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News: GUNNAR Optiks Amazon sale

Daniel Waite

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Apr 19, 2024

The GUNNAR Optiks Amazon sale allows you to purchase some incredible eyewear at a fraction of the cost. This money-saving event runs until the end of April 2024 and offers up to a whopping 40% off. Consequently, both your bank balance and your eyesight will thank you.

GUNNAR’s patented lens technology prevents your eyes from becoming dry. Furthermore, they prevent fatigue and improve productivity. Additionally, the blue light and UV protection reduce the risk of headaches. On top of this, there is an array of fashionable frames to select and some eye-catching accessories to match. Therefore, you can improve your eye health and look amazing at the same time.

What glasses are available during the GUNNAR Optiks Amazon sale?

Call of Duty UAV Edition.

Follow the steps of GUNNAR and Task Force 141 and embark on a mission to protect all eyes. With an aluminum-magnesium forged frame, discreet spring hinges and adjustable nose pads, wearing the Call of Duty UAV Edition is the perfect load out.

_{Sale Price: $59.40 (40% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $99.00.}

Call of Duty Alpha Edition.

Follow the steps of GUNNAR and Task Force 141 and embark on a mission to protect all eyes. Equipped with a quality precision engineered polymer frame material, sturdy multi-barrel hinges and fixed nose bridge, wearing the Call of Duty Alpha Edition is the perfect load out.

_{Sale Price: $32.00 (36% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $49.95.}

World of Warcraft, Alliance Edition.

Embark on epic quests with World of Warcraft, Alliance Edition glasses. Featuring a precision engineered polymer front with hybrid metal temples, flexible spring hinges, and advanced lens technology, these glasses elevate your gaming experience. For the Alliance! Honor, Unity, and Victory!

_{Sale Price: $67.59 (32% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $99.00.}

World of Warcraft, Horde Edition.

Enter the world of Azeroth with World of Warcraft, Horde Edition glasses. Featuring a precision engineered polymer material and reinforced metal hinge blocks, these brutal glasses will lead you to victory with the advanced lens technology to sharpen visual performance. For the Horde! Strength, Honor, and Blood!

_{Sale Price: $62.32 (30% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $89.00.}

Loki Asgard Edition.

Embrace your inner trickster with Loki Asgard Edition Glasses. Featuring precision engineered polymer material, rune-engraved gold temples and premium barrel hinges combined with advanced lens technology, these glasses are the perfect choice for the discerning gamer or professional.

_{Sale Price: $63.89 (35% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $99.00.}

Diablo IV, Sanctuary Edition.

Hell welcomes all with the Diablo IV Sanctuary Edition Glasses. Featuring a blood-onyx acetate frame, flexible hinges and adjustable nose pads, these glasses fuse a demonic edge with advanced lens technology. Prepare for an immersive gaming experience.

_{Sale Price: $74.12 (25% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $99.00.}

Plenty of amazing glasses.

If you want to improve your productivity and your eye health, then you need look no further. The GUNNAR Optiks Amazon sale is the perfect chance to grab a bargain. I love every pair of gaming glasses I’ve tried, and I think you will as well. Accordingly, act fast as this sale will end soon.

_{(More information on GUNNAR can be found here!)}

Review: Planetiles

Jax Sun

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Apr 19, 2024

0

Planetiles is a serene city builder simulator accompanies with roguelike element. It’s developed and published by MythicOwl.

Trailer credit: MythicOwl

Craft Your World

Planetiles offers players to craft their world on a selected planet. Players play as a creator to build a natural habitats. Player is provided different level difficulty based on the planet they choose. Player will be introduced the puzzle system and quest objective. The gameplay is works like a city building simulator in mix with fill in gap puzzle. Player’s ultimate objective is fill in the map with no gap and achieve the target points to unlock the technology.

Puzzle Land Building

Image credit: MythicOwl

As the game begins, players will jump into tutorial session. A planet is waiting for player to decorates with lands and structures. Player may starts build an island then expands across the map with a variety kinds of terrains. Player can fill the gaps with rain-forest, sand, mountains, fields, etc. Once condition met, a construct will erects on the terrain. Each terrains may produce different kind of structures. Besides that, fill in the gaps following the quest’s instruction will complete the quest and gains extra point.

Fill the Gap

Image credit: MythicOwl

Here’s the main mechanism of the game. Players’ challenge is fill in the gap by building the terrains with specific number of block. Also, player can shuffle the chunk of blocks once condition met. Thus, player has to arrange the blocks to fill in the gap in a limited space. Once conditions met, player can choose a terrain to evolve. Player may discovers many kind of structures through the planting the tiles. The evolution depends on player. However, there’s also risk in fill in the gap. Once certain conditions met, player will be offered an upgrade comes along with a cataclysm. The cataclysm will affect the map randomly and might devastate the following progress.

Natural Cataclysm

Image credit: MythicOwl

During the selecting the planet difficulty, the planet’s information will shows the forecasted cataclysms. The cataclysms are set according to the difficulty. Once condition is met, it will be triggered along side with the upgrade. Player has to equip the risk management technology to counter or lower the damage it causes. There are many kinds of cataclysm and all are meant to destroy the tiles and structures player has built. Thus, player has to be careful in picking the technology equipment in order prepare the incoming disasters.

Mind-Puzzling Relaxation

Image credit: MythicOwl

As I start playing the game, its engaging experience brings surprise to me. Do not be fooled by its casual-like appearance as it does requires some thinking to do. It’s wrong to think planting down the tiles without concerning the consequences will fills in all the gap. In my humble opinion, it’s not just about fill in the gap. It’s about trying my best in evolving the terrains into populated lands and working my best to counter the cataclysms with my technology. In overall, I recommend to give this game a try if players want to try a beginner level city building simulator genre.

Review: Trinity Fusion

Daniel Waite

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Apr 18, 2024

0

Trinity Fusion takes some well-trodden mechanics and makes them its own. Furthermore, its combination of weapons, perks, and enemies keeps you on your toes throughout. On top of this, it can be exceptionally challenging and this will appease sadomasochistic gamers. Accordingly, it’ll tick plenty of boxes for lots of people.

