Use a Potion
HomepageUse a Potion's Reviews
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Definitive Edition adds a strategic twist to the match-three formula that makes it a blast to play. Whether battling through the meaty single player campaign, facing off against friends and strangers online, or having a quick battle alone, there’s plenty of fun to be had as you use your robust roster of units to dismantle your enemy’s defences. It adds a deceptively deep amount of strategy to the otherwise straight-forward match-three formula, but in doing so offers one heck of a satisfying puzzle experience that’s easy to pick up and play, but very, VERY hard to put down.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie acts as an excellent finale that long-time fans of the series will find themselves fully engrossed in until the very end. It brings together so many characters, locales, and events from the games that came before it in a meaningful and satisfying manner, whilst the core gameplay mechanics remain as engaging as ever. Add to that the brilliant Reverie Corridor that really fleshes out the experience and it’ll be clear that this is a triumphant conclusion for the long-running story.
My Friendly Neighborhood offers a unique horror experience that’s a lot of fun to play thanks to its clever yet unconventional children’s TV show setup. It’s all very ‘family-friendly’ in design and doesn’t always necessarily feel like a horror game, but that’s what makes the whole experience so unnerving – especially since it’s full of moments that’ll leave you unsettled and on the edge of your seat. It’s just good fun to play and manages to nail the balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat perfectly. Sure, a lot of its gameplay mechanics have been seen and done plenty of times before, but they complement the refreshing concept and ensure that My Friendly Neighborhood stands out as a unique treat for horror fans.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons marks a fun return for the series that changes up the formula in a simple yet rewarding manner. It is guilty of keeping things a little simple in places and it won’t demand much strategy from the player, but there’s plenty of excitement to be found as you beat up countless baddies in this revamped take on a classic.
Viewfinder is a wonderfully unique puzzling experience that’ll keep players bedazzled with its world-altering gameplay mechanics. I was constantly left in awe when I saw these 2D images manifest into the 3D world, whilst the puzzles are meticulously designed to creatively embrace the changes you make in some ridiculously clever ways (even IF it is possible to exploit a few of them). And with plenty of new ideas introduced as you progress, there’s always SOMETHING different to do to alter the imaginatively designed world. It’s just an excellent puzzler and one that feels wholly unique in what it does, because believe me, there’s nothing out there quite like Viewfinder.
Testament: The Order of High Human is just a bit dull, with the game’s combat and puzzling proving repetitive and uninspired throughout. Nothing about the game is awful, but it was rare that I found myself buzzing when facing a challenging encounter or satisfied after solving a drawn-out enigma. It’s just all a bit meh, with nothing about the game feeling interesting enough to make it stand out when compared to all of the other (and far better) first-person fantasy adventures out there.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals offers a captivating sci-fi escapade that certainly manages to match the highs seen in the original game. It has a different tone (something that I personally think comes down to its more mature cast), but it still feels equally engrossing when it comes to its storytelling and its unnerving sense of presence that’ll leave players on the edge of their seats. Those seeking a gameplay-heavy experience will want to look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a gripping story that you can help shape, some wonderful visual and audio design, and an ominous atmosphere that’s more subtle with its spooky moments, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will DEFINITELY tick a lot of the right boxes for you.
Crime O’Clock adds a clever time-bending twist to the hidden object genre, with the neat investigative elements ensuring the game remains a lot of fun to play. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll be doing a lot of the same things over and over again (and the samey aesthetic can make the maps lack visual differentiations), but there’s enough creativity to be found within the crimes that players will be kept entertained as they play. Does it do enough to convert fans who don’t enjoy the hidden object genre? Probably not, but if you’re looking for a hidden object game that does something a little different, you should look no further than Crime O’Clock.
Final Fantasy XVI doesn’t feel like a traditional Final Fantasy experience, but that doesn’t stop it from being a masterpiece. There has been a big leap in the evolution of the gameplay as the series moves into action RPG territory, but the results are astounding, with the game offering some of the best combat I’ve seen in any action title. Add to that the gripping narrative, the astounding visuals, the wonderful soundtrack, and the sheer scale of the epic adventure, and it’ll be hard not to be wowed by just how magnificent it feels to play. I have no doubt it won’t be for everyone (there’ll be those that crave to see the series return to its roots) and there are some things the game could do better. As it stands, though? Final Fantasy XVI is simply magnificent. It might not feel like the Final Fantasy titles of yesteryear, but it still has the epic sense of scope and phenomenal production values that have made the franchise so beloved by fans.
AEW Fight Forever offers a fun wrestling experience that feels satisfyingly old-school in design, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement in this debut release for the company. The outdated roster, the limited creation options, the lacking presentation (both visually and with wrestlers’ entrances) – whilst these issues don’t stop the game from being entertaining to play, they will leave some AEW fans feeling a little underwhelmed. Still, there’s no denying that the game captures the absurd over-the-top nature of AEW perfectly, whilst modes like Road to the Elite and the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match show that there are some really cool ideas on show that you won’t find elsewhere. Let’s just hope that the inevitable sequel is a bit more fleshed out to keep players hooked in for the long-term.
