One of the most renowned tales in gaming is how Rare become so sick of making cutesy 3D platformers that they went entirely in the opposite direction, turning Twelve Tales: Conker 64 into the crass and chaotic Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Not even Nintendo themselves would touch it, leaving THQ to pick up publishing rights. …
I only had limited knowledge of this 1991 arcade game prior to playing for this review, knowing only that the rare Game Boy version – with its hilarious regional box art – now sells for a hefty sum. Considering that said handheld version was the only home conversion, I think it’s safe to brand it …
A few months ago, the former Switch exclusive ‘Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion’ made a surprise Xbox Game Pass appearance. While we found much to enjoy, the quirky humour especially, it was hard to award it a score higher than 7/10. In less than two hours, it was all over. Considering a physical copy costs …
The industry has evolved to the point where niche games find their audiences instantly, often becoming runaway successes. For this, we can thank a combination of easy-to-use game engines, smaller development teams, digital distribution, and the desire to create the next surprise hit. PowerWash Simulator’s existence goes even further beyond this, owning its creation to …
If you haven’t been following Bright Memory: Infinite’s progress, you may be surprised to learn that it’s the work of a solo developer. FYQD-Studio’s founder Zeng Xiancheng has spent the last few years mastering Unreal Engine 4 to create a technical showcase that can go toe-to-toe with just about any ‘AAA’ title. It’s a brilliant …
Platform games are one of those things the old-fashioned phrase ‘ten a penny’ seems to have been coined for. Especially when looking at the indie games section of Steam, where you can probably rack up several human lifetimes’ worth of backlog if you bought platformers alone. There are a lot of them, and it can …
I love the ’90s. Objectively the best decade ever, and I won’t hear nor see arguments to the contrary. It brought us rave music, the burgeoning popularity of side-scrolling beat ‘em ups, and amazing 2D pixel art on SNK’s Neo Geo console. Funny, then, that along comes Final Vendetta with all of the aforementioned in …
A couple of months ago Disney+ subscribers were treated to a reboot of Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. It managed to gain coverage on gaming sites thanks to a cameo appearance of ‘Ugly Sonic’ – one of many ‘homages’ to classic or forgotten characters. The producers snuck in so many references and in-jokes that multiple …
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 take such a grand adventure with you. …
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 one nostalgia-fuelled package. That may have even …
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 for its console debut. We guess PC …
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 Espgaluda series have made mincemeat of even …
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 – after aliens frazzle the world’s technology, …
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 of. So, when it comes to sharing …
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 last twenty years, you’re set. Not even …