DayOne's Reviews
ReStory is a chill repair shoppe simulator. It’s got a fairly accurate representation of how devices are actually repaired pat down, accompanied a pleasant visual style and a strange little story that moves along as you build up your corner store. Perfect for the dood that loves making old hardware talk or someone who just wants to get through their audiobooks but has the attention span of a cat sitting near a laser pointer and a box of treats. ∎
This starting point for Mistfall Hunter is very strong. A satisfying and addictive gameplay loop, interesting combat and a visually striking dark fantasy world make this an exciting multipler/co-op experience already, and I’m curious to see how it evolves from here.
Whether you grew up on the classic King’s Field games, no matter how many hours you put into soulslike games, and even if you find these formulas incredibly difficult and punishing – Verho – Curse of Faces is worth your time and attention. A dark adventure full of secrets, well designed levels, with immaculate retro vibes and an interesting lore and campaign that doesn’t overstay its welcome and doesn’t overly punish newcomers either. It may be somewhat derivative when looking at the source material, and yet, I’ve found this a fascinating journey all in all that I would recommend to anyone looking for an RPG that’s very much unlike what modern gaming tends to be.
Beast of Reincarnation is a game of incredible highs and frustrating lows. Stilted dialogue mars competent voice acting, with bland city designs matched to incredible music remind me of Nier: Automata. The combat is fast, fluid, and feels fantastic. It is a wildly varying package when it comes to quality, and despite it all, I adored my time playing it. It is an experience few character action fans, with a ton of patience, should miss.
Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is a short burst arcade insanity with a crazy premise, an addictive gameplay loop and an infectious humor. It may feel a little aimless after a while, and the game’s depth and variety are a little lacking, yet I’ve had a legitimate blast running through the just over 3 hours long campaign. Ever fantasized about isekai-ing a young marketing VP into a fantasy RPG world while doing deliveries in an acrobatic truck? No? Well, you still should give Truck-kun a go, especially if crazy arcade classics like Crazy Taxi are your jam.
It may lack the depth or variety of some of the bests out there, but Shard Squad is a fairly unique take on the crowded bullet heaven genre. Having to evolve and create synergies between creatures, and even being able to combine said abilities in co-op, makes for an addictive and fun experience, with more than enough content to enjoy over plenty of hours. Sure it’s a bit repetitive and grindy, but I’ve also found it to be an excellent timewaster and a perfectly enjoyable survivors-like if you, like me, can’t get enough of this formula.
Gust’s games have improved significantly since this series’ inception—and while BLUE REFLECTION Quartet features games that aren’t particularly imaginative—those that enjoy good character stories, magical girls, and decent combat systems will find themselves home here in this hefty collection of RPGs. ∎
The King is Watching is a solid mix of relaxing tower defense and intense battles. While the runs can last a bit too long at times, the game's excellent music and fun gameplay kept me going for 20+ hours without issue.
Dystopicon’s portrayal of a collapsing authoritarian and fascist regime comes off as absurd, but the mechanisms within the presentation are far from any jest. It’s freaky and almost terrifying—even its gameplay will convince you, on occasion, to enter the Sarco pod just to get away from the TV once and for all. ∎
Twenty-five years on, Halo: Combat Evolved remains one of the greatest first-person shooters ever made and Halo Studios celebrates that legacy with a surprisingly deft hand. Halo: Campaign Evolved feels less like a remake and more like a love letter, not only to Bungie‘s original vision, but to the millions of players who first set foot on the ring all those years ago. I sincerely hope they make more.
While perhaps lacking in its multiplayer promises, there is plenty of potential and a good few hours of spooky fun to be had, even for solo players, and it has plenty of fun for fans of…less elevated horror.
Cultic is deliberately not as fast-paced and chaotic as some of the most beloved 90’s classics, and it plays into that angle with an excellent horror aesthetic, marvelous level designs, interesting puzzles and a combat that requires some reasoning, not just fast fingers on the trigger. It’s probably not for everyone, but if it scratches the right itch for you, it can be a stellar shooter.
Through RNG chaos and a simple yet fun card system does Culdcept BEGINS come out as a fantastic board game for players of all ages. Try not to get too mad! ∎
Denshattack! combines Tony Hawk with Japanese-inspired stylings in a fun-as-hell romp across a future version of the country. You'll race gangs, corporations, and even fate itself as a little engine that could, thanks to the power of friendship, rainbow tracks, and a (sometimes overwhelming) variety of gameplay mechanics.
An atmospheric setting, great audio and visual design, and some amusing and occasionally unnerving cosmic horror have resulted in a unique spin on the extraction genre. For those that vibe with it, it’ll probably provide many hours of fun, with lots to do as players solve mysteries, and seek out the mysterious ‘mound’ and what lies beyond – even if the gameplay loop starts to become a bit repetitive.
D-topia has some great ideas, asks some big questions and narratively pushes the player to make some interesting choices that – in spite of the deceptively cozy artstyle – get surprisingly dark. While there are solid ideas and elements, D-topia became like a chore I had to complete, and as with any structured routine we’re forced to endure, I couldn’t help but start daydreaming about doing anything else.
Pathogenic is a fantastic roguelite twin-stick shooter with gameplay chops to match its wonderfully slimy, fleshy aesthetic, and should provide hours of enjoyment for anyone with even a vague interest in the genre. Fingers crossed it comes to consoles soon, because this is one virus everyone should want to catch.
A fantastic game gets that much better. A heartfelt, brilliantly written DLC touches on the cost of progress vs. our own sense of humanity.
Kaz is a fantastic example of smart game design. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and the result is a wonderfully crafted, and extremely rewarding dopamine delivery of a game. Underneath that deceptively simple design lies an addictive and gorgeous indie gem that just feels great to play. With a ‘just one more go’ attitude, Kaz is easy to pick up, hard to master, and is an easy recommendation for anyone with a keyboard to hand.
Ascend to Zero brings some of my favorite elements to the roguelite genre. Its late-game focus on gear sets adds one last unique element to a fun, great-sounding, surprisingly deep Survivors-like.