SoulQuest Review (PC)
There is something magical about a hack-and-slash action platformer. Nintendo lived off these things when bringing the NES to the American market. And this game is a good reminder of those old gaming days. SoulQuest from developers SoulBlade Studio, LLC, and TomasJPereyra, is a perceived mindless hack-and-slash experience that is driven by a good old revenge story backdrop. That backdrop is proppe...[Read More]
Replaced Review (PC)
Some dev is a huge fan of Blade Runner, and the 1992 video game hit Flashback. Can’t say I blame them. Replaced by developer Sad Cat Studios is a futuristic dystopian 2.5D narrative that is quite possibly one of the most beautiful pixel games I have seen in my entire 50 years on this planet. Thick on narrative, solid on gameplay, Replaced does what it wants and doesn’t ask for forgiveness in the p...[Read More]
Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen Review (PS5)
I know a lot of younger gamers who are going to enjoy the heck out of this. And a few college students I teach as well. And probably some adults (me). Anyway! Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen from developer Halfbrick Studios Pty Ltd heads to consoles this month, and sometime ‘coming soon’ to PC as well. It’s a simple game that features the voice actors from the television show. It’s playful, silly a...[Read More]
NITRO GEN OMEGA Review (PC)
I saw where this game was going, and I wasn’t disappointed by the results. NITRO GEN OMEGA from developer DESTINYbit is a turn-based, open-world mech game that almost hits all the right notes. It features a welcoming world with plenty of tasks and side quests to complete, while beneath it all lies a sort of simulator that complicates the gameplay. The rub on this rib is that the game sometimes ove...[Read More]
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review (Nintendo Switch 2)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has returned! And this time, it has made it to the little system that could, the Nintendo Switch 2. While the system is not as powerful as the Xbox Series X or the PlayStation 5/Pro, it packs a bit of a punch with this game. While the game hasn’t changed with story and gameplay, the graphical immersion should have taken a steep drop, considering the hardware. Sur...[Read More]
Diablo IV – Lord of Hatred Review (PS5)
Every expansion that comes to this game is a firm reminder that this game still has legs. Diablo IV – Lord of Hatred is the latest expansion to arrive in the Diablo series from Blizzard Entertainment, and brings with it a continuing and captivating story connected with the Vessel of Hatred release. The story goes like this: after Lilith was extinguished in the last game, her father, Mephisto, has ...[Read More]
The Player Who Can’t Level Up – Impressions (PC)
Give me a roguelike action-adventure game any day of the week, and you’ll make me a happy gamer. And believe me, folks, I am happy. The Player Who Can’t Level Up, from developer Tripearl Games, is a roguelike action-adventure indie game. It is driven by action, supported by stacks of buffs, and is crazy-quick fun that resides in a beautifully chaotic wrapper. For the last couple of weeks, I have b...[Read More]
The Day I Became a Bird Review (PS5)
Built for a younger audience, but adorable for all gamers nonetheless. The Day I Became a Bird, from developer Hyper Luminal Games Ltd., is a visual novel about a young boy named Frank and the future love of his life, bird-obsessed Sylvia. Frank tries to capture Sylvia’s heart by finding out the birds she likes and building a life-size costume to impress her. The joy of this game comes from its vi...[Read More]
OPUS Prism Peak Review (PC)
When you’re expecting Silent Hill, and you get a wildly different adventure that reminds you of a Studio Ghibli film. Expectations exceeded. OPUS Prism Peak from developer SIGONO, INC. brings an interesting adventure shrouded in melancholy memories and brimming with choices. This game leans heavily on narrative, while sporting solid branching dialogue that leads the way. In addition, there is a fa...[Read More]
Tides of Tomorrow Review (PS5)
Sometimes, all a game needs is a good story to create the gameplay from. Something meaningful, obvious in its intentions, and can be easily pulled from to make the right amount of “that’s it!” to the overall experience. Welcome to Tides of Tomorrow. Tides of Tomorrow, from developer Digixart, takes the same path as their previous societal project, Road 96. Instead of speaking directly about oppres...[Read More]
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege Review (PS5)
Going back to the NES 8-bit days of Castlevania is not as easy as it should be. It’s doubly not as easy when something modern is made that way on purpose. Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege from developer Lillymo Games is a title that reaches back to the NES days when games like Castlevania ruled the earth. The joy and torture of those games back in the day relied on rigid controls, unforgivable and...[Read More]
Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland Review (PC)
The 2D platformer has always been the heart of gaming since the mid-80s. It’s a go-to when it comes to finding easy ways to be entertained. While some developers don’t completely grasp or respect the gameplay construct of this genre, the developers at Die Soft clearly knew the assignment and what they had to make with their game, Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland. Little Nemo and the Gu...[Read More]