This rogue-like Metroidvania title was developed and published by Angry Mob Games. Moreover, it has Hack ‘n Slash elements, a swathe of platforming moments, and the defining cruelty of a Souls-like. Consequently, this isn’t a game for the faint of heart. If you can somehow break the learning curve and master the core mechanics, you experience an exceptional game that breaks the mould.

Trinity Fusion wants you to end it all!

Who’d have thought that death and destruction could spark new life? Well, that is exactly what is required in Trinity Fusion. Parallel universes are breaking down and the multiverse is dying. Subsequently, the end is nigh and that’s a worrying thought. However, 3 characters in 3 parallel existences must overcome an array of problems and monsters to save the day.

The story is probably the least original element of this title. Even then, it’s not that bad. Instead, I rolled with the punches and enjoyed the madness that unfolded. As each character has a blend of skills that differs from its parallel self, I focused on this rather than the plot loopholes. Additionally, each vast level distracts you as you fight waves of enemies and try to survive.

Plenty of variety.

I was impressed by the volume of weapons and perks on offer. As you explore each level, you collect 2 different currencies. Moreover, there are weapons to find and a character progression system to exploit. Each combination of ridiculous weapons and crazy perks alters your approach. If you then consider each protagonist’s strengths and weaknesses, plenty of variety is on offer.

Death and failure are all par for the course. Moreover, the challenging bosses and excellent combat take some beating and getting used to. On top of this, losing your way during each sprawling stage was familiar ground for this genre. I adored the blend of unusual levels and the sneaky bonus areas that tested you further. Furthermore, the fear of failure and loss adds a dramatic layer that makes Trinity Fusion uncomfortable but rewarding to play.

Trinity Fusion is polished but old-school.

2D side-scrolling games will always be popular. Yet, this distinctly old-school approach may seem wasted on modern machines. Though this was reminiscent of the early 16-bit era, I loved the vibrant colour palette and clean lines. The polished finish is extended to the smooth animation and the lush character models. The variety of monsters and the superb landscapes are phenomenal to observe.

The audio is just as impressive. The combination of a daunting soundtrack and harsh sound effects was perfect. Moreover, though the acting was occasionally cheesy, it worked well with the theme and story. Consequently, the punchy audio complements the challenging but high-energy action.

Excellent controls.

The simple-to-understand layout and timely tutorial were great. Additionally, the responsive inputs ensure that Trinity Fusion is easy to play. Unfortunately, it is a tough game to master, but this simply pushes you to try harder.

The developers have been generous with the difficulty settings and additional game modes. Furthermore, the challenging action and varied gameplay keep you returning for more. Therefore, this has both longevity and replay value.

Trinity Fusion is a great indie title.

Standing out from your peers is not easy. Yet, Trinity Fusion smashes its opponents and wins the race. This indie title plays with much-loved mechanics and makes them its own. Moreover, the action is a fantastic blend of difficulty and reward. As such, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Becoming a hero is never easy. Stay alive, tackle every foe, and destroy the multiverse.

Review: MLB The Show 24

Mani Naghshbandi

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Apr 18, 2024

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One of the most lovely things about video games is that even if you are not a gamer, you can always find a game that attracts you, because there are many games based on movies, series, books and sports, and easily attract the fans of these industries to the video games, so that they buy the new version every year and even buy new consoles to play the newer and more optimized versions, over time, they become interested in other games and the number of gamers increases.

The first game of the MLB: The Show franchise, which was developed by San Diego studio, was released in 2006, and since then a new version has been released every year, MLB: The Show quickly became very popular and is currently the most famous baseball simulator, and it is welcomed by baseball fans every year.
After 15 years of MLB being exclusive to PlayStation, in 2021, with the release of MLB: The Show 21, the first game of this franchise was released for other consoles, and after that, newer versions were not exclusive and were also released for other consoles.

MLB: The Show 24 is my first experience of this franchise, and this review is more useful for those who want to play a game of this franchise for the first time, and there is not going to be much comparison with previous versions in this review.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay gives you a lot of freedom in choosing how to play, for each of the positions you play in, there are 3 or more interfaces that you can choose at the very beginning of the game, for hitting there are three selectable interfaces: zone, directional and timing, three for baserunning: analog select, button select and auto baserunning, five for pitching: pinpoint, meter, pure analog, pulse and classic, four for fielding: drifting ball, track ball, catch indicator off and auto fielding, four for throwing: button accuracy, buttons, analog and auto throwing, you can try any interface you want before choosing and choose the one that suits you best and the gameplay is completely customizable to your taste.

The gameplay is fun and smooth and at the same time simple, if you are familiar with baseball and its rules, you will master the gameplay in less than half an hour and start your enjoyable experience, if you do not know much about baseball, Don’t worry, it may take about two hours to get used to the game and it becomes enjoyable.

There are five game modes in the game that create variety in the game, road to the show: in this game mode you create your character, customize its skills and choose its position, after playing and getting stronger You will go to higher ranks and become more successful and get to better teams, making a character and making it successful in the game is very enjoyable and can be very attractive for baseball fans.

March to October: In this game mode, all 30 teams in the major league are placed in four different categories, and after choosing your team, you start the game and experience an MLB season that includes 162 games, but you have to You don’t have to play all 162.

Franchise mode: you are in control of the whole team, management, financials and etc.

storylines: after entering the storylines section, you have two choices, the negro leagues and Derek Jeter, by choosing the negro leagues, you have eight players whose stories you can experience: José Méndez, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Larry Doby, Leon Day, Henry Aaron, Toni Stone and Rube Foster, eight separate stories that are so exciting for baseball fans to see the legendary players of the game.

