GamePitt's Reviews
If you’ve ever wanted to live out the corruption, guilt-trip ridden, and hard work of an ’80s cop, Beat Cop is for you. It’s a simulation encased in a tale of murder, smut, comedy, and the mafia – pretty much all in a days work for an America cop thirty years ago! Sure, your main role is going to be parking violations, but your case isn’t going to solve itself, is it?! With its ’80s soundtrack, detailed pixel art design, and very dark humour, Beat Cop is a very original and challenging game where you must juggle police corruption and bribes around your wife’s alimony and the money you need for your mistress to relieve your stress! Great for short bursts or long sessions (so is the game…).
The Messenger is without a doubt a game that gamers should not pass up on. I very much enjoyed every aspect of the game from the hilarious banter between the Messenger and the shopkeeper to the platforming and the boss fights. I cannot see any one aspect of the game I did not enjoy. If this is the first game made by Sabotage Studio, then I would say that they have a bright future ahead of them in the games industry.
Although it’s not as big as other roguelike/lite games, Bard’s Gold is lots of fun and challenging. The game looks great, with its pixel-based retro-inspired visuals, and it controls just as well as the bigger budget titles out there with it’s pixel-perfect precision and fast-paced action. Bard’s Gold is an addictive title – I’ve picked it up and played it four times whilst writing this review – it calls out for ‘one more try’ every time you die as it dangles the possible upgrades in front of you and promises you’ll do better next time.
For a game about death and murder, Death Coming has rather comical and upbeat gameplay. No two playthroughs will be the same as each NPC has their own set agenda which could change based on the weather that kicks in or become altered if you failed to activate a trap in time. This game is basically one giant logical 'trial and error' game in which you must think a few steps ahead in order to perform genocide and emerge the victor. I doubt you've played anything quite like this within the last few years (at least).
Personally, I would strongly advise everyone against picking up Blood Waves, even if it’s featured within a sale. The game is not worth time and money you will put into it. If the game was updated with more locations, better combat, less-spongy enemies, a decent soundtrack, more original and define enemies and protagonists, and maybe allow for fantastical weaponry and abilities – then it MAY be worth trying out and re-visiting. However, until that happens, I don't see myself returning to the game any time soon.
Fate/EXTELLA LINK has taken the top spot on my list of non-Musou; Musou titles thanks to its fluid gameplay and interesting story. As you use each of the Servants your bond with them will grow, this leads to new conversations, costumes, and attacks which can be used in battle against the onslaught. With a total of 26 playable characters, there’s bound to be one for everyone out there as each one lies within one of the eight combat categories. The story isn’t as long as we’ve seen in previous games like Dynasty Warriors 9, but the timeline aspect with multiple choices is interesting and offers a new take on various situations.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is back where it belongs, on a Nintendo Console, after a seventeen-year hiatus! Although it’s only a remaster, and not a new game, it’s still very welcomed and something we should celebrate. Sticking to the original aesthetic and design, the developers have kept the overall look of Turok whilst implemented updated control methods, lighting, textures, visual effects, and audio in order to please those who grew up with the game. Turok is a game in which you shouldn’t judge it by its looks alone, the action-packed nature of the gameplay truly makes this a game you shouldn’t pass on if you own a Nintendo Switch.
Farm Together is like an addictive mobile phone game but with modern graphics and none of those annoying ads or Microtransactions. Either with friends or solo, this game is the definition of fun, a time-waster, and relaxing. When you’re not sowing seeds or planting trees, you’ll be harvesting fruit, fishing, picking up eggs, or even playing ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ on the piano. There’s a lot to do and see down on the farm, the farm which you can fully customise and create into your own paradise or a simple allotment.
I think that The Wizards – Enhanced Edition is a brilliant PSVR title, one which easily stands among my favourite this year. Take the role of Dr. Strange as you summon a shield, a bow, or one of the other projectiles to destroy the evil beings who are trying to destroy mankind. Okay, you’re not Dr. Strange but you certainly do aspire to be like him with all of your hand movements and gestures which casts unique spells depending upon how you manoeuvre your limbs.
The Braveland Trilogy has filled a genre hole which I never realised I had until I started playing it. Taking the core combat mechanics from the classic Heroes of Might and Magic series, then modernising it into a more simplified and accessible format so that anyone can play, I love that this rather niche genre is out there for everyone to try out.
