Bumblebugbee

Ribbit King is based around the sport of Frolf, which is basically golf but instead of hitting golf balls you use frogs. This game is just as ridiculous and amazing as it sounds. Before playing Ribbit King I had thought Mario Golf was crazy but this takes the genre to a whole new level. There are several different ways to score points and make combos on your way to the hole. Countless possibilities for legitimate moves make for excellent multiplayer. Whether you're playing with friends or working through the wacky story mode you're bound to have a blast. Lets look into detail on everything thats make this the fantastic experience it is. Your goal in Frolf is to get your frog in the pond while scoring as many points as possible. This is where Frolf really differentiates itself from golf. The number of strokes it takes you to get in the goal is important but it is often possible to get more points elsewhere by taking a long route to the goal. Every map in this game is completely littered with opportunities to score points. By having your frog swim through water, eat flies, and bounce off of trampolines you can score extra points. If you manage to chain together different things each new things will increase the multiplier for the next item up to times four. However once you hit you frog what is does it out of your hands so its important to look for a good spot to aim that lends itself naturally to combos. If the gameplay is base of this delicious cake the story mode and it's cut-scenes are the icing. The story is broken up into two chapters and in each the totally hopeless king begs Scooter (That's you) to save the planet. Scooter is chosen to play Frolf because he's the planets only carpenter therefore he at least has experience swinging a hammer. On your journey to become Frolf champion and get the Super Ribbonite need to save the planet you'll come across a host of weird competitors. You have a kung-fu Panda (this was before the movie!), a ditsy princess, a wind-up robotic penguin, and a host of other misfits. The few cut-scenes scene through-out the story are all quite amusing if not just plain ridiculous. The story is fun and amusing but multiplayer is where Ribbit King really shines. Its such an easy game to learn that anyone can jump right in and have a good time. Also its so unpredictable at times of what will combo together that a new player does have an honest chance to top a more experienced player. The core gameplay is so fun you could honestly just have fun playing solo just trying to set high-scores and finding ridiculous combos. However, the computers AI is mostly make enjoyable rivals. The AI can both spot unnaturally great combos while at the same time be so dumb they can't shoot up a hill. Its a wild balance that actually comes together decently well to make for a reasonable difficultly level. As soon as I started playing Ribbit King I honestly felt this game was made just for me. It has personality and charm you'd expect from a weird Japanese game with its colorful visuals and silly story. However, the key to what makes this game so great is the wonderfully designed gameplay. It a near perfect combination of luck and strategy like what you would expect a great boardgame. This makes for a superb multiplayer experience yet its so fun and unpredictable one can still easily enjoy its single-player campaign. No matter how you experience Ribbit King this game definitely needs to be on your gaming bucket list.

Ribbit King is based around the sport of Frolf, which is basically golf but instead of hitting golf balls you use frogs. This game is just as ridiculous and amazing as it sounds. Before playing Ribbit King I had thought Mario Golf was crazy but this takes the genre to a whole new level. There are several different ways to score points and make combos on your way to the hole. Countless possibilities for legitimate moves make for excellent multiplayer. Whether you're playing with friends or working through the wacky story mode you're bound to have a blast. Lets look into detail on everything thats make this the fantastic experience it is. Your goal in Frolf is to get your frog in the pond while scoring as many points as possible. This is where Frolf really differentiates itself from golf. The number of strokes it takes you to get in the goal is important but it is often possible to get more points elsewhere by taking a long route to the goal. Every map in this game is completely littered with opportunities to score points. By having your frog swim through water, eat flies, and bounce off of trampolines you can score extra points. If you manage to chain together different things each new things will increase the multiplier for the next item up to times four. However once you hit you frog what is does it out of your hands so its important to look for a good spot to aim that lends itself naturally to combos. If the gameplay is base of this delicious cake the story mode and it's cut-scenes are the icing. The story is broken up into two chapters and in each the totally hopeless king begs Scooter (That's you) to save the planet. Scooter is chosen to play Frolf because he's the planets only carpenter therefore he at least has experience swinging a hammer. On your journey to become Frolf champion and get the Super Ribbonite need to save the planet you'll come across a host of weird competitors. You have a kung-fu Panda (this was before the movie!), a ditsy princess, a wind-up robotic penguin, and a host of other misfits. The few cut-scenes scene through-out the story are all quite amusing if not just plain ridiculous. The story is fun and amusing but multiplayer is where Ribbit King really shines. Its such an easy game to learn that anyone can jump right in and have a good time. Also its so unpredictable at times of what will combo together that a new player does have an honest chance to top a more experienced player. The core gameplay is so fun you could honestly just have fun playing solo just trying to set high-scores and finding ridiculous combos. However, the computers AI is mostly make enjoyable rivals. The AI can both spot unnaturally great combos while at the same time be so dumb they can't shoot up a hill. Its a wild balance that actually comes together decently well to make for a reasonable difficultly level. As soon as I started playing Ribbit King I honestly felt this game was made just for me. It has personality and charm you'd expect from a weird Japanese game with its colorful visuals and silly story. However, the key to what makes this game so great is the wonderfully designed gameplay. It a near perfect combination of luck and strategy like what you would expect a great boardgame. This makes for a superb multiplayer experience yet its so fun and unpredictable one can still easily enjoy its single-player campaign. No matter how you experience Ribbit King this game definitely needs to be on your gaming bucket list.

There are certainly plenty of excellent rhythm games but not many of them are so focused on narrative as in the case of Rhythm Thief. This is an rather fun rhythm game that will test your skill, making you utilize almost every feature of the 3DS. When you aren't playing games or solving little puzzles you'll being exploring Paris and interacting with the locals. In many regards this is a fairly easy game but a couple of times it stumbles and the difficulty spikes up a bit too high. Other then that I had wonderful time with this game and all its various parts. Rhythm thief follows the story of one of Paris's most wanted thieves, Phantom R, along with his dog/sidekick Fondue. Your real name is Raphael, your father left you a couple years back and you've recently discovered a lead you're hoping might lead you back to him. On your quest you save a young girl named Marie which leads you to discover a plot to restore a recently resurrected Napoleon Bonaparte to power. Along your journey to stop these madman you'll get to know a quite a few characters like inspector Paul Vergier and the young detective Charlie. Its both a fun and ridiculous story told through a lot of written dialogue and a handful of gorgeous cut-scenes. The gameplay is fairly diverse ranging from rhythm games, to a couple of simple puzzles, and exploration of the streets of Paris. The rhythm games are the heart of this experience. They divided up into three progressively hard stages relying on various sounds and visual ques. There are ten or so different games each with three to five variations of increasing difficulty. Some games will have you use the touch screen while others will require use of the face buttons or even the 3DS's gyroscope. On your journey you can collect sounds you hear to solve a few easy puzzles and make a master instrument. I really enjoyed exploring the streets of Paris, talking to a lot of the same people you find meandering about each chapter and seeing what new things they had to say. This is really quite an adorable game and despite a couple frustrating moments it was really fun. The game overall is quite easy with the exception of a couple of the rhythm games. Most of the rhythm you have to play a couple times just to get the hang of it and/or make attempts to achieve a high-score. Some of the rhythm games, especially the ones later in the later part of your journey, you are lucky just to be able to beat them. The characters are all really charming and have fun personalities. The music isn't particularly memorable but it is pleasant and enjoyable to interact with. I really love the blatant references to some of my favorite rhythm games, like those found on the Dreamcast. Overall, this has been a wonderful break from a lot of the triple A action games and RPGs I've been playing of late. It is a beautiful game and the story is a lot of fun. Each chapter is roughly 45 minutes if you're thorough, I feel like this is a perfect length for a game session. Also every time you load the game up you get a recap so you don't have to worry about forgetting where you left off. You could easy speed through this title but there is a ton of extra content to find from the sound recordings, to the music discs, as well as phantom notes. Really hardcore players might even try to ace all the rhythm games. In-spite of a couple of bumps in the road I did really enjoy this game while it last lasted.

If anyone doubted the possibilities of the indie-game market Oceanhorn would probably be my new go-to-game to prove them wrong. When games are made on tighter budgets we tend to only expect them to look so good or play so smoothly. With Oceanhorn we have a beautiful 3D world with excellent gameplay inspired straight from the best Zelda games. Clever puzzles, wonderful dungeons, and a grand sense of exploration put this game right on par with the triple-A games that influence it. That may be hard to believe but I'll try to convince you in detail... or better yet just go check it. Honestly, I never grew up playing too many of the Zelda games. That being said the protagonist, running around with his sword and shield, fits right into Link's archetype. Oceanhorn, not only in looks but in gameplay, fits right in with the likes of Wind Waker or Link to the Past. You progress from one island (dungeon) to the next gaining new abilities and weapons that will allow you to access to more and more areas. These classic weapons include bombs and a bow as well as magic, such as the ability to summon fire and ice. You can even find heart containers, four of which will increase your maximum health. As you explore these islands you'll have numerous puzzles to solve and enemies to slice down, including bosses. The level design is phenomenal, prompting exploration and keeping you excited to see whats next. The puzzles never get too challenging but many of them will make you stop and think. The enemies aren't too challenging either but between them and the traps you can find yourself low on health pretty quickly. The bosses mix things up a bit, usually requiring a particular sequence of events to inflict damage. This game isn't supposed to be difficult, its designed so that gamers of all ages and skill levels can explore a big world and go on an exciting adventure. Oceanhorn has a solid story but its just not particularly exciting. That is not to say that the story takes away from what is otherwise a superb experience, it still helps give you a sense of purpose. You wake up to find your father has left you because of the threat poised by Oceanhorn. Oceanhorn is a monster consider to be a living fortress, a machine with a soul, that haunts the world around you. As you start to explore you'll hear your father reminisce, via your journal, commenting on the history of each island. On occasion there are other little cut-scenes with different characters to emphasize the importance of your journey or give you a brief history lesson. Besides the stuff with your father much of it is forgettable but it all helps to ground the game and make the world believable. Clocking in at a solid 10 hours there certainly isn't much to complain about. Sure the story is a little cliche but thats not why you'll be playing Oceanhorn. This game is all about going on a grand adventure, finding new abilities and items that give you a wonderful sense of progression. Never knowing whats around the corner or in the next room will keep you absorbed throughout your entire journey. For such a straight-forward action/adventure game Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is surprising polished and well designed. If you ever needed an excuse to jump into the indie scene, or convince your friends to do so, this is a good place to start.

