LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Essentially the more you play, the more you unlock and the more the game opens up. It’s just a little slow getting to that point. Neon Abyss has got the right roguelite moves, while it feels like a bit of a grind to unlock new things in the game. Those that decide to stick with it will be rewarded with a fun and addictive shooter that will have you returning run after run. Grab your glow sticks, get your best 90s outfit, and prepare to dance. Once you’ve worn yourself out though, you can still play another few rounds of Neon Abyss.
I originally played this game on PC because you could get a copy of the soundtrack. A music score that I have to say is brilliant in that funky retro way. Unfortunately not a lot has really been done to upgrade the game to Switch. I guess they added some art to the border which you can see in the screenshots. The controls have also been mapped better on Switch whereas the PC seemed to favour keyboard controls over a controller. Other than that its a pretty plain port. Clash Force is a fun simple coffee game that has the nostalgia of the ‘80s but won’t do anything to particularly surprise you. If you’re looking for a simple fun, run and gun platformer this will scratch that itch at a nice price to boot. But if you’re looking for something with more depth you can give this one a miss. Much like an episode of He – Man it won’t cause any harm if you miss one episode. There’s always next Saturday!
I have really enjoyed playing Conjurer Andy’s Repeatable Dungeon for this review and I will continue to play the game as I’m no where near the end of the dungeons. In fact, when writing the review, having to check something in the game, I found it extremely hard to set the game aside to continue writing. I love ‘the push your luck’ mechanics in the game and having to decide if I should risk one more floor of the dungeon when my team is low on HP. Yes, there is repetitive gameplay but it’s not the sort of game that is meant to be played for hours on end. It’s a fantastic quick fix game, the sort you would play in between something more heavy. Conjurer Andy’s Repeatable Dungeon should have pride and place on everyones Nintendo Switch.
The game may not have a lot of replay value but I think I can see myself revisiting in when I want to play something casual and nice. I never felt stressed playing the game. It felt like just the right balance of challenge for a relaxing gaming session. Sometimes you just need a game that’s casual, simple and makes you smile. Ultra Hat Dimension easily fits that bill. The cute graphics and sounds are a very original concept for a puzzle game. The lesson I learned is no matter how many times I got punched, I could still make it through. Maybe a life lesson we all need sometimes.
Ultimately, I’m grateful I own Towaga: Among Shadows. Honestly, the game came into my life at precisely a sorely needed time. For real. Unfortunately, the gulf between the three other Modes and local Multiplayer is made painfully clear comparatively. Something to consider. Not recommended for more than one player. On the other hand, I’m fond of the compelling albeit repetitive game play, splendid visuals, and treasure trove of in-game unlockables Towaga: Beyond Shadows offers players. Admittedly, I do speculate that the total individualized mileage may probably vary. Hopefully this ported game that was once a Kickstarter project will resonate with others as well!
This title feels like it probably would’ve been right at home being released on the Mega Drive. It feels inherently retro, which is both good and bad. Good, because the graphics work, the gameplay is great fun, and I enjoyed the simple design of just getting to the end of a level and progressing to the next. Just like the old days. However, it also seemed to fail to learn some lessons. Traps were placed in horrible places, leading to cheap one-hit deaths. The platforming felt quite awkward at times, and I also encountered a few bugs where traps got stuck in the environments. Spartacus sometimes started a level moving slowly like a snail (his alter ego: Snailacus), which was only fixed by reloading the save. I was compelled to finish the game, but this port really needs some patching. Swords and Sandals: Spartacus won’t take you to the field of Elysium, but it will undoubtedly still entertain. Something retro fans or those looking for a simple to-the-point action platformer should keep an eye on. While the later half of the game felt disappointing, it’s hard to ignore how much fun I had running around, slashing my sword and screaming “I’m Spartacus!” (no, I’m Spartacus!)*
Void Terrarium is a very interesting title. It has a unique mix of gameplay styles that are coated in gorgeous artwork and an impressive soundtrack. My advice would be to not go in expecting Disgaea levels of content or Atelier customization and you will have a much better time. Taken as a quickplay rogue-lite title it is a great little distraction and is priced reasonably for the content on offer.
