Yomi 2 (Chumps Preview)
Chumps Preview is a special kind of post where we unofficially preview games in Early Access, Beta, or are otherwise “unfinished.” This kind of preview is meant to be a first impression rather than a definitive review where we provide a rating to determine a game’s value. As such, we fully expect a game covered in a Chumps Preview to have room for improvement, some bugginess/incompleteness, and ot...[Read More]
Final Fantasy XVI (PS5) Review
As I’ve entered my thirties, I’ve found it to be incredibly difficult to be excited for a new game — truly excited. Think midnight release of Skyrim type of excited. That kind of excitement can only be described to non-gamers as opening a much-desired gift on Christmas morning (or another holiday) as a pre-teenager. This level of excitement has become a fleeting memory as I’...[Read More]
The Last of Us Part I (PC)
We received The Last of Us Part I (PC) the morning of its release day, March 28th. We attempted to review the title on Day 1, but were unable to due to crashes and instability preventing us from getting past the introduction. We’ve continuously attempted to play and review the title with each new update. As of v.1.0.5.1, we were able to conduct a thorough review and are now able to share our...[Read More]
Decarnation (Nintendo Switch)
Horror doesn’t have to just be jumpscares, fright feats, and other overused ooky-spooky tropes that are often seen in popular media every Autumn. Sometimes, a _lack_ of certainty or an air of uneasiness can be effective in making folks like you and I feel uneasy over a period of time. In gaming, series like Resident Evil push players into spaces of adrenaline-fueled horror, whereas titles li...[Read More]
Nightmare Reaper (Switch)
Several years after its release on PC, Nightmare Reaper has made its way to consoles to let more players participate in its chaotic yet engaging retro-inspired shooting and looting. Nightmare Reaper places the player into the life of a seemingly nameless protagonist who is locked up in a mental hospital. When she goes to bed, she’s teleported to a land of her nightmares chock full of blood, ...[Read More]
DOOMBLADE (PC)
Metroidvanias can be formulaic in their progression. You begin in a new place, your movement is restricted, your power is minimal, and your path is determined mainly by where you can’t go rather than where you can go. As you play, you unlock additional abilities that grant you access to areas that were once blocked off, be it a double jump, dashing, super jumps, wall running, and so forth. M...[Read More]
CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story (Switch)
I may be low health, but I have some fight in me yet. I’ve been jumping from platform to platform, some disintegrating within seconds, to a safe haven of a rooftop. I jump down into a gang of neon-clad enemies wielding clubs, hammers, and bombs, unaware of my presence or any threats from above. I strike one, blink away to another, then roll out of a third enemy’s bat swing. Unfortunate...[Read More]
God of Rock (PS5)
Experimental titles deserve the attention of players because of how they push boundaries and expectations involving how gameplay should be experienced versus how gameplay _can_ be experienced. In the rhythm game space, this can mean integrating gameplay mechanics, like combination inputs, from other genres into the traditional gameplay loop. God of Rock is one such experimental title being as it m...[Read More]
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series (Switch)
It’s merely April, and 2023 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for gamers like me wanting to relive their childhoods. So far, we’ve seen Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime Remastered, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, and as of earlier this month, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series for the Nintendo Switch. To say that I am happy would be severely understating my excitement in n...[Read More]
OTXO (PC)
It’s very rare to find a visually striking roguelite that checks off the boxes of tight gameplay, high replayability, challenging yet rewarding, and a thrilling story. Often, I see roguelites lean heavily into one of these values, or sometimes two, in order to stand out from the pack. Difficulty spikes are often a result of luck (or lack thereof) and requiring more precision than normal. Ove...[Read More]
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (Nintendo Switch)
The Mega Man Battle Network (MMBN) series is an interesting example of a spinoff series done right, albeit underestimated and woefully underrated for its time. Those of you familiar with the Mega Man series may be familiar with tight platforming as Mega Man, defeating difficult enemies with buster shots and dodging bullet hell patterns, and absorbing bosses’ signature abilities to take down ...[Read More]
Octopath Traveler II (PS5)
Octopath Traveler II is less of a direct sequel to 2018’s Octopath Traveler and more of an anthological entry into the series, featuring an entirely new cast of eight characters and a new setting. Semantics aside, this is the first Octopath title released for the PlayStation, so there may be some folks who are unfamiliar with the series and/or the old-school JRPG path that Octopath Traveler ...[Read More]