Ben Sheene

7.5

Good

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss Review

The well-tread depths of H.P. Lovecraft’s vast oeuvre have been iterated upon and translated into countless forms of media. And at the center of it all often looms the monolithic, tentacled god Cthulhu. The Great Old One. A cosmic horror. It is an indecipherable terror that infects the mind and draws lesser men into incomprehensible worlds for whatever sinister purpose. Cthulhu is so promine...[Read More]

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9

Amazing

Pragmata Review

Minutes into Pragmata, lead character Hugh Williams expresses his distrust for robots and AI. He and his team have been summoned to the Earth’s moon to establish contact with a massive lunar research facility. As suspected, everything goes to hell. But not before it’s established that on this base, AI automation is heavily used and a substance called lunafilament seemingly can 3D print...[Read More]

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8.5

Great

TAMASHIKA Review

TAMASHIKA is very much a game you have played before. TAMASHIKA is very much a game you have not played before. TAMASHIKA presents a kind of quandary to a person wishing to encapsulate its whole in a kind of coherent manner, one that is digestible to the discerning eye who merely asks: “Should I play this or nah?” TAMASHIKA‘s developer, quicktequila, seems vaguely indifferent abo...[Read More]

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8.5

Great

People of Note Review

People of Note‘s soundtrack has been playing in my head for days which, for a game so focused on the magic of music, is certainly worth praise. And I swear I didn’t plan for that to rhyme but much like this game, surprises can always happen. As one gets older, it’s easy for exhaustion to cannibalize our enthusiasm. Over the years I have watched the industry go through numerous bo...[Read More]

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8

Great

10
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ChainStaff Review

You need to play ChainStaff just to see the crazy shit developer Mommy’s Best Games cooked up. Level after level I was astounded at the visual barrage of inventive, weird creatures and worlds on display. Would I have a back of the box quote it might simply be “What the fuck?” in italicized Comic Sans with maybe a Wingding or two to obscure the expletive. My dudes, ChainStaff is s...[Read More]

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8

Great

Dying Light: The Beast Restored Land Review

The first time I played the original Dying Light was months after the game’s initial release. At the time, there was likely a lull in Destiny and my group was ping-ponging back and forth between different games that could support cooperative play. Dying Light had probably seen a sale after its wildly successful launch in January 2015 where it had hit at just the right time. It had also given...[Read More]

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8

Great

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Review

Playing Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered back in the winter of 2024, I was able to finally tick one game off the abyss that is my backlog. When a developer brings back a beloved but long-forgotten series to the modern era, there’s always risks to consider. Preserving what made the original so applauded by fans and/or critics is important. Lose that spirit and you’ve lost any ...[Read More]

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8.5

Great

Super Meat Boy 3D Review

Super Meat Boy is a permanent fixture in my gaming lexicon. As far as titles I’ve referenced in reviews go, Team Meat’s brutal platformer is one of the top contenders. Praise is easily showered on the game because of its massive impact on the indie scene. After all, it was featured in a movie focused on the subject. But Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes’ game is simply a classic....[Read More]

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9

Amazing

Marathon Review

Rarely do I delete significant portions of a review after they are written but with Marathon, that isn’t the case. Several hundred words gone in an instant. “Just like your loot.” Yes, just like my loot. But I had to. After a couple of days of struggle. After a couple days of blood pressure medication-induced anxiety. I stared at the screen, at the words I had written. I tried to...[Read More]

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9

Amazing

Minishoot’ Adventures Review

Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery is a crutch many would happily lean on. When you can rely on an established or classic formula, you’re guaranteed a modicum of spiritual success, right? Minishoot’ Adventures is undeniably a game inspired by classic The Legend of Zelda, whether that be Link’s original adventure or the countless derivatives that have followed in its s...[Read More]

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8

Great

6.3
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John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando Review

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is undeniably a great time. Honestly, a developer would have to try pretty damn hard to make a cooperative horde shooter be an entirely miserable experience. The fact is, games are often better with friends and Toxic Commando is no exception. Saber Interactive makes its influences obvious from the start. Primarily, the game is rooted in the kind of camp action...[Read More]

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Sumerian Six Out Now On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

This supernatural stealth tactics game set in an alternate World War II launches on consoles today after spending a couple years as a PC exclusive. Be sure to check out our review right here. Here’s more info and the launch trailer below. Developed by tactics masters Artificer, and published by Devolver Digital in partnership with Crunching Koalas, Sumerian Six transports you to an alternate...[Read More]