For The House of Da Vinci 2 I feel that the developers Blue Brain Games have certainly improved on the game from its first outing. Though I didn’t actually count the number of puzzles in this game (who would?) it felt like there where more puzzles to solve. And it didn’t feel as much like a clone of The Room game as the first House of Da Vinci game did to me. All in all if you like The Room games, do yourself a favour and try out both the House of Da Vinci games. I’m sure you will find them fun and enjoyable with many fulfilling puzzles to puzzle over. One last word of advice: don’t be like Paula….remember to use the Oculus Perpetua!
This game has seventy levels, but by the time I’d finished fifteen, I was worn out. The gameplay is overly simple and repetitive. If there were other types of gameplay to break up the incessant platforming, I could imagine getting further into it. However, I didn’t feel any compelling urge to platform using the same two basic controls for fifteen more consecutive levels, much less fifty-five more. The StoryTale is family-friendly and accessible to children, so if you’re looking for a game that will entertain a child without overwhelming them, this may be a good fit! However, unless you yourself have a passion for platforming, I wouldn’t suggest picking this one up. The story seems to run alongside the game rather than pushing it forward, and the gameplay itself is repetitive and monotonous.
One of the biggest features of Quest Hunter which deserves a lot of praise is that you can play online and cross-platform with PC, Xbox, and Switch players. This is a huge deal and definitely under-praised. For this review my wife was able to play on the Switch in handheld mode while my friend from America and myself were playing on PC. We were able to set up a private game with a password, save, and enjoy the game together. Not only was it simple to set up but the game ran well across all systems. I loved searching for treasures and then stopping now and then to do a little dance with the various in-game emotes. This game will easily hold a special memory for me because of these small quirky moments. Quest Hunter is a fun little dungeon crawler. I enjoyed it alone, but playing with friends across other platforms really brought this game to life. Hunting for treasure with friends never felt so good. Now where did I leave my shovel?
West of Dead reminds me of Dark Souls a little bit in that it made me feel like I was leveling up my own ability to play the game, rather than just leveling up a stat and then all of a sudden being able to stomp. I haven’t really played many roguelike games, but if this is what they can be like, then sign me up. I loved the fact that every level was procedurally generated and thus different every time I entered it. This is especially good because you will (likely) die a lot, and when you die you have to go back to the beginning. You get to keep any upgrades you’ve unlocked, like the health potion, but any guns, buffs, and items you had must be re-collected throughout the levels. The point: after dying a lot, it’s nice to start back at the beginning and basically be playing a whole new game again. I would highly recommend this game to anyone, even if you’re not a fan of the genre. I honestly wouldn’t have counted myself among the fans of the genre and probably wouldn’t have gone out of my way to pick this one up. BUT, I would have missed out on a truly amazing game that is worth a purchase and worth a play. So no matter who you are, consider giving this one a go. It comes out on the Switch on August 5th, don’t let it pass you by. Raw Fury knows what they’re doing when they publish a game, after all.
I’m slightly disappointed in The Great Perhaps. The game expands no further on Kosmos’ feelings that lead to his declaration at the start of the game of not wanting to live. I think it’s a missed opportunity. The non-responsive controls when switching off the lantern can quickly turn into a very frustrating experience, while watching Kosmos die through no fault of your own. The story, while interesting, comes to an abrupt halt at the end of the 3 hours or so it takes to complete the game. I guess that leaving the story on a cliffhanger at the end leaves the door open for a Great Perhaps 2. We shall have to wait and see on that one.
There are glimmers of fun here. I do not wish to ignore those. Driving down the open road, delivering your cargo in the night-time rain can be a relaxing experience. However, these moments are so few that they simply do not warrant the price being asked of by this title. The real problem here is that the game is clearly unfinished. Were the publishers asking a lower price of the title then many of the problems above could be overlooked. Currently though the price remains worryingly high and therefore not something I can recommend.