Diamond dynasty: you build your team and you can play in single player and multiplayer modes, single player modes have four different modes: mini seasons, conquest, showdown and play vs cpu, and multiplayer modes have five modes: ranked, battle royale, events, play vs friends and casual, by playing in diamond dynasty you can get packs that contain players, uniforms and team equipment and you can strengthen your team. Players and other items that you get by opening the pack can be sold and by selling them you get stubs, by selling quickly you get the amount determined by the game itself, but you can sell the item yourself at your wnted price in the marketplace. These stubs are used to buy stronger players or more packs and items in the marketplace.

The gameplay is smooth and it is a complete baseball simulator, and with the variety of game modes, it prevents the gameplay from becoming repetitive.

VISUALS

Visually, it is not bad at all, but for a game that releases a new version every year, and its maps are not very different from each other, the quality of the sand and grass textures is not acceptable, and the facials of the players could be better.

Performance and resolution are stable and have no problems.

REMOTE PLAY

After experiencing the first two hours, I felt that this game can be very enjoyable on the PS remote play and I was completely right, you don’t need to press different buttons at the same time, so it can easily be played with touch controls. When you are lying down, you can easily enjoy the game with your phone.

MLB The Show Companion App

With the MLB the show companion app, you have access to the market and packs shop and you can make your purchases with your phone, the face scan feature helps you put your face on the character you create in the road to the show game mode. You can see your team’s performance or get news about the game.

CONCLUSION

MLB The Show 24 is a great baseball simulator that has a very enjoyable gameplay that does not have annoying bugs and can entertain you for a long time with its various game modes.

Visually it’s just fine but it could have been better.

Review: KillSquad

Saim Khurshid

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Apr 18, 2024

0

There are a lot of games out there. A lazy Google search will tell you that there are more than 5 million of them. Platformers, shooters, puzzlers, simulators, RPGs, and many more. You could try to play all of them and would not reach even a quarter of them in your lifetime. So why, in a world where so many options exist, would anyone want to play KillSquad?

KillSquad Launch Trailer for the PS4 and PS5

Don’t get me wrong, this is a perfectly functioning game and one could say it’s fun. But the stale nature and lack of any innovation takes the fun out of functionality. So an ‘Ionality’ if you will.

Ready-up, Bounty hunter

In KillSquad, you take the role of a space-monster bounty hunting mercenary. Each mission is portrayed as a contract and has you land on a randomly generated world to fight giant insects like creatures.

Although every planet seemed almost the same with only a few visual and lighting changes, I shall trust the site descriptions of Killsquad and say they are telling the truth when it comes to the randomly generated content.

Regardless, most missions start via a fully voiced lady by the name of ‘Momma’ who shows up in a dialogue box with her face next to it. (Why I went into detail describing that is because that is the closest thing to an actual cutscene this game has to offer.)

She provides you with your mission, often saying things that sound a bit on edge- psychotic, but that I feel is a design choice, and she has a very talented voice actor who does great job in bringing life to this otherwise very cookie cutter and robotic experience.

Let’s go-a shootin!

The gameplay is one of those isometric dual analog shooters(the ones where you move with L-Stick and wherever you turn R-Stick, it will shoot) with an RPG element. Heroes in KillSquad are class-based, and always start each contract at Level 1. Passive and active skills are specific to each hero, and can be available from the start, or unlocked as the contract progresses.

You get these starting heroes, each with their own weapons and skills, to choose from: Troy the Gunslinger, Kosmo the Anarchist, Cass the Apostate, Zero the Sawbones, and Ekaar the Prodigy. These combine melee and ranged characters to fit different playstyles.

I chose Troy as the dual guns gave me two moves that I liked, one was the ability to do an exploding shot while the other set targets on enemies for a set period of time. Watching Troy quick fire at the enemies proved to be a little cathartic.

Anyways, the game has you go through stage after stage, alone or ideally with up to four friends(surprisingly no local co-op, only online). Each win upgrades your character and gives you a bunch of different things.

Cha-ching!

In this RPG, Each hero has a number called the Vector, which shows how good their equipment is. This includes weapons and other upgrades called Gears. The Vector of the whole team depends on the Vectors of all its members. It’s important to complete contracts and buy better equipment because contracts need a certain Vector to start. If your team’s Vector is too low for a contract, it’s harder to survive. (Yes, I know. Needlessly complicated system)

The role of the shop is to let you spend resources looted from the game to upgrade and enhance your playstyle so you can get stronger and return with even more.

With these resources, You’ll be able to acquire and equip powerful upgrades for each of your skills, which activate during your contracts. This gives you new equipment, such as weapons, power-ups and gear, or, disgustingly,…cosmetics.

The system is not simple at first but with a few more plays and perusing the shop, you get an understanding.

It’s fine, I guess

KillSquad is just another RPG game in a crowded market. Despite its functional gameplay and variety of hero classes, it doesn’t stand out. The main menu is a bit messy, making it hard to navigate. The game’s mechanics, like shooting and character customization, can be fun for a while. But after a bit, they start to feel repetitive. The missions take place on similar-looking planets, which gets boring quickly. Even though the mission introductions have voice acting, they don’t make up for the game’s lack of depth.

In short, KillSquad is an okay RPG, but it doesn’t do anything special to keep my interest.

Bizzo Casino: Your 2024 Go-To Gaming Haven

News

Andrew Edney

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Apr 17, 2024

0

Bizzo Casino: Your 2024 Go-To Gaming Haven

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Review: Life of Delta

Daniel Waite

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Apr 17, 2024

0

Life of Delta is a bare-bones experience that somehow works. Its light-hearted dialogue juxtaposes the cruel post-apocalyptic setting. Additionally, the interesting, albeit simple puzzles never test you, but they feel rewarding nevertheless. This straightforward combination makes this a great title if you are new to the genre.

This point-and-click adventure was developed by Airo Games and published by Daedelic Entertainment. Moreover, it has plenty of puzzles and mini-games to complete. Accordingly, though it is relatively short, it is jam-packed with tasks, quests, and miscellaneous objectives.

Life of Delta tells a familiar but dramatic story.

