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 …
Some gamers will have you believe there’s a new release dry spell currently. If you dislike games developed by renowned Japanese studios, detest anything quirky or different, or outright hate indie games – including luxurious looking retro revamps – then yes, there are no games out currently. Hit the ‘back’ button on your browser – …
There was something pleasing about 16-bit platformers with boomerang power-ups, especially those challenging players to catch them on return. Why we don’t see more games solely based around this simple throwing/catching mechanic is a mystery. ‘lo and behold – Bamerang is a local multiplayer battler based around throwing boomerangs in various single-screen arenas, using skill and …
Barely a week goes by currently without Square-Enix dropping a new release. This week it’s the turn of SaGa Frontier Remastered – an update of a 1998 PSone cult classic JRPG that eluded Europe. In addition to enhanced visuals, it reintroduces Fuse – an 8th playable character cut from the original. Siliconera and COG Connected both …
When I was younger, I desperately wanted an Adidas tracksuit. Don’t judge me – it was the ‘90s. I remember asking for ages one Christmas. Sure enough, on Christmas day there was a present. I unwrapped it. A brand spanking new tracksuit. With two stripes. Anyway, Gallic Wars: Battle Simulator on Switch. Gallic Wars feels …
Say No! More has an excellent trailer. The unique say-no mechanic, with superbly overblown results; the ’90s tech aesthetic; the over-the-top Hogan-esque instructor – what’s not to like? There’s nothing not to like. But there’s also not a lot left for the game, and sadly what works in the two-minute trailer isn’t sufficiently developed to …
In what was a quiet week for both new releases and physical UK game sales, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was able to claim yet another no.1. There were no new arrivals in the top 40 whatsoever, and just two re-entries (DOOM Eternal and NFS: Hot Pursuit Remastered) at the lower end of the chart. FIFA …
After appearing exclusively on every PlayStation format from PS2 onwards, MLB The Show steps onto the Xbox’s green grass this week, all in the name of reaching a new audience. Included as part of Game Pass, it’s likely to ‘do the numbers’ for publisher Sony. A faster yet deeper experience is promised, with hundreds of …
It’s always interesting to play something created by just a couple of people – there’s something almost intimate, getting a glimpse into what’s going on in their head. And with Isolomus, what’s going on in their head is grotesque. It’s a follow-up of sorts to Wurroom, Michael Rfdshir’s short plasticine-crafted point-and-click curio which we reviewed …
European Switch owners woke to find Pac-Man 99 – the latest online battle royale – had stealth launched overnight, revealed by Nintendo of America during the small hours. ‘Pac-Man Jammers’ can be sent to other players to disrupt their game, while munching ‘Ghost Trains’ can help stage a comeback. Themes based on Xevious, GALAGA, and …
Around a decade ago I strolled into my local GAME with the intent of picking up a new release. I hadn’t decided on which – I was merely looking for something that took my fancy. I walked out with what was going to become one of my most longstanding gaming loves. Purely by accident, I …