Action games are great but sometimes we desire to play more relaxing games. This doesn't necessary mean the game can't be challenging but it should instead focus on strategy over reflexes. **** Planet is wonderful example of a fast-paced, exciting, game that does not require split-second decisions. This modern-day rogue-like is an excellent example of how to make a turn-based game exciting. The core gameplay is extremely straight forward but beneath the surface is a hearty amount of depth. Anyone looking for a more laid-back challenge with the variety of procedural generated content needs to check out **** Planet. The story, if there is any, revolves around these worlds that are being ripped apart by the Blight. Every time you transport down to the surface the Blight slowly grows out from the spot you start on; in turn tainting the wild life and spawning monsters. Its your job to scavenge as many tools and resources you can while you search for the exit teleport pad. If you die you'll lose all your items however you will keep any experience and scrap you find. The aforementioned items can be used to upgrade your stats or purchase new equipment. Between constantly learning from your mistakes and having stronger, better equipped, characters you should be able to get farther and farther when you set out to explore new planets. The gameplay is where this game really shines. The level are laid out in a grid format with small chucks of land connected via a couple of thin bridges. You can only see so far and the levels basically become a maze as you search for the exit. Whether your just moving around or fighting off hostile creatures you just simply click each time you wish to move a space or attack your enemy. Since this game is turn-based everything else will only move when you do, giving you all the time in the world to think and strategize. This is really helpful when you are trying to flee from and enemy or just avoid combat all together. The procedural generation in this game is incredible. Although the level layouts don't vary a ton there are still many different planets and you still never know what you'll find. There a many different enemies and even some friendly natives. You'll come across several different colored capsules and you won't know if they are aids or weapons till you use one; even then the colors are randomized every time you play. There are also many objects or people you can interact with that will give you a scenario with two different choices. Usually the right choice, if there is one, isn't obviously or sometimes the choices just offer two different rewards. This a game you can play for hours on end and not find everything it has to offer. If you are looking for a deep and relaxing game to play after a hard days work this is it. **** Planet is easily one of the best rogue-likes since Spelunky and that is saying a lot. This is one of the most fast-paced and exciting turn-based games I've ever played. The progression of your characters stats along side your ability to play well means every record you break in the endless mode is very satisfying. Even with the tremendous variety found in this title the core gameplay can start to get a bit repetitive because of its simplicity. That being said I believe the developers made the right call because there is already a flooded market of really deep RPGs. **** Planet is laid-back gaming at its best with near perfect balance of pacing and challenge.

Too often sequels are disappointing, they either can't live up to the original or feel too familiar. The amazing thing about Uncharted 2 is how it not only does it live up to the original but surpasses it in almost every way. Its a thrilling experience like that of a blockbuster movie; the difference in this "movie" you are the star! This game will throw everything at you with a variety of different challenges and plot twists. The story is well written and the characters all have interesting, believable, personalities. Its hard to sum up everything that comes together to make this superb experience so memorable. This game's success can be broken down into a couple key elements. A good story is key to keeping players invested and Uncharted 2 does not disappoint. The subtitle, Among Thieves, can not be overstated. As the game starts Drake is quickly reunited with a couple of former acquaintances, Chloe and Flynn, that partake in the same line of work as he does. They lead him into a race to find the city Shambhala, rumored home of the Cintamani Stone, one of the biggest jewels ever recorded. The problem is you're friends with a couple of shady characters and its hard to know if they're going to help you or if they in cahoots with Lazarevic. Lazarevic is a nasty, heartless, character and if the rumors of the Cintamani stone's power is true you must stop him at all cost. Thankfully, some more trusty worth characters from the first game return and Drake even gets himself entangled in a bit of a love triangle. Thankfully, there is excellent gameplay to back up the exciting story. Where as the first game had you fight the same battles over and over again, in Uncharted 2 each situation feels unique. Although there are still plenty of shoot outs each scenario feels hand-crafted to challenge the player in different ways. One thing the is really neat is how many of the levels are designed so that if you want you can sneak around and eliminate the enemies silently. If you can pull off an entire section without alerting anyone its very rewarding. Besides just fighting people you'll have to take on helicopters and tanks. Outside of combat you'll get to test you're climbing reflexes and puzzle solving abilities. Yet again Naughty Dog hits it out of the park with the visual design. Where the last game all took place on one island there is much more variety in the environments this time around. You'll trek through the jungles of Borneo, visit the war-torn city of Nepal, and take a step back in time to a secluded Tibetan village. Each place you visit is lavishly detailed and they invite you to step right through your screen. If that wasn't enough the train sequence about half way through the game is one of the greatest accomplishments. You'll start the ride in the woods and by the time you fight your way towards the front you'll be up in the snowy peaks of the mountains. Words and trailers can't do this masterpiece justice. This is an immersive experience that only a videogame is possible of. Sure its not very realistic but rarely before has it been possible to really put yourself in the shoes of an action hero like Drake. His victories are your victories, his setbacks are your setbacks. There is a lot of emotional moments and you'll fight to the bitter end to set things right. Between the intense gameplay, unique story, and exotic locales there is a lot to love in Uncharted 2. Any one with the slightest taste for adventure has is give this game a shot. You will not regret it.

We all grew playing the Mario Cart games. I remember playing split-screen on the Super Nintendo while others may have gotten their first taste with Mario Cart 64 or Double-Dash. Its a fun twist on the racing genre and Sonic was long overdue for a spot in the limelight. That is not to say to this is Sonic's first racing experience but its easily one of his best; it finally puts him on par with his rival. A ton of different characters and tracks along with superb vehicle handling make this is a top-notch racing game. Game play is key to any racing game and this one is exceptionally smooth. This game is quite unique in the fact that you race across land, water, and in the sky. Thankfully, the vehicles handle smoothly across all three modes. The drifting is very satisfying and is quite easy once you get used to how it feels. You'll be drifting a lot as you'll get a boost that varies in strength depending on the length of your drift. If you need some assist there is an array of different power-ups at your disposal. These range from homing RC drones, to big fat blow-fish, to snow balls. The content in this game, especially in the career mode, is quite astonishing. First and foremost almost everything can be played via couch co-op which is a rare find these days. The career will have you compete not only in races but various challenges such as races that require you to constantly drift or races that require you to meet checkpoints while avoiding traffic. The easier difficulties will make this game fairly accessible while the hard difficulties can be quite challenging. All the game modes will reward your character with experience points for finishing racing. These will unlock different mods you can use to change the stats on your vehicles. Sonic is one of a dozen or so IPs represented in this game. There is a bunch of characters from the Sonic universe including Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Shadow. You'll find them racing along the likes of Beat ( Jet Set Radio), Ulala (Space Channel 5), Aiai (Super Monkey Ball), Amigo (Samba De Amigo), Ralph (Wreck it Ralph), and many more. You'll race across multiple tracks that represent just as many different games. The character models look just as good as the tracks which are brimming with personality. Some tracks feature each vehicle mode evenly while others focus one or two more than the others. Almost all the tracks change each lap giving each race an exciting cinematic feel. Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed is a successful modern twist on the classic kart racer genre. The races are fast and frantic. You'll feel great as you pull off tight drifts or knock out opponents sneaking up behind you. There is a wonderful variety of much loved characters and locations featured in this game. Bring a friend over to enjoy the robust co-op that is accessible across almost the entire game. No matter how you play it or who you play as you're bound to have a great time playing this game.

I am quite a big fan of the emerging genre of story-driven adventure games: or walking simulators as the skeptics like to say. However they could hardly call that the case in Mind Path to Thalamus. This game actually blends heavy narrative elements with a bunch of puzzles. Its a unique combination thats has never really been split as evenly as they are in this title. Caught in a dream like state you must solve various challenges to reawaken your cognitive functions while battling your emotions regarding your tragic past. In my mind the story is the highlight of this experience. There isn't too much I can say as I don't want to spoil anything. The game starts with a hurricane crashing down on your home and you go charging in looking for your daughter Sophia. Immediately after you find you yourself in a strange land hoping from one landscape to the next. The protagonist is clearly going through a lot of turmoil and has a very dark outlook. The narrative starts out quite vague and hard to follow but as you progress it becomes more and more clear what is troubling your character. In order to recuperate you'll have to put your mind back together through a series of puzzles. The core mechanic revolves around these little tumbleweed balls. You must move the balls to different parts of the level to activate various features such as rain to lift bridges and darkness to open various gateways. Its a really simple idea that is milked for all its worth throughout this adventure. The difficulty doesn't seem quite as balanced as it could have been with many puzzles being quite easy while some are a bit frustrating. From a narrative perspective the puzzles actually seem purposeful. I'm used to story-driven adventure games typically being more relaxing so it was quite a different experience trying to solve puzzles at the same time. For the easier puzzles it wasn't so bad but two or three of the harder ones kind of pulled me out of my immersion in the story. I think the main problem is that this isn't a particularly long game. That is no surprise for a well polished indie game however in other puzzle centered games there is usually more time to train your brain on how to gradually get better at the puzzles. Mind Path to Thalamus was an interesting experience. Visually it isn't as stunning as some of its predecessors but some of the panoramic scenes are quite striking. I really grew to like the story and I found the protagonist's struggles quiet interesting. The puzzles are definitely a unique addiction to the genre and most of them are quite enjoyable. The tougher puzzles may disengage you from the experience but once you see them through you'll be right back **** in. This definitely wasn't the smoothest ride I've been on but I'm glad I saw it through to the end.