The plot sadly lacks originality. However, this didn’t bother me too much as you meet plenty of colourful characters. In typical post-apocalyptic fashion, you explore a destroyed and dangerous world. Yet, mankind is extinct and robots now rule the roost. Disappointingly, the roost is pretty shit, so, I’m happy for the mechs to have this small victory.

You control Delta, a small service robot with a big problem. Unfortunately, his friend Joe has been taken by the “Pigs”, the “Po-Po”, and the “Rozzers”. Furthermore, he literally has been taken by a bunch of pigs. Your mission is to traverse a dangerous world, help fellow robots, and save your best friend.

Straightforward mechanics.

Point-and-click games vary greatly! Some are brilliantly complex and testing. Whereas others are so basic that you are barely tested. Thankfully, Life of Delta sits smack bang in the middle. With a range of fetch quests to complete, and basic puzzles to overcome, there are some eureka moments. Moreover, the blend of mini-games and whacky characters will keep you going.

Unfortunately, some janky mechanics prevent Life of Delta from truly shining. Furthermore, a lack of guidance regarding the UI was frustrating. I wasted considerable time attempting to access my inventory and locating the perfect hitbox for certain puzzles. Disappointingly, this slowed things down while ruining the sense of immersion.

Had the developers incorporated a minor tutorial and some visual guidance, this problem wouldn’t have existed. It doesn’t ruin the game, per se, but it takes the shine off of an otherwise truly enjoyable experience.

Life of Delta looks wonderful.

Where this genre shines is its exceptional environments. Life of Delta rarely disappointed! The opening section allows you to explore a desolate and grim desert. This barren landscape is harsh, empty, and deadly. Yet, it is more welcoming than the overbearing skyscrapers of Megacity. This futuristic city is devoid of character, love, or empathy. Consequently, it is a bizarre setting for the titular hero to be reacquainted with his friend.

Alongside this, the colour palette blends vibrant tones with stark imagery. The burning planes, broken buildings, and destroyed robots are tough to look at. However, it serves as a cruel reminder that the Life of Delta is a sinister and tough post-apocalyptic adventure.

I loved the visuals, but the audio is better, still. The brilliant ambient sounds add depth and drama to often slow progress. Additionally, the excellent soundtrack is fun to listen to. Subsequently, though there are plenty of low points, the music and the sound effects keep you going.

The controls could have been better.

Though it performs admirably with a gamepad, it was still problematic to play. A lack of tutorials and visual guidance hinders your performance. Though this is a minor complaint, the issue could and should have been addressed.

Sadly, Life of Delta is extremely short. If you are a genre aficionado, you’ll have this dusted off in around 4 hours. Furthermore, once you’ve overcome every problem and explored the grim world, there is no reason to return. Consequently, this lacks replay value and longevity.

Life of Delta is short but sweet.

Though this isn’t perfect, I enjoyed my time with it. The puzzles and mini-games are interesting, and the characters are colourful. Moreover, the dialogue is interesting and amusing and the setting is fascinating. However, its janky mechanics and lack of tutorial were disappointing. Yet, despite these shortcomings, I love it and recommend buying it here! Will you become a hero? Solve some puzzles, assist some robots, and save your friend.

Review: Ario

Daniel Waite

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Apr 16, 2024

0

Ario tried to create a unique experience with its blend of themes and genres. However, its story, setting, and core mechanics lack originality. Consequently, most of the action is familiar and this creates an unfortunate, mundane and repetitive edge.

This 2.5D action title was developed by Vata Games and published by Artax Games. Moreover, it has some Metroidvania elements and a swathe of platforming mechanics. Accordingly, there should be plenty to get your teeth into. Yet, this wasn’t the case, as much of the gameplay was insipid.

Ario tells a dull story.

Ario won’t set the world alight. But I was hopeful that the story would at least be interesting and full of twists and turns. Sadly, though, it is as mundane as the rest of the gameplay.

Ario’s mother has been taken. Subsequently, the titular hero must step up and save the day. However, his heroic gesture lands him in hot water, and he faces demons and hideous monsters. His life may be on the line, but he learns new skills whilst adapting to his harsh environment. With a little luck, he’ll overcome his foes, save his mother, and prove his worth.

Familiar mechanics.

Ario has 12 levels set in a medieval fantasy world. Moreover, the gritty landscape is dominated by Steampunk imagery. This unusual approach was interesting as it broke up the dull nature of the rest of the game. Alongside this, there are different enemies to tackle that have strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited. This minor layer added some tactical nuance to a relatively low-key affair.

The hero’s journey began with him running for his life. However, as time passed, he learned new skills and gained fresh equipment. This was an impressive, albeit well-trodden design that felt comfortable and easy to understand.

You’ll love to dash, power stomp and shoot arrows and bombs from a bow. Each of these abilities is essential to master, as one must avoid obstacles, leap chasms, roll under doors, and defeat monsters. Additionally, you must overcome an array of bosses who test your patience, memory recall, and reactions.

The fighting is a damp squib.

When a game claims to be an action experience, you expect the fighting elements to be challenging and high-energy. Yet, except for the boss encounters, the combat is lacklustre and dull.

Unfortunately, you rarely run out of arrows and your stamina bar replenishes too quickly. Accordingly, you can bum-rush every creature without fear. This lack of risk and reward was frustrating and disappointing.

Ario looks attractive.

Though the core mechanics will leave you wanting, Ario does look attractive. The vivid colour palette complements the strange blend of themes. Alongside this, each level has a sense of openness that demands you explore every nook and cranny. Additionally, the animation was smooth, and the well-considered UI made the combat easier.

The audio, on the other hand, was a mixed bag. I loved the use of the Persian language and the use of subtitles. Moreover, the soundtrack was dramatic and interesting to listen to. Sadly, though, the sound effects are appalling. Every enemy appeared to have a respiratory condition and this was ridiculous. The noise of them coughing, breathing, and spluttering was unnecessary.

Reasonable, but dated controls.

The control system was as uninspiring as everything else. Though it worked well enough, it lacked an intuitive approach. Moreover, there was no finesse, making it dated and clumsy.

