LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Overall I’m sure if you have stayed reading this review until now, you will have surmised that I have mixed feelings about Minabo – a walk through life. While I applaud the developers for trying something different from every other game genre out there, I think choosing a nondescript vegetable like a turnip to convey the feelings it is meant to have to the player was the wrong choice. Moreover, the game may have lovely music and beautiful graphics, but it’s not enough to make the gameplay interesting and make you want to continue playing.
Garden Simulator is a great gardening game, balancing the strategy of unlocking all the items with the simple pleasure of creative design. Unfortunately, the size of the text reduced my overall enjoyment.
Chippy’s Escape, just like the original Seaberry Keep, is SO CUTE. I can’t get enough of these games. I love the Seaberry location, the characters, the style, the puzzles, the everything! I could recommend both Chippy’s Escape and Seaberry Keep to anyone with little kids that wants to play games with their kids.
The concept of Animal Shelter Simulator is really great. I like the idea of running my own animal shelter, and the game gives some great educational insights into animal care and management. However, the awkward use of the controls and the game’s instability left me feeling too frustrated to find it truly enjoyable. I hope the developers can spend more time improving Animal Shelter Simulator, as there is a really good game hiding in the current offering.
Gemtombe is a good original arcade puzzle with a nice happy tone to it. As mentioned, this feels like a good beginning. But other games in the genre have had a long head start meaning this still feels like it has a bit of catching up to do. The game could just do with a bit of refinement in more areas. More depth to the puzzle gameplay, more game modes and more levels. This package is fine, but it feels like the starting point of something much better to come later. If you need a quick arcade fix, then keep this on your radar when scanning the eShop.
In conclusion, I liked Paint by Pixel much more than I expected. The first time I played, I only intended to try it for a few minutes. Instead, I spent almost an hour colouring pixeled hot air balloons and astronauts. It’s a simple premise, but the end result is very relaxing.
I like Castle Renovator. There is a lot of potential in what is presented. However, considering that this game was released in late 2022 for the PlayStation and Xbox, you would think most of the jank would have been addressed before the devs decided to port this to Switch. There is something missing in Castle Renovator that is hard to pinpoint exactly. It’s the heart of whatever made House Flipper so fun to play. The comedy and weirdness that made Powerwash Simulator what it was, the smoothness of movement and the beauty of the graphics that just isn’t there in Castle Renovator. There were a lot of interesting ideas here. Little mini-games to unlock new furniture, interesting designs to make a home with, and a funny premise to tie it all together. Castle Renovator could have been a ton of fun; it has much to do, a small price tag, and okay graphics. I think it just needs some more playtesting and a little more love. I’m not saying fixing the jank is simple, but it would be worth it. Castle Renovator feels like someone put a lot into it; it just fell short of the mark a little. I look forward to returning to this title in a year or two. Hopefully, the devs will have read all the criticism and implemented some changes by then.
Dungeon Drafters mixes dungeon crawling and card mechanics and succeeds despite its familiar premise. For me, it took a while for the game to click. I was probably about ten runs deep before I decided I really liked what it was doing. Even if you’re new, don’t let the barrier to entry put you off. Dungeon Drafters provides some friendly reminders of its gameplay should you need a refresher, making it a welcoming experience for all audiences. The mechanics are deep, providing the player plenty of flexibility to go at a pace that suits them. If it does click, you’ll likely find this title will keep you busy for months, if not years, to come. Don’t let this dungeon draft by, sorry I’ll leave now.
It’s hard not to compare Super Dungeon Maker to the Zelda series, and the game does not attempt to hide the similarities, but it is not Zelda. I also think the game could do with some more assets to give you more variety in what you can use when building your dungeon. Hopefully, an update at some stage will add more assets. Super Dungeon Maker will scratch that itch for players who want to create a dungeon with a hint of Zelda.
I really liked Nuclear Blaze. On its surface, it seems like a pretty standard platformer. But this is a game that doesn’t waste the player’s time. There was never a moment where I felt bored or felt the mechanics had outstayed their welcome. The game’s pace feels spot-on, keeping levels tight to the point and adding new abilities at the right spot. Even the difficulty is just the right challenge to keep you hooked without becoming overly frustrating. This was a game I didn’t want to put down. It set my heart ablaze, and I could not recommend it enough for all audiences
That’s basically Lost Dream: Darkness. A bland game where you walk from one point to another. This feels like a pretty good project for a new developer testing the waters in game development. The trouble is this does nothing to stand out; there are other better wolf options or walking simulators out there. As it stands, this is something that might catch gamers’ eye as a cheap pickup on the eShop. For me, I get more soothing for my soul by going for a walk and listening to the birds. This was not the meditation session I was looking for, leaving me more confused by the presentation of the game than relaxed.