Video games usually aren't the first place to if I want a learning experience. I do however enjoy documentaries and in many ways Never Alone is a hybrid video game/documentary. This original story of a young girl and a friendly fox has been cleverly designed to cover the life and legends of the Inuit people. The game lets the player go back and forth from the gameplay to mini-segments of a documentary covering various aspects experienced through the game. It is really cool to be able to discover the different parts of this rich culture and go on to experience them hands-on. If you're curious to learn about the native Alaskan people or you're looking for a light co-op experience Never Alone might be worth checking out. In this story you play as a young girl named Nuna. With a relentless storm threatening Nuna's village she decides to head out to find what the origin of the storm is. Nuna doesn't quite realize what she is getting her self into. Thankfully she quickly finds a Fox who will help protect and guide her. Both Nuna and her Fox have different abilities that require them to work together. You can control both characters or you can play co-op with each player controlling one character. On Nuna's adventures you'll come across different elements of Inuit culture which are explained in detail via the documentary. The story is definitely the focus of this experience and its quite fun to learn about all the different legends and beliefs of these natives. Game-play wise this is a pretty straight forward side-scroller. The two characters will need to avoid or maneuver around various hazards such as Icebergs and Polar bears. When there is no immediate danger the levels often turn into puzzles. You'll need to take advantage of Nuna's bola and the fox's ability to climb to navigate and progress to the next area. The game isn't particularly challenging which isn't too surprising since this is an educational game and was designed with children in mind. That being said there are a couple parts especially in the later half of the game that can get quite tricky and may require multiple attempts. Never Alone is very pretty game. As one may imagine there is only so much variety of things to see in this snowy paradise but what there is to see looks nice. The cut scenes are particularly interesting as they borrow the look of traditional Inuit art. To farther enhance the immersion the narration is voiced by a native in the native language. This game is all about spreading and promoting Inuit culture and it does everything it can to be authentic. How much you'll enjoy this game really comes down to how open minded you are. If you enjoying learning new things there is a lot to appreciate. However, more "hardcore" gamers find the gameplay a bit too lax. That isn't to say there is anything wrong with the gameplay, in fact I found the difficulty quite appropriate for the experience. This game also is a good example of proper asymmetrical multiplayer for those who enjoy couch co-op games. Find any reason to play Never Alone and I'm sure you'll walk away contented and a lot more knowledgeable about this fascinating culture.

The Witness has been on my radar ever since the announcement of the PlayStation 4. Right away the bold and colorful world grabbed my attention. The crazy thing, this entire world is based purely around solving puzzles. It was quite a bold idea, especially making such a extreme departure from the Jonathan's Blow last game Braid. The development cycle was long but well worth the wonderfully polished game that was the result. Built upon a beautiful island, The Witness is a very challenging and rewarding puzzle game that will simulate your brain for hours on end. The concept seems simple enough. Scattered around this island is hundreds of panels. All these panels having a starting point and an ending point. Its your job to draw a line to connect the two ends. The challenge is each section of puzzles will throw different obstacles at you. Just to give couple examples; this could include separating blocks of different colors, matching up sets of circles, to making specific shapes as you draw your line. When you enter a new area you'll usually find a sets of five side by side panels that function as tutorials. This game will never tell you what to do, it instead relies one you to be smart enough to progress. This game is deceptively straight forward. There is so much more to this game then just walking from one panel to the next. There are a series of well hidden bonus puzzles tied to the mysterious black monoliths scattered around the island. One of my favorite things I found was the movie theater. The theater itself isn't too difficult to open but you'll need to have truly mastered the various puzzle elements to find the movies. A boat is available to take you around the island and may help you notice things you may not have seen before. The amazing artwork combined with the island setting really sets the mood for this game. You really start to feel like your on a luxurious island retreat. Pillows and couches can be found lying about inferring that the challenge of these puzzles my make one self tired over time. Various ledges and buildings will give you breath taking views of the island. It amazing to see this huge island you've spent hours exploring and conquering seem so shrunken from up high. Those who crave exploration will want to explore every nook and cranny of this world for its abound with secrets. I you like to challenge yourself and test your intellect you need to play this game! The puzzles are numerous and the different sections of the game are superbly designed. In each area they'll start you off with fairly straight forward puzzles and slowly add more complexity. By the time you get to the end of a section you'll be amazed at the crazy things you've able to accomplish. If the puzzles weren't rewarding enough every secret you find will bring a burst of joy and excitement. The incredibly high ceiling of challenge with no written or spoken tips means that this game isn't for everybody but those who can keep their cool will find a wonderful sense of accomplishment playing through this game.

I've been actively playing videogames since I was just a couple years old. From the Sega Genesis to the PlayStation 4, I've played hundreds of different titles. I've played so many games now that I often feel like its hard to find really the unique experiences. Gravity Rush has completely caught me off guard. This is an incredibly fresh and rewarding game. It has everything going for it; from the thrilling gameplay, to the stylish anime art, and an engaging story-line. The wonderfully stylish art and the fairly lighthearted story mesh together very well. The world has a crisp anime look and takes inspiration from French art works. You experience the world through Kat. Kat wakes with amnesia but quickly finds she can manipulate gravity thanks to her mysterious cat Dusty. You find yourself in a floating city that is struggling to fend off an infestation of these monsters called Nevi. You quickly run into an officer named Syd who recruits you to help protect the city. Along you're journey you run into another shifter named Raven and its unclear a first what her intentions are but as you progress you'll find that she is in a difficult predicament. The main aspect of this game that will **** you in and keep you coming back is the ability to control your own gravity. By just the press of a button Kat will start to float in the air. Then all you have to do is aim at where you want to go and press the same button to send Kat falling in that direction. It feels a lot like flying but its really more a change of perspective as you'll proceed to walk on walls and collect gems hanging beneath various structures. There are gems scattered all over the world and trying to find them all is incredibly addicting. You can use them to upgrade Kat's abilities such as increasing her ability to manipulate gravity or strengthen her combat powers. The gameplay is divided between story missions, side quests, and challenges. All three will often be focused on combating the Nevi. You can use gravity to your advantage as you perform flying kicks and hurl objects by picking them up in a stasis fields. The challenges not only test you're combat prowess but test how well you can quickly manipulate your gravity for precision and speed in various time trials around the city. The side quests are mostly silly stories that require you to dress up in new outfits for tasks such as infiltrating a local gang or attempting to satisfy a grumpy house wife. Everything about the game feels like it was crafted with a lot of passion by a team with a strong, united, vision. The gameplay and gravity manipulation feels absolutely amazing, there is nothing quite like it. The story has a lot of memorable characters that will have you smiling or gleefully scouring from the story's silly moments to the incredibly stubborn antagonists. Coming from someone that has played his fair share of games I must say Gravity Rush is a very unique experience and I couldn't be more happy I tried it. In my mind this is a must play for any one with a PS4 of Vita.

Vlambeer is one of my favorite indie developers for several reasons. I've seen the devs quite a bit in various videogame documentaries and so to some small extent I feel like I know them. A consist level of quality, along with their unique retro-style, can be found across their various titles. Its in the aesthetics that there games really shine, from the beautiful art to the superb sound design. Yet, as much as I like the studio for some reason I have yet to really fall in love with any of their games. This is not to say Nuclear Throne is bad by any means but there just isn't quite enough there to keep me coming back. So from what I understand this game takes place after a nuclear fallout and the mutated creatures that spawned from the event are competing with each other to be the best in order to eventually reach the illustrious heights of the Nuclear Throne. That is all the story you're getting because this game is clearly focused on gameplay. In Nuclear Throne you're simply dropped into a room where you have to kill all the enemies. Once thats done you're **** into a warp hole where you'll teleport to the next level where you'll do the exact same thing. As you progress you'll be rewarded experience and every time you level up you'll get to choose between four random upgrades to aid you in the increasing challenging battles. As you can imagine, with such a simple concept there must be a variety in the means of which you clear these rooms. There is a handful playable characters each with a unique special power and passive trait. Thankfully, you'll find a good selection of weapons as you fighting for your life. There are five different ammo types including bullets, shells, bolts, etc which leads you find different kinds of machine guns, crossbows, shotguns, and so on. For the most part they all feel quite good and its easy to quickly find your preferences. This is an intense, fast-paced game, and you'll need to be able to adapt quickly as the enemies will be shooting right back at you. With the cross-hairs a fair distance from your character aiming can be quite a challenge in itself. Its the visuals and sound effects that really make this game worthwhile. The guns in this game sound like they really got some nice kick to them. All the playable characters and enemies look great. There is a lot of charm in the theme of this game. This is really important because the gameplay can get quite repetitive. Even though the maps are procedurally generated you're basically always stuck fighting in fairly cramped arenas. Every two or three levels you will face a different group of enemies but after you've played several times the battles tend to all feel pretty similar. That being said you'll always being on the edge of your seat trying to make every shot count while at the same time trying to avoid the onslaught of enemy fire. The fact is this is a simple shoot-em up. There is nothing wrong with that if thats what you're in to just don't expect much more. Since this is such a though game the hope is that you'll keep learning as play and just get a little bit farther after each attempt. Since this is a rogue-like once you die thats it, you have to start right at the beginning and there is nothing to carry over from one run to the next. This is a game the requires a lot of dedication for mastery. Although I personally don't have the patience to get really good I did have fun while playing this game. I would only recommend it to those who really think they're up for a challenge.

