GameSpew's Reviews
Beyond a Steel Sky still comes off as rushed and sometimes disjointed, with more than a few rough edges. Right up until the final ten minutes I could swear I was only halfway through the game. It’s still worth the trip if you’re a fan of the original, but Beyond a Steel Sky’s flawed journey doesn’t go far enough to truly recommend.
If you’re looking for something to sink hours into and enjoy a slow, steady stroll rather than an action-packed sprint, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town might just be for you.
Ultimately, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise just isn’t acceptable in this day and age. There’s simply no reason why a game should perform this badly. Try as you might, it’s hard to thoroughly enjoy something that’s such a technical mess. If you’re a glutton for punishment and want to spend more time with the most bizarre protagonist in video games, go right ahead. But don’t say that you haven’t been warned. It isn’t a blessing, it’s a disappointment.
As a concept, Night Call is fantastic; a narrative noir where you play as a cab driver on the dark streets of Paris is something that many people will want to pick up and give a try – and they definitely should. But I’m not sure how many people will be able to really stick with it and master it. As intriguing as its cases are, after you’ve played a few they all blend together, making it even harder to figure out what you’re meant to be doing. Give Night Call a try if you’re looking for a challenging narrative game about crime and investigation. But if you’re wanting an easy-going mystery, you won’t find it here.
F1 2020 is racing perfection.
Catherine: Full Body is as much of a joy to play as it ever has been.
It definitely has its moments, but the fun is spread so thinly that Iron Man VR soon wears out its welcome. Being Iron Man is fun for a few minutes, but it doesn’t last. The hero who kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe definitely deserves better.
If you’re looking for some crude, ridiculous fun then look no further. While Monster Prom XXL might feel like it’s working against you sometimes, getting rejected and having to try again is just part of the fun.
Ultimately, there’s nothing in Namco Museum Archives Vol 1 that’s going to win you over if you aren’t already a fan of retro games. But if you enjoyed any of these arcade classics in your youth, it’s perhaps the best and easiest way to replay them. The selection of games on offer is varied, and they’re pleasantly presented with enough features to make them accessible to a new generation of players. The inclusion of a new Pac-Man game is a nice bonus; and the fact that a couple of these games haven’t been available outside of Japan until now is a boon. It’s a shame the collection doesn’t try harder to live up to its ‘Museum’ title, but it’s hard to argue with its excellent value for money.
Namco Museum archives Vol 2 isn’t the all-out celebration of retro classics that it could have been, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not worthy of your money or time. There are some genuinely great games here, with gameplay that stands the test of time. But of course, there are also a few howlers. With a price that’s very reasonable compared to many, however, you won’t mind. And then there’s Gaplus; perhaps the shining jewel in Namco Museum Archives Vol 2‘s crown. You may have played it in its original form elsewhere, but its demade form makes this collection just that bit more interesting.
Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is easy to recommend. It’s bright, bold and colourful, and most importantly, a lot of fun to play. It’s simple to get the hang of, but each separate game mode requires serious practice to truly master. If you enjoy the simple pleasures of a classic arcade-style game, you can’t go far wrong here.
It’s a niche product, Hunting Simulator 2 – it comes with the territory. It’s good at what it does, though; portraying a popular, albeit taboo, pastime. Hours can be spent tracking prey before taking decisive action, and even if you’re not successful in your hunt, the scenery is so picturesque that you don’t really care. Hunting Simulator 2 lets you enjoy the outdoors, indoors. It’s lets you enjoy dog ownership withing having to pick up its poop. Animal murder may be the aim of it, but it’s mostly beautiful otherwise.
Assetto Corsa Competizione isn’t a racing game for all. It doesn’t provide quick and easy thrills, with a career mode focused on building a garage full of cars and customising them to your liking. It’s a serious game for those serious about racing. Thankfully it’ll hit most of the right notes that sim fans look for. It’s just a shame that graphical fidelity has been prioritised over performance. Other than that, there’s not much to dislike here unless you’re a newcomer to the sport, or are stuck with playing with a controller.
So, with its online multiplayer seemingly unable to get off the ground from the outset, Disintegration is only worth picking up at this point for its single-player campaign. With even that having its fair share of issues, however, it’s hard to recommended. There’s quite a bit to like, and the groundwork that has been laid would make for a great follow up with a better story and more strategic depth, but ultimately Disintegration feels like a hollow shell of what it could have been.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated still feels like the classic version – for better and for worse.
Having to raise enough money to purchase a fishing licence does make sense, but when you combine this with the game’s insistence on gatekeeping levels according to your perceived skill, it sucks all the joy out of this virtual pastime. When you factor in what other fishing games have to offer – levels that are accessible from the start, better graphics, in-game sponsorship and beyond – Ultimate Fishing Simulator barely makes a splash.
Very quickly, Westmark Manor managed to impress in almost every way. Despite a couple of technical hiccups – I’ve had the game freeze on me twice, causing me to lose progress – the game’s threatening yet alluring atmosphere and intriguing narrative has kept me coming back. If you enjoy horror games, particularly the likes of Resident Evil or Silent Hill, then Westmark Manor is well worth adding to your collection. Just be prepared to jump out of your skin from time to time.
All three games in Borderlands Legendary Collection are very nearly flawless. There’s perhaps just a little too much to-ing and fro-ing; and as you go from one game to the other you’ll find that the series hasn’t evolved all that much over the years. Still, if you’re into looting and shooting, you really can’t go wrong. Gyro aiming is built into the Switch versions of these games, too, adding a new gameplay dimension. Needless to say, whether you’re a fan of the series or someone interested in jumping in, Borderlands Legendary Collection is outstanding.
It’s a real shame that Summer in Mara subjects you to such monotony, because it’s a beautiful game. Its characters are delightful and its world is a joy to explore. The music, too, is wonderful, if slightly repetitive; some of those tuns will get well and truly stuck in your head. But there’s no looking past the fact that its core gameplay makes Summer in Mara a chore to play. It’s enjoyable in short bursts, at least to begin with, but being little more than everyone’s lackey doesn’t stay fun for long.
Darius Cozmic Collection Console is a niche title that will thrill the people it needs to thrill. Meanwhile, the casual crowd will rightly scoff at its price. There’s nothing wrong with this collection apart from that it’s a bit by-the-book, though as a collection of Darius games released on console, you could take the absence of Super Darius and 2009’s PSP exclusive Dariusburst to task. Still, if you aren’t averse to spending a considerable bit of dough to acquire some of the best shoot ’em ups ever made, consider picking it up.