As we grow, the illusion of magic and fantasy fades. What we once believed becomes a dream and the sensibilities of adult life take over. But for those people who dare to dream, their lives can be fulfilled with true happiness. The sights that they see and the feelings they experience are out of this world and unimaginable. Beasts of Maravilla Island captures this perfectly with its touching but short story.
Developed by Banana Bird Studios and published by Whitethorn Games, this is a 3D adventure game with a magical twist. You’ll experience a surreal and heartwarming story as you explore the unchartered mythical island of Maravilla.
This is where your journey starts.
Beasts of Maravilla Island leaves you feeling warm and cosy.
I rarely connect with a game emotionally, but Beasts of Maravilla Island left me feeling warm and cosy. The touching story has you controlling a young wildlife photographer who wants to walk in her late grandfather’s shoes. Armed with his journal, camera, and love of animals, she returns to the island of Maravilla, believing it to be nothing more than a dream.
She quickly discovers that this secret land is full of mystery and wonderment. To fulfil her grandfather’s wishes, she must capture images of the animals that live in this place. By doing this, she will prove to the world that this wonderful island exists.
Seeing the world through the lens of a camera.
The world you explore combines part open-world, part linear approach in order to progress the story. The freedom to explore is limited by natural obstacles. The areas that are open to you must be looked at through the lens of your camera. Here you capture the images to fill the empty pages of your journal. Take selfies, close-ups, or environmental shots. Whatever your subject and whichever you decide to keep is entirely your choice. The linear structure revolves around the behaviour of the main creature for each of the three sections; monkeys, otterdiles, and a Griffin must be snapped for prosperity.
Taking photos isn’t challenging, but finding the mysterious creatures can be tricky. You must complete basic puzzles by manipulating light and sound to create new paths and to force creatures to move. Only by doing this can you hope to fill the journal and complete your grandfather’s wishes. The puzzles will not push you, so don’t come into this expecting a tough time. No, instead they add a fun layer that enhances the exploration element.
An island spirit is ever-present, leaving you to interpret why it haunts your journey. Is it simply keeping the island safe from a strange visitor? Or is it the animal spirit of your grandfather protecting you and observing your adventure? However you interpret it, it’s nice to see and adds magic to the gameplay.
Observe the romantic monkey gestures.
Beasts of Maravilla Island has a cartoon aesthetic that ages it.
I loved exploring the world created in Beasts of Maravilla Island. The neon and bright colours, unusual creatures, and vivid environments make it wonderful to look at. However, its cartoon aesthetic dates its presentation. The blocky images and occasionally rough textures detract from an otherwise polished finish. Some minor glitches require the game to be reset, but I’m hopeful these will be patched out.
The colourful images and surreal creatures are supported by a great soundtrack. Wholesome and magical music accompanies you as you explore each chapter. The environmental sounds have a realistic tone that brings the jungle landscape to life. I admire how the developers enhanced the dreamy theme with airy and light sound effects that added to the fantasy story.
Have you ever seen a neon frog?
Simplicity at its best!
With its clean UI and labelled controls, Beasts of Maravilla Island is simplicity personified. The well laid out and basic control mapping is mastered in minutes, meaning there is no need for a tutorial. I loved its straightforward approach as it allows you to snap photos immediately.
The one area that is sadly lacking is replay value. Once you’ve completed the story and taken the photos, there is little else to do. The small achievement list is easy to complete, but beware as its currently bugged! A playthrough can be as short as two hours, but if you take your time and capture every creature perfectly, you could lose yourself for hours.
Beasts of Maravilla Island is a wonderfully relaxing game.
With its simple puzzles and basic controls, Beasts of MaravillaIsland is accessible to all. It tells a touching story that has to be seen to be believed. I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! Can you fulfil your grandfather’s wishes? Visit the island, capture the photos, and let the world know what you have seen.
Zack 2: Celestine’s Map is a game that features a world full of magic, secrets and supernatural creatures. You play as one of three different characters; Zack, Meggy and Amice, as you traverse through the lands to save your brother from the evil wizard Celestine. Sounds like an interesting plot, doesn’t it? Well, that was my thoughts exactly until I booted the game to find out how messy, incomplete, and terrible this game was.
Zack 2: Celestine’s Map was hands down the worst game I’ve ever played. Everything from its user interface to gameplay was just a pain to manoeuvre through. Firstly, let’s talk about the interface. Everything looked so messy. This huge banner at the top blocked HP bars and what I presumed to be the MP bar at the upper left-hand corner. It just kept popping out from time to time as I pressed buttons on my keyboard. The map just looks plain ugly and so does the weapon wheel at the lower right-hand corner. The fonts used in the game also look really ugly and out of place. It just feels so aesthetically disastrous.
The gameplay is also so bad right from the get-go. Everything feels so clunky and just torturous to play. The character you control seems to be in a running motion but has a move speed of what I presume to simulate the movement of a snail. He literally runs as fast as he walks. It wouldn’t be far fetched to say that even my grandmother could run faster than this dude. Opening chests in this game also really feel more like breaking boxes instead. To open chests, you have to hit them with your sickle. They then crack open as if you’re breaking a wooden crate. Really, it just feels so wrong to be breaking chests with your sickle. It feels as if the game developers were didn’t give a crap about the intricacies of their game at all. The main character is even as tall as a tree as if he was a titan from the Attack on Titan series. Everything about this game just makes me feel uneasy.
Just a horrible experience overall
This game was so bad, I couldn’t even last 1 hour of playtime. First impressions are usually extremely important in the gaming industry today. With thousands of games in the market, first impressions are usually what hooks a player to a game and determines if they decide to continue playing or request for a refund. Zack 2: Celestine’s Map doesn’t just butcher its first moments but has a crappy gameplay to boot as well. At a price of around 10 USD, I’d rather get a value meal or two at MacDonald’s than play this game. Really and truly disappointing.
Tread cardfully (pun intended) into a card-flipping puzzle adventure title. Walk Home Games takes inspiration from those tricky internet flash games we all played in high school computer class (looking at you World’s Hardest Game) and adds a touch of Undertale, visually. Traverse through rooms in a dungeon, avoiding spikes, arrows, and other pixelated hazards and try to clear them all. If you’ve played a puzzle-like card or flash game before, there’s not much new to be introduced here. With that being said,Cardful Planning, in early access, has some substance and tricky puzzles to pull your attention.
Be Cardful
Use W,A,S,D to move on the keyboard, Q to interact with objects, and SHIFT to dash. That’s all you need to know for the most part, minus later pickups and abilities learned along the way. The game is 50 levels, or rooms, broken up into a Hub world. You can unlock later levels with out necessarily needing to 100% clear each section. That’s a nice touch for those who may get stuck and want to see other parts of the game. The playing card aesthetic comes into play, when a number value is needed to unlock the exit. Other cards are needed to be picked up, much like a key in a dungeon crawler. Their face value will add to your card’s value, thus enabling level progression.
Be Cardful in planning the path you’ll take.
Moving each square flips the card. So, until you unlock the dash ability, you’ll move in a face up, face down, face up pattern. Take note, that in order to pick up other cards on the board, you’re player card must be face up. This makes it a little more tricky to move about the board to land right side up on the right space while dodging flying arrows and projectiles. There’s not much else, but it’s a simple game still in development so hopefully there is more to come.
The level progression and difficulty spikes in Cardful Planning are done quite well. The rooms do get harder as you go, but sometimes the difficulty might scale back a bit after a tough room. This is a nice reward after a tough challenge to be able to cruise through another room or two. The overall difficulty curve is linear, and the later levels do provide a solid challenge for the worthy.
