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Mina the Hollower is a glorious modern-meets retro affair with oodles of amazing ideas, almost all of which coming together to offer a fluid and fun experience focused on freedom. Admittedly, some of the limitations of the retro-inspired top-down 2D approach do lead to clunky, imprecise platforming and cheap deaths. But all in all, this is a glorious continuation of indie excellence from the Shovel Knight Devs.
Despite some filler Game Boy titles bulking up the collection, it's fair to say that this Nickelodeon time capsule is a joy to behold. Search for Reptar is a cult classic for a reason and carries the collection. But there are also little nuggets of excellence to be found within the other baby-fueled titles. Fair warning, the controls are clunky, the camera is cumbersome, and the gameplay is often shallow. But despite it all, these games are a lot of fun, and it's a collection I feel blessed to have access to on modern systems
"Lightning rarely strikes twice, but against all odds, Zero Parades is a spiritual successor worthy of taking the torch from Disco Elysium and running with it. This spy thriller is a slow burn, but one that slowly blossoms over time. It's rich in detail, abundant with memorable moments, and elevates the rudimentary RPG systems of old. It may have some minor tweaks to make for the inevitable 'final cut'. But, no matter how you feel about this new iteration of Za/Um, their new IP is every bit as captivating as that which came before."
REPLACED is a game I wanted to love more than I did. It's 2.5D graphics is eye-catching and makes a strong impression, however its basic combat, frustrating platforming, and safe narrative doesn't do it justice.REPLACED is a game I wanted to love more than I did. It's 2.5D graphics is eye-catching and makes a strong impression, however its basic combat, frustrating platforming, and safe narrative doesn't do it justice.
Tides of Tomorrow is a bold 'choices matter' experiment that mostly pays off. The multiplayer setup that affects how your story will play out is excellently handled and intriguing, largely making up for the rather middling storyline. However, it is the thin gameplay throughout that stops Tides of Tomorrow from being a truly amazing experience.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is an awesome first-person shooter that will keep you hooked from beginning to end due to its fun combat, engaging story, and hilarious banter between characters. What Fumi Games crafted here is impressive due to its level design that constantly surprises throughout its 10-hour runtime, bosses that each offer a different type of challenge, and a script that is very well written with a noir tone at its center. This game is a joy to play, and I can’t wait to see what these developers do next.
"Dosa Divas is yet another game from Outerloop Games that has a lot of charm, and a lot of heart. The narrative is goofy yet sincere, the map design, setting and art style is eye-catching and new additions to turn-based combat and exploration add a lot to the experience. But sadly, everything feels a little repetitive, clunky and half-baked in execution. It, much like it's predecessor Thirsty Suitors, is a flawed gem. So mileage may vary, but it could just be a tasty morsel worth nibbling on."
What's commendable about this 3D iteration of Super Meat Boy is just how similar it feels to the 2D original. It's addictive, visually appealing, and the leap to 3D offers new ways to approach levels that the original could never. But, this comes with some drawbacks like cheap deaths, less precise movement, and levels that feel far less challenging overall. That said, this is still easily the best SMB game outside the original, and well worth checking out for newcomers and SMB veterans alike.
Crimson Desert isn't a perfect game. It's not a game for everyone, and it's got as many good ideas as it does poorly implemented ones. However, what cannot be denied is that this game is a generational game and an open-world experience like no other. It's visually outstanding, mechanically dense, and immersive beyond compare. Yet, it's also one of the most laborious games to get to grips with in recent memory, meaning a lot of players may bounce off this title. However, what I would say is 'stick with it'. As Crimson Desert is a game that doesn't respect your time, but certainly deserves it.
Esoteric Ebb is the Disco Elysium that D&D fans wanted, and much more. If you're into fantasy, humor, or just a good story, you'll find that in spades here.
Love Eternal is a solid platformer filled with puzzles and some psychological horror elements that make it feel like its own Greek myth. However, it isn't able to set itself apart from other games in the genre to make it a breakout game.
Demon Tides is an ambitious, often janky platformer that does its best to show inspiration from some of the greatest games in the genre, and ends up feeling a little bit bland because of it.
High On Life 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but that's perfectly fine. It’s an upgrade on its predecessor and a game that feels like it finally has an identity of its own beyond 'that Rick and Morty game'. Admittedly, it's still a game we would label rough around the edges, but simply put. If you liked the first game, then you're in for a treat with this sequel.
Styx provides solid stealth gameplay in a world rich with choice and freedom. The simplicity of its mechanics and tightness of its controls help to make the experience fun from the get-go, but its held back slightly by some technical issues, dated visuals and the lack of a minimap.
Disciples: Domination is a good game that has its bumps in the road. With a good story and some interesting mechanics the game has a lot worth enjoying if you can get through the slow introduction.
Tarsier Studios has crafted a work of art and a bigger, more dramatic, version of Little Nightmares that showcases how far this type of game can go. It's so disturbing in its themes, unsettling in its pivotal moments, coated in dreadful atmosphere, and mesmerizing from start to finish. It unfortunately fails in its gameplay elements, as it has no complex puzzles, boring combat encounters, and is just all around pretty simple.
Starsand Island is a cozy game that gives you the feeling of coming home. It includes everything you expect from a cozy game, but there are minor improvements that could be made, such as having fewer tourists in favor of focusing on island residents. However, it's easy to jump into, and you can sink hundreds of hours into its peaceful world.
Romeo is a Dead Man is an experience more than a game, and for anyone looking for that unique Suda51 style, it delivers. For people looking for depth in their Hack and Slash game, the game can be lackluster, even on harder difficulties.
"Mewgenics is a superb turn-based spiritual successor to The Binding of Issac, offering Ed McMillen's signature brand of crude chaos and roguelike excellence. Combat, presentation, and kitty gene splicing all come together to create one of the most engaging and addictive gameplay loops in recent memory. We do wish there was more control over breeding, and the game perhaps lacks the same punchy narrative undercurrent as Issac. But overall, this is a triumph, and could just be the sleeper indie hit of the year."
Nioh 3 does almost everything right for both an action RPG and Soulslike. For an ARPG, it offers some of the most satisfying combat in the entire genre, and as a Soulslike, it has some of the best bosses of any game on the market. Nioh 3 is a masterclass in game design and will go down as one of Team Ninja’s best games.