Once you are done with the campaign there are plenty of characters to unlock. The real replay value comes from playing the games unlock-able ‘endless mode’. Essentially the core game goes on forever until you die. So if your a fan of high scores this is the mode you may want to sink your extra time into. Serious Scamblers is a highly addictive arcade style game at a super cheap price. Simple controls and nice pixel graphics make this an easy title to recommend for the busy gamer. Quick and to the point fun just as video games should be.
Evergate is a beautiful and clever platformer. Once you get your head round the mechanics there is something quite special here to enjoy for the puzzle-platforming fan. If you need to take a break away from this world for a while, Evergate will take you to an afterlife with great music, rewarding challenges, and a moving story that may just speak to those who share a special bond with someone.
Things started off pretty stable in terms of performance when playing Collapsed. But every now and then my character fell through the floor or an enemy would get stuck behind a barrier. This would of course happen when I was on a successful run. Unfortunately my only option would be to restart the game and since the game doesn’t save your progress between runs it was a bit of a let down. Hopefully these bugs will be ironed out in future patches. Collapsed is a entertaining rogue lite looter shooter. A fun mix of shooting and melee combat that kept me wanting to grind away at the game again and again. While it has a few bugs it makes up for it with solid controls and an enjoyable gameplay loop. It’s certainly a fun way to enjoy the apocalypse I’ll give it that.
Witcheye is a fun game that will no doubt bring a smile to most gamer’s faces. The controls are a little loose at times but the graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is memorable and it made me chuckle with its tongue in cheek humour throughout the experience. I could not help but still be drawn into it. Also, the game is incredibly good value. I highly recommend it, if you’re looking for a coffee game to dip in and out of or you just need something to lift your spirits.
Gleamlight has the looks with it’s beautiful design and unique world. Sadly disappointing controls and mechanics lead to an overly frustrating experience which I didn’t find particularly enjoyable. Maybe something to check out on sale but this is a piece of art worth just observing rather than playing.
Okunoka Madness knows what game it wants to be. A hard brutal platformer that will have the most experienced gamer one the verge of throwing their Switch out the window. For some that’s enjoyable but for others not. I really loved the art style of the game but its a shame the levels and art work will only be appreciated by a few gamers patient enough to make it through the insanity. I had fun with my time with Okunoka but I think I’ll be taking a few relaxing baths before I pick it up again.
Volta – X is an entertaining mech-based game with a clever mix of mech battling to management sim wrapped up in a gorgeous art style. The required online connection is stupid and really soured what is a great package here for me as someone that doesn’t always game in a WiFi spot. However, if this isn’t an issue for you there’s a highly entertaining experience here worth sinking many hours into.
Meganoid is a fun survival platformer with a hearty challenge. You will die a lot but the randomly generated levels kept giving that incentive to return again and again even if the odds were rarely in my favour. I look forward to more of Orange Pixels work coming to Switch
Star Renegades is a beautiful looking futuristic game with fun memorable characters and deep tactical gameplay to match. Certainly not an easy game. The Imperium is a hard enemy to stand up to. But with every failed attempt comes new lessons in the hopes of finally entering that dimension where you succeed. Star Renegades is a game I won’t be putting down anytime soon and look forward to its future updates.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Even the Ocean. I liked the flow and feel of the puzzle platform segments but sometimes the heavy emphasis on story slowed things down too much for me. If you are looking for a casual puzzle platformer with a deep story you most certainly should check out Even the Ocean.
Tank Mechanic Simulator is a surprisingly fun game and a nice relaxing surprise I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. Is the game perfect, no? The learning curve to get into this game is quite complex, the graphics are a bit bland and the performance on Switch a bit muddled. But, despite its issues, I still had fun restoring some tanks. I never expected to enjoy a game with simulator in the title as much as I did. If you have the time to spare and have an interest in tanks this might be something you want to check out too.
Mini Motor Racing X was a pleasant surprise. It took me back to the days of playing Micro Machines on my Mega Drive. Fun, simple arcade gameplay that does the trick for gamers with not a lot of time to spare. Tons of tracks as well as fun extra modes make this a great racing package worth playing alone or with a friend in split screen. I didn’t think I would ever be won over by a racing game again to this degree but here we are. Good job developers!
Just like the original Snake on the old mobile phones The Snake King offers some novelty fun in small gaming bursts. But lots of repetitive levels and lack of gameplay variation make this a hard one to recommend. A shame really as there was a lot of room here to build on the gameplay. Instead we have a rather hollow experience that’s feels like the original game its based on but with a new lick of paint and nothing more.
Golf Zero was a nice little surprise. Brutal hard platforming with an enjoyable golf twist that was great fun to enjoy in short gaming bursts. If you’re not a fan of platformers the golf is probably not enough to win you over. A few niggles with the controls hold it back from true greatness but if the developers decide to make a follow-up I would be up for another round of golf with them.
While the graphics and sound are something to behold. Kholat ends up being more of a frustrating walk in the wilderness than a memorable horror experience. If you love your horror and you don’t mind the slow pace of a walking simulator this is worth experiencing. I will say though the game really did make me miss taking long walks in the mountains. Haven’t done that in a while.
Breakpoint, while small in content, has a single focused but entertaining game mode that I ended up playing over and over again. I ended up being totally on board with the idea of a space ship having a giant axe. If you love your retro style space shooters this is a coffee game worth checking out.
If you like your old-style arcade games from the ’80s Tamiku is well worth picking up. Simple but challenging gameplay and a crazy cute character with a weird fetish for popping balloons makes this an arcade game worth sinking some time into. Though I will say I won’t be looking at balloons the same way for a while.
Warsaw ripped out my soul for several play sessions and made me feel empty and depressed. Within all that pain though I was driven by this feeling of hope and determination to continue the fight in an effort for a better tomorrow. While this feeling can not compare to what real people felt back then and the suffering they went through. Warsaw is a stark reminder of why we should remember those we lost to war and do all we can to prevent this happening again.
Hades is a brutal but highly entertaining trip through the Greek underworld. Although I got knocked down again and again much like the stubborn prince himself I couldn’t help but get back up and try just one more time. With so much content on offer, this will easily be a game I’ll have in regular rotation for a long time to come. Definitely a title worthy of the Gods!
If you’re a total beginner, the barrier to entry will seem quite steep and I suggest searching online for helpful guides to assist you with the creation purpose. You are confined to the games art style and tools so don’t buy this expecting to make a platformer. You will also need a lot of time free as game development is a long process requiring a lot of patience and persistence. The tools here are not quite as pick up and play as say Mario Maker but there is enough depth and complexity that, provided you have the creative mind, you can develop something pretty awesome. Who knows maybe it’ll lead you on the long journey of game development as a whole. Overall my rating comes from my gut instinct and that is …..I Like It