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Battle Axe is a fun little action game, albeit on the short side and no replay value. The gameplay is simplistic and easy to pick up play. Boss battles, while straight forward, are pretty fun and require some decent reflex. The game’s best selling point is definitely it’s 2 player co-op mode as we could always use more of those. Given it’s shortness and lack of replay value, shelling out $29.99/£24.99 feels a bit too much. Wait for a sale and enjoy an hour or so of button mashing.
Unless you’re into mundane and boring gaming experience, Musashi vs Cthulhu will be right up your alley. While the idea of combining combat with rhythm based gameplay sounds like a novel idea, not having the proper soundtrack to give the game life (so to speak) is a huge miss. I can’t same a single redeeming feature for this game; there’s so many better action games, Musashi vs Cthulhu gets an A for effort but it’s an easy pass.
Bloodhound is a frustrating game. It has a short runtime and it does get better as the game progresses, but it always felt like it was just falling short of what it wanted to achieve. There’s a game feel that I look for in an FPS that was missing here. That unquantifiable thing we all need to make it feel great to play. Despite all of this, I do hope the team can take what they have learned with Bloodhound and come back with a better sequel. I could sense a great game in there and I’m sure their next attempt will iron out a lot of these issues. However, the only way I can recommend Bloodhound is if you absolutely must play every boomer shooter that hits the market.
Super Woden GP II is an expansive package that will challenge your perception of what an arcade racer can offer. The quality of the presentation and the actual racing itself, is impeccable and full of tiny details. This is a great follow up to the original and delivers more of the same, but it feels much more refined. I loved the style of the whole thing. It tries to sell you old memories and it mostly succeeded for me. It reminded me of simpler times whilst bringing modern additions like a fleshed out career and race variety. I loved the challenge and the combative AI. The racing was exciting and wins felt earned. It’s a fantastic experience. If you fancy a different kind of racing game or have a love for these retro racers, you really can’t go wrong with Super Woden GP II.
I really enjoyed my time with Empty Shell. A game picked up on a whim and good vibes. Whilst it may not be the most original in terms of story, the survival horror elements have blended well with the twin stick shooter gameplay. It’s more precise and makes you take your time as a result of managing ammo and health pools. The methodic gameplay and presentation also marry together beautifully to enhance the horror elements. I enjoyed the light puzzling and I really got into the combat, to the point where I was a melee pro. Don’t let the Rogue-lite aspect put you off, as they aren’t overly intrusive and only really become an issue if you play too aggressively. This is a great survival horror experience, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Powerwash Simulator has a strangely addictive nature to it and you really have to play it to understand why. Before I took the plunge and played this I was questioning what the appeal was, simply because watching someone power wash is just as boring as in real life, you are itching for a go. Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I have played and reviewed almost every simulator-based experience on console. This one is by far the most polished in terms of its visual appearance and mechanics.
One Last Breath” is a short 2.5D puzzle-based platformer. It combines haunting visuals with sharp, tension-filled gameplay. You play as Gaia, the earth goddess, navigating a post-apocalyptic world to restore life to an Earth devastated by pollution and greed. It’s a joy to play but over far too soon. “One Last Breath” is a beautiful blast of fresh air on a hot day. It’s a great little game to fill some time in your gaming schedule, just make sure you have plans for something else afterwards.
Parkitect: Deluxe Edition is honestly fantastic and well worth the purchase if you are into park builders. Not only does it give me the nostalgic nod to the past that I very much needed, but it does it in a modern style with beautiful polish and shine. The fact that you get access to the already-released DLCs in this entire package makes for potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay if you want it. I found it difficult to draw any criticisms from the entire experience other than some fiddly controls especially when laying underground pipes and some other fine-tuning elements. Aside from this though, this is an incredible indie title which has all the same vibes as Bullfrog Productions Theme Park from 30 years ago. For £19.99 it is an absolute steal and well worth every penny and a game that I will continue to play even after this review it is that brilliant.
While I’m all for game preservation, it’s hard to justify this one. Ratalaika and other indie publishers make questionable decision when it comes to re-releasing older, lesser known games. Rider’s Spirits is a prime example of a game that has not aged well. At all. Barely any gameplay options, controls feel off and it’s boring. It’s baffling that this game released TWO years after Nintendo’s classic kart racer and it’s this bad. Unless you have a sentimental attachment to the 1994 original, this is an easy pass.
Dr Cat is both cute yet dark in its jigsaw designs and whilst I had fun solving them, the experience is short-lived and no more than a few hours long. This is reflected in the price point though and for the price of a Happy Meal at Mcdonalds’, it is worth giving it a go if you just want to switch off for a short period and top up your Gamerscore.
