DualShockers
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There is a very interesting game to be found in Rising Islands, but it simply failed to fully realize itself. Speedrunners and fans of fast-paced games might enjoy this, but I’d advise everyone else to try the game’s free demo before purchasing in order to determine whether it is worth your money.
With one more episode in the Adventure Pass to go, “Access Denied” marks another solid entry for Minecraft: Story Mode. While there’s not much of an indication of where the story will head off next, hopefully the events of Episode 7 will allow Minecraft: Story Mode to build towards a satisfying, thrilling finale.
Inversus is a very entertaining game — while the lack of diagonal shooting and occasional lag in the online mode could be frustrating, the rest of the title is addicting enough to keep players coming back to fight for the high score. Facing people online was also a very fun experience, and I am excited to see what kind of community builds itself around this game. There is easily enough strategy in the game that versus and arcade matches never get old, even on the limited selections of maps. If you are a fan of high-score chasing or couch co-op, Inversus should be on your radar.
On the other hand, if freedom, a relaxed pace, and a galaxy made of more stars that you’ll ever be able to visit make your heart beat, No Man’s Sky will grant you virtually infinite hours adventure and joy, and fly with you where no man has gone before… Literally.
On the other hand, if you want a massive, extremely fulfilling and rewarding simulation of World War II, then this game is a giant cornucopia of conflicts, engaging politics, management gameplay and pure fun. And when you’re tired of World War II, you’ll have endless alternate history scenarios to explore. Just make sure to go to work or school in the morning, because if Hearts of Iron IV really clicks with you, it won’t let go easily.
If you are someone who loves the source material or just generally can dig the quirky, light, and very Japanese appeal of this kind of title, Phoenix Fiesta is worth a shot. If, however, you came for a deep JRPG or a sophisticated action game or a thrilling, edge of your seat visual novel, be aware that you will most likely come away feeling disappointed.
The more I think about my time with Hyper Light Drifter, as well as my continued journey in New Game Plus, the more I realize how much I like this game. Every aspect of it contains a high bar of quality. The sound work, composed by Disasterpeace, is subtle, but will crescendo at just the right moments. The graphics are a throwback to a bygone era of gaming, but also effectively convey a real and lived in world rich in mythology and fantastical events. Combat has a solid foundation that it builds upon, and enemies are fun to fight or watch plummet to the abyss below thanks to a disappearing platform. Hyper Light Drifter is a game you should not miss out on.
Overcooked succeeds in creating an intriguing, co-operative experience that is simple enough that anybody could learn to play it within minutes, but complex enough to keep players coming back, perfecting their skills and aiming for higher scores. I do wish players had the option to play online as well as local, although I realize that the chaos among players over voice chat wouldn’t work as well as when the chaos is sitting right next to you. Despite this, Overcooked is an absolute joy to play. The game combines a unique visual style with simplistic controls and increasingly complex gameplay. Overcooked is the missing addition to your library and one that can be enjoyed by both casual gamers as well as hardcore, high score hunters.
Like the hauntingly beautiful ocean that ABZU has players explore, the real thrill and joy of playing ABZU comes down to going deep beneath the surface to experience its sights and sounds it offers, and the personal and emotional connections that are bound to be found. ABZU may be short on deep, complex gameplay or a lengthy narrative, but is more than capable of providing one of the most stirring, surreal gameplay experiences that (I hope) players will experience this year. As long as you're willing, ABZU is absolutely an experience worth being swept up in and letting you take it wherever it goes.
The prospects of taking on a character with such a varied and diverse range of work like Batman is surely one that is daunt: how do you take a hero like Batman and make him feel new again? For the large part, Telltale Games’ Batman series finds more of a middle-ground (much like the studio’s games) between the old and the new for the Dark Knight. With engine improvements and the episodic gameplay we’ve come to know from Telltale Games, Batman provides a vision of Gotham and the Caped Crusader that’s at once familiar and unexpected (with some big twists I didn’t see coming), and shows that new stories with the Dark Knight of Gotham don’t have to be relegated to the shadows.