A little exploration, a little mystery, a little puzzle, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter has it all. The goal of the game can be distinguished quite easily from the title. This is a story-driven adventure game in the likes of Dear Esther, Gone Home, and Everybody's Gone To Rapture. However, where all those games really shine all the way through The Vanishing doesn't really come together till the very end. Its a decent game with a decent story but is that enough to make the journey worthwhile? You step into the shoes of Paul Prospero, a detective who finds himself at Red Creek Valley to investigate Ethan's sudden disappearance. You'll find various clues along the way that will help you get an idea of what happened to Ethan. These clues are broken is the a handful of sets for key areas across the game. Once you find all the pieces of a set you'll unlock vision of what happened at that spot. Its up to you to find the appropriate timeline of the event. After you get the events in the right order you're treated to a cut-scene that shows exactly what happened. The visuals in this game are quite realistic. Since you'll need to do a lot of exploring and walking around you really get to appreciate how gorgeous this game is. The pretty landscapes and scenery are quite relaxing and calming. Since the story can get pretty dark the environments make for a nice contrast to the tone of the story. Often the scenes involve individuals seeming to be going paranoid, often hurting each or trying to capture Ethan. They believe Ethan has unleashed an ancient evil upon the town that is tainting the minds of the locals and feeding off their violence. Most of the time all you'll need to do is just find the clues lying around. However, there are a couple light puzzle elements. In one instance you have imagines of different room options in a house and you have to figure which rooms belong to which doorways. In another instance there is a cavern with various bodies you have to find to decipher a code. After you've explored town and solved all the puzzles you finally realize what happened to Ethan. Its the emotional highlight of the game that will really stick with you and have you going back to really think about everything that lead up to that point. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter may have an emotional impact but as a game I believe its fairly average. That is not to say this is a bad game by any means but there just isn't much to it. Besides the ending the story is pretty much forgettable. There is little variety in the gameplay and even figuring out the order of events just involves trial and error. The exploration is probably the highlight of this experience but its hardly enough to justify some of the games other shortcomings. I'm all for narrative driven adventure games but I just think that this particular one is only slightly better than average.

Bit Blaster XL is a perfect example of how to make a great little indie-game. First pick a classic genre, in this case space shooters. Pick a gimmick or two to make your game stand out from other similar titles. Finally, give the player a some motivation to continue playing beyond just for high-scores. One easy way to achieve this is via a light progression system. Bring all that together like this game does and you're destined for success. The developer's motto "live, die, retry" becomes quite apparent very quickly. Bit Blaster is a space shooter similar the classic Asteroids. There are various meteors, bombs, and spaceships coming at you from both sides of the screen. The longer you survive the more stuff gets thrown at you. Its usually not much more than two or three minutes till you're overwhelmed and you're ship is destroyed. You'll want to keep jumping right back into the action because with the aid of the various weapons you'll know there is potential to do better. The weapon and ammo system is one of the features that really stands out about this game. You have one ammo base that carries across for all the different weapons including your standard gun. In order to get more ammo you'll either have to pick it up from destroying the objects around you or grabing new weapons. Once you pick up a weapon you're stuck with it unless your ship gets hit, runs out of ammo, or you pick up a different weapon. There are classic weapons like rapid fire, scattershot, and homing missiles as well as unique ammo that either explodes, bounces, or tears through multiple enemies. To help keep you motivated you earn coins as you play which will unlock you new ships. The first couple ships offer a specific selling points such as extra speed or multiple shields. As you unlock the later ships they are pretty much straight up upgrades of previous models. By the end of the game there will probably just one or two clear favorites you usually stick with if you choose to keep playing. There is some incentive to go back to the other ships as each has their own leader-boards for high-scores. Either you like retro space shooters or you don't. If you do Bit Blaster is definitely worth checking out. The various weapons and ships make it quite an enjoyable game that can be hard to put down. Since it is rather light you may not be very motivated to keep playing after unlocking all the ships but you'll still have had enough fun up to that point to have made the purchase worth wild. There are bits that need blasting, how much more need I say.

When I first saw South Park the Stick of Truth the truth was I wasn't that impressed. Yes, it was impressive how much it looked like the TV show. I also found it funny how the game made the South Park team have to finally layout the city to figure out where everyone was located. It was purely on a whim that I picked it up on sale for $8 on Xbox's countdown for new years sale. I'm so thankful I did because this game is quickly becoming on of my favorite RPGs. The level of immersion in Stick of Truth is one of the most impressive aspects of this game. The visuals are incredibly accurate to the show. I really feel like I'm a part of this wild world created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Right off the bat you get to create your own South Park character. Seeing your person in various cut-scenes in these very familiar environments is pretty surreal. One of the biggest surprises to me was the combat system. Its just deep enough for hardcore rpgs fans without the extra, complicated, fluff that weighs down so many big rpgs. A turn based combat system with bonus for timing your hits and blocks is reminiscent of many of the genres staples like Paper Mario and Legend of Dragoon. The variety of weapons, equipment, and enhancements is equally impressive. The default difficulty feels like it gives just the right amount of challenge without requiring grinding. The story is has all the antics you'd expect from the best classic South Park episodes. The way the scenarios slowly build up in scale is really cool. Going from backyard brawls and role playing to taking on a horde of zombies and government agents is both ridiculous and hilarious. This game is chalk full of references and side quests related to the tv show. I even really enjoy just rummaging peoples' houses and seeing what junk they had lying around. In the end, I'm very grateful I gave this game a chance. I'm loving every minute of it and I'll be very curious to see how it all comes together. If you enjoy the show or just like RPGs in general its worth checking out this comical and rewarding game.

I love roguelikes or more precisely the emerging genre of roguelike-likes. After the near perfection of Spelunky I had a hard time finding a game that really satisfy my desire for the genre. A couple games have stuck out and one of them is A Wizard's Lizard. Clever title aside I have to say this is a really fun game with a couple really clever concepts. At its core A Wizard's Lizards is a top-down dungeon brawler. Every time you play you're dropped in maze of randomly laid out rooms. You're free to explore them all to max out your loot and find better equipment. Or minimize harm to **** straight to the boss room. That is the beauty of any great roguelike, the push-your-luck choices you constantly have to make. The combat system is fairly simple but feels really good. Find the right weapon and equipment to match your play-style then go to town on the enemies. Unlimited use of your staff is great just be sure to watch your cool down time. Your soul orbs give you a nice powerful boost but its number of uses is limited so be careful. The coolest part of this game and the element that makes it so unique is its light/dark mechanic. Death is not the end in this game. When lose all your hit points go from the dark world to one of light. Many of the enemies you struck down will reemerge as ghosts and ghouls. Quickly make your way to nearest wicca symbol to give yourself back to the darkest and protect yourself from death once more. Being able to recover from a near death experience like this is quite exhilarating. To conclude, this a well thought out roguelike. It has a very charming, colorful, art style with may funny looking characters. The combat consist mostly of smart movement and equipment savaging. All put together a neat little game that doesn't take terribly long to complete but is difficult enough to make you try a handful of times till you make it through.

I am a **** for stylized, artistic, games. Its no surprise then that Aaru's Awakening caught my attention. The cel-shaded environments combined with the beautifully painted backgrounds make this a truly gorgeous game. However, it takes more then really good art to make a really good game. Thats not to say this is a bad game but it certainly carries with it some baggage that weighs down the overall experience. This test of reflexes and patience may not be for everyone. The story of Aaru's Awaking is a tale of four gods. The gods decided long ago to split the day into four equal parts Dawn, Day, Dust, and Night. You play as Aaru. A buff looking creature that lies to serve Dawn. You're warned by you're master of an evil presence invading Night and must traveling through all four kingdoms to face this threat. As Aaru travels through the realms the other gods sow seeds of doubt into his mind and he begins to question if he is on the right path. This makes for a pretty interesting story which is narrated though story book cut-scenes between each realm. After seeing someone play it on Youtube, Aaru's Awaking quickly caught my attention. I proceeded to download a demo and was instantly impressed. Not only was the game fun to look at but the mechanics were very clever. Aaru was fairly maneuverable but the key mechanic of the game is teleportation. This is accomplished by pressing the left mouse button to project out a ball of light then press the right mouse button to appear at the balls current location. This makes for some unique platforming especially when combined with Aaru's dash ability. For a simple concept the developers certainly push it to its absolute limits. The later levels become extremely technical requiring immense speed and precision. Although the first couple stages help get the player into a rhythm it still seems like the difficulty ramps up a bit too quickly. I don't mind a challenge but I definitely didn't realize what I was getting into. Towards the end of the Night chapter, especially the boss stage, it became so hard I just wanted to pull my hair out. This was the point where I stopped having fun and I decided to stop playing soon after. (About 80% through the game) I'm glad I tried this game. It had a really unique mechanic at its core and some pretty clever level design. My favorite part is still the wonderful art and original soundtrack. That being said, I was so focused on trying to stay alive I didn't get to enjoy the music that much. (Not to mention in the end I got so sick of hearing Aaru die I took off my headset.) Whether or not you'll like this game really comes to down to how much you like a challenge. I don't quiet have the reflexes to really enjoy this game to the end but I'm sure there are gamers out there who do.

