DeVuego

Crisol: Theater of Idols is an ambitious game with moments of creativity and style, but its execution consistently holds it back. The story fails to engage, combat is frustrating, and the character design often breaks immersion. At the same time, it offers one of the more compelling first-person horror settings in recent years, and its environmental and thematic work are impressive. It’s a game with strong ideas that never fully coalesce into a consistently satisfying experience, making it interesting but flawed overall.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a spinoff that revitalizes the series and the genre with its callback to its original side-scrolling gameplay. With well-crafted levels, dynamically engaging combat, and gorgeous pixel art, it uses the simplicity of the side-scrolling gameplay to its maximum potential. It has a few flaws here and there, like its short runtime and balance near the end, but is otherwise a great way to keep the hype for the series’ upcoming title.

This is not a game for everyone. But for players who crave psychological horror with thematic bite, and who don’t mind a little patience (and a little disorientation), Luto is well worth the price of admission.

Blades of Fire is a truly unique action-adventure game that focuses on its forge-your-own weapon progression and combat system that is simple, snappy, and satisfying. If you’re looking for a new game that’s similar to the likes of Darksiders, God of War (2018), and the like, then we highly recommend trying this game out for the uniqueness that it brings to the table and the gameplay alone, especially when it’s on sale. Sure, the game does have its flaws in terms of storytelling, level design, and audio aspects, but the fun factor is undeniable and is sure to fire up those who were looking for a new action-adventure game to play.

Post Trauma offers a nostalgic journey through classic survival horror, but doesn’t quite manage to recapture the magic of its inspirations. The atmosphere and sound design provide an immersive experience, but the gameplay often feels cumbersome, and the story leaves much to be desired. While it hits the right notes for horror enthusiasts, it occasionally stumbles in execution. It’s an enjoyable ride for those seeking a taste of PS2-era horror, but it’s far from perfect.

The Spirit of the Samurai is a 2D action-adventure game combined with platforming elements and punishing combat mechanics. Its audiovisuals are impressive and successfully present a dark and desperate environment. Using a stop-motion animation style, the game stands out as one of the most aesthetically unique games of the genre. Meanwhile, each character plays a role with various abilities, making the combat and exploration enjoyable. However, the story and its delivery fall short in describing and explaining this dark, foreboding world.

TMNT Mutants Unleashed is a decent 3D beat ‘em up that has its hits and misses. It has a surprisingly unique progression system that works since it builds up on existing characters while building the world around the main cast. However, its gameplay problems, missed opportunities, and not-so-great voice acting do more harm than good. It’s quite clear that the target audience is for the younger generation similar to the film, and not a lot of people might appreciate its simple gameplay, stylistic and cartoony visuals, and snarky dialogue.

Neva stands as a testament to the potential of video games to convey powerful stories through stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and heartfelt narrative design. It masterfully crafts a tale that’s both intimate and expansive, drawing players into a world that is as beautiful as it is tragic. While the game’s length might leave some craving a longer experience, and certain scenes could benefit from a more pronounced emotional impact, these are minor imperfections in a work that largely excels in every aspect. The relationship between Alba and Neva forms the heart of the game, and it’s this connection that makes the journey unforgettable.

Mika and The Witch’s Mountain is basically Kiki’s Delivery Service if it was a game. It captures all the charm and coziness of a Miyazaki film, paired with its simple but equally relaxing gameplay. Sure, it has some bugs and could use a few improvements, but despite that, it's a Ghibli fan’s dream come true.

Ereban Shadow Legacy is a stark reminder that the platformer genre will forever be fascinating, and if paired up with stealth mechanics, then you have something special. It has a unique way of traversal with the use of shadows, whether they be moving or not. It’s not a perfect stealth game by any means, but the unique movement and comic-like visuals is enough for me to recommend it to platforming lovers.