The clue is in the name, really. Geometry Survivor takes Geometry Wars glowing vector aesthetic – traceable to the dawn of gaming, with 1977’s Space War – and introduces an auto-shooting twist inspired by the far more recent Vampire Survivors. Resembling Geometry Wars was clearly intended to be the initial draw, but it plays vastly …
Back when retailer GameStation existed, I once saw someone out of the corner of my eye waving a game case around while proclaiming that it was the weirdest game they had ever played. Curious, I turned around to discover the title in question was none other than Assassin’s Creed II. I’m guessing they were referring …
One reoccurring topic on social media is that movie studios should remake bad movies, not good ones. It’s a noble suggestion, but I’d wager cinema goers would be sceptical of paying to see a bad movie twice, should things also not pan out well on the second attempt. Ideas that made the original movie bad …
Take the concept behind Call of Duty: Zombies and apply a theme suitable for youngsters, and the result is STUFFED – a wave-based FPS involving a struggle to protect a little girl’s bedroom door from nightmarish toys looking to smash their way in. Here, we play as a plump teddy bear armed with make-do weaponry …
I doubt many would argue that GENIE Reprise isn’t a conventional game. That’s in the sense that it’s something that couldn’t have existed before digital distribution opened the gates for smaller, more personal, experiences. Essentially, it’s an interactive poetry recital that takes place in fantasy environments created using Unreal Engine 5. If it wasn’t for …
With a name like ‘Mustache in Hell’ it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to discover this twin-stick shooter has a comical tone. Our hirsute hero – known as John Mustache – is likened to a certain ‘80s American action TV show star, and wakes up one morning in Hell. Upon being confronted by …
After catching wind that Dungeonoid 2 combines dungeon crawling with Arkanoid style brick breaking, I figured it would play like an 8-bit Zelda game, ushering players from one single-screen dungeon room to the next while paddling balls into enemies, chests, switches, etc. You can imagine my surprise, then, to discover that it’s an auto-scrolling affair …
There’s no skirting around it: Brotato is clearly inspired by the hit auto-shooter Vampire Survivors, tasking you to survive 20 waves of enemies while shrewdly investing in perks and upgrades. There’s no need to decree blatant plagiarism here though, as Brotato is so refined and well balanced – as well as being rich with content …
Have you ever stepped into an arcade and become instantly overwhelmed by flashing lights, bright colours, and loud noises? CRT screens flicker, speakers warble and neon signs pulsate. I’m not sure if it was intentional but Go Mecha Ball taps into the same energy. It’s set in a world with walls formed from TV screens, …
After inheriting a rundown truck from their late father, a mild-mannered foodie sets about restoring it to its former glory. Refreshingly, this tale isn’t motivated by a desire to create a business empire, but rather the dream of making their old man proud by following in their footsteps. It’s an endearing premise, helping to carry …
It’s the end of January and the dust has settled on last Christmas, with UK supermarkets currently clearing out leftover stock at rock bottom prices. If you’re eager to extend the yuletide season a little longer, Gray Drawn presents a unique proposition – it’s a horror adventure with a prominent biblical theme, taking place during …
Much to developer Snoozy Kazoo’s credit, it takes a while to work out the combination of genres this sequel to the Zelda alike Turnip Box Commits Tax Evasion skilfully blends. After taking in the daft premise, learning its mechanics via the amusing tutorial, and being introduced to its oddball cast of sentient foodstuffs, it reveals …
Publisher Artifex Mundi regularly releases hidden object mystery games on Xbox One. As most have a free trial, I’ve played the vast majority – somewhere in the region of fifty(!) to date. These are, understandably, very samey, combining light puzzle solving with single-screen hidden object mini-games. I’ve never reviewed one, but I’ve always felt that …
Play through the tutorial for this vertically scrolling shooter and you’ll be duly informed how to move, shoot, and unleash a smart bomb. Then, mere seconds later, you’re abruptly thrown back to the main menu. This sets the tone for Nephenthesys perfectly, with this being an incredibly straightforward entry in the genre that has little in …
This vertically scrolling shooter makes itself known by its stylish presentation that packs more shades of pink than the recent Barbie movie. It also quickly becomes evident that developer Last Boss 88 knows what makes for a rich experience, with around a dozen modes available from the outset ranging from Caravan Modes to a Super …