Its feels good to be a giant among men. This is the feeling you get while playing A World of Keflings, a game were you play as your (Xbox) Avatar. You quickly find yourself surround by all these tiny people called keflings. The Keflings are quite unorganized and they need your help. The game is pretty simple but if you're not in mood for a challenge this can be a decent game. One which I find most enjoyable while playing co-op. Although they may be in awe of your size they certainly don't mind asking you for favors or telling you what to do. Its not that they're bossy or anything, the characters are all quite funny. In fact the story is where this game really shines. There are many unique and funny characters from the king and his daughter, to the witch and pirate. They all talk funny and ask you to do some pretty ridiculous things. Its your job to help the keflings build up their kingdom. This is accomplished by having the keflings gather resources used to build new buildings and structures. The keflings are hopeless without your input. Thankfully, all you have to do is pick one up and drop it off on the resources you want to collect or transport. After your factories and refineries have enough resources you can make the pieces you need for move advanced buildings. This game reminds me a lot of an real-time strategy game without the combat. As weird as that might sound its still quite fun. It really is designed to be a laid back and relaxing experience. Its pretty incredible after you get a couple hours in and you have this huge city with a ton of keflings all moving around doing their own thing. It some sense it reminds me of The Sims, as in watching the progress your keflings make thanks to your efforts. This game doesn't require a lot of its players. I can see how it may be boring for those more used to action oriented games. However, I think its nice just to take it easy once in awhile and enjoy a more narrative driven experience like this. Again, watching your domain grow is quite rewarding. Not to mention its always fun to meet the new characters and hear their requests. Its definitely a simple game overall but their is fun to be had.

You wake up on the beach after your plane crashes. You band together with five other survives who make you their impromptu leader. The choices you have to make have some major consequences in this dire fight for survival. Their lives rest in your hands. Do you have aptitude to make the right choices to save everyone? This game is all about cause and effect. When a boar steals what little food you have do you try to hunt it down or stay put? When the storm threatens your shelter should you make do or wander blindly into the night and hope to find something better? Even choosing who to feed with your limited food supply is a tough choice. Maybe someone is injured and you feel badly and want to feed them. On the other hand, maybe you give the food to a more fit candidate to give them some energy to help you forage. Maybe you just decide based on their attitudes and personalities. The story and the level of emotional attachment in this game is through the roof. The characters all feel so real. You have Teddy, a super paranoid tech wiz, who thinks this is all one big planned conspiracy. Jolene, a demanding yet surprising optimistic women, who is losing interest in her husband and fellow survivor George. Then theirs Steve and Garret, a depressed office worker and a gaming addict. Rarely have I found it this easy to remember characters names, its just their personalities and so strong and believable you really feel connected to them as time goes by. The art and sound effects are really unique and fit the game so well. The game has a really pretty, colorful and slightly cartoony, paper-craft look to it. The story can get dark at times and I'm glad its not too realistic looking, I feel that could have made it even more gloomy than it already is. The characters all make funny and super charming voices when the talk. You can read what they say but all you hear is them mumble with their different accents that fit their personalities perfectly. This game isn't very long, in fact it only takes a little over an hour to complete. Please don't not write it off just for that, for what plays in an hour feels like days as you immerse your self in this game. Not to mention there are so many different paths to take the replay value is very high. Watching my sister play and make different choices vastly changed the direction of the game and let me see lots of things I didn't in my play-though. If you enjoy the TellTale games like the Walking Dead or the difficult choices likes those in the Mass Effect series I believe you'll really enjoy this game. So tell me, are you ready to step up and make the though choices?

Morphopolis is an "art game" if ever there was one. I say that because I believe for this particular game the art is the priority. That's not to say there isn't interaction but its gameplay is quite simple. I'd go as far to say that the gameplay is designed to make sure you focus on and absorb the art. The eye candy is nice but it takes more then that to design a good game. In Morphopolis you play as different bugs who are kind enough to help out there neighbors with different chores. Then at the end of each stage it appears you transfer yourself into a larger bug whom you'll play as in the following stage. There isn't any written story instead the game leaves it up to you to interrupt the meaning behind you're actions. Even beyond story-telling there isn't even guides to tell you where to go or what to do. Restricted movement and actions is enough to let you figure out for yourself what you need to accomplish. This game is super stylized. The consistency of the art work between each stage is spot on. The stages split across multiple screens which connect seamlessly. The art is this Morphopolis is stunning. The paintings are incredible and make you really focus when trying to find the objects you need. You'll be looking at every little detail as your eyes slowly inspect the image. Essentially, this is a find the objects game. As you play you'll come across particular plants and bugs that stick out from the backgrounds. Each of them will ask you to find a set amount of particular items for them. You'll need to carefully scan the backgrounds and gather up all the items. Then proceed to deliver them in order to clear a path or initiate a special mini-game puzzle. All the puzzles are very different and I believe this is were Morphopolis loses it consistency. Until this point the game is fairly easy and relaxing but a couple of the puzzles are incredibly challenging. This very bizarre difficulty curve takes you out of what is otherwise an immersive and enjoyable game. Very stylized and original, the only thing holding this game back from is it's struggle balancing. If you think this might be a game you'll enjoy don't let that hold you back. That being said I'm sure some people will really enjoy that added challenge. Those who are worried about getting frustrated can always minimize the game a bring up walk-through for the really tough puzzles. As I said before art is at the core of this game. This is an array of visual stimulation that will let you relax and lose yourself in the world. Look else where for a more interactive and more traditional "game like" experience.

Nothing is impossible. You may not see a clear route but don't be discouraged. A different perspective may be all you need and everything will fall in place. You may be unsure of your destination but remember its journey that matters. With every obstacle overcome you become more confident in your ability to see the hidden paths and navigate these twisted worlds. Monument Valley shines in its clever level design and focus on minimalism. All the sharp edges, even symmetry, and tri-tone blocks give this game a super crisp, clean, look. Even accounting for the perspective shifts its really easy to see where you can and can't walk. There is little to no unnecessary flair to distract you while you try to solve the puzzles. Sometimes you'll just want to take a break from playing to just enjoy the sheer beauty of this game. It even gives you an option to take a picture at the end of each level to share with your friends or keep as a reminder of your accomplishment. The goal in each level is simple. All you have to do is go from point A to point B. The problem is that there is no clear path. You'll either have to move and twist the map around to flow the way you need it or spin the camera to make what seem like impossible gaps to line up and connect perfectly. None of the puzzles are too hard. Ida's movement is quite limited so there are really only so many ways you can go. This is clearly designed just to be a calm and relaxing experience. You may be scratching your head every so often but don't expect too much challenge. Who is Ida you may ask. You control the princess Ida through her journey across the sacred geometry. Yes, there is a story here but its so light it might fly away. Don't take my teasing too seriously. I enjoyed what little bits of story and dialogue there was but it just wasn't very memorable. This game is clearly focused on its unique puzzles and vibrant art. There was absolutely no need to weigh down the experience with an overbearing or half-baked story. It would have gone against everything else the game stands for. In the end, I think anyone could enjoy this game and I would recommend everyone giving it a chance. The minimalism in both the art and sound design helps trance the player in a wonderful zen like state. Its a great escape from the hectic, fast-paced, and intricate games we normally see and play on our favorite consoles or gaming computers. A rare mobile gem that doesn't rely on the usual free-to-play revenue model. The only time it will ask for any money is for the DLC which is well worth it as it adds more of the same exceptional level design. Buy this game, you won't regret it.

Simply put, Super Hexagon is a test of reflexes and patience. An inexpensive experience that is equal parts audio and visual. This is an incredibly simple, straight-forward survival game. Don't expect any bells and whistles, what you see is what you get. After playing or watching this game for a minute you'll have seen everything it has to offer. The concept of Super Hexagon is simple; you must spin around the center of the screen trying avoid the incoming obstacles. Each obstacle is tied to one of the six alternating sections that split up the screen. Training your eyes to focus on the light and dark sections is key to quickly finding escape routes. It takes a while just to get the feel of moving around. Getting used to the sensitivity of the movement and developing your latency to react to different situations is one the biggest learning curves you have to overcome. Be warned, this game is incredibly challenging! This is quickly noted as your only difficulty choices range from hard, harder, and hardest. Don't expect to last more than a couple seconds with everything being thrown at you. Over time you'll become more comfortable with the patterns which change every 10 to 15 seconds. However, the procedurally generated levels ensure you can't just memorize particular routes. If dodging obstacles wasn't enough the screen is constantly spinning and on a whim it can change its direction. Music plays a big role in this game. The fast-paced electronic music fits the mood of this game perfectly. As the hexagon in the center pulses and the sections change colors you feel your adrenaline surge. Every time you fail and restart it feels like nothing has happened and the party is still going full blast. It feels like the music is cheering you on; if your ears can keep up then so should your reflexes. Hearing the announcer every time you enter a new region is a quick refreshing respite from the intensity of the music and gameplay. For me this game is just to simple and unfulfilling. There really is no feedback loop or incentive to keep playing. Yes, there is some sense of accomplish every time you gain a second or two on your previous best score. However, its not nearly enough to make up for the misery of failing over and over again. The fact that your only reward for doing good is a new high score combined with the incredible training need to master the sensitively of the controls and what little joy was to be had quickly becomes washed out. If all you want is a really good challenge to master you may enjoy this game otherwise don't waster your time on this title.

