Gamerheadspodca

Red Colony 2 isn't going to be on many must-play lists. But that's OK, it doesn't have to. It's a game with an absurd story, offensive characters, and sleazy dialogue that will make you feel as dirty as the city you're exploring. The gameplay is basic, the animation is crude, and it's short experience (only about 4-5 hours long). But, like many cheesy horror movies, it has a certain appeal if you know what you're signing up for. There's puzzles, exploring, and horror elements-aplenty. There's a solid atmosphere that can ramp up the tension and some good jump scares. Odds are you won't play it again after you make your way through it, but like any good campy horror movie, you'll walk away with an interesting experience that's certainly...different.

Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is probably one of the most, if not the most, anticipated games released this year by NIS. And for good reason, the series is a staple for NIS and introduced us to their mascot, the Prinnies. While previous entries have always done well, Disgaea 6 really has outshined them all. It takes the basics from the previous entries and builds upon those in Disgaea 6, my new favorite entry in the series. The thing that I feel makes this the best in the series is the story. While the other games were interesting enough, this game revolves around the story of a zombie named Zed and his quest to vanquish the God of Destruction. Of course, he has a reason to embark on this quest, which you’ll find out as you play through the game, but the story itself really drew me into this Disgaea more than previous entries. You still have the off the wall humor, but this story feels like it has more heart than previous games. The voice acting is well done and adds to the story by giving it more dimension. Another unsung feature in the game is the music. The music in your home base is in this jazz/lounge singer style, and I was blown away the first time I heard it. Contrast that with the songs that are playing during battle. If you are in a boss battle, the music becomes very dramatic. If I had one complaint it’s that the music can be a bit louder than the voice acting. It’s a minor sound mixing problem. If you have played previous Disgaea titles, then you understand how the battle system works. The game is a strategy RPG and there is a lot to think about when setting up your characters to do battle. One of the fun features returning to the game is the team battle aspect. As you set up your characters, you can have them surround the enemy with each of them attacking separately, but when you execute the attacks, you deal team damage. You can also set up your characters side by side, so that when one attacks, all the characters in range will deal a combined amount of damage. The team cutscenes and special attacks also give off an anime vibe. Leveling up your character is done through your main base, the Netherworld. Here you can buy new equipment for your characters, level up your skills at the skill shop, and earn prizes at the hospital. You even have an option to go to a cheat shop and change the settings in the game to make your experience easier or more difficult. One of the more interesting features in the game is super reincarnation. When you start over, all the mana you collected is cleared out and you start over at level one. However, you get to keep your base stats and you’ll earn karma points based on the level you were at when you reincarnated. Karma points are used to obtain different capabilities, so while it seems counterintuitive to start your level over,it’s a great way to level up your character in the long run. Super reincarnation can be done through the dark assembly, but that’s not the only thing you can do at the dark assembly. It also allows you to do several different things through proposing bills: create new characters, delete characters, get new items at the **** list goes on. And as you continue to play through the game the number of “bills” you can propose increases. Each bill that you propose to the dark assembly does cost mana, the more extravagant the request the more mana it will cost. For instance, creating a bill for triple experience will cost you a whopping five thousand mana points. Spending the mana points only calls the assembly together, you still need to make sure you secure the votes and this is where you can bribe the different senators. Each senator will have things that they like and you can try to bribe the senators by giving them the items that they prefer. This is a totally optional feature, but it adds a different flare to the game. If this is the swan song of the Disgaea series it has gone out on a high note. The basics of what fans enjoy about the game is still intact, from the strategy aspects of attacking your opponents, to the uber amount of damage and absurd character levels you can reach. On top of all that the game’s story is the best in the series and the amount of effort gone into making the experience a memorable one can certainly be seen on full display. Between the anime look, the music, and the quirky but loveable characters, fans of the Disgaea series will be pleased with this entry. Even if you never played a Disgaea game before, Disgaea 6 is a perfect entry level game.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned while reviewing games, it's to never judge a book by its cover. Jetboard Joust is a game that didn’t receive as much fanfare as it should have. The gameplay is spot on, the boss battles are intense, and it looks and sounds good. The explosions and the amount of weapons you can select from take a retro style game and merge in modern day features. My only gripe is that it could have been a bit more on the roguelike style of play. But, those of you that want to play a roguelike that’s lite on the roguelike elements will enjoy this game.