For veterans of this series of games, no doubt it will be much more of the same for you ultimately and whilst the online multiplayer is limited with only 6 of you competing, it is a great start at building in competitive play with real life players. There is a potential for tens if not hundreds of hours of gameplay here depending on how you enjoy the game and what you want to gain from it ultimately. On consoles though, you aren’t going to find a better competitive cycling game than one that is dedicated to the biggest event on the planet in this field. Tour De France 2024 is a solid entry and worth a look at.
Zombies, Aliens and Guns is a surprisingly fun and enjoyable little twin-stick shooter. Especially with a friend. Sure, it does have its shortcomings; your short range weapon against enemies’ long range one is annoying. Also having to wait for your ammo/health to refill when there’s about 20-30 enemies waiting to be wrecked does feel a bit like Frogger by dodging everything. If you need a fun little game that can be played in short bursts, you can do worse than Zombies, Aliens and Guns.
Oh my. What a waste of potential. Panzer Paladin could’ve been something special. While I’m a fan of the genre and visuals, the gameplay falls flat due to too many annoyances. The sluggish movement, clunky checkpoint system, useless upgrades, ineffective dodging mechanic, levels that feel way too long (especially if you can’t use the checkpoints); it’s just more frustration than anything else. If I can say good things about this game is bosses are challenging and fun and the overall presentation felt like playing a true old school game. The rest? It can get in the bin. Unless you want to torture yourself, this is a pass.
While not a fan of the genre, Adam Wolfe really caught me by surprise. As you get older, you have less and less time to play, and having a Hint option allows players to get through this in a reasonable amount of time. The story is interesting, mini-games and puzzles are actually, for the most part, enjoyable to play. That being said, the P&C genre is not ideal with a controller and the developer did miss an opportunity here to make the game more lively by even making the combat point & click. Adam Wolfe is the ideal game to jump in the genre while long time fans have something new to chew on.
House Flipper 2 certainly scratched the itch that I had left from the first game once I’d finished with it. Essentially with this experience it is much more of the same but vastly improved in visuals, fluidity and variety. There are some frustrating moments to be had with a controller in hand but thankfully most of those seemed to vanish once you get used to how the game functions. This is one of those games that will always be one I go back to when I want some downtime from high intensity multiplayer titles. Once you are consumed in a project, hours feels like minutes and it becomes incredibly moreish, addictive and almost therapeutic. If you’re a fan of the original title then I highly recommend investing in this follow on and for newcomers there is a lot to be discovered here for you too. Some may want to try the first instalment with the DLC packs before diving into the second. One thing I can say for sure is that you’ll have a flipping great time with either!
Still Wakes The Deep is just a must play experience and whilst it does sound short at around 6-8 hours for a playthrough, it is sheer quality gameplay throughout. Everything about the adventure from the setting on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, to the personalities of the colleagues who work there and the sheer randomness throughout just consistently shines through. The development team have done wonderful work at setting the tone and atmosphere both in the design of the rig and the events that unfold. If you’re looking for a horror title that constantly has you on the edge of your seat filling you with that anxiety in the dark that something will jump out at you, then this is the game for you. Horror fans will adore this one and if you’re normal go to games are titles such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill and the likes, then there is more than enough for you here. Those on Xbox will be happy to know that it is part of the Xbox Game Pass catalogue, so you can dive right in now and get stuck in. But for those on other platforms, not only is it well worth your time, it is well worth a purchase. One of the best games I have played so far in 2024 which gripped me from start to finish!
“Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure” provides a simple, clean survival-crafting experience with a tropical twist. If you enjoy exploring mysterious islands and don’t mind measured, incremental progression, it’s worth a try!
The pros and cons of this turn-based combat experience balance themselves out giving us some highs and some lows. Although I only played solo, I can imagine a multiplayer experience to be quite fun. For those not typically drawn to the genre, I would pass on this one. For the rest of us, I’d wait for a sale if anything about the game piques your interest. For fans of the genre or those that found something interesting about the game, I would suggest waiting for a sale. The games bright spots warrant a playthrough, but the lows can be a bit of a bummer. (At the time of this writing it is currently on a 50% off sale, which I would absolutely recommend at this price).
Phantom Fury is a fun throwback to classic shooters from the 1990s. It’s action packed with a decent variety of weapons at the player’s disposal to create a bit of chaos. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, it’s the few things around it such as the piss-poor weapon wheel, lack of aiming and the true to the classic formula: where do I go type of gameplay. If you can get over these like quirks, you’ll find a fun, challenging and fast paced shooter.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is the game I never knew I wanted and needed. It takes all the great characteristics of similar titles and runs with them in its own unique way. It is way more fun to experience this with a group of friends but I found myself also having a great time when I played alone. The teams have done an amazing job of ensuring that both the humans and clowns have a fair balance in the gameplay loop, neither side ever felt more overpowered than the other. Bring with this an addictive levelling system that can feel a bit of a grind but extends the longevity of the game. With the greatest visuals I’ve seen in a game in this genre and you have an excellent asymmetrical horror title of cat and mouse that is just a great time!