You have one clear goal; seek the troof. You will go to the ends of the earth if you must. The need to find the troof is so prevalent that you won't let anything get in your way. Don't let the others discourage you on your journey. They are blinded in ignorance and feel threaten by your ambitious inquiry. By going against the flow you put your life on the line. The world is out to get you and it will throw everything it has at you to slow you down. Potatoman Seeks the Troof is as much an experience as it is a game. You take on the role of the potatoman on his way to enlightenment. In an adventure like no other you'll travel through the desert, jungle, city, and beyond. Everyone along the way will tell you your wasting your time. They may even throw stuff at you or try to run you over but you will persist. Many obstacles lay in your way and you'll have to jump over or dodge them if you wish to proceed. You are bound to be stuck down a couple times but the set backs are small and you'll learn how to navigate very quickly. The music throughout this experience is wonderful. The catchy 16-bit inspired tunes will cheer you on as you progress. Each stage has a unique fun track that are all themed wonderfully to the contents of the level. The sound-effects are simple and effective fitting in perfectly with the rest of the game. This is a grand journey but I will note that its not particularly long. However, its well worth the very reasonable price of admission. The variety in this adventure is incredible and the story is absurdly amusing. You are constantly excited to see what crazy thing will happen next. Its impossible to predict all the wild things that this game will throw at you. This game will keep you guessing until the very end. There a very satisfying feeling to completing this trek and I hope you get the chance to experience it for yourself.

Race the Sun is a simple concept with a surprising amount of depth. This game could have been a straight forward survival game were all you had to do was dodge objects and see how long you could survive. Instead the developers added an excellent mission system to challenge the player to explore and try new things. The natural growth of your skills combined with a thoughtful quest system makes this a very rewarding experience. The title says it all in this game. As you fly towards the sun you must avoid the different objects lie in your way. The father you go the more difficult this becomes; columns with fall over to block your path, balls will rolls into your way, and at times you'll be bottle necked into a tight space. Not only that but you must keep in the sun light to power your glider. The sun will slow fall on its own but if you stay in the shade of the objects for too long your battery will start to die and sun will fall much faster than normal. You'll be motivated to explore to collect Tris to gradually increase your multiplier which is necessary for getting a high-score. Thankfully, you have power-ups and attachments that will help on your journey. A yellow boost will both increase your speed while simultaneously raising the sun. The green power-up lets you jump over obstacles were as the purple power-up shields you from a fatal collision. Over time you'll unlock and level up attachments, some of which let you hold onto multiple power-ups. Other attachments let you survive longer in the shadows or increase your ability to turn your ship faster. The attachments along with other perks are unlock though the mission system. At all times there are three tiers of progressively challenging missions. The first tier is usually so easy its just a matter of time before completing the quest. The other two tier offers more challenging tasks you'll have to go out of your way for. These goals range from doing multiple double jumps, flying through multiple zones with no collisions, or building up a really big multiplier. When you complete a quest you get experience points based on how difficult the challenge is. Build up enough experience to level up and receive a reward for your hard work. You really feel a wonderful sense of progression playing this game. Overtime you'll get used to certain obstacles and become more confident with the super tight controls. Everyday offers a new procedurally generated level. As soon as you begin to memorize and master one world the next day offers a different layout. This is great mechanic that keeps the players on their toes while making for an excellent competitive game where you can compete with friends on a daily basis. For everything this game offers it does a superb job. Anyone looking for a fun game they can really sink their teeth into I highly recommend Race the Sun.

Do you think trees are the bane of our existence? Ever wanted to clear a whole forest by yourself? If you answered yes either of these questions Timberman is the game for you! Its a super straight-forward, silly game. One that clearly was designed as a mobile game but had enough charm and appeal to sneak onto steam. The goal is simple, cut down as much of these infinitely tall trees as possible. You can cut from the left or right sides of the tree. You'll need to move back a forth between the two sides to avoid branches jutting out of the tree. Chop and dodge quickly for you time is limited. Every hit will restore some time but the as round progress it becomes harder to keep up. When the time runs out of you get hit once, you dead! Learning to find a rhythm is very important for efficient dodging. Instead of pausing every time a branch comes down you'll already be ready to swiftly move to the side. Memorizing the patterns of going back and forth, especially for the double hits, is essential for fast dodges. The added pressure from seeing the timer begin to rapidly decrease certain doesn't help. If improving your score isn't enough motivation in itself there are several unlockable characters. Many can either be made available simply be setting a high-score or just by chopping some much wood over time. Some characters offer a little more interesting challenges for playing multiplayer matches, earning a certain score consecutively, or chopping so much wood in a particular time frame. The multiplayer isn't particularly exciting online but this is a hilarious game for split-screen, one that would probably do great at parties or competitive events. This game is stupid simple. You only need two buttons and all you have to do is chop quickly and dodge branches. Yet there is a little more life beneath the surface. Training your reflexes takes time and slowly you'll learn to become faster and more precise. Speed also plays into a **** factor. Its not hard to go fast but the more you push yourself the more easily you'll fail. As little as there is to this game I feel there is enough to get your worth out it.

Tearaway takes place in a beautiful paper-craft world. Its a very personal journey that lets you shape the world. Originally a Vita game, different features have been changed to reflect the features of the PS4. Its such a seamless transition that anyone who buys the game without prior knowledge will probably never consider the fact that this is a port. Tearaway is a long and memorable game that really gets you involved as you lose yourself in this one-of-a-kind experience. Tearaway is a shared journey between "you" and the messenger Iota (or Atoi). The messager must reach the hole in the sky if he/she is to deliver his message to "you". Its your job to guide the messenger on their journey. It will be a grand adventure, one where you'll leave your mark everywhere you go. The ability to take pictures along the way lets you catalog your experiences to reflect back on at a later time. Use this feature to celebrate your victories as you help the different local creatures with their needs. Tearaway is a platformer with a heavy emphasis on creativity. This becomes evident very early on as you're task with creating your own unique messenger. You buy different objects and facial features for decorating by collecting scraps found though out the game. You can even make your own designs which is necessary a different at key points throughout the game. It very rewarding to see the impact your creations have on the world and its inhabitants. The gameplay is all about utilizing the features of the PS4 controller (just as the original game used the features of the Vita). In order to navigate though this world you'll use everything from the touch pad, to the sixaxis, to specific button manipulation. For example, the touch pad lets you draw objects and by tapping it your can help your messenger bounce around the levels. Other than that this is pretty much a semi-tradition platformer with a heavy emphasis on story-telling. This three-dimensional platformer is quite a change of pace from Media Molecule side-scrolling Little Big Planet series. Its amazing how well they were able to transition to a very different style of gameplay. This is such a unique experience and its wonderfully executed. Platforming can sometimes get a little tough, especially towards the end. This a minor gripe in a game that is mostly pretty laid back and leaves the tougher challenges as optional quests. It seems like every time you feel it might come to an end you're thrown back into the world with new areas to explore. This helps make Tearaway a surprisingly long game. This is a cute and charming adventure game that players of all ages should be able to enjoy.

One More Line is a hypnotic game of survive. The concept is crazy simple; don't hit any objects or veer off the course. The problem is you can't simply steer where you want to go. Your only means of changing direction is to grapple hook onto the direct objects that clutter the track. Once attached to these objects you'll start to spin around them and will continue doing so until you release. The speed of your ship is what makes this such a challenging game. You only have split seconds to decide if you should attach yourself to an object. The farther away from the object the better as you'll have more time to think and examine any immediate threats. This is a huge problem as one of the easiest ways to fail is to swing smack into a near by object while rotating. Also, if you're too close when you hook on an object your ship rotates so quickly its basically impossible to tell which direction you'll be heading once you release. As you continue playing though the game you'll unlock different options to customize your experience. You can choose different outfits for your character and different tracks for the contrails of your ship. These choices aren't very thrilling but they at least provide an excuse to continue playing. If the challenge of beating your high-score isn't enough to keep you entertained there is an option for local multiplayer which can go up to four players. A series of different game modes offer quite a bit of variety for multiplayer. This is a very fast paced and unpredictable game the would be perfect for parties or a good laugh at a competitive get to together. The sound design is where this game really shines. The music is thrilling, it keeps you pumped up and ready to face the crazy trials this game will put you through. Death is so quick and is written off almost instantly. Simply click the retry button and you thrown straight back into the world. Meanwhile the game cheers you on in its rhythmic robot voice singing out "retry" or "one more line". This feels kind of reminiscent of Minecraft's "just one more block" mentality. There is no doubt that this is a super light game. That being said One More Line is quite fun and very addicting. Most rounds won't even last half a minute. I almost wish the ships speed would have started out slower and got faster as you progressed upwards. My main complaint is there is little to no time to react and stop yourself from swinging right into another object. Also there are times when I feel certain I pressed the grapple button a fair distance away just to find myself slamming right into an object. Although its not perfect by any means One More Line is an inexpensive game with a amusingly simple mechanic.