Thanks to a dynamic and challenging play experience, there are plenty of reasons to get back up after you meet your untimely end in Shiren the Wanderer. Fans of this genre know exactly what they’re getting into and fans of RPGs in general may find the formula fresh, fast, easy to pick up and exciting to play. The lack of online support may render the co-op useless for many, but even without it the game’s rather enjoyable.
The trials in Tricky Tower can significantly extend your game time due to their difficulty and quantity. However, beyond that single player option you can either engage in battles against friends locally or online, or try to see how many blocks you can stack in endless mode, and that’s it. Tricky Tower is a simple game, but the luck factor for success in a majority of the game modes can cause much more frustrating than something where the player’s skill has a larger affect on the outcome.
Overall, ADR1FT has good intentions, but it just fails to execute them phenomenally. Aside from the stunning visual moments — namely moments where you are in the open and can look down at the Earth as it is lit up at night, ADR1FT is a tedious experience that should have been just a 2 hour ordeal. The game's lack of urgency — other than the constant cycle of oxygen tank-grabbing, makes it incredibly hard to believe that my character is struggling to survive at all.
While the game does have a few slight irritations when it comes to its design, Headlander still manages to keep its head on its shoulders (or traveling through space via rocket propulsion) thanks to its eclectic blend of old-school, side-scrolling gameplay and its art direction that sci-fi fans will truly enjoy. Though it shares more similarities with the likes of Metroid, Logan’s Run, and so many of its other influences than it may for something completely new, Double Fine and Adult Swim Games have still managed to make Headlander into an experience that’s funny, delightfully weird, and might just make your head turn.
YouTubers and veterans of this genre may be able to find something to enjoy in Human: Fall Flat. It’s charming narrator, funny and wonky animations, and opportunities for priceless reactions will most likely make this game popular with content creators on sites like YouTube and Twitch. That being said, the game’s boring beginning, glitches, and bland low poly art style won’t do much for the average gamer. Human: Fall Flat does not have enough substance to keep most people engaged — those with low patience for this sort of experience may be better off watching Markiplier or Jacksepticeye play this game than purchasing it for yourself.
The artwork is simply stunning, so fans of Japanese animation or games in general have something to come for. Unless you’re a hardcore genre fan, it may also go far enough to scratch your rail shooter itch. If then you’re also allured by the story and getting to intimately know all of the main cast members, then I think you’ll love this game. Again, it’s packed to the brim with Japanese fan service which I myself generally love. In a sequel though, maybe it can add some interesting gameplay to supplement that.
10 Second Ninja X is as unforgiving and unforgiving gets. Its unique 10 second time limit on each level will keep you on your toes and requires your full, undivided attention at all times. And although 10 Second Ninja X may have some issues with its difficulty ramp, overall it’s a beautiful little game that takes the best aspects of other speed-based platformers and, despite the name, can easily take up hours of your time. The game itself isn’t long, but going back to levels and beating your high score adds hours upon hours of replayability.
Nothing redeems Ghostbusters from coming across as an overly priced tie-in to the movie’s release in theaters. If you thought bad licensed games were a thing of the past, you thought wrong. Though the game is only bad in the sense of how boring it is to play, if commits the worst gaming sin of being mediocre. It’s not good enough that you enjoy playing it, and it’s not bad enough that you can enjoy its awfulness. Instead its smack in the middle and totally passable because of it.
I Am Setsuna is a game from a different era in the best kind of way. For better or for worse, it borrows many of its mechanics from some of gaming’s classics. While its graphics are outdated and its story gives only the illusion of choice, the rest of the game is good enough to make up for it: the characters are likable, the story is engaging, and the gameplay is fun. RPG fans will find a lot to enjoy here, especially those who love games like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger.
God Eater Resurrection is a fun action RPG with a dark atmosphere and story. You’ll also find very deep customization options, fast combat, and a wonderful multiplayer experience. The characters are likable, even if held back by the omission of the original voices. There’s a lot to discover and complete in the game; completing the story mode alone will take upwards of 40 hours and there are scores of additional missions. However, without playmates the game loses a lot of flair and devolves into a harshly repetitive and far less effective romp with one guy, a huge enemy with tons of health and a few sidekicks to revive you if you get knocked out. There is still fun to be had alone, simply not nearly as much.