Originating from Spain during the mid-90s, this 2D run ‘n gunner is often compared to Metal Slug due to its fast pace, meaty weaponry, and focus on rescuing hostages. While it’s true that a handful of other games from publisher Galeco were brazen with their inspirations, this isn’t a case of one developer trying to …
Before wireless tech arrived, we had to make do with wired joypads, forcing us to either sit nearer the TV or pull the console out further, turning it into a trip hazard in the process. Nintendo inadvertently gave us a taste of this simpler time by packaging the NES Classic with short, wired controllers. Now …
When the almighty PS1 launched, Takara’s Battle Arena Toshinden gained a lot of press attention, even taking the front cover of various gaming mags. With its vibrant visuals, anime-style characters, over-the-top special moves, and upbeat music, this early polygon-based beat ’em up managed to dazzle. Then, just a few months later, Namco’s Tekken made the …
Clarity, or to use its full name, Clarity: The Seven Demons of Vanguardia, from developer Team Quantum Games and publisher eastasiasoft, is pretty descriptive. It’s down to you to defeat the titular seven demons across a sprawling map in the grand Metroidvania style, even if it is actually not much more than an ordinary platformer. …
Now is a great time to own a Switch 2. In addition to Nintendo putting out new releases regularly, publishers are porting the cream of the past generation’s crop to the system, often at enticingly low prices. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great example: a rich and varied third-person narrative adventure, with a …
I love me a turn-based game, having cut my teeth on UFO: Enemy Unknown (aka XCOM) on PC and the likes of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on GBA. That last one is still resident in my GBA SP, as it happens. Though I should probably get an IPS screen conversion as that display has aged …
Decades ago, almost every publisher going took a stab at establishing a football franchise, licensing individual clubs and players to lend brand recognition. By the time the Xbox 360/PS3 generation rolled around, EA and Konami had the genre under tight control with FIFA and PES, eventually becoming untouchable to competition. This still rings true today …
Sometimes there’s no need to question how a game came to be. Back when Cool Spot launched on the Mega Drive in 1993, gamers never questioned how or why a platformer starring the 7-UP mascot was suddenly the hottest game around. We just accepted it and enjoyed it. The same goes for Mousebusters — a …
Nowadays, new towns are established by local councils through what can only be described as a drawn-out process. Plans are drawn up, and the surrounding population instantly objects, citing pollution and traffic concerns. Plans are then revised to create a self-contained eco town instead. The surrounding areas object for a second time, yet the plan …
I used to love Formula One, especially back in what you might argue was the sport’s heyday, when the likes of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna went toe to toe regularly, including the 1989 season, when they both ended up on the same team at McLaren and infamously crashed into each other at Suzuka in …
The Amiga doesn’t gain as much credit as it deserves, especially when it comes to franchises that began life on Commodore’s humble computer line. Then again, when the likes of Zool, Cannon Fodder and Worms gain re-releases, it’s often the console versions that are brought back due to their more refined controls and lack of …
When it comes to arcade-style shoot ’em ups, there are around a dozen I can distinctly remember playing for the first time, all of which left a lasting impression with their lavish visuals and rich mechanics. Truxton, Radiant Silvergun, Gradius V, Ikaruga, and Deathsmiles all fall into this camp. Psyvariar also makes this list, released …
So vast is Jaleco’s back catalogue that dozens of games contained within it are rarely mentioned nowadays, not even gaining the occasional screenshot post on social media along with the obligatory prompt asking if anyone remembers them. Heck, even covering news of this mecha shoot’em up remake required extra research, with the 1984 arcade original …
Around the time Enslaved: Odyssey to the West launched, I drafted a feature looking at every game inspired by the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. Despite having a fondness for Monkey King and co, this planned piece didn’t come to fruition. We’ve seen so many recent releases based on the novel, including Black …
First impressions can change in mere moments – either for better or worse. Playing an anticipated new release to find that it suffers from poor performance and input lag can be disheartening. Conversely, you may play something that doesn’t look too hot only to find a new favourite – and that’s always a minor pleasure …