KeenGamer's Reviews
Battalion commander is a modern take on the classic, quarter munching arcade shoot 'em ups. Though the game does little to innovate the genre, it plays the conventions effectively. The real draw here is a large amount of unlocks, which can incentivize the player to come back over and over. However, the game's lack of levels leaves something to be desired. We can't help but feel that the game could use another level or two. The game integrates well into PSN, offering a few trophies. This may be an incentive for trophy hunters looking for a quick game to score some awards. As mentioned above, there is also online leaderboards for competitive players, but they only track laps and total score. Consider the game's low price point, at only $5.49, the number of unlockables is actually pretty admirable. However, we feel that only having one level gives the player little incentive to experiment too much. This is unfortunate, as the enemy variety and simple cartoon art style would lend itself well to a multi-level campaign. All in all, the game is ambitious but ultimately forgettable.
But the question you have to ask yourself is this: would I buy this game? There isn't much replay value, but it can entertain for a few hours and it is a break from the traditional and more mainstream kind of games that we all have been buying and playing for so many years now. But we don't think we would buy it, no. Even for a game that presents itself as a relaxing and calm experience, it isn't that relaxing or calm at times. Trying to figure out the controls before we plugged in our controller wasn't the most relaxing of experiences, and you can imagine our surprise when we decide to pause for the evening in the middle of our game only to find that we'll have to restart everything. If we had to sum it up in one quick sentence, we would describe Lantern as 'like if China did a stress coloring book.' But we think the pros here outweigh the cons just enough for us to give it a solid six out of ten.
Overall, Senran Kagura Bon Appetit is going to be exactly what was expected for fans of Senran Kagura titles. It’s a decently fun game that may or may not last depending on how into rhythm games the buyer is, with the heavy fan-service that makes Senran Kagura the lewd but not nude series it’s built itself on. Not complex, but it doesn’t really need to be, anyone who was looking forward to this title already had their eyes on it, and for those people, the Steam release offers the definitive way to play the game, at full resolution with any controller that has at least ten or so buttons. Fun but fleeting.
The Dwarves had so much potential that it pains me to have actually played what it ended up being due to how torn I feel about it in the end. It was a title I had kept an eye on for months in anticipation, but in the end my hopes and expectations weren't met. There's a chance that perhaps I had them too high, or that I'm being too hard on it, but it truly felt like a bit of a let down. The technical issues are extremely frequent, and I saw the stuttering within seconds of moving my guy for the first time. On the plus side, the fantasy tale and characters are amazing and just as awesome as anyone could hope for.
At best, Fate/Extella is kinda competent game that fans of the franchise will enjoy. It's not broken and can be simple, mindless fun in short bursts. But those not familiar with the franchise it's based on will be left in the dust. If you're a hardcore fan of Fate/Stay Night or Dynasty Warriors, you've probably decided whether or not Fate/Extella is for you. Those on the fence shouldn't really bother with this title.
Hogwarts Legacy is littered with small niggles which, when stacked together, make the game feel like it was released over a decade ago. While the castle is a large enough area to explore, the monotony of repeating quests and tasks makes the game feel last-generation and boring over time. Hogwarts Legacy could already use some DLC's in order to expand the size of the world, add more complex spells, and introduce a wider array of enemies. If you are a power-nerd looking for a new and complete RPG, you will have to wait for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, coming in April 2023. While most critics agree that Hogwarts Legacy is near perfect, due to the incomplete feeling of the game and lack of a solid story arc, it feels more Muggle than magic.
Gunplay, swordplay, and force pulls—what more could you want in an action first-person shooter? Bright Memory: Infinite is a passion project developed by a single person, promising cinematic thrills and phenomenal visual design. While the effort is commendable, other aspects end up in suspect quality.
House of Ashes, as this review will show, is the best title in The Dark Pictures Anthology thus far. However, there are a few flaws that prevent it from being perfect. Though it excels in the cinematics department, it struggles to adequately blend gameplay in a way that makes the experience truly immersive.
Smashing onto PC is Paint The Town Red a first person action game where you battle through waves of enemies across three game modes and multiplayer and causing buckets of blood and gore to fly around thanks to the game’s innovative voxel based gore system. But is the game any good? Read the review to find out!
Intravenous is what would happen if Splinter Cell and Hotline Miami had a lovechild; you’ve got your brutal difficulty and tactile feel combined with a hardcore focus on stealth-orientated gameplay. All of this within a classic and surprisingly compatible top-down perspective!
Dive into an original and fantastical world filled with magic and dragons as you team up with some of the world's last remaining witches on a quest to lift a centuries-old curse! Varnir might fall short in some areas but still has plenty to offer for those looking for a new experience.
Button City is closing down, and it's up to you to prevent that terrible fate! Play as Fennel, a shy newcomer to town just wanting to fit in and play video games. When that happens and everything's looking good, a scourge named Pepperbottom enters the scene and threatens to take it away. Does the journey live up to its appealing low-poly purity?
Bithell Games new Oculus Quest game, Arcsmith, offers a simple VR puzzle experience. As an apprentice, you will design and build complex machines under the instruction of Korith Dinn, the master arcsmith. If you love finding solutions using spatial awareness and problem solving then this is the game for you.
After 14 long years, The World Ends with You gets its long awaited sequel. Finding a balance between adapting the gameplay to a single screen while carving its own niche was a tall task. Nevertheless, NEO mostly succeeds by creating a satisfying follow-up for its patient fans despite getting in its own way often with some puzzling design choices.
Hailed by players as a Hogwarts simulator, Spellcaster University mixes elements from different genres to create a truly unique gaming experience. Can you build a school to train the best mages of our time and finally defeat the Lord of Evil?
For those players who want a brutally difficult, violent action game with all the "kawaii" flavor of anime aesthetics. Lost Ruins places you in a mysterious realm, where a young girl with no memory suddenly appears. With no other option than violence, she will have to traverse this monster-filled location in hopes of solving the mystery behind her identity.
Saxophones and singularities come together in a one-of-a-kind game experience. Genesis Noir takes you on a mind-blowing cosmic cruise through time and space in order to save the love of your life - and maybe your own. Will this starry adventure win you over?
The Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Volume 1 for Nintendo Switch brings a forgotten handheld to the forefront. Featuring 10 games that defined SNK's unique platform, this collection serves as a glimpse into gaming history. Six fighting games, two action games, an RPG and a sports title bring something for everyone, but has age been kind to them? This is an in-depth look into how the collection holds up over 20 years later.
Brave the dangers of the forest in order to find a home for you and your herd. Shelter 3 brings players into a world of peace and peril, where your survival depends on your leadership - namely your decision-making and navigation skills.
WRC 9 brings simulation rally racing to the Nintendo Switch, preserving the core gameplay of the original. With over one hundred rallies and a generous career mode, there's lots to keep you busy. But, with the many visual concessions, does it still hold up?