GameSpew's Reviews
If your child is a Bluey fan, they are going to absolutely adore Bluey: The Videogame – it’s as simple as that. An art style that matches the cartoon and the use of original voice actors make this an authentic experience, with simple and well-considered gameplay that’s enjoyable for players of any age. Yes, this is an experience aimed at the youngest players – but even as adults, we’ve had some fun with this. It’s a game you’re going to be more than happy to play with your kids, let’s put it that way.
For fans of the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre, Chipmonk! is likely to be an interesting curio. After all, how many other games allow you to take control of warrior chipmunks battling against a range of other animals? It does feel rather dated though, very much taking inspiration from the true classics of the genre and not having ambitions to further them in any way. The result is a game that will be a hard sell for many, especially if they’re not instantly drawn in by the animal shenanigans.
Something a little bit different from Puppet Combo, Christmas Massacre puts the shoe on the other foot, putting you in the position of power in a retro-horror setting. You’re the killer here. You’re the villain. Instead of fighting for your own life, you’re seeking to put an end to others’. It proves to be a challenging and morbidly enjoyable endeavour, even if the the game itself isn’t the most mechanically robust. If you’ve got the stomach for it and enjoy the macabre, Christmas Massacre is definitely worth giving a go. At the very least, it’ll let you release some steam if you get stressed this Christmas.
Cute, joyous and packing in an important message to boot, I adore Loddlenaut. This is the epitome of relaxing, stress-free gaming, with the only thing you need to worry about being keeping your oxygen topped up. Cleaning up the oceans is fulfilling in a way that few video games are – and getting to interact with the adorable loddles is simply a bonus you’re going to want to keep coming back for.
Taking six to eight hours to complete, I’ve blasted through American Arcadia in just two sittings, being utterly gripped the whole time. The side-scrolling platforming and first-person puzzle gameplay blend together seamlessly, with the story here being king. Despite a few small presentation issues that need ironing out, the gameplay here is flawless – and jumping from Angela’s first-person viewpoint to being in control of a side-scrolling Trevor via her computer monitor is nothing short of genius. If you enjoy adventure and puzzles, and like the sound of a story that’s reminiscent of The Truman Show, this is a game not to be missed.
It’s safe to say that we’ve been bowled over by The Last Faith on the whole. We’ve been lost at times, pouring over the map in the hope of finding a clue as to where we should go next, but it’s rarely dampened our enthusiasm to play. And thanks to many weapons, skills and other items to discover, time spent exploring never feels wasted anyway. While this is a game that doesn’t really offer anything original or ground breaking, then, it remains engaging nonetheless.
If you enjoy the likes of Stardew Valley, you’ll get a kick out of Spirittea. There’s serious joy to be found in seeing your bathhouse improve over time, but that’s only part of the fun to be found here. Simply existing in Spirittea’s unique little world is wonderful, making friends with its colourful residents – and enjoying a spot of karaoke. It’s a unique take on the genre, for sure, and if you’re not too spooked out by spirits, Spirittea is absolutely worth soaking up.
Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All! 2 still isn’t the best example of the side-scrolling beat ’em genre, then, but it is undoubtedly an improvement on the original game. While Streets of Rage 4 can rest easy as the king of the genre, Slap Them All! 2 can provide hours of fun, especially for fans of the Gallic warriors. We’d certainly welcome a third adventure, anyhow, complete with further improvements.
There isn’t anything else quite like Super Crazy Rhythm Castle. Unique and innovative, this zany adventure through music and puzzling is undoubtedly one of the best co-op games in 2023. Sure, you can play it by yourself, but you’re going to have more fun when you’re battling it out with friends. Do yourself a favour and make sure this is on your playlist when you have friends over this holiday season: you absolutely will not regret it.
Creating outfits is hugely entertaining. If you’re the type of person who spends far too long in a game’s character creator screen, you’re going to have a whale of a time piecing together outfits in Fashion Dreamer, making everyone look their absolute best. But that’s about all there is to do here. Sure, showing off your own designs in your showroom can be entertaining, especially if you’re playing online. But a serious lack of substance and any semblance of challenge really lets the experience down. Playing dress-up is a fun and relaxing way to pass the time, but if you’re expecting anything more, you’re going to be disappointed.
