FingerGuns
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Vroom Kaboom occasionally shows glimpses of an enjoyable, strategic game and an ingenious twist on the tower defence genre. Unfortunately, these glimpses are buried beneath a near impenetrable learning curve, an over powering AI and some poor design choices. I can only really recommend this game to those with a huge amount of time and patience, those that have a masochistic desire for hours of trial and error and those willing to forgive a lack of polish.
There’s an absolutely brilliant side quest that’s so tongue in cheek, it’s in danger of bursting through it. It’s hilarious in its deadpan, fourth wall breaking delivery that makes up for its usage of the word “dank”. I won’t spoil anymore, but it’s a testament to Drinkbox that they can take this all in stride and poke fun at themselves, the fans, the toxic community and the power of internet opinions and leave the player grinning throughout.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a genius game to port to the Switch. It’s so absurdly entertaining, so enthralling and addictive that it’s knocked out Mario Kart 8 as our go to multiplayer game for the time being. Its unique aspects ensure that it’s an essential title to add to your Switch line-up, and is yet another port that’s found a brand new home. I now prefer playing it this way to VR, which is something I never thought I’d say as I ranked it as one of the best PSVR experiences a couple years ago.
Despite the few bugs here and there, Phantom Doctrine represents an ingenious use of the XCOM formula in an enticing setting with a plot that’s as deep as you want it to be. With an excellent soundtrack, an intentionally drab yet appealing art style and a charismatic charm to it, it’s certainly a better-than-average turn based game. If you’re a fan of XCOM and are up for the hefty challenge this game presents, even on its easiest settings, this game will appeal to you. If your patience runs short and you want your fun to be more immediate, leave this game skulking in the shadows.
Polygod then is going to test your metal in every sense of the word and should you want a hardcore rogue challenge you’re not going to go wrong here. Krafted Games have um, crafted an experience that is partly ridiculous, partly wonderful and altogether just tough as balls.
Road to Ballhalla then is a fun old time and whilst it isn’t going to blow you away in terms of original mechanics or gameplay, the smart and fiendish level designs, sense of humour and replay factors are enough for us to recommend it, especially if you’re going to want something to play on a journey. There’s enough here to keep your brain ticking over for a good while, and the sense of completion is hugely satisfying.
TT Games once again show care and attention for a set of beloved movie characters, bringing them to digital plastic life with a level of authenticity that’s a rarity these days. Adding some small additions to a formula that has worked for them for a decade, LEGO The Incredibles is a family friendly game that’s great for fans of the films and just as enjoyable for those that aren’t.
Sadly, at this present moment I just can’t recommend Anamorphine. It’s powerful, intense and delicate in its depiction of mental health care with a touching and emotional journey, but your patience will be tested with its issues that sadly have to be ironed out before I can say it’s worth buying. I’m going to be keeping an eye on it, because there is a story here that is genuinely worth your time.
Overcooked! 2 then, whilst not a revolutionary leap from the first is still as madcap and downright ridiculous as its predecessor and then some. It’s still hilarious to play with friends and adds enough fresh elements and ideas to keep ardent fans delighted. It’s still hard as nails in some parts but the gentle easing in of new mechanics ensures you’re always ready for what’s to come. It’s now replaced Overcooked! on the top of our multiplayer game night lists, and if that isn’t high praise I don’t know what is.
Balletic combat, beautiful visuals, a grim sense of humour to it, and the progressive upgrade system that encourages completion makes this a brilliant addition to a sub-genre that continues to grow from strength to strength. Highly recommend.
It’s a pity the story and acting is so weak and for me, I wish they had kept the pixel graphics from the previous version. If you have some spare minutes between games or outings or work, then Aces of the Luftwaffe is a good enough game to choose to fill those gaps.
Despite some obtuse solutions, regular backtracking and inconsistency, Candle – The Power of the Flame has a tight weave of puzzles which are reminiscent of those found in gaming classics like Flashback and Monkey Island. It’ll pay dividends to those with the patience and mental fortitude to stick it out, push through the frustrations (and resist finding a guide online) with an abundance of rewarding “Ah, THAT’s how you do it” moments.
1979 Revolution makes you think, and makes you thank whomever it is you believe in that the majority of us are born in a time and place of peace.
Airheart initially didn’t put flight to my fancy with what seemed like a boring, slow mechanic. Scratch a bit deeper though, and begin to get your teeth into the customising and tactical behaviour of your enemies, and there’s a surprisingly deep combat/farming game in there. I can’t guarantee it will hold up in the long term, especially having to essentially go from level one each time, but if you’re willing to perservere to reach those upper limits and beyond, then you can’t go wrong with Airheart.
Semblance is yet another Switch title that’s easy to recommend. The excellent level design, the ‘platformer-is-a-mechanic’ headline lives up to its promise and then some, with a wondrous visual style and a heartbeat throughout which pumps the blood of a revitalised genre through every vein of its code.
Mothergunship is a great game thanks to its genuinely brilliant gunplay, fantastic craftings mechanics and a steep-ass difficulty curve. It can be frustrating but it’s most assuredly never boring and earns an immediate place on your hard drive.
It’s all a bit crap then, but to be honest there are laughs to be had. I can’t recommend you go out there and buy this game. In a July like this there are so many actually good games to go out and try and that you can’t be spending money on turgid nonsensical garbage like Guts & Glory.
It’s such a shame a few technical issues exist because when Blacksea Odyssey is doing what it does best, pitting you against giant space beasties armed with nothing more than a toothpick, and you’re not caught in a mess of vines, this game is a tough but enjoyable title. It’s not as readily gratifying as other games in the genre and if you like a long tailed reward, it certainly has that whiff of Dark Souls inspiration in the finer points of its design.
If you can get past the lack of music, and the simple design, Mugsters is a joyful little game. Taking the camera approach of older titles like Commandos and Cannon Fodder, and throwing in trial-and-error mechanics of its contemporaries such as Trials (no pun intended) and Hotline Miami, Mugsters holds its own in an ever-increasing puzzler genre.
Bomber Crew is difficult and begins with a cumbersome tutorial and a fiddly control scheme. If you’re willing to stick it out past the tutorial though you’ll discover a rewarding, thrilling experience that keeps you focused and holds your attention better than most simulators of late, purely because you’ll just fail if you’re not paying full attention to every little cog in this particular machine. It’s fast and frantic and takes no prisoners and that’s just what it should be.