Console Port and Control Thoughts
This is currently a Steam-only title. I’m hoping that there are plans for console ports (mainly Nintendo Switch due to it’s embrace of indie titles). While the game handled nicely on Steam, I’m still not the most comfortable with SHIFT to sprint. It’s a little tricky to have your left hand responsible for movement and most actions. It’s embarrassing to admit since I play so many FPS titles, but it is what it is. It just always feels like implementing a sprint mechanic lends itself more favorable with a controller than a mouse and keyboard. And for those who share my disposition, there is full controller support for this game. Console ports also reach out to a wider audience. (EDIT: The recent announcement of the Steam Deck may make this title more accessible on the go.)
Your card value is indicated in the bottom corner. Collect plus value cards to yield the amount needed to unlock the door to the next room.
Other than that, Cardful Planning can feel a little stiff at times. You do move from space to space, so it’s not there’s not exactly an analog set of directions here. Stiff controls can inhibit a puzzle adventure game, with rage mechanics. The mistakes may not always fall on you, and you’ll blame the game for many deaths. This is lifted with the “Chill” playthrough option, but infinite respawns can make the playthrough a slog if there’s not much incentive to stay alive and completely finish a room on with one life.
More Feedback
The title theme, which is also played in the trailer, is a music track I’ve heard before. The early release of Warforkused the exact same track so it sounded odd to me to hear it again in a completely different game. I’m assuming that this track will change, and am kind of hoping so since it feels a tad out of place. It sounds spacey and futuristic, for a title with crossbows and dungeons. The in game music, is much better and matches the mood.
The visual presentation give me real Undertale vibes.
The only other thing maybe would be the option to map the buttons, since there is no controller option. While many would most likely not change anything, having the option to do so is almost a necessity amongst PC games. It’s like a customizable wardrobe in a Battle Royale, or 2D Fighting game. We play on PC for a reason, no?
Bottom Line
It’s a simple game, and that’s totally ok. It’s nice to be reminded of those internet puzzle and rage games, getting more attention in this ever-continuous retro revival. And I’m always happy to add my two-cents to a new project, whether it’s in my area of expertise or not. The puzzles got more complex, but it’s up to the player if their attention is held long enough to complete them all. After a playthrough, there’s not much to return to, aside from the fewest deaths and speed run modes, but that’s just how these games are. Give it a flip!
I went into The Fabled Woods with very little idea of what to expect. I purposely hadn’t read anything about the game, so all I knew was that it was a short, narrative experience and that it came with a separate soundtrack file. Putting those two pieces of information together with the fact that the game clearly takes place within a wood, I was fully expecting some sort of walking simulator with a perhaps pretentious story musing on the nature of humanity or love or something equally ethereal. The game’s opening even starts as you might expect from such a title: awakening in a sunny wood with a soothing voice telling you the opening of a story.
Imagine my surprise, then, when about two minutes in The Fabled Woods took a sharp left turn with a dream sequence in a hellish red void where you’re listening to a woman being brutally murdered.
As it turns out, what The Fabled Woods actually entails is a two-hour-long pseudo-horror mystery story that you uncover as you walk through the titular trees. The tale is revealed through a combination of narration from the three primary characters, Larry, Sara, and Todd, and surreal memory sequences. Through them, you can learn about a series of grisly murders and reveal the truth behind the mystery of the woods.
The first thing most players are going to be struck by is the visual design. The forest that makes up the bulk of playtime has been carefully crafted to look appealing, with bright, warm sunlight and lots of greenery to enjoy. The creative intent is clear: such a beautiful woodland is helping to hide the dark secret at its heart. The contrast really builds on the horror of the story and in that regard, the visuals are a stunning success.
I will say, however, that I really struggled with the game’s graphics initially. There is a lot of chromatic aberration distorting anything that isn’t dead centre of the screen, and there isn’t currently any settings option to turn it off. Combining that with the soft haziness used to evoke a warm afternoon, a lot of what you’re looking at is uncomfortably blurry. I also encountered a few places where trees and bushes looked like repurposed assets that hadn’t been incorporated entirely cleanly.
That being said, once you get used to the slightly out-of-focus visual filter, large sections of this game are stunning to look at, particularly with regard to the lighting system.
This tree’s main branches didn’t move with the stick mesh they were supposedly attached to
Unfortunately, the game is not entirely solid from a mechanical perspective either. For one, if I dared to play for more than a few minutes, it started to sound like my reasonably high-spec computer was filling up with bees, despite the fact that the game is relatively simple in terms of mechanics. I also found the game chugged particularly hard during a brief section in the forensic anthropologist’s office, likely caused by the light motes carefully dotted throughout the room. The game’s lighting is dynamic and arguably its most attractive feature, but its current implementation is a huge drain on processing power.
There are also a handful of bugs to watch out for. One reasonably harmless one I stumbled across twice was the wrong voice line triggering when I interacted with an object. Ultimately these issues didn’t derail gameplay at all, but The Fabled Woods is so focused on its story that missing pieces of it, when it is already so short to begin with, was disappointing.
Much more troubling for me was a moment when an event failed to trigger. At various stages in the game, a new path will open once you have completed a specific section of story; without that change physically occurring in the game world, there is nowhere for the player to go. In my initial playthrough, one of these events didn’t trigger, meaning that I was trapped where I was, with no idea what I was supposed to do.
Not only did this mean that I was stuck, looking for a path that didn’t exist, it negatively impacted the entire rest of my time spent with the game. While I was able to work out reasonably quickly what had happened and was able to fix it by rebooting the game, I could never be completely sure that the same thing wouldn’t happen again at a later point. As a result, any time I still hadn’t quite finished a section, I didn’t know if I had missed something or if the game had glitched again. Fortunately, the game is so short that the issue didn’t persist for long, but it entirely crippled the sense of expanding exploration The Fabled Woods was shooting for.
So, with slightly shaky mechanics and mildly appealing graphics out of the way, we’re left with the story. The Fabled Woods is presented as an interactive narrative and it’s very clear as soon as the game starts that it is the story you’re supposed to be focusing on. With that kind of a baseline, I had reasonably high hopes going in for what I was about to uncover; unfortunately, I was setting myself up for disappointment.
The Fabled Woods’ story is not utterly without merit. It has the bones of an interesting premise, and the people you meet, particularly Sara, manage to eke out a surprising amount of character for how little time they are given. This is backed up by some really solid voice acting from all three main characters.
The core issue is that the game is simply too short to tell a compelling or shocking mystery. Short stories can be surprisingly impactful and the same can be true of short games, but in my opinion The Fabled Woods sits just a little too shy of a fleshed-out narrative. There’s so little time to work with that the story twist supposedly hinging the entire endeavour has very little weight, as well as being rather predictable. The solo developer clearly has a lot of creativity behind him and there’s a lot here to indicate his potential; as it stands, however, the biggest impact The Fabled Woods had on me was making me wish that I was out hiking somewhere in nature.
With the current bugs and the relatively high price tag for the experience you end up getting, I sadly can’t recommend The Fabled Woods as it is now. That being said, I am excited to see what the developer does next. With a bit more experience and time, I think we could end up getting something really special.
The WYNONNA EARP Complete Seasons 1-4 Boxset was released this week and we take a closer look at it.
Based on the popular comic series, Wynonna Earp follows the life of the great-great granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. She inherits his famous gun ‘peacemaker’ and the demon-fighting family curse that comes with it. With the help of her younger sister Waverly, Agent Xavier Dolls, notorious gunslinger Doc Holliday and Officer Nicole Haught, Wynonna must rid her hometown of the Revenants, all 77 of them, to finally break the curse.
