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Review: Moo Lander

Daniel Waite

-

May 27, 2022

What each of us considers valuable depends on our circumstances. If we are safe and secure, we usually crave possessions and expensive goods. However, when our survival is on the line, food and water are all we desire. This is the central plot behind Moo Lander, an amusing but occasionally frustrating sci-fi game.

Developed and published by The Sixth Hammer, this is a 2D action-adventure RPG with hints of Metroidvania. Furthermore, it has some classic hero dialogue, fast-paced action, and many claustrophobic tunnels. You’ll pilot a spaceship while being assisted by a sassy AI as you complete many essential missions. If you love an unusual, colourful, and loud game, then this should be on your radar.

Moo Lander is a crazy tale of deceit.

The epic stories of the past all have something in common…they each have an unexpected twist in the plot. Moreover, they have an interesting protagonist and an evil villain. Moo Lander attempts to replicate this with its fun tale that explores betrayal, heroic acts, and some clichéd one-liners. Consequently, you’ll enjoy the whacky journey, the strange creatures, and the fascinating environments.

You control an elite soldier of the Lander people. Teamed with Hamilton, his sassy AI, he must find an ancient milk source to save his people. A long-standing friendship between the Landers and the Anunnaki ended in a great war when the latter became greedy. This awful battle destroyed both civilisation’s milk supply and doomed them to extinction. Mysteriously, the Anunnaki disappeared and the Milk Sages of the Landers devised a plan. They sent their greatest warriors to scour the universe to find milk and save the day.

It’s a bit of a crazy plot, but it works perfectly with the theme. Furthermore, it allows for creative license and is bizarre as hell. You’ll encounter many strange creatures, unlock plenty of weapons, and meet cows, an awful lot of cows.

Don't mess with the angry cow. — That is one pissed-off cow.

Milk makes the world go round.

Who’d have thought that milk would be a future energy source? I certainly didn’t, but in Moo Lander it is essential. Subsequently, everything in this game revolves around this white liquid gold. Your ship is powered by it, your people are reliant on it, and the cows that produce it are mental. These angry bovines do not like you capturing them! However, your people need them and you must find every last one of them.

The vast exploration elements of the gameplay are punctuated by cow encounters, chases, and many basic puzzles. What’s more, each cow you capture enables you to upgrade your ship. Therefore, it’s a win-win! Your people survive another day, and you get new equipment. You can unlock three different categories that comprise an array of tools. There is defence, attack, and stun. You’ll equip shields or drones, lasers, machine guns, burst fire, and more. Each item can be upgraded and they all require milk and a different experience level.

Your ship is levelled up during every combat situation. It is painfully easy to do and will not challenge you. This was a little disappointing, but it was counteracted by multiple difficulty settings. My advice, play it on the moderate or the hardest option to get the most out of it.

Moo Lander is hectic and full of aliens. — Focus on the cow!

Endless combat and wonderful aliens.

The Metroidvania exploration was excellent! You’ll easily get lost in the claustrophobic caverns and this was great. Your progress is halted by massive locked doors that were opened by easy puzzles. Luckily, though, in the later stages of the game, this becomes more complicated. Moreover, it never becomes overwhelming, and this prevents it from becoming tedious.

What can be tough, however, is the endless amounts of combat. No matter where you go, there is a stream of pissed off aliens wanting to kill you. Whether it’s poisonous spores, kamikaze nutcases, or giant worms, you must destroy them all. Fortunately, though, your weapons make light work of them. Subsequently, they are a mild inconvenience as you complete your mission.

This brings me nicely back to the crux of the gameplay…insane and angry cows. God damn these annoying milk-producing asshats. You’ll have to stun and capture some weird and wonderful beasts on your journey. Forget about the beautiful “Laughing Cow,” as these creatures aren’t happy. Every one of them is unique and you’ll have a different approach to stopping them. I adored the madness that ensued and each bizarre moment.

Whether it was battling magnets, poison, twin beasts, one that was heavily armoured, or more, it never gets old. You must use the environment to your advantage, highlight your foes’ weaknesses, and stun them into submission. On the tougher settings, this is no mean feat, and it will challenge the best players throughout.

Moo Lander looks great.

Not all indie games are synonymous with excellent aesthetics. In fact, most are pretty understated. Fortunately, Moo Lander looks great and runs smoothly. I experienced one minor glitch where I was shoved into a wall and couldn’t move. Luckily, checkpoints were in abundance, so it had little impact on my progress. Anyway, back to the graphics. The colour palette is bright, varied, and great to look at. What’s more, the aliens are unique and have an array of skins. Furthermore, their animations are different and this makes the action hectic. Alongside this, the stages comprise individual themes to keep things fresh.

The audio is just as good as the visuals. There is a bizarre mixture of tunes to listen to, but these fade into insignificance. Most of the time, you’ll be chuckling at the dialogue or listening to loud sci-fi noises. Consequently, it was energetic, amusing, and great fun to play. Further to this, each stage has unique sounds, and this prevents boredom.

Moo Lander has so many aliens to overcome. — Load your weapons and kill those aliens.

The lack of accuracy is concerning and annoying.

There was much to love about the control system for Moo Lander. First, the UI is excellent and selecting each tool was simple and quick. Furthermore, the buttons are responsive and this makes the combat elements much easier. However, this is held back by a serious lack of accuracy. Though the right analogue stick is used for aiming, it lacks fluidity. If this was improved, the game would be much better.

With many cows to hunt, plenty of upgrades, multiplayer options, and skins to unlock, this will keep you going. I was unable to try multiplayer, but there are many modes to explore. What’s more, it looks like it’ll use familiar mechanics from the story mode. Unfortunately, you can miss cows as you explore! Subsequently, you’ll need an eye for detail to ensure you don’t miss any. As you kill each alien species, you’ll unlock their skins and special abilities. This added a tactical element to the gameplay and depth to each cow battle.

Moo Lander is a brilliant game.

Though it wasn’t perfect, there is no denying that I loved Moo Lander. Its blend of exploration, combat and RPG elements was fantastic. Sadly, the controls weren’t as accurate as I’d have liked, but this is a minor thing. If you love multiplayer games, you’ll adore what is on offer. Alongside this, the story mode is excellent thanks to its amusing plot, badass cows, and eclectic blend of aliens. Unsurprisingly, I recommend you to buy it here! Will you save your species, or will every cow escape? Upgrade your ship, kill the aliens, and beam up every bovine you encounter.

Review: Farm Manager 2022

Christopher McNally

-

May 27, 2022

0

I often drive by farms as I make my way through the countryside from one town to another, every now and again I wonder what’s it is like to work on a farm. When I mean work on a farm I mean actually getting a farm as a business to work from top to bottom. As you venture through a supermarket you’ll see plenty of fruit and veg that has been grown in farms, lots of meat which has come from farms and obviously milk. What does it take to make a life running a farm? Well Farm Manager 2022 gives you that opportunity!

Farm Manager 2022 which you could probably tell from the title is the latest in the Farm Manager series. Farm Manager 2022 is not for the faint hearted, it’s very much a farm management simulation game that lets you see everything and control every little process. You can grow vegetables, even organic vegetables, there are a variety of machines that you can use when working in the field. You can buy and sell those on the stock market. You’re even given the opportunity to look for bargains among used machines. Previous players will have experienced playing with bees, goats, cows and sheep. In Farm Manager 2022 for the first time it allows you to set up things like a fish farm or a quail farm. You will need to build a mechanic’s garage to help maintain your machinery, implement a veterinary centre to look after your animals and also create many other buildings to keep things ticking along at your farm. You’ll also need staff to run your farm, some permanent some seasonal and they have their own wants as well. Farm Manager 2022 is about the detail.

