Reviews

Mr. Prepper (Switch)

Some games just seem perfect for the Switch. For instance, I have been playing through the Phoenix Wright Trilogy recently and it fits the form factor perfectly. Zelda: Breath of the Wild also would not have had the success it had if not for the amazing ability to...
SCORE
6

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Tribute Games could have taken the easy route, creating a simple yet pleasing homage to Konami’s 1989 arcade classic. A dozen stages, a couple of fan service-delivering boss battles, the fearless foursome as playable characters, and a few modern concessions such as online play, all rolled up into...
SCORE
8

Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX

As the name suggests, Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX is a deluxe version of a previously released game. The PC original launched on Steam last December, eventually garnering a ‘mixed’ reception from roguelike fans. Clearly unhappy with the feedback, developer Dejima has given it a complete overhaul...
SCORE
7

Rolling Gunner + Over Power

Bullet hell games, or danmaku, are difficult. Ask anyone (well, maybe not your grandmother) and you’ll probably be told about how impossible they look – it’s something of a label the genre bears. And not for no good reason either, as genre staples such as the DoDonPachi or...
SCORE
8

Horgihugh and Friends

No matter how advanced technology becomes, the ways of old often prevail. WiFi down? Time to grab a book or dust off the Game Boy. Car won’t start? Either drag the bike out of the shed or start walking. Avid canine aviator Horgihugh finds himself in a similar predicament...
SCORE
7

Wonder Boy Collection

Retro gaming can be a taxing hobby. Often the ‘rose-tinted spectacles’ effect comes into play and completely shatters any perception you had of your childhood favourites being any good at all. Other times, it transpires that our much-loved classics are pretty niche – games few others have heard...
SCORE
7

Umurangi Generation Special Edition

This near-future photography sim offers a tutorial before jumping in. Whether it’s needed, however, is debatable. Not only does the concept of photography require no explanation whatsoever, but the control system has been lifted from a typical first-person shooter. If you’ve played pretty much any FPS over the...
SCORE
6

Pac-Man Museum+

If there’s one thing you can count on in life, it’s that Namco will release a new Pac-Man collection at least once per console generation. As the name suggests, this latest compilation is an updated version of 2014’s now delisted Pac-Man Museum, including content from that collection plus...
SCORE
7

Raven’s Hike

Sometimes, first impressions stick. That initial thought upon seeing screenshots or a trailer – they never really leave you. But sometimes, they’re utterly bogus; and I’m really glad this was the case with Raven’s Hike. Screenshots looked rather Celeste-esque, suggesting the devs played Celeste Classic 2 – Lani’s...
SCORE
7

Kao the Kangaroo

A couple of years ago we were in the middle of a 3D platformer renaissance, with all manner of dormant franchises being given new leases of life. It’s a trend that has either come to a standstill or an abrupt end, as this year has seen very few...
SCORE
7

Cotton Fantasy

Word on the street is that Cotton’s back, and it’s better than ever. Given that the series hasn’t had much exposure in the west, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that western gamers who didn’t survive on a diet of imported Saturn shmups were even aware of this...
SCORE
8

DEADCRAFT

This wasteland survival adventure introduces us to Reid, a grizzled half-zombie with a troubled past. While being half-undead has obvious setbacks, it has a few advantages too. Turns out fellow zombies are quite happy to follow Reid into battle – useful for when it comes to standing up...
SCORE
8