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To say that Freedom Planet was worth the wait would be a massive understatement. I’m so glad I finally got a chance to get into this wonderful game on my Nintendo Switch. Not only does it play well, it is full of colorful SNES inspired visuals and has a pumping soundtrack that makes every stage fresh. It’s fun to play on the go or at home, and in many ways I feel it’s better than some of the games which inspired it. While it does get a bit difficult at times, it’s nothing most gamers can’t push through with a little patience. GalaxyTrail has done a fantastic job, and I can’t wait for the sequel. If you enjoy classic platformers with tons of style and substance, look no further than Freedom Planet.
All in all, I felt Code of Princess EX was a big improvement over the 3DS game of years ago. The improved graphics and framerate really make this feel like a different game and there is plenty of content there to keep you bashing enemies for hours. I think my biggest problem with this title is still the same though. The combat just feels really stiff at times and the CPU controlled opponents always seem to have an edge in hitting you before you can strike them. Some may think this one is a bit overpriced at the $49.99 for the physical edition, but I have to tell you, Nicalis put a lot of love into it. It comes with reversible cover art, full color manual and a mini OST, so I feel like it is well worth the price. This game is by no means a bad game, but I still feel like it could use more polish. I really hope Nicalis decides to make a full on sequel to this. Based on how much better this is than the original, that would be something to behold. It took about 6 hours to complete the main quest and I spent a ton of time messing around with the characters I unlocked in the other modes. If you didn’t like the original release, there is nothing here that will change your mind. However, If you loved this on the 3DS or are a hard core fan of beat-em-ups, then it would be well worth picking up.
In the end, I don’t know if the bomb or chicken came first, and I don’t care. They are delightful when mixed together, and Bomb Chicken is a true gem. It’s a colorful and challenging game that is full of personality, and it’s truly a one of a kind. It plays marvelously on the Nintendo Switch, and is a good contender for one of the best indies I’ve played in 2018. Nitrome have done great work with this one, and I find myself eagerly anticipating whatever they hatch next.
So, I ended up really glad that I took the time to go through this game, and a lot of time it was. By the time I finished the True Ending I was just shy of 110 hours of gameplay. That is before I’ve even gone back and done entirely optional things like finishing all the Side Quests and getting H’aanit a full compliment of super rare boss summons. Is it worth the full price of a new game, $59.99? Even with the retro style graphics, that is without a question the case. Not only is there many hours of great gameplay, but there is actually quite a bit of innovation in combat that makes this not just an exercise in nostalgia. Not only does this game restore some of the faith I had in the developer/publisher, but it also makes me care a little less that Kingdom Hearts is not really for me and perhaps Final Fantasy XVI won’t be either. I now have Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest as my staple franchises from this company, and that is enough to keep me happy. Bring on a sequel, now it will be a game that I pre-order the moment it’s announced.
Overall, Super Skull Smash Go! 2 Turbo was a relatively dull experience. The game, even when 100%ing it, is only about one hour and a half long. For the asking price of $9.99, it’s best to wait for a significant price drop on Steam or PSN. The game is a platformer but not truly a puzzle platformer as advertised to be. Not a bad game, but it could’ve been expanded on more interesting puzzle elements and ideas. Hopefully, TACS Games can learn from this and improve any future titles they develop.
7’scarlet is a game that tries to be a murder mystery and otome game, but doesn’t always succeed at both to sustain a flowing narrative. However, the male protagonists, despite the tropes, are charming and even the supporting characters help add to the story. The moments that really deliver are accentuated by the ambient soundtrack. In this case, the highs outweigh the lows when it comes to 7’scarlet. I must have spent over 20 hours with the game, but I do not regret it. 7’scarlet is available now on PlayStation Vita, physically and digitally, for $39.99.
Overall, Rainbow Skies is great if you want something to play in short bursts every now and again, but I wouldn’t expect anything special. It’s an average game that’s very grind-heavy and has a lot of fluff. But if you have 80+ hours to kill, you’d probably have at least a pretty decent time. I just wouldn’t recommend binging it.
For $19.99, you could certainly do much worse than Chasm. While I don’t feel it entirely lived up to my expectations, it does a lot of things right, and looks and plays quite well. Unfortunately, the decision to make it rogue and the lack of a developed main character prevents it from making its mark as a true Metroidvania classic. But if you enjoy Metroidvanias and are looking for a fun if flawed experience, you should give Chasm a chance. If nothing else, the highlights of this game makes me anticipate whatever project Bit Kid does next.
The music is really catchy and features a lot of techno songs that change about every eight or nine levels. If you press triangle at the main menu you can actually toggle between three versions of the OST, some including music from Tempest 2000. Other than that, there really isn’t much else to say about Tempest 4000. There is a lot of fun to be had with the game, however your mileage will vary on how much you like playing this kind of game. If you are the type to play it through over and over again to achieve that high score or compete in online leaderboards, this game is more than worth it and you can add half a star to the score. For everyone else however, the $30 price tag may seem a bit steep considering the relatively low amount of content.
