Qualbert.com's Reviews
FAIRY TAIL Beach Volleyball Havoc is a fun little game that does exactly what it set out to achieve. There is one singular focus and one single arena but it’s well crafted that has a tremendous and sometimes fairly deep set of Fairy Tail characters from across its full anime roster. Seeing some truly perfect and bizarre match-ups smack each other around is quite rewarding for fans of the anime, however, with a limited set of unlockables and short form content it may not have wider reaching appeal. A real “I have 5 minutes” title that you can quickly jump in and out of.
Despite its drawbacks, I will say I still had hours of fun in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. There’s something to be said about learning how a game functions and overcoming its faults, but if the flaws are insurmountable, it’s a detriment to the entire experience. Fans of the original should do their research before shelling out $50 USD for the remaster.
The Plucky Squire’s creative approach to puzzles, not just from within but also outside of Jot’s storybook, makes for a unique experience that everyone can partake in. An approachable story and witty writing throughout, while not groundbreaking, is lighthearted enough for both kids and adults to enjoy. The game’s immensely strong art direction and visual identity makes it immediately appealing, and only continues to be so throughout Jot’s journey. While some elements of the game aren’t challenging as the game holds your hand a little too much, it would be remiss of anyone to sleep on this wonderful game.
Caravan SandWitch is a strange amalgamation of genres but somehow it’s charm, cartoon style and fun gameplay makes it all work. Whilst the intriguing story sets the scene, the real wholesome parts of the game lie with the many side quests for the distinctive characters that require your assistance. The world building surrounding the story is even more fascinating and makes you get back in the van in order to uncover hidden details about this devastated planet. With calm music, bountiful exploration and endearing individuals, this is a cosy game with the soul of adventure.
Bounty Hunter is still an incredible bit of Star Wars media, officially part of the canon story it tells a compelling ,if light, story that cements Jango as a badass. Though it can be a bit clunky and old fashioned to actually play, it does have some great depth and naturally puts choices in the players hands. The game is definitively a product of the era in which it released and yet it feels like a breath of fresh air with its tight platforming, focus on actual bounty hunting and frantic combat. Just be aware that it’s not easy to beat with it’s unforgiving life system. A must have for any Star Wars completionist and a fantastic addition to Aspyr’s Star Wars catalogue!
Arranger crafts a charming puzzler that feels smaller than it deserves due to its fleeting puzzle elements. Its serviceable narrative coupled with a brief game length may turn away some gamers. However, with its accessible difficulty curve, lack of fail state, and option to skip almost all puzzles, players will rarely feel at odds with the cerebral parts of the game, making it enjoyable for all.
It’s been 5 years of the PlayStation 5 and Astro’s second outing on this console is brimming with charm. Whilst the 10-12 hour story is bare bones and the PlayStation theme borders on overbearing, the endearing little Bots more than make up for these slight negatives. Astro Bot feels like a direct continuation rather than a sequel, but this doesn’t subtract from the glorious visuals, smooth gameplay and crisp audio. If you played Astro’s Playroom then you may feel like this is slightly less original, but regardless, the hunt for iconic characters to feel that sense of nostalgia and the special additional levels are a joy for PlayStation fans of all ages!
I’ll keep riding this wave of nostalgia if the end result is a great game, and Akimbot is just that. Developed over three years in spare time, Evil Raptor knew their target audience and have a solid title to offer here. With just some nitpicks here and there, no glaring issues are present in Akimbot. It’s the total package, with a decent game length and has enough going on to keep players hooked.
Stellar Blade isn’t a perfect game. But in my view it is a great one, particularly as a first major ‘AAA’ release, and the first release for the studio on any console. Sony definitely did the right thing in snapping up Shift Up Corporation to bring them into the Sony Studios family, and I am looking forward to see what they come up with next!
