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Berserk Boy is a love letter to classic platformers, but in combining its inspirations together it carves out it's own path as an incredibly promising new game and, hopefully, the first entry in an unforgettable new series.
New Star GP captures the intense racing action of an F1 season, from on track action and pit strategy to building your team, but does so without losing any of the fun of an arcade racer.
For a brief moment of brilliance, Contra: Operation Galuga is the modern interpretation of a 2D run 'n' gun that we always wanted. But it's a fleeting moment, and what comes after is a deeply onerous experience that proves a trudge to see through to completion.
Manic Mechanics is a reasonably sufficient attempt to do Overcooked! in a garage, but lacks the magic that made its influence such a classic. Entirely disposable fun for a weekend then, just don't be expecting your friends to be begging to play more next week.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game continues the series legacy in emphatic style, with a true pioneering spirit that'll keep you coming back for vehicular adventures for months to come.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a delightful game, which will please long time Moomin fans, and could introduce the characters to a new audience and generation. The game is wholesome, one for all ages, and addresses the issue of environmentalism in a careful and constructive way. It is definitely worth playing.
Regency Solitaire II is the perfect sequel and deserves to take a place in the library of any fan of chilled out games. Whether you're intending a quick game over a coffee break or want to go for the intensive immersion akin to losing yourself in a classic novel, Grey Alien have nailed the tone and mechanics to produce an utterly charming title.
While it's been pleasing to see Nintendo revitalise certain parts of their back catalogue, Mario vs. Donkey Kong feels a bit dated, despite the modern graphics. I just wish there had been a slightly grander effort to modernise the feel of the game.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was hardly in need of a remake. However, replaying the game more than a decade after its debut, where every inch has been beautifully crafted anew, has been a delightful experience, and one we can finally share with a second player. We just wish there was more of it.
Classified: France '44 does so much right; historical authentic tactical combat, tense decision-making, and a minimal amount of stealth. Naff Stereotype-driven characters and technical issues aside, this is a confident and assured debut from Absolutely Games.
Inkulinati is a fantastic strategy game and one that is refreshingly accessible to players not immersed in that genre. The sheer charm of the whole aesthetic is clear to see and the units all have a huge amount of personality. The range of skills and possible approaches ensure that the battles remain enjoyable throughout whilst mechanics like the boredom stat encourage you to mix things up as you go. All in all, this is one of the best strategy games I've played in a while and you should definitely be prepared to get medieval.
If you really like your punishing hack and slash platformers, then Slave Zero X might be for you, but it doesn't feel as rewarding as it should when progress is made. You hardly feel like the killing machine you are as you run into difficulty spikes, and the near constant swarms of enemies just gets a bit dull when you are not learning any new techniques to fight them.
Skull and Bones is a very odd game and there are plenty of aspects to it that will leave a great number of players stone-cold. But, there is also something wonderful about it as well; the sense of exploration, the cathartic combat, the glorious visuals, the welcoming online community, and the ridiculously catchy sea shanties. In short, like the very best pirate, Skull and Bones will be loved by some, and hated by others. For my part, and in spite of its issues, I love it.
Ultros is a true labour of love that has a lot to say about the balance between violence and peace, and exploitation and environmentalism, themes which are incredibly important and too often ignored in games. On the flipside, this theme sometimes feels at odds with the basic game mechanics and can lead to early frustration. The game is quite clear that the first ending is a bad one as it relies on violent encounters but I couldn’t justify the investment of time and energy to continue past this to complete the more acceptable approach. In a way, this feels appropriate to me as it demonstrates why true change is so difficult to achieve in wider environmental terms. So, I guess the gap between the message and the mechanics here is not as wide as I initially thought.
Dicefolk is an intriguing take on the roguelike that gives you an unprecedented level of control over everything, and still makes you sweat in battle. It's cute, the replayability is very high, and it's got some fun progression unlocks as well. Definitely grab it if you're a turn-based roguelike person.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is the gold standard for mystery dungeon games. Every system, item, and mechanic come together in endlessly dynamic ways, reaching levels of emergent and exciting gameplay that I've never experienced in the world of roguelikes.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a beautifully crafted experience that fans old and new will absolutely love. It almost goes too far in correcting the first game's linearity with broad open areas stuffed with things to do, but there's also key additions to the combat, and the story running through this middle chapter is masterfully retold. Really the biggest problem you'll have once the credits roll is knowing that it will be far too many years before we can finish the trilogy.
Lara's original trilogy has been lovingly restored with the launch of these remasters, offering a definitive collection that bundles the core games and their expansions. However, dusting off these old relics in the name of nostalgia may come with a nasty surprise. Don't worry, there are no mummy curses, snake pits, or swinging pendulum axes, though the clunky controls will definitely take some getting used to (again).
Alisa is a real standout in the world of indie horror games, both in terms of aesthetic and gameplay. It's very tough when you first start in the mansion but once you get to grips with the controls and enemy patterns it becomes relatively easy to work through the game. It ends with plenty of scope for a sequel and there are many unanswered questions so hopefully one appears. Still, in the here and now, if you like the look of the screenshots then I can heartily recommend playing in this dollhouse.
Whilst Train Sim World 4 does the train sim part quite well, the world part is incredibly lacking - it comes with only three routes in the base game and the others cost significantly more than you might expect. All of those routes are in North America or Europe, even the DLCs, which would make it a much smaller world than the one I live in. If you love trains and have plenty of train sim money, Train Sim World is a good option for running routes. Just be aware that you'll probably be paying more than is reasonable.