With engaging gameplay that offers a learning curve throughout, puzzles that'll surely satisfy, and moments packed with action and emotion; Planet of Lana 2 is a true upgrade to its predecessor and another indie gem onto Wishfully Studios' belt. An emotional weight carried by its beautiful scenery and soundtrack gives Novo a voice that should never be silenced. There's harmony in its themes of greed, hope, and preservation of a place we like to call home through its fantastic storytelling and engaging, thoughtful, and innovative puzzle-platforming to craft a beautiful tale that grows more relevant each passing day.
Packing Life offers a simple and satisfying premise: packing oddly shaped items into boxes. But its awkward story mode, clunky camera movement, and frustrating placement restrictions constantly get in the way of what could've otherwise been relaxing organization gameplay. It scratches the packing itch for a short time, but the jank makes it hard to recommend.
Defiance remastered is a triumph, even if an obvious one. Unlike the Angel of Darkness remaster, a game so broken that no amount of rework could turn it fully playable, Defiance was always the simplest and most obvious of vision tweaks away from brilliance. One can only imagine how much of a splash it could’ve made way back in ‘03 if released in proper form. Here’s hoping this excellent rework will find enough of a new player base to get the wheel of fate turning in its favor once more.
Fans of Bryan Lee O'Malley's comics or the star-studded 2010 Edgar Wright film will find all of their favorites and more in Scott Pilgrim EX, the latest licensed collab from Tribute Games. The beat-em-up is enjoyable to play, but difficulty and connection issues can hamper the short-lived experience.
Resident Evil Requiem is an exceptionally well-made nostalgia romp that elevates everything special about the series, showcasing the pinnacle of both survival horror and action horror in a package that has a little bit of everything but executes it all well.
As a cute little taster of the RAGE experience, Mutant Bash TV is certainly a good idea. The price point is perfect, and even tough the controls are annoying, it's worth picking up just to experience a terrific looking shooter set in a promisingly gruesome world.
Under the Island is a charming, old-school adventure that rewards curiosity with clever puzzles, playful humor, and a beautiful island packed with secrets. Its sense of freedom and discovery shines far brighter than its modest combat, making Seashell Island a place you’ll want to fully explore.
REANIMAL is an incredibly short experience, but it's worth every tense minute in solo or co-op play. If you've got four hours and a friend to play with, you should check it out and get lost in the terror.
With a new set of gameplay mechanics, additional characters, and updated graphics for the Switch 2, Mario Tennis Fever appeals to longtime fans of the franchise, as well as those who may have never even considered picking up a tennis racket. Though the game’s Adventure mode leaves much to be desired, its diverse modes and fun gameplay loop make it a title to get lost in for hours at a time.
With clear inspirations from predecessors in the genre, Crisol: Theater of Idols is a solid debut from Vermila Studios under Blumhouse Games. While it doesn't quite reach its max potential in the end, it's absolutely worth your time for a weekend playthrough.
