Reviews
Retro City Rampage DX Review
Aug 17, 2017
The Nintendo Switch is affectionately referred to as the “indie machine”. Vblank Entertainment’s Retro City Rampage DX is a example of an excellent indie game on the Switch. While the core game has been updated (hence “DX” in the title) and ported to many platforms already, it is still a standout title on the Switch. It doesn’t do anything new or different than its other console counterparts, but its portability and home console duality lend the game to be played literally everywhere – and this is a game you want to play everywhere you can. Retro City Rampage DX is an homage to 80s games, movies, and music that doesn’t rely purely on its parody to be funny and interesting, it also has solid gameplay and mechanics to back it all up.
Phantom Trigger Review
Aug 16, 2017
Phantom Trigger comes from the 2-man development studio who made Divide by Sheep, and was a clever puzzle game for PC and mobile. Phantom Trigger does a lot of things well, but there some miss-steps along the way. Perhaps its most distinct feature is the visual style which hearkens other recently released games, but it’s much more than what it looks like. There’s a deeper game here, held back by limitations and other constraints from being better than what it is.
Drifting Lands Review
Aug 15, 2017
Drifting Lands from French studio Alkemi brings a hybrid of genres yet unseen until now. Alkemi blends shmup (shoot’em up) side-scrolling bullet-hell with action RPG elements where loot is key. Drifting Lands is a new type of game for other developers to follow, but will be hard to duplicate how well Alkemi put this together. Drifting Lands also serves as an introduction to shmups without being overly difficult or impenetrable as sometimes the series is known for.
Ironcast Review
Aug 10, 2017
Ironcast has previously released onto other platforms from developer Dreadbit and publisher Ripstone, but now it is the game’s turn on the Nintendo Switch. This game is a perfect fit for this handheld console, as it looks and runs beautifully all the same compared to its other console counterparts. The best addition to the game is that no controllers are required, as you can play the game entirely with the Switch’s touchscreen. Now, Ironcast is equal parts a match-3 as it is a strategy game, and it’s a gem all its own to be more than a clone. Ironcast is difficult, but is a challenge worth undertaking.
The Shrouded Isle Review
Aug 09, 2017
Bred from a Ludum Dare game jam where the concept was “you are the monster”, is how The Shrouded Isle came to be. Kitfox Games makes and publishes stylish games, and The Shrouded Isle is no different in that regard, but the game is incredibly unique and unlike anything that’s come before it. The Shrouded Isle is dark, mysterious, and unsettling but maintains a level head so that its themes aren’t overbearing as a game to be entertaining and intriguing to experiment with.
Sine Mora EX Review
Aug 08, 2017
Replaying a game you haven’t played in five years lets you see a lot of things you missed the first time. This brings the classic adage, “what’s old is new again” to light. Sine Mora returns thanks to new publisher THQ Nordic, in the form of Sine Mora EX. Sine Mora EX brings the somber story and visually striking game back to PC, and introduces the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners.
Kingsway Review
Aug 04, 2017
Kingsway has been out for a few weeks at this point, and the word that’s been synonymous when describing the game is that it’s “clever”. That’s quite an apt one-word description for this game, but for the sake of not repeating what’s already been said, I’m going to call this game “ingenious”. Because it is. From the moment you fire it up to when you shut it off, it emulates the Windows 95 OS to give Kingsway a unique look and feel that makes total sense for a game, and doesn’t rely on being a software parody for its humor and reverence to land successfully. Kingsway is the most refreshing roguelite game I’ve ever played.
Galaxy of Pen & Paper Review
Aug 02, 2017
I’m a fan of RPG videogames and while some might assume that would mean I have a heart for table top roleplaying, it sadly does not. I’ve had a few experiences trying them, and while fun they go on way too long and I just don’t find myself as stimulated. So what would happen if there was a game that presented itself as a table top sci-fi experience but rolled into a classic turn based videogame? The answer is surprisingly good, though with some problems.
Overcooked Special Edition Review
Aug 02, 2017
Overcooked Special Edition is truly special for the Nintendo Switch, as it is not only the game, but all the DLC that’s been released thus far. Now, I had missed out on the Overcooked sensation late last year, and this was the first time I got to see what it was about. This is a game that you can’t understand in screenshots, or even some videos. This is a game that you will understand its utter chaos by playing either by yourself or trying to coordinate with friends and family.
Redeemer Review
Jul 31, 2017
Redeemer is a brawler in the vein of Hotline Miami because of its gore, brutality, and top-down view, but has a melee focus in a 3D space. The story is the least interesting as it is cliché and tacky with its unfolding plot. The gameplay loop of Redeemer stays fresh enough for the six hours it takes to complete the game. It is unfortunate though, that the gameplay suffers from random and frequent framerate dips. With that said, Redeemer is a modern romp through some old-school style stages that doesn’t quite redeem its shortcomings, but satisfies throughout to be a violent brawler worth playing.
Super Lovely Planet Review
Jul 28, 2017
Super Lovely Planet is the third game in a series that started with Lovely Planet and followed by Lovely Planet Arcade, both first-person shooters. This time there’s no shooting at all, and it’s a 3D platformer like Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario 64, or more recently Yooka-Laylee; except, not like them at all. Super Lovely Planet takes a different approach, one where the conversations are minimal and the gameplay is paramount. The resulting game is somewhat shallow, but provides simple fun in its cutesy worlds.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas (Switch) Review
Jul 27, 2017
It’s not hard to draw comparisons between Oceanhorn and a certain iconic Nintendo Franchise. So it’s only fitting that the game eventually made it’s way to Nintendo’s newest platform, the Switch. Looking at screenshots, it’s easy to see that the developers were inspired by Nintendo’s tunic wearing hero. The similarities are undeniable; the hero’s appearance, the game’s narrative, and overall design choices scream The Legend of Zelda. I’m not saying that’s at all a bad thing though as Oceanhorn takes the formula and gives it their own touch. Whether it’s any fun is a whole other issue.
Solstice Chronicles: MIA Review
Jul 26, 2017
Ironward’s first game, The Red Solstice released in 2015 and was a tactical, co-op survival game like the Night of the Dead mod for StarCraft 2. The follow-up, Solstice Chronicles: MIA strays from that, and is a twin-stick shooter that maintains its tactical edge from The Red Solstice. Solstice Chronicles: MIA is unfortunately a game that seems incomplete. While the graphics are impressive and the controls feel good, the story is written in way that doesn’t maintain immersion or cohesion, and the content of the gameplay feels hollow and lifeless, much like the “Red Planet” 140 million miles away from us.
Fallen Legion: Sins of an Empire Review
Jul 25, 2017
Making decisions for an entire Kingdom can feel intimidating let alone affect the people. Fallen Legion takes this core idea along with an interesting action RPG battle system up to the plate and aims to deliver a new RPG experience. It’s one I found rather interesting but also a bit limited.
Iron Crypticle Review
Jul 19, 2017
Iron Crypticle is the enhanced and entirely overhauled version of Confused Pelican’s Iron Fisticle that released in 2014. Iron Fisticle was a game I very much enjoyed, but it was also hard as nails. Iron Crypticle eases up on that difficulty, just ever so slightly to be more accessible and enjoyable. While Iron Fisticle was limited to Steam for its release, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners get to experience the game now known as Iron Crypticle. The game doubles down on local co-op, lightens up on difficulty, and allows you to gorge on its music and visuals as you work your way through it.
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