Checkpoint Gaming
HomepageCheckpoint Gaming's Reviews
Rogue: Genesia is one of the most ambitious bullet heavens out there and is all from one hardworking developer, Ouadi Huard. It combines the best parts of genre titans to create a game with unlimited build potential, deep meta-progression, and a massive power curve. But it's not perfect. Weapon imbalances and upgrade power mean challenge often takes a backseat to sheer spectacle, and the visual clutter may be overwhelming for some players. If you love min-maxing, insane scaling, and watching enemies evaporate by the thousands, this game is for you.
There are just too many amazing Soulslike efforts to justify spending a lot of time with AI Limit, but that doesn't make it a bad game. It has some unique ideas that switch up combat just enough to be interesting, and its anime art style initially impresses. But for seasoned veterans of the genre, it doesn't provide much of a challenge and mostly feels like a retread. I'm sure there are people out there who have been scarred by Dark Souls and are looking for an entry-level Soulslike to ease them back in, and that's the kind of individual I'd recommend AI Limit to. They'll have fun, but it's a stepping stone to something far more riveting elsewhere.
A touching fable of companionship, Koira is a strong debut title whose thoughtful design belies its simple presentation. Its charming use of music over dialogue, affection for small, quiet moments and simple but clever mechanics create an affecting journey through and with nature.
Enjoyable enough to play for an hour or so, but Grit & Valor – 1949 quickly gave me the feeling of wishing I had the tools I needed to make responsive tactical decisions, and left me wanting to be offered choices that would lead me to different battleplans than the ones I started my runs with. In the end, providing giant robots just wasn't enough to win the day.
MLB The Show 25 provides an authentic baseball experience that brings you directly to the field. Various gameplay modes challenge you and the settings let you further customise your experience. The niche appeal and high difficulty make it tough to recommend for players who aren't already interested in baseball. But if you have any passing interest or knowledge, you won't regret picking this game up.
More could have been done to make Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars a more momentous release for the series' 30th anniversary. Quality of life additions such as a prettier look and cleaner HUD to the first game in particular could've made the two games stand together better in this collection, but two great games from thirty years ago are, unsurprisingly, still great games today. There's a lot of magic, charm and gusto to recruiting your dozens upon dozens of friends and allies, all in the hope of overcoming a greater, more powerful looming threat. This beautiful but also simultaneously terrifying world full of injustice is incredibly timely for both returning fans and newcomer RPG enthusiasts like myself. So gather your friends; it's time to take on the world.
Dollhouse: Behind The Broken Mirror felt like someone attempted to make a horror game who didn't know what made them scary to begin with, and then didn't show it to a single person for feedback before releasing it. The story is all over the place, and any lore you get throughout the game is hard to make sense of or connect to anything you have already learned. The enemies are obnoxious in number and any possible threat or fear goes out the window due to the sheer frustration that they instill. It feels like a bunch of half-baked concepts and locations thrown into a pot and left to boil for way too long. The flaws in the gameplay and overall functionality bleed so far through the experience that it felt like a slog, and the scariest part was the fact it took 8 hours to finish.
Atomfall is a departure and a triumph for Rebellion Developments. A showcase of narrative freedom that allows players to discover their own story within a tightly designed puzzle sandbox. While the strict mechanics have been seen before, the depth of the world and strength of the central mystery are the secrets behind Atomfall's true success.
Cabernet is a game with a lot of heart. It puts so much work into establishing the eastern-European setting, the vampire lore and all of its wonderful characters, which all have impressive voice acting that makes the story more emotional throughout. While the game does certainly lack a little polish in spots, it's a highly engaging story that's more than worth sinking your teeth into.
In spite of its obscure, overwritten prose and awkward puzzles, Centum provides a chilling and compelling narrative experience that both devastates and provokes reflection. Its stunning environment design builds a universe that extends beyond the screen, while its grossly uncanny characters evoke a base level of anxiety that is at once compelling and horrifying. Recommended for fans of classic point-and-click spookies who don't mind a bit of skim-reading.
