Niche Gamer
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At the risk of projecting my own prejudices about this sort of game, it seems apparent to me that gameplay and strategy came second to fanservice, and that’s perfectly fine. You just have to embrace it like they did in this game.
Nintendo Switch Sports is an overpriced compilation of mini-games aimed for children. It is also very polished but also sorely lacking content and even with golf, it won’t be enough to justify the lack of effort in this product. It is amusing to go online and to rob children of getting a victory, but even that becomes hollow when there are so few ways to make it compelling.
If you’re a fan of puzzle games, deep sea creatures, and 3D platforming, I highly recommend Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles. Just be sure to take breaks while playing so you don’t go blind from all the neon lights— or go crazy from all the blips and bloops that form this game’s aquatic language.
So many games have tried to present a cinematic experience but the vast majority have no idea what they’re talking about. Trek to Yomi is one of those rare games that not only mesmerizes with its finesse and all-encompassing presentation, it manages to leave an impression on you just like Kurosawa’s films did. Trek to Yomi receives my highest recommendation.
If you are seeking to brush up on your ancient Korean culture or looking for a quick murder mystery Suhoshin might be up your alley. If graphic depictions of violence are more your thing, you might find Suhoshin a bit too tame for your taste.
Maglam Lord is a simple story with unforgettable characters who you will meet and argue or fight alongside with. While Maglam Lord is a shorter experience for sure, it’s definitely a fun ride of fighting and love. Dialogue is quirky and funny especially with the voice acting on top of it.
Painting VR is not like Tilt Brush where it’s not so much painting, but making 3D sculptures. All the developers behind Painting VR wanted was for the game to be about the Joy of Painting. Painting VR provides it to those who would be unable to paint in the meat space by giving them a chance to have an authentic painting experience within the virtual space.
Super Zangyura is highly recommended to fans of Castlevania and linear 2D action games. The easy mode will give newcomers just enough intensity to appreciate what the appeal is and the upgrading will allow them to see the game to the end.
While your mileage may vary, and your perspective on the story can be widened through collecting more of the aforementioned diaries, I found that Submerged: Hidden Depths has nothing worth remembering even a few minutes after setting the controller down.
Closing out our The House of the Dead: Remake review, the game is held back by the limitations of the joy cons, but getting past that is still one of the cheesiest guilty pleasures to have. Anyone who enjoys having huge gibs of gore splatter across the wall like a Jackson Pollock painting will be pleased by the absurdity of The House of the Dead: Remake.
Nun Massacre will send shivers down your spine. Like a glinting flash of a knife, the terror can be sudden and jump scares are earned in this hazy, pixelated nightmare.
Radical Dreamers is as good as it possibly could be, but the remastering of Chrono Cross leaves a lot to be desired. The latter especially is a 10/10 RPG, but in our Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition review, it disappoints due to the lack of care. The technical limitations were excusable on the first PlayStation, but on PlayStation 5, it is embarrassing that it runs worse.
It is the kind of game that feels like a fever dream and if it could only have the hazy scanlines and haggardly, rugged effect of being on a trashy display, the effect would be complete. It may be pretty short and on the easy side, but that makes it perfect for kids who are getting the hang of 2D action games.
The droll and shockingly boring game loop is spread far too thin. The level requirements demand the player go and grind with side quests, but that also means having to endure more of the same tired, coma-inducing gameplay. After a while the inane chatter of the characters and the constant hail of bullets become white noise and the game’s basic components become all too apparent.
Fans of adventure games with a driving psychological story will adore Martha is Dead. Even with the bugs and technical issues, it offers enough intrigue and stimulation to keep the player engaged in the narrative. It might have fewer issues on other platforms but during this Martha is Dead review, the Xbox Series S version was troubling.
Once I made my final choices and watched the end cutscene after about 20 hours of play, I immediately wanted to start a new playthrough and see what happens when I make the opposite choices. And to me, that seems like the sign of a good game; if you disagree, I’ll put you under snakes.
I’m late to playing Crystar myself and hate that I couldn’t play it sooner. The small group of people that have found Crystar, a diamond hidden in the rough, have all praised it from years ago and now I pray that more can see it too. The amazing art, voice work, and fixable gameplay are something that makes Crystar a standout classic in the making.
Even with its bleak undertones, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an exceptional platformer that is wholesome and unbelievably polished. The local co-op feature is merely icing on the cake to further sweeten this all-you-can-eat desert buffet. It is highly replayable and varied with Kirby’s copy abilities that change the gameplay in a profound way.
ANNO: Mutationem is a grave disappointment. The initial premise, stylish ambiance and cool presentation promise a stellar indie action-adventure game. Sadly, it is a hopelessly sloppy game with terrible localization; often on-screen text does not match character dialogue.
Online or local split-screen; ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is still one of the best co-op experiences a gamer can have. The boppin’ funk soundtrack, squiggly graffiti and amusing character designs still makes this feel like an authentic 90s throwback without any irony poisoning.