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Outcast: Second Contact is an HD remake of the 1999 cult classic Outcast. Though the enhanced graphics are a nice way to introduce the game to a younger audience, it's the only aspect that makes it better than the 1.1 version, which costs considerably less. The price range is questionable in the US marketplace but it's even more absurd in selected countries such as Russia, Brazil, and China where it costs more than $30.
It should be more of what made the first installment so interesting, but in the end, Hand of Fate 2 makes additions that turn the dungeon crawler into a story-driven adventure. It also has a major focus on luck-based challenges and fights, being more predictable and frustrating than its predecessor.
Starblast just needs to fix the ‘catch up issue’ and find a way to increase the population of players (or find like-minded people to play it together). Doesn’t hurt to try it anyway, as it is for free on a browser, if you find it awesome, you can support the developers as well by buying the ECP version.
Tokyo 42 was a hugely enjoyable title. Whilst it may not be the longest game in the world, it did grip from beginning to end. The fast paced action orientated gameplay puts Tokyo 42 near the top of the pile in the twin-stick shooter genre. The lackluster story and sound department are the only things preventing it from being one of the best indie games to come out this year.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands is sadly for me a huge disappointment for me because of what it truly could have been. I think the game would have fared much better had they made it multiplayer-only, but then it might run the risk of turning into a scenario like Evolve and end up being closed 18 months after release. It would still have made the gameplay as a whole much more enjoyable. Maybe if they didn’t match you with people much further in the game than you are, I would have opened up my game to multiplayer more, but I don’t like being pulled from pillar to post when following a linear story.
Vanquish barely squeaks by as a game you can shut your brain off and enjoy the action. I do hope that if a sequel does rear its head, PlatinumGames of 2017 will create something more memorable than the PlatinumGames of 2010 did with Vanquish.
Fearful Symmetry & The Cursed Prince provides a very challenging and entertaining 2D puzzle experience to fans of the genre, requiring a mix of reflexes, timing, memory, and multitasking in order to beat the game. It’s gets a little frustrating at times, but it only adds to that feeling satisfaction once you finish a level.
Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is game with uniquely spectacular visuals, but often fails to do anything meaningful outside of its art.
Megaton Rainfall is not the most memorable game I’ve ever played. It’s repetitive gameplay and lack of an established narrative is its biggest downfall. Despite this it isn't a bad game, just lacking. If you’re a superhero fan or just fancy sticking it to some extra terrestrial invaders it's certainly the one you’re looking for. If you’re one for deep plot and engaging characters then you’ll probably want to sit this one out.
A historically accurate setting for a great player-driven story from two sides, Numantia has a great narrative backed by an enjoyable and tactical combat system. Unfortunately, flaws appear almost everywhere in this game, bogging down some of the better ideas and making combat and the campaign unintuitive and frustrating.
Has Been Heroes has a unique game play mechanic, but fell short on explaining it properly for new players to the game. I really would have enjoyed the game much more had the system been explained properly. It would have saved me a couple of hours just fumbling around the game’s UI and online resources, and actually just had me enjoy the game from the start. With bland environments, but a rather pleasant aesthetic, Has Been Heroes is an above average game that will keep your attention for a few hours. Even though it has plenty of heroes for you to unlock, I’m not sure I could keep playing for longer than ten hours as I think the repetitive nature would be to much to handle. I would say wait for a sale on this one, as $19.99 might be a little too steep for my liking.
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a surprising title to see remastered but it is a welcome surprise. Its strong 3D puzzle platforming and sense of nostalgia will endear it to a niche audience. Remnants of old game designs may frustrate those looking for a modern experience. Poor keyboard controls are hopefully only a temporary flaw in this otherwise good quality port.
MFL is just too in-depth to be fun to the average casual, Brutal Sports loving gamer and too silly for the average simulation lover. I do not feel I can recommend the game to anyone but the niche group that sits between the two.
For all it's worth, Hob is a genuinely fun Zelda-like exploration game that despite not being a classic, is worth the asking price.
Snake Pass is a beautiful 3D puzzle platformer, and whilst it does have it’s flaws in the control and camera system, it’s still a pleasant experience even for a platforming vet. Each level will sufficiently challenge anyone, and with an increasing difficulty curve level on level, even the most seasoned platformer will find the game challenging. Priced at $19.99 on Steam, it may be worth waiting for the sale season to start simply down to the lack of replayability and short initial playthrough length.
At $29.99, Mirage is kind of up in the air. For LAN enthusiasts, the game should already be installed and ready to go. Mirage fits perfectly into the LAN footprint with long, no nonsense matches that can be played over and over again.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm: Episode 1 has got off to a little bit of a stuttering start for me. I was very disappointed by the art style of choice, but the story that is unfolding will certainly be the most impactful feature of the game, much like the first. If the franchise is something you are in love with, then it will be a no brainer as I can’t really see them messing up the story.
World of Final Fantasy is a spin-off meant mostly for fans. Its gimmicky take on the usual ATB system is fun and refreshing, but many of its jokes might fly over the heads of unaware players. It can be a risky purchase depending on what you expect as it fails to meet all expectations, but as a lite mix of Pokemon and Final Fantasy, it does a good job.
I’m not going to say Undertale is a must play game like most people. Yes I can see why people see it as being earth shatteringly good, but I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. The gameplay is slow paced and bland and graphically it is just awful. What you are getting with Undertale is a fantastic soundtrack, and hugely original plot. I can quite happily say I could have got the same experience out of Undertale from just watching a play through online. Credit where credit is due though, the story is really good and it is probably Undertale’s biggest selling point. The game has a good price point so even if you are on the fence, it’s not like you are going to break the bank with trying it out.
If you have a headset already, the low price of Attack of the Bugs will make it easily obtainable, and introduced me to the genre perfectly. With a good mix of different mechanics on show, and an easy to pick up gameplay premise, I really can’t recommend Attack of the Bugs enough.