying gameplay and the ability to play locally made for a winning mixture. The game may feel a little bare-bones in places but it has the meat where it counts. Play alone or grab some friends and get avenging the skeleton way.
Centipede: Recharged is a fantastic love letter to the legacy of the games. By keeping the gameplay formula simple with the added power up tweaks this feels like an arcade game worthy of being in its own cabinet. It’s just kind of a shame arcades are dead now, in the UK at least. This is a simple but addictive high score chasing fun. Add to that a brilliant soundtrack and neon retro visuals and you have a winning formula. The cherry on top is you can also enjoy the game in co-op with a friend, loved one or that neighbour you never say hello to. This brings back all the great memories of the high score chasing arcade games and I certainly look forward to more classic games in the Atari range receiving this treatment.
My Singing Monsters: Playground is a decent party game that feels suited to a game night for players of all skill levels. It may also particularly appeal to its fan base from the mobile platform. But once the party is over the game doesn’t have a lot going for it and that has always been the main niggle of these party-style games. I will give the game this though, when the monsters did start to sing at the end of a tournament it did bring a smile to my face. That’s gotta count for something.
Cotton Panorama may be remembered as the experimental entry of the Cotton series. For its time it was a worthy attempt at something new but by switching into the new perspective the game lost a lot of the simple pick up and play charm the other games are known for. It would have served better as an additional game in a Cotton collection but as a standalone release, this entry is really only for the most dedicated Cotton fans. I’m still grateful I got to experience this entry in a wonderful series of games. But if this game was chocolate in one of the variety tubs it would be the one I would eat last… after gorging on all my favourites.
Lone McLonegan: A Western Adventure, is a classic point and click adventure game that keeps gameplay firmly in the past for better and for worse. Fans of the old days of this genre should absolutely check out this title but if you need some assistance with the game’s tougher puzzles you’ll have to seek that elsewhere online. But at a very attractive price point, you will get a quirky puzzle adventure that packs as many laughs as it does challenges.
Demon Turf is an entertaining demon filled adventure that I recommend to fans of 3D platformers. The game has a few niggles here and there. Combat felt loose and clunky, the platforming, while fun to control, had its moments of frustrations, particularly later in the game. Lastly, the side quests were just not very interesting. The developers clearly put a lot of love and effort into this release and it shows in volumes in the games design and brave attempt at trying something different from the usual platform formula. Not everything clicked with me but this is a trip into the demon realm I’m happy I took. For those that give it a chance, it’s hard not to find something to like in this demonic adventure. Demon Turf is an entertaining demon filled adventure that I recommend to fans of 3D platformers. The game has a few niggles here and there. Combat felt loose and clunky, the platforming, while fun to control, had its moments of frustrations, particularly later in the game. Lastly, the side quests were just not very interesting. The developers clearly put a lot of love and effort into this release and it shows in volumes in the games design and brave attempt at trying something different from the usual platform formula. Not everything clicked with me but this is a trip into the demon realm I’m happy I took. For those that give it a chance, it’s hard not to find something to like in this demonic adventure.
Black Widow: Recharged is another winner from the Atari Recharged series. It doesn’t matter if you got to enjoy the original or are coming into this for the very first time. This is a highly entertaining pick up and play arcade game with gameplay that still holds up years later. Brilliant, to the point gameplay that’s ideal to enjoy when you only have a few minutes here and there. Or when you just need a breather from more heavy titles. Let’s also appreciate that for a moment you get to play as the spider in the lead role of a game. But whether you see this spider as a hero or villain I guess is up to you.
It’s great to see Cotton 100% come over to the West in such a big way. In 2021 we were lucky to receive 5 games in the Cotton series on Nintendo Switch. As someone who never got to appreciate the series before it has kinda made me feel like a kid again. I was getting to experience these games for the very first time as if I was playing them on their old retro systems of origin. The trouble is, it really feels like these games should have been released as a collection as opposed to a separate release. The price point also just feels a bit high making these appeal more to the dedicated Cotton fans over an impulse purchase for gamers testing the water for the first time. There have been several retro re-releases from the likes of M2 and Hamster that have released individual retro games cheaper and on some occasions more options. If you do want to test out this series Cotton 100% is a good place to start or Cotton Reboot released earlier this year.
Monomals is a groovy blend of puzzle platformer mixed with music creator. For most gamers, this will be a chart-topping hit. A nice blend of action followed by a good sit down to compose an awesome musical piece. The touch screen controls appear to be hit and miss and didn’t work for me, making the music-making element a bit more fiddly than it maybe should have been. That being said, it helps that the game has an incredibly positive vibe to its design so if you just need a little cheer, be sure to give this a look. The developers tried something new and original with this concept and it ends up being a musical and action mash-up that works as much as make you smile.