While the gameplay is a bit repetitive, the story behind Poison Control will keep you hooked. The story behind each Belle is unique and the mystery that surrounds both you and Poisonette is engaging. The leveling systems are simple enough to pick up on and the exploration aspects of the game and the weapon and equipment management are fairly deep. I highly recommend this game for people that enjoy visual novels but want a bit more combat and RPG aspects in their game.

If you are a fan of Dungeons and Dragons and reminisce about the days when you played games like Eye of the Beholder, this package is definitely for you. The games start off a bit slow, but once they get going, they are really deep and interesting. I find the story of Saviors of Sapphire Wings to be more interesting, but I enjoy the fact that Stranger of Sword City allows me to build a team to my liking, much like Dungeons and Dragons. And the fact that you get two games in this bundle is certainly something to consider when you are looking for something that will be the best bang for your buck, as both games will keep you busy for a long while.

Understanding how difficult the game is, Graffiti Games created their own downloadable official strategy guide, which can be found on their website. While the strategy guide helps (and it’s beautifully created to boot) Blue Fire is one of the most difficult games I’ve played in a very long time. Thank goodness the movement actions (dash, double jump, wall run) you learn throughout the game are well done, because this is a platformer first and a combat game second. If you are looking for something that is punishingly difficult, yet beautifully created, and can forgive a few of it’s blemishes, then this game will certainly be up your alley.

As far as Donkey Kong clones go, Castle Kong is a great parody of the original game, incorporating aspects of the original into each level’s design, but adding a twist to tie it into the castle theme. The game plays a bit looser than the original Donkey Kong, but once you get a feel for the controls, the game is an enjoyable romp in the arcade genre. It’s unfortunate that the leaderboards don’t include a region and friend ranking system, but maybe that’s something that’ll be added in a future patch.

I now know and agree that Turrican is a classic, and for good reason. I’ve enjoyed playing each of the games and reading more about the history of the Turrican Series. If you’ve never played a Turrican game before, this is definitely worth picking up. It’s great to see a game 30 years ago hold its own amongst modern day run and guns.

I really like the change of pace that Fallen Legion Revenants has to offer in the RPG genre. The character design and voice acting were well done and the battle elements certainly make for an interesting twist on side scrolling RPGs. The diverse amount of exemplars really allows you to build a team that best suits your style of play. The story could have been explained a bit more (especially in the beginning), and the lack of save files is disappointing, but overall the game is a challenging and enjoyable experience. If you are looking for an RPG that is different from your average turn based affair, give Fallen Legion Revenants a try.

All things considered, NUTS is a fun game. For me, while I enjoyed the surveillance concept, the UI was just a bit too frustrating. I’d personally recommend they increase the size of all on-screen button indicators to accommodate for handheld mode. However, none of these issues take away from the fact that it’s a fun game. If you’re able to look past the challenging UI and the current audio hiccup, then NUTS provides a challenging and unique gaming experience worth checking out (especially if it ever goes on sale.)

So is Space Invaders Forever worth the price? Well, that all depends. If you're like my dad, who played Space Invaders in between lanes at Burr Oak Bowl in the early 80s, this game is definitely worth it. For those of you who are looking for a classic arcade experience? You may want to wait for either a price drop, or (hopefully) some DLC added. The games are fun and enjoyable, and they do work well on the Switch (espcially the Arkanoid one), and I do recommend it for diehard fans of the series. For the rest of you, I suggest trying out the original elsewhere before grabbing this collection.

For all that Nine Witches: Family Disruption does well in terms of game play, the vulgar and uninspiring writing undoes. It’s ok to have a few crude jokes scattered throughout the game, but to have them constantly shoved in your face just made for an unbearable experience. If you can plug your nose and get through the childish writing, well, you might be able to enjoy this game.

Red Colony certainly isn’t the worst game. It has some aspects going for it, the art is beautiful and the underlying framework of an adventure/action game is certainly interesting. It just lacks the polish to push it over the edge. The B-Rated qualities of the dialog can certainly be overlooked, it may not be for everyone, but the clunky gameplay and lack of any depth in the puzzles make this a hard sell.

Writhe is a great game that should be on the Switch of every arcade shooter fan. The run and gun gameplay is easy to pick up, but hard to master. Writhe is made even better by its development team, who are responsive to the community and are passionate about making Writhe the best it can be. The future updates in 2021 will only add to an already solid gaming experience.

