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Ra Ra Boom is a fun, colourful scrolling brawler/shooter that has plenty of charm and good replay value. Some small niggles in the combat and early game power levels aside, this is one for those looking for some couch co-op brawling good times.
If you're up for a fantastic yarn and gorgeous sights, Mafia: The Old Country is outstanding, meaning you'll be totally sold by its presentation. The moments, the story and the characters are top-notch, and there's not much to criticize on that front. However, The Old Country is old-fashioned with forced and bland stealth sections, predictable gunplay, and a lack of newness when it comes to the game's mechanics—also the knife fights are unexciting and rote. You can have a blast with The Old Country if gameplay isn't your utmost concern, but if it is, you may need to absolve it of its sins, because while the gunplay is functional and enjoyable enough, it lacks nuance and weapon variety. Altogether, The Old Country is definitely worth taking in, but when gameplay is king, you may feel underwhelmed that it spends more time focusing on its visual and storytelling qualities than it does on crafting a sophisticated playable experience.
Heartworm is a love letter to survival horrors of the 90’s, with a great look and feel that apes those older games brilliantly. Boring boss fights, an uninspiring tale, and some user interface niggles stop this being a full-hearted recommendation, but if you’re in the market for old school Resident Evil-like gaming, then this should fit the bill nicely.
A fantastic cast brings a very real light to harsh realities of the entertainment industry, accompanied by some brilliantly realised puzzle/horror gameplay that oozes tension and atmosphere throughout the entire story.
Some stunning pixel art and music compliment a fun action platforming roguelite title. The aesthetics can occasionally mask enemies, but gaining upgrades and knowledge of what’s to come remains rewarding for its brief runtime.
The arrival of Ready Or Not on Xbox is exciting, but also a foreboding one. The underlying vibes and environmental storytelling are outstanding, and this immersion can be tucked away without notice if you aren’t paying attention. Levels are varied and some can be outright horrifying, which will keep you on your toes during every mission. Ready Or Not isn’t for gamers who want an easy breezy and relaxing time — it’s a relentless tactical shooter where you’ll need to pay attention at all times and work with others to survive. Teamwork is satisfying as you clear out rooms, arrest people and bag evidence — though if you’re yearning for some variety or a break from the norm, Ready Or Not might not do the trick for you. Altogether though, Ready Or Not is satisfying and has been created with attention to detail at its forefront — though its gameplay could’ve done with more excitement and variation.
ISLANDERS: New Shores is an absolute treasure that improves on everything set up before. Amazingly, it also ends up being a great entry point for newcomers by remaining soothing and unstuffy even with the added bells and whistles.
The Tony Hawk Pro Skater games are a pinnacle of my childhood and for gamers like me, we've been eating well, and this new installment is no different. Now, there are small things I would change as mentioned in the video and some things I wish were there but by no means do the "bad" outweigh the good. This is an objectively good game and a great step in a direction that I think will lead to more remakes (just give me THUG 1 + 2, please!!!) and possibly even completely new entries in the THPS franchise (that don't suck; we don't talk about THPS5). A fantastic game for seasoned gamers and beginners alike.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a fantastic stealth/puzzle title, offering up compelling gameplay alongside a captivating story and excellent aesthetic production. A little more freeform use of the abilities, or lessening of the tutorial-like explainers, would be nice, but as it is, Eriksholm is still a title well worth your time.
God of Weapons may not be as refined as Vampire Survivors to knock them off their perch as the best rogue-like survival game. But I think it does plenty to provide a fun alternative. I like the variety of characters, unlockables and objectives as it keeps the game fresh and interesting. It’s very easy to pick and play, and not difficult to master.
I am Your Beast is lean, well paced, and full of style and humour. An essential purchase for anyone that loves to chase a perfect murder run.
Rematch may not knock Rocket League off its perch for a competitive soccer game, but if you are not a fan of cars and prefer the instant arcade action then this is a game that can get you hooked. I am a massive football fan, and I also like Rocket League and Rush from EAFC, so I am impressed with this offering. I have played many times with friends, and it is so easy to lose hours of fun to this game as it’s a joy to win and not that painful to lose.
It happened, it finally happened! It's been too long since I've enjoyed a good TMNT game but I am so happy to say Splintered Fate delivered a good time. Roguelites have been hot for a while now and throwing the TMNT skin on top of one makes a lot of sense. I think more recognizable IP's should branch out and try new genres like Splintered Fate here. Easy recommend for Turtles fans and roguelite enthusiasts alike.
Star Overdrive is a big open world, with big ambitions, but lacks a little bit of synergy in my opinion. I think comparisons to the giants of this type of game are fair and some of what Star Overdrive does different, like the hoverboard, are great, but I don’t think they mesh together in one package that presents a game that I want to spend a great amount of time with.
MindsEye is the worst kind of failure, a soporific one.
Another detailed, super niche, hobby specific game that didn’t sit well with me, but this time it wasn’t because it was bad necessarily! Rooftops & Alleys was fine for what it was, but it wasn’t right for me despite being excited to play it. Mostly a mixture between the controls not aligning for me and not finding much to do (I am glad to see the time trials and trick battles exist, but other stuff being options comes to mind; think collecting letters ala the S-K-A-T-E challenges from THPS or finding lines and gaps) lead me to my final opinion. I would definitely need some multiplayer motivation for this to have any longevity as well which isn’t present for me. If you have those things and the will to “get good” at games, then this might be for you and your friends. Don’t let my bad gameplay sell the game short either!
A too short affair with a real threat at the conclusion of Siren’s Rest means a lot of the game is spent swimming and gathering narrative exposition rather than fighting for survival as in Still Wakes the Deep. Luckily, the story told is engaging enough to pull us through the few hours it takes, and the sense of being at the bottom of the North Sea is convincing enough to be its own threat for those of us who aren’t super keen on the water as it is. I’m not sure if it helped or hindered my preparation for real life though…
Technical issues aside, we’ve had a great time playing The Alters. It poses tough choices and requirements to the player, and gives us a tight time limit and a thousand other things to keep track of, all while teasing us with new exposition or areas to explore that we’ll never get to in one sitting. It’s a tough game, but give it the time it deserves and you find yourself deeply invested in Jan(s) home.
What a zero-stress game Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends was! Gaming doesn’t always have to have strict limits and fast paced action and this proves that. Is it going to move the needle for the platforming genre? Probably not, but it was fun and didn’t overstay its welcome. Throw in co-op, accessibility for all skill levels, and it’s a metroidvania and as far as I’m concerned that’s always a winning combo. If this sounds like something that would fit your gaming lifestyle at this point in your life, I say check it out.
Listen, I am usually the first to play “weird” games or at least give them a go. This one was no different. It wasn’t quite what I expected and that’s okay. And the story has heart so I would encourage players to try it and see for yourself just what others can come up with in the creative space like videogames. If it had more gameplay elements, I’d probably be more keen on it but you may find a hidden gem in this one for yourself. You never know.