There are 3 modes in Farm Manager 2022 which are Campaign, Tutorial and Free Mode. I’d suggest spending a fair bit of time in the Tutorial mode because you’ll need it. However, the tutorial mode isn’t the most user friendly you’ll come across and doesn’t quite cover all you need for the Campaign mode. You’ll find yourself having to restart a fair bit as you realise you’ve done things in an inefficient manner. When you add buildings, they need to connect to roads and there needs to be enough electricity to run it. Staff need housing near these buildings otherwise nothing will happen. There isn’t enough hand holding at the start of Farm Manager 2022 which can make it more frustrating than it should be, it’s only a minor shame because there is a very complex and interesting game contained within Farm Manager 2022, you just have to be patient.

Visually, Farm Manager 2022 isn’t great on a couple of fronts. The menu system is massive, there are a lot of options and there are times when the text is just too small to be seen clearly. The buildings and moving parts like birds are a tad on the low polygon side. Farm life just like in real life is slow for periods so you better be prepared for the long haul to make things work, Farm Manager 2022 gives back as much as you put into it.

Farm Manager 2022 is a resource intensive game that requires a lot of your time for you to get enjoyment out of it. If you are willing to see past the under par graphics then you will find Farm Manager 2022 is full of engaging moments as your farm becomes bigger and better. If you have an interest in farming or management simulations then you’ll definitely find plenty to keep you busy in Farm Manager 2022.

Review: Rolling Gunner + Over Power

Alex Chessun

-

May 26, 2022

0

I’ve always marveled at how some of the most addictive gameplay experiences in video games are from some of the simplest systems and Rolling Gunner + Over Power, a side-scrolling bullet hell shmup, is the perfect example of this and then some, with two contrasting arcade formulas part of an immensely engrossing package that’s really hard to put down.

One of 3 great-looking selectable planes, the RF-42RS Super STORK is a high-speed type with a narrow bullet spread.

As a pilot of a STORK space fighter, you are humanity’s last hope of survival, a beacon of light for a populace whose demise at the hands of rogue computer system BAC seems all but assured with their army of large Gundam-like robots and killing machines.

Thankfully, the awesome weaponry at your disposal makes you feel more like Maverick from Top Gun than Dastardly and Muttley in their flying machines.

The biggest reason for this is Rolling Gunner’s addition of the Over Power mode (originally released as DLC with the original release), which adds so much to the experience that going between the two modes in the same sitting feels like you’ve popped in a completely different game.

Thankfully a training mode – allowing you to practice specific sections and bosses – with countless adjustable options provides a great platform from which to build your skills.

The original mode has the traditional challenge of a genre shmup with its punishing difficulty forcing you to respect the enemy by avoiding projectiles and timing your attacks around boss offensives. Mercy is provided in the form of an automatic bomb system that triggers after receiving contact, but they are limited in number, and significant skill and concentration is required to last the distance without numerous continues.

Over Power, on the other hand, takes the direct opposite approach, encouraging an active playing style while providing you with the tools to take the action to the enemy. Your ship and weapons are more powerful as a result with a rolling gun that can shield against bullets and a buster beam that can destroy them. It’s not only more forgiving, but it also gives you the choice of how to deal with the threat in front of you, meaning that every playthrough feels different, as you feel in complete control of how you navigate the psychedelic sea of shrapnel.

While this does make the game easier, this isn’t just a cheap ploy from the developer to open the game’s doors to a new audience without respecting the original game’s formula – they haven’t just added to the original, they made an entirely new formula and perfected it.

Even the control systems are different across the modes with a single stick system in the former and a twin-stick system in the latter, separating the rolling gun functionality and making each mode yet more distinct.

The game’s special weapons are common to both modes, though, and it is the wielding of these where the key to achieving the best possible score lies. A destructive plasma shield – which destroys all bullets on the screen – can be activated once you have picked up 1000 medals (dropped by defeated enemies) and once activated, the same medal counter starts to decrease, giving you 15 seconds to charge (by picking up as many red medals as possible) and fire the crème de la crème of butt-whoopin’ weaponry.

With the above weapon by far and away the most powerful, gathering medals – automatically sucked up by being within a certain distance – is almost as important as clearing a path to victory.

There’s quite a risk of losing the chance to unleash said badassery, however, as a single hit during the charging period resets the counter to 0, so waiting until the very last moment – especially if you’re being carpet-bombed by a boss – might not seem worth it, until you see how much damage it causes that is. The game rewards the brave excellently in this way, and the 3 or more opportunities that you can use the weapon in each stage are brilliantly nervous moments, as you want more time to charge your weapon, but also can’t have the timer wind down fast enough.

What’s also interesting about Rolling Gunner is that it excels in the presentation department without doing anything particularly groundbreaking – it’s just that arrangement of its features complement each other so very well. The visuals – from the backgrounds to the ship designs, and camera angles both in cutscenes and in-game – are tremendously easy on the eyes, and the brilliant soundtrack with its tracks that dial you into the action and moreish sound effects, from the firing of the weapons to the explosions, excite and inspire in equal measure.

You aren’t all alone on this adventure either, with some already very impressive scores being hosted on the online leader boards already, providing great impetus to further improve your own scores.

Although it is possible to play with unlimited continues, only your score within the default number of lives is recorded online, so the pursuit for perfection is ever-present and is very appealing.

So overwhelmingly positive was my experience with Rolling Gunner that the only negative worth noting is the occasional slowdown in performance when thick clouds of projectiles or large explosions are produced in boss battles. It doesn’t particularly affect the experience – you could argue it even helps out players in the game’s toughest moments – but as they have reportedly been patched out on other platforms where it’s been out longer, you’d assume it’d get the same treatment here.

The package of Rolling Gunner + Over Power provides countless hours of entertainment through its immensely replayable and masterfully balanced gameplay, making it not just a must-play for fans of the shmup genre but also an excellent starting point for those who are looking to test the waters in the bullet hell genre for the first time but have been wary of the challenge.

Review: Tennis Manager 2022

Farhan Gianis

-

May 26, 2022

0

While it does offers a different perspective on the sport scene that you are the one playing as the manager not controlling the athlete. Released in 17th of May 2022, Tennis Manager 2022 is the new entry to the yearly release from the Tennis Manager franchise. Tennis Manager 2022 offers a complex management sim but rewarding gameplay in spite of the cluttered UI and its outdated graphics.

Tennis Manager 2022 Release Trailer

Gameplay

Tennis Manager 2022 offers a deep and complicated as expected of a management simulator. The game starts with you creating your manager with a barebone character creation. Then, you will be presented with two default starting point of your managerial career: starting a new academy with a custom player or start your career with a preset academy and players.

Right off the bat, you will be greeted with bombardment of interface, mechanics, diagrams, and charts. There is a help section to guide you through but, it feels lacking in detailed explanation for a newcomer. There are many positive aspects of its gameplay. Being able to micromanage your player stats, training, your tennis academy and so on. You can also customized the appearance of your players too, like the character creation, with a barebone wardrobe customization. However, each of these items offers some benefits in form of boosting or negating the stats of currently selected player.

