In the end, Karma: The Dark World is a visually stunning psychological thriller that pays homage to classic horror games, but ultimately falls short due to its lack of engaging gameplay and a weak second half.
Beyond The Ice Palace 2 exceeds expectations as a follow-up to a forgotten gem from gaming's silver age. This might be one of the most unexpected indie game announcements in recent memory, as this sequel is vastly different from the original in almost every way.
DreadOut Remastered Collection may not be suited for everyone if you aren’t a fan of campy horror experiences with cheesy plotlines or lack thereof. The cutscenes found within are always a little treat to watch as well, with a blend of horror and light comedic elements as well.
Raziel is back and better than ever in this loving celebration of the franchise. Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered is exploding with plenty of extra content and two action-packed classics to sink your fangs into. At $29.99, you can't ask for much more with an attractive price point like that. You won't find gameplay enhancements, but good old-fashioned fifth/sixth generation gaming goodness packed with silly animations and an incredible story for the ages.
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble almost has what it takes to be a classic beat ‘em up. I hope the team at Odaclick continues to update the game with more content and fixes some issues above, such as the core gameplay mechanics, which is a big issue. The game is still worth a try if it goes on sale if you are a massive fan of the genre and the films. For now, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble needs a bit more “wax on, wax off” action.
Project Downfall features twelve different endings! The fast pickup and play nature of the game lends itself to creating a game that is addictive and fun. After each death, you can get back into it with little to no loading time. For $19.99, that is an amazing price for the content offered here. You can easily spend dozens of hours just trying to get the best rank on each level, cycling through different weapons, and attempting to get through each of Project Downfall's twelve endings!
The bottom line is even at only $19.99, DreadOut 2 is not worth your money, at least when it comes to this version of the game. From frequent frame rate dips to muddied graphics, If you are going to play DreadOut 2, you are better off buying this for any other device. If you are a fan of the survival horror genre and you only own a Switch, I recommend waiting for DreadOut 2 to go on sale, as there is a semblance of a fun time to be had if the game ever receives an update to improve the player experience. Only time will tell if that will be the case. It is a shame, too, because overall, DreadOut 2 could be a horror classic if the game had a higher level of polish and budget to work with.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a slime-tastic sequel that improves upon its predecessor in every conceivable way. The controls are tighter than ever, leading to fast-paced gameplay that entices you with the new slime mechanics and focus on combos. The campaign offers a fun alternative for players who want an addictive roguelike experience with a fun story. The inclusion of other gameplay types like action stages, minigames, and fighting hordes of enemies prevents the campaign from ever feeling stale.
While DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing does little to set itself apart from its contemporaries, it offers a satisfactory kart racing experience with a friendly price tag. The lack of a battle mode hinders the replayability factor, and that is a shame because it would have been the cherry on top of the sundae. If you ever wanted to play as Shrek and friends in a modern kart racer, DreamWorks All-Stars Kart Racing certainly scratches that itch.
The difficulty can be downright brutal, even on the easiest difficulty option, due to the unending swarm of bullets and enemies. Alien Hominid Invasion is easy to pick up and hard to master, so newcomers will definitely struggle to find their footing in the thick of it. It is going to require a lot of dying and customizing your loadout to live to fight another day against the legions of enemies. It's an extraterrestrial experience that totally delivers and is an excellent addition to The Behemoth’s legacy.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder will certainly be remembered for reinvigorating the genre with the innovative Wonder Flower mechanic, fun online and local multiplayer modes, and its gorgeous presentation. Gather your family and friends for an unforgettable adventure in the Flower Kingdom!
Sonic Superstars is a superb outing for the little blue hedgehog that has its share of smaller issues. As I briefly mentioned, the camera could use a bit more work as far as co-op play is concerned. The price tag is also a bit of a deterrent, as Sonic Superstars comes in at a whopping $59.99. As there is a fair bit of content for a 2D Sonic game, that doesn’t mean it is worth the price of admission.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a franchise worthy of a high-caliber release, akin to what Batman: Arkham Asylum did for the Batman franchise. The asking price is the worst offender. At $49.99, you are not getting your money’s worth, and it is way overpriced for the content offered. When the world needed a truly great Avatar: The Last Airbender game, it vanished.
With five to seven hours worth of gameplay, two endings, a gorgeous art direction, and plenty of brain-busting puzzles to satisfy those craving a challenge, you are easily getting your money’s worth with Ugly. If or when Team Ugly decides to patch the Nintendo Switch version to fix this huge bug, the score will change to reflect that. Only time will tell for now. It is a must-play, but hold out for that update so that you can actually see the game through to the end.
As a newer studio with not a lot of funds to go around, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is an improvement over the first title. I was able to tell the passion they had for Resident Evil throughout while still staying true to their own vision. This game is definitely worth a playthrough for those survival horror fans looking to scratch that itch with a new IP. Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is ultimately a triumph for the small but mighty team of developers, given this is only their second game. I hope the third game can improve upon some hang-ups of their sophomore effort.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will certainly be in the history books for faithful adaptations. It is an immensely fun experience with some unlockable content as well. When you reach a certain overall level, you can unlock concept art and behind the scenes set photos from the original movie, along with other goodies. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre gets every bloody detail just right, and the game is fairly balanced.
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE isn’t shy about tearjerker moments, too. A wide array of different emotions is felt throughout the story. From laughter, sorrow, and everything in between, the story was well done. The cast of characters becomes ever more lovable as the game progresses, and It's great to see how Yuma steadily progresses into a seasoned detective. In addition, this game is chock-full of references to other gaming franchises, including Dragon Quest. A lot of parallels were certainly made to a certain famous PlayStation 2 JRPG, but I will let you figure those out, as it was fun to point out.
The graphics are also quite dated, even when playing on the latest and greatest hardware. This does not affect the score of this review in any way, as the gameplay is mostly solid. For a debut console title for AEW, there is plenty to be excited about. AEW: Fight Forever is a fun time, alone or with friends. It doesn’t take itself so seriously with its arcade-style gameplay. The price point of $59.99 is a big ask for a game with such a limited amount of content. I would consider picking this up in a sale if you want to shut your brain off and have a nostalgia-driven wrestling experience. If Yuke’s can keep up with updating AEW: Fight Forever with new content like more stages, wrestlers, and other features, they will have a real winner on their hands.
Every character can be followed through the Fulcrum Stories mode. There is a whopping number of over one thousand characters, no less! At $19.99, it is worth the price of admission. With an eye-catching art style, an ambient soundtrack, and multiple cases to solve, there is plenty of content. If playing detective is your forte, you shouldn’t overlook Crime O’Clock.
Aliens: Dark Descent is a stellar real-time strategy game that doesn’t necessarily break new ground but excels at being a good Alien game. If you are a fan of the XCOM series, you won’t want to miss out on this one. Game releases for the Alien franchise can be hit or miss, but this one won’t leave you saying, GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER! There is plenty of fan service to sink your xenomorph shaped fangs into, so grab your biggest pulse rifle, squad up, and get ready to strategically take out some alien scum! No Hudson, this is not a standard fight but indeed a bug hunt you will want to lose some hours in. GAME ON MAN, GAME ON!