Gameffine's Reviews
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.
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.
Let’s School is a fun and engaging video game that allows players to experience the joys and challenges of running a school. However, given limitations and the given genre, it may not live up to most people’s expectations. Still, considering its fair pricing model and a free demo, it is worth trying out.
The Invincible does a great job of establishing its retro-themed space journey that feels surreal. It follows a strong premise that feels original and unique. However, it is plagued by its repetitive campaign activities, tiresome exploration, and technical issues. If you are looking for a space-faring experience, this might just be your next pick. Just be mindful of a sale.
TT Isle of Man: Ride on The Edge 3 is a nerve-wracking high-speed, precision-based superbike racing game set on the actual tournaments of Traveller trophy at the Isle of Man. The accuracy of the physics and the newly introduced teams and liveries are a plus, but the disappointing graphics and lack of more content take a few points away.
While Red Dead Redemption is a spectacular masterpiece on its own, its PlayStation 4 port hardly brings anything new to the table with a steep price tag of its own. While it’s a huge missed opportunity after a decade-long wait, it’s nice that more modern systems besides Xbox consoles can finally play this piece of art. As for the recommendation, you should pick this up while it is on sale or wait for the possible PC and PS5 ports that may hit the stores next year.
Tchia is definitely a game worth checking out if you are looking for an open-world adventure that offers freedom, fun, and diversity. It celebrates New Caledonian culture and showcases its rich history, folklore, and traditions. However, it is also a bit too ambitious for its own good. It's overwhelmingly cluttered map size and navigation system may be frustrating at times. Despite its simplistic visuals, it is capped at a low frame rate of 30 fps on PS5 and is riddled with quite a few technical glitches. Still, the fact that the game comes free with the Playstation Plus Extra makes it a must-try for folks who love a calm pacific adventure.
Despite Scars Above’s stellar visual presentation and challenging combat, it suffers from lackluster story-telling and repetitive gameplay. Thankfully it does manage to redeem itself to some extent by effectively blending its exploration with combat and puzzle-solving even though it may get frustrating at times. If you like titles like Dead Space, Returnal, or Control, it may be worth checking out. But considering its inconsistent animations and glitches, it’s best to wait for a sale on this one.
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!
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is an appreciable attempt from a small team of devs who are well-versed in its legacy. Huge character variety, Tag system and the Roguelite elements are welcome additions to the long-stagnant IP, and it can be a genuinely fun game at times. However, it does not always hit the right notes. A criminally short campaign, the lack of additional gameplay modes and the TBA online co-op makes it a tough sell when SoR and TMNT have offer so much more at a cheaper price point. If I were you, I’d wait for some content updates before taking the plunge.
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.
The Thaumaturge is a curious experiment with an unexplored setting and a unique take on the classic turn-based combat. Fool's Theory has struck gold on the former thanks to an interesting story, rich worldbuilding, and a colorful cast of characters. However, the combat system is severely underutilized and left me wanting more. The same can be said for the investigative part of the gameplay as well. That being said, It'd be a lie if I said I didn't have fun within the said constraints. As a purveyor of Eurojank, there is a certain allure to the game that I couldn't resist. That doesn't mean you'll enjoy the game as much as I did. The Thaumaturge could have easily been one of the best RPGs of the year if it had more to offer in the gameplay department.
While it may appear as a Hotline Miami clone, OTXO does enough things to set itself apart. Satisfying gunplay, an assortment of random upgrades and an alluring art design combined with great music makes it worth playing. However, since Steam is filled with some standout indie games, $13.49 seems a bit too steep for a standard Roguelite. If you feel like that is the case, wait for a sale on this one.
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.
The hours I spent in Dragon’s Dogma 2 were filled with spectacular highs and frustrating lows. When the game gets going, it really gets going, before suddenly coming to a screeching halt. While I still look back to the 5 days I spent with the game with fondness and admiration towards Itsunos’ craft, the game’s poor performance coupled with Capcom’s less-than-ideal monetization practices and the underwhelming endgame tarnished my experience to a degree. Let’s just hope that Dragon’s Dogma 2’s upcoming expansion rectifies its many shortcomings. May it prove to be another Dark Arisen.
Jusant offers a therapeutic and heart-warming narrative about hope, struggle, reclamation and beginning anew conveyed through immersive and non-disruptive gameplay moments. The core gameplay is simple and fun thanks to the fluid controls and well-made animations. The lack of any sort of challenge and extremely basic puzzles does affect the catharsis, but Jusant is more than the sum of its parts and has enough substance, making it the perfect Gamepass material.
Kona II: Brume notably improves on its predecessor with a more nuanced take on its narrative, interactivity, visuals, and survival elements. If you are into titles like Green Hell, Sons of the Forest, or The Forest, or even the earlier Frictional products, the game is definitely worth checking out. As for newcomers, it can prove to be quite a daunting task to get into Kona II.
Pizza Possum is a well-crafted bite-sized game that largely succeeds in what it sets out to do- a stressbuster that you can play solo or with your spouse or kids in short bursts. Cute visuals, goofy sound effects, smooth animations, and a simple but engaging gameplay loop make this one a winner. Oh, and it’s reasonably priced too. The addition of more content will ensure that Pizza Possum gets more recognition than it does right now.
Regardless of how different Outcast: A New Beginning might have tuned out; it’d never have upped the original classic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing considering how far video games have come since Cutter Slade initially graced our screens. A New Beginning fully embraces its B-movie vibes to deliver a fun if somewhat basic gameplay loop devoid of many of the modern open-world bloat. However, THQ Nordic dropped the ball when it came to the pricing of the game. Slash the price by 20 dollars and there’s a pretty fun experience to be had here.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden tells a compelling, emotionally charged story that's supported by a layered cast of characters and great performances. It does stumble a bit when it comes to combat and encounter design and the awful lip-syncing does undermine the otherwise stellar voice acting. But if you're someone used to AA experiences, the pros far outweigh the cons. For $49.99, you're getting a well-written, lengthy single-player campaign with a slew of engaging side content that may take you anywhere from 25-50 hours to knock off.