Superhero movies and FMV video games have suffered an almost identical fate. Both had a rough time in the ‘90s, hampered by small budgets, poor casting leading to hammy acting, lacklustre scripts, and limited technology. Sure, there were exceptions – Batman and Spider-Man usually dazzle on the silver screen, and some of the more interactive …
New Pokémon Snap is the UK’s no.1, fighting off competition from Sony’s PS5 exclusive Returnal. This isn’t much of a surprise given the size of the Switch userbase, and the fact that Returnal is a new (and unproven) IP arriving at £70. GI.biz reports New Pokémon Snap had a stronger first week than 2020’s Pokémon …
This week sees the arrival of Resident Evil Village – one of 2021 biggest releases. Capcom’s going for an Eastern European folklore vibe, with a snow-covered castle setting and an enemy assortment including vampires, werewolves, and other mythical beasts. Incidentally, Resident Evil Re:Verse was delayed at the last hurdle, which is probably for the best. …
PlayStation 2 publisher Phoenix Games lives in infamy these days, widely known for creating terrible IP infringing interactive colouring books – the kind YouTubers are fond of ridiculing. The budget publisher’s intentions seemed more admirable during their early days on the platform. All signs pointed to taking the same route as rival Midas Interactive, bringing …
Bandai-Namco are rather chummy with Nintendo these days, trusted with some of the platformer holders most precious IPs. Long time coming sequel New Pokémon Snap is their latest partnership, and reviews suggest it has been worth the 20-year wait. Scores include top marks from The Telegraph and EGM, an 8.5 from Game Informer, and 8s …
Had Cymatically Muffed existed in the ‘90s, it would almost certainly take the form of an Amiga public domain game. It has that distinct homegrown, bedroom coded, feel right down to sketchbook visuals that could’ve been doodled using Deluxe Paint III, and a crude UI/front end that was likely once a placeholder but ended up …
In what was a slow week for UK game sales – in terms of volume sold – Square-Enix’s Nier Replicant had no trouble topping the physical top 40 chart. The 2010 remake also topped the PS4 top twenty and made a respectable #3 in the Xbox One chart. It wasn’t the only new release in …
Housemarque has come a long way since Stardust on the humble Amiga, this week launching the anticipated PS5 ‘AAA shooter’ Returnal. It’s a shame we weren’t able to sample their battle royale Stormdivers, but we don’t doubt for a second that some ideas and tech made Returnal possible. The £69.99 asking price for Returnal has …
This 2D puzzle platformer presents a host of unique challenges to overcome as you travel through different worlds saving teensy alien creatures. With a total of 60 levels, and fresh mechanics to master, there’s plenty to get stuck into. It’s a case of running and jumping to reach the end of the level. Sounds simple, …
The next evolution in the Evercade line arrives this November. Blaze’s Evercade VS is a home console supporting four players, compatible with existing Evercade cartridges. Not every cartridge though, sadly – the two Namco Collections are a no-no due to handheld licensing issues. The Evercade handheld itself can be used as an additional controller. Alternatively, …
Just as the Game Boy Color sailed into the sunset, Capcom and WayForward released the highly acclaimed shape-shifting platformer Shantae. A small print run and a lack of press coverage resulted in a game that’s now incredibly hard to find, with even loose carts selling for over £300. This week’s Switch re-release provides a cheaper …
The term ‘twin stick’ usually conjures images of frantic 2D shooters or perhaps a top-down dungeon crawler with projectile lobbing combat. This makes World-Splitter quite the exception – it’s a 2D twin-stick puzzle game. Here, the world can be split by twiddling analogue sticks, creating paths for characters that give access to new areas, before …
FIFA 21 is the UK’s no.1 once again. More significantly, Cyberpunk 2077 has managed to re-enter the top ten at #9 – it had quietly left the top 40 altogether a few weeks ago. This appears to be due to a minor discount on Amazon (it’s currently £29.99 on Xbox One, including some bonus bits.) …
Console horror games were seldom seen before the great indie uprising, and even then, only usually released around Halloween. Things are vastly different these days with horror adventures launching on almost a weekly basis, especially on the Switch eShop. Bad Dream: Coma manages to stand out from the crowd in a couple of ways. Firstly, …
Trailing the path of destruction created by Untitled Goose Game and Goat Simulator, Rain on Your Parade likewise entails ruining people’s day by causing chaos. You play as Cloudy, a customisable cardboard cloud able to drench, freeze and startle pesky ‘hoomans’ – as they’re known. Although billed as a mischievous sort, Cloudy’s shenanigans go beyond …
