GamePitt's Reviews
The concept of Afterlife is very interesting, combining FMV with hands-free choices whilst within VR. I’d say the producers did a great job of seamlessly transitioning you down the various pathways as I didn’t even realise there were branches until the timeline popped up. However, the lack of trophies for the ‘gamers’ and low-quality compressed video file reduced my overall enjoyment of this experimental experience, despite actually enjoying the story and being immersed at all times (once I turned off the subtitles so the 3D-mode was enabled).
Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash! was much more hands-on and immersive than I originally thought it would be. Although I know I must have looked very stupid in real life, in the virtual world I was a superstar diva, dancing my heart out to save the human race from literally dancing their hearts out… Once the campaign is over – which will be rather fast – you still have the 100-stages to dance through daily in order to prolong the gameplay. Although I really enjoyed my time playing the game, thanks to the cheesy music and lyrics, bright colours, funky characters, and groovy dance moves, I honestly can’t justify the price for the amount of content provided.
House Flipper makes you feel like Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as you masterfully change a house into a home. Although there is a lot of repetition and monotony involved with each proceeding task you’re hired to perform, due to you basically doing the same thing over, and over again, the entire experience is surprisingly therapeutic and relaxing. Once you buy your first house, this is where the game truly begins as you’re free to do whatever you want with the tools provided – perfect for people with creative minds. You’ll easily sink upwards of 10-15 hours into the game before you’ve even realised it.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster delivers a haunting narrative within a beautiful, yet creepy, isolated hotel. With only an unknown companion on the phone to keep you company, you’re trapped in the last place you’d ever want to be, surrounded by memories of the past and secrets best left hidden from the world. Although delivering a conclusion which left me with questions, the experience throughout the entire three-hour narrative had me intrigued, invested, and captivated as to what we’ll uncover next and what’s around the corner.
Rabi-Ribi may suffer from a convoluted storyline, but this can be overlooked due to its lively energy and exciting gameplay. I’m a strong believer in the whole ‘bang for your buck’ mentality, Rabi-Ribi is $29.99 and easily comes packed with more content than some AAA titles costing twice as much. It simply has tons of content, lots of replay value, and it’s super addictive – even at full price, it’s a steal. I can’t recommend this title enough, and with the amount of content and gameplay, it’s a must for not only Metroidvania addicts but anyone who owns a Switch, PS4, PS Vita or PC. This certainly is a ‘must-try and buy’ Switch title.
Goblin Sword on the Switch is a must for everyone who loves old-school platforming adventure games! The sense of accomplishment you get from studying bosses and then using that knowledge in order to defeat them is very satisfying and nostalgiac for an older gamer like me. Not to mention the feeling of rapture you get from rushing back to the store, to look at and test out the new weapons and armour you’ve excavated from each level, is something I rarely have in games like this – especially when some of the unlocks are purely cosmetic only. Finally, the profuse amount of content, ranging from the number of enemies to the abundance of deadly traps, will leave you overwhelmed with originality, excitement, and determination to progress and see what else is in store for you.
Just hearing the high heel sounds, in The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters, absolutely terrified me and made it impossible to remain calm. There are moments when I simply didn’t want to come out of my hiding spot for fear that I’d run into the spooky enemy that was chasing poor Mina around the school. However, the point of playing a horror-themed game is to get scared, so in that respect, The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters perfectly fulfilled its purpose. The challenge here is to get past the traps and to find your way to the next quest, all whilst trying to avoid the enemy that is chasing after you; However, this simple premise isn’t an easy task as even hiding requires a QTE, and although they’re not too difficult, it’s very easy to mess it up. That being said, The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters is a terrifying continuation of The Coma universe that turned out to be even more enjoyable than its predecessor.
Voxelgram is a brilliant 3D Picross game, exactly what the Switch has been waiting for. Whether you wish to use your Joy-Cons and play on the TV, or utilise your fingers and touch the screen, the game is very simplistic and intuitive in its design, ensuring that everyone can simply pick it up and play without any issues. My personal preference was to use the official Nintendo Stylus as it filled me with nostalgia for similar games back on the Nintendo DS and 3DS. If you’re a fan of Picross puzzles, or simply logic-based puzzles in general, Voxelgram is a no-brainer – you should buy this game.
Two Point Hospital is a very satisfying and rewarding management simulation game, something we need more of on consoles. Whether you’re pulling off peoples heads in order to replace them with a fleshy alternative, or managing your team of top doctors via training and providing them more clown posters to look at, there’s always something to do. There is a steep learning curve once you’ve completed the first island, but patience and dedication pay off as the greater the challenge, the greater the satisfaction when you hit three-stars! If you have any interest in resource management, simulation, or strategic games, you need to buy Two Point Hospital – it’s that good.
Top Run is a game which you’ll find easy to play yet hard to master, especially on the Rage difficulty. Simple casual games like this are super addictive and you’ll find yourself investing hours into this game without even realising it. If you love games themed on the 80s, or are simply looking for something to play in short bursts which feels rewarding and like you’re actually progressing, then I can honestly highly recommend Top Run to you. There’s even a platinum for those who are willing to invest a lot of time into unlocking all of the abilities and seeing everything the game has to offer.