Cool, numbers and diagrams! I am so excited.

Outside the office, you can also participate in coaching your athlete. Watching their matches, giving them pep talk or celebratory cheers. During matches, you can also switch strategies, playstyle and focus key points to counter your enemies tactics and target their weak points.

Graphics

Graphic wise Tennis Manager 2022 doesn’t offer much in this department, both in court or when you manage you player and academy. It is functional for sure but its color scheme seems boring to look at. That is a big no-no when you spend most of the time playing this game staring at the multitude of menus and charts. The overall layout also confusing to navigate and this’ll probably also look unapproachable to newcomer to the franchise.

In court, the graphics from the crowd, the referee and and the players looks outdated. Well, the game expects you to skim the matches by fast-forwarding the match. Also for some reason, there are time when the ball definitely goes out of reach of your opponent racket, but they can still hit the ball back.

Sounds

There is not a lot of sounds in this game. In-game music sounds boring and repetitive and what is worse is that there is only one in the entire game. Yet, the most glaring thing is that when you are holding a press conference, there is no atmospheric sound effects; like the sound of camera shutters or pitter patter of gossiping journalists. Even when you win a match, the celebratory sounds and cheers sounds celebratory. One way to enjoy this game is turn off the in-game music and just play a podcast, music or an audiobook in the background.

Conclusion

Performance wise, I encountered several crashes and the game sometimes freezes for a couple of second when I enter a match. These crashes and freezes occurs randomly throughout my playthrough so I cannot tell you exactly what is causing the crashes.

Lastly, what I notice the most is that the game feels unfinished and unpolished. Basically, that how it feels to play Tennis Manager 2022, barebone and limited. There’s nothing much else to do. Ranging from its gameplay aspects to sounds, contents inside the game felt like it was haphazardly put together. While the gameplay offers a complex and rewarding gameplay, there is nothing to brag about from it. Sure, if you can get past the underwhelming aspects of the game. I am a sucker for sim games but, I can’t say the same with Tennis Manager 2022. I cannot recommend this game in its current state. If you still want to play this, either wait for improvement to be made or just skip this entry entirely.

Review: Blow and Fly

Daniel Waite

-

May 26, 2022

0

If you own a pet, all you must do is look after it! No matter how large the animal is, all they want is to feel loved and to be safe. Subsequently, if you fail to achieve this, their life will be miserable. This is exactly what happens in Blow and Fly. It’s a tough game of survival and a journey to find a new home.

Developed by Khud0 and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a physics-based puzzle title. Like Super Meat Boy and its peers, Blow and Fly has a deceptively easy concept. Consequently, you’ll be lulled into a false sense of security, you’ll fail, and you’ll be frustrated. Furthermore, you’ll die repeatedly, turn the air blue, and vow to stop playing. However, it’s moreish and tough to put down.

Blow and Fly demands agility and dexterity. — Roll, leap, and hit that toilet.

Blow and Fly gets under your skin.

Thanks to its simple drip-fed mechanics, Blow and Fly will get under your skin. As you progress, new elements are introduced that’ll help you to traverse each level. This gentle learning curve was essential, as the precise gameplay will drive you insane.

What surprised me was the lack of any story. You are told of an accident and how the fish must find a new water source. Strangely, this was a toilet, the dead fish graveyard! However, this is by the by and becomes a moot point. After the dust settles, no subplot is introduced, and you are left to your own devices. This wasn’t an issue, but it made the transition between zones a little circumstantial at best.

Many mechanics help you to traverse each stage. — Hit the water and carry on.

Secret areas and challenging stages.

This lack of guidance or plot was confusing. This was more apparent when secret zones were incorporated. As you explore each level, there was a chance to discover a portal to a new area. Here you must use your skills and savvy to overcome each unique stage. However, once you finished each level, there was no reward! Furthermore, you could simply ignore them and it mattered not. This was pointless and strange and made them an unnecessary burden.

As for its stage design, obstacles, and core mechanics, they lack originality. You’ll attempt to overcome spikes, gaps, projectiles, etcetera, etcetera. Sadly, it’s nothing new, but it works well with the protagonist’s skills and abilities. The fish can only roll or shoot water to jump gaps. Once it lands, it can shoot water again. Therefore, you must plan every move, use friction to stay on platforms, and slide to perfection.

Blow and Fly could be any indie platformer.

Though I liked Blow and Fly’s clean look and colourful style, it didn’t wow me. Unfortunately, it felt familiar and lacked originality. Subsequently, it could have been any indie platformer, and this was disappointing. However, I liked the sprites, the contrasting tones that highlighted the obstacles, and the varied backdrops. Furthermore, the animations are smooth and I have experienced no issues.

The lack of originality continued in the audio. The synth-wave music was fun and upbeat and juxtaposed the many dangers you faced. What’s more, the sound effects are chirpy, enjoyable, and matched the madness.

Shoot the water and traverse each level. — Use the water and move around each stage.

An excellent tutorial.

The developers know that Blow and Fly is testing. Therefore, the controls needed to be excellent and responsive. Luckily, they got it spot on as the game responds instantly to every command. Alongside this, the tutorial for new elements was fantastic. A quick diagram highlights the tasks and you master them instantly.

Thanks to its brutal ways, secret areas, and large array of levels, it has longevity. However, once you finish it, there is no reason to return. Yes, there are additional characters to unlock, but this is more filler than depth. If the challenges pushed you towards a speedrun or a limited lives mode, then you’d want to keep playing.

Blow and Fly is good, but that’s all.

I desperately wanted Blow and Fly to impress me. However, it didn’t. It has the ingredients to be a good game, but it never excels. The overwhelming feeling was a lack of originality, and this was disappointing. What’s more, it is bereft of a story and that was unfortunate. If you want a tough, shallow, and inexpensive physics-based puzzler, then buy it here! I, however, am on the fence. Fish need water, and this one is in trouble. Roll, shoot water and get to the toilet ASAP.

Review: NIS Classics Volume 2

Natosha M

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May 25, 2022

0

Here is one game including two classic JRPG titles! NIS Classics Volume 2 for the Nintendo Switch is going to bring back two familiar role-playing games, but done up so much better! Each is slightly improved visually and will include some added content. The two titles in this volume are Makai Kingdom: Reclaimed and Rebound and ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman. Both are categorized in the same gaming genre but are slightly different in how they are played.

Additionally, they both have a lengthy amount of gameplay, which is including going through these randomly generated multi-level dungeon-style battlefields. Both games were published by NIS(Nippon Ichi Software) at different times. One was released during the PS2(Playstation 2) era and the other at the time when the PSP(Playstation Portable) was trending. They also were sold separately, and for the first time, they are now being reintroduced as one game on the Nintendo Switch. So you practically get two RPGs for the price of one.

Makai Kingdom: Reclaimed and Rebound ⚔

So how was this game? Well, it’s long and not bad if you just enjoy building team members from earthly objects and going through a portal to the next dungeon-like level. Mainly, it’s all about defeating rivals in different level environments. The game’s design is visually simple, it’s a bit square in shape with a 3D graphical presence.

It doesn’t appear like a game you’d find nowadays, as it’s more of the classic way of creating a strategy RPG game. Since it was built during the PS2 era, a blast from the past, the design process was not as capable of higher quality graphics as it is now. However, the square layout back then was trending more in games and an easier way to position each member on the battlefield. So even with the before and now in comparison, it still isn’t a bad design as some games still rely on that structure.

