Chris Penwell's Reviews
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is like poop in a baby's diaper. It's significantly ugly, outdated in its gameplay offerings, and genuinely frustrating, with a gallery of glitches. While some of the minigames can be fun overall, most are outdated and shouldn't have been re-released. It is a decent flash in the past and great for preservation, on the other hand.
The stellar performances from the actors, out-of-this-world graphics, and sci-fi theming are on point. It's just a shame that the game is repetitive, with too many arduous stealth sections. If you can get past some bad pacing issues as well, Directive 8020 is worth the riveting trip it takes you on.
Kiln is a fantastic concept by Double Fine that feels limited in scope. There is only one mode and a limited number of maps, while the progression also doesn’t have rewards worth slaving hours for. I hope it has a future, but in today’s competitive environment, it could struggle. Fingers crossed the team continues to build on this game because the foundation is extremely fun, and forming your own pots for battle is an engaging experience
I would definitely recommend The Day I Became a Bird to families. It’s a simple, sweet, and pretty experience that I’m glad I played. It’s not the most deep or interesting game in the world, but it’s a great breather between some of the heavy gameplay and storytelling we see on consoles and PC nowadays.
Homura Hime isn’t perfect, as it can be repetitive at points, but it is certainly a lot of fun to play despite the indie budget you can detect.
I’m glad Xbox decided to port Avowed to the PS5. While the combat can be repetitive in parts, and there are some bugs here and there, the overall experience is stellar. Sidequests matter in a way I haven’t seen before, and the world is fascinating to explore with loot to find all over. The game rewards you to go above and beyond, and I recommend going at a slower pace, immersing yourself in the world of Eora.
This latest Atelier game is a delightful RPG that will let you escape to another world.
With easy-to-understand gameplay, exciting animations, and strategic team-based action, it's a must-try for Dragon Ball fans.
An unexpected journey into Bywater provides a calming village experience with your fellow Hobbits.
Dive into the whimsical world of Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy. Despite shallow characters and repetitive combat, it's charming.
Date Everything feels like too much of a good thing, as the game prioritises quantity over quality.
Croc Legend of the Gobbos is an adorable yet sometimes frustrating retro adventure.
Koira holds a magical adventure but it's slightly let down by its repetitive gameplay.
Two Point Museum brings British humor in spades but hits a few stumbling blocks along the way.
There isn't a lot of heart in the cards with the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection.
Technical issues aside, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage succeeds in telling a meaningful story.
Marvel Rivals is one of the most exciting multiplayer games in years.
Despite a disappointing setlist, Just Dance 2025 Edition still delivers on the fun of the pastime. Some of the choreography can be too complicated for its own good, but there are some tracks that stand out with easier to follow moves like "Paint the Town Red" and "Vogue" by Madonna. The visuals are also striking, while the inclusion of multiple difficulties within some songs is a step in the right direction.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash. A gorgeous breath of fresh air that you can complete in one sitting. However, the enemies and the gameplay can get repetitive from time to time.
The magic of Epic Mickey has been remastered to an illustrious degree in its Rebrushed version.