Each stage has branching pathways that can be explored. However, a lack of direction and collectables ensures minimal desire to return. Additionally, the action never changes and a lack of character progression undermines both replay value and longevity.

Ario was disappointing.

There were moments when I enjoyed Ario. Yet, they were unfortunately fleeting. Most of the action was dull, and the story was uninspiring. However, I liked the setting and the Persian language. Disappointingly, I cannot recommend this, but more information can be found here! Can you save your mother? Learn new skills, explore strange lands, and defeat every demon.

Review: Juicy Realm

Matt Cooper

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Apr 16, 2024

0

Juicy Realm blasts its way onto console. Does it flourish or leave a sour taste in the mouth?

The Fruits of Labour

Developed by SpaceCan Games and published by X.D Network, Juicy Realm has finally made its way to the PlayStation 5 system almost 6 years after its initial pc release. Juicy Realm is a roguelike twin stick shooter set in a world where fruit have become animalistic type creatures, threatening the very way of life. You play as one of four characters, (more characters become available later) each with his/her own unique weapons and abilities. Whether it’s PonPon who has an auto regenerating shield and a stun power or Alpha, who can revive himself only one time, the game has done a great job at giving you varied classes from the start.

Story-wise, the plot is as simple as can be: fruits across the world have turned into creatures and it’s up to you to save the day and the planet from these fruit abominations. That’s as much as you’re going to get if you’re looking for story, but this game doesn’t rely on the story to capture the imagination of the player. This is the type of game that relies on its gameplay and presentation to sell itself to you. And this is where Juicy Realm truly grabbed my attention.

The Apple Of Your Eye

Astonishingly made by just a two man development team at SpaceCan, the visuals of this game are truly something to behold. Each area of the game is vibrant and beautiful, whether it’s the forests at the beginning of the game or the harsh desert of the later levels. Each randomly generated level oozes colour and style, making each level truly unique for the player. The characters and enemies are gorgeously animated and glide across the screen during fights, making it a true spectacle when you are facing waves of enemies. Upon completing an area, the text bubble showing area complete bursts onto your screen in a puff of smoke; a small but memorable touch for me. Enemy projectiles are bright and colourful, making them easy to spot, with death animations for both character and enemy beautiful in their style. SpaceCan have done an incredible job with the presentation in this game; it’s among the best I’ve seen in terms of the scale of the game and size of the development team. A wonderful achievement!

The UI is simple and sleek, not taking up too much space on your screen, which is vital for a game like this where you’re on the move constantly. With the levels being randomly generated upon each run you take, the map system is a lovely touch at the top right of your screen. With red skull symbols warning you a boss fight is coming up or a blue question mark for a mystery area, I really felt in control of my journey and could plan my route accordingly to make sure I was fully prepared for each zone.

Go Bananas

Of course in a roguelike shooter like this, gameplay either makes it or breaks it. Being a twin stick shooter Juicy Realm excels in fast-paced combat. Movement is sleek and responsive with the dash button a vital tool to escape tight situations. Each character comes with their own health and speed, creating different approaches required for the player. The game offers you an auto-aim option which is welcome for newer players in this genre but can feel too easy for veterans. The gunplay itself is fairly bog-standard and nothing I would say that is revolutionary, but it does what it sets out to do and allows the player to mix up gameplay styles. The volume of guns in the game is also something to behold, with well over 70 guns available to unlock and use throughout your runs. Some are wickedly overpowered, such as the keyboard that shoots keys, while some are even more outlandish, the chick bomber being my personal favourite. Secret areas of the game offer random powerups to be purchased via the lucky drum, (a humorous take on a washing machine) allowing you to gain fruit companions to help you fight the waves of enemies or health points to help you gear up before the big boss fight.

The special abilities each character gets are unique and varied, allowing the player to test out different builds on each run to find which character suits them best. Boss fights are a particular highlight for me as each boss felt different due to the bosses’ abilities and health. The game also supports online and local co-op which is a great option for a game in this genre. Often in roguelikes I can feel overwhelmed and underpowered with the permadeath mechanic, so it felt great to play with a friend and blast our way through. Local co-op is a dying breed it seems in this generation of games so it’s worth celebrating the effort SpaceCan have put in to create this mode. Co-op is especially welcome considering the short length of the game; runs can be completed in as quickly as 20 minutes.

Sounds Fruity

Often in smaller scale games like Juicy Realm, the game relies on its musical score and sound design, with mixed results. Created by the development team, the music in the game is fantastic. The music really helps create a retro futuristic vibe to the whole game and it is to be applauded. Music ebbs and flows, depending on the situation with it ramping up during gunfights. For me the music for the boss battles is a particular highlight for the score.

The sound design on the other hand is a different story. The design itself is serviceable and acceptable but what makes it muddled and bizarre is the volume itself. On the default settings I played on, the gunshots and ability audio cues were so loud they overwhelmed the music itself. Too often I was fighting enemies enjoying the music only to be drowned out by the gunfire. A truly bizarre choice and one I recommend changing as soon as you load into the game. Conversely, enemy abilities at times can be harder to hear which is irritating and annoying; you can ill afford to be staring at one place on the screen looking for where each projectile is coming from.

Verdict

Juicy Realm offers a roguelike with a truly unique setting. SpaceCan have done a fantastic job creating this crazy world with stunning visuals and beautiful enemy design. While its short length and bizarre sound design choices at times hinder the game, it’s still a blast, especially when played with a friend. Considering this is SpaceCan’s first attempt in the video game space, it’s exciting to see what they can come up with next. Let’s hope it’s as fruity as this one!

Review: Pepper Grinder

Dawid Wisniewski

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Apr 16, 2024

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A visually and mechanically fantastic platformer that unfortunately ends too quickly. All in all I had a great time with Pepper Grinder. From the music to visuals , being art style and character design. The art style reminds me of almost a pixelated adventure time , cute , charming and recognisable. This is also true for the level design , you can see exactly which part of the scenery will react in a certain way to your oversized pepper grinder.

