GameSpew's Reviews
A macabre adventure about a zombie boy and his human friend, Gloomy Eyes is a single-player game that requires players to switch between two characters. It can be frustrating at times, but its wonderfully creepy art style and some enjoyable puzzles make it a decent way to spend a few hours.
The Devil is in the Details is easily the most ambitious anomaly-hunting game yet, with traps, enemies and entities for you to avoid as you go around watching out for anomalous items. Some of these don't always make the experience better, though, but you can at least enable and disable them as you please.
Inspired by Super Punch-Out!!, Baki Hanma: Blood Arena is a fighting game that even devout fans of the franchise may struggle to love. The combat here is dull and frustrating, requiring you to simply mash buttons and dodge or block incoming attacks that are frequently hard to read. And there's little in the way of content and features.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection bundles up four games that are all varying degrees of bad, with Bubsy 3D being the worst of the lot. It is cheap, however, and has extras that fans of the bobcat will no doubt appreciate. Make of that what you will.
One of the best FMV games out there, Dead Reset blends body horror, timeloops and foreign entities to create a sci-fi narrative that's as entertaining as it is ridiculous. More player choice and input would be nice, but thanks to great acting and high-quality production values, you likely won't mind too much.
A family-friendly multiplayer game, Splatterbot is very basic but entertaining in short bursts. It's the sort of thing you'll pull out on family get-togethers, and thanks to its simplicity, absolutely anyone can play.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion builds upon its predecessor in a number of ways, and is undoubtedly better as a result. There's still lots of room for further improvement though, with issues such as drab visuals and a dull open world watering down the otherwise engrossing experience of building your dream mech.
With a number of improvements such as a new goalie crease system and NHL EDGE data being used to enhance player behaviour, NHL 26 is undoubtedly a great hockey game. Be A Pro mode still has some issues, though, and you can just tell that the series doesn't get as much love as the likes of EA Sports FC.
Everybody's Golf is back, and though this latest entry is by a new developer, it's everything you'd expect. The three-button shot system makes a return, keeping the action accessible, but Everybody's Golf Hot Shots still requires a fair amount of skill. The main negative here is that progression is slow, so it'll take a while to unlock things like additional characters.
A seriously slick and polished Survivors-like, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel should be considered a must-play if you're a fan of the genre. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but with an injection of Norse mythology and a cool quest mechanic, it does just enough to stand out.
It's challenging, and it might take a little while for you to warm to its world and protagonist, but Cronos: The New Dawn is yet another brilliant survival horror game from Bloober Team. You'll be on the edge of your seat throughout this tense and atmospheric adventure, hopping between the past and the future while blasting enemies that grow more powerful if they manage to merge.
With a striking papercraft style, Hirogami instantly wins you over with its beautiful art. This platformer uses origami to provide you with a wealth of skills and abilities, but sometimes switching between them can prove to be a little frustrating. Still, if you're a platforming fan and you have a bit of patience, there's a lot to like here.
Part Ghostrunner, part DOOM, and part Metroid, Metal Eden is a fast-paced first-person shooter that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping with its core-ripping action.
With its sometimes chilling civil war setting and general lack of guidance, Hell is Us isn't a game for everybody. Those who embrace its hands-off approach, however, will likely find it an incredibly compelling experience providing they can tolerate its occasionally frustrating combat. And it's ever so rewarding being a force of good in such a dark world.
Is Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek as good as Resident Evil or Silent Hill? Of course not, but it's a valiant attempt at bringing the survival horror genre to a younger generation — or the wimps of an older generation. It's a surprisingly enjoyable romp, filled with light scares, tense exploration and some solid puzzles.
If you're a Survivors-like fan, you're going to get a kick out of Karate Survivor — no pun intended. This melee take on the roguelike sub-genre is a great deal of fun thanks to its wealth of moves and focus on environmental damage. It's hard as nails, though, so prepare to die a lot. Still, that's sort of the point, isn't it?
The parry-based combat style isn't going to be for everyone, but The Knightling has plenty more to offer to make up for it. This whimsical adventure has won me over thanks to its clever puzzles and its seriously enjoyable traversal — sledging down a big hill on the back of a big shield has no right being this much fun.
A music rhythm game with roguelite elements, there's genuinely nothing else out there quite like Fresh Tracks. Its intuitive controls and mechanics make it easy to pick up but hard to master. And while all of its songs are original, they're of very high quality. For fans of both genres, this is a genuine treat.
It's showing its age now, but Gears of War: Reloaded finally allows PlayStation gamers to experience one of the best campaigns in the previously Xbox-exclusive series. It's just a shame you'll likely run into AI issues if playing it alone. Needless to say, this is a game best played with others, either enjoying the campaign in co-op, or engaging in its competitive multiplayer modes.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance once again puts us in control of the legendary Joe Musashi, and it's a genuine treat. Fast and fluid combat meets slick platforming and traversal, and when you add in the game's stunning art and excellent soundtrack, you're looking at game of the year material.