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Impaler is one of this year’s underrated gems in the retro shooter category. The mix of old-school Doom with a hint of roguelike mechanics is a perfect recipe for gamers to hop in for a quick shooting session. I just wish they would add more content in the future, but it’s also understandable if they don’t.
Destroy All Humans 2 is a fun game you can play with no trouble and immediately feel like an endgame character of other open-world games. A forgettable story, but fun mechanics warrant a visit to a strange new world.
The Chenso Club ticks the right boxes for an action roguelike 2D platformer. The game is challenging, which is a must for roguelike games. The game will babysit you for the first few chapters, but you are on your own for the rest of the game. The controls have a bit of a hiccup and could have been better, but it is not bad. The gameplay, visuals, audio, and story outweigh the problems I encountered.
Saints Row is a return to form, and some of the most fun I’ve had in an open world in a while. It manages to strike a good balance between the wackiness of previous entries with grounded combat mechanics, and tone. The Boss is hilarious as ever, and a true murder machine completely loyal to their friends through thick and thin. It’s bogged down by a number of bugs that take you out of the experience and uneven presentation with dated elements and plenty of pop-in. Despite these issues, it manages to remain true to its roots with smart additions to the series’ open-world formula.
Hindsight tells a deeply personal story and explores the relationship between a woman, and her mother with brutal honesty. Its strong storytelling is brought down by bland gameplay, and an uneven presentation, but largely feels well executed. It’s certainly worth going through, and the level of self-reflection serves as one of the better narrative-driven games out there.
Retreat To Enen is a relaxing take on the survival genre with an immersive atmosphere and captivating level design. In fact, this game looks more suited for VR rather than for normal PC gaming alone. If you’re a seasoned gamer who’s immersed in the Survival genre then it might take time for you to appreciate what Retreat to Enen has to offer but if you’re a casual gamer then this might be your cup of tea.
Bright Memory: Infinite Platinum Edition is a great game. I loved the time I spent in the combat, but the story was flat, there was no reason for me to get invested in the world as you’re just thrown into sheer chaos with no build-up or any reason to care. However, the game has some very solid combat mechanics that utilizes the 3 things gamers love – guns, swords, and a robotic arm. Adding in a few advanced elements to the game like a dash attack to dodge attacks and a parry system, the game is able to hold its own ground with great admiration.
Starship Troopers: Terran Command is an engaging RTS game with a sprinkle of nostalgia. It mimics the Starship universe perfectly while capturing the vibes of early 2000s games. The game has striking visuals that are distinct compared to its competitors. It is a little bit challenging for those who are unfamiliar with the RTS genre though. Microing is an essential skill but it is easy to get used to after an hour or two of playing.
Kao the Kangaroo is a decent offering. While the Kangaroo still has to earn his spot next to the much-beloved Bandicoot or the dwarf dragon in our hearts, the recent revival of Kao, paired with the unlikeliness of us ever getting another Spyro or Crash game in the future makes the marsupial an offering for fans who are looking to scratch that platformer itch. The forced insertion of associating everything with Australian culture, inconsistent and sometimes infuriating gameplay and the very weak story are only a few of the complaints I have, but if you are a fan of platformer adventure titles, and can turn your brain off at certain parts and just enjoy the game as a videogame, there is some fun to be had here.
That’s Floppy Knights, is a good game with a solid foundation for its deckbuilding mechanics, and everything ties nicely with each other. From the joyful graphics to the melodic sound design and its snappy gameplay. It’s not a revolutionizing game by any means, but it’s still a solid game nonetheless.
Trek to Yomi is a stunning game, that goes above and beyond to pay homage to one of cinema’s greatest. It doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutality of war and each frame is full of details to create a grounded, and beautiful world. Despite its impeccable presentation, Trek to Yomi’s combat, and uneven boss fights get in the way of true greatness. It’s still worth experiencing for its visuals, and audio alone, with some caveats attached when it comes to gameplay.
With plenty of characters to choose from, a good variety of biomes, and different combat platform mechanics, B.I.O.T.A. gives a great modern remake to retro gaming
A Memoir Blue is a memorable narrative adventure that takes players on a very personal journey through time. Its combination of 3D models, with hand-drawn animations, creates a fascinating world rich with dense atmosphere and touching moments. The lack of gameplay variety is disappointing, but enough interactivity keeps you engaged through its short runtime. Miriam’s relationship with her child-self, and mother is explored beautifully without any need for dialogue or exposition.
The game has stunning visuals and a great storyline but the janky camera, limited control options, visuals, and audio hold it back from getting a perfect score. If you are interested in air battles, movement, and a great story, then go ahead and punch your way in Aztech Forgotten Gods.
There are tons of strategies in Hero’s Hour and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. I really enjoy watching armies battle it out despite its steep learning curve at the beginning. But you’ll get the hang of it after hours of playing it. This is one of those games that I can plug in during my streams if I just want to chill and play some solo strategy. I would consider getting this for my phone, to be honest. If the devs can figure out how to port this on mobile, with the right attention, I can see it perform well in the long term.
Pants Quest tells a fairly honest story about anxiety, procrastination, and the feeling of being stuck in your life. It suffers when it comes to gameplay due to some tedium, but manages to provide a worthwhile experience without overstaying its welcome. The pixel-art is gorgeous, and there’s a lot to like when it comes to environmental interaction.
Buildings Have Feelings Too has been a long time in the making, and it shows. Besides a few hiccups here and there, the game is absolutely charming. Blackstaff Games put a lot of love into this one. I thoroughly enjoyed Buildings Have Feelings Too, but the game was not able to maintain the fun as long as I’d hoped. It’s a fun game that will appeal to more than just hardcore city management sim fans. However, it had to sacrifice a bit of what makes the sim genre playable for weeks on end.
Tracks: The Train Set Game is the type of game that directly speaks to those who would appreciate it. The endless possibilities and extremely chill vibe go hand in hand in making your ride enjoyable all the way to the end. A few bumps will come along the way due to awkward controls, but otherwise, you’ll reach your destination comfortably.
Hundred Days Winemaking Simulation is a great game that was sabotaged last minute by a weird addition. I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and I consider it one of the best and most unique simulation experiences I’ve had in a while. It is absolutely mind-boggling why these cutscenes and dialogues made their way into the game. But, did they ruin the experience? Absolutely not, they just brought the tannin levels a few points up.
At the first glance I had at this game, I was absolutely floored. I thought I will be going back to write only praise in this Retro Machina review. However, I may have judged it too soon. The gorgeous visuals, creative puzzles, and engaging plot make for a great game; however, combat and exploration make the good moments few and far between. Retro Machina is still worth playing because the good parts are really good. If you’re quickly frustrated you should look elsewhere. But, If you are a fan of the genre, you’ll be able to still enjoy the gems beneath the thick layer of clunk.