RYAN JOHNSON
The Rogue Prince of Persia (Switch) Review
The Rogue Prince of Persia is a title made by the PoP team with the pedigree of developers who worked on Dead Cells expansions. The title looks to be heading toward the awesomeness of Dead Cells and all of its expansions.
Rally Arcade Classics (PS5) Review
Rally Arcade Classics is a year-old Steam game making it’s way to home consoles. The title delivers what it states, as arcade-style rally gameplay with classic vehicles. It may not provide as much depth as other racers, the budget price makes it an easy recommendation.
Vessels of Decay (Xbox) Review
Vessels of Decay is an intriguing story steeped in Scandinavian folklore that is very interesting, but some of its graphical and control scheme issues make it difficult to work through. If you approach it with a very Dark Souls “Git Gud” mentality, you may be able to overcome some of the frustration and appreciate the quality work underneath.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (Xbox Series) Review
Ender Magnolia is a sequel to Ender Lilies, and a wonderful Metroidvania that respects the time of the player by allowing for fast travel. The beautiful artwork and creative way that you can build your character using the abilities of the Hominculi make for an engaging video game that is worth a look.
Saviorless (Switch) Review
Saviorless is a game from a Cuban development company seven years in the making, utilizing beautiful hand-drawn art to create a puzzling yet action-packed game that tells a beautiful story in a unique way. The grim tale unfolds as you take control of three uniquely different characters.
Super Dungeon Maker (Nintendo Switch) Review
Super Dungeon Maker is exactly what it says on the box: a dungeon maker. Many have clamored for a “Zelda Maker” in the past. While this isn’t exactly it, this budget title does it’s section well: create amazing customized dungeons and have a lot of fun! But the limitations involved in it (even outside of the copyright avoidance) might help you see why Nintendo hasn’t done it just yet.
Lumberhill (Switch) Review
Lumberhill is a fast, frantic party game reminiscent of titles like Overcooked. It brings it’s own flair with random outdoorsy tasks to complete, but feels a bit more independent. You may be working on the same tasks but it often feels like you are doing it solo.
Vagante (Xbox One) Review
While it is nice to see a roguelike expand the feel of progression a bit more, it’s frustrating to put time and effort into that character to see them die easily. Vagante tries to do it’s best to bridge the gap and make levelling and progression fun while also maintaining the heart of a roguelike.
Windjammers 2 (Xbox One) Review
Windjammers 2 is a sequel decades in the making, and Dotemu does an excellent job of creating a new entry and giving it a modern twist. Players will find a true-life arcade experience in this title, which unfortunately means that they’ll have to figure out some things on their own. Presentation is amazing and learning the title will make it worth your while. Fans of the original will only find more to love.
Subdivision Infinity DX (PS5) Review
Subdivision Infinity DX originated as a mobile game, and that is inherent in it’s overall genetics. It’s a great game, with beautifully upgraded graphics, but some of the gameplay loop requires some excessive grinding. As a standalone space shooter, the combat and controls are tight and a lot of fun.
Glyph (PC) Review
Glyph is a puzzle-platformer that definitely evokes the Monkey Ball feel set in a mysterious Egyptian desert setting. Definitely a fun puzzler, but it’s precision requirements leave some frustrated.
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective (Switch) Review
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is an interactive game based on puzzle books similar to the Where’s Waldo series. With plenty of little things to hunt out and a maze to traverse on each level, puzzle and maze loving kids have a perfect game to add some variety to their gameplay.
Very Very Valet (Switch) Review
Very Very Valet is a madcap four player game in the vein of Overcooked where a group of valets try to organize and return customer’s vehicles—by any means necessary.
The Colonists (Xbox One) Review
The Colonists evokes classic city building and world constructing games like The Settlers. It feels like the classic games of old, but also comes with some of the classic problems inherent in the genre. True fans of the gameplay will be able to overlook such issues and enjoy a wonderful and well-made title.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition (Switch) Review
Scott Pilgrim is back for the game’s 10th anniversary. An excellent celebration of a lost digital title returning from the dead, the game in itself is a love letter to retro brawlers and easily earns a spot in your collection.
Chronos: Before the Ashes Review
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a non-VR rerelease of the prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. It’s an excellent way for people to get more lore for Remnant from a niche title that was only available on the Oculus Rift. It may lose a little bit of it’s unique flair by ditching it’s special VR camera, and you can tell where it would have been, but it doesn’t stop Chronos from being an excellent Soulsbourne-light style game.
Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond (Switch) Review
Captain Sabertooth is a Norwegian children’s property that has been many stage plays, television shows, and movies. It’s most recent outing on the Switch and Steam provides an exciting Metroidvania for young ones to get into the genre.
Death Tales (Switch) Review
Death Tales is a cutesy-macabre platformer that is unfortunately weighed down with flimsy controls and psychedelic colors that make it hard to navigate. The game feels rather aimless and in need of a focus.
Ultracore (Switch) Review
Ultracore is a game that should have released in the 1990s on the waning Sega Genesis. Literally slated for release back then , it has been resurrected and finally released nearly 30 years later. Had it released originally, it would have been an amazing swan song for the Genesis, but being released now it gets lost in the myriad of indie action games on the Switch.
CrossCode (Xbox One) Review
CrossCode is a love letter to 16 bit gaming, with an awesome amalgam of traditional RPG tropes, fast-paced combat, and Zelda action.