DeVuego

First Light does not break the mold in any meaningful ways, while not being a bad game either. In fact, IOI's first forray with 007 is pretty great. And with their history of updates and meaningful sequels - I look forward where 007 goes next.

For the hardcore fans of the franchise that just wanted a 1:1 remake of the original without anything added or removed, Gothic Remake is a dream come true. But even the avid Gothic fans are not safe from the performance horrors caused by the Unreal Engine 5, and that makes the Gothic Remake not everybody's cup of tea.

Out of the Blue Games returns with a solid sequel to Call of the Sea that cosmic horror and puzzle aficionados are bound to enjoy.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a stealth game that understands the value of focus. Instead of trying to do everything, it builds its identity around shadows, movement, and clever level design. The result feels a bit like stepping back into the era of compact PS2 games where levels were designed with care and the experience trusted you to figure things out without constant handholding. What makes it even more impressive is that it comes from a small team making their first game. You can feel the passion behind it in the mechanics, the art style, and the thoughtful level design. The ranking system, different playstyles, and challenge medals also give the game plenty of replay value for anyone who enjoys mastering stealth systems.

Hunt the Night is a game that gets a lot right but doesn't always deliver it in the smoothest way. The core gameplay loop is engaging, the combat system has depth, and the overall atmosphere is strong and consistent. It can be challenging, but often in a way that feels intentional and rewarding. However, technical issues, especially on Switch, and some uneven pacing in both gameplay and storytelling hold it back from reaching its full potential. If you play it on a platform with better performance, you will likely have a much more enjoyable experience. Even with its flaws, there is something compelling here, especially if you are drawn to dark fantasy worlds and fast, skill-based combat.

The interesting narrative and story are cut short near the end of the game due to plot holes and monotonous level design. The great puzzles of the game are held back by lackluster gunplay. Consequently, Crisol: Theater of Idols is more like a promising prologue for Vermila Studios' next game.

Heroes Battle Awakening delivers a competent and sometimes surprisingly challenging tower defense experience. While some of its puzzle-like restrictions and minor glitches prevent it from feeling entirely polished, there is still a lot of enjoyment to be had for fans of grid-based strategy games. The game doesn't offer much in terms of replayability or variety beyond its core levels, but the foundation is solid and could make for a promising sequel if expanded with additional units, mechanics, and perhaps more dynamic enemy behavior. For anyone who enjoys games in the vein of Plants vs. Zombies and is looking for a fresh take on the formula, Heroes Battle Awakening is worth checking out, even if it occasionally demands patience and careful planning.

Stars In The Trash is a small but heartfelt game.

Call of the Sea on the Nintendo Switch is not a flawless game, and may not be the best place to try to experience the heaviness and brevity of the story trying to be told, but you can still jump into this world just fine on this system. The flexibility of playing on a handheld and taking it anywhere is a major advantage that helps offset many of the game's shortcomings. It is a modest, heartfelt adventure that blends puzzles, story, and atmosphere into something earnestly memorable. While the Switch struggles to do justice to its presentation, the underlying experience is still worth a look, particularly for those eager to uncover what lies beneath the waves before the sequel surfaces.

Furious combat and fiendish difficulty collide in this challenging yet satisfying revival.

Luto is a masterful psychological horror experience that transforms grief into a living, breathing environment. Developed by Broken Bird Games, it delivers a deeply emotional and atmospheric journey that challenges players to confront loss through surreal landscapes, intricate puzzles, and haunting environmental storytelling. While it shares DNA with titles like P.T. and Visage, Luto carves out its own identity through bold narrative choices, exceptional audio-visual design, and a powerful sense of introspection. It is not only one of the most memorable horror games in recent years, but a standout achievement in how video games can explore emotional depth with intelligence and originality.

I was quite taken in by the story of Blades Of Fire, which is a good start, but I was further drawn in by the intriguing and fun forging mechanic. Building my own weapon and being able to add my own little touches to it really helped invest me in combat in a way I never thought of before. If you like action-adventure weapon play with a touch of magic and a lot of monster slaying, I'd say grab a copy-it's a lot of fun!

