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I did say this game needs co-ordination and unfortunately, I am a button masher extraordinaire. I can, however, appreciate the beauty and the message of this story. Kazimir’s journey needs to end with the peace he needs and deserves. Selfloss is a bittersweet yet stimulating game that incorporates both story and gameplay. I recommend this game to anyone wanting to dive into a deep narrative about ‘self-loss’ (pun fully intended). This is a great start for Goodwin Game, I can’t wait to see what they publish next.
Caravan SandWitch is a cozy, thoughtful game that stands out due to its emotional depth and engrossing world. The lack of combat might deter some, but those who enjoy narrative-heavy adventures will find plenty to love here. At the time of writing the performance issues on the Switch make it that bit harder to recommend on the system. But regardless of platform, Caravan SandWitch offers a touching, memorable journey that lingers with you long after you’ve finished playing.
What The Car? is exactly what you expect from the description with even greater unexpected turns. It’s a silly adventure game where you play as a little car in a world run by adorable bears with jobs. Every level is a new journey and a new challenge. The game is short and sweet but delivers on what it sets out to achieve. There’s enough content in the game that offers a lot of replayability, especially when it comes to trying out player-made levels or finding all the hidden secrets. Players who were fans of Triband‘s previous titles or fans of this genre will enjoy this new addition, especially at its affordable price tag.
Elsie is by far the best rougelite I’ve played this year and a great way to kill time until the next Hades II major update. Being Hispanic and seeing the small nods of representation was comforting to me. Honestly this game shows even small things can make all the difference with inclusivity and representation. Such as the Forge being called the Candero (which means candlestick in Spanish), this had me laughing because of the difference in fire power between the two. I really hope Knight Shift Games creates a sequel or bring their experience from Elsie into their next title.
Ultimately, Copycat is a game about loss, heartbreak and finding a place to call home even when it feels like there isn’t one. Despite the simplistic design, Copycat takes minor moments and makes them bigger than a game about a cat should be able to. The care and attention to tone and messaging has made this one of the best games I’ve played in 2024. It’s the perfect addition to the library of any narrative game fan.
As a gamer who has played on the vast majority of the platforms available in Antstream Arcade, getting back onto some of these games was an absolute joy. I had a permanent smile on my face even from just scrolling through the available games.
Star Wars Outlaws represents a significant advancement in open-world design for Ubisoft. Despite a flawed middle section, the game excels in its opening and closing hours, showcasing a promising shift towards deeper immersion. The game’s structural innovation positions it as a bridge between Ubisoft’s traditional formula and a more immersive experience. However, technical issues such as frequent crashes, glitches, and outdated AI detract from the otherwise engaging Star Wars experience. These issues prevent the game from fully realizing its potential in my opinion.
I didn’t end up finishing the game due to too many crashes and poor optimization. However, I reached chapter seven, although it was a gruelling journey. Unholy’s story isn’t very complex and is easy to understand. Notes you find tend to repeat the same gibberish. I liked the concept of your ammo being emotions, but I wish they played a bigger part in the overall game. For example, affecting the moods of creatures or having elemental effects to use in the environment. I was genuinely surprised emotions did not play a bigger part in general, since the game itself says emotions can warp/change the world.
Compared to other games, Supermassive Games made The Casting of Frank Stone is surprisingly light on gameplay and heavily disappointing on delivering a frightful story. I know these games aren’t usually gameplay heavy, but this nearly made it feel like a seven hour long movie. The game started strong, but once I had reached chapter seven, I was disappointed. It felt as though nothing interesting had really happened. I was also upset to find out that from chapter two all the way to chapter thirteen, nothing major story-wise had happened. What I mean by this, is there is no real character development from any of our protagonists. Nor any real times of danger from the main villain until near the last two chapters. The game had me thinking the whole time, where the hell is Frank? I found the dialogue from the characters to be cringy, random and sometimes added nothing to the plot. I enjoyed Officer Green and Robert as characters as brief as they were. The whole game feels like filler and at lacks actual suspense. If you’re looking for a good horror game, I’d either pick up the currently released, Until Dawn (or wait for its remaster) or play The Quarry.
