Gameffine's Reviews
At a time when big IPs with millions upon millions of dollars in backing fail to deliver, Conscript is an inspired yet fresh take on the classic Survival Horror formula. Its old-school sensibilities might turn off some players, but Jordan Mochi's grounded take on WW1 is slated to become a favorite for fans of the genre. Conscript is ugly...and all the better for it.
Stolen Hearts: Wolf Knight successfully captures the essence of classic precision platformers while adding its unique twists. The combination of tight controls, challenging levels, and rewarding exploration creates an experience that is both nostalgic and fresh. The game’s difficulty may be daunting for some, but those who embrace the challenge will find a deeply satisfying adventure.
With Anger Foot, Free Lives has made a unique, memorable, and above all else, a “fun” video game. It’s another testament to Devolver’s passion for publishing original, eccentric, and creative indie games. Moreover, it’s got great regional pricing on top of its replayable nature. Anger Foot— featuring feet so fine you’d think Tarantino designed them.
Rakugaki (RKGK) is a brilliantly crafted game that doesn’t hold back in showing its creativity through art. However, the game falls flat mechanically. The plot setting is engaging enough for you to give the game a shot fueled with really good storytelling. But the art style is guaranteed to blow your mind.
Tales of Kenzera ZAU is a brilliant platformer adventure game that is visually appealing and backed by a solid storyline with heart-touching voiceovers. The game is not free of bugs, and may not excite you in terms of progression, but the exploration will keep you hooked. If you’re a platformer aficionado, ZAU is the right pick for you!
Fabledom is a city-building game that borrows heavily from the positive points of previous AAA games yet has its own unique twist and setting to make it stand alone. The game offers some fantastic city-building mechanics to players who are new to the genre, and some well-deserved nostalgia for older fans.
Terra Memoria epitomizes the core appeal of RPGs. The narrative is functional yet captivating, the characters are charming, and the world is intricately crafted. Although the combat might seem monotonous to some, and the third act appears somewhat hurried, the total experience is highly rewarding for RPG enthusiasts.
Mullet Madjack is a breakneck action package that never ceases to impress. Despite being quite challenging, it never stoops to the point of being unfair or frustrating. I would have loved to see more levels, more upgrades and more boss fights, but what’s on offer here is extremely captivating. Plus, the regional pricing is pretty reasonable as well.
The Rogue Prince of Persia drops our beloved Prince in the roguelike setting, bringing the familiar gameplay synonymous with the series to a bite-sized replayable experience. Currently, in early access, the game misses some bells and whistles but has a fun gameplay loop to bring you back. With the first big content update set to launch soon, we see nothing but greatness in the game’s future.
F1 24 is a top of the line game for the Formula 1 franchise. It does a brilliant job in being the first choice simulator experience for F1 races as well as F2. The game however doesn't do more than just the races itself and thus fails to deliver more to the people than the previous year release of the same game.
While Sony's poor regional pricing and its decision to delist the game from countries without a PSN presence warrant criticism, the excellent work done by Nixxes on Ghost of Tsushima's PC port should not be neglected. Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is a great port of an entertaining open-world title.
Pool Party is chaotic, well-polished, and easy to get into a party game. Making this game a good entry point for people who have not picked up a controller their entire lives. The mixture of game modes will keep you hooked through a session, but plain design will soon start boring you. Overall, the game does well for itself but is slightly higher priced for the bang it offers.
Truth be told, Saviorless will appeal to those who are willing to look beyond the simpleness of its gameplay and at the heart of gold buried within. However, for a majority of the gamers, it might be a slogfest with no appreciable outcome. If you’re into niche indie titles like GRIS, then Saviorless might be your cup of tea. That said, I do wish for this game to become a stepping stone for its development team so that they can produce better titles in the future.
Indika is a bold take on a memorable story that feels original to its core. Via unconventional story elements, it challenges players to question faith, authority, and the nature of good and evil. However, it struggles in gameplay due to uninspired puzzles which are partly redeemed by its sweet yet short 8-bit platformer sequences.
Ereban Shadow Legacy ambitiously attempts to juggle multiple elements and succeeds in most areas, yet it is ultimately hindered by its lack of refinement. With its prominent features, it leans more toward a 3D platformer rather than a game rooted in the Stealth genre. Nonetheless, its emphasis on level design and a variety of unique gameplay mechanics, despite a lackluster plot, renders it an enjoyable experience.
Stellar Blade is not just a great hack-and-slash game, it's a culmination of a great fashion designer's wardrobe and a 'souls-like' veteran's wildest fantasies. Thanks to its satisfying combat, varied enemy designs, and stellar presentation, it really lives up to its name despite some occasional hiccups involving lackluster platforming and repetitive side requests.
Phantom Fury needed more time in the oven. It’s certainly not that raw, but it’s not well-cooked either. Even if Slipgate Ironworks ‘irons out’ all the bugs, the game would still be an above-average FPS in a market dominated by nu-Boomer Shooters. Certainly not the sequel Voidpoint’s Shelly deserved.
Bulwark Falconeer Chronicles is a city-building game slightly different than the other ones of its genre. It tries to carve its own niche with in-depth world-building and a post-apocalyptic theme that blends very well with its various elements (like graphics and sound). Tomas Sala has created another masterpiece – one that deserves to be played by most people who are into strategy and/or simulation games.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth outshines its predecessor in every aspect by providing a vast world to explore, numerous mini-games to master, and an expansive story free of filler content. However, it falls short of replicating the emotional resonance of the original’s pivotal climax. Nevertheless, it excels in developing relationships, delving deeper into character exploration, and introducing new, unforgettable story elements.
I won’t deny that my anticipation for Broken Roads has affected my opinion of the finished product in one way or another. The idea of Broken Roads propagated by the mainstream press is a far cry from the game I played to completion. The game’s witty Aussie charm and gorgeous visuals are let down by its underwhelming narrative, static game world, and barebones combat mechanics. But, if you’re a newcomer to CRPGs, then Broken Roads may satiate your urge. Even then, my suggestion is to wait for the developers to clean up the remaining bugs.