RYAN JOHNSON
The Church in the Darkness (PS4) Review
The Church in the Darkness is a realistic dive into a cult like Jonestown and the stress and worry of family members of cultists. One family decides enough is enough and sends a member in to find their nephew and convince him to leave. with a randomized personality of each and every main character, TCitD may be a short game but offers variety in every replay.
Wargroove (PS4) Review
Wargroove finally hits the PlayStation 4. A tactical RPG with a classic twist, it feels more like a chess game than a frantic race to level up your characters and pound your enemy.
Horizon Chase Turbo Releases it’s first DLC: “Summer Vibes”
While amazing before, Horizon Chase Turbo finally reaches it’s potential by adding The Right Car for this classic retro 90s racer. With a roadmap for the future planned out with even more DLC, one wonders what else they can add. This little $2 add on is easily worth the price for any newcomers or those who have had the game since the beginning and are looking for a little refresh to this classic arcade racer.
STANDBY (Switch) Review
STANDBY is a simple budget game that emulates precision platformers such as Super Meat Boy, but the level of exactness required may frustrate some gamers, as the developers have one way for you to win and deviation means death. For gamers who have mastered those titles and demand a bigger challenge, they’ve come to the right place.
Aggelos (Switch) Review
Aggelos is a love letter to classic RPG and action games, feeling like a mishmash of Zelda II, Metroid, CastleVania, and Mega Man. Some of it’s classic skin makes one see how far we’ve come, as it hearkens back to exactly how it used to be. However, Aggelos’ tight gameplay makes for a fun and easily affordable experience.
I'm Hungry (PSVR) Review
I’m Hungry is an arcadey VR take on a mobile food truck game. It isn’t as deep as some VR games, but it’s nice to see an upgrade to an addictive mobile style game into VR mode. I’m Hungry may be repetitive at times but it still provides a wonderful bit of fun to a group of people who can get together for some silly virtual burger-flipping.
My Friend Pedro (Switch) Review
My Friend Pedro is a preposterous tale about killing, death, revenge, and bananas. Our hero listens to the whims of a banana in his head as he takes out the seedy crime-ridden underbelly of the city.
Catan VR (PS4) Review
Catan VR is a beautiful way to play a classic board game, but it is hindered by being bound to the core game experience and one person per console play when other systems without VR offer extra expansions. Regardless, it’s a beautiful, fun, and unique way to play board games with friends who may not be able to pop in for the night.
Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet (Switch) Review
Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet is a wonderful point’n’click adventure game with smooth controls that take full advantage of the Switch’s capabilities. The only downside is that it’s a port of a much cheaper mobile game, and it’s up to you to see if the price increase is worth the port of entry. Either way, the story is heartwarmingly fun and a great time all around.
Captain Cat (Switch) Review
Captain Cat is a mobile game from back to at least 2012 that is being ported to Xbox One and Switch. While there’s not a lot of content to extend to several play sessions, gamers will likely get $6.99 worth of entertainment in an afternoon. Captain Cat provides a TV-sized bite of some quality mobile entertainment.
Rolling Gunner (Switch) Review
By nature, Bullet Hell shooters are not an easily accessible genre. Rolling Gunner attempts to offer a classic experience but also adds a few easier options for gamers who want to learn the ropes. Sometimes the accessibility mutes the excitement inherent in the genre, but Rolling Gunner’s action mechanic makes sure you stay right on top of the enemy.
Super Neptunia RPG (PS4) Review
Super Neptunia RPG continues the quirky commentary on the gaming industry, this time in a 2D realm where anything 3D is shunned. While fun, there are some hiccups in core gameplay that lead to some frustrating moments. It’s a great game for fans of RPGs or the Neptunia series when spaced with a little tolerance.
DayZ Releases on Consoles Review
After a five year beta, DayZ (originally a mod that has expanded into it’s own game) is released on consoles. Diehard fans have been playing for ages, but the console release will allow a whole new crowd to join the fray. Gamers are dropped into a post apocalyptic zombie wasteland and have to choose whether to be friend or foe to the other players on the server. Permadeath and randomization guarantees a unique experience every time.
Dragon Star Varnir (PS4) Review
Dragon Star Varnir is a visual novel at heart with a rather unique RPG combat system taking place over three levels of battlefield in the sky. While it may rely on some traditional tropes, it still provides a solid and fun experience.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II (PS4) Review
Trails of Cold Steel’s definitive edition series continues on the PS4 in preparation for the upcoming third installment in November. Trails of Cold Steel 2 offers the great continuation of story from #1 with all the benefits added to the series from the first game’s remastering.
Neptunia Shooter / ネプシューター (Steam) Review
Originally an April Fool’s Joke, Neptunia Shooter comes to fruition with a bullet-hell game with Neptunia skins on it. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t lean too hard into either niche, turning into a very basic arcade-style shooter. Fun for what it is at the bargain price, but a little underwhelming for both bullet hell and Neptunia fans alike.
Project Nimbus: Complete Edition (Switch) Review
Project Nimbus is a new mecha-style action game for the Nintendo Switch that balances the heft of a giant robot with the nimbleness needed for a combat-heavy action game. As a $19.99 budget title, it’s a great spacer to hold you over until Daemon X Machina comes out.
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark Review
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark attempts to improve on a legend, with Final Fantasy Tactics as it’s obvious inspiration. Dare it be said that it succeeds in that endeavor, providing many quality of life improvements that make it very exciting to play. A must have for fans of the Tactical RPG.
Dark Quest II (Switch) Review
Dark Quest is evocative of the Hero Quest board game that inspired it, but some really rough design choices make playing the game a challenge in itself. There is fun to be had, but it takes a bit to find in this budget title.
Darkest Hunters (Switch) Review
Darkest Hunters marries the core concepts of RPGs with a mobile puzzle game. It reaches the level expected of the budget price, but doesn’t do much beyond that to impress.