While SkyScrappers is a fun arcade fighter, the enjoyment only lasts a little while, due to the easy AI and the lack of an online mode. The campaign can be completed in less than three hours with all of the characters, leaving the offline couch-multiplayer as the only mode with potential to aid the longevity of the adventure. A lack of variety in the way the characters are played also hurts its durability. While it isn't a long journey, playing in short bursts is a great way to pass the time and get some enjoyment out of battering opponents with falling debris from a collapsing skyscraper. To sum it up, as Kichirou states, "I'm exactly as one dimensional as I appear and have no hidden depths. Next!"
Even though there's a steep learning curve that may turn many people off from venturing further into the world of Primal Carnage: Extinction, it is definitely worth breaking through that grind, because underneath is a great game with solid environments, and a fun gaming experience. Trekking through the jungles as a commando hunting large dinosaurs is a lot of fun, while hunting for prey from the skies above as a Pterodactyl is even more fun. While finding some matches may be annoying, once the online community grows even larger, this would be one franchise that won't go extinct.
The harsh reality is that Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence rewards patience, but quite a lot of patience is required in order to make the most of what is a difficult game to recommend to others.
For avid pinball players and Star Wars fans, The Force Awakens pack is a must for any table collection. The two tables featured in the pack represent all the wonder that Zen Studios has provided, and it has opened up a whole world of possibilities in what the team could deliver next. Help Rey, Finn, Poe and the Resistance, or crush planets under the might of the First Order. These two new tables are a must own, and should provide many more hours of fun and enjoyment, while providing the right amount of challenge for new and experienced pinball players.
The Balls of Glory pinball pack brings to life four of the top animated sitcoms, and they each contain a variety of unique mini-games that fans of the shows will enjoy. For pinball fans, these stages bring the right amount of challenge to the game, although, at times, it may feel unfair when a ball enters the outlane. Zen Studios has done an amazing job in bringing the TV shows to life in this bundle, but for maximum enjoyment, it does require knowledge of the shows that the tables are based on. While the layout isn't quite up to par with some of the other tables that Zen Pinball 2 has to offer, the Balls of Glory pack provides plenty more hours of enjoyment.
Once again, Zen Studios has successfully delivered another exciting and interesting new pinball title. By playing on the Ant-Man's ability of being able to shrink down in size, this newest table mimics that to an extent that could never be replicated on a real life pinball machine. Hank Pym and Scott Lang help bring the table and the characters to life, and unlike previous games, the dialogue never seems to run dry here. The cooler colour scheme does help to see things clearly, especially in fast motion, and the visuals do not clash with each other once the multi-ball hits. For fans of the franchise or newcomers alike, Zen Pinball 2: Ant-Man is a must-have for the ever-growing pinball collection.
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a nice little detour away from the open-world stealth-based contract killings that the main games in the franchise have been known for. Instead, playing as a miniature Agent 47 on a chessboard-like setting in a turn-based game is an addicting process, where many hours can easily be lost trying to figure out the walking patterns of the Agent's next target. Its simple gameplay makes it easy for newcomers to jump in and play. With seven campaigns consisting of roughly 15 levels each, there is a lot of fun to be had in this minor deviation from the Hitman franchise - hopefully one that will be revisited in the future.
Yasai Ninja is an undercooked mess of a dish, with ideas that weren't implemented well. The entire game seemed to be against the player, from the colour palette and fighting style, right down to the annoying camera and silly AI partner. Nothing seemed to work as it should, and even the characters played as if they were being held down by weights, resulting in their sluggishness. The response time between the button press, and the resulting action was atrocious, and the story was so generic that there was no motivation to continue playing just to see how it would pan out. This title had gotten one thing right, however: the onion will make the tears pour, but for all the wrong reasons.
Trans-Galactic Tournament is by no means an outstanding MOBA. Some may loath the simplicity of the game and the lack of character building that they may be used to. However, the simplicity has the potential to lure new players into the way of MOBAs. It is a great starting point for newcomers, with a massive array of characters to play as. Conversely, therein lies the major issue: fans of the genre will gain nothing by trying out this title, as it does not add anything new to the scene. Trans-Galactic Tournament is a simplification of what already existing titles do better.
Toy Soldiers: War Chest - Hall of Fame Edition is a fun way of combining toy combat with varied and uniquely colourful armies. While the design of various maps is generic, the core mechanics of the game are enough to be engaging for a short time. However, once the campaign is completed, there is little need to go back and play as the other armies, due to their lack of diversity. While the action can be frenetic and heart pounding in some exciting moments, the game-crashing bugs, the extreme load times, and the constant shoving down the throat of signing up to Uplay, puts an ugly stain on what would have otherwise been a really fun game to play. Contrary to what this is called, this latest entry in the Toy Soldiers franchise does not feel like a "Hall of Fame" at all.