Just to sum things up, the game really is an absolute blast to play. The graphics, characters, soundtrack and stages really make for one hell of a journey. Each journey takes between 10-30 minutes. And is time well spent. This game has stolen many hours of my life. My life is now Vampire Survivors. If you’re like me and enjoy a good roguelike and want a game that just delivers a solid gaming experience suited to your taste. Vampire Survivors will do just that and more.
I did enjoy my time playing 112 Operator. It has a very solid foundation for a simulation game but isn’t one that you can turn off to. It’s the perfect addition to the PS Library of a simulator game fan but can be daunting to anyone that isn’t 100% sure of what they’re getting into. The game has also made many positive improvements from 911 operator. I am very excited to see what Jutsu Games plan on doing next!
Squirrel with a Gun is a great stress reliver and a great means to turn off your brain. I had a few of my friends wonder what the game was about. When I told them it’s exactly what it says it is, they seemed almost confused. Then upon seeing the steam page they realised it all made sense. This game just proves there is no such thing as being too silly. Also, I feel like I haven’t used the word “nuts” in this review….I should have said it more…NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS! There, now all my nuts are on the floor for the squirrels to take and not point a gun at me.
Tactical Breach Wizards was exactly the strategy game we needed in this gaming economy. It engages my brain with the whole puzzle of each stage. Whilst the humour within the cutscenes and dialog options have me immersed. I honestly wish and hope for DLC to continue more of the story or something to keep me going. For now I will have to make do with the make my own stages mode. I believe anyone reading this review should pick up this game and love it as much as I did.
Akimbot is the best fix I’ve gotten to fill the void from the last Jak & Daxter or Ratchet and Clank games. From Exe style of destroying other bots, to Shipset crazy antics. These bots are everything to me. With the nice dodging mechanics and the change of pace every level will have you on your toes. Even the hacking mini-games change so much that you’re lucky you get the same one thrice. I can’t wait for the next game Evil Raptor will make with the experience they’ve gained from Akimbot.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a fantastic game. Not only play but to show off what is achievable on consoles and PCs in 2024. Highly polished, great game mechanics, awesome graphics and sound, crossplay throughout, PVE, PVP, and campaign capabilities as well as a serious amount of cosmetics and lore to get involved with. What is there not to love?
What more is there to say? If you’ve played the previous games and enjoyed them, you can expect more of the same great stuff here. If you’ve not played Cat Quest I or II, this can be a great place to jump in. Thanks to how the story has unfolded across the 3 games there’s no set linearity to the events. Therefore they can be played and enjoyed in any order. I can’t wait to see what The Gentlebros cook up next for The Apawcalypse.
If you are after a polished experience that is full of charm then Crypt Custodian is definitely worth your time and money. There is so much care and passion jumping right off every scene that makes this metroidvania an easy recommendation, not only for old hands with the genre, but also players who’ve never tackled this beloved style of game.
Overall, Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate is a solid entry to the roguelite library in my book. The gameplay loop may feel somewhat repetitive at times, but that’s kind of how roguelikes and roguelites are generally built. With only some minor frustrations, the game provides plenty of variety in both structure and building your character to suit your style.
There are a lot of positives to say about Monster Jam Showdown, and I hope reading this review gives a taste of what your experience will be. Having experienced the trucks in action I was able to appreciate the work that Milestone has put into this game. The effort to lovingly recreate the monster trucks in digital form. The love they have shown to the brand by putting all the different liveries into the game. All the while delivering a fun and exciting experience for the whole family to enjoy and take part in. In all my time reviewing games, this game has given me the most amount of smiles and the most joy.
Overall, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a delightful game that would resonate well with any age group. It’s a game that allows you to relax, unwind, and fulfil your dreams of being a little witch, working hard to fulfil her dreams, alongside learning lessons about life and building long-lasting friendships. It feels like a love letter that combines fans of Studio Ghibli and cozy games together in one neat package. This was a project made with love and care by gamers for gamers. Which is apparent by the immense support of their Kickstarter page. Whilst the flying mechanic could be smoother, it was a joy to experience. It also highlights a gap in the market of 3D games where you can freely fly around, uninterrupted. The main deterrent for players to not pick this up is how short the game is in comparison to the price. The game is still in Early Access, but some players may want to wait to see how it develops further.