LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Refreshing my memory after playing the first game with these new puzzles, I repeat my verdict for Madorica Real Estate 2 – The Mystery of the New Property. There isn’t any other puzzle game on Switch quite like it. The combination of challenging puzzles, the use of paper floor plans, QR codes and silly ghosts is unique. Play this escape room puzzle adventure alone and get the feeling of great achievement when you get rid of the ghost. Or play it with friends or your kids and have great fun together. The first ever interview we did on LadiesGamers was with Takashi Hamada (you can find it here) and I’m glad he brought us another great puzzler.
Donut Dodo plays a loving homage to the old arcade days whilst bringing with it some modern improvements and a few tricks of its own to make it stand out from the competition. If Donut Dodo was an actual arcade cabinet, I would be happy to sink a few coins into it. But since this is the modern day, you can pay a small fee and enjoy some good high score chasing fun on TV or handheld.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, is easily the best retro compilation of games I have ever played. You’re taken on a journey through video game history. Which is not afraid to educate you on both the highs and lows of the company. It raises the bar for compilations being released in the future, it would be great to see this design repeated with other companies or game series. Allowing me to learn more about each game actually made me more interested in playing some of the games I initially wasn’t fond of. This is the museum exhibit experience brought home for you to enjoy alone or with friends at any time. Whether you love Atari or not, this is an essential purchase for anyone interested in gaming history. On a personal level, Atari 50 reminds me why I love video games and I never expected Atari of all companies to remind me of that in such a positive way.
Ship of Fools fits my personal definition of two thumbs up. It is a very entertaining gameplay loop with engaging ship combat. With quirky weapons and challenges which had me keen to jump back into another run even after yet another failure. There are niggles to mention. I found the controls a bit clumsy when the action really heated up and the game does suffer from some pretty nasty difficulty spikes at times. It’s the typical rogue-lite formula, where you gradually improve after a lot of repetition and spending time upgrading back at base. A formula that no doubt is starting to tire. But when I sat back to reflect more, Ship of Fools was just a fantastic co-op game to play with a friend or loved one. My shipmate and I have been going through a pretty rough patch in life in general and Ship of Fools felt like an experience which just allowed us to forget our troubles for a few hours and enjoy ourselves. Just a couple of fools having a good time. Hopefully, you will feel those delights too and if you haven’t tired of rogue-lite yet this is well worth picking up.
I love Lost Amulets: Four Guardians a lot. It has a couple of little things that bug me. But overall, they were so small that they didn’t ruin the enjoyment of this title. If you love hidden object puzzles, matching puzzles, and others, you will almost be guaranteed to love this game. For only $5, it’s hard to pass up such a wonderful, polished puzzle game to add to your Steam library.
I knew what I was going into and while RWBY: Arrowfell isn’t perfect, I had fun. Being a fan of RWBY certainly helped but anyone who enjoys platformers should have a good time if they pick this up. There were definitely some highs and lows but I had a blast playing it. That being said, the price is a bit steep for what it is but most licensed games are a bit more pricey.
If you’re looking for a simple but ultimately fun twin-stick shooter From Space will provide an entertaining experience in single-player and online if your friends are available. The local co-op would have suited this experience for me but every gamer will be mixed on this. What lets From Space down in places is its poor AI with teammates, repetitive mission structure and the horrific inability to pause. It doesn’t really add a lot new to the twin-stick formula. But I will admit it’s a familiarity I still enjoyed. The PC version does hint at community feedback which suggests patches to the game are on the way. So, if you decide not to jump on this yet, consider keeping it on the wish list. In its current state From Space is an alien invasion I don’t mind revisiting, provided my son is in a deep sleep.
Dolmenjord – Viking Islands is a cute, wholesome puzzle game. Once again, a quality title from Mens Sana Interactive. It is enjoyable to play with gorgeous artwork to look at; what’s not to like? I’d recommend Dolmenjord – Viking Islands to any puzzle-loving fans
I quite like the idea of an advent calendar in video game form. The individual puzzles offer enough content to keep you interested in short gaming stints, with the addition of multi-player and several levels. The levels also have a short tutorial and are obviously made with care. This will get you in the Holiday mood, and offer some relaxing quality time as well. Overall, this puzzle game will give you relaxing moments and get you in the holiday mood at the same time!