There are four seperate cases in the box, one for each season.
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
The boxset looks great and I can’t wait to sit down and binge watch the whole thing!
Wynonna Earp: Seasons 1-4 boxset is available on Blu-ray & DVD now from Dazzler Media.
Robots are the future! They are hard-wearing, intelligent, and don’t answer back. We all think of robots as advanced objects, but what happens if they are basic and can only perform limited tasks? Blitz Breaker lets you take control of a simple droid where your only goal is to escape.
Developed by Boncho Games and Ratalaika Games and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a retro puzzle platform title. The protagonist must jump and dash his way around a maze of obstacles and traps. With limited health, death is never far away. The delightful pixel art style transports you to early console gaming, and the concept is simple to understand. You must move quickly, avoid the spikes, and find the exit.
Can you avoid the squid?
Blitz Breaker is straightforward and addictive.
With over one hundred handcrafted levels and hectic gameplay to tackle, this can be played casually. I instantly feel for its old-school charms and set out to beat each stage. The aim is to collect coins that bolster an ever reducing score. If you reach the exit with the required points, you’ll be rewarded with a star. This is it, nothing complicated, just good old-fashioned addictive action.
Here’s the twist, Blitz the robot can’t walk! He must dash in four directions, only stopping when he collides with an object. You will plan your approach, working out routes that avoid being killed while getting to the exit as quickly as possible. It sounds easy, right? It is, mostly, but it requires a cool head and razor-sharp reactions. Pull the trigger too early and you’ll be in the spikes. Hit the wrong direction on the analogue stick, you guessed it…. death!
So many spikes!
The difficulty builds and builds.
Blitz Breaker balances its difficulty perfectly. The opening world acts as a tutorial to familiarise yourself with the fundamentals. You’ll experience; magnetism, sprawling stages, circular saws, bullets, and more from here. The challenge increases, however, Blitz remains the same simple robot. Spaces become dangerously tight, and one false move could be your last. It’s frustratingly brilliant, it will make you scream, but you’ll be smiling at every stage.
Each world culminates with a big boss level. Unlike other platform titles, Blitz Breaker asks you to run, not fight this mechanical beast. You’ll make error after error as you try to evade its grasp. It follows the same mechanics for the standard level, but the added pressure of being chased makes it considerably harder. What is also challenging is the secret “warp” levels that you can attempt. These dark and eerie stages up the ante by adding more traps and expecting a higher level of precision. They are not impossible, but they stand out from the standard levels because of the challenge they pose.
Blitz Breaker is a colourful pixelated title.
With so many games pushing consoles and PCs to their limits, it’s nice when you get a basic title to play. Blitz Breaker has a wonderfully retro aesthetic that’s pleasant to look at. With its vibrant colours, simple art style, and cute sprites, you’ll enjoy what you see. The early stages lack complexity and this may disappoint some players. However, as you progress, the levels quickly become larger and more difficult to navigate.
There are no surprises in how the audio is presented. The synthesised soundtrack is sharp, basic, but adds to the atmosphere. The upbeat music inspires you to act quickly and recklessly. You’ll push yourself to the limit as you attempt to navigate the traps as fast as possible. The music matched the theme perfectly and was a well thought out element.
Dodge the dragon.
Two game modes and cosmetics to unlock.
Accuracy is key to being successful, so it was a shame that the movement only covered four plains. The lack of flexibility makes completing some stages very challenging, which will frustrate most gamers. The simplicity of the control setup ensures you’ll know how to play this quickly. However, practice and a good memory are needed to finish this title.
Precision platformer games are renowned for getting under your skin, Blitz Breaker is no different. Its addictive gameplay and requirements to be perfect will keep you playing. With two game modes to experience, plenty of stars to get, and cosmetics to unlock, there is a lot to do. The achievement list is small and will take around two hours to complete.
Blitz Breaker is a fun and challenging old-school title.
The simplicity risked making this far too easy, yet Blitz Breaker pushes you all the way. With limited controls and tight spaces, you’ll have a difficult time collecting every star. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Blitz wants to escape but needs help to find the exit. Do you have the skills to assist him?
Have you ever wished for an RPG with a near-limitless pool of stories that you could play through? An RPG where every run would feel unique and grounded, despite relying heavily on random procedural events? If the answer is yes, then I congratulate you for finally finding that RPG. Wildermyth is the kind of game that I’ve been craving for years, without even knowing, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one in that situation.
Wildermythis a multi-party RPG with tactical turn-based combat and an impressive array of stories. It’s procedural storytelling done right, and it manages to bring to life some of the most engaging characters that I’ve ever had the chance of meeting in a video game. But who are these characters? Well, they start as ordinary people, but they eventually become folklore legends, known to all across the land and throughout several decades. In this aspect, Wildermyth is excellent, because your heroes grow and learn just as you do, as a player. One of the greatest things about Wildermyth, is the fact that your heroes age, and during their lifetime, they’ll experience events and make choices that can completely change who they are.
In Wildermyth, heroes can fall in love and develop bitter rivalries with each other. They can have children who will become a part of your group once they’ve become of age. They’ll often question their life choices, if fighting evil is all there is to life, or if they’ll ever find someone to love. There are just as many sad moments as there are happy ones and, whatever might happen, the game still manages to plug a bit of humour here and there. It’s quite remarkable how the game manages to add so much substance to characters that started as nobodies.
In terms of content, Wildermyth offers five main campaigns, including one that serves as a tutorial of sorts. Each campaign is divided into multiple chapters, that split up the story and expand the map as you progress. Besides that, you can also play different kinds of procedurally-generated campaigns. These only feature random events, they contain no main story. There are also four difficulty modes, but you can also create a custom one if you so desire. Whether you’re in it for the story, for a challenging combat experience, or a bit of both, the game has got you covered. Still, I’d like to point out that this isn’t a complex game in terms of combat.
Now, although each campaign revolves around a huge plot and the pursuit of a major global goal, there’s much more than that to them. In contrast with most RPGs, Wildermyth doesn’t have side quests in the typical sense. Instead, there are tons of random events that can trigger opportunities for your heroes, should you choose to pursue them. These are essentially optional endeavours that expand upon the world and give your heroes the chance to evolve and become something far greater than your typical warrior, hunter, or mystic.
Some random events can even incur physical transformations on your heroes. These start small, only affecting one of their limbs, but you get to choose if you want their transformation to progress even further at the end of each campaign’s chapter. This usually involves some sort of trade-off. For instance, if a transformation spreads to an arm, that hero will no longer be able to use two-handed weapons. Still, transformations tend to be worth the penalties not only due to the stat bonuses that they bring, but also because of the abilities that come with them. Heroes can become imbued with the ability to shoot lightning that can stun enemies, vine attacks that shred enemy armour, amongst many others which I won’t spoil. There’s plenty of surprises waiting to be found, rest assured.
There’s plenty of dialogue between your party members between fights, as they traverse the world, and also during random events. These are neatly presented in a form of comic-book styled segments, beautifully illustrated in the game’s characteristic papercraft style. These segments serve as the game’s only means of presenting its stories to you, and they’re wonderfully written.
Whether it’s the overarching narrative that spans multiple generations of heroes, or the small stories involving local folklore, Wildermyth has the substance to keep you engaged throughout multiple playthroughs. Never once did I find myself skipping dialogue or wishing for something more interesting. As a result of that, the procedural campaigns flow naturally, and each of them features plenty of emergent storytelling opportunities. Sure, you’ll run into the same events multiple times, but since each party has their unique legacy, it always felt like I was experiencing a completely new storyline.