What I do find interesting is that even with some storyline, this game really doesn’t rely on your need to read a long narrative. Instead, it’s more for those who want to just get down to engaging in battle verse reading or listening to what needs to be found or where you need to travel to. You practically can skip all of the conversations and get right into the battlefield, invite team members you’ve created, and get to placing and executing their attacks.

Additionally, the team members you can create are almost limitless. Since you have all the components to build a variety of characters to add to your team. There are so many options to choose from a list of different classes and styles. Each one of them possesses their own strengths in something more than others. Yet, with three free bonus boosters, you can choose which feature you’d like the member to be stronger in or add to ones they already accomplish quite well. This is normally where I’d choose HP as it’s always great to have a longer life and even ATK would be great for a better attack. However, I focused more on the special abilities; magical powers while playing, well just for a few of them.

This game provides so many other ways to help improve the team or just a single member. Some are gained by the items acquired from purchases at the different buildings you’ll find in the main location. For example, there is a hospital that will resurrect those members who’ve passed away during the battle or need to rest. It helps restore the HP or recover those and allows you to summon them back. Plus, you can’t leave out the weapon shop. So many powerful weapons to choose from, providing even a better attack on the enemies through each battle.

Honestly, I like all these additional features. It’s unlike any other game I’ve come across. However, the game does tend to get a bit redundant. Possibly, if you are like me, you may find yourself creating a routine before, after, and during each level. So it starts to feel like you’ll be doing the same thing every time you play. At least, for difficulty, there is a variety of challenging foes to defeat and a variety of things you may want to focus on, like additional goals to achieve other than just defeating the final enemy.

There were a few things I found a bit complicated and difficult. You don’t want to play Petta Mode if you are starting this game for the first time. The game is well explained through the original gameplay mode. Yet, each is exactly alike in battle sequence and concept. The one thing that may be hard to comprehend, which I found confusing till I played through the first tutorial level was the buttons to press to execute each attack and end my turn. It’s a little different than I’m used to when it comes to the many buttons on the controller to use to make these moves, but it grows on you after doing it so many times.

The other problem I noticed, which honestly I’m not sure if it affects the game or if it’s helpful. Yet, it could be just a bug, but I’m not actually certain. When choosing a new team member to create, if you go back and forth to the same character, they tend to increase in strengths than when it was first selected. I don’t know if this really does adjust the strengths or is something of a bug, but it’s always great to get a better power or HP when you can.

For a final thought, this game does have a nice quality sound it’s very clear to see the entire level and with the camera rotation, that helps plenty. For the many objects and members one can create, it feels as endless as the levels but is quite an original aspect I haven’t seen in any other game. Its unique gameplay and original content are additional features I’m impressed with. So all I can say is that it’s not a bad game, very easy to get a hang of, and provides hours of planning and action-packed battles.

ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman ⚔

So how was this game? Well, it’s very different from Makai Kingdome, and what really was the first thing I’ve noticed was how the main hero of the game is nearly invisible. There is no preventing any objects to move fully through each other on the screen. Regardless, the game is still very nice even with this effect. It doesn’t seem to cause such a problem, just might be a bit awkward.

Now to start, the main area; the first location is where you have everything you need to gear up for battle, also to learn how to battle. You’ll find you can purchase recovery products, weapons, and even music. As well as some views of each enemy you came across during each dungeon run. This is also where you’ll transport back to when you get defeated after going through levels of dangerous caves, or when you want to take a break. The one thing I find a bit more interesting is the game’s design and it may actually have a better story to follow, while still being all about endless dungeons to vanquish enemies on. Plus, the battles are a bit less turn-based and more just attacking each other at the same time. So it all is about the faster you are to make a move the better the chances are to defeat the enemy. Especially if it’s only one or two and not a whole pack of enemies at one time.

Additionally, there is plenty of objects to pick up and equip while traveling through each dungeon. You also level up pretty fast, which refills the HP and strengthens you as the hero. The items you find can be equipped or ones dropped by the enemies during a fight are very unique and can modify the character on the screen. Even though the mini-story scenes, you still appear as modified as you were when playing the game. I like how they kept the focus on the change applied to the hero, really adding them and not just making you acknowledge the equipped object, without really seeing it.

I also find that this game isn’t as complex and has more of a story to go on, even if it is just by a tad. Plus, the joy of a no-turn-base battle and just going right in for the attack is my type of game! Maybe the only planning you really need to consider is how to involve a few enemies at the right time when to attack. That way you won’t be defeated easily by the many in the room.

In addition, the narrative text can be read or easily skipped, which is just a wonderful option to have. All using just a single button, it can easily be skipped. Since I’m talking about buttons on the controller, I must say that the mapping is also easier to understand. Especially with the help of the tutorial stage, the battles become easier to perform attacks or equip an item or use one. The only difficulty is my fingers get so tired using the method required to move around, the cursor buttons.

Regardless of the controls, items to be acquired and used or character modifying. The game practically revolves around entering dungeon-style levels and guiding the one hero, Unlosing Ranger to new battlefields with plenty of enemies waiting to attack, leading us closer to taking on and defeating Darkdeath. There is one unusual difference I’d like to point out with the battle structure in this game. It isn’t set up like a traditional strategy RPG. I guess that is what makes this game stand out a bit more than any other I’ve played.

The idea I get is that they took two different fighting styles and combined them to create an original fighting style. For example, it feels as if they removed the turn base structure from a traditional strategy fighting game while keeping the limited area you can move into and catch the attention of each enemy you’ll be attacking. Then you just attack as if you’re playing a platformer game, no waiting just full-on attack as they will be attacking you at the same time. Regardless of how it may appear, it really is different and not unpleasant, but something I would love to see in other games.

Lastly, I’d like to say that it’s been a blast to play this game! I feel it had a more lively and cheerful appearance. Also to take into consideration a classic game, it might not have needed much improvement because it’s been made for a PSP handheld. So it is a bit newer than a PS2 console with better graphics and load time. Plus, it wouldn’t be complete without excellent background music. This game has one that provides such a heroic sound. It makes you feel ready to fight, and you sort of just by the sound can tell it’s an RPG type of game. So together everything about this game is just perfect even being older than the ones on the market now. You may even confuse it with a recent release verse one that’s been out for a while.

Final Thoughts ⚔

So to sum it up, I felt NIS Classics Volume 2 to be an excellent game with two to choose from and full of new content to explore and discover. If this is the first time playing the game, it may all be new. Nevertheless, I found them to be a wonderful pair to have in one game. Especially how they are slightly similar in the style of gameplay as well as their large amount of levels to play through. Both also being perfect RPG games that bring plenty of entertaining battle scenes and maps to investigate. Of course, there are a few issues, but other than that, it’s not a bad game collection.

Review: Citizen Sleeper

Kara Phillips

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May 25, 2022

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Citizen Sleeper is an incredibly narrative-driven RPG resource manager where you try to survive in the dystopian ruins of interplanetary capitalism. It’s tense, it’s beautiful, it’s somber. What else could you want?

Weigh up your consequences as you fight against a deteriorating body, and make sacrifices that could change day-to-day life as you know it. But stay quiet, as you never know who or what the next chance might affect.

