Reviews
Bahnsen Knights Review
Dec 13, 2023
Following Mothmen 1966 and Varney Lake, Bahnsen Knights is the third and final game in the “pixel pulp” series. This trilogy from LCB Game Studio is some of the most fascinating and entertaining games I’ve played in recent memory. They are also a series I will revisit often thanks to their short run times, but mainly for their branching paths and mini-games. While the supernatural element falls flat in a few places, it’s a rare window into relationships and situations not often explored. This series offers a unique blend of visual novel and interactive adventure that’s not to be missed.
Lake – Season’s Greetings Review
Dec 08, 2023
About a year ago, I reviewed a fun and relaxing game by the name of Lake. Lake fits the definition of a “Cozy Game” to a T. It’s simple to understand, it’s lenient so as not to cause stress, and it lets you take in your surroundings and characters. In Lake, you play as Meredith Weiss, a young lady returning home after 20 years living away from her hometown of Providence Oaks, Oregon. She returns because her parents are off on vacation, and Meredith’s father, Thomas, has asked her to come to housesit and take on a few of his postal mail routes. As you progressed, you learned more about Meredith and the town. You got to choose your dialogue to build Meredith’s story and interact with some fun townsfolk, maybe even fall in love! With the holiday season upon us, Gamious has delivered us a present early with a return to Providence Oaks in this prequel DLC.
Risk of Rain Returns Review
Dec 04, 2023
I don’t think I ever came close to defining an enemy in a video game as my “nemesis” as much as “Risk of Rain” boss Magma Worm. “Who is supposed to enjoy this?”, I bursted out in anger back when the original game from Hoppo Games came out in 2013. With “Risk of Rain Returns”, I can understand why was — and still is — beloved by many. I am one of those who partially skipped “Risk of Rain” in favor of “Risk of Rain 2”. I wasn’t that good at platformers in 2013. The idea of doing runs after runs just to unlock something new wasn’t enticing to me. Besides, my brain works better within a 3D space (I also play racing games in first person because I have better spatial awareness, so don’t ask me how my brain works).
Audeze Maxwell Wireless Review
Dec 01, 2023
In the ever-evolving landscape of audio technology, Audeze (pronounced “odyssey”) is asserting dominance with the Maxwell Wireless headphones. I’m no audiophile, but I know good audio when I hear it. I’ve reviewed lots of brands and headsets over the years, and Audeze is in a different realm compared to its contemporaries. However, from the moment I slipped on the Audeze Maxwell Wireless, I was transported into a sonic realm made me understand wireless audio is great.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Review
Nov 22, 2023
In October of 2021, GameMill fired up the nostalgia truck and delivered Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl to the world. If you, like me, spent your formative mornings and afternoons with your eyes glued to the Nick channel, the idea of a Nickelodeon-universe crossover fighter sounded like a great time. The roster featured show headliners—like Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender—and secondary characters—like Powdered Toast Man from Ren & Stimpy. The roster was diverse, including characters from my era of Nickelodeon and the eras that followed. It seemed fairly well-rounded. Unfortunately, it was not without its flaws. It was plagued by balance issues, multiplayer connection troubles, and perhaps the biggest issue of all: The game lacked voice acting. The characters everyone had come to love were soulless.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Review
Nov 17, 2023
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III serves as the 20th game in the series as it also celebrates its 20th anniversary, but this is an anniversary marred by a short development cycle and bad decisions. Designed to be a expansion for Modern Warfare II , and it sure feels like it. Sledgehammer Games is at the helm this time, previously seen with Call of Duty: Vanguard in 2021, a game that was merely okay all-around. Infinity Ward’s lack of presence is notably felt here, because this game features the most befuddling choices and features I’ve seen in these games. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is not only disappointing, it is deflating and insulting for fans of this storied franchise.
Dungeons 4 Review
Nov 09, 2023
Dungeons 4 marks the twelve years since the release of the first game, and the same developer Realmforge Studios has back again with what is undoubtedly the best entry to-date. With shades of Dungeon Keeper as its inspiration, this hybrid of builder meets real-time strategy game is a wonderful gathering. With new minion types, a lengthy campaign, and tons of possibilities, this is as irresistable as ever. Being evil has never felt so good, and Dungeons 4 has never been better.