Wizorb at its core is a block breaking game similar to Breakout and Arkanoid. The difference from these classics is how it expands on their simple formula in almost every way possible. You play as the wizard Cyrus who transforms himself into his staff to be used as your paddle. Like any true wizard you have magical powers that will help aid you on your journey. If its adventure you find yourself on you can bet there is a story too. This game tries to do a lot of things and usually manages to do so quite successfully. Wizorb is a very vibrate and colorful game with its 16-bit inspired, retro, graphics. The different monsters, environments, pick-ups, and bricks all come together for a clean, uniform, style. While the story isn't quite a enthralling as the visuals it does help incentivize your progression. Tarot village has been ravaged my monsters and all the town folk need money to repair their homes and businesses. By playing through the different levels you'll even money you can use both to help out the citizens and buy different power-ups. The power-ups will give you a temporary boost that last until you lose a life. The different power-ups from range from paddle extensions to sticky, slow and multi balls. The long the ball remains in play it will move faster with each hit off your paddle. At top speed its become quite difficult to keep your paddle lined up with the ball. Thankfully, you have different magic powers you can to help make life easier. As soon as the ball bounces off your paddle you can transform it into a burning ball that will pass through multiple bricks or give it wings and guide it into a certain area. While the ball is flying around you can shoot fireballs from your paddle or blow a gust of wind to change the direction of your ball. These all drain your magic bar which can be replenished with potions. Also, if you go so long without hitting anything your ball will start to glow and the next time you hit it you'll receive some magic. There are five different areas you must fight through to save the kingdom. Each area has a unique theme, a set number of stages, and a boss battle. Each level becomes progressively harder with bricks and enemies becoming tougher and harder to hit. Look for rooms that provide bonuses and shops. Watch out as any purple objects that falls onto your paddle with have a negative effect and could even kill you. Replay levels for coins, score, and bonus stages used to free four sages who when reunited grant access to a special power. Wizorb is a beautiful indie game with some really unique mechanics. The sense of progression of the difficulty feels spot on. Only in the last area does the game really start to almost too difficult. There are times too where it feels the paddle isn't quite as responsive as it needs to be which can be frustrating when the ball gets up to top speed. These aspects do make this game feel a little bit harder than it needed to be however Wizorb is still easy to recommend. The magic abilities are a blast and there is a wonderful sense of adventure. This is arcade style game is wonderfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable.

100% OJ is a really weird and unique game. It plays like a boardgame with the story and characters of an anime. Throw on top of that a collectible card system and you have a wild hodge podge of different elements going into the blender. This game has a lot of great ideas and on its surface it is a playable game. Yet somehow it seems everything that went into this game was poorly executed. As you'll soon find out, 100% OJ heavy reliance on luck and limited player input is its downfall. This game is designed to play a lot like a tabletop game. Its feels a lot like a Mario Party game without the mini-games (and yes, it is as thrilling as that sounds). Every turn you roll a dice and proceed to move that many spaces. Some spaces add/subtract stars needed for leveling up while others let you fight various monsters or reward you with cards. There is even the option to fight other players as you pass them on the board. You can choose to level up your character by setting goals for reaching so many stars or by winning a set number of battles. First to go up to level six wins the game. You go into each game with a small set of cards aimed to aid you in your endeavor. These let you lay traps, deal a little bit of damage, or shuffle around various components. Others cards will give you a boost in battle, usually these boost have some kind drawback as a balancing mechanic. You only start with one card and even if you happen to land on a tile that rewards cards it might not be one you choose for your little deck. For being the biggest element of choice this game has to offer it certainly seems like the card system is very limited, this is especially evident seeing as you must buy cards with the in game currency. You're rewarded coins after completing missions but to really get a collection going requires tremendous time investment. For all the lacking mechanics this game looks really clean. The colors are vibrant and the anime characters are adorable. The little bits of banter between missions make up the story line. They tend to be quite ridiculous but can be kind of fun and silly. The music is pretty catchy as well but can get a little annoying as the tracks end up repeating. I have to admit the sound design is great. The absurd bounce of the dice and crashing of attacks is wonderful. If the aesthetics of this game are enough to make you want to play just make sure to set the gameplay speed to super-fast or turns will drag on FOREVER! Playing this game feels a lot gambling. Luck is a huge factor, there is very little that you have control over. Everything in this game is stacked against you, even on the lowest difficulty setting. However, like with gambling, when you finally beat the system you feel great. You want to jump right back in and show the game who is boss. Yet while playing, in just a single turn, you can lose practically everything! Its a miserable feeling that you'll get over and over again playing this game. There was so much potential here, it looks and plays like it should be a better game. The problem is beneath the surface there are countless gaps in the design. As much time as I put into this game, stuck in its feedback loop, I couldn't be more happy to finally move on.

Transistor represents everything there is to love about the growing indie game scene. The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is phenomenal, the gameplay is thrilling, and the story is fascinating. Whats even more impressive is that this game doesn't rely on the tried-and-true concepts, it instead carves its own path. This makes for a one-of-kind experience, one that is hard to put down. The incredible adventure won't soon be forgotten. The first thing you'll notice playing Transistor is the hyper-stylized art style and soundtrack. It has a darker tone with a lot of deep glossy colors to contrast the gray-scale of the processes which are taking over the city. Clearly the developers had a very specific style they wanted and made sure everything in the game was designed with it in mind. The music is a soothing combination of slow jazz with bits of subtle electronics thrown in. Its safe to assume much of the singing and music is supposed to reflect what Red's style was like before the Camerata put an end to her career. This event marks the starting point for Red's adventure. At some points the story was hard to follow but I believe I got most of it. The game takes place in Cloudbank, a high-tech city where citizens can make decisions through surveys that will effectively change the city to their liking. These changes are made possible via the "processes", a creation of Camerata. Camerata is comprised of a small group of individuals who believe they know what is best for the "their" city and will go to any means to eliminate anyone they think poses a threat to the status quo. As a increasing popular singer in Cloudbank, one who was a bit too controversial, Red became Camerata's next target. You survive the attack and take from Camerata's their one tool for controlling the processes, the Transistor. The transistor not only talks to you as your one companion through out the game but it also doubles as an incredibly powerful weapon. It has the ability to absorb the souls of the recently deceased which you can use to aid you in combat. Although Transistor feels like an action game it really is more of a strategy game. You have the ability to pause time and plan out a series of attacks. Be careful however because after an attack you'll be exposed for a couple seconds until you recharge your plan phase. The different personalities you absorb all have very different functions that can be used as attacks, enhancements, or passive traits. This gives Transistor an incredible sense of variety in the options you have for approaching different combat situations. This game is a masterpiece. The visuals and music will draw you in while the combat will get you hooked. The difficulty curve is near perfect as you'll usually feel challenged but never entirely overwhelmed. If you feel the game is a little on the easy side limiters you unlock throughout the game add some serious extra challenge to the encounters. By using the limiters you'll get an experience bonus adding a nice risk vs reward element to the gameplay. Whether you're looking for a interesting story or a strategic combat system that you can really sink your teeth into, you have to check out Transistor.

Life is Strange is an immersive, story-driven, game about the choices we make. In some sense it might be more about the choices we didn't make. As time travel rears its ugly head into this world that fact becomes more apparent. An ability that although used with good intentions can potentially have dire consequences. This is a five part episodic game blurs the line between game and movies quite well with all its cut-scenes and narrative sequences. Its easy to jump right into this world and just get lost in the flow of events. You play as Max, a photography student at Blackwell academy. After watching someone get shot Max quickly realizes she has the ability to rewind time. Max uses this new ability to save the girl's life and quickly realizes it is her old friend Chloe, whom she hasn't seen in five years. Chloe is very different from the girl Max knew as a kid, shes been having an especially hard time since her friend Rachael Amber disappeared from Arcadia Bay. Her and Chloe decide to investigate what happened to Rachael Amber by connecting her disappearance with other events happening around Blackwell. They also have another problem to worry about as Max is having premonitions of Arcadia Bay being wiped out by a huge storm. Its hard to tell if its just a dream or not but a series strange weather events and dying animals feels like a bad omen. This is a story based game all about player choice. The choices you make will have different effects throughout the game. With the ability to go back in time Max will often question her decisions and at times you may be tempted to go back and undo your choices. I feel like player choice in this game is more about getting you immersed than it is about influencing the events that unfold throughout this fairly linear narrative. It really makes you feel connected to Max as you go with her through various struggles and challenging dilemmas. It often feels like a movie or mini-series cleverly disguised as a game. The characters are the highlight of this narrative-driven game. Between the superb writing and wonderful voice acting all the citizens of Arcadia Bay feel very believable. Chloe is at wits end with her step father, who just happens to be Blackwell's head of security. Drama surrounds Victoria, the super popular mean girl, who despite her attitude seems to have more going on beneath the surface. Kate, a very kindhearted and devotedly religious girl, is feeling quite down after she becomes Victoria's latest victim. Warren, Max's closest friend at Blackwell, is great help with Max's science homework and seems to have developed quite strong feelings for her. This is just a taste of the many characters in this game, all of whom can't even really be summed up in just a sentence or two. Playing through this game is quite a thrilling experience. Your power to travel through time is exhilarating but the more you use it the more questionable it becomes. You actually feel fairly powerless as things seem to get progressively worse as you dig deeper into the games mysteries. It is quite exciting however trying to put the puzzle pieces together. You'll want to keep coming back till to see where everything fits in to the picture. I had some mixed feelings in the last episode but with everything weighing on it and seeing how highly built up it was, this was basically unavoidable. It took awhile for me to process everything that happened in this game but I really did enjoy my time with it and would recommend to any who is looking for an immersive and interactive story.