I’ll never forget the time when one of my heroes got too greedy when trying to remove a rock from an altar, and ended up with a shard right in his eye socket. I’ll also never forget that time when my favourite archer refused to marry a waterling, whom she had just met. It was love at first sight for both of them, but giving in to her desire for love would mean abandoning her friends and the world to its fate. Lili will also be forever in my thoughts, as he willingly sacrificed himself to save the rest of the group. Wildermyth is full of such tales, part of them come and go at random, but the player will always have some input in regards to its outcome.
As such, I found it easy to get attached to my band of heroes, and I was genuinely sad when I got to see my heroes retire or tragically perish in combat. After spending their entire lives fighting for the greater good, they’ve more than earned their rest. However, a lot of times they pass on the mantle to their sons and daughters, and they can still return in future campaigns as a Legacy Hero, so I guess that their fighting spirit does live on.
In terms of gameplay, Wildermyth is your standard turn-based tactics game with a cover and hit-chance system. Each hero has two action points, which they can use to move and attack. In this case, only an action point is consumed if you decide to move within a specific radius, if you go further than that, you’ll consume your last action point. As for attacks and abilities, some are free to use once per turn, others only consume one action point, and others consume all your action points.
Despite how mundane the combat might initially sound, there are things that do make it quite interesting. The best thing about the combat in Wildermyth, is how Mystics work, which are the game’s version of wizards. They use interfusion, which allows them to link themselves with scenery objects and use them in various ways. Different pieces of scenery have unique effects. Some explode and splinter on impact, others ricochet between nearby enemies, while others can shield allies or shackle enemies. Besides that, the transformations are also a big part of the combat and what makes it really unique.
If there’s one thing that really disappointed me, that would be the combat arenas. Unfortunately, they all feel and look pretty much the same. Apart from a few exceptions, there’s nothing different about them when it comes to how each fight plays out. Likewise, the objective in each encounter always tends to be “kill all enemies”. Therefore, I do wish that there was more variety in regards to this aspect. Not even the defence missions are different, despite the fact that you have to essentially defend a town from an entire enemy army.
Incursions, calamities, and infestations are also another big part of the game, as they serve to keep the pressure on by giving the player little breathing room. Whether your heroes are travelling, scouting unknown territories, building resource outposts or defences, time is always ticking. As time goes on, enemies will infest the lands and they’ll also mount up incursions that will target specific areas on the map. Furthermore, with time, your enemies also become more powerful via the calamity system. These can either be completely new enemy types, or enemy-specific buffs.
With that said, you can definitely choose to go straight for your goal, as that doesn’t allow your enemies to grow that powerful. However, in doing so, you won’t be able to liberate the lands and claim their resources. This not only hinders your ability to craft better equipment, but also leads to shorter periods of peace at the end of each chapter, which limits what kind of events can trigger in that space of time.
As you slay infested animals, mystical creatures, and ancient clockwork machines, your heroes will also gain experience and level up. This allows them to unlock passive and active abilities, further deepening the customization aspect. Nonetheless, there’s also plenty of loot to be found and equipped, or salvaged for resources if you find no use for it. Having said that, in Wildermyth, once a character equips a piece of equipment, they claim it as theirs forever. There’s no constant swapping of equipment here. This seems like an odd design decision, as even when you replace someone’s weapon, you can’t even give their old one to someone else. It’s just lost forever. In a way, this forces you to keep a balance between all your heroes, and not just give the best gear to the same ones, which might be the reason why equipment is permanently locked.
In any case, the roleplaying aspect is undoubtedly the biggest selling point of Wildermyth. Even though I wish there was more to it when it comes to combat, the game really is something quite special. It has that “just one more” vibe to it and, because of that, it’s extremely addicting. It can also be enjoyed in short bursts, as combat encounters aren’t that long and you can save at any time.
Wildermyth also supports modding, which not only lets you add more cosmetic customization options, but also lets you add new events. There’s also co-op, but I haven’t gotten the chance of trying it. Still, I’m currently playing through the third main campaign, and with 22 hours in the game, I have no intention of stopping playing anytime soon. I highly recommend Wildermyth to any fans of RPGs, but especially to those who are more into the roleplay aspect of the genre than anything else. If the game clicks with you, and I’m sure it will for a lot of people, then you’re in for quite the treat.
Dungeons and Dragons is a much-loved board game franchise. It is followed by young and old and inspires players to allow their imaginations to run wild. Set in fantasy lands filled with orcs, goblins, wizards, and warriors, you can create the adventure of your dreams. Rules are set in stone and only the Dungeon Master has the power to change the landscape. It’s a serious business and its player base spends hours preparing for their next outing. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos – Chicken Edition is a satirical game that pokes fun at its D&D concept.
Developed by Artefacts Studio and published by Dear Villagers, this is an isometric dungeon-crawling adventure. With an absurd story to enjoy, and colourful characters to control, you’ll chuckle endlessly. With nine chapters filled with inside jokes, swear words, and toilet humour, there is the possibility you’ll miss the point. However, I loved its childish approach as it pokes fun at the faithful D&D community and everything in between.
Get used to this sight!
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is a fantastic turn-based strategy game.
I adored how the story played out and all the whimsical jibes that came with it. But the pièce de résistance was its approach to battles. With many characters making up your party, you have an eclectic squad to tackle any fight you encounter. Wizards and archers add range, whereas your paladins, ogre, dwarves and thief prefer a melee attack. Positioning is key as flanking and backstabbing are key tactical manoeuvres. You’ll consider the environment of each battle, using boxes and rubbish to cower behind. Every fight felt unique and matched the wonderful storytelling.
The story revolves around seven archetypal D&D RPG characters who undertake a quest to find a mystical statuette. Their mission rarely goes to plan and they work with a range of characters to journey through the dungeon. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is legendary for its mystery and stories tell how no adventurer has explored it. You quickly discover this to be codswallop as it houses; shops, a large tavern, and a bustling community. It’s gloriously bizarre and you never know what’ll happen from one moment to the next.
It’s all about teamwork and loot.
What makes this great is the constant need to explore the surrounding environment. With destructible doors and loot-filled boxes, taking your time and being thorough quickly pays dividends. Arming your odd fellowship with the best equipment will improve your chances, but the best gear isn’t easy to come by. You must decide who to equip to improve your chances of victory. Do you load one character up to be a tank, or do you spread the armour and send them all in?
As you become familiar with each character and their abilities, you realise that teamwork is essential. With direct strikes, an array of magic, area of damage attacks, opportunity strikes, blocking, parrying, and more, working together is key. My D&D experience mixed with years of Xcom action should have helped me, but it oddly felt more of a hindrance. This is because the battles are fluid, so you must remain flexible in your approach. You’ll learn to judge each battle by the available squad and the environment in which it takes place.
The start of every battle.
An RPG with limited character customisation and choices.
It’s always strange when RPGs have limited character customisation. You receive XP as usual and increase levels as expected. But the option to improve your character is limited to a handful of attributes. This was disappointing, as I hoped for a more in-depth experience. However, I enjoyed the tiered ability options that altered how you used each character. This was clever, as it allowed me to create a squad that matched my playstyle.
With a linear story and no dialogue options to alter the direction of the plot, it was devoid of many elements I expect to find in an RPG. It’s foremost a tactical game, and my, what a tough one at that! Fights quickly become a headache and you’ll feel as if you are battling with one hand tied behind your back. It’s brutal, but it adds to the longevity. There is a sense of achievement when you succeed, but your victory only arrives after much swearing and cursing.
