GameSpew's Reviews
Had The Game of Life 2 been sub-£20, it’d be easier to recommend. But its asking price of £30 feels far too steep for what’s included here. One game will last only around 30 minutes, and since you’ll see the same random opportunities and job titles come up again and again, you’re probably not likely to want to keep playing. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the board game, wait until it’s on sale. It’s enjoyable in small doses, but not at RRP.
The next-gen version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 isn’t revelatory, but it makes an outstanding game even better. What more could you ask for?
It’s rough around the edges, but if you’re after a fairly easy-going adventure game (albeit with dark subject matter) to play through in an evening, you could do quite a bit worse than I Saw Black Clouds. There are undoubtedly better FMV games available right now, but this one still has the capacity to entertain. Just temper your expectations and you’ll enjoy the rollercoaster ride that it sends you on.
There’s no question that Narita Boy is epic. As though it jumped right out of an arcade machine from the 80s, it has exciting, fast-paced combat and some of the most beautiful pixel art that will ever grace your screen. Though the story is rather complex, it does nothing but help fuel the unique tone of the game. You might not understand exactly what’s going on, but when the action is this much fun, it doesn’t really matter.
If you’re a fan of 90s adventure games, or a fan of Lovecraft, and are willing to push through Mountains of Madness’ more taxing puzzles, you’ll get a kick out of it. The ending is a satisfying one that sets up a sequel without leaving you hanging. It’s just a shame that the game tries to stretch itself a little too far. As is, Chronicle of Innsmouth: Mountains of Madness is an interesting achievement, just not a great one.
A simulation game with a twist, Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a must-play for fans of the genre. Forget building hospitals, theme parks or zoos; creating the world’s most evil lair is where it’s at. There’s plenty to sink your teeth into here, and an awful lot to learn, but once you get the hang of being evil, you’ll discover that being bad sure is good fun.
If you’re the patient sort, chances are you’ll have a good time with Balan Wonderworld overall. Costume management is clunky, but you’ll deal with it in order to find the secrets hidden within each world, and you won’t be too perturbed by the eagerly respawning enemies and repetitive Balan Bout sequences. For most players though, everything combined will probably prove to be a little too much. Balan Wonderworld is a game that’s capable of bringing out both delight and dismay in its players, though it serves up a little too much of the latter at times to be easily recommended.
With It Takes Two, Hazelight has cemented itself as one of the most creative and talented developers of today. Not only does It Takes Two look absolutely fantastic, it’s a delight to play and its story is wonderful; sometimes moving, sometimes utterly hilarious. It’s essentially your own interactive Pixar movie – co-op gaming really doesn’t get any better than this.
DARQ may be short, but it’s the perfect length to ensure it never outstays its welcome. It uses clever puzzles and a fantastic atmosphere to draw you in, then challenges you just the right amount to keep you invested. The inclusion of the DLC makes the Complete Edition the best way to play, and if you enjoy a mind-bending and physics-twisting puzzler, you’ll love everything DARQ has to offer.
On the whole, there are enough changes for the better to elevate Tennis World Tour 2 from being a sub-par to a decent tennis game. Graphically it’s still not going to wow players, and there’s still some work to be done on the animation and AI side if Tennis World Tour 3 ever comes to fruition, but Tennis World Tour 2 is at least now somewhat enjoyable. Throw in a considerable amount of extra content and next-gen consoles not only now have their first tennis game, but also one that’s worth considering.
So, should you buy Evil Inside? Probably not unless you’re really desperate to be reminded of P.T., or truly love jump scares. Though even then, the fact that it’s only an hour long should make you think twice. On the balance of things it’s not a terrible horror game, but it brings nothing new to the table at all. It tries to mimic P.T. but is inferior to it in pretty much every way. Even worse, you have to pay for the pleasure.
Genesis Noir may not be for everyone. You’ll need patience for it – and if you like games that hold your hand, it’s likely not for you. But stick with it, and you’ll find an extraordinary and rare title unlike anything else you’ve played. It’s beautiful, clever, and very tricky in places – but you’ll be thinking about it long after you’ve turned it off.
For fans of classic 2D platformers, Kaze and the Wild Masks is up there with the best of them. Even at its most frustrating, the gorgeous artwork and excellent craftsmanship will keep you playing. It’s a shining example of what a great platformer should be, and just goes to show that the classics never go out of style.
Set in a macabre alternative universe, Paradise Lost creates a captivating world that begs to be explored and uncovered. Every moment of the game will keep players hooked to the screen, desperate to find out more. It goes to some dark places, but as long as you’ve got the stomach for it, this is a game that will stick with you long after you’ve seen the credits roll.
In the end, Sanity of Morris tries to do something different from your typical horror game. And while a few moments shine, it’s ultimately a disappointing endeavour. The story may well keep you invested enough through its four-or-so hour runtime, but its visual presentation and ropey gameplay mechanics will likely leave you wanting.
If you’re in the market for a good old-fashioned stealth adventure, El Hijo – A Wild West Tale is certainly worth a look – just don’t expect it to wow you in any way. Its charm, while initially strong, soon starts to wear thin, while its repetitive gameplay may eventually struggle to hold your attention. Throw in some unnecessary frustrations, and you have a game that will occasionally delight, but rarely truly impress.
While Root Film doesn’t quite meet the standard of its excellent predecessor, Root Letter, it’s still a thoroughly entertaining visual novel, especially for those who are into murder mysteries. It isn’t afraid to dip its toes into some pretty serious topics, and does so in a respectful manner, but it also employs a bit of humour to lighten the mood when necessary. Forgive its localisation issues, and you have a fine way to step into the shoes of an investigator for just over a dozen of hours.
With a wonderfully silly presentation that won’t fail to make you laugh, Papa’s Quiz is a delightful take on the trivia genre. Winning comes secondary to having fun, and Papa’s Quiz is certainly all about having fun. It’s more entertaining the more players you have, and thanks to its intuitive mobile phone control system it’s easy to get your friends in on the act.
Despite the issues thrown my way while playing Mundaun, I kept going because it had me hooked. From the opening moments, it had my attention in a vice-like grip. Some aspects of its gameplay threatened to loosen that grip from time to time, but I soon get over them because I wanted to unravel the mystery at the heart of the game. With multiple endings, there’s reason to return, too. Whether you will or not is questionable, but there’s no denying that your first playthrough of this utterly unique experience will stick with you. Mundaun is far from perfect, but it’s destined to be a horror classic.
Can’t Drive This is that rare thing: a very simple concept, but one that’s so well-executed that it creates absolute carnage and hilarity. If games nights with friends are a thing you enjoy, make sure to include Can’t Drive This at your next one. You won’t regret it.