Smurfs Kart was looking very promising until the gameplay and overall design of the game turned out to be a simple kart race with the Smurfs theme added onto it. Most of the effort was put into creating models and themes, but the rest feels like it was just taken from the basement of the developer’s studio and added little modifiers into it.
There is no need to get Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants unless you really like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or you are one of the very small batch of people who enjoyed this game on the arcade and wanted to play in your own home for some reason.
Bloodhound just feels alright as an FPS but fails to deliver the actual feeling of old boomer shooters. Despite the lacking key elements, developers still deliver updates and quality-of-life changes to keep the tile fresh and enjoyable. It also helps them to understand what sort of expectations the player base has as well. This leads to shaping the boomer shooter everyone wants instead. If you are looking for a title that still has a nice feel and is a bit different from what you are used to seeing, Bloodhound might be one of them. Just to let you know, approach the game with a pinch of salt, as it might not turn out to be the definitive shooter you were expecting.
Dreamworks All-Star Kart Racing is another go at the notorious kart genre, hoping to get things right. In some aspects, it does, but in some certain places, it fails the deliver to make it a worthwhile experience. The graphics, kart customization, and the interaction between characters are great.
The quality of Land of the Vikings is all over the place. Sometimes, it provides quality game design; sometimes, it falls apart without noticing it. The generic gameplay with a Viking theme is a bit lackluster, too. I wish they focused on the Viking aspect by researching their proper ways to live in the Northern areas rather than just giving the theme of Vikings and turning it into any other city-building simulator with strategy elements. I see a lot of missed opportunities for the title, but I am sure the developers will start taking action when feedback about the 1.0 release starts rolling in.
Orten Was The Case is a highly well-thought title with lots of never-seen artistic choices. It is undoubtedly one of the indie games of the year that leans to the better side with its visual representation, sound quality, impressive puzzles, and take on the time loop style of gameplay. If you consider yourself a veteran of ’90s story-ridden puzzle games, you could easily eat up Orten Was The Case, but if you are curious to check out the game, approach it with a pinch of salt.
The Fabulous Fear Machine does provide a unique take on the strategy genre as a whole. Instead of being the good guy everyone wants all the time, filling the masses with conspiracies and rumors to exploit them can also be great fun. It is recommended to check out the title if you are looking for an exquisite strategy game with its own personality and charm.
Zoria: Age of Shattering follows the rules of the staple medieval RPGs in the market, which is absolutely fine. The charm of the overworld and replay value in the game are immensely high, but some quality control might have led to a polished release. In terms of gameplay, it feels close to home but then feels clunky at times to put you off, so it’s better to approach Zoria’s world with a bit of a pinch of salt into your inventory.
Adore is a nice take on both creature-based combat and MOBA-style gameplay. It does properly execute the ideas well. But, some little nitpicks we had, such as the visual clutter and slow narrative, can be tricky to get through. Besides that, the idea and process of it becoming a proper title with nice addition is a nice thing to see.
Warstride Challenges is a neat, solid, and somewhat missable FPS title with varying degrees of difficulty and complexity. Bunnyhopping and strafing are a must; if those are your fortes, give the game a shot. But do not expect the game to be supported for a long while, as the content is super niche, and it is better to just go for a bunnyhop map in Counter-Strike: Source, to be honest.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a fun and well-crafted stealth game that would eventually draw non-stealth game enthusiasts. It’s not even that tactical and breakdowns between stealth sections give a breather to the player, making it a narrative action game rather than a serious stealth game where you have to save a president or something. Sure, some bugs did occur during my gameplay, such as falling through the map geometry or watching Ayana getting clipped while crouching on stairs.
Thanks to One Last Breath’s interest in reviving this sort-of-forgotten subgenre, it was a refresher, at least for me. That doesn’t totally mean One Last Breath was a bit tedious to go to due to the simple puzzles, but hey, it was at least trying to put out an important message.
With its short playtime filled with well-done gameplay, humor, and execution, Anomaly Agent is worthy of your time to go through, even if there are some lackluster moments you’d come across. I had to seriously sit down and play through whether it provides what it advertises, and I must say it is impressive for a newly established company. However, expectations should not be stretched to the moon as the gameplay does not bring anything new to that table unless you are below the said table, which means go ahead, absolutely try it.
Despite some very small questionable parts, in general, Crime O’Clock is a neat title to go through. In some ways, Crime O’Clock is a new way of looking at the point-and-click genre with its unique twist on time elements. You are not always in a rush, and take things slowly at your own pace while solving crimes with the help of your companion and visual story-telling. Its art style and charming way of approaching events are also cute, making it a welcoming game for newcomers to the genre as well. Crime O’Clock completely suits people who are searching for a cozy game with investigations, crime, and detective work.
Between Horizons ends up being a nice proof of the “It isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” mentality, where the developers expanded what they knew about the detective genre. The game does not punish you for skipping some of the important bits while researching and rewards you for being right about your suspicions, which creates an even ground for both experienced and inexperienced players. If you are looking for a detective game with lots of in-depth and happen to have a fair share of clues to follow, then you should definitely check out Between Horizons‘ detailed adventure.
THE FINALS have brought some fresh vibes to the market, and people seem to like it for a good reason. It is dynamic, engaging, and is on the right path to provide players with content. Although some aspects do require focusing, like cheaters, the game itself already showcases great promise in upcoming years and has no way of being irrelevant soon.
Hauma – A Detective Noir Story was a good change of pace in terms of crime-solving games. It is not dreadful, dragging, or painstakingly hard to get through, which makes it more appealing to begin with. There were no wrong choices or unsolved mysteries, every action taken by the player can be redeemed or understood later in the story. The explanations and gameplay are simple enough for someone who is uninitiated by these sorts of genres, and the game could be a nice, relaxing way to get away from stressful games.
SPRAWL is a lot of fun when you get the grasp of movement shooters just right. It unveils the possibilities you can do with a given arsenal and environment, and it yields lots of unique ways to beat your way through. It was immensely fun and suited for both regulars of the genre and newcomers who wish to see how it feels. We are definitely sure that SPRAWL is going to get under the radar and stay as an underrated title, and we highly suggest you check SPRAWL out to get its name out there.
Book of Hours, with its narrative and properly implemented story elements, is what a dedicated CRPG fan is looking for. It is not too excessive nor too flashy on the eyes. Simplistic design, loveable characters, a huge map to play on, and complete freedom of the protagonist allow the player to freely choose their own way of getting themselves back on track. Book of Hours is going to be published on
In terms of the overall performance of UFO: Unidentified Falling Objects, it is quite a neat take on the puzzle genre. Six different levels, lots of content to unlock, and every level having its own unique take on the challenges are very solid. From controls to movement, the gameplay is never interrupted, with no lag spikes or slowdowns. We wholeheartedly suggest it if you are itching for a puzzle game that has a high skill ceiling and replay value.