Crash Landed
HomepageCrash Landed's Reviews
Fans of the developers previous work (Akiba's Trip) will find a lot to love in Akiba’s Beat, as this not quite pseudo-successor emulates much of its gameplay loop and even the barren cityscape of Akihabara itself. With a cast of your usual archetypical characters and a ton of mindless gameplay on offer there’s a lot of bang for your buck and you’ll easily spend up to a hundred hours chipping away for that elusive Platinum trophy. For everyone else though, the quirky character interaction whilst delving into a few dungeons may present a chuckle two, but it’ll only get you so far. You’ll quickly find there’s just not a whole lot to Akiba’s Beat, as it attempts to pad out its 20 hour or so content into an 80 hour package that misses out on delving into a truly intriguing story and a lack of cohesion in its mechanics for the overall themes presented.
The Surge feels like the kind of game many within the genre have been awaiting, bridging the gap between a more feature-filled roleplaying title and a stalwart Soulsborne style game, taking inspiration from both genres to form a uniquely new niche creation. Whilst the storytelling is a little lacking - this is something fans have become accustomed to within the genre - what may be a dealbreaker for some is the poor level design within The Surge, offering a cluster of corridors that could well be clones of one another - a step back from what some gamers are accustomed to. But The Surge more than makes up for it within its gameplay, offering new, innovative combat mechanics with a limb targeting system and gory finishers with a crafting and upgrade system that will constantly keep you engaged even having already completed it. Whether you're a hardcore Souls aficionado wanting more or someone wishing to see what the genre may involve, then The Surge offers gamers the perfect chance to dip their toes and see what all the fuss is about.
If I could imagine the kind of game I’ve been waiting for within the genre, it’s OnRush. Quite a feat for a game that I wouldn’t even call a racer. Whilst some may question the full price point, I can confidently say OnRush is worth every penny, offering an experience that is an adrenaline-filled rush that’ll keep you coming back for more. With a ton of customisation on offer, gameplay mechanics that are not only novel but finely tuned and a highly satisfying learning curve, OnRush manages to nail everything it tries its hand at. If you’re at all interested in the genre, I highly recommend it. OnRush is something special
Overall, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy is a decently fun, if a little basic fighter. By no means will it shock the fighting game world - or contain the depth needed for highly competitive play - but it’s good fun nevertheless, that appeals to newcomers with its simplified battle system. Existing fans of the SNK characters I’m sure will enjoy the team up combinations, but may be disappointed with the lack of customisation options on offer to keep them playing.