Raccoo Venture is a good 3D platformer standing tall next to the games of the 90s it takes inspiration from. A channelling adventure with plenty of variety in gameplay that comes highly recommended to experienced platform players. However, its design may not suit the more casual crowd. Platforming and boss fights can be incredibly punishing in places far from the innocent graphical design it reflect. As for me, I welcomed the challenge, and despite my issues, I still enjoyed my time with the game. Another reason I liked it is the game made my son laugh hysterically. Something about the raccoon’s butt bounce had him in fits of giggles. Now, the game will be a cherished memory for me forever.
To sum up I did like Hammerwatch II but it’s not a game that’s going to work for everyone. I absolutely praise the developers for not simply copying the formula of the previous games and slapping an II on the box. But this is not a pick-up-and-play experience like the prior games. It took me several hours and 3 character restarts to wrap my head around things. But once the game finally clicked I did start to enjoy myself. Although the experience felt much more geared to co-op play. This steep learning curve will not work for everyone and I can see some players jumping out of the game out of sheer frustration. But if you can overcome this hurdle there is much fun and depth to discover with Hammerwatch II made all the more enjoyable if you can bring a friend along for the adventure.
headbangers:Rhythm Royale is a positive and upbeat take on the battle royale formula, which I liked. I wasn’t very good at it, but I enjoyed its humorous pigeon presentation and family-friendly feel. Unlike several battle royale games, I appreciated the game currently has no battle pass, just DLC for cosmetic outfits. This is much more appealing to gamers like me who just want to dip in and out of the experience occasionally and not treat the game like a second job. Like many battle royale titles, the novelty of the experience wears off once you have repeated the same mini-games repeatedly. The game is currently on season 2 which gives the impression the developers are continuing to support it. As it stands now, it’s good. But time will tell if its fan base will last in a competitive genre.
Galaxy Bricks has a good idea for an arcade game, but its two design elements don’t combine to create an entertaining gameplay experience. In a different life, I know the difficulties with game development when you’re starting out, especially when you’re on your own. So, playing Galaxy Bricks took me back to the struggles I had creating my own game. I just don’t think this was ready to release on Steam. However, if you want to support a new game developer starting out, give it a look. Otherwise, this is an arcade experience you can easily pass on.
Aztec Tiki Talisman is okay. It’s really just a decent no-thrills platformer. It doesn’t do anything special or new, but I also commend it for not being broken. There’s really not a lot to say about it since the game doesn’t stray far from its formula. Maybe it’s worth a look for the younglings or those looking for something straightforward. Aztec Tiki Talisman is certainly priced fairly for what’s available, but it’s hard to ignore there are more appealing options available on the eShop. It just about scrapes a pass from me.
Train Valley 2: Community Edition is great value for money if you’re looking for a challenging puzzler that won’t push you to the limits of frustration. Multiplayer isn’t a thing, but I could see this as a fun game to enjoy with younglings, especially if they love trains. For me, it was at its best when I just went at my own pace and completed the objectives. Levels are numerous and varied, so this will likely keep you busy for a very long time. Controls are fiddly to start with and don’t quite capture the simplicity of a PC. But once you get your head around it this a great one to enjoy after one of those long days. It’s a train job worth taking on board.
Battle Stations Blockade is okay. It’s a simple arcade shooter that does what it advertises but doesn’t offer anything new to the formula. In single-player, the game quickly became quite boring and lacked a certain spark needed to keep me engaged. I would recommend the game to players looking to play in co-op. Some gamers just want something fun and dumb that you can play while chatting socially. It is an experience worth considering for game night, but certainly not for everyone.
Born of Bread is a lovely RPG surprise to end the year on. A wholesome and feel-good experience that is suitable for absolutely everyone, especially if you’re looking for a more casual RPG experience. It has a plot that captures the childlike fascination and wonder of a new world, an actively engaging battle system but not too overbearing, and an overall jolly presentation that had me smiling throughout the adventure. Something delightful to enjoy in handheld or share the experience with the little one; just remember silly voices are a must. Born of Bread is feel-good gaming at its best and an adventure I highly recommend checking out.
Astlilbra Revision is a phenomenal achievement from a solo developer. Addictive combat that makes action RPG grinding fun. It’s a crazy story that will tickle the emotional strings and gameplay that keeps on giving the more you sink time into it. This title keeps you busy for hours and hours, whether you’re tucking in for a long session or only have time to fit in a few minutes. Multiple difficulties make the experience more accessible to a wider audience. There are small things to nitpick, like odd translations and missions requiring a lot of backtracking through the same areas. However, these are easily overlooked by the deep combat system and an awesome soundtrack. Astlilbra Revision is also a game that should be held up as an example to all budding game designers. You don’t need the best graphics or super powered engine to stand out, just passion for your work. Hopefully, this review will give Astlilbra Revision the attention it deserves.