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk looks fantastic.
I’ve played many dungeon crawlers and countless tactics games, and this is up there as one of the best looking ones. The level of detail is incredible, as are the thorough and complex floors you investigate. The characters have a familiar look that connects it to its D&D roots. The gameplay is smooth and I experienced zero issues. The UI contains the correct information to help you manage any situation and it’s clear and concise which helps to keep the display clutter-free. You can move the camera freely and this allows you full visibility and understanding of the gaming environment.
The audio is equally good, with its upbeat fantasy-inspired soundtrack and over the top sound effects. The acting is exceptional with most of the game relying on speech heavy cutscenes. You’ll be crying tears of laughter as the relentless jokes form the backbone of the fellowship’s relationship. I enjoyed the booming narrator that helped to guide the story from A to B while breaking up the continuous humorous banter.
Time to get the team together.
A tactics game full of replay value.
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk has an incredible amount of layers to understand, yet it’s surprisingly easy to play. Its thorough tutorial combined with the well-designed UI, ensures you are given the tools required to master the fundamentals. I was surprised by how well it performed using a controller. The simple button mapping and well-labelled screen prevent the action from becoming confusing.
Its brutal difficulty isn’t the only reason you’ll keep playing this. No, it’s got a challenging achievement list that’ll make you wince. The game is tough enough without asking you to complete additional brutal objectives, so completionists beware, this isn’t for the faint of heart. There is also a selection of difficulty modes and an “Ironman” option that is guaranteed to get controllers smashed. No matter how funny the one-liners are, the hardest option will make you scream.
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk falls short as an RPG but excels in all other aspects.
The lack of RPG elements came as a surprise but it didn’t ruin what is otherwise a fantastic game. With its tongue-in-cheek and whimsical nod to D&D, you’ll be left smiling throughout. Your eclectic fellowship enables you to vary your tactical approach, while your selection of abilities should give you the upper hand. A tactical mind and luck from the RNG gods are required if you are to be victorious. I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! Can you work together to make it through the Dungeon of Naheulbeuk, or will you fail miserably?
The police force divides opinions and you either love them or loathe them. No matter your thoughts, you must admire them for putting their lives on the line for justice. There are a few bad apples, but you get that in every walk of life and behind every cop partnership is a story full of mystery, regret, and doubt. Police Stories replicates this with its grimy and gritty plot and stereotypical characters.
Developed by Mighty Morgan and published by HypeTrain Digital, this is a top-down old-school shooting adventure. Played solo or couch co-op, you control two cops who will stop at nothing to ensure justice is served. It’s a challenging title that offers two difficulty settings and three game modes.
One bad guy down!
Police Stories gives off early GTA vibes.
I was instantly drawn to Police Stories because of its interesting mechanics and its early GTA vibes. Loading this in brought back memories of playing my PlayStation One and I was sold on its charms because of this. The concept of the main story is simple: work with your partner to arrest the bad guys, use reasonable force if necessary, and collect evidence. Each mission you’ll earn points and this gives you a level rating.
The concept may be straightforward, but achieving victory isn’t easy! Running into a building all guns blazing is a terrible idea and one that will get you killed. You must work with your partner to open doors, use tactical equipment or issue covering fire. Shooting first and asking questions later is not acceptable. You must fire warning shots, scream for people to surrender and risk being shot at. It’s stressful, difficult, but rewarding when it all comes together.
Two cops and a clichéd backstory.
The gameplay revolves around the partnership of two street cops called John Rimes and Rick Jones. Their backstory is as clichéd as doughnuts and coffee and though it adds depth to the characters, it offers nothing you’ve not heard before. The main story comprises eighteen missions that ask you to infiltrate gang hideouts, rescue hostages, collect evidence, arrest criminals, and save civilians. It can be hectic, and this is where good reactions and a tactical approach ensure you succeed.
Alongside the story mode, you can take part in quick play and custom missions. These modes follow the same mechanics already experienced but are great if you wish to experiment or enjoy a casual session. Your approach to each mission will alter as you unlock new equipment. You gain sixteen items that offer stealthy advantages, better aiming and quicker arrests. Using your gear wisely will give you the upper hand, so don’t be frivolous.
He’s got you covered.
Police Stories old-school aesthetic was fantastic.
I adore the art style used in Police Stories. The simple pixelated characters, the fog of war and earthy colours were great to look at. The claustrophobic corridors and maze-like stages added suspense and tension that complimented the theme and difficulty of this game. Identifying friend or foe in the fog of war was simple thanks to a coloured hue. The top-down perspective was a nice nod to early console games, but it was problematic when criminals appeared from darkened corners. Perhaps a map of the area would help to eliminate this issue.
The audio was also good but offered little more than I expected. Heavy and hard-hitting tones dominate the soundtrack. The adrenaline-pumping music gets you in the mood for each mission and has an air of 80s synth. The sounds effects were nice and matched up to the action and equipment being used. Screaming orders at criminals or your partner never got old.
Both the visual and audio presentations were simple, yet this straightforward approach worked perfectly. The nod to the old-school games will be appreciated by many players and its smooth uncomplicated manner makes it a joy to play.
That took a little persuading.
Better as a co-op game.
The controls are fiddly when playing solo and impact the tactical element of surprise. Police Stories excels as a co-op game and you get the most out of it when teaming up. The clean UI and simple radial menu make playing easy once you master the fundamentals. With an on-screen crosshair you know where you are aiming and this helps considerably. You will need to invest time to get the most out of this, but it’s time well invested.
When I initially saw the eighteen missions I was disappointed. I thought it would be over in a flash and would lack replay value. How naïve! I was wrong. With random enemy placement and different events during each mission, no playthrough is the same. With plenty of game modes, a challenging achievement list, and couch co-op, there are lots of reasons to return.
Police Stories is challenging, addictive, and full of old-school vibes.
The deceptively simple approach will lull you into thinking this is easy. However, you’ll die repeatedly, fail horrifically, and receive painfully low scores. Once you understand the fundamentals, you’ll have a great time. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Put down the coffee and doughnuts and arrest the low life scum.
The number of people losing money to cybercriminals has been on the rise in recent years. With so many people accessing the internet via their smartphones, the focus has shifted from computers to mobile devices. Whether it is an Android or iOS mobile device, finding ways to protect yourself is essential.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies report, individuals and businesses lost an estimated $1 trillion during the coronavirus period. Unfortunately, if you aren’t careful, you could also become a part of these grim statistics.
This article introduces you to the crucial tips to avoid online scams.
It will help if you keep your iPhone up to date with the latest version of iOS, web browser, and software. With that, you will enjoy protection against malware, viruses, and other online scams. In addition, you can make sure that you get the newest versions of your firmware and software by turning on automatic updates.
2. Install a VPN
A virtual private network or VPN is a technology that establishes a private connection between your computer and another network. A VPN works by encrypting data to protect it from prying eyes and replacing your actual internet protocol (IP) address with an IP address in another location.
A VPN for iOS works by downloading a related app and installing it on your phone. After configuring the app according to your phone’s VPN protocol, you can turn it on for your online protection. It also keeps your kids safe online by reinforcing what you taught them about being responsible online.
3. Steer Clear of Phishing Scams
Scammers have devised ways of obtaining information from innocent users like you. First, they send you a message or email with a link. Then, when you click on the link, the scammer gets your data and uses it to defraud you.
The messages could be in the form of text messages, email, or phone calls. Knowing how to identify these messages can help you avoid getting scammed. At the same time, you should avoid clicking on the suspicious links sent through these messages.