On the surface, this title offers a lot to the player from the get-go. Which initially may seem like an overwhelming amount of information. You take on the role of a synthetic cyborg person, called a sleeper, who is one of the thousands of people fighting to survive an almost-apocalyptic world. You’ve escaped your regular lifestyle of working for a megacorporation that coincidentally created the body you inhabit. So with your great escape comes excellent consequence.

A sequence of storylines

However, the story isn’t as simple as merely escaping. Citizen Sleeper weaves several deep plots to explain what lies within the space station you now call home. As I’ve mentioned, you aren’t the only person fighting for your life. The plot really makes it a game you have to sink your teeth into. Although the mechanics of the game feel simple, the narrative, which is the title’s most significant selling point, keeps you coming back time and time again.

Though this approach to storyline may be incredibly overwhelming for a handful of players like me. Luckily, if you’re like me and struggle to keep up with several branches of story-led games, you don’t have to follow every single storyline the game presents to you. There’s no pressure whatsoever to follow storylines you’re disinterested with. It won’t negatively impact your gameplay – and allows you to focus on the stories you enjoy.

A slave to capitalism

Your body is owned by the company that you’re trying to escape from. In turn, you’re running from the enemies that have been sent to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Unfortunately, however, your body is deteriorating, with the only cure being a supplement made exclusively by the megacorporation. I found that this heavy reliance on the thing you’re in the process of fleeing from made the story and entire experience so incredibly tense. Although it seems like a lax supply management game, Citizen Sleeper can have you on the edge of your seat on multiple occasions.

A new take on the day/night cycle

This title doesn’t rely so much on the gameplay factor as it does on your engagement with the characters. Your days are tracked by ‘cycles’, in which you are responsible for consistently managing the few resources you have left. Every time you sleep and end a cycle, your body deteriorates a little bit further. And you slowly begin to starve due to your lack of supplies.

During cycles, Citizen Sleeper offers you a variety of activities to complete to keep day-to-day life slightly more exhilarating than just awaiting your death. But with each new cycle, you have to complete several dice rolls to then spend towards your next activity in the station. As you deteriorate, you get few and few dice rolls per cycle. I loved this feature. It was a tangible loss of energy rather than a depleting stamina bar or anything of that style. You have to select where you use the remaining energy of your body wisely since you won’t last forever. You also have to make life or death decisions as you deteriorate. It gets to a point where you will do anything to ensure you don’t go another day without food. Even if it means sacrificing a friend.

The sound (and art) of space

Citizen Sleeper is a visually breathtaking game, which is what you need from a title so heavily dependent on its characters. The art style gives the game some real-life behind its heavy stories and also provides the player with a visual knowledge of the character they’re playing. I find it incredibly hard to engage with a heavily story-led narrative without knowing who it is I’m playing as. Citizen Sleeper undoubtedly soothed those concerns.

Accompanying your grand escape is an epic synth-wave soundtrack that is equal parts somber as it is surprising. This soundtrack also adds to the tension the chase between your ex-employer and yourself engages in. It all comes together to create a phenomenal take on a dystopian future.

Final thoughts

As a whole, Citizen Sleeper is a fantastic RPG management game that involves a heavy dystopian tone of a derelict future. If this sounds like something you love, and if you’re a fan of games like In Other Waters and Disco Elysium then this may be for you. I’d recommend it to anyone searching for the next space-based adventure, especially since it only takes about five hours to fight your way through.

Review: Floppy Knights

Daniel Waite

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May 25, 2022

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Deck-building games, whether virtual or physical, have always been popular. The blend of strategy, luck, and competitive edge never gets old. Therefore, when I was offered Floppy Knights, I didn’t hesitate. Yes, I could have waited to play it on Xbox Game Pass, but I was impatient. Consequently, my week-long delve into its madness has been enjoyable and tough.

Developed by Rose City Games and published by Wiip, this is a deck-building strategy title. It is vivid, colourful, and has a bizarre and whimsical story. Furthermore, it’ll tap into your inner geek, and its cutting dialogue will make you chuckle. On top of this, it has bite-size missions, a challenge mode, and plenty of crazy characters. Therefore, it can be played casually between other titles.

Floppy Knights is just silly.

When the plot revolves around an inventor and her BFF robot, you know it’s going to be silly. What’s more, the missions are strange, the monsters bizarre, and everything is a tad surreal. However, I loved how absurd it was, and I enjoyed the crazy roller-coaster ride. The plot focuses on Phoebe and her robot Carlton. This pair of wannabe heroes are desperate to buy their own place, but money is hard to come by. Thankfully, odd jobs are readily available, and these form the backbone of the plot. Ultimately, the duo wants to compete and win the inventors’ competition. Sadly, though, things don’t go as planned, so their whacky adventure begins.

The action utilises key deck-building mechanics. Therefore, if you are familiar with the genre, you’ll feel right at home. However, there is a twist to proceedings! Not only will you use tried and tested elements, but you’ll deal with turn-based gameplay as well. Now, this may seem like a ballache, but it isn’t. The two mechanics work perfectly, as it supports the strategy theme.

So many places to visit and lots of obstacles to overcome.

Commanders, grunts, and deck building.

The story comprises an array of unique areas, each of 4 stages. During each chapter, you’ll face different enemies and environmental dangers. Each of these problems can be used to your advantage, but you must think wisely. You can use woods, trees, or rocks to protect you. Alternatively, you can use lava, boulders, and more to attack your foes. Either way, you are free to choose your approach and this was fantastic.

Your deck is the most crucial aspect of the game. It comprises a commander, grunts, and action cards. The latter is formed of attack, defence, healing, and more. Each must be used wisely, as your turn has limited action points. What’s more, your commander must survive, otherwise, your quest is failed.

If you’ve played the genre before, this will feel familiar. I appreciated its simplicity, elements of luck, and special unit cards. If you are fortunate, you’ll be dealt a good hand and the battle will be yours to win. However, this wasn’t always the case and therefore, you have to think on your feet.

When you win, you receive cards and cash. These are key to building an all-powerful deck of cards. With no more than 30 allowed in any deck, you must create cards and pick the best for each mission.

Use your cards and defeat every creature. — Which card will you use?

Floppy Knights is polished but simple to look at.

Having played indie games non-stop for the last few years, I yearn for something unique. Many of the titles look familiar, and it becomes tedious. Luckily, though, Floppy Knights stands out from the crowd. Yes, its style is simple, but it’s fun and funky and nice to look at. The cinematic uses 2D models similar to Paper Mario. These clean-cut sprites are full of character and will make you chuckle.

The simplicity continues within the grid-based missions. The top-down perspective is easy to navigate, clear to understand, and nicely varied. Consequently, each mission was interesting and challenging to tackle.

The charming audio is whimsical and jovial while enhancing the madness of the plot. There is a nice blend of upbeat songs and sinister battle music. This, combined with the loud sound effects, works effectively with the theme and the plot.

Your Floppy Knights will change your life. — Use the Floppy Knights to better your life.

Excellent controls.

Because there are no time restraints, there is no pressure when taking your turn. Subsequently, you can explore the excellent UI and plan every move. Even though it wasn’t essential, the controls were responsive and well-thought-out. What’s more, the excellent tutorial makes this an easy game to play. However, you’ll still concern yourself with the correct deck and the right tactics.