Set in a small city that has long been forgotten, Lapis X Labyrinth is a 2D side scrolling dungeon delver. You control a party of four adventures that has accepted the invitation to explore the dungeons under the city that have been long abandoned. Treasures are waiting to be found and will help bring the city back to its former days of glory. Let’s dive right in to find out what lies ahead! As stated above, Lapis X Labyrinth is a dungeon crawler where you are sent out to find as much treasure as you can. What is unique about this game when compared to other dungeon crawlers is that your party that you create has all the characters stacked on top of one another. The bottom character is the “leader” and you control their actions. However, you have the ability to send out any of the party members to do attacks that will help you on your quest, or you can build up your party’s special attack to do more damage. But be careful, leaving one behind could cause them to take damage and die. There is strength in numbers and in Lapis X Labyrinth, the farther you go into the dungeon, the more likely you’ll need your entire team. You can create up to eight different classes (but are only able to take up to 4 with you into the dungeon). Each character has their own unique ability and unique equipment that they can wear. The different classes are as follows: hunter, necromancer, shielder, maid, gunner, witch, destroyer, and bishop. When you create a new character, you have the option of giving them a name and doing some modification (albeit minor) to the characters. After you complete a very short tutorial, you’ll be able to create your party. Once your party is established, you need to go and get a quest from the quest board. The quest board is more of a level selection - each level will have several different sub-levels and then a final boss in that level. The level will show what the suggested level your characters should be, but that is just to be used as a guide. You could go back to previous levels and grind until you reach the desired level, but that isn’t really necessary. With the proper loot and equipment, you should be able to complete levels that are much higher than your current rank. And there is a lot of loot in this game. Each dive into the dungeon you’ll come across treasure chests which will contain weapons, armor, or artifacts. You accumulate gold and gems as well which are used to purchase different items in the city. As you continue your quest for treasure and continue to defeat enemies found in the dungeons, you will build up to a “fever”, which makes you invincible. When you are in fever mode, the music changes, the game becomes more colorful, and gems explode everywhere with each monster defeated. During our interview with Erin Kim from NIS America, she stated that the developers wanted you to feel like you won the jackpot when you are in fever mode, and that’s exactly how it feels. It’s so satisfying watching all the gems explode and seeing your treasure combo go up (the amount of treasure collected without getting hit). And with all the crazy action that is going on in the game, not once was there ever a performance issue. After you complete a level, you will be given a rank. You get a number of keys depending on the rank you get. You use the keys to open up treasure chests which also contain artifacts, weapons, and armor. The more powerful items require more keys, so the higher your rank, the better equipment you can get in the chests. The progression of the game is handled by unlocking different stores as you advance through the game. The game really opens up after you unlock the blacksmith which allows you to create different enhancements that you can add to the loot that you find in the dungeons. Once the blacksmith is unlocked, you can take some of those ultra rare items found in the dungeon and make them into some really powerful weapons and armor that allow you to take on dungeons that are much higher levels than your current level. As mentioned earlier, you earn a treasure combo by collecting, you guessed it, treasure. The more treasure you get without getting hit by a monster the higher your combo, which seems to play into the rank you get at the end of the level, although it isn’t entirely clear what all plays into your rank. There are times though that you just can’t avoid being hit by an enemy, especially in the cases where you can tell that there is a trigger event that will cause the enemies to spawn, and you can’t avoid having the enemies spawn right on top of you - at times you just walk right into a spawning character. While this isn’t a game breaking issue, it is annoying when you have a really high treasure combo and then an enemy spawns right on top of your location.

