Timelie is a fantastic game that is close to faultless. Despite the strict preciseness needed for some actions, this is the perfect game to introduce several mechanics found in puzzle, stealth, and adventure games. The art style and soundtrack are sublime.
Planet Quiz: Learn & Discover is aimed at a specific audience and is aware that it's not going to be topping many peoples wishlist, but if you have a love for all things Earth, animals, and culture, I'm sure you'd be able to have a fairly decent, albeit short, time with this. That said, if you are passionate about those subjects, it's likely that this may not be very challenging at all, and just confirm what you know. Its three quiz modes are the same and do little outside of this to keep gameplay fresh and exciting after a short burst of rounds.
I feel that many racers start on a high and the more you play, the less fun the game becomes due to its repetitive nature. I don't feel this at all with Super Impossible Road. It is a game that I will always say, "just one more race" and open when a friend is over. The better you become at finding those shortcuts and taking those leaps of faith off the track - and succeeding - the more fun you'll be having with the tight controls in this action-packed, crazy, and striking space racer.
Om Nom: Run doesn't try to be anything more than it is and does a standard job at being an endless runner. Does it do enough to stand out among free endless runner apps that you can download in seconds on your smartphone or tablet? No, it doesn't.
The Legend of Tian-Ding is an action-packed, kung-fu tale with great writing and an even greater art style. The comic book depicting 1900s Taipei is glorious and such a gorgeous aesthetic to play through; Its use was well executed and added layers of humour, threat, and depth to all characters of this heroic tale. Tian-Ding is a fantastic indie hidden gem that I hope becomes, like Liao Tian-Ding, legendary.
The gameplay is faultless in what it does, but Gynoug doesn't do anything to stand out. If you are nostalgic towards the game or those alike, you'll get much more out of this than someone brand new to Gynoug. Unfortunately, I was the latter.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom has an incredible amount to offer, and everything that it does is delivered and executed to the highest standard. The art style is undeniably gorgeous, and the gameplay will have you hooked from the moment you arrive in Ding Dong Dell. A charming adventure that I am so happy to have gone on. All hail King Evan!
SHINRAI – Broken Beyond Despair has an interesting enough narrative. But poor quality visuals and lack of variety make for a hard story to become fully invested in. There seems to be too much text and waffle, and I get the feeling that quantity was preferred over quality in the story. On the whole, the game feels rushed and unpolished.
BATS: Bloodsucker Anti-Terror Squad is fun. It has great humour, doesn't take itself too seriously, and has some great homages to several franchises all whilst cracking a joke or two at their expense. Its gameplay is fine, and I think with a little bit of TLC to tighten the controls and fixing of the blood drops, it would turn BATS from a good game to a great one.
Ayo the Clown is visually adorable and full of so much charm that you can't help but love the little guy and the world that Cloud M1 has created. I am looking forward to what else they can create; I wonder if Ayo the Clown 2 could be on the horizon? With a little polishing of controls, character models and the town function, who knows what heights Ayo could float to.
I appreciate the unique control scheme, which made Hoplegs stand out in its promotional videos and material. But overall, it was a frustrating experience, even though I progressed quicker when the controls started feeling more natural and gained more momentum. The repetitive level design, visuals and music become tedious, leaving Hoplegs (sigh) no real leg to stand on.
The cast of characters are all unique and likeable, and alongside the interesting story, the attachment you gain for the cast aids you in your pursuit for answers. The battle system is fun and boss battles are especially tense. Despite the repetitiveness of some enemies, and the overuse of cutscenes, this is a great game that I'll be diving back into the confirmed higher difficulty when released later this year.
The feeling of being stuck emotionally and maybe favoring isolation is a common theme that many can relate to given the last 18 months we have all experienced. Tie that in with this slice of life being shared with us, and you have yourself an incredibly well written and truly unique experience. Stilstand is a brief, yet powerful story that is well worth taking the time to check out.
Dojoran is an incredibly well-made, simple video game that anyone can enjoy. I had a great experience and will return to it often, each occasion trying to lower completion time and death count. If you have a spare $4.99, I highly recommend this game.
Overall, UNSIGHTED is a game that I hope doesn't fall into the "hidden gem" category. For the simple reason that it is a gem that should not be hidden and needs to be in the line of sight (get it?) of as many gamers as possible. Despite the stress of the lifespan gimmick, this unique element is what will keep you on your toes and panicking, worrying but ultimately loving your time as Alma. The narrative is beautiful, and characters are all full of life and loveable, making for a gaming journey that you will genuinely care about.
Shadow Corridor is a fun Japanese horror game. Perfect for Halloween and any late-night sessions alone or with a group of friends. The controls are smooth and easy to pick up, the jump scares are very effective, and the music elevates everything within this game. My main concern is the replayability the game promotes isn't as strong as I initially hoped, but that doesn't impact the overall experience too much.
Despite its difficulty, Evertried is almost faultless in what it attempts to achieve. The gameplay is tight, the music and visuals are both fresh and nostalgic, and the roguelike tower aspect and difficulty will have you coming back for "just one more run" until you ascend to the top. And even when you do, this game will have you coming back for more as you attempt to better previous scores and times.
Although I can't entirely fault the story in Warp Frontier or the voice acting performances, it was hard to engage in the narrative at all due to the frustrating puzzles and low-quality feel that the game presents. The almost randomness of solving puzzles to advance really did make for a negative experience overall that I can't see many wanting to return to.
If you can immerse yourself into the story early on, Black Book will be your go to for many, many gaming sessions. Black Book is structured in a way that you can spend hours on end playing through it or pick up and play it mission by mission without losing your way in this incredibly well-crafted RPG adventure.
I had a blast with Ultra Age and will continue to play this long after this review is written and posted. Even though its narrative is a little thin in its 15+ hour runtime, it truly is the stylish and adrenaline pumping combat that keeps you coming back for more and elevates Ultra Age to the tier of great Switch titles.