Lonely, desperate, and terrifying. At its best, Dakar Desert Rally had a part of my brain taking part in the actual Dakar Rally, and that’s how it felt. The representation of Saudi Arabia is massive, beautiful, and intimidating, with ample opportunity to get lost or smash the actual heck out of your chosen ride. And …
If you are one of the millions who adore Animal Crossing, then this could very well become your next obsession. Studio Drydock’s Wylde Flowers is a sweet and spirited tale that immerses you into the world of farming, friendships, crafting, romances, and even witchcraft. After moving from the city after breaking off her engagement, Tara …
I often find myself bouncing off games within the survival genre. Many are simply too demanding for their own good – there’s nothing worse than being on a quest while your character complains that they’re hungry/thirsty/hot/cold/have a nasty rash. It doesn’t help either that a lot of survival games launch in early access, promising more …
While Scorn doesn’t begin in the best possible way, it does commence the right way. After introducing our hapless protagonist – a gaunt, frail, humanoid – we’re taken to a sprawling multi-floored chamber to solve a complex puzzle involving switches, moveable tracks, and glorified tile sliding. Depending on your intellect, it takes around an hour …
Known as Castle Flipper on Steam, this first-person manual labour simulator has received a new name for its PlayStation release. It’s a title more befitting; one that also avoids a staring down from the creators of the surprise hit House Flipper. In Castle Renovator you aren’t tasked with ‘flipping’ medieval settlements and abodes for profit. …
If you’ve played an entry in Activision’s now-dormant Skylanders franchise, then you’ll have a good idea of what Trifox entails. This too is a top-down action platformer with light puzzles and RPG elements, such as visible damage points. It’s even set in a similar fantasy world that melds magic, medieval fantasy, and sci-fi, allowing for …
When Hilda’s family member doesn’t return from a mission with the Northwind Legion, she seeks permission from the King to travel to Aphes and bring him back. She finds herself in a land where a cruel curse is spreading through the populace, turning everyday people into mysterious beings that crave the rapidly depleting magical ‘starite’ …
When Grounded was first revealed in 2019, it had that modest look of a side project – something being worked on between major titles, perhaps by a smaller team. Three years, ten million players, and one animated series deal later, Grounded stands tall as a fully-fledged release. Far more polished than its peers, this is …
I’m not an angry player. I tend to either roll with the punches or step back from a game. I’m not one to throw a joypad or storm off in a huff. I prefer the Zen approach. To embrace the cycle of life and death. Take a minute and breathe. Surprising, then, that cute robot …
As we enter October we’re reminded that we’re swiftly approaching what is typically the most crowded period of the year for major new video game releases. It’s no coincidence that some publishers are eager to see their games released during this calm before the storm. Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief, a game set in Edo-era …
Imagine a world where instead of jumping into three dimensions with 1996’s polygon-packing Quake, id Software instead stuck with 2D one more time, creating something with the rendered visual style seen in Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct, and later (appropriately enough) – Midway’s sleeper hit DOOM 64. That’s Prodeus in essence. A retro-style FPS …
Back in the summer of 1994, I hatched one of the finest plans of my adolescent youth – to borrow Theme Park on Mega Drive from a school chum just before the end of term, meaning I wouldn’t be able to return it until after the summer holidays. And so, that blissful summer was spent …
Whenever a homage to a retro classic is released on modern consoles, it’s usually easy to tell which time-tested title they’re paying respect to. In the case of Roar of Revenge, it’s Tecmo’s arcade classic Rygar – a side-scrolling hack ‘n slash starring a beefcake barbarian. Whether it’s trying to mimic the look of the …
With games such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley both being classic life sims, it will be difficult for current and future developers to hold a torch to their legacies. Hokko Life gives it a good try, clearly drawing strong influence from both. We fall asleep on a train and alight at an unmanned station …
With the lukewarm 2011 flick Cowboys & Aliens tying up the concept of wild west heroes and extra-terrestrials, the developers behind this strategic battler fall back on undead adversaries. A single quote from Toy Story’s Woody describes the backstory: “Somebody’s poisoned the water hole!” Gunslingers & Zombies sees cowboys and daring damsels square off in …