Kingdom Eighties utilises the established base-building formula in a nostalgically fun manner, with the game oozing with that old-school 80s charm. The vibrant world looks wonderful, the quirky yet familiar narrative of ‘kids saving their town’ felt perfect, whilst the core gameplay loop is as addictive as ever – even IF it could get a little formulaic as you progress through the game. It’s not perfect and it’s disappointing there isn’t any co-op play, but there’s plenty here to keep fans engrossed as they build up their kingdom. As someone who STILL adores everything about the 80s to this day, I found myself thoroughly enjoying my time exploring Kingdom Eighties throwback adventure.
Escape from the Past serves up more of the same co-op puzzling goodness players have come to expect from Escape Academy, with the murder mystery twist adding an extra element of drama to see unfold. The puzzles are as clever and creative as ever, whilst there are a few new ideas thrown in that encourage piecing together evidence and even competing with your partner. And sure, there may be some familiarity for players given that you’re re-visiting locales you’ve been to before, but enough has changed to ensure that Escape from the Past still manages to stand out as an enjoyable breath of fresh air.
Aliens: Dark Descent is a gripping strategy experience that captures the classic Alien-vibe and brutality perfectly. The core gameplay mechanics are engaging and demand strategic thought from the player with the blend of skillsets at play, whilst the missions themselves bring with them plenty of variety that encourage experimentation from the player. With a base and characters to upgrade, an emphasis on man-management, an intense atmosphere that’s befitting of the franchise, and the worry that things could go wrong at any minute, it’s hard not to find yourself absorbed in the strategic sci-fi escapade.
Crash Team Rumble has been a very pleasant surprise, with the addictive and fun gameplay loop making for a really good time. It’s deceptively strategic despite its simplicity, whilst the different characters and their cool abilities as well as the variety of maps ensure that no two matches will feel the same. And, as a long-time Crash Bandicoot fan, I love that it’s oozing with the zany charm that the series is known for. I do wonder if it’ll offer enough to keep players hooked in for the long term, but as it stands, I’m a big fan of Crash Team Rumble. Now then… when will Ripper Roo be playable?!
Trepang2 is a brilliant shooter that captures the atmosphere and action of its inspiration perfectly thanks to its frantic gunplay and unnerving tone. It’s clear from the get-go that the FEAR series heavily inspired the game, and whilst it could be argued that it could have done with a few more original ideas of its own, it does everything SO well that it’s hard to complain. It’s brutal, fast-paced, and strategic, and with plenty of shocking moments to keep players on the edge of their seats, easily stands out as a must-play shooter.
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales offers some enthralling storytelling and creative gameplay that ensures its book-trekking adventure is a memorable one. Sure, its puzzles aren’t particularly challenging and some of the choices you make can feel inconsequential to the overarching plot, but it does more than enough to ensure its adventure remains captivating as you play through each little tale and twist them to suit your needs.
Greyhill Incident has an interesting concept, but its poorly executed gameplay mechanics can make for a tedious and dull experience. The lack of signposting can make exploration a chore, whilst the frustrating stealth mechanics and aggressive enemy AI can make encounters with the aliens a real pain – especially with your low stamina that makes it hard to get away. There are things I liked about the game and the story is cool (in that ‘so bad it’s good’ kinda way), but it’s really hard to recommend Greyhill Incident. Refugium Games are working on some patches to improve the experience which is good to see, but as it stands? You’ll probably want to steer clear of this alien invasion.
Layers of Fear brings plenty of new additions and refinements to each game, ensuring it is the definitive way to experience the series. The visual upgrades look absolutely outstanding, whilst the new story content fleshes out the narrative in an intriguing and cohesive manner. The refinements to the to the gameplay help streamline the experience too, and whilst some of the changes are better than others, it helps ensure that the haunting gameplay feels fresh and intriguing. Will it win over players who had mixed feelings about the original releases? Maybe not, but it’ll definitely be a treat for fans of the series that have been itching for more. I definitely had a good time with Layers of Fear, with it acting as the perfect reminder that Bloober Team certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to horror.
Amnesia: The Bunker is an unnerving experience that’ll both terrify and enthral players in equal measure thanks to its gripping gameplay. I loved exploring the bunker, finding clever ways to progress, and carefully evading the wrath of the creature, whilst the moments where it was on my back were always exciting as I fought for survival. And sure, the open-world design of the game isn’t always executed perfectly, but the sense of progress you feel as you open new pathways and complete objectives is always satisfying. It’s just a really fun direction for the Amnesia series to take, with Amnesia: The Bunker delivering the scares that the series is known for in a very different way. Its individual components of gameplay may not necessarily do anything you wouldn’t have seen before, but put together? They make for a really good (and really spooky) time.
Homebody certainly kept me on the edge of my seat with its horror-themed time loop puzzling, even IF some aspects of it don’t always deliver. The creative puzzles ensure players will be kept scratching their head when playing, whilst the eerie atmosphere keeps the tension high as the malicious killer stalks each room of the cabin looking for blood. It does have a few issues, with the camera and controls the main offender, but they don’t stop Homebody from being a lot of fun to play. It does something a little different in the horror genre, both thematically and from a gameplay perspective, whilst the old-school vibe will tick plenty of the right boxes for players.