However minor the various issues may seem, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a worthy addition to the LEGO Star Wars videogame franchise. Even though the gameplay mechanic feels a little bit dated, and is still susceptible to a plethora of mechanical glitches and rough controls, this latest adventure is a refreshing take on the ever-expanding galaxy that is Star Wars. With new locations and characters taken from the movie itself, with a booming soundtrack to back it up and plenty of humour thrown in, this LEGO adventure is a must-buy for any fans of either LEGO or Star Wars, and is definitely one that should be experienced with another player, if possible.
It is incredibly difficult to find a fault with Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, and as it can probably be gauged by the length of this review, there is so much to do in this game.
Type:Rider is an enjoyable 2D experience through the history and advent of typography. By combining the haunting and dreary visuals with captivating and clever stage designs, this is a game worth checking out. While not a long game, it can be quickly completed while still providing quite a challenge in terms of puzzle solving. If learning about typography doesn't sound immediately interesting, Type:Rider has surely made it an amusing way to learn and there are some memorable stages that make replaying it for the time trials fun.
Armikrog looks amazing, with the stop-motion claymation performed to perfection. However, that is as good as it gets, with clunky gameplay mechanics and the significant glitches found that are the true enemy for Tommynaut and Beak-Beak. This is the equivalent to being thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool without learning how to swim, and then trying to select the nearby life ring, only to discover that only the dog can select that option for some illogical reason. Armikrog feels like an unfinished game that was rushed out the door, with any form of character progression or story left on the cutting room floor. While it was created with good intentions behind it, Armikrog only serves as a sad reminder of just how great The Neverhood truly was, and that it may never be successfully replicated.
Lost Sea had an interesting premise from the get go, with its use of procedurally generated stages and the quest of finding the tablets in order to escape the Bermuda Triangle. However, the randomly generated stages seem there only due to constant necessity to replay levels because of the inability to save the progress. While this may have been aimed at increasing the replay value of the game, after a few hours of play, it still feels like little to no progress had been made. This is a cause for many infuriating moments and seriously detracts from an otherwise clean and simple game with a lot of potential.
Hue is a visually beautiful title that begins with dreary music, as the greyscale world hints at hiding a lot of dread. However, before too long, the haunting environments become a crescendo of colour. While the story is simple and not all that important to the overall scheme of things, it is the gameplay mechanic of changing the background colour to bypass obstacles, or make new landscapes and blocks appear, that is at the forefront of what Hue has to offer. Clever stage designs get progressively harder as more colours are unlocked, and they constantly keep Hue on his toes, as he has to discover new methods of approach to each new puzzle. If there is any game that needs to be checked out, please make it this one.
Dex is a fun and simple open-world RPG with a plethora of missions (both main and secondary), to get invested in. The characters introduced are done well thanks to the voice acting, which, combined with the artistic style of the "industrial" setting, helps set Harbor Prime apart from other cyberpunk titles. Though the story and the game world are inspired by other classic sci-fi's that do not seem original, there is enough soul here to actually warrant it a play-through. The poor combat and unfortunate glitches show the real flaws underlying what is otherwise a wonderful game; one that has shown enough to give hopes for a more refined sequel.
The haunting music serves as a grimy backdrop to what is otherwise a very beautiful-looking game. Each stage is a perfect illustration on the sources they are based on in Norse mythology, with splendid vistas that are equally as impressive. While the gameplay and stages can be slow going at times, or downright frustrating due to constant backtracking in order to discover all the secrets in every stage, the fights against the five Jotuns are the true meat of this game. Jotun: Valhalla Edition contains a Boss Rush mode at the completion of the adventure, which allows for a greater challenge at defeating these bosses, while Thora's journey to reach Valhalla is a satisfying one thanks to a strong acting performance given by Viking warrior.
The main gripe with The Bunker is the limitations with the gameplay. There are no puzzles to be solved, and it is a linear experience where the interaction stems from opening the doors and picking up the key items in order to progress the movie. However, beyond that is a wonderful acting performance by Adam Brown, Sarah Greene, Grahame Fox and the rest of the cast that inhabit the world below in the dark and quiet bunker. Full of mystery and intrigue, this is a remarkable effort at an interactive movie, which works well enough for another attempt at creating a live action video game. This is a gripping movie, and although short, fans of the horror genre looking for something different need to check this out and experience the unforgettable tale of John in The Bunker.
Disney Magical World 2 on Nintendo 3DS is a fantastic game aimed at a younger demographic who would appreciate the work put into bringing each of the worlds to life. There is no greater thrill than interacting with the characters from some of Disney's greatest properties, and assisting them in defeating the evil ghosts is an enticing prospect. Decorating their own house with furnishings while running a café, while crafting new costumes to wear and planting seeds to grow new crops in the Hundred Acre Wood are just some of the ways that the game can be played. With lots to do, and daily missions that are constantly changing, this is one game that is sure to be a favourite for quite some time.