Josh Speer's Reviews
I had a tremendous time playing Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle. Not only is it a fun and complex card game, but it’s one you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy. The threshold to start playing is low, but actually mastering the game takes much more perseverance. Overall, this is a wonderful game with attractive artwork and tons of great features. If you need a new game to get lost in, look no further; I’d highly recommend it.
It’s hard to believe that The Binding of Isaac has been around for a decade. And in that time, not only hasn’t the spark of creativity diminished, but the game just kept getting bigger and better. And I really believe that with Repentance, we’ve reached the best possible version of the game. Not only is it challenging, but it’s well balanced. This is a love letter for fans, especially considering how cheap the DLC is for those that already own Afterbirth+. If you’re a fan of tight, twin-stick rogue-likes, you can’t miss playing The Binding of Isaac: Repentance. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go back to unlocking everything possible in this amazing game.
Honestly, it’s hard to complain about much of anything with Guild of Dungeoneering: Ultimate Edition. This is still very much the game I loved several years ago, just streamlined. It’s fast, intuitive, and sleek. That said, it’s not quite perfect, but close enough, it almost doesn’t matter. If you’re a fan of quirky and strategic deckbuilding combat, I’d definitely check it out. And for those of you that already own the game, rejoice! Your copy already updated to Ultimate Edition for no additional cost. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go kill some diabolical monsters and expand my guild…
I’m incredibly glad I got the opportunity to review Infernax. It’s another top notch title from Berzerk Studio, and it’s perfect for fans of platforming and old school challenge. Featuring multiple endings, tons of humor and epic bosses, it’s a game that should be on the radar of every hardcore gamer out there. If you’re a fan of platforming and love letters to games of the past, go buy this game. It’s that simple.
Even with some small issues like a lack of clarity with the Rank system and levels feeling a little repetitive, Dawn of the Monsters is still a ton of fun. There are plenty of goodies to unlock, a two-player mode and a riveting story. If you’re at all a fan of the kaiju genre and are looking for the next great thing, here it is. I honestly think this is the best game to date by 13AM Games, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store next.
Overall, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is still a tremendous adventure. It makes the transition from 2D to 3D effortlessly, and offers an expansive adventure full of replay value. While I was frustrated by some curious omissions, this is still one of the best Kirby games in quite a while and easily the best one yet on Nintendo Switch. A must-own for fans of the pink puffball.
If you’re a fan of puzzle platformers and enjoy the retro aesthetic, you absolutely need to pick this game up.
Floppy Knights is a fun game with a well-balanced challenge, good variety, and lovable characters. Even better, the whole thing plays remarkably well with just a mouse, though there are other controller options as well. So if you enjoy tactical mayhem and are looking for the next best thing, be sure and add this one to your Steam library.
I really enjoyed Azure Striker Gunvolt 3. While it doesn’t quite manage to give fans a perfect experience, it’s definitely one of the best in recent history. It’s a game with an ambitious story, gorgeous art and sound design, and frenetic and exciting combat. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll find some especially exciting elements to enjoy. But even if you aren’t, this is a game any fan of the platformer genre needs to own. It’s well worth the price of admission.
Small complaints aside, Shovel Knight Dig is still a fantastic game. It deftly mixes Shovel Knight mechanics with rogue-like elements, to create a game that’s more than the sum of its parts. While the difficulty level can feel a bit overwhelming, and may deter some gamers, this is still an entry any fan of the series will find themselves loving. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to burrow into this exciting new adventure from Yacht Club Games!
NeverAwake is still a transcendent and shockingly enjoyable adventure. Not only did I get invested in the story of the game, but the gameplay constantly kept me on my toes, and was a balanced challenge. While some may be irritated by the hardcore vibe of the game, I’d say this is a title that almost any gamer can appreciate. Add in the low price, and this is a must own adventure.
Ultimately Sea Horizon was a very solid and enjoyable experience. While the quite steep difficulty and dual-component RNG can be tricky to deal with, and may push some gamers away, this is sure to appeal to hardcore fans of the deckbuilding genre. If you’re looking for something challenging and unique, I’d give Sea Horizon a shot.
Honestly, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is pretty much a perfect game. It’s packed with content, has lots of fun stuff to unlock, features different ways to play, and encourages players to take a chance on higher difficulties. While I do think that Ultimate and Supreme almost go out of their way to be overly punishing, that doesn’t change how much I still enjoy this game. Even if you’ve never played one Final Fantasy game, you owe it to yourself to see what all the fuss is about in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line.
They say that if you come for the king, you best not miss. Which is why I’m so amazed to say that Cassette Beasts not only stood tall in its own right, but managed to knock Pokémon down a notch or two in the process. While it’s true it doesn’t do everything right, and I’m still a little annoyed by how open world it is and how vague the type interactions can be, there’s so much to enjoy here. Throw in a lengthy playthrough and postgame content, and you have a game that’s well worth your money. If you’re at all a fan of the monster collector genre, you need to play this. It’s just that simple.
Ultimately, Arcana of Paradise -The Tower- is still an incredible, mysterious journey, and one of the best deckbuilders I’ve played. And yes, that list also includes the likes of Slay the Spire. So if you’re looking for something unique and don’t mind a little grinding and occasionally unintuitive controls, this is absolutely a game worth your time.
Sometimes games hold up, and this is one of them. Though I absolutely loved the original, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Definitive Edition brings a classic game to exhilarating modern life. Not only does it feature complex and nuanced strategic gameplay, but has an engaging story and tons of replay value. My only small complaint is I wanted to spend even more time in this world, and would have loved some sort of endless rogue mode. But that said, even if you never heard of the original, all strategy fans still owe it to themselves to check out this amazing adventure.
Put simply, 30XX is by far the superior Mega Man-inspired rogue-like experience. It oozes style and features challenging gameplay and diverse bosses. I wouldn’t mind more to do in the game, but that in no way changes how well-made the experience is in general. If you’re at all a fan of rogue-like platformers, buying this is a no-brainer. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last such adventure we’ve seen from the folks at Batterystaple Games!
Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles is easily the best game I’ve played from Akupara Games thus far. It’s challenging, beautiful, complex, and an utter joy to play. Not only is it an amazing example of the rogue-like genre, but it’s also one of the first dice-builders I’ve ever played. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, do yourself a favor and get a copy!
I didn’t know what to expect when I decided to review Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley. Least of all, did I expect that it would make me a fan of the works of Tove Jansson and help me fall in love with the cozy game genre. While there are a few minor visual issues on Switch, this is still an absolutely charming and relaxing adventure with a good message for generations to come.
Overall I still had a blast with Brigandine The Legend of Runersia. Though I had no previous familiarity with the original game, this long delayed sequel was a lot of fun. And even if it’s a little expensive at $49.99, you’ll more than get your money’s worth, with upwards of 240 hours of main campaign, as well as a challenge mode. While I do wish some things were more clear and that other things were more varied, I still think this is a must own game for any Switch owner. The only thing I regret is that I didn’t order the sweet physical edition from Limited Run Games while I had a chance. But if you’re a fan of tactical styled games and are eager for something meaty, Brigandine is the way to go.