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Habroxia feels boring and tedious. It’s a shump where you’re tasked to killing all enemies but given how many hits they take, most of them will fly by instead of being turned into space trash. While I did enjoy the upgrade flexibility of buying/selling upgrades, but the slow pace, nearly unkillable enemies and highly underwhelming boss battles makes this an easy pass given the quality of other recent shmups.
Shoot 1UP DX is an addictive, bite-sized shmup that’s worth every penny. It’s easy to pick up and play, challenging and fun for gamers of all skills. Being able to control multiple ships at once bring a new layer of strategy. Also thanks to the various difficulty settings, branching paths and speed settings, the replay value is through the roof. Don’t miss it.
I, AI is a great entry in the shmup genre. While the genre can be daunting for its known high difficulty, I, AI feels like a perfect balance perfect overly hard and too easy; being able to upgrade your ship, and keep said upgrades even after dying, gives players a level playing field. Although some grinding might be required, it doesn’t feel like a chore. Fans of the genre will revel while being the perfect entry point for newcomers. Don’t miss this one.
Drunken Fist is definitely the worst game I’ve played in 2020. Due to the drunken state of your character, tank-like controls feel half-ass responsive and completely make a potentially playable game unnecessarily frustrating. Some detection issues along with tedious pacing make for a regrettable experience. Considering the quantity of better beat’em ups, this is an easy pass.
Truth be told, Stories Untold is an interesting, fun and well-thought-out concept which brings a different type of creepy to the gaming universe. The core problem is the point-and-click mechanic which doesn’t work all that well on consoles; I would recommend this to PC players as the mouse is perfect for point-and-click games, but it’s hard to recommend for console players unless you’re willing to test out your patience.
Switch ‘N’ Shoot is an interesting, single button, endless shump. It definitely offers an intricate challenge but lacks gameplay depth; you can’t hook players on looks alone. There’s no doubt the game will continuously pull you back in for “one more” round, but at the end of the day, this is the type of game that will tide you over until the next big one sinks its teeth into you.
Galacide is definitely a great and unique entry in the intense shmup genre as it mixes the typical formula and adding a layer of puzzle to add a layer of strategy. Fans of the genre will definitely revel in this unique game, while puzzle fans might be turned off by the shmup mechanic of it. More companies should take chances like this. Fans of shump or puzzle games should definitely give this game a try.
To be honest, if Slide Stars would be a more arcadey experience similar to SSX, it would’ve easily ended up on my top 10 of the year because it just screams big dumb fun. The physics-based control pretty much removes any brainless fun you could have as you constantly have to focus on the controls. Fans of Trials Fusion looking for something different might be interested, but if Ubisoft’s physics-based racer doesn’t do it for you, avoid Slide Stars.
Landflix Odyssey is one of the most jam-packed content indie games I’ve played in recent memory. While the core is a 2D action platformer, the fact that each chapter brings something different makes it feel like a bundle of five different games. While the game’s difficulty feels uneven through each “show” along with pain in the ass boss battles, the amount of content here makes up for it. It will test your patience and skills; there’s definitely a lot of bang for your buck here.
Panzer Dragoon Remake is definitely an interesting and fun on-rail shooter. The game looks and plays great but, unfortunately, given the game’s length, lack of gameplay depths, it’s difficult to recommend this game, especially with a $25(USD) price tag. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the Panzer Dragoon series or looking for a vastly different shump, I’d recommend waiting for a sale on this one.
Vampire’s Fall: Origins is surprisingly deep customization-wise, with a map wide enough to explore for quite some time and the combat itself is unique and interesting… when you get actually *in* combat that is. The lack of encounters will ensure frustration as you’ll constantly be underpowered and making grinding nigh-impossible. Otherwise, this is a pretty fun and addictive RPG. This is definitely a surprise gem for me this year. RPG fans, do not miss out.
Clea is an interesting game as a whole; it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Controls feel a bit loose and there’s a definite lack of scares as you’re being hunted down the halls of the Whitlock Mansion. If you’re looking for a bite-sized experience, Clea is sure to fill that void.
Bright Memory is an awesome achievement given it was developed by a one-man studio. It looks impressive, plays smoothly and is action-packed. While using well-known gameplay mechanics, it still somehow feels new and refreshing. While overall great, it does have its flaws. Character movement feels very slow making some sub-boss battles harder than they should. After playing this, I’m excited to get my hands on the complete Bright Memory Infinite project currently slated for next year.
Despite its auto-run mechanic, Kid Tripp is an addictive, fun albeit frustrating 2D platformer. Some levels will require practice in order to learn enemy and obstacle placement in order to prepare yourself properly. While I would’ve liked it better as a standard platformer, this is a unique bite-size game for those looking for a quick challenge.
If you are looking for a game that is best played in little chunks then I’d say this game could be for you. Surprisingly challenging with some interesting depth make this a much more interesting game than it appears on the surface.
Despite showing its age, Star Wars Episode I Racer is a competent and decent racer even as we’re jumping next-gen. Xbox players craving a sci-fi racing game akin to the F-Zero series can pick up this little gem to compensate although it might be too easy. Despite thin replay value, it’s surprisingly deep and easy to pick up. I definitely recommend this game.
Foregone is one of the best 2D platformers I’ve had the privilege of reviewing this year. But nothing is perfect; the lack of checkpoints between terminals can prove frustrating and sometimes the game feels relentless. However, the upgrade system, combat, boss battles make this game worth every minute of it. I definitely recommend this one.
Given the plethora of beat’em ups available, Shadow Gangs is an easy pass. From the unforgiving nature of the game, questionable detection issues in combat, the game feels rushed, half-assed and could’ve used a bit more work. There are so many better options out there. Don’t waste your hard-earned money on this.
Alphadia Genesis doesn’t reinvent the JRPG wheel. It’s a cookie-cutter turn-based RPG with little innovations. The game is story-heavy which can make it feel the game’s progression tedious. It’s easy to pick up and play with very simplistic combat. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the genre or simply wanting to dab into it for the first time, Alphadia Genesis is a great choice; just don’t expect too much depth.
I love tactical strategy games and there is enough depth in this one to keep things interesting. It is simple in some areas, but with subtle depth in others. I’m looking forward to playing this one to conclusion.