Reviews
232
8.5 out of 10, Great Positives Retro, smartly restrictive visuals Outstanding penguin movement Remarkable sense of tone and atmosphere Inspired interrogation of Lovecraft and colonialism Negatives Stamina system Some awkwardness detracts from the mood Closing thoughts Penguin Colony is an…
5 out of 10, Average Positives A gorgeous neon soaked world Interesting characters Negatives World is hard to navigate around Quest markers overlap and make following quests impossible Curfew makes it hard to get multiple tasks done Has an identity crisis by having too many conflicting elements…
6.5 out of 10, Decent Positives Gorgeous art style thanks to environments and lighting Huge maps filled with a variety of objectives Massive wealth of car cosmetics to uncover Negatives Driving is sluggish and never felt that fun to control Frustrating late game that clashes against the game’s…
7 out of 10, Good Positives Good weapon variety with great sound design Beautiful retro-pixel aesthetic Varied levels and visuals Negatives Simple enemy design and AI Somewhat repetitive combat loop Lack of narrative throughline worth caring about Closing thoughts Boltgun 2 is a safe sequel that…
8 out of 10, Great Positives Responsive controls and movement Rewarding exploration and secrets Engaging gothic narrative Memorable soundtrack Creative systems and progression Negatives Steep difficulty curve Too cryptic for its own good Frustrating backtracking Closing thoughts Castlevania:…
9 out of 10, Amazing Positives Perfectly paced career mode exploring the connectivity between zoos and wildlife reserves Incredibly detailed and realistic animal models that are so engaging to sit back and watch In depth guides teach you real information about how zoos and wildlife reserves…
I want it to be known that I really wanted to like The Spirit of the Samurai. I am a massive fan of stop-motion animation, and any piece of media that utilises or seeks to evoke or pay homage to that style has earned my respect. That said, as well put-together as the cutscenes are, The Spirit of the Samurai is just not very fun as a game. From the clunky and unresponsive controls to the linear and murky levels filled with oddly placed traps and pitfalls, it can often feel like a slog to actually play. If you are a fan of stop-motion animation, then you may get something from the experience, but it is unlikely to be too satisfying for just about anyone else.
Aspyr continues their recent but crucial work of restoring legacy games with Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, and it’s arguably their best work yet. The visual fidelity and style upgrades are meaningful, only touching the fundamentals minimally so the twenty-plus-year-old cult classics remain the historic ventures they always have been. Though the untouched level design will feel at times dated with players, it’s a janky and charming pair of games that are dripping with edge. Nostalgic fans and lovers of 2000s broodiness and creative design won’t want to miss this one.
If you’re looking for a fun fitness routine that you can easily do at home, then Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer should do the trick. Not only does it incentivise you to return every day, but the exercises you will be doing will get your heart racing. While it shouldn’t replace going to a gym, nor will it make you a professional boxer, it will give you a workout based on your needs and abilities and you can change it to your heart’s content.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a vibrant and whimsical RPG from some of the best that have ever done it. The incredibly rich storytelling and setting are bolstered by a quaint and gorgeous world to explore thanks to the striking diorama sets, charming characters and another stellar Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack. Though the game isn’t without its frustrating grinds, it’s more than the sum of its parts. This is a step forward for the turn-based genre thanks to meaningful and much-needed quality-of-life improvements in its tactical nature and pace-controlling Dimengion system. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension proves there is still so much excellence and magnificence to come from RPGs.