4. Keeping Social Media Account Details Private
It is essential to keep personal information away from the prying eyes of scammers. On social media, scammers can use your profile to discover and change your passwords or answer your chosen security questions. Maintaining online security is as simple as locking your privacy settings to block your address, birthday, and mother’s maiden name.
5. Don’t Install Suspicious Apps
It would help if you only install the apps your phone manufacturer recommends. If you install a suspicious app, you may end up losing the password to your online bank account. Once this information lands in the wrong hands, it can result in you losing all your savings.
6. Never Provide Personal Information
Some fraudsters will send you messages pretending to be your bank soliciting information. A bank would never require you to send your identity and account information via email. Any message you get requiring you to provide that information is a scam.
Another example of suspicious emails is those purporting to be from suppliers. They wouldn’t be unusual if they contained invoices and other general business documents. However, if the information they are asking for is too sensitive, don’t believe them.
7. Keep Your Passwords Securely
At the basic level, you should keep your login credentials away from prying eyes, even from your trusted friends. As a precaution, you should also make a habit of changing your passwords regularly. If you use a wireless network, you should avoid broadcasting your SSID and password.
8. Use Public Wi-Fi With Greater Care
Public Wi-Fi is one of the ways through which scammers can access your device. Therefore, you shouldn’t use just any public Wi-Fi as it could be a trap to get your data. You may use public Wi-Fi for general web browsing but never for banking or shopping.
9. Exercise Caution When Shopping Online
Online shopping is now the in-thing across the world. Unfortunately, there are so many shopping sites that you might not know the ones to trust. Avoid websites that want to collect your banking information and use it to scam you.
Conclusion
Staying safe online is entirely up to you. It would help if you started by updating your phone’s firmware and applications. Additionally, you should install a VPN app and avoid falling prey to phishing scams.
Fraudsters creep around the internet looking for naive individuals to scam. That’s why you should avoid installing suspicious apps, divulging private information, and using public Wi-Fi for shopping and banking. If you do that, you will stay safe and avoid the simple tricks that scammers use to defraud people.
The ocean is a beautiful and alluring place; it hides many secrets and is home to billions of life forms. For all of us, it brings life and hope as the sea provides us with oxygen to breathe and food to eat. This is where our brave fishermen come in. They sail into dangers unknown with one goal: bring back a full quota of fish to feed hundreds and be paid handsomely in return. This is the reality in Fishing – North Atlantic. You are the captain of a vessel that aims to catch as many fish while making yourself rich.
Developed and published by Misc Games, this is a sandbox open-world simulation title. Set in the large ocean in Nova Scotia, you are free to explore the vast space in front of you. With an array of fishing methods to try, boats to purchase, and crew to hire, this is as advance or rudimentary as you like.
Fishing – North Atlantic is brilliant, addictive, but full of game-breaking bugs.
I can’t hide that I love this game! It’s addictive, full of intricate details, and brilliantly relaxing. But it’s also painful, unpolished, and full of game-breaking bugs. I’ve never saved so much in my life as I quickly discovered it can stop working at any time and with it, my progress was wiped. It tarnishes such a great experience and makes writing this review so much harder. Fishing – North Atlantic should be heaped with praise, and it will for its good elements, however, broken titles should not make it past the beta stage.
You will find issues with almost all elements of the gameplay. Whether it’s visual glitches, attempting to manage your crew, or trying to catch fish, they are all laced with bugs. Whenever anything goes wrong, you’ll have to save, force close the title, and reload in. This resolves every issue, but it’s painfully frustrating and breaks up both the fun and the immersive nature of this title. On top of this, you will encounter random crashes to the dashboard. You’ll be happily hauling in fish and suddenly the screen goes blank. The game has crashed and all your progress is lost, sad times indeed.
I will highlight specific issues as I cover this review, but for now, let’s look at what makes this great and why people put up with its many faults.
A rare moment of beauty.
So much detail!
When you take on a simulation title you want it to be realistic and to transport you into the protagonist’s role. Fishing – North Atlantic does just that! With vast amounts of details to take in, fishing spots to discover, and a large map to explore, you are spoilt for choice. You must understand how the seasons affect each species, manage how you fish each location to ensure it remains productive, and hire the right crew. Balancing the books is essential, as is purchasing the correct boat. You’ll feel you’re juggling a million balls, yet it’s not that complicated to play once you get over the steep learning curve.
Though you are given thorough tutorials for every aspect of the gameplay, you’ll still be in the dark about many of the fine details. There is an element of trial and error, but using the ports is key to early progress. Here you will be given helpful tips and missions to complete. The hints tell you of locations of different fish, simply load up your boat with the correct tackle and bait and try to land them. The missions, however, are time-consuming. Your slow vessel will chug from point a to b with no ability to speed things up. It’s a pleasant way to explore the ocean, but it takes forever!
Quotas and time-wasting.
I was amazed by the level of detail that Misc Games went into. With a large variety of fish to catch, you must make sure you have the correct tools at hand to be successful. Yet, having the right gear is only half the job as you must also complete a mini-game style challenge when landing the fish. With four outcomes you’ll aim for perfection each time. Red is a complete failure, orange is ok, green is good, and blue is perfect. The closer you are to blue, the better quality your fish are. Your boat only holds a finite amount of stock, so fishing willy-nilly is not advised! You will simply throw away excess stock if you exceed your quota or your storage. This was brilliant, as it forced you to plan each journey and added to the realism factor.
You quickly realise that Fishing – North Atlantic is a time-consuming beast. Everything takes time, from setting the lines, gutting the fish, to sailing. On top of this, you simply waste time waiting for fish to take the bait. It’s extremely slow-paced and relaxing and not the sort of game that can be played in short bursts. If you can get over the many issues, you’ll lose hours of your life catching virtual fish. It’s pretty mundane and repetitive, but I loved it.
Hook that swordfish.
Fishing – North Atlantic has sparks of beauty, but tons of rough patches!
There were moments where I was blown away by the beauty before me. The sun setting making the sky and sea appear on fire with burning hot amber. It was stunning to look at, especially when your small boat bobbed around on a vast ocean with no one else for miles around. Beware, though, as this beauty is short-lived!
The visual issues range from hilarious to downright appalling. Fish judder, making them impossible to catch, and when you haul them in, they are pulled through the side of the boat. Your crew complete their tasks, yet they never touch the fish. You get caught on every part of your boat and best of all once you land a fish using the deep line method your character becomes headless. These are but a small portion of the issues I encountered and some of them will amuse, but most ruin the game and desperately need to be resolved.
Unlike the graphics that are laced with problems, the audio was perfect. With limited music, you spend your days accompanied by the sounds of the sea. The relaxing sound effects are fantastic and range from the rainwater crashing down to the waves breaking on your hull. It never got tiresome and this is one element that Misc Games delivered to a high standard.
Who wants to be known as the King of Crabs?
Easy to understand controls but the bugs bite again.
With so much detail and having ported from PC, this had the potential to be a pig to play. Fortunately, it wasn’t, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to learn the basics. A clever radial menu and a well-labelled map ensure you know what you are doing from the start. The well-designed UI kept clutter to a minimum while giving you enough information to make important decisions.
Frustratingly, the bugs undermine this element as well. Crew management failed regularly, preventing you from automating your endeavours. The jittery fish and poor hits boxes made some methods of fishing impossible. You were forced to use NPCs (when it worked) to complete these tasks, leaving you frustrated and annoyed regularly. Trying to select anything while the boat was moving was nearly impossible. I suspect using a mouse and keyboard would eliminate many of these issues as the controller is not accurate enough.