Life as air-balloon pilot is tough. You aren't afforded any of those nifty steering doo-dads. All you have to guide you is the wind. Playing The Howler is all about learning to become one with the wind as you soar around this pastel world. Its a simple concept for a game but it comes together quite well. Its a short but sweet ride that should keep you entertained for just over an hour. The controls are super simple. All you can do is increase the heat to ascend or subsequently release the hot air to descend. By controlling the elevation you will pass through different zones of air blowing the wind this way and that way. Certain currents will be stronger than other and you must be careful of the potential momentum of the stronger winds. By straddling these currents you can proceed to your destination or pick up goods required for the different objectives. Many levels will simply have to going for one spot to another. Other levels may have you pick up and deliver a package. Later in the game you'll be given bombs you can drop. Use these to destroy obstacles in your path or take out the enemy's bridge. Just be careful not to be too close to your bombs as you can easily be sent floating off screen and into the abyss. One of the coolest parts of the game is the hand drawn art. The backgrounds are gorgeous and rich with detail. They distinguish themselves nicely from the sharp,clean, lines of the objects in the foreground. There isn't much to the sound design. There isn't any music while playing which could be justified to help you concentrate. Usually all you hear is balloon's propane kicking in as you turn on the heat to ascend. That being said the automatons and cars really stick out in the levels they're present. There really isn't much else to say. This is a really simple game, one that doesn't take long to finish. That isn't necessary a bad thing considering the low price point. Not to mention there really isn't many other games like it. The unique art style might make it worth considering if you're on edge. As long as you're not expecting anything too fancy there is fun to be had playing The Howler.

I love free things. This is especially true for games on steam that pay tribute to one of my favorite genres. You Have To Win The Game is a free game and rightly so. Its not bad but it is quite bland. It offers a fun little bite-sized adventure but not much else. Sit down, take about an hour to play through it, then move on and forget about it. You Have To Win The Game is pretty straight-forward Metroid clone. You run around from one screen to the next seeking new abilities and switches needed to access more areas. Sadly, there is no map feature and I often found myself running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to find out where I could proceed next. Thankfully, after a half-hour or so the layout becomes quite familiar and its begins to get easier to memorize how to get around. Once you obtain a new ability you'll already have been by several areas where it can be utilized. The visuals and sound effects are about as retro as they come. The backgrounds are pure-black with just a couple specks of light while the foregrounds are often purple with occasionally with a bit of green or white thrown in. There really isn't much to see. The sound design is just as bland. All you hear is your characters beeps every time you jump. At least the "boss" enemies that come before the power-ups give you some rhythmic beeps for variety. Did I mention the soundtrack? Oh wait, there is none. What this game lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in level design. This game offers a increasing challenging hurdles but it never feels like its asking for too much. Learning to navigate the map as you acquire access to new areas is quite rewarding. The game offers several unique obstacles never repeating the same idea twice. The learning curve may be fairly steep but it seems to be a pretty smooth. I enjoyed playing this game despite its short-comings. The fun gameplay manages to trump the out-dated aesthetics. I will say however that my experience was nearly ruined in by the ending. It would appear that as you played you where supposed to find a magic word that you are prompted to enter at the end of the game. So when I finished without this password it simply reset the game. It was a very unsatisfying conclusion after all the work but what should I expect at this point. This is a free download, take it or leave it.

Gunman Clive is a very unique, super polished, platformer. Taking place in the old west, you embark on a rescue mission. There isn't much of a story but that doesn't matter. This highly-stylized adventure is not only beautiful but a blast to play. It may take a lot of inspiration from classic platformers but the game is a whole new twist on the genre that is definitely worth checking out. At its core, the gameplay is quite simple. Dodge enemy bullets, return fire, and navigate the various obstacles in your way. Your reflexes will be tested as the action is fast. This helps simulate the feeling of being stuck in the middle of the shoot-outs you see in a classic western. When you're not exchanging fire there a plenty of platforming segments as you jump around various moving objects. The tight controls leave no need for guess work. You'll feel great with the mobility of your character feeling very fluid and natural. You can choose to play as Clive or Ms.Johnson, the other of which will be kidnapped. There isn't too much of a difference between the two, Clive can move a little faster and Ms.Johnson can float for a bit. After beating the game a third character is unlocked that plays dramatically different. As you proceed on this rescue mission you pass through several different environments. These include the desert, the woods, a cave, and beyond. Each area provides new, varied, obstacles and enemies that will try to slow you down. One of the neatest parts of this experience is the artwork. The backgrounds and characters look like they popped right out of a stretch book. As the lines shift and dance on screen it really feels like a drawing has come to life. The arrangement of the soundtrack is also superb. Clearly who ever composed the music for this game knew exactly how to set up a wonderful atmosphere. As you play through the levels, even if you die, the music keeps playing. This really helps keep you in the game and ready to face the challenges set before you. I absolutely adore this game. From the beautiful artwork, to the smooth platforming, everything about this game fits perfectly. If you're a fan of old-school platformers you need to play Gunman Clive. Even those who don't play this genre as much can enjoy this game for its atmosphere. I'm still having fun in my second play-through and I'm really looking forward to playing the sequel. So put on your cowboy hat and charge in guns blazing.

ShadowRun: DragonFall is a wonderful blend of great storytelling and rewarding combat. What makes this game so great however is how all these greats parts come together to form a incredibly immersive experience. You can tell that everyone who worked on this game was very passionate about making sure this would be the best possible experience. That isn't to say the game is perfect but it is damn close. Fans of well-crafted stories and those who enjoy tactical rpgs will all find something to love about this game. The world of ShadowRun feels so believable; the culture and the characters of the world are very consistent. On top of that, the choices you make, both in conversation and decision making, help concrete your sense of presence in the world. Will you storm in guns blazing, sneak past security, or talk you're way out of trouble. You have a handful of different classes and races to play as which all utilize very different tactics. You have mages that rely on spells, street-samurai that need to get up close and personal, and deckers who have the ability to control drones and hack into security. ShadowRun uses a turn-based tactical combat system. You have a wide top-down view of your characters and the environments they pass through. You can only see as far as you characters and the more distance between you and your enemies the harder they will be to hit. You can however increase you stats to help increase your accuracy along with a multitude of options to boost charisma, intelligence, defensive, and other attributes. You also have a vast array of skills that you can use to both inflict damage, weaken enemies, or heal and protect your allies. Soon after you start a new game one of your teammates is killed and you decide to investigate and hunt down the party responsible. In the process you have to convince you allies to cooperate with you and get everyone on your team to share your vision. All the main characters have very different personalities and react very differently depending on how you engage with them. Over time you really start to feel like you really know the characters and have an idea of how they'll behave under different conditions. What I find especially interesting in this game is how many of the elements of the story that seem to be isolated events all manage to start to tie in together as you get close to the conclusion. I was honestly surprised by how good this game was. The graphics are gorgeous, the story is immersive, and the combat is just the right level of challenging. Its a deep RPG that will require quite a bit of investment in time and thought but its well worth it. The though choices and scenarios are very rewarding once you see them through. I was pleasantly surprised by how long the game was and even after finishing I was very tempted to jump right back in try approaching things in a different way. In the meantime I will look forward to playing the other entries in the series and will continue to reflect back on the good times I had playing through this magnificent adventure.

The Unfinished Swan is a unique adventure/platformer centered around paint. Paint plays both an important roll in the story as well as the gameplay. Playing form the perspective of a young the gameplay is quite simple. Besides moving and jumping each level features just one mechanic such as throwing paint. Its a pretty straight-forward and simple game but it does have its charming moments. Let me help you decide if those will be enough to be worth your time. You experience this story as a young orphan boy called Monroe. The only item Monroe has left from the mother is a single painting of an unfinished swan. His mother could never finish anything and this clearly influences Monroe as many of the environments you traverse are also unfinished. As you play through Monroe's dream you will find several storybook pages scattered around the world. These bite-sized tales help give reason to the world around you. They are quite random and fantastical as you might expect a young boy would make up. The key character in most of the these stories is simply referred to as the King. The King is special in as he has a magic paint brush with which he can create objects just by painting them. The problem is the king is quite reckless and self-adsorbed. I don't want to give away much more of the story but the king goes through quite a bit throughout the story. Its not until another major character is introduced that the king starts to change and the story starts to ties back to Monroe's story. The gameplay is very simple and features just a couple core mechanics that are featured throughout your adventure. Painting is a huge part of Monroe's imagination and so its no surprise that the first mechanic is the ability to throw paint. The stages start out as just a white screen and you must throw black paint around to find the path you need to proceed. Its quite an exciting mechanic for discovery as you never know what you'll be walking into. In the following chapter your ability to throw paint is swapped with the ability to toss water. Now the world is filled out but you must use the water to push levelers and attract vines to climb on as you traverse the environments. There is no denying the unique mechanics this game features. Its definitely a very original adventure game with a fairly quirky story-line. I will note however that the game never feels too terribly exciting. After you've played awhile and near the ends of the different chapters the mechanics start lose a little bit of their luster. All that said, this is still an enjoyable experience for those looking to mix it up a bit just don't expect to many surprises.