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I can’t speak for how Yooka-Laylee compares to what veteran fans would expect, but as some who loved his fair share of older generation of platformers, Yooka-Laylee is the game the genre needs.
Andromeda seems to miss the point on what made the Mass Effect games great. Marred by constant bugs and framerate issues, you'll be hard pressed to find anything that will keep you in for the long haul.
Toukiden 2 could have been a gateway drug. It could have stolen away countless hours from my other vices. Yet the fact that my progress online with friends had no impact on the offline components and their general structure meant that I was often lonely in running around the massive sprawling map of Toukiden 2. There are some really interesting elements buried deep between the long walks and repetitive monsters, but I feel that I was never invested enough to stay a little longer and find out just what they were.
Neurovoider has its high points that are leveled out by its faults. It’s a fairly solid trial of perseverance with little reward other than its own players self accomplishments within. Its bite sized levels will keep you coming back for more, but its sudden difficulty barriers will send you packing.
We already know both titles are good games for anyone interested in murder mysteries or dark, tense videogames. They've been around for half a decade now, and there's still more in the franchise on the way.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild revitalises and redefines not just the Zelda series itself, or Nintendo games in general, but the entire action-adventure genre. It's the most astonishing curtain call for the Wii U, a console that arguably doesn't deserve to go out on such a high note. Stunningly beautiful, lovingly crafted and meticulously detailed, Breath of the Wild raises the bar for similar games so ridiculously high, the competition will need to hitch a ride on a dragon and soar for the heavens if they ever want to get close.
Sublevel Zero Redux is a relatively solid and expanded port of its original 2015 release. Some new difficulties adds a much needed factor of replayability as well as a plethora of codex entries to unlock. Unfortunately, the game is still riddled with frame drops here and there, and I experienced a few cases of the game completely game locking. So if you don't mind a few stuttery frames then Sublevel Zero Redux is a satisfactory choice for anyone who is looking for their next roguelike fix.
I’m not sure if Atelier Firis will be the entry that introduces new players to the franchise. Its strengths are found in its charm, as well as in the adventure and concocting new items to play with. I can’t penalize a title too much for clearly not having a high budget, but there are some definite areas that need improved upon. For what it's worth, it's easy to lose track of your time when playing the game, but it's just overshadowed by the many stronger titles that are launching in the same quarter.
There’s a lot to like in Forma.8, from its loving echoes of the classics that influenced it to its sense of ingenuity, but it requires a lot of patience to get the most out of. It’s framed like a gentle indie palate cleanser but plays like a post-Dark Souls action game: it doesn’t hand you anything and it expects you to make the most of it.
there is a place for Shift Happens. A very specific place. So if you think you fancy a bit of a go on Shift Happens, I hope you had the foresight to procreate. If not, maybe leave it. The game that is. Procreate away.
NieR: Automata is an utterly fantastic title. It has some definite flaws, but these flaws just disappear into the background as you get deeper and more immersed in the experience. It’s hard-hitting and poignant, and provides a polished action-JRPG combat in an underwhelming series that really needed it.
Torment: Tides of Numenera is a huge plus in my book for narrative storytelling, world building and more, so get out there and try it for yourselves.
If you’re a fan of Tetris, then Chime Sharp is definitely the game for you. The music, as well as having an aim to each mode, will be an added bonus.
It’s not the greatest RTS and it’s by far from the greatest Halo game, but in a world where Microsoft IPs are dropping harder and faster than bloated flies it’s just what I needed. A little MAG blast of hope to combat the monotony. For Halo fans it’s just another fix to an ongoing story; for RTS fans it’s probably on the lower scale of their expectations; and for me it’s an odd beast the bridges the gap.
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is a game made for fans; Musuo and Berserk. Berserk fans will pick at the intricacies, or lack thereof, in the story mode and Musuo fans will lament it for the lack of innovation and shallow offerings. It’s a hard sell for either market, but for what it is worth; I did enjoy seeing the characters come to life on screen and flying through levels in the berserker armour.
Nioh offers up a substantial amount of content, with a ton of levels, New Game+ and some “Twilight Missions". Twilight Missions are revamped levels with better loot drops rates that rotate daily giving players even more content to undertake, but they are currently limited to a select few missions. There is an overwhelming amount of things to do. Some gameplay mechanics may hinder your play style and ultimately get you killed, but nevertheless you could opt not to implement them into your approach.
The art style is cartoonish and loveable, and the music for each stage really helps to set the tone and help you concentrate. Top it all off with the fact that Vertical Drop Heroes HD is made by ONE MAN, an enormously talented dude named Nerdook (he also created Reverse Crawl, which you should probably check out), then you owe it to yourself to have a look.
There’s a great feeling of risk and reward to Sniper Elite 4; you can take risky shots and clear entire maps with just your sniper or you can take on a full battalion assault with a scavenged MP40. With impressive depth and more to do than any other war time shooter in current memory, I would highly recommend the game to anyone.
Overall Semispheres is not a bad game, it’s a genuinely fun puzzle game that will test your reflexes, timing as well how quickly you can solve a problem. It's unfortunate that it's let down by it’s extremely short length, inability to increase the difficulty or offer anything new on additional playthroughs.
Uncanny Valley’s take on Survival Horror is grounded in the psychological narrative of Tom’s night terrors and delivers it generously throughout. Uncanny Valley's gameplay will have you solving the mystery surrounding your work environment, yet the horror never really sinks in - even when you find out what's going on.