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Is this the best game in the DETECTIVE series so far? I personally like the ones that have a connecting narrative or an overarching story. But what DETECTIVE – Scene Crime does is give you a solid detective experience, challenging your mind and leaving you to make notes as you try to work out everything from the scene.
Is this the best game in the DETECTIVE series so far? I personally like the ones that have a connecting narrative or an overarching story. But what DETECTIVE – Scene Crime does is give you a solid detective experience, challenging your mind and leaving you to make notes as you try to work out everything from the scene.
TRIANGLE STRATEGY is a deep and rewarding tactical RPG that rewards patience and curiosity. To see everything will require at least three playthroughs, but there is a New Game Plus to assist with that. And on those repeat playthroughs, at least you can skip those cutscenes; they are plentiful, and perhaps too many.
Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is a pretty good game. The graphics work nicely, the story is compelling and Josef, while a bit of a scumbag, is a likable enough protagonist. Unravelling his story is a worthwhile pursuit, and if you like a disturbing game, this might well be up your alley.
Firefighting Simulator: Ignite may well surprise. The gameplay loop is engaging, and the fire control, with all the different equipment to use, is genuinely exciting. It’s helped along by some amazing visuals that allow it to really feel like a current-generation sim game, something which is unusual in this genre.
When teams coordinate, objectives shift dynamically, and firefights erupt across carefully tuned arenas, Delta Force feels like something greater than the sum of its influences. The challenge for the future is to refine this identity, not just echo others.
If you like the Baki Hanma series, or Punch Out, then you should come out fighting with Baki Hanma: Blood Arena.
I’ve played dozens of KEMCO games over the years, and most of those have very much been in the retro camp, but Dragon Ruins is the perfect blend of too retro, in terms of the visuals, and not enough gameplay.
Much like the Halloween horrors Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is based on, it’s a mixed goody bag of treats, yet more often than not, tricks. This potential classic is plagued with repetitive gameplay based on a thirty year old ancient foundation, and “puzzles” that rarely take much thought.
It means that Squish Machine is fine, for a time. It’s able to provide reasonably easy gathering of Gamerscore, as well as a fun flap through trap-filled stages, ushering up memories of times gone by and the thrill of Flappy Bird ideas. Whether you’ll find enough to continue on through to the bitter end though, will be up for debate.
Bad Cheese is a creatively important game and one that many will love, especially those who enjoy the 1920s cartoon visual style. I do think the gameplay gets a bit samey, doesn’t quite click at times, and feels a bit stiff. But the number of tasks you can action, and the machines that you get to operate and play with, are a lot of fun.
HELLDIVERS 2 on Xbox Series X is a triumph of co-op design featuring resourceful, percussive, and dangerously fun gameplay. The missions strike a sweet balance of duration and intensity, loadouts reward experimentation, and team synergy just works.
I was initially unsure of Cronos: The New Dawn, and after the first few enemy encounters, I had a feeling that we just weren’t going to get on. This is a hardcore game, and at times you’ll be left frustrated, annoyed, and want to cry. BUT when it clicks, when you beat an enemy or a boss, and when you make progress, Cronos delivers a brilliant feeling.
Besides some slight performance issues and the difficulty maybe being a bit easier than expected, Black Myth: Wukong is consistently fun.
Madden NFL 26 has a clear shot at the playoffs and a chance to be a Super Bowl contender.
Grit and Valor – 1949 is extremely interesting, as well as being pretty fast paced. While it isn’t, strictly speaking, an RTS, it’s close enough for me, and that means it is more than worth a dabble.
The foundations of Hell is Us are rock solid. A follow-up game would allow for the combat systems to be refined, and for the story and world to be built out more.
What’s not to debate is that if you are on the hunt for a nicely designed, well crafted puzzler, and are itching for a little test of the mind, Square Logic is easily capable of providing it. It works exactly as intended, with no fuss and no bother. If you get it, Square Logic will deliver in spades. But if you don’t…
If your eyes are set on an indie platformer to give you a challenge, I’d recommend the likes of Celeste or Super Meat Boy. Had you played these, and only then, you might just find something in Journey of Johann: Snowy Mountain that is enjoyable.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a solid but limited experience. The core of the game is a joy to mess around with even if it fails to fully capitalise on the systems given to you.