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Dustborn isn’t perfect, but its engaging storytelling, wonderful visuals, and variety of gameplay mechanics ensure that it still makes for one heck of a memorable road trip. You’ll constantly feel like you’re doing something different, and whilst it does miss the mark at times (most notably with its combat and lack of challenge), it has plenty of little surprises to keep a smile on your face when playing.
Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered is a wonderful sign-off for a memorable trilogy of remastered old-school adventures. It nails the age-old adventure game process that players have come to love over the years with its clever puzzle design, whilst Max’s psychic enigmas add a welcome (and wacky) twist to the familiar formula. Add to that the revamped visuals and audio and it’ll be easy to see that Skunkape Games have really put a lot of love and effort into giving these beloved adventures the top notch treatment that they deserved.
The Crush House is a unique and enjoyable experience that’s unlike anything else that I have played before. Putting together a cast, filming their actions, and keeping the weird yet wonderful audience happy was satisfying and fun, whilst uncovering the darker secrets of The Crush House kept me invested as I progressed through the narrative. And sure, it does have a few technical issues and the gameplay loop can grow a little repetitive the longer you play, but this virtual twist on the world of reality TV shows does more than enough to ensure it deserves your attention.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits offers a beautiful and engrossing adventure that Xbox gamers will no longer have to look upon enviously from afar. I had a wonderful time uncovering the game world, battling enemies in satisfyingly strategic showdowns, and using The Rot to help figure out each enigma in my path, whilst the tough but fair difficulty makes each piece of progress all the more rewarding. And sure, it does have a bit of a slow and simple start, but once it gets going, it’s easy to find yourself completely captivated by Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ gorgeous and tantalising adventure.
Cat Quest III will feel familiar to some, but with the rewarding gameplay loop, gorgeous visuals, and fun co-op action, I’m certainly not complaining. The introduction of naval combat and exploration adds to the excitement, whilst playing through the adventure in local co-op was a treat that I certainly won’t be forgetting anytime soon. It’s just a ton of fun to play, whilst the plethora of quests and secrets to discover ensure that the world is a treat to explore. It's just really, really, REALLY good, and whilst some returning gamers might wish that the gameplay loop had more of an evolution, I loved my time with Cat Quest III. Why fix what isn’t broken, right?
Tomba! Special Edition is a wonderful release that gives players the chance to re-visit one of the PlayStation’s most ambitious and enjoyable platformers. It’s surprising how refreshing the unique gameplay elements still feel today, whilst there’s plenty for players to get stuck into with its multitude of rewarding quests and satisfying platforming challenges. And sure, it can show its age in some aspects of its design (particularly when tracking quests), but it still manages to stand out as a very impressive platforming adventure that’s sure to delight both newcomers and those who loved the game back in 1997.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter can feel dated in design, but offers enough fun to make it worth checking out in 2024. The iffy camera and some sketchy enemy AI stand out as the worst offenders, but the solid level design, cool combat, and worthwhile remastered enhancements help ensure that modern audiences will be able to enjoy it. It could be argued that new players might not be able to forgive some of the more obvious issues, but those who have fond memories of playing back in the day will appreciate the blast to the past.
Conscript nails the classic survival horror tropes across its engaging gameplay, whilst its atmospheric storytelling ensures it’s one of the more unique releases of the genre. It definitely caught me off-guard on plenty of occasions with the horrors of war, and whilst it’s not necessarily a scary game in the conventional sense, it offers a cold and eerie outlook into the brutality of the First World War. It does have some imperfections and it can be pretty tough, but those who love old-school survival horror certainly won’t want to miss out on Conscript’s distinct yet undoubtedly dark foray into the genre.
Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is a fun Metroidvania-style adventure that’ll swoon players with its sublime visuals and slick combat. Combat and platforming feel great throughout, the story is intriguing and rich in detail, whilst the visuals are simply gorgeous … it really does have a lot going for it. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t quite nail the difficulty balance, with most foes too easy to take down and the boss encounters feeling like slogs thanks to their long-length and lack of move diversity. Fortunately, those issues don’t stop the game from being a blast to play, with Gestalt: Steam and Cinder easily standing out as another impressive release in the Metroidvania genre.
Anger Foot is a ton of fun, with its frantic first-person blend of kicking and shooting making for a deceptively strategic experience. The variety of footwear you unlock adds another layer of strategy to the approach you can take through levels, whilst learning the layout of each room and how to prioritise your attacks against enemies is certainly rewarding. It looks fantastic too, with its over-the-top art style suiting the zanily brutal nature of the game. Sure, it can be a little bit guilty of feeling repetitive in places, but with an exciting gameplay loop that feels like it built for short-burst sessions, it doesn’t stop Anger Foot from being a blast to play.
