RYAN JOHNSON
Shiftlings Review (PS4)
Shiftlings is a new digital game that places you in charge of a couple of aliens tasked with fixing things. Little do they know that they are the stars of a highly popular TV show, and a happy accident with a bottle of cola results in a strangely comedic play mechanic that has you (with a friend, if you desire) to think your way from Point A to Point B.
Frenchy Bird Review - Wii U
Frenchy Bird: Flappy Bird in France. Is it a clone, or a tribute? As a budget title for the Wii U at a mere $1.99, it may be worth your while if you've ever been curious as to what the big deal was with Flappy Bird. It may even improve on the formula, making it something to actually boot up more than the one time. Read in for a full review.
Family Tennis SP Review--Wii U
Family Tennis SP is a budget title tennis game for the Wii U that makes me feel like the motion control phase never happened. Like Wii Tennis without the motion control, it provides a fun, if simplistic experience best suited to those up for a challenge.
Titan Attacks! the 3DS
Titan Attacks received a glowing review when it came through The Gamer's Lounge for the full Sony cross-buy situation. Now, it finds a home on the 3DS. Does the twitch gameplay and fast action make for a fun 3DS title? Ryan Johnson at The Gamer's Lounge found a few flaws in this version, but that's not to say it's without any merit.
Dying Light Review
Dying Light takes a genre--zombie apocalypse--and turns it on it's head. Much like the duality of the day/night cycle, the game manages to take a stagnant genre and inject it with new by simply harkening back to the old. By borrowing from several modern classics outside of it's own genre, Dying Light manages to bring together a fun game. While not without it's faults, Dying Light will have you feeling the classic terror of survival horror as you pray for sunup.
Citizens of Earth Review
Citizens of Earth! The Vice President of the Earth needs your help! A quirky new RPG that honors classic gameplay tropes from games like Earthbound and Pokemon has just arisen. Instead of the stereotypical grizzled war heroes, you control a VP who doesn't want to get his hands dirty, so he enlists the general populace who use their own talents to take down evil.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Review
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker originally didn't seem like a worthy purchase. It seemed like a "been there, done that" feeling with it merely being an expansion of bonus levels from Mario 3D World, but a little digging and you'll find yet another gem for the Nintendo crown.
Sneaky Sneaky Slips onto iOS Platforms
Sneaky Sneaky is currently available for $2.99 on the iOS App Store. A neat mix of Final Fantasy RPGness, Metal Gear Soliton Radar scoping, and Zelda-esque graphics, it looks to steal your heart as it fills it's wallet. With the new release on mobile devices, does it make it more approachable, or do the mobile adaptations shove all the ugly bits out into the limelight? Ryan Johnson puts his two cents in (so long as they don't get stolen before you read them).
Syberia Review (PS3)
Syberia is a decade-old PC point-and-click game that hit well on PC for it's engaging storyline. It has since spawned a second game in the series, and a third reportedly comes out next year. Potentially to increase knowledge of the series in time for the new release, Syberia has been ported to the PlayStation 3, giving a new user base a chance to experience this unique adventure.
Down Among the Dead Men Review
Lately, inkle has been putting out some quality "games" for mobile platforms, playing a digital edition of the oldschool Choose Your Own Adventure books. With the highly acclaimed Sorcery series and 80 Days under their belt, they take a shot at the swashbuckling high seas with Down Among the Dead Men. Is this matey worth the doubloons to have 'er be a crew hand on your ship, or should they be walking the plank? Click in for a review.
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones Sneaks onto Wii U
Stealth Inc sneaks away from the consoles that the original game was on for the Wii U exclusive sequel. Stealth Inc 2 steals a few classic gameplay styles from oldschool NES games, landing in the Metroidvania template. Is it worth it for a fan of the original to slip their way into the Wii U camp? Ryan Johnson of The Gamer's Lounge weighs in.
Styx: Master of Shadows Review
As a goblin whose sharpest weapon is his scathing tongue, Styx needs to fly under the radar, much as his game has flown due to the giant marketing campaigns of AAA developers. Styx has a bag of tricks worth opening up, and fans of traditional hardcore gameplay will be pleasantly surprised.
I've Got to Run: Complete Edition Review
A few months ago, I got a copy of the original I've Got to Run for the Wii U to review. While I didn't see much in terms of overall excitement, it became a recommended purchase due to the overall cheap price and the fact that it hooked my son more than Mario Kart 8 for a while. The game's "Complete Edition" now heads to the Wii U's handheld sibling, albeit at a higher price point. It it worth your time to hop along the kitchen counters again?
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Review
Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright team up in the long-awaited crossover. Harkening back to their classic styles that made them famous, with Maya Fey returning and the slightly older Luke Triton, the game is oozing with fanservice. Click in to see if we object with the presented evidence, or if the puzzling mix has a viable solution.
The Swapper: Review
The Swapper is a recent release via Curve Studios that twists a Metroidvania game style around a Portal-esque puzzle mechanic and plot. Click in to read more about this intriguing title.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments Review
Holmes steps out of the shadows to deliver a new spin on the series and classic character. Do we deduce that it is a quality title, or is it elementary that this should be avoided? Read in to find out.
Anomaly 2 (PS4) Review
I've been around strategy games long enough to have dreamed of a game similar to Anomaly. Tower Defense have often disappointed me: in the end, you're fortifying yourself in one spot to hope that nobody can get through your defenses. 11 bit studio's change up to a "Tower Offense" has taken the genre by storm, and now Anomaly 2 makes it's way onto the PlayStation 4.
Farming Simulator 3DS Review
Farming Simulator has been making waves all across the web for a while. PC enthusiasts have been dubstepping replays for ages, but the title hit the 3DS recently, and has received a price drop on Amazon. Should you pick this up, or wait for the inevitable Farming Sim 15? Click in to find out.
MouseCraft Review
Curve Studios is one of my favorite publishing groups. They have a way of finding great talent to make a fun game. I jumped at the chance to review Mousecraft sight unseen, because Curve has never steered me wrong. I wasn't fully aware of what I was getting myself into, though.
Interview with Syrenne McNulty of I've Got to Run!
A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to review a little Wii U title, I've Got to Run! Developed by the one-woman team at Four Corner Games, Syrenne McNulty got to forage ahead in her passion for video games by releasing her first game ever on a home console.