It is clear that Radical Fish Games is a devoted and talented developer who wants to make an excellent game. I think that if you love long sci-fi or fantasy RPGs, you’ll absolutely love this. If you want a game guaranteed to give you your money’s worth, CrossCode will satisfy. But you should be warned: this game is very grindy, the story beats are spaced hours apart, and the dungeons are as aggravating as they are punishing. This game is insanely popular, but as I get older, I don’t have the mental willpower to push myself through a 50+ hour grindfest laced with aggravating puzzle-platforming. If you are young, or young at heart, you’ll find a lot to like about this game, but if you’re a busy adult who doesn’t like long, difficult games, CrossCode asks a lot of your time and patience.
My friends give me a hard time since I find fairly mundane tasks to be relaxing. I was well suited to this title as this game is filled with the repetitive job of survival. You harvest items, cut down trees, build shelter. A storm comes through and blows your shelter down. You build it again. You run out of a needed resource, and can’t figure out how to progress, so you reset and try again. Fail better next time. How much play and enjoyment you get out of this game depends on how appealing that sort of strategy of survival scenario sounds to you. Personally, once I got around the slightly frustrating learning curve, I’ve found this game to be excellent to play while listening to podcasts, or a TV show you’re only half watching. I suspect for most people it will be one to only grab on sale, as your mileage may vary on how interesting you find it.
I am enjoying my time in Mineral Town. The game is charming, the characters feel real and who can resist those round cute chickens and cows? No doubt this game will bring many happy memories to gamers who started their gaming life playing this game on their GBA. If, like me, you have never played it before, you can expect a good farming sim on the Switch. It doesn’t have the building aspect of later Story of Seasons games and if you are a Stardew Valley fan, you may find it too light hearted. But Friends of Mineral Town is a good Story of Seasons entry with heaps of nostalgia to boot.
It is this moment of realisation that led me to my current opinion of Pokémon Café Mix. Forcing an adult player into the position detailed above is one thing. But when the game is rated as E for everyone the design choice begins to feel rather unethical. Even after restarting the game and forcing Munchlax into café servitude I found my enjoyment of the game had evaporated. Whilst you may find that the initial stages of the game fill you with joy and happiness. Much like that double espresso shot, the dizzying highs will soon be followed by the inevitable crash. My advice; grab a copy of Tetris and sip some water instead.
Despite some noticeable performance issues, utterly frustrating controls at times, and sometimes ridiculously hard sections, I actually found Biped an enjoyable game. I wouldn’t recommend it for a young audience though; it’s too demoralising, as just holding a direction for a fraction of a second too long or sometimes even the game itself flinging you too far off a ramp can mean death. It’s cute, quirky, and I love the idea, but it needs some tweaks and polishing before I’d go back and try for the optional challenges.
The Forgotten Land is an enjoyable game, though there isn’t anything new as such in the gameplay that we haven’t seen before. However, that does not make it a bad game by any means, sometimes staying with a tried and tested formula is a good way to go. I liked the variety of different games, such as the card game that I wasn’t expecting to play in a match 3/strategy game, and I think it was a great idea to include them to break up the play a little and stop the dreaded repetitive feeling setting in that can happen in other games of this genre.
I couldn’t help dream about what this game could be. With the fun gameplay, the jet packs and swimming in water I pinned for a full blow 3D platformer with a bigger story and massive worlds to explore. Unfortunately game development is very expensive and the development team here clearly put a lot of passion into this project with limited resources. One hopes this game is a stepping stone to bigger projects down the road. Staring otters still – of course. The Otterman Empire will not be everyone’s cup of tea/coffee. If you’re able to look past some rough textures and gameplay hiccups there’s something quite special here to enjoy alone or with some friends. It has one major accolade to its name – its easily the best otter game available on Switch!