Review by Harvard L. Shio is perhaps the most fatalistic entry in the well-populated subgenre of punishingly difficult platformers. It’s a game which isn’t interested in celebrating the player’s achievement or relishing in the player’s chagrin. Instead, it propagates a quiet melancholy aesthetic in its design – dwelling upon the…
Read MoreReview by Clark A. Last year, fans of bullet hell shooters were treated to Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet. Fusing bullet hell madness with the psychology of fighting games, it proved the genre is more adaptable than casual observers give it credit for. It’s easy to forget, though, that this…
Read MoreReview by Clark A. You generally know what you’re signing up for when you step into a Metroidvania-style platformer. You’ll explore vast, interconnected environments as you enhance a character’s abilities and survey every cranny. Being a doujin game willing to wear its niche appeal upon its sleeve, though, Rabi Ribi…
Read MoreReview by Harvard L. The original Nidhogg is a fine example of a mechanically perfect game. That doesn’t mean it’s 5/5 stars, but it does mean that I can’t imagine how the gameplay could be improved by adding or taking away any mechanics – the unique interplay of fencing, platforming…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. One of the few genres that I can get so utterly addicted to that I actually lose track of time, and don’t realise I’m getting tired until I look at the clock and it’s saying 5:00am, is the city builder. I had a powerful addiction to…
Read MoreReview by Clark A. Ice will melt, water will boil, two similar IPs from the same creator will have a crossover. Unlike the gaming world’s zanier crossovers such as Pokémon Conquest, Accel World vs. Sword Art Online: Millennium Twilight is the type of collision that’s only natural. Based on two…
Read MoreReview by Brad L. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say. In some cases, however, I’m sure the flattery is only felt when the imposter does justice to the original. If you have seen screenshots or video of Toby: The Secret Mine before, no doubt LIMBO…
Read MoreReview by Clark A. Any title released on the Sega Dreamcast in 2015 is probably a labour of love. As one of several bullet hell shooters from Hucast Games, Ghost Blade first appeared on that platform before settling into the more commercially viable realm of modern home consoles. Despite being…
Read MoreImpressions by Matt C. Welcome back to my Stormblood diary series! When I left you last week, I had just finished the Doma portion of the expansion and was heading into the final act of the main story. I’d been taken in by the beauty of Doma and its surrounding…
Read MoreReview by Matt C. Did you ever play “Roseball”? In the wake of the console release of Street Fighter IV way back in 2009, this mini-game emerged where people would play what was effectively Pong, but played in a Street Fighter setting. Each player would pick Rose, a character with…
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