Look Outside is a moody horror RPG that is greater than the sum of its parts. Despite having a frustrating level design at times, a lack of map and being a little too breezy, what's forefront and centre is the vibes and setting. Francis Coulombe nails this, providing richly detailed pixel art that depicts grotesque beasties and monsters. Amalgams are made of teeth and limbs. Guys with eye clusters poring out of their torso. The designs are the whole nine yards. It's also a quality little bite-sized RPG with lots of charming systems and tidbits to flesh out the experience. Just, whatever you do, do not think too hard about the flesh monster that is knocking at your door. I promise all is OK.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a welcome return to one of the most ambitious JRPGs of its time, refined with visual upgrades, quality-of-life improvements, and new story content. While the core gameplay remains as deep and rewarding as ever, some of its rougher edges, like clunky menus, a steep learning curve, and persistent pop-in, keep it from feeling as polished as Monolith Soft's later work. Newcomers will find a daunting but fascinating journey, whereas returning fans can enjoy the extra content without reinventing the experience. It might not be the series's classic, but if you can embrace its complexity and occasional frustrations, Mira is still an open-world marvel.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is another notch in the belt of this illustrious series. Sneaking and stabbing as Naoe or duelling foes in honourable combat as Yasuke, the duel protagonists are a genius addition to all the things we love about Assassin's Creed. Even though I haven't gelled with the more recent huge open-world AC titles, I leave my time with Assassin's Creed Shadows with renewed excitement for the series thanks to a more manageable map size and a great story. Add in the beautiful backdrop of medieval Japan throughout the seasons, and you've got a hit.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is an undoubtedly fun, charming, and riveting entry into a well-established franchise. With a sprawling open world to explore, a variety of interesting ideas and themes, an extraordinary story, charming characters, and a completely overhauled synthesis system, Atelier Yumia is a great starting point for newcomers, and a welcomed addition to a much-loved franchise by fans.
Every game mode and feature in WWE 2K25 isn't going to be for everyone, and that's okay. Regardless of whether you'll spend your time battling through the campaign, taking a Bloodline history lesson or strolling around the micro-transaction-riddled The Island, what's included here is almost everything a wrestling fan could dream of. Packed with an epic roster, new match types, unbelievable creation options and smart gameplay tweaks that continue to prove the in-ring action is the best it's ever been, it's undisputed: WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game available today. Put your ones up; because that's not a prediction, that's a spoiler.
Wanderstop remains incredibly sincere and thoughtful with its biting story cooked up by Ivy Road without being overly sentimental or too delicate. Not afraid to show its teeth (including occasional gameplay obstacles), within is a stellar story about learning self-care and slowing down, a refreshing narrative departure for Davey Wreden in particular, bolstered by the co-writing of Karla Zimonja and moving performance by Kimberley Woods. Present also is a vibrant, whimsical and pragmatic take on the familiar shop-running and farming hybrid genre, told all through the lens of helping out a quaint tea shop with thoughtful and bespoke mechanics and interactivity. It's dangerous to go alone. Why don't you stay a while and have a nice cup of Earl Grey?
It feels unfair to be so punishing to a studio's debut game. Clearly, there is some affection for the genres Morkull Ragast's Rage is playing within here, and the hand-drawn art style is admirable and something I wish more games sought to emulate. But the sheer lack of polish and mediocrity of its game systems, metafictional elements and overall presentation left me raging at the Ragast, and not in the way I suspect the developers intended.
Overall, there is little that Sugardew Island does to make itself stand out. The initial premise is interesting and the art style quite cute, but it fails to create a real identity for itself and the gameplay, while perfectly serviceable, just isn't interesting.
Carmen Sandiego is such a nostalgic hit in the heart, and it's great that there's a new game for a new generation to enjoy. It's a shame that there are inconsistencies; including not much accessibility for those who need it, and a lack of voice-overs. There is something to love about this new iteration of Carmen Sandiego, though. The 2D graphics in the ACME files can be downright beautiful. But overall, it's pretty disappointing, especially considering this game is essentially a port of a free(ish) mobile game, slapped with a $50AUD price tag and without the final chapter included. Hopefull,y we can see Sandiego and crew in better adventures sometime soon.
Slime Heroes is a magical kids' game with a hint of the Soulslike genre sprinkled onto it. While it's not an exact replica of the genre, there are elements of it that make it a great way to introduce the genre to a younger audience. Even if you try to set the game to easy mode, it will still challenge you regardless of whether that would be the environment or the boss' move sets. While there is not much to do in the overworld, it's still such a colourful game with a great story to tell, and your skills will be tested if you're willing to challenge yourself.