Whether you choose to go it alone or have a space-themed game night game with friends, This Means Warp is a solid arcade experience. Graphics may not seem like a lot, but the gameplay more than makes up for it. Easy to pick up, very tough to master and even more tough not to be tempted to come back in for another round. My only notable niggle is that you can’t mix local and online co-op, which is a bit of a pain when you want to play the game with your wife and a friend in another country. Regardless, This Means Warp is one of those co-op games that does its own thing and succeeds in the process.
I liked Worldless, but I wasn’t very good at it. Visually, the game looks great, and I had a lot of fun exploring the world and trying to make sense of the vague story while taking in the scenes and listening to the score. Combat, however, is tough. It’s not broken or glitchy. It just takes some fast fingers and careful attention to really master it. I liked it in principle, but it just didn’t click for me. I still give Worldless a solid recommendation. If you’re up for the challenge, you will discover a unique adventure that’s well worth taking the time to master.
DREDGE The Pale Reach DLC doesn’t add much new to an already solid formula. There are new fish to discover, new rods to collect and a cool new tool for your ship. It’s about an extra two hours of gameplay to add to the main content. If the main game hooked you, this DLC is well worth dredging up your copy of the game from your backlog to play.
Heroes of Drakemire is a good RPG, but it doesn’t bring much innovation to its classic formula. For some players, that will be perfectly fine. Heroes of Drakemire will take you back to a simpler time with straightforward turn-based combat and no overly complicated mechanics to get your head around. For me, the game fell a bit short because of the grind. After too many sessions, I found myself grinding away on battles, trying to gather loot to improve my skills rather than progressing. It just came across as tedious, and as a busy parent, it didn’t fit well into a busy schedule where gaming sessions are quite precious. However, if you have the time to spare and love the genre, give this a try and support an indie developer.
At the end of it all, I had fun with the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection. The games are an unusual mixture of difficult yet intriguing experiences; some hit the mark while others certainly didn’t. Little has been done to make the games more accessible outside of save states and a rewind button. With that, it makes it hard to recommend for everyone. If you utterly love Jurassic Park or want an affordable way to play some obscure retro games without going to the expense of finding the original cart or hardware, then this Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is worth the price of entry. My inner child was certainly happy I got to experience the games.
Dave the Diver is a wonderful dip into the ocean. For me, this was the game that kept on giving. With so many options during gameplay, I could not honestly cite a point where I felt bored. Dives were wonderous with plenty to explore and seek, whether it was finding new fish or discovering something sinister in the depths. Running the restaurant was also much more fun than I expected, far from a throw-away mini-game but an in-depth management sim. Either of these two elements of gameplay would make a great game but on top of all that, you have all the little surprises that make this something I could not recommend enough.
I really liked Colored Effects. There was something about this simple puzzler that really resonated with me. Maybe it was the rewarding puzzle design that felt challenging but not to the point of stress. Even when I did hit a puzzle wall, I happily walked away to try again later. For a very low price of entry, you can enjoy one of the best puzzle platformers I have played on Nintendo Switch this year. Colour me surprised.
Astral Ascent offers a compelling journey into the roguelite genre that I found worth taking. While the genre may be packed with heavy hitters, Astral Ascent hits all the marks of quality that make it easy to recommend. A unique variety of characters with their own play style, beautiful graphics and that ever-addictive gameplay loop is calling you to try again, even against impossible odds. To top it all off, you can bring a loved one along to enjoy the journey together.
Ebenezer and the Invisible World is a surprisingly good adventure game that really captures the joy and spirit of its source material. Though it takes on the familiar exploration formula, its unique approach to combat and beautiful art style make this something quite special. However, while I do recommend it, you may want to hold this on your wishlist on Switch until all its issues are ironed out. In a way, the game needs to go through its own redemption story, hopefully before Christmas arrives. Once that happens, which I like to believe it will, this will be a wonderful adventure that’s not just for Christmas but any time of the year.
Unloop is tremendous value for money. For less than the price of a coffee, you have a fairly relaxing puzzle game that will keep you busy for well over ten hours. I enjoyed my time with this title when my brain was in the right state. But, when I wanted to just shut my brain off after a hard day of work, it was sometimes a bit much for me to focus on. When my brain was too fried, I still enjoyed just listening to the cosmic soundtrack. As a puzzle game, it feels unique and should provide many hours of brain teasers to enjoy in long or short bursts.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is another solid entry in the long-running SRPG series. Fans of the series most likely have already bought this game and will hopefully be satisfied. If you’re new though this is a really good entry to start off your venture into the series. The game does a good job introducing each of its mechanics and features whilst you grind away at creating the ultimate party. As with other entries of the series, this is a game that can potentially keep you busy for hundreds of hours. And if you have the time to spare, you’ll find plenty to like here. I had the most fun just doing a few battles after a long, busy day at work. The story is hit-and-miss. But it has deep and engaging gameplay, with a nearly bottomless pit of customization for your party. It will keep you glued to the most colourful netherworld in gaming.