Many Nights a Whisper is a unique and emotionally resonant game that explores themes of pressure, expectation and destiny. With its meditative gameplay, philosophical storytelling, and stunning atmosphere, it promises to be a memorable experience for players who appreciate thoughtful, narrative-driven games. If you’re looking for something different, reflective and beautifully crafted, this is one to keep an eye on but just be warned, it does become intense, particularly with that final shot.

This retro-inspired game boasts engaging gameplay, quirky humor, and nostalgic visuals that will become a must-play for fans of classic platformers and puzzle games, offering a unique and memorable experience that pays homage to the golden age of gaming while introducing fresh and innovative mechanics that are sure to captivate both new and seasoned players alike.

Put simply, The Zebra-Man! is probably best described using words I dare not use in what’s supposed to be a semi-serious review. It is distilled madness in game form. If I tried to describe it as part-Hotline Miami, part something else there’d likely be a whole list of potential parts I could use. It starts off as a straight Hotline Miami clone, but it also takes inspiration from lowbudget pulp slasher movies, then it starts becoming more story-driven, then it starts breaking the fourth wall, then there’s memes, then it’s being self-referential… Suffice it to say, I will remember this game, not for being particularly good or even particularly bad, but just for being… completely inexplicable.

Stars in the Trash is not the game to play to finish. It is an experience to have and let is consume you with everything it has in store. Sometime the pacing goes out of place, yet the overall experience it gives is something magical.

The Developers definitely succeed at creating a fun game for younger gamers, especially if they are fans of PJ Masks because everything is there. Additionally the control mechanics are well mapped on the Xbox Series controller that immediately had our younger player picking up the controller and start playing. In the end, PJ Masks Power Heroes Mighty Alliance is a sturdy platformer with a few different gaming genres thrown into the 2D platformer mix that offers gameplay targetted for kids, unlike some crash grabs out there.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a great, new entry into the stealth action genre. At around 6 hours to complete the story it doesn’t outstay its welcome. I didn’t get anywhere near all of the collectibles or upgrades on my initial run-through, and there are three endings to unlock, so there’s plenty of replay value.

Bluey the Videogame is definitely aimed at the younger gamer and with Christmas around the corner, it makes for perfect timing. While the control mechanics are a little clunky at times, the graphics and audio almost makes up for this bump but again, our 6-years old had no issues, besides the odd Bluey Fight Club here and there.

VR has had a number of games that play with the idea of games coming to life and merging in someway or other with the gamer’s world… the most obvious example that comes to mind is Pixel Ripped. Escape from Galaxen is very much in that style and that’s a very good thing.

Tenebris Pictura is a game brimming with fantastic ideas hamstrung by poor execution.

Lords of the Fallen is a game with great potential but in its current state, it can’t be recommended; at least not on PC. Moving seamlessly between the Umbral and Axiom worlds is a unique experience tainted by poor performance, bugs, and design choices. On the other hand, the game’s difficulty can turn it into a dream come true for hardcore soulslike fans. But I am certain that Lords of the Fallen will end up as a cult title; it is going to divide the soulslike fans like never seen before and some will end up hating it while others are attracted to it like an undying Umbral Moth to the flame of the Umbral Lamp.

Blasphemous 2 combines incredible world-building, superb visuals, and a complex and thoughtful narrative around one of the most rock-solid metroidvania’s ever created. The original is a modern-day classic, and the sequel is one guilty pleasure that is worth the penance.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is an amazing visual novel that will leave you with some existential questions to ponder.

Even with the controller rage at times, I still enjoyed After Us and it’s easily one of the most original games of 2023. It’s emotional, engaging and more importantly plays well on the PlayStation 5 with the DualSense controller. Sure it’s a platformer, however with the strong narrative behind it, After Us is not just a game but also an experience… just be warned it comes with a healthy dose of gaming frustration.

Peppa Pig World Adventures on the Xbox Series is a fun game for younger gamers and is the perfect match if they love the TV series Peppa Pig. All in all, it successfully creates an interactive Peppa Pig experience with basic gaming mechanics.

Arise: A Simple Story is a fantastic indie game from Piccolo Studio's, demonstrating incredible talent. The platforming is fun and engaging, allowing anyone to dive right in without too high of a skill gap. Each world is wonderful and vibrant, with each offering a unique and interesting platforming puzzle to make every level stand out in its own way. If you're a fan of games like Journey or Last Day of June, this game will definitely scratch that itch.