Quirks aside, the beautiful levels and fair challenges kept me hooked. Fans of the previous titles should feel right at home because why fix what isn’t broken? I would love to see a sequel that expands on this concept because Roterra 4 – Magical Revolution, on its own, has all the basic ingredients in place. Add the sweet sprinkles, and I could see this becoming a full-on puzzle adventure rather than a simple casual pick-me-up.
Convenience Stories shares a similar style to all the Kairosoft games. There is a reassuring familiarity of bright colours, cute pixelated characters and wholesome humour. There is a complexity to Convenience Stories; some of the terminology and concepts could do with a little bit more explanation. However, there are some great autofill processes which make the game much more accessible for different ages. I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of running my own convenience stores.
Unprompted is a weird game that can be a lot of fun to play with the right group of people. It’s unique, challenging, and can make for a good time. However, the way the prompts are judged by the system is inconsistent and sometimes incredibly picky. While many of the groups of images are easily guessable, there are several single-picture prompts that are just impossible to guess, even when you’ve been playing for a while. I like the concept of this game; Unprompted really is the most unique title I’ve played in years. However, it feels unfinished. I think this game needs a lot more love and a little bit more playtesting before it could actually be called a finished product.
In conclusion, Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon is a good game with an interesting premise. It offers a fun and engaging experience, especially for fans of simulation and strategy games. However, several issues, such as the limited control over the movie’s plot and the game’s repetitive nature, can make it boring for some players. Despite its flaws, the game is worth trying. The developers’ continuous dedication to improving it is a promising sign for its future.
When playing Shukuchi Ninja, it would feel more like a mobile game. It could be because it is similar to an improvement of Angry Birds’ mechanic of fling or because it would fit with a touch screen feature. Still, it does bring an interesting concept to the consoles. Even though it can be entertaining for a little while, it didn’t hook me like other high-paced platformer games do. However, some may feel challenged by mastering the controls of this game and becoming an expert in playing Shukuchi Ninja.
Mr Sun’s Hatbox is a highly addictive mix of action and management rolled into an amusing premise. It’s a game that keeps on giving the more you put into it. The difficulty is pretty high, especially with the negative perks you have to fight against. But with the regular trickling in of content, there was always an incentive to return for another run. The biggest appeal by far was enjoying the game in short bursts, even though many sessions lasted longer if time allowed. Co-op is also a very welcome feature. I highly recommend this title, even if you’re tired of the rogue-lite formula. This one truly reworks the formula from the familiar action others tend to follow. The greatest lesson I learned from the game is the importance of taking out good insurance.
Tin Hearts is really something quite special. Even the most hardened of gamers will struggle not to be moved by some aspect of the charm on display here. Whether it’s the heart-felt soundtrack, calm but satisfying gameplay or the emotional beats of the story. Tin Hearts is the sort of title I love seeing in gaming. An original idea that is different from anything that comes before is made all the more memorable with its unique historical premise. The game is single-player only, but I can see this being a fun one to play together with loved ones on the sofa. Pointing at the screen to try to solve the problems together. Tin Hearts is a wonderful feel-good title which might be just what you need on a rainy day.
In short, Cassette Beasts is a fantastic game with plenty of charm, great gameplay, and a groovy soundtrack. I could highly recommend it to anyone who loves playing a great game. The narrative aspects should keep a playthrough for about 8 – 18 hours, but those who wish to collect all the monsters and complete all side quests could expect to be playing for up to around 50 hours. There is plenty to do in New Wirral, take the leap of discovery and become a Cassette Beast Ranger!
This is another of those reviews where I think the game was good, but it didn’t click for me fully. The gameplay is horrendously addictive. Although I got mad so many times at the bad cards I was dealt, I still found myself jumping back in for another run. This was probably thanks to the quick game sessions, cheerful graphics and happy game presentation. I highly recommend downloading the free demo and giving it a go for yourself. I think Wildfrost has a good thing going here but could use a bit more balancing and tweaking to make it my new go-to roguelike deck-builder