Devil May Cry 5 is easily one of my Game of the Year 2019 contenders, even though it’s only March! The smooth and fluid gameplay, combined with the over the top action and intense metal soundtrack, creates a truly demonic and exciting experience no matter what system you’re on. Although the story is a little fragmented and delivered out of order in places, the reconstructed narrative is just as wacky and creative as the gameplay! As a fan of the original games, I can’t help but love Devil May Cry 5. Not because it’s another game in the franchise, but because it’s clearly the best game in the franchise by a long shot and it’s also yet another amazing achievement from Capcom.
The Occupation is a game in which you can’t take anything for granted, especially the time you have to wander the halls of the BCG. At its core, it’s a stealth game in which you must avoid detection whilst you gather evidence and incriminating information so you can push your interviewees for more info, but it’s also a nostalgic trip back to the ’80s here in the North West of England. How you go about completing the game is your choice, key events are scripted and unmissable, but what you do outside of those is up to you. Also, regardless of how much you’ve found/uncovered, the show must go on as you’re forced into the next segment with or without the things you need.
Taking its place as my favourite fighting game this generation, Dead or Alive 6 is so addictive! When you’re not trying to achieve all three stars in each of the 104 quests, you’ll be either fighting a stranger online, training for your next fight or working your way through the rather messy story mode. The narrative may not be one of the best out there but the game delivers where it counts, in the combat mechanics and performance. Delivering both a resolution or framerate mode on the PS4 Pro, Dead or Alive 6 ensures it remains stable whichever option you decide to go with.
For those who are new to the series, if you like Visual Novels and/or anime, Steins;Gate Elite won’t fail to impress you on many levels.
In short, Anthem is a great game which has had some bad reviews based on what is on offer right now and the fact that it’s not quite sure of its identity. While promoted as a multiplayer game, its deep storytelling makes it more an experience I wanted to discover alone. That being said, once the campaign is finished, it’s great to be able to play end game content with friends as that’s part of what keeps you coming back, playing with people you know. To me, Anthem is a single player game with some co-op experiences, there is no PVP for the hard-core shooter fans out there and that will put some people off. Sadly, the fact it’s being labelled as multiplayer has also put off people that enjoy single player games, people who I think would enjoy this game very much.
I’m so happy that I had the chance to replay Secret Files: Tunguska on a modern console, despite its control issues. The majority of people probably won’t know about this series as it was overshadowed by the more popular Broken Sword series as well as the genre becoming rather a niche one, but I’d still strongly suggest gamers with a Switch check it out today. Even though the narrative is a bit weak and the humour swings between slapstick, toilet, and observational comedy, it was enough to make me chuckle and thoroughly enjoy.
I couldn't have asked for a better game than 8-Bit Invaders to conclude the franchise with. From its sci-fi themed music and aesthetics to its blatant 'Alien' inspired units, the final game in the franchise offers the best balancing, the most explosive wars, and the more accessible adventure for new players. Whether playing on your own as you work through the campaigns or if you grab a mate and do co-op or multiplayer, there are many hours of enjoyment to be found here, many more if you own more than one of the games. The online with strangers side is still very quiet, which is a shame, but if you're playing with your mates then it's a fun experience. 8-Bit Invaders would be the game I recommend everyone who likes the look of the franchise starts out with, followed by 8-Bit Armies and then 8-Bit Hordes.
Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition sets out to be a product that us 90s kids can look at in nostalgic joy. In some ways, they really capture that with the Earthworm Jim type gameplay with more adult humour (you can turn off blood and swearing in the menu!). Unfortunately, they also captured some of the more annoying parts of those games as well. I think the game has good ideas, but I did not feel like it was executed well enough for modern gamers wanting a nostalgic trip or those looking for a solid platformer.
Despite its rather steep learning curve and love of screwing you over, Townsmen – A Kingdom Rebuilt is a really good resource management game.
12 Is Better Than 6 is a game which doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet it offers brutal and satisfying combat mechanics which you’ll quickly pick up yet spend the whole game trying to master. Maybe not recommended to those who don’t like games which have you retrying segments over and over again, but everyone else should check it out upon release.