I came into Astria Ascending expecting a pretty by the numbers classic RPG experience but came out pleasantly surprised. My only main niggle was I didn’t find the story particularly compelling. However, the battle system and the depth to character customization make this game stand out from the competition. Adding that to a very beautiful art style, this is an RPG that any fan of the genre should most certainly take the time to experience.
Bonito Days offers a fun experience that feels best enjoyed with friends and family though there is some fun to be had alone. For the most part, the game sets out what it aims to do. A simple relaxing party game that is designed more to chill out with rather than a challenge. Nothing wrong with this concept but had the game added a bit more depth to the gameplay this could have been something truly memorable. Maybe that game will come later but until then, this certainly falls comfortably into the category of a stress-free gaming experience.
Trios makes math’s fun. A simple chilled out game with a very pleasant soundtrack. Trios sets out what it wants to do and certainly achieves it. But it’s simple design probably won’t appeal to everyone. This is not really a game to switch your brain off either after one of those hard days at work. That being said, if doing math is how you like to relax, then you can count on Trios to entertain you.
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is an entertaining puzzle game with a spooky theme that feels suitable for most gaming audiences. Emma and Fenton make a great gaming duo. Mixing top-down and 2D puzzle platformer makes for quite an engaging experience. If you’re looking for a suitable spooky action puzzler this Halloween (or any time of the year for that matter) then I highly recommend trying this game. You’re more likely to be highly entertained than have nightmares.
Evertried is a simple concept, yet highly addictive rogue-lite experience. It’s a great rogue-lite to enjoy in long or very short bursts. A little hard to start with but once it gets its afterlife claws into you it’s very hard to put down. It still amazes me how developers continue to come up with original ideas for the genre, but here we are with another talented indie developer proving me wrong. Evertried is a trip to the afterlife easily worth your time.
The Caligula Effect 2 is a virtual encounter that ended up being a mixed experience for me. It has a solid combat system and a fantastic soundtrack. But this is kinda let down by an overbearing story and side quests which created a lengthy and rather dull experience. Overall, I think the game will appeal to a niche audience looking for a story rich experience as well as fans of the original game. While the concept of trying to escape a virtual world doesn’t seem like something new, this still was an experience I enjoyed plugging into and escaping reality for a few hours a day.
G-Darius HD is one of the finest entries in the series. A fine example of a 2D game moving in the 3D realm in all the right ways. Maintaining the core design of the series whilst adding the excitement of the arcade. Love your schmups? This is an essential purchase. New to the Darius series? This is a good place to start and one of the more affordable games in the series on the eShop. M2 recreated the arcade atmosphere with fine precision making me feel all the thrills and pleasures of that era from my youth which seems so far away these days. Whenever I need a lift in the spirits G-Darius HD will easily be a game I’ll reach for.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers is a racer that caters to its young fan base and succeeds with some room for improvement. A few things could have been built on; more diversity in track design and offering more power-ups rather than just one per vehicle. It also seems a missed opportunity that lessons from the show are confined to the load screen rather than incorporating them further into the gameplay. If you know a young one that’s a fan of this show and loves video games then this seems like an ideal gift if you’re struggling for ideas.
Residual is another winner from Orange Pixel. An intriguing survival exploration game that will keep you busy for long or short bursts of gaming. If you’re not a fan of the genre I’m not sure there is anything here to win you over. In a way, it’s fitting Apogee published this game as it kinda did bring back some of that nostalgia of that era in gaming. A game that doesn’t totally hold you by the hand, but the more you invest in it, the more you discover. What started as a stressful experience became one of wonder and intrigue. If that sounds good to you I highly recommend venturing to the stars with Residual.
Flewfie’s Adventure scores high in the cute factor but also serves to be a pretty decent mild space shooter. Levels are fun to explore and the puzzles nicely integrate into the shooting action. The shooting itself does become a bit grindy and dull as things progress, losing the appeal of playing this on a higher difficulty setting. The card game integration is also a nice feature but does feel like it will be hit and miss with some folk. Overall though it is a cute adventure well worth your time alone or with a friend or loved one. A game with so much cute in it should come with a warning label!
Gas Station Simulator ends up as one of the better ‘simulator’ games out there. Tasks get repetitive and there are moments where I did think to myself ‘why am I spending so much time playing this.’ But ultimately it held my attention and I enjoyed running my station even if it did have a few rough edges. I guess like running a real Gas Station this game is filled with financial challenges. The stress of juggling customers and employees and after a long gaming session you feel like you need a good sit down with a good coffee. But despite all this, it makes for a pretty fun video game. But I can’t guarantee running a Gas Station in real life would be this much fun.