Thanks to the extra challenges, different tactical approaches, and the vast amount of cards, Floppy Knights will keep you busy. Therefore, it has oodles of replay value and longevity. This is enhanced further because of its challenging achievement list.

Floppy Knights is great fun.

If you subscribe to Game Pass, or you love strategy/deck-building games, you’ll want to play Floppy Knights. Its story is silly, the action is challenging and enjoyable, and its art style and audio add depth and character. Yes, it isn’t as deep or as challenging as some of its peers, but it won’t take you years to master, either. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you build a powerful deck of cards and win the competition? Complete your wacky adventures and show them who’s boss.

Marvel Releases New Trailer and Poster for Thor: Love and Thunder

Andrew Edney

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May 24, 2022

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Marvel Releases New Trailer and Poster for Thor: Love and Thunder

A new trailer and poster are now available for Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder,”.

Revealing new details about the God of Thunder’s latest adventure—including a trek to Olympus where Zeus (Russell Crowe) reigns supreme. The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a search for self-discovery. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

Directed by Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, “Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in cinemas July 8, 2022.

Review: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones

Daniel Waite

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May 24, 2022

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Review: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones

If you are a casual or solo player, you may not understand the hype behind headphones. You’ve probably convinced yourself that your TV speakers are sufficient and anything else is an unnecessary evil. However, those gamers are missing out on an immersive and game-changing experience. Now, I know there are many headsets on the market, and there is something for every budget. Yet, I like to invest as much as I can to get crisp audio, an excellent microphone, and a cool and comfortable design. Consequently, I’m always keen on Turtle Beach products and today I’m looking at the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones.

This top-end audio accessory is available for around £179.99 and is licenced for use on the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X/S. However, they can also be used via Bluetooth for mobile gamers, on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4 and 5. There are two methods of connection, USB transmitter and Bluetooth and both are as user-friendly as each other. I have recently reviewed the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX headphones, so I was keen to see how the two compare. In short, the extra cost gives you a better control system, more reliable wireless audio, noise cancellation, better build quality, and a clearer microphone. So, let’s wait no longer and see what I thought.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max headphones have well placed and easy to use controls. — Change the settings at the touch of a button.

What’s in the box of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones?

The packaging is 100% recyclable, well-built, and easy to read. The logo and key information are well displayed and its robust packaging begs to be opened. Furthermore, it highlights its Xbox compatibility with the Xbox logo and familiar green colour palette.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones. These stylish and large over-ear headphones look comfortable and have a matt black smooth finish. The microphone is housed nicely within the body of the headphones, and the buttons and dials are conveniently located.
USB transmitter. This small black dongle allows you to connect wirelessly to any USB compatible device. It has a useful switch to connect to Xbox or PC and other consoles. It is small but sturdy and has a useful led to show it has power.
USB-C charging cable. Thankfully, Turtle Beach has upgraded the charging system to the common USB-C connection. Consequently, you can connect to any cables you already have.
Quick Start Guide. A small but helpful manual to get you up and running immediately. This document explains the fundamentals and the 4 prebuilt settings.
Turtle Beach Sticker. Show the world your love for Turtle Beach.

Technical Aspects.

Compatability	Xbox One, Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Android and iOS
Speakers	50mm Nanoclear Neodymium drivers
Frequency response	20Hz – 22kHz
Ear-Cup Design	Over-Ear (Closed)
Ear-Cushion Material	Synthetic leather (black) with Memory Foam Cushioning
Mic design	Flip-up Omni-Directional
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium Polymer
Battery life	40+ hours

Headphones are all about the sound quality, range of tones, and depth of bass. Luckily, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones will blow your mind! Thanks to its prebuilt settings, superhuman hearing option, and 50mm Nanoclear speakers, you get optimum sound quality at all times. Furthermore, the lag-free wireless connection enhances the immersive nature of each game. This is helped further because they are optimised for surround sound as well. If you want to improve your gaming experience, then look no further.

A closer look.

So, what does this all mean? Prebuilt settings, superhuman hearing, etcetera, etcetera. Well, allow me to expand a little. The 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones have 4 settings prebuilt for specific situations. You can adjust the sound settings with the touch of a button to experience the following; Bass Boost, Signature Sound, Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost. Each option slightly adjusts the range of tone or the balance of the audio. They were a great way to alter your experience without having to waste time tweaking the audio settings.

Superhuman Hearing is the go-to mode for FPS gamers. This option will pick up every little sound and will give you that edge over the opposition. This, combined with the optimised surround sound, makes this a game-winning accessory. Talking of surround sound, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones are compatible with Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. However, be aware that these programs may require an additional subscription.

The Turtle Beach exclusive 50mm Nanoclear speakers offer pinpoint sound and unprecedented accuracy. Alongside this, you’ll experience lag-free connectivity thanks to the low-latency, lossless 2.4 GHz wireless connection. Though you may not think it, any delay in sound will put you at a disadvantage. Ensure that you stay ahead of the competition and never fall behind the action. What’s more, the ultra-realistic sound and zero delays will immerse you into whatever title you play.

The easy to use app is fantastic for mobile gaming. — Use the app and have perfect audio every time.

Anything else to consider?

Spending £179.99 on headphones may seem like a steep investment, but I don’t think it is. If you consider how long you spend gaming or watching films, you want the best experience you can get. In all honesty, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones will always deliver exceptional audio quality. However, there are other elements to think about alongside the crisp sound. You must review the build quality, the microphone, and how user-friendly they are.

Other than the Stealth 600 headphones, I’ve never used such an easy to set up accessory. Within 2 seconds of plugging the USB in, you can start gaming. Alongside this, there is a useful app for mobile gaming via Bluetooth. This allows you to adjust your audio to create the perfect settings. Thankfully, it is easy to use and can be mastered in no time.

The microphone is also one of the best I’ve tried. The auto-mute functionality and robust hinges allow you to move it without issue. Furthermore, there is an element of noise cancellation that helps to smooth out any conversations with friends and family.

Finally, the headphones are built to last! The headband is made of reinforced metal and the hinge structure is more durable than in previous iterations. On top of this, the earcups are glasses friendly and have Aerofit cooling gel-infused comfort. The cushions have been redesigned for the latest model and, having used them for hours, I can state they are cool and comfortable at all times.

Are the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones worth it?

With so many headphones to choose from, it can be a minefield. However, I can say with certainty that the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headphones are incredible. If you are looking for a premium audio device that will change your experience, then look no further. Yes, you could go for the Stealth 600’s, but if your budget can stretch to it, invest in the 700s. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed, so buy them here!

Summary.

Thanks to the monstrous battery life, excellent build quality, brilliant microphone, and fantastic 50mm Nanoclear speakers, you get unprecedented sound quality. Furthermore, the prebuilt audio settings, superhuman mode, and surround sound optimisation make this a market leader. Though this premium device has a price tag to match, it shouldn’t put you off. You get what you pay for and these headphones will not disappoint you.

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

Review: Ravenous Devils

Daniel Waite

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May 23, 2022

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https://youtu.be/VuTKxkh-4hU

When a game lands on my desk, I normally know what it’s about. Consequently, I form opinions and some biases before I start. Therefore, it’s pleasant when I receive an unknown entity. Ravenous Devils is one game that has slipped under my radar and something that instantly intrigued me.