When playing this game I couldn't help but think back to the good ole days of sitting up in my room, a Dew and Doritos 3D at the ready, just jamming out to the dynamite soundtrack of the original ToeJam & Earl. This newest entry in the series is ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! and boy is that name fitting. Everything you remember from the original T&E is back, but it’s all cranked up to 11. The music is fantastic! The whole time I was playing this game I kept finding myself doing a little jig while sitting on my couch. My girlfriend who normally just falls asleep whenever I play games even pointed out how good the music was. The level design is simple but not underwhelming. There are plenty of humans, bushes, houses and random objects for you to interact with throughout the level. You’ll also encounter hidden areas and magically appearing ground that leads you to either a new area or some teleporters. The game is simple: you explore an area while finding presents that aid you on your journey while avoiding interaction with humans and trying to find your missing spaceship parts. Nostalgia definitely plays a factor when playing T&E:BITG because its roots run deep, but don’t let that fool you. There is still plenty of new features to come with it. There’s also couch co-op that adds a whole other layer to the game. There’s something to say about local co-op modes. There’s nothing I enjoy more than scavenging a torn apart earth, looking for crazy, wacky presents with the people closest to me. This game will take you back to a simpler day while still adding to your experience, but it seems like it’s leaving something out. Eventually the environments get stale and the enemies (humans) grow old; not really evolving as you play but rather repeating the same monotonous steps over and over until you find that last spaceship part. The levels change and they even add in different climates but it just feels like it it’s not enough. Each step of the way you’re avoiding humans on the same 3D platform, searching for presents and paying tolls. The characters have a variety of stats but all in all it doesn’t seem to matter, you still end up doing the same thing with all of them. Although the game is fun, I couldn’t fully commit to it. It’s not the same level of enjoyment as it once was for me. One might say that it feels like I’ve grown up, and ToeJam & Earl... hasn’t.

The story of The Princess Guide is well done and the praise/scold feature is an interesting twist on how you interact with the different princesses to unlock different bonuses. The game is deceptively deep with the amount of different attacks, weapons, and squad building options. This may seem pretty intimidating at first, but after a few rounds you’ll find yourself picking up on the mechanics pretty quickly. The game is reminiscent of arcade-style games like Gauntlet, so if you like arcade style games with RPG aspects, this game would be up your alley.

What Battlloon does well, it does extremely well - offering up a simple arcade battle royale experience. Get a bunch of friends together, and you’ll have fun. Unfortunately, the lack of additional content will only allow the fun to last for a little while. But, for those of you that are looking for a couch multiplayer game, this may be right up your alley.

12 is Better Than 6 is a worthy addition to the Switch's digital library, and is perfect for the system's portable, pick-up-and-play mentality. You can blaze through a few levels in a matter of minutes, or put a good hour into the story. It's a very challenging game and some cheap deaths get frustrating, but the quick restart nature doesn't make it feel that way. So if you're all “red-deaded” out and are looking for a fresh take on an old genre, you can't go wrong with this game.

The beauty of The Caligula Effect: Overdose is its simplicity. A lot of JRPGs are complicated, cumbersome, and require a lot of grinding before you can progress further. The combat system here is easy to pick up on, the leveling system is streamlined, and the item menu navigation is easy to understand. Add to that the intriguing story, the amazing music, and the outstanding voice acting and you got yourself a solid JRPG. Fans and newcomers alike should really consider adding this to their collection.

For those of you that enjoy games like Smash TV, this is a must-have. It’s a perfect fit on the Switch. The addictive gameplay, the amount of different game modes, and the sheer fact that this game performs so well on the Switch is a marvelous feat, and is a must buy for fans of the twin stick genre.

Visual novels aren’t for everyone - but those of you that enjoy a good story and the many choices that a good visual novel has to offer, then this is a good game for you. The story is straight out of 80's film with a ragtag group of characters each having their own aspirations and dreams, and with your help they can fulfill those **** not. It’s all up to you based on who you interact with and how you interact with them. The story is solid and a lot of work was put into the creation of the characters, the options you have, and the outcomes of each possible choice. Even those that aren’t fans of visual novels can appreciate hard work and good art when they see it, and Arcade Spirits exudes passion that the creators put into it.

Resident Evil 2 is the pinnacle of a franchise that’s on an upswing after a series of ups and downs. It’s the product of a Capcom that understands its fanbase and reverently respects its survival horror roots. Resident Evil 2 improved nearly everything from the original without screwing anything up in the process, and it will be remembered as another Resident Evil classic because of it. This is Resident Evil at its unprecedented best, and it’s awe-inspiring to witness.

Resident Evil 2 is the pinnacle of a franchise that’s on an upswing after a series of ups and downs. It’s the product of a Capcom that understands its fanbase and reverently respects its survival horror roots. Resident Evil 2 improved nearly everything from the original without screwing anything up in the process, and it will be remembered as another Resident Evil classic because of it. This is Resident Evil at its unprecedented best, and it’s awe-inspiring to witness.