The game starts with the main character waking up on a beach, finds a huge drill and you gain control. That’s it, that’s the only story you get apart from the very end boss. Which leads me to the one noticeable negative. Lack of a story, that being said you can see things appear in the levels and the backgrounds that fill you in on the world. Just not as much to hint at why our character is even there.

So the premise of the game is simple at heart, its a platformer that uses a comically large drill bit to traverse every level. Of course as the levels go on , the game throws in more mechanics, types of terrain and several types of enemies. Through out each level very are coins to collect, vases to break and secret passages to find. There are two currencies in the game , coins which you find every where, but have close to nothing to do with and then you have Doubloons of which there are 5 hidden in every level. With these you can buy a golden key for 10 to unlock a secret level in every world, or you can use them to unlock different hair and cape colours for your character. Finding these is fun and luckily they appear on your HUD in order, so you can see roughly where you missed that one sneaky spot.

Every secret level was unique , every world had a new awesome design and implemented exciting mechanics. The difficulty rose up at a good pace, and at this point I need to mention, this is a controller game. The movement is fluid , never had an issue with it and the button layout is simply intuitive. Back to the difficulty , it was paced very nicely , as soon as I got one mechanic perfected , the game threw another. at the end of every world , roughly 5-7 levels you will get to a boss. All of them have awesome designs and once again they all have a unique mechanic to defeat it that go hand in hand with whatever you dealt with in the levels leading up to it. Although there was one level, the second to last level in the game that really tested my skills and I must say I spent more time on it than any boss fight before that

It’s a real shame that the game is this short, took me just under 4 hours to complete every level and that with taking my time to collect as many secrets as I can. How ever the game gives you a time attack option if you decide to replay a level. At last there are stickers you can buy from each worlds shop keeper a long side sticker pages which act as backgrounds. They don’t really do anything but let you create your own screenshots with quite a few tools at your disposal.

I want to keep this review short, as this game is definitely worth the little time it offers. As to the price it may be a little too much for 4 hours of gameplay at £12.72 / roughly $14 on steam. But if you have the money to spare or see the game on sale I would highly recommend experiencing what this title has to offer.

The game is available on steam and Nintendo switch 28 March 2024

Review: Interstellar Plunderer

Jorge Castilho

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Apr 16, 2024

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Interstellar Plunderer: A Swashbuckling Ride Through Space with Roguelike Charm

Do you like loot? Do you like roguelike games? How about Star Fox? If any of those questions is yes then I have a game for you, Interstellar Plunderer! Arcade-style space shooting, roguelike elements, and a dash of spaceship customization, a space pirate dream.

Developed by Cozy Frog Games, this indie game offers a thrilling, somehow repetitive, experience for those seeking a quick adrenaline rush through the vast infinite of the cosmos.

The story is a familiar spacefaring yarn: you, a daring pirate captain, scour the galaxy in search of plunder. You’ll blast your way through generated sectors, each teeming with enemy ships, hulking space stations, and the occasional boss. While the narrative itself is forgettable, the focus is the fast-paced action and the thrill of the chase.

Interstellar Plunderer embraces the core tenets of the roguelike genre. Each run begins with a basic ship and throws you into the fray. Death is permanent, forcing you to start anew with the always few credits you managed to accumulate. However, these credits allow you to unlock permanent upgrades between runs, gradually empowering your future ventures. This creates a captivating loop: each run becomes a stepping stone towards a more powerful ship, allowing you to delve deeper into the ever-changing sectors.

Shooting Your Way Through the Stars

The core gameplay revolves around piloting your ship and engaging in frenetic dogfights. Controls are responsive and intuitive, allowing for smooth maneuvers and precise targeting. Dodging enemy fire and unleashing a barrage of your own becomes a dance of skill and strategy. Enemy variety is decent but will soon be all the same, with basic fighters, heavily armored cruisers, and agile interceptors keeping you in combat mode all the time.

Weapon choices are plentiful, ranging from deadly lasers to slow-but-powerful torpedoes. Experimenting with different loadouts adds a layer of strategic depth, allowing you to tailor your arsenal to specific enemy types or your preferred playstyle. Plus, there’s loot scattered around that gives you a temporary power-up, juiced lasers, super-shields or a ship that handles like a dream!

The Importance of Loot

Loot is the lifeblood of Interstellar Plunderer. Destroying enemies and exploring space stations showers you with credits and resources. These resources are used to upgrade your ship’s hull, shields, and weapons between runs, progressively turning your vessel into a formidable force. Additionally, you can acquire consumable items that offer temporary advantages like hull repairs or damage multipliers.

Aesthetics and Audio: A Retro Trip

Visually, Interstellar Plunderer embraces a retro aesthetic. It goes for a cool, old-school vibe where Spaceships and “space stuff” are all blocky and colorful, just like classic arcade games. Don’t expect mind-blowing graphics, but the simple style fits with the fast-paced action. The soundtrack is pure 80s synth-wave awesomeness, totally matching the space pirate theme and pumping you up for epic space battles. Somehow reminded me of the Sega Mega Drive era, and that’s always cool.

Interstellar Plunderer is a solid roguelike experience offering a satisfying blend of space combat, loot collecting, and ship customization. The core gameplay loop is undeniably fun, but repetitive elements and a lack of a deeper narrative might deter players seeking a more expansive experience. However, for those seeking a quick and thrilling space adventure with a dash of roguelike charm, Interstellar Plunderer is a worthwhile journey.

I’m sorry but I have to get this off my chest. The more I play, the more it looks like the Gummi Ships missions from Kingdom Hearts 2. Okay, I said it.

In Conclusion:

If you’re a fan of arcade-style shooters, roguelikes, or simply enjoy blasting your way through waves of enemies in space, Interstellar Plunderer is a game worth checking out. It offers a polished gameplay experience with a charming retro aesthetic and a strong focus on loot-driven progression. However, be prepared for some repetition.

