RYAN JOHNSON
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.
Ragnarock (Oculus) Review
Ragnarock is an excellent VR Rhythm game that deserves a place amongst the greats. A mix of Beat Saber and Guitar Hero, it offers a simpler pattern easily welcome for new VR players.
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.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground (PS4) Review
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground attempts to merge the roguelike genre with the strategic tile-based RPG genre. It’s a strange mix, and unfortunately the hard reset and waiting to be strong enough mar the feeling of progression usually appreciated in the tactical genre. Glitches and bugs need to be ironed out, and there are a few odd choices of how to attack and such, but with a little polish it could be a quality title.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (PlayStation 4) Review
It’s been coming for a long time, and we are finally there: Trails of Cold Steel IV ends the Trails series with a huge, Avengers Endgame level of crossover and story conclusion. Bad for newcomers, but luckily if you really wanna get into it all of the numbered editions of the series are here or coming to the platform of your choice.
Outbreak: Endless Nightmares (PS5) Review
Outbreak: Endless Nightmares comes from a one-person studio who is obviously in love with classic Resident Evil style gameplay. Whilst other games in the series have been met with decent acclaim, mixing the genre with the roguelike proves to make a strange mishmash that doesn’t really work for this reviewer.
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.
Star Renegades (PS4) Review
Rougelikes and RPGs are a strange mix, as the reset style of a rougelike doesn’t sound like it would mix well with RPGs and their long-term growth and planning. Star Renegades tells a unique story of multidimensional battles, where people flat out DIE and the only choice is to let go of an entire dimension and move on to the next.
Curse of the Dead Gods (X1) Review
Curse of the Dead Gods is a Rougelike/Roguelite style game that may at first seem to be aping other games of the genre, but upon closer inspection, really adds some new unique bits to create it’s own playstyle. The solid combat is a must for fans of the genre.
Golden Force (Switch) Review
Golden Force makes some “old school difficult” design choices that, when combined, can lead to frustration. It is perfect for people looking for a Dark Souls/Super Meat Boy combination of challenge, but sparse checkpoints and cheap hits will deter more casual players.
Rigid Force Redux (PS4) Review
Rigid Force Redux is a from-the-ground-up optimization of the PC game Rigid Force Alpha for console systems. Crafted by a developer who truly loves classic sidescrolling “shmups”, the game comes into it’s own with it’s unique firing mechanics allowing you to aim in all directions with increasing firepower to take down the alien horde.
Jet Kave Adventure (Xbox One) Review
Jet Kave Adventure is a simple but fun game, providing an enjoyable time to young ones with a wonderful set of challenges for more hardcore fans of platform games.
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.
Call of the Sea (Xbox) Review
Call of the Sea is a wonderful tale with a strong female protagonist out searching for her husband, which leads to a mysterious island that is more than it seems, as it links to the dreams she has been having. Though some of the puzzles are a strange combination of obtuse and specific, Call of the Sea is an overall fun and engaging story that’s presentation keeps you hooked through it’s five or so hour play tiime.
Boot Hill Heroes (Switch) Review
Boot Hill Heroes is the origin story of Boot Hill Bounties, released earlier this year on the Switch. It originated on PS Mobile and unfortunately brings along some mobile game woes, but provides a fun and exciting Old West Earthbound experience for up to four in couch co-op.
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.
Farming Simulator 19 Alpine Expansion (PS4) Review
Due to Giants taking a year off from the annual Farming Simulator release to prep for the new generation, Farming Simulator 19 is getting a hefty expansion to tide players over. With a new beautiful landscape and tons of new equipment, it will be exciting for fans of the original title, but it still comes with the same issues as the original release.