This game won’t be for everyone; It is very surreal and very strange, and if you don’t like wacky weird games, or if you are not very forgiving for some of the issues the game has, then, this game won't be for you. However, if you are willing to try something different and have friends who are open to playing a chaotic racing game, then this might be something worth your time. While there is a story mode, this game was meant to be played with friends, and with the right group of friends you’ll find yourself laughing hysterically at the craziness that is Nippon Marathon.

If you want a serious game with a killer difficulty level, look elsewhere. But if you want charming, low-key, button-mashing fun, Cat Quest is the game for you.

I specifically avoided the price tag for Overdriven Reloaded: Special Edition until after I completed the game. Once I finished, I felt that the game shouldn't be priced above $9.99, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the asking price is only $7.99. At that price, Overdriven Reloaded is absolutely worth it. It's a fun, colorful entry-level shmup that is a blast to play with others. The game isn't too hard, but it gets really tough when you select the Nightmare difficulty. It's fun in short bursts, and the post-game content keeps it from getting stale. For those of you who grew up on shmups but feel a lot of the newer games are too difficult and complicated, Overdriven Reloaded: Special Edition is a great title to add to your collection.

Battle Princess Madelyn is a love letter to the games of old, and at the same time acts as a history less on both what did and did not work. However, for those of us who grew up on these classic titles, it definitely scratches that retro itch. The difficulty and lack of direction in the story mode may be a turn-off to younger gamers, but if you have fond memories of only making it to the end of the first level in Ghosts 'n Goblins, you too will find this an enjoyable trip down memory lane.

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince looks gorgeous and it tells a story straight out of a fairy tale, but its mechanics and gameplay sequences leave much to be desired. It would make for an excellent storybook, but it’s best to wait for a sizable discount on what amounts to a frustrating albeit interesting journey.

If they ever offer a college course on the history of video games, Evoland: Legendary Edition should be a required read (or play). It's a fun title that takes you back through time and provides an interactive guide through the development of gaming from then till now. While the first game in the series is a fun, albeit short experience, the real enjoyment comes with its sequel. It's just a fun (and hilarious) experience that anyone who just wants to chill will find a lot of enjoyment with. I won't spoil all the surprises and throwbacks featured in these games, but anyone who grew up playing classic games will quickly find themselves grinning from ear to ear.

Overall, Airheart - Tales of Broken Wings is a fun and challenging roguelike twin stick shooter that incorporates resource management and crafting. Even with the short falls of some of the UI issues and crafting lacking much direction, the game is fun to play. You may find yourself frustrated with the difficulty that quickly ramps up, but each run is short enough that it doesn’t become overly tiresome. Airheart is a perfect fit on the Nintendo Switch, allowing you to pick the game up for short bursts of time to complete a resource run.

Mages of Mystralia has a familiar and nostalgic feel. The beautiful artwork, the puzzles, and the boss battles all are done right. The game is hindered by the lack of world and character depth, and the loading screens can be a pain. However, overall, Mages of Mystralia is an enjoyable journey and for those of you that enjoy puzzles and spellcrafting, this is certainly a good choice.

Razed accomplishes what it sets out to do, provide you with a fun and challenging platform racing game. It looks great and the musical score fits nicely with the game’s overall motif. Be prepared for a challenge, however the sense of accomplishment after beating a difficult race is a really good feeling.

Hive Jumper does roguelikes right. The risk/reward system is fair and balanced, and it leaves the players with a sense of accomplishment. Even a failed run allows the user to keep some of the goo that they earned, which allows you to level up your character and your bases. The combination of base defense building and run and gun gameplay certainly adds a new and welcomed dynamic to the roguelike genre. Overall the game is just pure fun, a wonderful nod to the SNES/Genesis era games while incorporating new aspects of modern gaming.

For everything that I liked about YIIK, everything that I wasn't that big of a fan of outweighed it. The story is very intriguing with the supernatural and spiritual elements which is what kept me going. Every time a battle started though, a feeling of dread washed over me. Trudging through the battles weighed down the experience of great looking graphics and good sound.

It’s hard to understand the overall purpose of this game, is it supposed to be funny or taken as a serious fighting game? The game’s tone deaf approach to the character design and actions putrefies any positive aspects it has going for it. The stale teenage humor leaves a bad taste in your mouth. With no redeemable aspects and no incentive to play through the game after one play through, it’s hard to suggest this game to anyone, outside of maybe the religious studies majors looking for an off the wall topic to write a paper on.