RYAN JOHNSON
Sam and Max Beyond Time and Space Remastered (PS4) Review
Sam and Max Beyond Time and Space Remastered has been around for a while, but finally gets it’s release on PlayStation systems, where it has been the standard episodic version for a while. Boasting improved widescreen visuals and new music, this is the definitive way to play the game, although there’s not much in the way of replay value, as is normal for adventure-style games.
Yars: Recharged (PS5) Review
Yar’s Recharged is another game in the “Recharged” line, bringing classic games to modern times with enhanced graphics and gameplay. Yars’ Revenge lends itself well to the arcadey, shoot-em-up feel.
Kofi Quest (Switch) Review
Kofi Quest is a fun parody-style RPG that gets plenty of laughs, but some of the mechanics could use a little polish. The humor Kofi brings to the table is up there with the greats of parody and tribute comedy.
Freshly Frosted (Switch) Review
Freshly Frosted is what I think a utopian cell phone puzzle game would be. No freemium game will ever be able to respect your time, patience, and brain cells the same way.
Samurai Riot: Definitive Edition (Switch) Review
Samurai Riot offers classic brawler gameplay with a unique choice mechanism. Major events happen, and you have the choice to branch the storyline in one of eight directions. It is a welcome return to classic “couch co-op” fun.
Lamplight City (Switch) Review
Lamplight City is a point and click style mystery where you play as a detective out to discover his partner’s killer. The big twist is that cases can be truly failed, with no “game over” instance, which can drastically change the outcome of the case.
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.
Ragnarock "Gloryhammer Raid" DLC Review
Ragnarock has plans for an intense 2022 for fans, as free content will be released quarterly, as well as regular paid DLC “Raids” adding new levels and songs to the game. The first Raid is based on the British Power Metal band Gloryhammer.
Tempest 4000 (Switch) Review
Tempest 4000 comes to the Nintendo Switch after being out on other consoles for four years. The portability, reduced price, and shiny OLED graphics make for an excellent experience, and the best place to enjoy this retro title.
Rover Mechanic Simulator (Switch) Review
Rover Mechanic Simulator is one of the hardcore sim games, attempting to make it feel like you are truly in charge of repairing Mars rovers. It can get tedious at times, but that’s right up some gamer’s alleys.
2076: Midway Multiverse (Oculus Quest 2) Review
Many retro game revivals have happened over the course of the last few years. The best ones are able to make you feel as if you are playing through those original rose-colored glasses. You didn’t go back to the beginning, you went back to how you REMEMBER the beginning to be. Companies like Dotemu have done a great job with recent releases like Streets of Rage 4, Windjammers, and the upcoming Ninja Turtles hack and slash, Shredder’s Revenge. By incorporating a slick polish and drawing style, the old pixel based games feel fresh and new. Ivanovich Games is doing the same with classic shooter games by injecting a heavy dose of VR and all it’s benefits through 1976: Back to Midway and now it’s sequel: 2076: Midway Multiverse.
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.
Unforeseen Incidents (Switch) Review
Unforeseen Incidents, a game from 2018, is being rereleased on the Nintendo Switch, and has many parallels to the conspiracy theories that have popped up in the interim. Whether the developer was prophetic or it’s an eerie coincidence, these “unforeseen incidents” provide a dark, humorous point and click adventure with some more natural logic than usual.
Timelie (Switch) Review
Timelie is a unique strategy/stealth game in which you control two characters across a myriad of potential futures. By using a unique mechanic similar to fast forwarding and rewinding a video, players alter the courses of two characters to find the best outcome and escape the mysterious marauding robot army.
Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards (X1) Review
Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards is an excellent Diabloesque game in a unique atmosphere that does most things well. The AI has it’s limitations that can be exploited, which leads to the temptation to cheese your way through, but if you persevere genuinely you can find a good challenge.
Heavenly Bodies (PS5) Review
Heavenly Bodies is a bizarre game in which you haphazardly control a cosmonaut as they float weightless through a station to complete tasks. It becomes more fun the more people you have to enjoy it with.
Before We Leave (Xbox One) Review
Before we Leave is a “4x” style game, with more emphasis on exploration and keeping your “peeps” happy than attack or defense. The small twists in focus allow a fresh take on the genre.
The Eternal Cylinder (PS4) Review
The Eternal Cylinder is a strange mix of survival genres: work to create a team of aliens with unique abilities, grow and develop, but also beware of the giant, world-spanning cylinder ready to crush everything in it’s path.
Rhythm of the Universe: Ionia (Oculus Quest 2) Review
Rhythm of the Universe: IONIA is a narrative adventure game in the vein of Vader Immortal, wherein you traverse a lush Pandora/Ferngully style environment in order to help save it’s inhabitants. While short and simple, this lush world is full of character and a great start to an alleged series.