TheSixthAxis
HomepageTheSixthAxis's Reviews
Montabi is a pretty good creature battler. The monsters themselves are varied and a bit wild in their designs - I mean, one of them seems to be a washing machine, and they mostly handle differently to each other. With some more synergies between creatures and some rebalancing tfor some of the weaker ones would help a bit, but what's here is good if you're looking for some tactical creature combat.
Lou's Lagoon is a cosy game and it can feel chill just flying around, collecting resources, and carrying out the requests of the people you meet. The story is fine and the world has a nice and colourful layout to it, but the general platforming needs improvement to avoid getting stuck in the environment so much, and a bug that appeared after completing the story put a stop to me playing much further.
Looking for Fael is an enjoyable puzzle adventure game, though it wilts in comparison to its most notable peers. The range of puzzles and the complexity of the layers of the game make for an absorbing experience that rewards your thought and engagement. It's definitely a game to take at your own pace and the satisfaction gained from finally solving a complicated puzzle is always enjoyable.
STEINS;GATE REBOOT brings sharp new art and presentation to an already classic sci-fi story. While some wrinkles in the presentation might upset longtime fans, this is an incredible way to experience one of the best time travel stories in gaming.
Theoretically, I'm the target audience for this game. I get all of the anime references – I think the names are stupid, but some of the puns land really well like the fantastic Lana Del Rayblade – and I would have loved to try Beyblades as a kid, but the execution just feels off here. The control scheme is really simple, but somehow doesn't feel like it's up to the task, the roguelike elements are unbalanced and unsatisfying, and fights are just way too samey. There's fun here, sure, but it didn't last long for me.
BLUE REFLECTION Quartet is a rare and much-appreciated bundle of games, and I love seeing an entire franchise collected together in one package like this. While a couple of the entries in this collection are pretty flawed, it's still full of charm and one of the most unique and atmospheric JRPG experiences out there.
Sephiria is great, I can't stop thinking about my next run if that's any indication to you. Whilst the bosses could be better, they're not a dealbreaker as the rest of the combat is excellent. Whilst there are a lot of roguelites around these days, this is definitely one of the better ones.
The Sinking City 2 exceeded my expectations, and won me over with its more polished and focused gameplay. While I still missed the more ambitious aspects of the original, this sequel is far easier to recommend and stands up as a worthy companion to the survival horror giants. It clearly takes influence from Resident Evil with a plethora of extra gameplay challenges for completionists and I look forward to seeing how speedrunners can refine paths through the game.
Duskfade is a consistently delightful platforming adventure that hearkens back to a simpler time, made all the better by the colourful and interesting clockwork world it's set in.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a great addition to both the extraction genre and to Lovecraftian games in general. It isn't really a game for solo players, but there is an option to play it that way to practice in between multiplayer sessions. When teaming up with friends though there is a lot to love here, with even failed missions providing memorable moments. There are few multiplayer experiences that can live up to the thrills of running through a rainy forest whilst pursued by a host of unearthly creatures and suddenly seeing one of your companions turn into a pine tree.
While the Culdcept series has been around for a long time, Culdcept Begins' unusual fusion of gameplay styles manages to feel fresh and timely, perfectly capturing the contemporary gaming zeitgeist.
If anything, Beast of Reincarnation could be the perfect 7/10; it's a mass of systems, ideas and interesting design choices that so very nearly hang together. While there's jank, annoyances and performance issues, they don't diminish the fundamental enjoyment of the world Game Freak has created. For all the long shadow that Pokémon casts, I want to see more like Beast of Reincarnation find their way into the light.
The Planet Crafter is one of my favourite survival game of the last few years. It has many of the usual flaws – an achingly slow start, simplistic UI and inventory management that's a chore – but once you're past that hump, growing your base and ramping up your terraforming activity is fiendishly addictive. If survival and terraforming sounds good to you, this is the best place for it.
There's a lot of fun to be had in Heave Ho 2, whether you're playing with one friend or in a group of four, together or online. Le Cartel has taken the swinging puzzle platforming of the original and built so many great new settings and inventive ideas around it. One or two more awkward elements can grate, but then you've got that perfect chancer move to fling yourself with perfect precision from start to end and the roar of surprised delight. A great sequel.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a decent fighter, but it isn't going to transform the Avatar franchise into a gaming powerhouse. The fighting can be fun, but the roster is a mixed bag, the story a bit weak, and there's currently no ranked mode in multiplayer. Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a good game, but it isn't a top tier fighting game.
Denshattack is a multi-track train drifting delight, packed full of wild set-pieces, awesome characters, and killer music.
Gecko Gods is a chilled out joy to play. Perfect for a lazy summer evening with a cold drink and a fan in your face, the sheer thrill of discovery is absolutely nailed here. While there may be times that you're not quite sure where to go, the focused level design and island layout means that exploration is always enjoyable and you'll find the way forward soon enough. Whether you're looking for a nostalgic treat or simply want to hang out with a cute little lizard for a while, Gecko Gods is sure to delight.
Nostalgia is the name of the game here, and Halo: Campaign Evolved toes a fine line between preserving a beloved classic and updating it. Whether it's the floaty feeling of driving a Warthog or hearing that familiar buzz when Master Chief's shields recharge, Campaign Evolved captures that feeling of playing the original Halo brilliantly, as if reliving a memory from childhood. For those who never experienced Halo on the original Xbox or its other remakes and remasters, it likely won't have that same magic appeal, especially if you're comparing this doled up relic to more elaborate, modern first person shooters.
Splatoon Raiders is great. Putting more of a focus on solo and co-op for this game has led to an adventure with a really satisfying progression as you level up, grind stages for experience and gear, and build up your loadout to tackle the next big challenge.
Riveting, rewarding, and endlessly replayable, Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is one of the best action RPGs on Nintendo's system.