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Kao the Kangaroo is certainly up there with the best of the 3D platforming world in terms of its core mechanics. The revival of the franchise from Tate Multimedia is a solid comeback, but for me, it just wasn’t challenging enough to become one of the more memorable games in the pile.
Endzone – A World Apart quickly established itself as one of my favourite strategy games on a console. The game comes as a breath of fresh air when the genre is quite limited in terms of selection and watered down options of other titles. I’ve poured in excess of 30 hours into this title within a week and I have barely scratched the surface and this is without engaging with any of the scenario options.
Ayo The Clown impressed me much more than I thought was possible. The game is mechanically solid and provides a stimulating challenge for gamers of all ages.
Colossus Down is a great addition to the beat’em up genre. Combat is solid, great attack variety and challenging, but fair, boss fights. While it does feel unfair and frustrating at times, having unlimited lives where you respawn where you died makes up for it, but in the long run, I can understand being annoyed in cases where enemies leave you no time to react until you explode. If you’re a fan of the genre, I say go for it. It’s a nice change of muscle-bound guys beating the living hell of each other.
Horned Knight is an overall fun, albeit short action platformer; not that difficult either. Sure you’ll die a few times, but you might get bored before you reach the end. Repetitive level design, little to no enemy variety, and questionable inconsistencies over the level design can amount to a boring experience.
So is RetroMania Wrestling worth it? Absolutely. As a now casual wrestling fan who steered clear of 2K’s messy WWE game (the last one I enjoyed was WWE RAW vs Smackdown 2007), I can finally say that there’s a good wrestling game on Xbox platforms!
I Saw Black Clouds is one of the most gripping live-action, cinematic interactive psychological thriller I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy. The story is really fun and interesting; it’s the type of “game” where you’ll want to view in one sitting because you want to see what’s next. Sure, the montage could’ve been a bit better, but once the awkward part is done, you’ll be back in. I definitely recommend I Saw Black Clouds.
While far from perfect, Sword of the Necromancer is a surprising gem that came out of nowhere. It has its charm and while not a fan of the genre, the Zelda mixed with rogue-like works; short levels make it work, and the fact that you can disable some of the rogue elements gives the game a chance to reach a broader audience beyond those who love the rogue genre. Sure combat isn’t perfect and there’s a bit of repetition, but if you’re looking for a classic Zelda clone on Xbox, albeit a bit shorter, you can’t go wrong here.
As I said, it feels like Beyond Enemy Lines Remastered is a very early demo of an upcoming game or a direct port of a 2000 PC game. While relying on stealth for the genre, given the game’s very limited and barebone visuals can sometimes make it difficult to spot enemies before they spot you; which kinda screws up of chances for being stealthy. Fans of Hitman might find some redeemable qualities here, despite the limited arsenal, but fans of action-packed FPS games really should stay clear from this Microsoft Paint look-a-like game.
Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe is definitely one of the best games to release on Xbox consoles this year. They’re both fun, addictive, albeit difficult games with enough replay value to keep you busy for quite some time. Both games, while similar, have enough differences to feel like two different games. Hidden characters, collectable letters, upgrades, Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe is the first perfect score from me this year. Don’t miss out.
If you’re looking for a definitely unique experience with a bevy of gameplay variety, 3 Out Of 10 Season One is your game. The five episodes feature a lot of different gameplay from various genres; most of them actually enjoyable; albeit not perfectly executed. However, if you’re looking for a sitcom game, this ain’t chief. You’re best to boot up a streaming service and hunt down proper sitcoms as there aren’t much laughs to be found here.
Here’s where I had to come to terms with myself – I am, simply put, not very good at these sorts of games. I am many things in life: precise under pressure is not normally one of my stronger attributes. I could practice and “git gud”. Experience that sweet sense of accomplishment of overcoming a challenge. But I also had to be honest with myself. I have adult responsibilities and couldn’t dedicate that time to it.
Overall Shing! is a fun addition to the beat’em up genre. While it does lack a bit of depth and feels a bit too simplistic, its unique combat mechanic makes it stand out from the rest despite being unnecessary and lazy in some aspects of the game. With its challenging boss and unique levels, fans of the genre should definitely look this one up.
Given the vast variety of FPS games available now, Serious Sam Collection is a definite pass. The first two games have not aged well thanks to boring, monotone gameplay, confusing navigation. Additionally, the insanely pitch-black areas make it a frustrating romp as you can easily get lost. While Serious Sam 3 BFG is the best of the worst, it’s not worth the £24.99 price tag by its lonesome.
I can understand that Shantae: Risky’s Revenge Director’s Cut is an upgrade of a nearly 20-year-old game, but if you play this after Shantae and the Seven Sirens, you’ll have a hard time enjoying this one. While the platforming is quite solid, the rest feels archaic; especially navigation which is can be confusing at times and frustrating as you waste time going around in circles. A must-play for those looking for a true-to-form old experience; otherwise, this is a pass.
Firework is an ok 2D platformer; feels like a template for what could be. The Mega Man X and Cave Story inspiration is clear as day, unfortunately, it doesn’t come up to the same level of quality, there’s something missing.
Re:Turn One Way Trip is one the most interesting and tense indie game I’ve had the opportunity to play. While I’m usually not a fan of combat-less horror games, Re:Turn One Way Trip is my exception to the rule; I couldn’t put it down.
Wonder Blade is a fun, albeit hard and button-mashy beat’em up. Frustrating boss battles and questionable detection aside, it’s easy to pick up and play, mixing melee attacks and magic to create fun combos and the lite RPG elements make it an interesting and lengthy game to tackle during the coming, drought-y months. If you’ve played Castle Crashers, this will feel very familiar; if not, this is definitely a must play.
As a whole, Towaga: Among Shadows is a unique and interesting 2D action game. It’s easy to pick up and play, yet it feels challenging despite its simple premise. It’s also one of the most unique looking and beautifully designed, visually, indie game.
If you’re a fan of platformers akin to the Donkey Kong Country trilogy or more recently Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, I highly recommend Jet Kave Adventure. It’s a fun and addictive platformer with minor nuisances such as the flat soundtrack and the non-platforming sequences sorta break the flow of the game and aren’t as enjoyable; borderline frustrating. Jet Kave Adventure is a must-play and will is currently an early favourite for my top 10 of 2021.