Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord review

Developer Compile Heart seems to have set themselves the challenge of making the most quintessentially Japanese role player of all time. Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord features dragons, mechs, monsters, heroes with swords, and a lot of sexual tension. If you’ve seen it before, it’s in this game. Unfortunately, Fairy Fencer doesn’t have much new …

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Zool Redimensioned review

Back in 2021, students at the Sumo Digital Academy were given the chance to remaster and modernise the 1992 platformer Zool, which was then published on PC by Sumo’s Secret Mode division. It’s easy to imagine it being a valuable learning tool for the team, being far beyond a straightforward re-release. Two years on a …

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Out this week: LEGO 2K Drive, Tin Hearts, Humanity, Zool Redimensioned, Cyber Citizen Shockman, more

There’s an odd trend to this week’s assortment of new releases, with many having a doppelganger. We can expect two arcade-style stunt-filled racers in the form of LEGO 2K Drive, and Ubisoft’s free-to-play remaster of Trackmania. Two retro platformers also receive re-releases – the PS4 version of Zool Redmimensioned, which adds new local party games, …

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Garden Simulator review

Let’s face it, a game called ‘Garden Simulator’ was never going to feature a complex plot or premise. That’s unless we’re talking about the kind of plots where plants grow. The text-based introduction explains that our silent protagonist is a stressed-out IT worker based in a bustling city. When the pressure becomes too much, they …

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Stray Blade review

This fantasy hack ‘n slasher introduces us to Farren West, a gallant adventurer whose bravery and determination hold no bounds. It’s easy to imagine him holed up in a tavern, capturing an audience with tales of his conquests. He speaks with a gruff British accent, describing himself as a man of the world. That’s our …

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Gimmick! Special Edition launches in July, Xbox version coming later

Since being announced last August, we haven’t heard much about Bitwave Games’ re-release of the cult NES platformer Gimmick! That was until today, when the publisher confirmed a July 6th release date for PC, PS4, and Switch – with a physical release available at “leading retailers” later in the year. An Xbox release is also …

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Shadowman: Darque Legacy steps out of the darkness in 2024

Well, here’s a long overdue follow-up. Blowfish Studios and DMG Entertainment have announced the multiformat Shadowman: Darque Legacy, based on Valiant’s flagship comic book series. Jack Boniface is, of course, no stranger to the world of gaming. Acclaim found success with the license in 1999 on PC, PS1, Dreamcast, and N64. The 2002 PS2 sequel, …

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Ravenlok review

Developer Cococucumber rounds off their ‘voxel trilogy’ with this Alice in Wonderland inspired sword-swinging adventure. You may be pushed hard to tell that it features voxel visuals at times, as a lot of the backdrop elements use regular, everyday, polygons. We’re not sure if this was to accelerate development or an artistic choice, but when …

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