Endless Mode
HomepageEndless Mode's Reviews
Not many games can claim to be truly best-in-class at something, but Absolum’s beat ‘em up action makes a convincing case for itself.
Despite its incredible presentation and interesting ideas about narrator reliability varying through story and gameplay, Consume Me’s ending left me wondering what the entire experience was for.
It’s the kind of constantly escalating structure familiar from Hades and other roguelikes; most upgrades last only for a single run, but there are enough permanent upgrades to unlock that players will still feel a constant sense of progress and improvement.
It’s a sequel that understands what makes these games tick, both in the moment-to-moment particulars of being trapped in a fog bank where you can’t see five feet in front of you, and in the deeper specifics of using scares to navigate the fraying psyche of its protagonist.
Overall, Wanderstars makes using the word homage less scary because it knows what lessons to learn from the past. It recognizes what’s good about its inspirations and what to leave behind, while ensuring its unique personality shines throughout its entire runtime. At every step in the journey, I was excited to see what mess Ringo and Wolfe would find themselves in; I knew that, regardless of what was waiting for them, an adventure worthy of the works that inspired it was about to unfold.
Whether it’s frantic encounters that have you juggling between weapons, scares amplified by a demonic flashlight that loves to turn off at inopportune times, or the satisfaction of progressing through these interconnected areas, the act of working through Cronos: The New Dawn is a well-measured mixture of frights and thrills. While its narrative failings prevent this experience from merging into a cohesive whole, at least it channels the appeal of its video game inspirations.