Heads Up! Phones Down Edition had all the potential to be the next big thing in party games. The mobile version meant, going into the game, most knew roughly what they were getting. Unfortunately, they knew exactly what they were getting as this was just a port with a $40 price tag slapped on the front.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a faithful re-release of the original games, although it lacks a lot of care and attention that is part of what made the original games so loved. While the game runs well, the controls are poorly explains, and very poorly modernized. The graphics are upgraded but there are some odd textures and a lot of clipping issues in both the new and old graphics.
Unholy’s ending is yet another disappointment. The plot is simple, with a predictable ending in terms of story. The characters aren’t really likable enough to feel a sense of great sadness at any of their fates, and the whole ending section of the game is beyond disappointing. Not because, as it would be safe to assume, the combat is too weak to handle an end-game boss, but instead because the whole of the ending of the game is one uninterruptible cutscene with no input from the player.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a vast improvement on the original; there is no doubt about that at all. There are still many aspects of the game that are lacking, however, which can be hard to see past. The gameplay varies in quality, with much of the exploration and gunplay being on the dull side, but the Frost Grip adding some unique and exciting elements to it—ultimately, the biggest sin of Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is in its lack of scares.
Shame Legacy is unfortunately just that. A shame. It is a shame that a game with so much potential was only a two to three hour experience that was ultimately let down. The sound design created a lot of tension and the opening is very effective in demonstrating the potential for an amazing survival horror experience. While some of the game play is frustrating there is definitely the seeds of a great game hidden beneath.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a fine way to experience the magical game of Quidditch. It is far too busy, and there is a huge skill ceiling that isn't introduced to the player well enough. The tutorial goes through each role, which is helpful, but more than that is needed to understand the flow of the game. While being a fun game with friends, it sadly lacks when playing alone, and the limited substance makes the whole thing feel like more of a DLC than a full game.
Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is far from an unenjoyable game, and if you can see past the inconsistencies in the sound effects and are willing to go through some moments of frustrating or boring gameplay, the surrounding elements are very good. The story is well told, and a lot of the gameplay elements can be extremely fun. I was particularly fond of the inclusion of the glasses and their need to be cleaned at various moments of the game. I felt it added a unique element and proved the creativity of the development team behind Lunacy: Saint Rhodes.
Layers of Fear is a very fun experience for fans of the survival horror genre. It is also an improvement from either of the two original games and the DLCs. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t quite live up to other remakes of late such as Resident Evil 4 Remake or Dead Space. Although, the addition of an entirely new story is a welcome one in the story. If you have never played the originals this version of the game is the version you should pick up. It is graphically fantastic and the combat adds a welcome change to the gameplay.
Crumbling VR is a fun, unique concept that is a new way of navigating the VR space. The combat is fun and has enough variety to keep you entertained with the perks and upgrades available from the very opening. There are a limited number of worlds, and Crumbling VR would certainly benefit from adding more to the roster, as well as making a few quality-of-life changes, such as allowing the narrator to reread sections of the comic book and possibly adapting the movement system to something that causes a little less whiplash. Despite this, Crumbling VR is a fantastic game and well worth trying out if only to see VR used in a unique and very interesting way.
Copycat is made to pull at your heartstrings, which is what it will do. The gameplay is the least effective part of the game, but an experience held together so tightly by narrative, such as this one, can get away with this. There are enough fun elements to look past this, and the story is worth enjoying.
Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow is a wonderful sidescroller that shows great potential from a clearly passionate and skilled new developer. While there are some teething problems with the 3D elements of the game and some object collision issues that can make puzzles frustrating, the game definitely demonstrates what it does right far more than what it does wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing and can’t wait to see what Frozen Line will be up to next. Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow comes out on June 14th and it well worth checking out.
Until Then was missold as a mystery, instead, it tells an intense and beautiful story of coming of age, dealing with loss, and making hard decisions in friendships and relationships. It is an experience that is begging to be replayed, not just because it is a great story, but because each subsequent playthrough comes with its own ending.
Even those who are not fans of turn-based combat should check out Highwater. The combat uses the environment in a way that feels unique and like a puzzle to be solved rather than a strategy to be bogged down in. Exploring the environments is rewarding and fun, with a great radio to listen to as you travel and a very interesting world around you to explore.
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The London Case is a fun addition to the murder mystery genre and plays true to the source material with plenty of parlour room scenes that the player helps create. The gameplay is varied, with many interesting choices that add to the immersion. Linking clues and finding physical evidence are all done well and interact with each other in a way that proves the attention that went into these elements of the game.
Cabernet is a fantastic experience. The story is so much fun, and the gameplay facilitates it perfectly. The world is fleshed out with a lot of vampire lore that feels very well-developed as you play. The visuals are another huge part of this success, and the sound is a fantastic addition. Cabernet is also fully voice-acted, and the actors bring a lot of nuance and humour to the well-written script.
Phoenix Springs offers a stunning experience. The art is wonderful, and the sound is excellent in accompanying the visuals. The hand-drawn scenery is an amazing setting that holds a strange, twisting narrative. The voice actors are an asset to the game, bringing the world more to life, and the gameplay is a great vessel with which to explore this experience. Some clues are a little less based on logic than others, although whether that is an issue or not is mostly down to personal preference.
Rauniot is a really good point-and-click adventure with a fantastic story it has to tell. Every aspect of the game exists intentionally to help tell the story at hand. This includes the rich and detailed settings, the excellent sound and voice acting that makes the characters all feel unique and stand out, and the amazing gameplay that allows for adaptation and invention as you explore the harsh world you are thrown into.
INDIKA is a fantastic experience. It is, ultimately, a walking sim, however there is a great deal you can do to interact with the world around you. The story is a lot of fun, and the personal story poking through is a very interesting one. The ending is simple, some have described it as underwhelming, although I found it a fitting end to a great story.
Saviorless is a fantastic game. Coming from a small studio, using a mixture of Midas that are not normally seen together, the success Saviorless has to its name is a wonderful underdog story. The gameplay is really fun with issues being minimal and none of which are truly frustrating or game-breaking. The story being told is complicated and intertwined perfectly with the merging narrative. The graphics are fun and show a great artistic eye from the devs with beautiful scenery and fun characters.
After Us is a very strong title that is visually beautiful with an amazing atmosphere created by the coordination of each element of the game put together. While some platform elements can be a little frustrating, the combat is a very fun part of the game that allows the size of the playable character to enhance the creepier aspects of the game.