Bravery & Greed was a satisfying roguelike experience for me. But it is also an example of the roguelike formula starting to become a bit too familiar and in desperate need of updating. And I say that as a huge fan of the genre. Bravery & Greed manages a strong recommendation from me because its combat is very satisfying, and I very much liked the fantasy setting. Having the ability to play this co-op online or locally also makes this one to recommend to friends or family. If you’re feeling greedy for another roguelike this will still provide hours of entertainment.
No matter the issues or unpolished aspects mentioned before, Oakenfold deserves praise for its entertaining blend of mechanics. Regardless of the lack of depth in the story, or the elements that could still be improved, this game has much to offer and might be what players from this genre are looking for. Its gameplay is very well thought out and has many ways to challenge the player. For players who enjoyed games like Into the Breach, this might be for you.
Once Upon a Jester is a great little game. It is well constructed, packed with jokes, and words of wisdom and has a feel-good vibe. The music is a highlight, with great beats and catchy tunes. I wish there was more replayability, as creating your own mini-play is excellent, but the story and jokes get a bit repetitive after the first couple of run-throughs
As it says in the title, My Fantastic Ranch is fantastic. A management simulation game, with a graphical style and subject matter that would appeal to younger players, but not to the exclusion of others. Although you can only have a limited number of creatures on your ranch, there is still plenty to do and keep you entertained. The festivals and some of the achievements are particularly challenging and require more thought than you imagine. I’m looking forward to continuing my adventures in My Fantastic Ranch.
Aquarist has the potential to be a decent simulator, but it’s not there yet. Controls are frustrating in places and navigating the menus is more tricky than it should be. Carrying out mundane tasks like cleaning fish tanks and building a new aquarium is fun for a while but it doesn’t take long before it gets a bit repetitive. I feel this may still garner a recommendation if you love aquariums and want to relieve some old memories. But be aware you have to put up with some rough edges and this game won’t suit those looking for a quick gaming fix. It didn’t escape my notice that this game is available on PC but still in Early Access which makes me wonder if it will still see some patches coming in the future. So maybe there is hope for the Switch port yet. Until then I would approach with caution
Lunistice is a cheerful low poly platformer. Tight controls and charming graphics make this package well worth a recommendation. That’s before I mention the generously low price. This is an ideal pick-up when you want a short project over a gaming weekend. For me, things did start to get too stressful at the end I’ll need a few weeks (maybe months) to recover before I try to improve my rating. If you love your 3D platformers though consider this one to pick. If you still need more convincing then be sure to try the free demo available on the eShop.
There’s so much more that I can say about this game but if you enjoy RPGs, humour and whimsy, and unique interesting combat systems then This Way Madness Lies is worth the time. It’s a bite-sized RPG that respects your time and is designed so that its audience is broad. From casual players to hardcore completists’, there is something in this game for everyone.
Considering the base game had 60 levels, the DLC’s 30 new levels are a very generous offering. I recommend both to Sokoban lovers looking for a tough challenge. Considering the quality of puzzles and the asking price on Steam, both Sokobos and Aphrodite’s Trial are a steal for their price.
I found Flat Eye to be an unsettling game, leaving me with plenty of thoughts on the subjects in the narrative during my nine hours or so with it. In addition, I like the game’s overall premise, and it plays well. However, if the developer intended to leave the player with thoughts about how the future with technology can pan out, they have succeeded.
Nightmare Arena is a nice compliment to this great RPG package. A tough challenge that will demand you put your thinking caps on, rather than relying on typical RPG grinding to succeed. By itself, it is decent but not as memorable as the main game. If nothing else this review is a reminder to check out the main game. Then consider spending a little extra on the DLC and soundtrack to support the developer. If Video Game Fables continues to release DLC I’ll certainly be interested.
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster. At times, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing it – galloping around the wide and varied landscape (the scenery is stunning), planning and building my estate. At other times, I’ve plummeted into an abyss of despair, dangling in mid-air with no option but to reset, and losing hours of gameplay as the autosave didn’t work properly. This is a brilliant game but it needs a lot of improvement to reach its potential. The publishers said that all versions are going to receive additional development to improve quality and fix some bugs. However, at the time of publishing this review, it’s not clear when that content will be released and what will be fixed. So until then, I can’t give this game any thumbs up.