Reviews
N++ Review
Newcomers to the N series will get a brief, funny little primer from the main menu of N++ explaining the main premise. You’re a ninja, and the goal is to escape a neverending series of deadly traps, with naught but a floaty jump button at your disposal, while making off with all the gold you can. It sounds like a hectic, crazy mission, especially considering that the stages come at you with ...[Read More]
Galak-Z: The Dimensional Review
Galak-Z: The Dimensional is deceptive. Despite its appearance as a simple 2D arcade shooter, complete with neon lasers and frantic firefights, there's something more beneath the surface. This is a game of technique and patience, risk and reward, and it requires just as much forethought as it does split-second timing. It's more of a calculated boxing match than a haphazard shootout. Simply put, Gal...[Read More]
Rare Replay Review
There are few game developers as beloved as Rare. Its creations have charmed millions over the last 30 years with witty writing and an attention to detail that lends credence to goofy, fantastical worlds. It's found success in a wide range of genres, and Rare Replay, a collection of thirty games from the studios' distant and recent past, showcases this success perfectly. It has offbeat side-scroll...[Read More]
Tembo The Badass Elephant Review
Before it became famous for Pokemon, Game Freak was designing action games like Pulseman. After a long hiatus, it's returning to its roots with Tembo the Badass Elephant, which is one of the best 2D platformers I’ve played. The story of Tembo is ridiculous, even by platform-gaming standards: a mysterious evil force called Phantom has invaded Earth, and humankind finds itself backed into a co...[Read More]
Etrian Odyssey Untold 2: The Fafnir Knight Review
There’s been a lot of Etrian Odyssey to go around lately. In the past year, we’ve had the Etrian Odyssey-tinted Persona Q, Etrian Mystery Dungeon, and now Etrian Odyssey Untold 2: The Fafnir Knight, all within the span of a year. That’s a lot of time-consuming dungeon crawling to consume in a relatively short period.The good news is that Etrian Odyssey Untold 2 is an engaging RPG...[Read More]
Victor Vran Review
Victor Vran won’t light any new fires. Well, in a way, fires will occur, but they’re more of a demonic nature. What I mean is that the game doesn’t quite reach the heights of its roleplaying peers. It isn’t completely without its own small surprises, though, such as offering an enjoyable way to craft a custom character, as well as enticing combat and eye-catching visuals. E...[Read More]
King’s Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember Review
Nostalgia may help attract an audience for the new series of King’s Quest games, but you don’t need to have any affection for the glory days of Sierra On-Line to appreciate the fantastic first chapter in this renewed saga. Developer The Odd Gentlemen has absolutely nailed the fairy-tale spirit of the original franchise in A Knight to Remember, the first of five planned chapters. This i...[Read More]
Lost Dimension Review
Lost Dimension masquerades as an average, everyday JRPG. Spiky anime hair, teenage angst, and crater-inducing special attacks abound, but this turn-based quest to prevent global genocide manages to successfully pair the expected with the aberrant. The tactical combat and deep pool of weapons, armor, and abilities are robust enough to stand on their own, but there’s a twist. Within your 11-pe...[Read More]