Developed by Bad Vices Games and published by Troglobytes Games, this is a horror cooking simulation title. What’s more, it has a devilishly macabre sense of humour and a simple approach. Subsequently, it is easy to pick up, moreish as hell and will make you feel undecidably naughty.

Sweeney Todd or Ravenous Devils?

There is an uncanny resemblance between Ravenous Devils and the tales of Sweeney Todd. The gruesome and brutal history surrounding the amalgam of sources for Sweeney Todd is eye-opening. Therefore, it understandably influences many modern stories.

Ravenous Devils, however, is a bit more upbeat in its approach. Yes, it is gory and violent, but its humorous undertones offer some light relief. You control Percival and Hildred, the crazy protagonists in this cruel tale. They have faked their deaths and are now starting a new. Yet, their business is just as deadly and their secrets just as cruel.

The couple runs a tailor/garden/pub, so, so far, so good. But this “normal” endeavour hides many dark mysteries. The first of these is that humans are the core ingredients. Their meat is used in every meal and people adore the couple’s food. Second, the fertiliser for the organic vegetables is made from decomposing humans. Finally, the fine clothing on sale is all secondhand. This shouldn’t be a problem, but the clothes all come from the couple’s long list of victims. In short, the protagonists are evil and need to see a shrink.

Ravenous Devils is full of gore and violence. — Time to get some meat.

Relentless gameplay.

Like many of its peers, Ravenous Devils is relentless. If you’ve tried Overcooked, Tools UP, or Moving Out, you’ll know what to expect. The constant stream of murders, baking, and tailoring is matched by the never-ending line of punters. These greedy patrons are short on patience and will ruin your reputation if they are displeased. Consequently, you must think fast and work hard to win them over.

The fast-paced action demands a logical and methodical mind. You must control every move of Percival and Hildred. This is easier said than done as each occupies different floors of their business. You’ll murder people upstairs, dump them down the chute, and then clean up. All the while, Hildred will grind the meat, bake the food, and serve the famished customers. It’s a mission to spin every plate, but if you don’t, your reputation will be ruined and you’ll make no money.

Secret mission and upgrades.

The madness of the action is nicely balanced because of the upgradable equipment. You can sew faster, cook quicker, and get more resources from each corpse. However, as you improve your shop, more layers are added to the action. You’ll increase your customer base, enhance your recipes, and unlock a greenhouse. Subsequently, your 2 spinning plates quickly become 4 or 5.

Alongside this, there are secret missions to complete. You believe your crimes are safe, but they are not. Someone knows about your grisly past and present and they want to exploit it. If you are successful, you are rewarded, and no one is any the wiser. Failure is unthinkable and should not be considered.

Grind those humans into meat. — Turn those corpses into meat.

Ravenous Devils captures the era perfectly.

Ravenous Devils has a Victorian look and feel to it. Luckily, the visuals capture the era perfectly. With sultry and earthy tones and grubby cobbled streets, it looks great. What is of concern, however, is the lack of variety. The action focuses on one shop and nothing else. Unlike its peers that ooze variety and unique stage design, this game rigidly sticks to one area. Fortunately, I was too busy killing people to be bothered, but some of you may find it tiresome.

The sinister and comical nature of the game is captured within the audio. The creepy music and gut-wrenching sound effects enhance the gory elements. What’s more, there are some great one-liners that will make you chuckle. Annoyingly, though, there isn’t enough variety within these sound bites. Therefore, the dialogue becomes repetitive and loses its edge.

Innocent shoppers have no idea of the source of their goods. — Ignorance is bliss.

Superb controls.

Thanks to its excellent layout, responsive inputs, and brilliant UI, Ravenous Devils is superb to control. Furthermore, its fundamentals are easy to grasp and it can be mastered quickly. Yet, the opening moments are a little confusing and some trial and error must be incorporated. This wasn’t an issue though, as you are quickly up to speed.

There is so much to do and so many people to kill that you’ll play for hours. Sadly, the longevity is impacted because of the short story. This tainted an otherwise great cooking management sim.

Ravenous Devils is disturbingly good.

Ravenous Devils surprised me! Its macabre style and its nod to Sweeney Todd were wonderful. Its gameplay is moreish and the plot, though short, was great. It had me hooked instantly and I can’t wait for the endless mode to be added. I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Who cares about morals when a profit can be made. Kill them, cook them, and get rich in the process.

Review: Line War

Xavier Berry

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May 22, 2022

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Developed and published by Studio Centurion, Line War is a wonderful experiment with a genre that has a very solid foundation but really shines when it comes to playing with other people. While Line wars offers a fresh experience, it has some major flaws that are looking to be addressed in future updates. Studio Centurion has laid out a road map that seems to be full of new features and additions, so it looks like Line War has a lot in store for it throughout 2022.

Gameplay

Line War does not offer a story mode or anything along those lines so sadly, there isn’t much to dive into from that aspect. This stems from the fact that Line War is a multiplayer only experience and this is something that holds it back drastically for those have never stepped foot in the RTS genre. There is no A.I for players to practice against so it feels detrimental for those who don’t understand the flow of the game and want to practice in a safe environment. Thankfully, the community seems to be very understanding and is willing to teach new players the ropes. I had the lucky chance to play with some exceptional players who took the time to teach me tips and even invite me to several discord channels so that the game would grow on me.

The game offers a very simple aesthetic that will help players manage what’s going on during each match.

The game does have a very simple look and style to it and even tries to simplify the actions players take to control their armies. Instead of having to micro-manage multiple armies of different units, players can draw lines that causes nearby units to start movement. There are some core features of the RTS genre to be found, such as developing units and vehicles to take territory and bring in more resources to continue growing their army, but this is all presented in a very simple manner. With there only being one type of army, the game feels more balanced since both sides have access to similar units. Players can pick a starting location and then its off to the races for both sides.

Line War lets players “practice” against another army in sandbox mode, but this does not have any type of A.I control. Instead, Sandbox mode requires players to switch between both sides. If the idea of playing a board game like Axis and Allies by your self and moving back and forth between teams sounds exciting, then this mode will be perfect for players to practice with. After watching the short tutorial videos offered, players are let loose to decide how they would like to continue.

Don’t let me massive army fool you, I got demolished during this match, but hey it lives up to the title. There were a lot of lines drawn and crossed.

One of the big positives that Line war offers is the fact that each map is randomly generated with a seed number generated each time. This offers players a variety of maps to play on and even gives them the option to play on favorites with friends. There did not seem to be a way to favorite a certain map so players will have to keep tabs on the maps they enjoyed playing on.

Final Thoughts

Sadly, Line war does not offer players much to talk about unless they are already interested in the genre. For those like myself, the lack of a single player mode with A.I controlled units is a major miss. Pair this with a lack of a tutorial outside of videos and you have a combination that may mix well with some while it misses the mark for others. Studio Centurion has stated that there will be more modes to be released throughout the course of the year so for those who are interested in trying something new, there is a lot to look forward to.

Review: Time Keeper

Jonah Ehlers

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May 22, 2022

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In Time Keeper puzzles, platforms, time travel and sentient robots are the order of the day. And the combination was more enjoyable than I anticipated.

Fix the MacGuffin!

You play as a little robot who has just woken up with its memories missing. You make your way to an ominously lit building and meet a floating ball of energy called the guardian. It explains that things are in dire straits and all of existence is in peril. Mysterious creatures known as temporal parasites have arrived like a plague capable of travelling across time and space. In their wake, this building, the cosmic clock, has been damaged. Now I don’t know about you, but something with the word cosmic in the title sure sounds important. Needless to say, the stability of space-time isn’t doing so hot.