Scarf certainly is an enjoyable experience; its combination of engaging story and strong environments are enough to keep the player absorbed for its four hour campaign. But due to its commonplace gameplay, it doesn’t do enough to make it a true standout in the genre. But regardless of its issues, Scarf is for those wanting a leisurely and fantastical escape from the troubles of the world; something we could all use from time to time. 

Compared to animal crossing and other farming sims it is relatively basic. There isn’t that much to do and I found myself spending a lot of time waiting… I love the graphics and soundtrack and I really did enjoy playing Deiland. But felt it was more appropriate as a pick up and put down type of game rather than one that involves longer gaming sessions.

Sword of the Necromancer is a gem of a game. While visually it can look a little repetitive, the game is honestly a ton of fun. I think this one may be a game people remember for a long time.

“Moonlighter: Between Dimensions” is a brilliant RPG adventure game for anyone is looking for a something casual but with challenging elements such as basic inventory and time management. The top-down combat is heaps of fun and perfect for newcomers or those who want a taste of old-school nostalgia. Combined with the pixel style graphics and 8bit inspired tunes, “Moonlighter: Between Dimensions” has something for everyone. I am particularly fond of how simple but clever the story is, as it can only be described as the glue that holds the dungeon crawling and shop management elements together, allowing players to immerse themselves further in this game. I highly recommend this game for anyone who is looking for a fun indie game with endless hours of enjoyment with a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

The bottom line is this is kind of a variation of Job Simulator with an attempted franchise skin. Stick to Job Simulator would be my recommendation.

Etherborn is at the moment a game at contrast with itself. It has some issues with cameras and in a puzzle game that really cannot be the case. On the other hand it is majestic in it’s own way and challenging enough that there is a real sense of achievement when playing it.  I want it to be better than it is, but like what it is. A conundrum.

Still, and for players looking for something truly different – and despite its limitations – Solo is an exceptional creative foray. Regardless of one’s age or gender identity, Solo will challenge pre-existing notions of love, and leave the player a different and more informed person. It’s no small feat to translate one’s experiences into a robust game environment that others can feel for themselves…and in potentially diverse ways. Team Gotham accomplishes this sublimely.

There’s a little comment at the end of the credits and I just want to put the otherside of that here… Thank you! Thank you to Deconstructeam, you’ve managed to both capture that charm of my early gaming and at the same time infused it with the wonderful grown up and deep concepts of my adulthood. Kudos to you all and again, thank you!

Needless to say, it's a fun game for kids that really showcases this console well!  It's a game that doesn't take itself too seriously and this may be its saving grace.

Overall Zack Zero looks like a game that was developed on a low budget and as such decided to go for a more fun, focused gameplay. It isn’t a serious game, but it does serve the goal of entertaining you while you sit down and play it. If you have no problem with casual games and just want to kill some time and doesn’t mind a few bugs or kinks, I’d recommend the game for you.

Overall, for those wanting to scratch that point and click itch, you probably already have this game, for everyone else, The Next Big Thing features interesting characters and an interesting story and may be a good excuse to have a break from some twitch game play and simply enjoy the story of the game and flex that brain muscle.     

In conclusion, Runaway 3: A Twist of Fate is fun adventure game of a dying genre. It may not feature all the action of some titles today but if you're looking for something witty and challenging to boot, than there's far worse than this game. The only issues we had is that some of the clues were a little strange and I'm not sure how on Earth some people could have solved them, plus if you have not played the original games before, than you might be scratching your head a little.

In conclusion, Wanted: Weapons of Fate seems a tad contrived and forced and although the combat and gameplay is rather strong, the title does become repetitive midpoint. It's still fun to play but don't expect this to be the killer title of the year. It sits somewhere between average to above average in the grand scheme of the gaming world.

The game is a bit high priced; the production value is very good. For some players this may make it well worth the Microsoft points it costs. A straight forward game with for the most part simple environmental puzzles, though at times some of the darker environments can make seeing just how to get past a puzzle a little difficult. (Just adjust your TV or game settings) Story presentation wise, there are moments of pacing that start out really well during the games progression, but players may find later levels feeling a bit anti-climactic. After a play through there is not much in the line of replay ability because it’s the same in each play.