DENNIS GAGLIARDOTTO
Calico Review
Calico gives the perfect opportunity and setting to give you the cat game you’ve always wanted, building the cat cafe of your dreams while you pet, ride, adopt, and play with tons of animals across a colorful open-world, but unfortunately the game simply feels like it was prematurely released with unintuitive controls that hinder the experience, and performance issues across PC and Switch that make what should be a serene experience a frustrating one.
Morbid: The Seven Acolytes Review
Morbid: The Seven Acolytes may seem familiar in terms of gameplay as it’s another Souls-like game that’s added to an ever-growing genre of titles that aim to dethrone From Software’s game-changing hits, but Morbid: The Seven Acolytes provides so much more that it uses the genre as more of an inspiration as it takes things into its own direction with a wonderful retro aesthetic that makes it one of the most accessible and enjoyable Souls-like titles to date, standing out from the influx of poor attempts from other titles over the last few years.
Chronos: Before the Ashes Review (Nintendo Switch)
Chronos: Before the Ashes serves as a stylized prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes that sees a solid VR to console conversion and bringing with it unique take to the Souls-like genre with interesting mechanics that keep it fresh and forward-thinking, but makes the gameplay all too familiar despite a more accessible approach that makes it a little more palatable for new players looking to get into the genre without jumping into the deep end right away.
Clea Review
Clea’s approach to survival horror is unique thanks to its fantastic art, cute protagonist, and skill-based over jump-scare filled gameplay, but its structure and progression feel more like a test of patience and choreography rather than any meaningful experience where you’d have any fun.
Cake Bash Review
Cake Bash is a new party game that offers exceptional fun with an adorable aesthetic that’s perfect for gamers of all ages looking for a good time both locally and online. Filled with smiles, laughs, and all things sweet, Cake Bash is a memorable time with clever and unique mini-games across its gameplay where delectable pastries battle it out to be the tastiest at the end and be the last carb standing. It’s a ton of fun that sees a bright future ahead of it as it’s a game that can continue to grow through supported updates expanding the community and content within.
Neversong Review
Neversong’s heavier topics keep it driven with a ubiquitous darkness throughout its narrative, but despite its somber tone it doesn’t forget to have a truly amazing and fun game there to keep players gripped within its storytelling through stellar sidescrolling platforming and a metroidvania-esque approach to its progression. Neversong is a mature follow-up to Pinstripe, and remains a fluid experience and one of the best bite-sized games the Switch has to offer.
Crysis Remastered Review
We've all heard the famous words "But can it run Crysis?" at one point or another, and over a decade later the saying still holds strong when talking about hardware that may be deemed inferior or lacking, but what the Switch does here, despite it's disadvantages to other larger hardware that can make up for the space with increased specs, should be commended and applauded with one of the games that was known not only as a technical showcase, but a fantastic game in its own right.
Maid of Sker Review
Maid of Sker is one of the better horror experiences of 2020 and gives a great look at at an immersive environment that captivates with strong atmospheres, but unfortunately it struggles with pacing and some odd mechanics that can hinder the overall playthrough.
Rainswept Review
Rainswept does well to give a proper murder-mystery narrative with a minimal art style that lets the writing take center stage in a captivating playthrough, but suffers from a slow-burn approach with repetitive and simplistic gameplay that doesn’t do it much favors in the long run, but still holds strong by the end of this noir adventure.
Creepy Tale Review
Creepy Tale has the charm and art that would lend itself nicely to a horror puzzler, but unfortunately falls flat with a trial-and-error approach that’s less about solving puzzles and more about how much patience you’re willing to have with it instead.
Summer In Mara Review
Summer In Mara introduces Chibig's new game in a line of stellar titles the studio has delivered in the past few years such as Deiland and Ankora that also have an emphasis on farming and relaxation. While far from perfect, Summer In Mara has a constant sense of serenity from the moment you begin from its stunning opening animation to the soothing music that plays throughout, delivering a comfortably familiar yet beautiful new adventure as you sail the seas and uncover the mysteries of islands.
Yakuza 0 Review
Going back to where it all began - long before even Kiwami - we see the upbringing of both Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, the latter of which is finally playable after being a fan-favorite for so long. With the most polished fighting the series has seen before the Dragon Engine became the new technical showcase for Yakuza, Yakuza 0 remains as fun as ever and serves as a fantastic entry point for newcomers with plenty to love for veterans as well. Now Yakuza 0 on Xbox One has never looked, sounded, or played better as it has on Xbox One X.
Yakuza Remastered Collection Review
The middle portion of the Yakuza saga is here to officially make the entire series be on one console for the first time ever, and the Remastered Collection brings with it a beautiful boost of polish that gives an already extraordinary series the bump it needs to become virtually flawless, making Kazuma Kiryu and co. look and play better than ever before.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster Review
The Suicide of Rachel Foster tackles a heavy topic that most of us have faced ourselves or indirectly through others, and in the shoes of Nicole Wilson you’ll uncover what drove her to such lengths and the truth behind it all. While the game touts itself as horror, it ultimately doesn’t see much of anything happen throughout the duration of its playthrough, and despite its stellar writing that really shines and gives the story the power it needs to make it impactful, the game itself falls flat and impaired as you’ll aimlessly roam around a hotel listening to a conversation for three hours.
7th Sector Review
7th Sector is a stunning puzzle game at its core but introduces many different ways of going about progression that isn't done in a typical level-based fashion, and makes sure that despite its simplicity in approach to gameplay, that the environment around you - especially the background - is one that feels alive and tells a narrative as you play.
Corpse Party: Blood Drive (PC) Review
Bringing the epic conclusion to the three-part series to Steam after being a Vita exclusive, Corpse Party: Blood Drive sees the finale of the story of Shinozaki, facing the morale and immoral between life and death, what’s worth sacrificing, and what you’ll go through to get the ones you love back. With a bump in visuals thanks to a higher resolution, the PC version of Corpse Party: Blood Drive fixes all of the issues Vita suffered from years ago, making this a definitive experience to experience the amazing finale to the seminal series.
Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient Review
Corpse Party returns with a (mostly) brand new story in Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient, focusing on all new character Ayame Itou as she awakens in a hospital with no recollection of who she really is or how she got there. Seemingly abandoned, she must make her way out and find out what’s happened. Dead Patient stays true to the lineage and foundation Corpse Party has set for visual novel and horror games, but despite receiving the game six years after its 2013 debut in Japan, it’s disheartening that all we get is a very short opening chapter to a much broader, deeper game that ultimately remains a mystery for now.
A Knight's Quest Review
A Knight's Quest mixes the likes of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Portal Knights, bringing them into a fun, accessible package filled with tons of humor that's self aware of its influences. Unfortunately the Switch version, of which this review was conducted with, is clearly at a large disadvantage - almost so much so the inferiority and limitations stacked upon an unpolished, janky adventure not only leave much to be desired, but make for a less than optimal playing experience that, despite its few pleasures, is identical to the protagonist's name: Rusty.
Destiny Connect Review
Destiny Connect: Tick Tock Travelers is a wonderful RPG that's simple yet effective, with a solid score filled with melodies and sounds that take you on your way through past, present, and future, and a story that's wholesome and heartwarming. It’s an experience that’s one-of-a-kind, thoughtful, and innocent while still being appealing to an RPG fan both old and new, young and old.
Mary Skelter 2 Review
Despite the similarities and Mary Skelter 2 feeling more like a definitive edition with altered content, Mary Skelter as a whole still remains to be one of the most unique dungeon crawlers conceived thanks to its dark story with powerful heroines in a unique world of survival and humanity starting over.