On top of this bombshell, the guardian asks for your help. You’re the only one left who can repair the cosmic clock. The stakes are high, and the inner workings of this cosmic business are unclear. But suspend your disbelief and use your brainpower on mechanical puzzles instead. You might just find yourself having a pretty good time.

One Small Step, One Smaller Leap

Time Keeper is a puzzle platformer at its core and naturally, this is where the best moments of my playthrough came from. In order to make repairs, you need to traverse and avoid dangerous gaps, mines, temporal parasites, and flame geysers, among other traps and pitfalls. The level design works well enough for the platforming, time your jumps right and you’re sailing.

However, something that may grind some people’s gears is the pitiful jump your little robot buddy sports. It may be a matter of personal preference, but be warned of painfully slow jumps that cover very little distance. On one hand, It makes gameplay more purposeful. Every move is slow enough for you to give jumps some thought before you’ve even made it near a ledge. It also makes it quite easy to get the timing right on jumps. You’ll rarely ever over or undershoot anything. But on the other hand, it can make gameplay feel a little lethargic. I can admit that at times I just wished there was a dash or sprint button from the get-go.

Leaps of Logic

Platforming is only half the battle though, and the easy half at that. The real challenge comes from the many mechanical puzzles hindering your repairs. Time Keeper makes use of “cause and effect” puzzles. Levers and switches will affect doors, each other, platforms, and rolling balls that can trigger switches in your place. Triggering everything in the right sequence is the only way to progress. But finding the right sequence is where the challenge lies. Often these puzzles will mix with the platforming placing a larger emphasis on timing.

Things start off simple, but they quickly evolve into some proper head-scratchers. Thankfully your robot gains an extremely beneficial ability; time travel. When you make a mistake or flip the wrong switch blocking progress you’re able to go back to the beginning of the puzzle. This is especially useful in later stages where trial and error is the only way to avoid sitting with a notepad for a few hours trying to figure out how to solve a particularly tough puzzle. Thanks to this one mechanic I found myself a lot more comfortable making mistakes and taking risks. The mechanical puzzles provide just the right amount of challenge. They’ll require some thought and at times careful timing to progress. However, the inclusion of the time travel ability makes it a lot more enjoyable to experiment with systems and figure out a solution.

You’ll pull a lever to get a ball rolling. Run over to a switch to stop the ball from triggering the wrong one. Then wait for it to pass before making a mad dash to get a nearby platform it will soon be raising. Solving these puzzles, and pulling it all off was so satisfying. That moment when everything clicked and it all just made sense was a feeling I found myself chasing before too long. I often caught myself going for “one more level”. The levels are just the right length for this too. They never overstay their welcome. A handful of puzzles per level and you find yourself rewarded with progress, making for an addictive gameplay loop.

Beauty & the Beast

Time Keeper employs classical music as the majority of its soundtrack. Which worked quite well with its gameplay. It’s the kind of music that one would never really find grating or annoying after spending an extended amount of time navigating through a more difficult section. Unless of course, you really don’t care for classical music in general. Something about the puzzle-solving, platforming and robots really meshed well with the music choices.

However, this music isn’t present throughout. There are many levels where the music inexplicably changes into generic platforming music that I struggle to recall even now. They’re just awfully forgettable pieces that really made me miss the presence of the classical pieces.

Visually this title reminds me of an early 2000’s low budget CGI animated film. Textures are really low, colours are drab, and at times it feels like they just tossed in a couple of JPEGS and PNGs for the backgrounds and traps. However, it’s not without a couple of good looking moments, particularly nighttime levels when the moon is present. Lighting is utilised a bit better, but honestly, I think the darkness is just an effective way to hide the unappealing art style.

Time Keeper has a lot of charm that shines through its more dull aspects such as the story and visuals. Its gameplay is engaging, and the reward of completing puzzles stands on the merit of their quality. It was a surprisingly fun time that I can recommend to individuals who might enjoy some cause and effect problem-solving.

Review: Big Bang Pro Wrestling

Cody May

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May 22, 2022

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Originally only released in Japan in the year 2000, Big Bang Pro Wrestling has finally made its way to America on the Nintendo Switch. SNK has released a plethora of its back catalog games on the switch, such as Metal Slug 3, The King of Fighters ’98, and many others. To some it may not be a surprise, but considering the game was never released in the west, lot’s of classic wrestling game fans on the switch will be thrilled to finally experience it.

Growing up I was a massive fan of pro wrestling, so unsurprising to nobody; I played my fair share of wrestling games with friends, playing as all of my favorites as I did their signature moves, allowing my imagination to go beyond a controller and screen.

I never played a wrestling game like Big Bang Pro Wrestling, though. Retro, 8-bit styled, was a thing of the past as most developers were making the switch over to 3-d in my early years of gaming. Nevertheless, games like Big Bang Pro Wrestling were there for kids like me in the late 80’s and early 90’s, as they got together with friends to battle.

But is a game like this worth it in the year 2022, when far more advanced wrestling games are being released? Ultimately, it comes down to what you view as a worthy purchase, and Big Bang Pro Wrestling has a very cheap price at only $7 on the Nintendo eshop, with a nice amount of content and fun to be had. Let’s dive into some of the games features.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Big Bang Pro Wrestling is rather straight forward, which is to be expected considering it was a NeoGeo Pocket release. Your A and B buttons are the most important as they do things such as attacks, taunts, exiting the ring, picking up objects, and grappling. However, as with most classic releases on the Switch, there is a rewind option, allowing you to go back and change the outcome of a match you may have lost.

Some other cool menu features include changing the display, allowing you to zoom in and get the full screen view of the action. You can also change the look of the NeoGeo, the filter of the game, and view the original manual included in the 2000 release of Big Bang Pro Wrestling.

There are 10 wrestlers to choose from, all with their own unique look, personality, and move-sets, but some are more unique than others, like Macey, who can spit a venom like liquid at his foe; or Eagle, who wears an eagle mask.

You can pick your favorite of the 10 wrestlers and play the story mode, which offers a fun challenge of fighting each of the other 9 characters to become the IEW champion. If you have a friend over you can battle it out in 2 player CO-OP to see which of you is the best.

Big Bang Pro Wrestling packs a punch!

Art-style and Soundtrack

The art style and soundtrack are nice, although lacking in variety. If you’re a fan of retro 8-bit style graphics, you’ll be pleased with Big Bang Pro Wrestling’s look. The arena itself looks great, and the character designs work well.

Final Remarks

As I played this game, I wondered who this game would resonate with. What kind of audience is SNK targeting with the relaunch of this retro wrestling game. Well, naturally, SNK fans will be happy to play, but I believe this game will resonate mostly with gamers who grew up with these kinds of wrestling games. If you’re one of those gamers, I think you’ll be very happy with your $7 purchase, as you’ll get an instant rush of Nostalgia. Maybe you and your buddies grew up playing games like this, and you want to relive old memories, and this would be perfect for that.

There’s a couple ways to change things up, like altering the match to a coffin match, where you must put your opponent in a coffin to win, or the money prize match, where you must escape the ring, and climb up a pole to retrieve the cash to win. There’s plenty of fun to be had, and memories to relive, in Big Bang Pro Wrestling!