GUNHEAD Review
Nov 08, 2023
GUNHEAD comes from the minds at Alientrap, who’ve made memorable games such as Capsized and Apotheon , but I really took notice with CRYPTARK in 2017. It felt like a revelation for the roguelike genre and became one of my favorites as you went spaceship spelunking in 2D to take down systems and fight bosses while earning a paycheck. It was that same year GUNHEAD was announced, and after six long years I can’t help but find it to be inferior to its predecessor. It still retains all of the engaging systems that made CRYPTARK so good, yet even as a fast-paced first-person shooter roguelike, GUNHEAD feels like a pale imitation.
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged Review
Nov 02, 2023
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged takes what was loved about the first game, and gives us more of that and less of the stuff that was less than liked. Milestone have captured the essence of what it’s like to be a kid and letting your imagination take you to fantastic places as you play with your Hot Wheels. The sequel here is a great compliment to the previous game, and has more than enough reason to move to the new game. HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged doesn’t have any dramatic shifts in gameplay or presentation, yet it still remains an incredibly fun time for all ages.
Alan Wake 2 Review
Oct 31, 2023
One of my fondest memories of gaming was back in 2010, hosting weekly viewing parties in my apartment for the first season of The Walking Dead; for my friends who came early, they could join me on my play-through of the original Alan Wake. It was the perfect combination of spooky fall horror, and week after week, more people would show up early to watch Alan Wake‘s story unfold. It was Remedy’s long hyped, new experiment in interactive storytelling; a departure from typical gaming narratives backed by the might of Microsoft as a publishing partner as an exclusive release on the Xbox 360, and it was laden with some novel (and heavy-handed) product placements, a still nascent concept in games at the time. Originally planned as an open world title with huge player freedom, the game’s actual release was much more linear in scope, and while this came as a disappointment to many who had been following the game’s development for years, it still offered something unique. In spite of its various faults, Alan Wake became a cult classic for many, myself among them, for its ideas and aspirations and for the promise of what Remedy had been aiming for. Over the years it has gained in popularity, and with the at first subtle and eventually very direct tie-ins with Remedy’s incredible Control, it became clear that Alan Wake was indeed destined for return.
EA SPORTS WRC Review
Oct 30, 2023
Electronic Arts has taken over the WRC game license, and Colin McRae and DiRT developers Codemasters are in the driver’s seat for the first time. The result of this marriage is something new and something borrowed, but nothing to be blue about – it’s really fantastic. The simply titled WRC is a festival of rallying’s past, present, and future as Codemasters finds their path. WRC is a strong start from the veteran developer, and the next great rallying experience you can’t do without.
WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card (1TB) for Xbox Review
Oct 30, 2023
The WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is the first competitor to Seagate’s expansion card offering on the newest generation of Xbox consoles. Storage space is an ever-present concern, but WD_BLACK’s combination of size and performance are welcome. With games becoming increasingly demanding in terms of storage requirements, the C50 Expansion Card aims to provide a seamless solution for Xbox Series X|S users. This is a plug ‘n’ play storage card that can be swapped between Xbox Series X and S, as well as other consoles that aren’t yours. WD_BLACK continues to sit comfortably at the top to be the best bang for your buck.
Lords of the Fallen (2023) Review
Oct 27, 2023
“Oh, it’s one of those”, I said to myself as I died for the 20th time to a trio of archers armed with fire arrows. Yes, Lords of the Fallen is one of those souls likes, the ones that test your patience at every turn. More than that, it’s one that sticks closest to the original From Software formula compared to newer titles like Lies of P. You’d think that by doing this approach, the developer Hexworks ends up creating a middling copycat of what makes From Software games so endearing, right? Oh, dear reader, I was so wrong.
Monoprice Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick Review
Oct 27, 2023
Monoprice released the Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick over a year ago, and I’m now taking a look at it after being sent a review unit. Arcade games are rather nostalgic at this point, and esports fighting tournaments utilize them heavily. The Dark Matter Arcade Fighting Stick provides an authentic arcade feel for fighting and retro game purists, enthusiasts, and even casual enjoyers alike. The combination of precise controls and nostalgic design elements make for a truly remarkable experience.
SteelSeries Alias Pro Review
Oct 23, 2023
From the static-filled days of yesteryear to the crystal-clear audio experiences of today, the importance of high-quality audio cannot be overstated. In the realm of professional-grade microphones, SteelSeries has consistently impressed me with their innovative approach to audio solutions. Their latest offering, the SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR Microphone + Stream Mixer, is a testament to their dedication to providing creators with top-notch audio tools. Whether you’re just someone who wants to sound good to your friends, or impress co-workers, or kickoff a career in content creation, there is nothing better than the SteelSeries Alias Pro.
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