A short but focused and utterly compelling experience, This Bed We Made is a mystery that we simply couldn’t pull ourselves away from. As wrong as it feels to be in Sophie’s shoes, snooping into things that didn’t concern us, it didn’t take long for us to be utterly engrossed in the mystery that unfolds. This is a detective game done right, with engaging puzzles and the perfect balance of player autonomy and guidance when you need it. The team at Lowbirth Games has revealed itself to be an incredibly talented bunch of people, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Credit where credit’s due: considering this is made by just four brothers, Quantum Error aims high, which is admirable. The execution is simply not there, though. This is a game that simply tries to do too much, and as a result feels messy. If you’ve got a lot of patience and really like the idea of being a firefighter caught in a horrifying situation, you might get get something out of Quantum Error. Most, though, will just encounter frustration.
There’s no doubting that EA Sports UFC 5 is the best representation of the sport yet, with stellar visuals and realistic animations now powered by the Frostbite Engine. There are some brilliant new features here, too, the most impactful being the gruesome injury system. For some though, the changes from UFC 4 might not quite be enough to convince them that it’s worthy of a purchase. That is of course unless they’re won over by the idea of an actual online career mode. EA Sports UFC 5 isn’t a reinvention of the series for the current-generation of consoles, but it at least has some advancements that make it somewhat compelling.
Fans of RoboCop are likely to love Rogue City, though it’s also likely to prove appealing to those who simply like shooting up bad guys with reckless abandon. Dealing out violent justice as RoboCop rarely struggles to put a smile on your face – even if, at times, it threatens to become a tad repetitive. Throw in some light investigation and some moments of humour, and you have a game that makes effective use of a much-loved IP.
One of the best games of the year, Alan Wake 2 is utterly mesmerising and truly unique. It’s a work of art that blends videogame and film like never before.
It’s a shame that Ghostrunner 2 isn’t a little more polished, as its imperfections can frustrate a little at times, but this is still a mighty achievement for One More Level. It remains a challenging experience that’s not for the fainthearted, but it packs in more variety and depth, expanding the world of Ghostrunner to levels we never anticipated or thought possible. If you’re a fan of the original Ghostrunner this is an absolute must-have, but we reckon this is a good place for newcomers to jump in too. Although some might want to wait until a patch or two has landed, just to smooth over some of its rough edges.
The Gap is a very pleasant surprise, and a great amount of praise needs to be showered onto its developer, the two-person team of Label This. This is a clever and engaging thriller, brought to life with believable characters and a very grounded approach to science fiction that we can really get behind. It isn’t without the odd hiccup, but they’re easy to forget once you’re absorbed into Joshua’s compelling story.
With its wonderful pixel art and minimalist but atmospheric soundtrack, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with Full Void. We honestly launched it while waiting for another game to download, but then couldn’t pull ourselves away until it was over. Needless to say, while it’s quite short and relatively simple, it’s an experience you shouldn’t overlook during this absurdly busy period. Especially if you have a fondness for old-fashioned 2D platforming adventures.
Solving a compelling mystery is always rewarding, and Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express absolutely nails the thrill of stepping into the shoes of a celebrated detective. Allowing you to take the lead on a intriguing case, Microids’ latest visit with Poirot gives players just the right amount of agency, presenting us with a varied and engaging mixture of puzzles to solve. Add to the mix pleasing visuals, good voice acting and a story that’s worth sticking around for, and you’ve got a very good mystery game indeed.
Hellboy Web of Wyrd has a handful of issues that somewhat mar what is otherwise an intense and rewarding experience – but they don’t completely ruin it. Like many roguelites, the core gameplay can become repetitive over time, and there isn’t the widest selection of helpful perks and boons on offer, but at least the combat here is unique. Ultimately, fans of Hellboy are likely to just appreciate that they have a decent game based on one of their favourite comic book characters – though Web of Wyrd should also appeal to those who like third-person brawlers and roguelikes in general.