Even with its long list of faults and repetitive gameplay, I still wanted to keep playing. Its many complex layers make it moreish and you’ll want to try different approaches to maximise your yield. A large achievement list of over forty tasks will take a considerable amount of time to complete. If you plan on attempting the 100% status it’ll be difficult and will require many hours of grinding.
Fishing – North Atlantic is brilliant but you can’t ignore its bugs.
I desperately wanted to give this a high score, but I can’t. If it wasn’t riddled with bugs, it would be an easy 8 out of 10, sadly its problems drag it down. With addictive in-depth content, a large map to explore, plenty to discover, and lots of fishing methods you are spoilt for choice. But the glitches and bugs cannot be ignored and Misc Games need to work on updates to eliminate these issues. I loved it, but with so many problems I can’t recommend it. You can buy it here if you want to try it for yourself! Can you brave the ocean and bring home a massive haul? Beware the horrendous storms and game-breaking bugs while you land your catch!
Gaming is a lot of fun, but if there’s one thing to know about gaming — and in fact, about everything — it’s that things can always be improved upon! Unless you’ve already taken the time to perfect your gaming experience, then there’ll likely be many things you can do that’ll nudge it in the right direction. In this blog, we’re going to look at some useful tips for doing just that. If you take all of our tips, then it won’t be long before you’re having an awesome night of gaming!
If it’s been a while since you set up your gaming spot, then it’s likely that it’s become a little too lived in. it’ll have begun to feel a little jaded and unpleasant. You would redecorate your living room every so often, so why not give your gaming area a bit of a refresh? If you’ve just been gaming in any old place, then you could look at setting up a new space. This will allow you to create an area that has been designed specifically with your gaming experience in mind.
Invest in a New Chair
Many gamers spend a whole bunch of time making sure that they have the latest games and so forth, but there’s something to be said for investing time and money into your comfort, too. You’ll find that you have fewer issues if you’re always feeling comfortable! A good chair can seem expensive, but it’s a worthy investment. After all, you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting on it — indeed, often, you’ll be there for hours at a time. It’s a good idea to read as many reviews as possible and even try out a few different options so that you can be sure that you’ll end up with the right one.
Aesthetically Pleasing
If you take a look at most people’s gaming area, you’ll find that it’s usually a bit dark and dingy. Well, that’s the cliche anyway. You might want it to be dark so you can see the screen better, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be aesthetically pleasing. There are plenty of dark interior decor choices that you could incorporate, for instance. There are other ways to up the aesthetic qualities of the space, too. For example, think about your hardware. You’ll need a PS5 controller charger — why not select one that not only functions well but which looks good? You could also set up your consoles in a specially created cabinet too.
Feed the Senses
You’ll be locked into your gaming adventure. But while your mind is focused on the game, your body — and other parts of your mind — will be taking in your surroundings. So why not make sure that you’re giving it what it wants? There are incense candles that’ll put the body into a relaxed and comfortable state, for instance. You could also look at upgrading the lighting so that it’s calm and atmospheric. Your senses are interesting because they’re not something that you think about all that often. However, you’ll most definitely notice the difference if they’re “activated.”
Keep Things Tidy
We all know how easy it is to get lost in a few hours of gaming. When you’re done, you’ll be tempted to stand up and head elsewhere, probably outside, just to give yourself a bit of a break from the screen. However, it’ll be better if you spend some time tidying things up and getting everything into shape again. It’s a bit like when you go away on a trip. It’s always much nicer to return home to a tidy space! And that’ll be the case when you go back to gaming. A little five minute tidy up and sweep will make the space much more enjoyable to be in.
Upgrade Your Hardware
The better your hardware is, the more enjoyable it’ll be to spend several hours gaming. This is probably more relevant if you’re a PC gamer; at that stage, you’ll likely need to make a few upgrades on what’s included as standard. A better graphics card, for instance, can make a huge difference. Of course, it could also apply if you have a regular console. If you’re still playing PS4, then why not make the shift to PS5? Also, remember that hardware won’t work well forever. The upgrades you made to your PC might have been great several years ago, but they may be outdated now. It’s always worthwhile reviewing performance from time to time and making any necessary changes.
Improve the Sound
We tend to think of gaming as something that we mostly look at. And that’s true. But it’s not the whole story. These days, gaming can be like a movie experience. But if you’re going to enjoy the experience to the max, then it’ll be important for you to have a sound system that’s highly capable! You could look at investing in new headphones or a soundbar. It won’t be a game-changer for every game that you play, but it will for the ones that really have a cinematic quality to them.
Internet Boosts
If you’re playing online, then there’s no getting around it — you’ll need to have a good internet connection. There’s nothing worse than waiting for games to load or experiencing lag when you’re in the middle of playing. If you haven’t updated your internet in a while, then it’s likely that you don’t have as fast a connection as you could do. It’s one of those that improves all the time. It’ll be a good idea to call your internet company and see if it’s possible to get a faster connection. You should also look if there are any other providers in your area — you’ll want to have the fastest internet possible, but you’ll also want to get a good price.
When people sit down to game, they usually mean business. They’re not sitting down for ten minutes — they’re going to dive deep into the game that they’re playing. That’s not always the case, but it is broadly true! But if you’re going to pay for hours on end, then you’ll need to have some snacks to keep you going. It’s not something that many of us think about, but the type of snack that you have can influence your overall enjoyment. You might like eating unhealthy snacks at the time, but they’ll make you feel a little sluggish and uninspired after you’ve finished. On the other hand, if you’re just eating healthy foods, then you’ll be much more likely to feel great once you’re finished!
Make it Social
Everything’s better with friends! While it can be fun to game all by yourself, the fun and excitement is taken to a whole new level when you’ve got your friends by your side, either in the same room or online. So the next time you want to have a really fun night of gaming, look at getting your pals involved. This could mean asking them to come round or just agreeing to meet online at the same time.
Take Breaks
Your console and the game aren’t going anywhere! Every hour or so, get up and take a break.
Move Your Body
By and large, you’ll be sitting pretty still when you’re gaming. It is not an active hobby! But while that’s mostly harmless, it can make us feel a little sluggish, and our body a little stiff. As such, it’s a good idea to stretch your body every now and again. You could take ten minutes to do an online yoga class, for instance. When you’re sitting there for hours on end, that little bit of movement can have a really positive impact.
Mix it Up
We all have our favorite games. But it’s important to remember that they won’t go anywhere just because we’re playing a different game for a little while. So why not look at mixing things up? You might just discover a new game that you love. In any case, you’ll likely find that you just get better at gaming by switching things up slightly.
Or why not try something completely different? For example, if you game on a PC, why not use your PC to learn some new skills such as creating immersive videos, music, or even your games? You still get to indulge in your hobby but do something different simultaneously. Using specialist equipment alongside your gaming setup, such as a Loop Pedal, can help you mix it up even more.
Improve Your Skills
Everything’s more fun when you have a good sense of what you’re doing. So why not look at improving your gaming skills? This is recommended for all games, but especially those more difficult games that always prove to be a challenge. You could look up some tutorials online, read some tactics, or watch other people playing the game live on Twitch. It doesn’t matter what game you’re playing — it’ll be more fun when you feel confident in your abilities.
Conclusion
And there we have it. Gaming isn’t just gaming. There are different levels — sometimes, you’ll just have an OK time; at others, you’ll have an absolute ball. And very often, you’ll be in a position where you can influence how much of a good time you have. Take our tips above, and you’ll find that you have a great time each and every time you play.