It pains me to not easily recommend Star Wars Outlaws, as it’s got so much Star Wars DNA and a competent formula for the most part. If the stealth felt more like being sneaky and less like moving like a snake to avoid sightlines, and the combat rewarded skill in your ability to overcome enemies instead of just spawning more and more, this would be a home run. What’s really here is unpolished, tiresome fighting that makes up most of your gameplay amidst the rest of the pieces of the pie that are strong.
Despite The Crush House’s flaws with characterization and storytelling, I can’t deny that I was strongly compelled by its narrative. While parts of the core gameplay feel dissonant from the premise of the game, it rarely spoiled the fun I was having whilst playing. If you’re looking for something a little different this year, you could certainly do a lot worse.
Returning to this one of kind RPG world created by the talented team of 8 at The Gentlebros has been an absolute delight albeit a very short one. This can be forgiven by how much attention to detail they have placed in the pirate themed designs, sounds and of course puns. Cat Quest 3 lives up to its promise of being a seafaring adventure for all to enjoy whilst containing snippets of an overall story that fans will enjoy. Come for the booty looting pirate travels but stay for the puns and catitude!
SCHiM is a great concept that was drawn too thin. The beautiful art direction and an understated soundtrack make the game worth playing through at least once. However, the game can get repetitive quickly except for some standout stages, suffering further with a lackluster and simple narrative. This may be worth it for some players but definitely wait for a sale.
What does go bump in the night? Lots of things really, but in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD it’s a variety of fun to fight ghosts, a moderately challenging adventure and a fun comical story. It’s a delight to return to the world of Luigi’s Mansion in his second outing! Though longer play sessions might get a little repetitive with the entrance and exit cutscenes for each mission, the game more than makes up for this with unique dialogue and fantastical level designs. It succeeds in expanding the scope of Luigi’s Mansion without losing the charm. An excellent entry to any Switch library regardless of age, just don’t bother going for the 100% unless you adore it.
I’m torn on this title. From the original announcement, I was excited to get my hands on something where I could test my skills online with the games I grew up with. But the majority of Nintendo World Championships’ missions are just abysmal wastes of time that are barely fun to play once, let alone repeatedly. This title does have some promise, but unfortunately in its current state I would much prefer to play any of those three games rather than this.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the sequel that fans have been begging for. While the lackluster Multiplayer and occasional dip in performance drag the game down slightly, if this game is even a taste of what future games in the franchise may be then we will all be having a Monkey Ball!
To close the case, this is a perfect example of “less is more” as Nobody Wants To Die provides an enthralling story that you can’t tear yourself away from. Like almost every good thriller or murder mystery, you need a good twist or ending to make sure it imprints on the viewer/player. Whilst the set up, audio and graphics is incredible, the slightly confusing ending might go over some people’s heads, especially if you weren’t paying attention. It also wrapped up everything very quickly and had me wondering if that was all there was.
Of the three collections in the Integrum Masterpiece, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix has all the essentials and the ones that the majority of fans grew up with. With an MSRP of $49.99 US for hundreds of hours of gameplay, it’s a no-brainer for anyone seeking the nostalgia, as these ports are of magnificent quality and polish – a rarity in the modern PC gaming landscape.
Anger Foot turned a brilliant and engaging game demo into an ok full release. It feels like Free Lives took their winning formula and tacked on mediocre features to pad content. Its level design may stumble a bit early on but the game catches its footing by the latter half of the campaign. Anger Foot has a solid core, making sure to prioritize the key details in both visuals and audio — essential for the type of game this is. It’s just unfortunate how much the lower moments in the game tragically drag the greater parts down.
Made it to the end of the review and made it out alive? Then surely you’re intrigued enough to venture into the mysterious metro tunnels. Despite its minimalist nature, The Exit 8 VR is a surreal experience only enhanced thanks to the immersion provided through virtual reality. At just over an hour long, it’s a bite-sized experience that feels less like a videogame, and more like an interactive piece of art. If you’re a VR enthusiast and have a fascination for the disturbing, you’d be mad not to enter the Exit 8 VR.