DarkZero's Reviews
Hollowbody stands as a commendable project from a solo developer, effectively channelling the essence of classic PlayStation 2 horror titles, with a particular nod to Silent Hill 2.
I cannot help but feel that Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown came out too early.
Earth Defense Force 6 distinguishes itself as the most compelling entry in the series, successfully drawing me back into its captivating gameplay loop, a feat that previous titles had failed to achieve.
Despite the shortcomings in interaction and gameplay complexity, Still Wakes the Deep has an appeal through its linear, but high-quality set pieces and engaging storytelling.
Astor: Blade of the Monolith has a certain charm and fun element to it, but the game's simplistic combat and repetitive foes take away from the overall excitement.
There’s a ton of depth that is often lacking in such bonny titles and plenty to keep you engaged for well over ten hours. Plus the difficulty is absolutely perfect for a real hungry brain-teaser lover such as myself. The only negative thing I can even really say about it is that it’s not exactly a novel concept as there are many other games that will have you programming bots. Human Resource machine is incredibly similar with its drag-and-drop command layout, I got quite addicted to Bitburner a year or so ago which uses a real programming language to have you level-up in a sort of an idle game, and I’m very excited for Linkito that lets you build out entire systems with logic gates and bits of hardware. That doesn’t stop Star Stuff being great, though – it actually means there’s somewhere to go from here if you want more. Give it a shot.
Mullet Madjack goes full pelt with its cyberpunk anime theme inspired by all the anime greats from that 80s/90s period.
Alone in the Dark is a game that gets 60% right, and the rest is a mixture of poor or frustrating gameplay mechanics.
The story is told and then it ends, but it makes you feel like there should be more, leaving not a craving for another entry but slight disappointment that your curiosity isn't fully satiated.
Overall, Animal Well is a visually striking 2D metroidvania that immerses you in a pixelated world full of mysteries.
More interesting abilities and skill trees that don't boil down to just controlling enemy movements or taking them out from a distance would go a long way – maybe the ability to create shadows to cross gaps or manipulate light, which could be used for combat and exploration.
In the end, The Outlast Trials offers an enjoyable horror game that makes for a unique cooperative experience.
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a sequel that decides to change a few elements to offer a more streamlined, less frustrating and generally overall better experience than the previous entries in the series.
Quite the double-edged sword I'd say.
Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions is a game that will not waste your time and is a decent, easy-to-understand tactical title that appeals to a wide range of players.
Though I have no doubt anybody who likes cards, poker, video games, or joy will have a great time with it, I feel I should also note that it does wear itself out significantly faster than most of its brethren.
We need more of this.
Cookie Cutter stays true to the tried and tested metroidvania recipe.
There are not many intense and skill-based euphoria moments in video games that feature such great platforming and instant death moments with enemies as the dance that is performed between the player, enemy and the environment of Ghostrunner 2.
Though the developer himself has expressed disappointment in its reception, they should still be incredibly proud of what they've accomplished largely by themselves.