Review: Isonzo

Laurence Wall

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Apr 16, 2024

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Brush off those history books, because it’s time to travel back to war-torn Europe in Isonzo: Italian Front. Prepare to storm the battlefield in your role of choice or ready your defenses for the oncoming onslaught of rifle fire. Learn some history about the locations and battlegrounds of the Great War, and the real-world weapons soldiers used to defend their country. The bugle has sounded troops: it is time to go to war.

The first thing you will be struck by when you load up Isonzo is the overwhelming sense of over a hundred years of history pressing down on you. Recreating the Great War is no easy feat, and while this title certainly isn’t perfect, it truly forces you to consider what the conditions were like for the soldiers who died fighting for their countries. Whether it’s the little stories that accompany the match loading screen, informing you of the fighting that occurred in that particular setting, or even the brilliant weapon descriptions that flesh out every gun, rifle, and even spade, it’s an immersive experience, that’s for sure.

In addition, the lengths Blackmill Games go, to nail that fighting experience is greatly appreciated. The slow painful push of creeping up the hills and crawling through the trenches to gain an inch of ground upon your enemies is very entertaining. The game wants you to keep low, and use the terrain to your advantage. Sprinting across the open fields and into enemy territory is a death sentence without a doubt. Teamwork, tactics and battle strategy are your friends here. Flank your opponents, call in airstrikes or tactical smokescreens and flush those troops out of hiding so you can pick them off one by one.

Of course, all this might not be immediately obvious. One thing Isonzo could do is to have a more integrated tutorial that teaches you about working together and utilizing the different combat roles. Usually, I’m not too bothered about tutorials, but in this case, I think it would certainly help. Upon loading the game, you’re plopped onto a big title screen with a few options. It doesn’t ease you into the experience. But then again, if you’ve ever played an FPS title, one could assume most people already know what to expect.

Another thing, that would have been a useful inclusion, is the addition of a story mode that takes you through the events of the Italian Front, one battle at a time. Learning that story from 1914-1918 would lend a lot of context to the fighting, and make the experience more meaningful. Not everyone cares about the story here, but I think when recreating something of such historical magnitude, this is pretty vital. Moreover, practicing against the computer is something that would prepare less experienced players for the real, more intense battles that begin in multiplayer. Getting spawn-camped by a sniper on a ridge who knows every possible spawn location isn’t exactly immersive.

That said, the maps that are included are great and surprisingly expansive. Whether it’s towering snow-capped mountains, riddled with twisting, confusing ice caves, or flaming pock-marked fields littered with the blasted rubble of demolished houses, the visual storytelling is wonderful here. Barbed wire snakes across the vistas and dramatic terrains can be your salvation or your demise. While the graphical quality and textures might not blow you away, it’s certainly nothing to be sniffed at. The key here is the realism of the locations and the weapons. That’s what sells this experience.

This isn’t to say that Isonzo is without flaws. For starters, many games can be extremely one-sided, leading to a frustrating experience, especially when you’ve just started. I can see certain players leaving early in the experience due to this steep learning curve. The path to unlock all the weapons is also a little bit of a grind, with the starting selection of weapons being pretty lackluster. This lack of variation leads the classes to feel a little…samey.

And while I appreciate the attention to detail regarding reloading and the firing rate of weapons, it can feel painfully slow at times, (especially when you accidentally cancel your reload twice in a row and subsequently get snuck up on and bludgeoned to death.) Bullets here are lethal… I mean that’s obvious, but I really mean lethal. One bullet from a rifle is instant death. One well-placed bullet from a handgun, bye-bye. And while I again appreciate the realism, it can be brutally punishing at times, when you get sniped from someone you can’t see, (there’s no kill-cam.)

But petty complaints aside, Isonzo is a rather well-rounded experience. If you can gather a little team, and form a squad, then that’s the way to go here. You’re in for a treat. If you’re playing alone, it’ll be tough, but you’ll still have a good time. Immerse yourself in history, imagine the actual people who went through the grueling trials of combat, and the experience will be more meaningful. Whether it’s the vibrant landscapes or swelling soundtrack, Isonzo has a little bit for everyone. It can comfortably take its place as a real contender in the historical FPS genre.

Review: Metal Mind

Josh Blackburn

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Apr 15, 2024

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Metal Mind makes me feel very old. Not because my reflexes have slowed and I can’t dodge like I used to. Not just because of that, anyway. No, it’s because part of being an adult is having a constant conveyor belt of responsibilities. That makes roguelikes a bit tricky. It’s hard to take a break from the dishes or cleaning the house, when you know you’re just going to be greeted with a stream of failures. It’s why roguelikes live and die on how they feel. They need to sink their hooks in right from the get-go.

That means not just excellent combat but an interesting world or some sort of gimmick. Unfortunately, that’s where Metal Mind falls down somewhat. It has a few interesting notes in the core gameplay loop but that’s sort of all it has. It serves to remind me how crucial the surrounding elements are to a roguelike. Every death has a percentage chance to make the player drop the game, and it’s those elements that shrink that percentage. Metal Mind isn’t a bad game, but to truly damn it with the finest praise, I could describe it in one word: competent.

Chrome Cranium

Most of Metal Mind’s gameplay revolves around the fact that we’re a little robot. We’re assembled and booted into the world to fight back against the AWC, an organisation that doesn’t like our robot friends having intelligence. They’re rounding them up and, presumably, crushing them into cubes. Being a robot makes us wonderfully modular. Our head, core and engine can all be swapped out freely, though better gear is heavier, slowing us down. It’s not a bad system; the different skills and types of gear (and weapons) provide a decent smattering of different playstyles. As you pump money into upgrades, you unlock a steady stream of new ones too.

Our metal man progresses in a way that’s reminiscient of something like The Binding of Isaac. Each level comprises a series of connected rooms and when you charge into them, a horde of enemies will spawn and the doors will lock. You gotta shoot ’em all to escape. The shooting itself isn’t too bad, with a couple of gimmicks. Rather than ammo, you have ‘heat’. When it gets too high, your gun overheats, which can cause special new effects depending on the gun. Like the Corgi gun, whose single shot turns into a spray when overheated. The downside is the gun locking up to cool down, so you need to balance heat against the special effects. Not bad stuff.

