DAN HILLMAN
Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, Reanimated Review (PC)
If you like Hopelessly Romantic Zombies, Telepathic Ghost Historians and Gunslinging Nerd Vampires pull up a gutter and fall down next to Erik because I have an RPG game you are going to like. Today we are having a look at Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, Reanimated, A revive of a remake of a sequel that holds up pretty well.
Dungeon Inn Review (PC)
Here we have a game about a girl and her cats who live in a hotel with a dungeon. NO! not THAT kind of dungeon, Instead its a nice twist on the management sim concept. So scrape Erik the Bard off the floor, strap on your armor and delve into Dungeon Inn from developer Cat Society
Anima Flux Review (PC)
Welcome to Anima Flux, which it turns out is not a weird new intestinal disorder. Rather its a 2D Metroidvania style platformer. Take control of one of two characters as you fight through the usual horde of mutants in a desperate bid to save the last remaining human city which for Erik’s sake better have a distillery.
Train Valley World Review (PC)
All aboard Train Valley World where your job is literally to make the trains run on time. Inhabiting a middle ground between management and puzzle games Train Valley World is different enough to be worth a look in a veritable sea of management games. So meet me in the saloon car and see if Erik left us any Jameson.
Republic of Priates Review (PC)
Welcome to “Republic of Pirates” from Crazy Goat Games, which surprisingly isn't a game about Congress. So avast ye scurvy dogs and all that, grab your cutlass, load the carronade and come find out if Erik “chum bucket” Kubik has to walk the plank because he drank all the Captain's rum.
Manor Lords (Early Access) Review
Do you like subsistence farming, infant mortality and dying of exposure? Do you fear bandits and the possibility that Squire Kubik will drink all the ale? If so, gird your loins for everyday life in the High Middle Ages because Manor Lords is out in early access and we’re going to party like it's 1399.
DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate Dual Edition Review (PC)
Welcome to the generically futuristic yet pretentiously named city of Astrum Close, closed-off from the harsh outside world. A brutal crime that has been committed and you must solve it to preserve the cities idyllic existence. So, if you like assassination, prophecy and mass hysteria, stand by while we have a look at DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate.
Farsiders Review (PC)
Welcome to Farsiders by Gambit Ghost Studio, a traditional hack and slash affair where your character wins a spot in an elite futuristic fighting unit on a TV game-show before traveling in time to a mystical realm of magic. Yes, you read that correctly. No, I didn’t just have a stroke, sit down, pass the Jameson, and let's talk about Farsiders.
Star Trek Infinite Review (PC)
Red Alert folks, there is a new Star Trek game out there. Will Paradox’s new Star Trek Infinite be a direct hit? Or will you end up feeling like you should have flushed this captain’s log? Break out the red shirts and reverse the polarity, we are warping out as soon as I figure out where Ensign Kubik hid the Jameson.
Crymachina Review (Switch)
Welcome to Crymachina, a high-concept science fiction story populated by android school girls that spend their time talking about their feelings, A LOT. So have a seat as we talk about deep existential concepts like: “Why is there a space whale?” and “Where did Erik hide the Jamison?”
Legend of Heroes/Trails into Reverie Review
Good News Everyone! If you are a fan of the long-running Legend of Heroes/Trails series, you can now play the latest installment, Legend of Heroes/Trails into Reverie on the Nintendo Switch. This tenth installment serves as a sort of epilogue to the previous games in the series, and so is something of an exercise in fan servicing. If you are that fan, strap in because this is a big game that carries on the tradition of it predecessors
Strayed Lights Review (PC)
Welcome to the non-sequitur world of Strayed Lights, an indie adventure from Embers where you are a “tiny flickering light seeking transcendence.” And by seeking transcendence, we mean beating the crap out of a bunch of other colored lights. If that sounds like the opening to one of those “this is your brain on drugs” commercials from the 80s, don’t worry, the flimsy context hides a surprisingly good game. Let’s get right to it and take a look at Strayed Lights.
Ixion Review (PC)
In Ecclesiastes, the Bible says, “Where There’s Life, There’s Hope.” Ixion replies, “Then let there be neither.” Ixion is a game that wants to cause you as much anguish as possible, and I’m mostly okay with it. Well, that, or I am suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. So, get ready, the universe is a (very) hostile place. Let’s have a look at Bulwark Studios Ixion.
Gripper Review (PC)
Where would we be without the Infinite Monkey theorem, which postulates that “An infinite number of monkeys, with an infinite number of typewriters, will eventually reproduce the works of Shakespeare.” In the case of Gripper, the backstory isn’t why we’re here. We want to ride motorcycles and kick some butt while swinging a grappling hook. And Gripper from Heart Core delivers that in spades.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Review (Switch)
Half a century ago Syzygy Engineering the inventors of Computer Space, the first commercially available video game cabinet rebranded itself as Atari Inc and the modern video game industry was off and running. So, buckle up as we look at Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, a collection of more than 80 games from seven different hardware platforms, some of which you have heard of and some of which flopped harder than a fat guy in a YouTube fail video.
Necroboy: Path to Evilship Review (PC)
Just in time for Halloween comes Necroboy which despite its title is neither a pornographic superhero parody nor a horrible new shown from Netflix. Rather, it’s a solid puzzler where the title character uses his power over death to try to take over the world. So, let’s raise a little heck and have a look at Chillin Wolf’s Necroboy: Path to Evilship.
Robo Revenge Squad (Switch) Review
If you like robots, cooperative play and weaponized disco balls then I have a game for you. Strap in for magnificent metallic mayhem™ because today we are going to look at Mill Game’s Robo Revenge Squad.
Eville (Beta) Review (PC)
Neither fish nor fowl, Vest Game’s Eville is a mixed bag. There is much to criticize in this dark and spooky social deduction game, but it has the singular virtue that I keep coming back to it. With the Game dropping this week, let's see if we are looking at a case of Stockholm Syndrome or if we have a hidden gem here.
Strange Horticulture (Switch) Review
Years ago, if you said ‘strange horticulture” people would assume your big brother had a secret plant room in the basement where he grew ahem…. “Tomatoes.” But today we look at a game full of actually strange horticulture located in the equally strange city of Undermere. So if you like puzzles, plants and demons run amok, join us for a look at Bad Viking’s fantasy puzzler Strange Horticulture.
Okinawa Rush (Switch) Review
Do you fondly remember the whole battalion of Martial Arts themed fighting games from back in the day? Do you like the gore from 1980s teen slasher movies? If so, I have a game for you. Bow onto the mat and let’s have a look at Okinawa Rush while a bald man in a bathrobe pulls your lungs out through your nose.