For $7.99 Quad Fighter K is an interesting title. I can appreciate the unique approach to the genre but it needs more polish. If you like old school shoot-em-ups and find this intriguing, I’d say give it a shot. Keep in mind though that the nature of the four-player gameplay makes for a chaotic playthrough that is equally as impressive as it is frustrating. It might make for a fun game to play with friends however if you plan on tackling this solo, I have nothing to say other than “Good Luck!”
I have to say for the $8.99 price tag on the PS4 the game may not have the deepest gameplay, but certainly has a lot of content. In addition to the story missions, there is an Endless Mode and Boss Raid Mode you can test your button mashing skills in. While I don’t think Chicken Assassin: Reloaded is for everyone, if you have a crazy sense of humor, like clicker games or just want a cheap time waster you could do a lot worse for the asking price here.
All in all while I can’t say Mushroom Wars 2 changed my mind about the genre, it’s certainly a great game for fans of it. There is a ton of content here and the multiplayer is robust and a ton of fun. I had a little issue with the controls here, but I feel that was mostly me being used to RTS games on a PC rather than a console. If you’re not a fan of this genre, you should probably avoid this one, but fans should certainly look into picking this one up at the $19.99 price tag. You will get a lot of bang for your buck.
In the end, Last Encounter is an alright game. It isn’t bad, not exactly great, but it does what it sets out to do decently enough. If the game’s sense of scaling were better, this would be a better title for sure. Exordium Games however do provide weekly patches to the game, so it should be noted that a couple of scaling issues could be addressed by the time of this writing. For about $15, I would advise waiting for a price drop but otherwise this is still a decent purchase. I played about three and a half hours with seven runs, with the first surprisingly good in hindsight. The game can be fun at points but also relatively annoying at others. It merely depends on if one can get a couple friends and just casually enjoy the game for what it is.
Overall, I’m somewhat torn about Sleep Tight. There are things I legitimately enjoyed about the game. It had all the elements it needed to truly be a great new indie hit, but I feel the execution was flawed. I consider myself a huge fan of twin-stick shooters, and as such it’s not a great sign that I started to get a bit bored about five hours in. If it had found a way to have more variety and more of a sense of constantly unlocking content, I feel it would have fared better. As it is now, I can only really recommend it to hardcore fans of twin-stick and tower defense games. Here’s hoping We Are Fuzzy manage to tweak the game after the fact to round things out and add more content. Until that happens though, you might want to consider getting it while on sale.
I have to say my time with Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded has been a pure joy. I love the stories and characters. The music is fantastic, and could be my favorite of the console Touhou games I’ve played. Gameplay here is fun, simple and challenging but fair. The amount of content here makes it well worth the $49.99 price tag. PlayStation 4 users can load their save from the previous version to carry over story progress, bestiary, and equipment. This means those folks jump straight into the new content. This is a must own title for Touhou fans. The amount of fan service to the franchise is huge and done in the best way possible. Rogue-like fans will have a blast with this one as well. This is one of the best game’s I’ve played this year and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone!
The only part of Pocket Rumble that might frustrate is the unexpected level of cruelty for newcomers out of the gate. The smooth online play should be varied and level at least. With a friend, Pocket Rumble makes for quick, accessible fun and another feather in the Switch’s giant cap of local multiplayer games. Cardboard Robot has constructed a fighting game as simple and advanced as players want it to be. After an agonizing year-and-a-half wait from announcement to release, Pocket Rumble‘s belated arrival on Switch was worth waiting for.
The Lost Child isn’t bad game, but I don’t really think I would call it a great game either. This one is very middle of the road and basic. I did have fun collecting all the different types of enemies, and the story is kinda interesting. There is really just nothing here that makes this one stand out. You’ll get a solid 40 hours of gameplay here and a bonus 100 level dungeon after completing the story. If you’re a fan of Dungeon Crawlers and you need to scratch that itch this would probably get the job done at its $49.99 price tag. Just go don’t go into it expecting the next evolution of the genre.
Figment is the purest definition of “sleeper hit”. It was quietly announced for Switch a year ago and made its way out on all platforms last month, launching in a sea of quality goodness that has become the Switch’s weekly shtick. While Figment is short but sweet, the only bring-downs on offer are its lengthy load times, sometimes interminable puzzles, and a $20 price point that might be a touch too much for the run time. If you’re interested in taking a solid adventure with likable characters and a colorful style, Figment is a good fit for your action adventure indie needs.
Don’t let that last statement deter you though, as I still adore this game. The story and characters are wonderful, and the music is absolutely breathtaking. Normally with games like this you only get about three to four hours of gameplay, but this game managed to rack up a full seven hours for me to beat. I still have the urge to go back and play it again just to get the other 14 or so achievements that I missed. At $19.99 this game is a must buy for anyone who loves a good story with some dark and soul-crushing undertones.
Lost in Harmony is a charming game that is perfect for newbies and long-time players of rhythm games. The music fits the mood of both stories. However, with its limited amount of unlockables and levels in general, you will probably finish the game in a few hours. That might not be a bad thing for its $6.99 price tag on the Nintendo Switch. Lost in Harmony is now available on Nintendo Switch and PC. Though with its short and mobility focused nature, I highly recommend checking the game on on either Nintendo Switch or mobile devices.