Steel Skull

I do have a couple of big issues with Metal Mind, though. Movement speed, for one. It’s largely based on the weight of your gear, but even with low weight, it’s still painfully slow. One of the earlier enemies are fast moving dogs, that nick at your armour constantly as you try and outrun them. Much more frustrating, however, is the aiming. There are two modes: auto-aim and magnetic targeting. It’d be fine if they stayed in their lane, but magnetic targeting keeps snapping to enemies anyway. It feels awful to have your character suddenly spin ninety degrees. It also keeps targeting invisible – and impervious – enemies, which frequently caused me to start shooting into the wall.

These problems would seem more surmountable if Metal Mind had more of a reason to press on. The story presence is so light it would fit on a post-it note. Hell, the final boss is a giant, unsmiling machine with interchangeable giant hands. I would like to know more about that, but Metal Mind is tight-lipped. It doesn’t have much going for it visually, either. It’s not bad looking but it’s not particularly interesting to look at either. It’s a series of boxy, grey environments filled with fairly similar enemies. It’s crying out for some sort of uniqueness in design, but all the tweaks have gone into the main gameplay gimmicks.

Metal Mind – Mind Over Soul

They aren’t bad gimmicks. Our modular robot and the overheating system are nice, but they’re just evolutions of an inventory and ammunition. In the end, I found I tended to gravitate towards the same guns and gear each time. Stripped of its gimmicks, Metal Mind feels very repetitive. Each run is against the same enemies in the same room types. With only four levels in total, you can reach the final boss without encountering anything new from run-to-run. That’s a death knell for a roguelike.

I used the word competent before, in an effort to be diplomatic, but the truth is that, much like its protagonist, Metal Mind is lacking in soul. It constructed a reasonable gameplay loop and then left it at that. The fact that it has fatal flaws, like the aiming, is almost tragic. There are little pockets of fun when the gameplay all clicks together but the chosen genre makes it a slog to get to them. The roguelike elements being nothing but flat stat boosts make Metal Mind simply a slow march to inevitable victory. In such a saturated genre, I’d recommend wearing out your walking boots elsewhere.

(Metal Mind’s Nintendo Page)

Review: Lawn Mowing Simulator

Daniel Leal

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Apr 15, 2024

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Background

Lawn Mowing Simulator is developed by Skyhook Games, a UK-based developer with experience in developing simulation games. Simulation games differ from many other genres of video games in that they are designed to be as realistic as possible and to simulate certain activities such as playing a sport, running a farm, or creating a rail network. While other games can often be stylized, both in terms of gameplay and graphics, simulation games are usually very realistic (although there are some exceptions). Lawn Mowing Simulator aims to recreate the fun of mowing lawns through playing a videogame.

First Impressions

Lawn Mowing Simulator has nice bright menus that are at first sight appealing to look at. However, once you try to traverse the options you’ll see that the menus are clunky, hard to navigate and that there are too many options. The menus aren’t intuitive at all, and a simpler design may have been a better option for the developers. I also noticed ads for DLC in the menu which shouldn’t be the focus when you are deciding what mode to play on your new game. The overly complicated menus that try to sell you more content when you haven’t even got into a lawn mower for the first time result in a confusing experience where the player may feel overwhelmed with options and game modes.

To be fair to Lawn Mower Simulator, there are free play modes, a career mode, and more, so whereas the game could have just had a free play mode and let the player experience the gameplay primarily through that option, the addition of a career mode is an ambitious choice. There are also 20-30 minute long ‘contract’ modes, where the player is given a contract to cut grass in a certain area. The wealth of game options is a asset to Lawn Mowing simulator it’s just a shame that the menus are so clunky.

Gameplay

The experience of mowing lawns in Lawn Mowing Simulator is a realistic experience as simulator games often are. The player starts off in first-person mode before they get into the Lawn Mowing machine and the way the game feels at this stage, means you may have been expecting to pick up a rifle and start a first-person shooter campaign, but this is lawn mowing, and the games primarily about cutting grass. Once you sit in the machine, the player can switch to third-person mode. Then you get the engine running and can start to drive the Lawn Mower over to a grassy area. The Lawn Mower doesn’t cut grass automatically, you have to press the X button to begin cutting grass. It’s not as satisfying an experience as core gameplay mechanics in other games.

In Resident Evil 4 it is the satisfying shooting and hitting targets that makes the game satisfying, in Zelda:Ocarina of Time, it is Z-targeting, and the resulting combat that makes the game so good. Unfortunately, cutting grass in Lawn Mowing simulator isn’t the amazing gameplay element that it could have been. Cutting grass in Lawn Mowing simulator is serviceable, and I’m sure the game has its fans, but it doesn’t make for a really fun experience, probably similarly to what cutting grass is like in the real world.

Sounds and Visuals

As a simulation game, Lawn Mowing Simulator recreates gardens, parks, and outdoor areas quite realistically. That’s the game’s aim and the graphics look ok. Each blade of grass is depicted. However, the graphics look really dated. They would look bad for an Xbox 360 game, let alone in 2024. Textures are muddy, graphical elements ‘pop in’ regularly, and it doesn’t look good. However, it’s a colorful game, and there are many shades of green. In terms of sound design, there are nature noises that play while you are mowing lawns, and the sound is well done for what is needed. However, there is no soundtrack while playing (at least that I came across). Again the sound and visual design is servicable, but not great.

Conclusion

Overall, I’d say Lawn Mowing Simulator is a serviceable simulation of what it is like to mow lawns. While this is not my kind of game, I can see why others would value it and become addicted to it with its wealth of game modes. However, the menus are clunky, DLC is offered as soon as you start the game, and the graphics are poor, despite doing their job. Any game’s value comes down to its gameplay elements and unlike the great titles out there, the core gameplay elements of Lawn Mowing Simulator are not satisfying, or addictive enough to make this game worth my time. As far as simulation games go, Lawn Mowing Simulator is an average title and should be avoided unless you are passionate about mowing lawns.