Ciel Fledge: A Daughter Raising Simulator is the epitome of simulators with its detailed micromanagement and deep gameplay mechanics. Sure, the game has a few rough edges and would benefit from a few updates to the Switch version in order to make it more console-friendly, but there’s nothing game-breaking. Raising a child is no easy task, Ciel Fledge perfectly emulates this with the constant demands and its high-learning curve of what parenting is actually like. With a constantly evolving child, alongside a constantly evolving world, Ciel Fledge is a game that requires you to adapt to the situation based upon how you want your child to grow.
Although only lasting you roughly three to four hours, Draugen is a beautiful, yet tragic adventure you won’t forget. Regardless of the platform you choose to play on, your eyes are in for a treat as the game is truly gorgeous and designed with so much love and care. Although some of the plot points may be predictable, thanks to the subtle hints the game drops throughout, I’ve played through the game three times so far and loved every second of the writing, acting, soundtrack and narrative. If you want something to curl up with and play at your leisure, without worrying about enemies, time restraints, or puzzles, then Draugen is perfect for you.
Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is a fun and simple shmup which was clearly inspired by the classic Asteroids arcade game. With another player, you have access to five gameplay modes, three as a co-op partner (which can be played in single-player) and two in face-to-face combat situations. Despite having limited progression within the game, you can purchase new ships and upgrade the power-ups you find as you destroy the various missiles and debris which are hurling towards you as you defend your Mothership or save the colony. Great for short-burst gaming which will keep you entertained for a while as you try to get better every time you die.
Despite the short length and simplistic combat, Arc of Alchemist was a very fun Action RPG to play through. The combination of Hack ‘n Slash, RPG, Base Building, and puzzles all came together to create an interesting game, although the story is a little generic and predictable at times. If going for the platinum trophy, the grind is quite intense and will take you roughly twice as long as you spent completing the game for the first time. I would have liked a longer narrative, as the game was over when I had just really got into it, but the story had a definitive end (for now) so I hope we get a sequel or prequel sometime in the future to expand upon the world the developers have created.
Despite being a co-op focused game, 39 Days to Mars is fun to play both with another person or on your own. The puzzles are all fun, creative and work well with the two-player aspect, with only a few puzzle types repeating themself as part of the humorous narrative. If playing with another human, the journey you take is more than simply trying to get to Mars, it’s all about working together and co-operating in order to overcome the obstacles thrown at you. It may only be a short experience, at around 2-3 hours, but it’s a journey you’ll remember and want to play again.
Nurse Love Addiction, though definitely more than meets the eye, is still a welcome addition to anyone’s Visual Novel library. As long as you don’t take it at face value and keep an open mind, it’ll be a very enjoyable 30-40 hours of an adventure. Its strongest points are the shock value and twists that don’t normally accompany Visual Novels and the deep character development. If you’re looking for a VN that’s longer than most with some good controversial material, then Nurse Love Addiction is exactly what the doctor prescribes.
Despite the casual and simplified nature of the game, Spaceland is a competent and solid tactical RPG which everyone can enjoy. The fact you only have a choice of five teammates may have initially surprised and confused me, as I’m used to having a whole bunch to pick from, but the unique skills and personalities add a level of strategy into the game which I wasn’t expecting. If you’re looking for a more casual Xcom-like experience, which short missions that you can pick up and play in short bursts, then you need not look any further, buy this game!
Glass Masquerade 2: Illusions easily sits up there as one of my favourite puzzle games. The new ‘hard mode’ really spices things up and stretches out the time it takes to complete a puzzle, making the overall experience much longer and better value. However, despite it getting a little frustrating as the hour approaches and you’re still looking for any pieces that fit, the satisfaction you get at the end is worth it.
Bridge Constructor: Ultimate Edition simply hands you a spanner and tells you to “get on with it”. Your imagination, and the budget of each level, are the only limits to what you can build and how to build it – as long as the test vehicles cross the line, it’s a success. The additional two DLC packs, Slopemania and Trains, both offer hours of content on top of the decent-sized main game, and the three timed mini-campaigns are equally as good although strangely locked behind a date-lock. If you thought bridges were all about simple triangles and boring designs, pick up this game today and see just how creative you have to get.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War is by far my favourite zombie-based game of all time. I’d even go as far as saying that I believe this is Rebellion‘s best game this generation – I love Sniper Elite and Strange Brigade, but this is on a whole new level as it combines the best aspects of both and adds nazi zombies and undead sharks! Although the game is clearly designed for co-op, it scales perfectly for single players and those wanting to play with only one or two friends, rather than making it impossible to proceed without all four players active. Not only is this one of the most satisfying and fun third-person shooters I’ve ever played, the accessibility options, control choices, and performance options further enhance the experience to one which won’t be easily beaten.