SCHiM is a wonderful puzzle-platforming experience that kept me mesmerised with its creative level design and satisfying gameplay. It felt so rewarding working out the perfect route to take through a level, whilst the clever variety of ways that it allows you to move between shadows ensures that each level brings with it plenty of little surprises. It was just a real treat to play, with the delightful world and clever gameplay loop ensuring my time with SCHiM will stick with me for a long, long time.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a delightful experience that’ll keep players hooked in with its simple yet satisfying gameplay loop. It’s always a lot of fun to run your restaurant and serve your customers, whilst customising its look, unlocking new goodies, or simply interacting with your fellow townsfolk all adds to the charm. Sure, it can be guilty of being a bit too simple in places, but with a satisfying sense of progress that makes it perfect for quick sessions here and there, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends manages to stand out as a cozy life-sim treat.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an excellent DLC expansion that manages to freshen up the brilliance of the base game with its dazzling locales, gripping enemy encounters, and focus on collecting Scudatree Fragments. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tough as nails and can be a little frustrating early on, but it brings with it a difficulty curve that’s as rewarding as that found in the base game, with those who take the time to explore their surrounding the most likely to survive its dastardly challenges. Add to that the thrilling boss encounters, the abundance of new gear to find, and the fact that it just so happens to be massive in design, and it’ll be hard not to find yourself in awe of what’s on offer in Shadow of the Erdtree.
Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition is an excellent re-release of one of the best games of the noughties, with the entertaining gameplay loop standing the test of time and the fancy new bells and whistles ensuring it hits a modern standard. It does show its age here and there (the insta-fail stealth sections and occasionally fiddly camera stand out as the worst offenders), but it’s impressive just how well everything manages to hold up. Add to that the cool new content that has come with the game and it’ll be easy to see that this is the best way to experience this beloved cult classic. Now… where’s Beyond Good & Evil 2?!
#BLUD is a really cool experience with an awesome Saturday Morning Cartoon vibe, but the lacking combat can hold it back a little. It’s not that anything is bad at all, but rather that it could feel a little bit fiddly thanks to some awkward hitboxes and repetitive actions. It’s a shame too because there are some interesting ideas that are introduced to combat as you progress and face tougher foes, but it doesn’t always pay-off. Despite this, I still enjoyed my time with the game, with the world and dungeon design proving exceptional throughout and the storytelling keeping me fully invested in Becky’s wacky plight. And the cartoon-like visuals? I loved them. It just maybe needed a bit more work to fine-tune some of its flaws, but hey, it’s nothing a patch or two won’t fix.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance improves upon the original game in every way, with the new storyline, improved visuals, and countless additions helping it stand out as an outstanding RPG experience. The original game was already a treat thanks to its thrilling combat, captivating demon negotiations, and tense storytelling, but this REALLY ups the ante. If you played the game when it originally released, the new Canon of Vengeance storyline alone makes it worth the price of admission. And if this is your first experience with Shin Megami Tensei V? Getting to play it with gorgeous visuals and smooth performance, improvements such as saving in the overworld and auto-battling, and having additional demons, skillsets, and more to embrace will ensure it’ll stand out as an unforgettable experience.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the best entry the series has seen in some time, with the online multiplayer standing out as the highlight of the experience. That’s not to say that players won’t have a blast in single player though, especially with the two-hundred expertly crafted levels and the introduction of the spin dash that puts a cool little trick up your sleeve. Just be warned: completing all of the challenges will be TOUGH… There’s no doubting that there has been a shift in focus to online multiplayer in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble, but with a selection of frantic and exciting game modes to play through, support for sixteen-players, and a solid sense of progression that sees players unlocking plenty of new items, it’s something I can see myself coming back to time and time again.
SKALD: Against the Black Priory offers a deep, strategic, and nostalgic RPG experience that’s a lot of fun to play through. Don’t get me wrong, it has got a bit of a learning curve and its old-school stylings won’t be for everyone, but exploring its intriguing world, battling enemies in tactical showdowns, and rolling dice to determine your success never stops being satisfying as you uncover the secrets of the island of Idra. And hey, if you’re not too familiar with the genre, you can play on the easy difficulty setting to settle yourself in, with the game offering plenty of accessibility options to fine-tune the experience to suit you. It does have some flaws, but SKALD: Against the Black Priory delivers an old-school RPG experience that’s simply oozing in quality and charm.
Mullet MadJack is one of the coolest games that I’ve played, with the manic fast-paced action and slick visuals ensuring it’s a blast from start to end. It can be guilty of being a little repetitive in places, but the non-stop excitement of the gameplay, the ever-evolving enemy threat, the dastardly hazards you face, and the satisfying sense of progress felt as you progress between floors ensures that the excitement never dies as you look to save the girl. It’s f*****g brilliant.
Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip is one heck of a wacky experience, but it’s one that I had a wonderful time being a being a part of. Sprankelwater is satisfying to explore and brings with it plenty of quirky and entertaining activities to get stuck into, whilst the Cartoon Network-style vibe of the world and its humour kept a smile on my face with each bit of progress I made. And hey, Terry is really likable too… you know… in that anarchic weirdo kind of way. It’s just a really fun game to play, and whilst it might not last too long, your time with Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip will constantly keep you thrilled as you find a way to blast off into outer space.