Joseph Barrood
Souldiers is a standard Metroidvania that follows different soldiers on their quest through the afterlife. I platformed different locales, solved simple puzzles, and defeated ferocious enemies. Does this classic formula still hold up today? Find out in this Rapid Review.
In honour of Kirby’s thirtieth anniversary, Nintendo published Kirby’s Dream Buffet, a frantic multiplayer party game where I tried to eat as much fruit as possible. Did this anniversary special remind me of all the great times I had with the Kirby series? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Thymesia is a third-person grim dark souls-like with a unique twist on enemy health bars. Instead of just one health bar, dealing damage only inflicts wounds. I needed to manage both wounds and traditional health to take out enemies. Did this innovation make Thymesia stand out? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Cotton Fantasy is a shoot-em-up title celebrating the thirty-year anniversary of the Cotton franchise. With multiple playable characters and sixteen stages, I was excited to see whether I ended up enjoying my first experience in the franchise. Find out if I did in this Rapid Review.
The Tarnishing of Juxtia is a primarily linear souls-like action-adventure game with an emphasis on exploration and choosing upgrades and item combinations. Did the combination of these two concepts make the game any fun? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Subway Midnight is a third-person exploration horror game where I traversed different trains on a subway. Many of these rooms also featured simple puzzles to keep me entertained and motivated throughout my journey. Was this subway ride worth the ticket price? Find out in this Rapid Review.
MultiVersus is a new platform fighter that focuses on two versus two team combat. Published by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, I was immediately excited to see what this publisher could do with its plethora of popular intellectual properties. Does this crossover stand out from the others? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Spidersaurs is a run-and-gun shooter where I faced off against hordes of enemies as one of two newly hired interns. Is this adventure a blast from the past? Or is it outdated? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Kinduo is a puzzle platformer that focuses on creating levels suitable for two people. Both a lightning bolt and a rock (the controllable characters) needed to reach a door at the end of every level. Did this dynamic duo find a place in my heart? Find out in this Rapid Review.
The Wonder Boy Collection is a package of four games. It includes Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, and Monster World IV. Do these retro revivals warrant a pickup considering the newer games they now have to compete with? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Blue Reflection: Second Light is a narrative-driven role-playing game where a group of schoolgirls get transferred into an unknown world and must fight demons. Was this otherworldly experience truly out of this world? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is the latest Mario sports title on the Nintendo Switch. Though I have never played any of the Mario Strikers games before, since many people think highly of the series, I was eager to get my hands on it. I was especially excited to see how the title would run on the Switch, as I enjoyed the fast-paced action and gritty art style used in the trailers. Was my first experience with the series a good one? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Pile up! Box by Box is a three-dimensional puzzle platformer. Though this game does feature many interesting puzzles, instead of emphasizing difficult and intricate puzzles, it focuses on creating a lovely and charming atmosphere to explore. Does this decision make the game stand out for the better? Or did it work to the game’s detriment? Find out in this Rapid Review.
The Serpent Rogue is an occult action-platformer that takes in a world where chaos and corruption are taking over. To put an end to this torment, I needed to craft potions, refine my arsenal of items, and engage in combat with a variety of enemies. Was this journey one to write home about? Or did I wish I got back sooner? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Staxel is a farming simulation title that focuses on both community-building and crafting. It incorporates elements from Minecraft with its art style and block system as well as Animal Crossing with the emphasis on collectables and creating a marketplace for fish and bugs. Does the title provide the getaway I wanted? Find out in this Rapid Review.
I had never heard anything about The Sorrowvirus: A Faceless Short Story until we received a code for the game. However, after reading the description and viewing the trailer, I was interested in seeing what the game would offer. Did the game resonate with me? Or was I left in sorrow? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Dawn of the Monsters is a beat-em-up title that features massive beasts and robotic mechs taking out other ferocious monsters. As I piloted these behemoths, I explored various landscapes and worked to save human civilization. Did these immense creatures make the game massively fun? Or did it end up being a big flop? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space is a point-and-click adventure following Dexter on his quest to uncover the mysteries of the galaxy, and to get enough money to buy a couple of tacos along the way. Is this space escapade out of this world? Or was it nothing special? Find out in this Rapid Review.
The Ramp is a simulation skateboarding game that focuses on the flow of skateboarding instead of achievements. Having seen the trailer, I was excited to see how this game played especially given the budget price point. Did this game nail the landing? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Gardener’s Path is a puzzle game that involves taking out bugs and other pests from a massive underground garden. I slid my way through tiled arrays taking out enemies, avoiding spiky cacti and reaching the end of the level. Was this title a breath of fresh air? Find out in this Rapid Review.