We all know that simplicity is king when it comes to addictive gameplay. Pong and Space Invaders prove this to be correct in their easy to pick up, but impossible to put down content. Super Destronaut DX-2 replicates this moreish action with its basic approach and arcade-style.
Developed by Petite Games and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a retro spaceship arcade shooter. You control a spaceship that has one goal in mind: destroy every alien in your path. The simple premise is like the arcade classic Space Invaders, but it has a unique twist on the much-loved title.
Dodge the jumping alien fish at the bottom of the screen.
Super Destronaut DX-2 will make you scream with rage and giddy with happiness.
It’s rare that a small indie game will make you experience a range of emotions. Yet, Super Destronaut DX-2 does just that. Completing each level and achieving a gold score is an exhilarating moment. Perfection has been achieved, and you have nailed that stage. However, this high is short-lived as you are defeated repeatedly on further stages and frustration and annoyance kick in. Oh, the joys of arcade gaming, and how we love it for it.
The gameplay is split into two modes: challenge and arcade. The challenge mode is the main story mode, and it has six worlds, each comprising five stages. You will tackle a range of challenging objectives, aiming to make it to the end alive while tallying up the highest score possible. The arenas don’t change, but the enemies and the goals do.
You must alter your approach depending on the objective. Will you go out all guns blazing when you have three lives to play with, or you’ll be tactical and limit your shots in bullet mode. Time attack forces you to think quick, learn the pattern of your enemies, and wipe each wave before the time runs out.
Each goal was as fun as the others and the arcade mode allowed you to select the one you like the best. You’ll pick your favourite and attempt to hit the highest score. Each stage is random, so luck and skill are required to reach the top of the leaderboard.
Which enemy to take down first?
Different enemies require different tactics.
Like Space Invaders, you will face an array of different foes who all have special attacks. You must plan to take out the most aggressive ones first, leaving the easy prey to last. But how you choose to tackle each stage is entirely your choice. You will juggle the stage goal with the enemies in front of you and create your plan from there. It’s fast-paced, hectic, and will force you to make errors.
Taking inspiration from the 80s arcade scene, I expected there to be power-ups and plenty of weapons to choose from. Sadly, this didn’t materialise. The best you get is when you destroy a battleship and you get a temporary power boost. It was disappointing and I think the gameplay would have benefited if more weapons were added.
Super Destronaut DX-2 is eye-catching and vivid.
The bright neon colours and simple ship models make Super Destronaut DX-2 eye-catching. The simple top-down fixed screen perspective allows you to follow the action with ease. Each enemy has a unique style and colour and is instantly recognisable. The striking arcade style was a joy to look at, and though it had little variety I never tired of what I was looking at. The gameplay runs smoothly and the ability to slow down time was a great feature that allows you to dodge projectiles and annihilate your foes.
As expected from an 80s inspired game, the soundtrack is full of upbeat tones and synthesised sounds. The loud music inspires you to blast away, while the standard shrill sound effects will tweak those nostalgia strings. The scream of lasers and the boom and crash of your enemies exploding was fantastic to listen to. It doesn’t offer more than you’d expect, but you’ll enjoy it, nonetheless.
Dodge the projectiles while defeating your foes.
Two buttons and an analogue stick.
This couldn’t be easier to play if the developers tried. With two buttons to press for shooting and slowing of time and the analogue to move you, you’ll master this in no time. Like the arcade greats, the difficulty never comes from how you play it, it is who, or what you come up against that makes it challenging. Super Destronaut DX-2 has captured that perfectly and you’ll know what you need to do long before you master it.
The simple indie titles do sometimes lack replay value, but this oozes replayability. With the arcade mode and quick gameplay, you’ll want to keep playing until you top each leaderboard. The simple achievement list requires a little work, but you’ll have the challenge mode completed and all achievements unlocked in a few hours.
Super Destronaut DX-2 is a great modern arcade shooter.
Quick, fun, colourful, and addictive gameplay ensures there is a lot to love about this wonderful modern arcade shooter. Super Destronaut DX-2 will have you hooked from the opening stage through to the end. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Jump in your spaceship, destroy some aliens and hit the top of the leaderboard.
Every season is wonderful, and they all offer something to love and something to hate. We all have our favourite, but no matter yours, you’ll have stories you can tell about your adventures during each one. Mina and Michi take this idea and use it for their classic indie tale.
Developed by LightUp Games and Ratalaika Games and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a puzzle inspired adventure title. A wholesome tale that has two friends working side by side to solve puzzles while defeating the enemies they face. This 2D title is full of indie vibes with its colourful nature, pixelated images, and far-fetched story.
The trio of autumn bosses.
Mina and Michi takes you back to early console titles.
This solo or couch co-op indie title takes inspiration from early console games. The simple stages, basic enemies, and straightforward puzzles allow you to enjoy the colourful world you explore. If you play this solo, you must control both characters independently, this can be tricky initially but you soon become used to controlling the pair. It excels as a co-op game and is much more enjoyable if you can find a gaming partner to take this on.
The game’s premise is straightforward. You take a journey across each of the seasons, solving simple puzzles that involve pushing boxes and triggering pressure plates. You collect silver keys to unlock gates, gold keys to open chests, and defeat each enemy to open purple doors. The enemies increase in difficulty the further you progress, becoming stronger and faster and each season culminates in a boss fight. These enormous creatures have a simple attack pattern and a little practice enables you to defeat them with ease.
A wholesome tale of friendship.
Without teamwork, you’ll fail to progress. Each of the characters brings unique skills that help you on your journey. Mina can unlock doors and chests, whereas Michi cannot be hurt. Using each one correctly is key to victory, and this is where co-op mode makes this a more pleasurable experience.
During each level, you’ll collect gems, new powers, and stat upgrades. Your new abilities unlock new areas and help you defeat your opponents. They ensure the gameplay is balanced and at no point is it either too easy or difficult. It’s an entry-level puzzle adventure game that is accessible to gamers of all skill sets and is great for families to tackle together.
Summertime is a wonderful season to go exploring.
Mina and Michi lacks detail but is nice to look at.
With its basic style, and colourful vivid tones, this won’t wow you, but it is pleasant to look at. The sprites are all simple and scream early console influence. Your foes look like coloured blobs, but they are apparently ghosts….who’d have guessed. I liked the change in the landscapes that matched the season, this prevented the simplistic style from becoming tiresome. The basic labyrinthine worlds are fun to explore and offer a bit of a challenge to navigate.
The wholesome tale is reflected in the heartwarming music. The upbeat tunes follow you as you make your way across the seasons. They are not overpowering and offer a pleasant distraction from the action on the screen. The 8-Bit sound effects matched the game style and the old-school influences.
Neither the audio nor the graphics offer anything new, but they are well constructed and deliver a pleasant gaming experience.
It’s winter so wrap up warm.
New mechanics are added regularly, but it’s easy to play.
Once you get over the difficulty of controlling both characters, you’ll find this an easy game to play. Mina and Michi regularly add new mechanics, but this doesn’t complicate the gameplay. With a simple tutorial, you’ll understand how to use each power and what they do. The controls are responsive and the simple layout makes it easy to understand.
Though most of its elements are well designed, it sadly lacks replay value. A small achievement list is easily unlocked and once you complete the story there are few reasons to return. Its first playthrough is enjoyable but short, and the option to play couch co-op adds an extra layer its peers’ lack.
Mina and Michi is short and sweet but it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
With so many indie games available, it’s unsurprising they follow a similar pattern. Mina and Michi is guilty of this and doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It’s fun, cute, and offers enough to make it worth your time. It’s inexpensive so I recommend you to buy it here! Take a colourful adventure across the seasons and work together to overcome your many foes.
