Plunderer's Adventure | Nintendo Switch

Nothing says ADULT like a game about ill gotten booty. Get your mind out of the gutter, lol! It's ill gotten booty of the golden kind ... and maybe some of the girly sort ...

As female pirate Captain Riley your plunderous adventures at sea come with a high cost. Not only are you chasing booty of two kinds, and ships of notorious fame, but you're also out to upgrade your own ship as well. All while amassing a crew of faithful female followers. That crew being an all girl casting whom you must protect with your bullets, and spells as you defend them from pervy invaders while looting their gold to spend on your fruitful endeavors. As it is this "Plunderer's Adventure" is a super grindy arcade-like mini-game experience that has you facing off against stages of bountiful opportunity. Rewarding you in kind with lewd gallery portraits, and animated pixel art as well as the funds needed to progress further on your oceanic adult voyage.

Martha Is Dead | PS4 Review

This controversial, and soon to be released game that is "Martha Is Dead" aims to impress anyone mature enough to handle it's dark themes. It is a game centered around a particular female character named Giulia, her place in wartime history, and a dramatic telling of events centered around the high cost of psychological trauma brought on by war as well as superstition. The game draws players in early on with the telling of the story of the white lady to the main character, and from there weaves the unfolding tragedy of Giulia and Martha who happen to be the main focus of the tale being told. 

By Giulia's own recollection of events, and her love for photography, we find a living and breathing world filled with a haunting past time atmosphere as well as nerve racking tension. Drifting in and out between the real world, and her nightmares Giulia tries to piece together a murder mystery surrounding the death of her twin Martha. Through intricately detailed investigations brought on by inquisitive player interactions we get to hear, through Guilia's own words, the telling of what transpired as she tried to make sense of it all, all those years ago. There's plenty of plot twists along the way within a world fully fleshed out by interesting characters, their conversations, and the sleuthing that Giulia does. Taking place throughout her home in 1944's Italy, and the outlying grounds that include the lake where the terrible twist of fate occurred we will come to terms with what transpired while immersing ourselves in Giulia's tragic tale.

Monark | PS4 Review

At first glance NISA's latest IP might come off as a Persona or Caligula Effect copycat. You'll be glad to know that Monark does it's own thing though, and does it well enough. What you'll get with this latest academy oriented adventure is a dual world ordeal wherein Daemons, and the student body mesh in a conflict of Egos. Our hero of the tale, and his tag along group of academy acquaintances, each go to said academy to hone their Egos. Egos are the sum of personality traits aligned with the seven deadly sins. In this case the hero, whose Ego is tested early on via an introductory quiz from the school's dean, ends up playing into his leadership, and command role. 

As a Pactbearer who made a pact with a Daemon Monark named Vanitas for a wish to protect his classmates, this protagonist who was put through the ringer, can control a small army of sin specific fiends that are summoned in the Otherworld's battlefield to fight Daemons of varying ranks including other Pactbearers. He can also wield a powerful weapon known as imagigear that acts as a soul manifested weapon specifically designed for him. The fiends which act as party members for the Pactbearer take on traits according to the seven deadly sins, and each have their own unique skills and weapons. Additionally they can equip vessels that have inherent benefits in battle. With the additional aid of other human party members who can manifest imagigear as well the party is fleshed out in full allowing the taking on of the multiple Daemons at hand. Utilizing this unique protag, companion, and fiend system is how they will come to conquer the seven other evil Pactbearers who currently have the school under barrier lockdown in a miasmic Mist that causes mind altering afflictions to the students who come in contact with it. Minding the Mist's MADdening effects, and dealing with Daemons as well as the Pactbearers is the main goal in this new chapter driven story.

Beat Souls | PS4 Review

I've played some rhythm games in my time, and none ever clicked like EastAsiaSoft's "Beat Souls" did. This anime inspired punk core rhythm runner does everything right. It makes the game accessible, eases you into gameplay, and challenges you in a fairly progressive fashion. There's an optional tutorial for learning the game's mechanics, and two modes of play to choose from. It features four candy colored yokai, and priestess anime girls as well. Each of which have a certain set of skills that will change certain elements of gameplay. Adding advantages for completion sake. Where the game truly gets it's value though is in an unlockable 'Infinite Hell' mode where you can test your rhythm runner skills against the world via a global scoreboard. It's a mode of play with infinite replay value, as the title suggests. As a package deal Beat Souls hits all the right price points making it a must have for fans of the rhythm game genre.

Edge of Eternity | PS4 Review

Kickstarted by a small indie studio known as Midgar Studio, and crowd funded by hopeful donors, "Edge of Eternity" tries it's best to deliver an ambitious large scale JRPG experience worth the money. Through a lack of polish, awkward combat camera controls, and an overall identity crisis it loses itself within itself though ...

It begins promptly by showing an in progress intergalactic invasion of planet Heryon, and the sharing of the invading aliens' technologies prior to that before jumping into a linear plot heavy section featuring a cast of characters caught up in a war. A ragtag group of besties that could best be described as comrades in arms. Soldiers for a cause. It is in this very cinematic, and linear intro that we also learn of the protagonist Daryon, and his friends who each get some short lived background time before being thrust into the heat of combat for tutorial sake. 

Through Daryon we learn of a cancerous alien affliction known as 'Corrosion', and of his mother who has unfortunately caught it. We also learn of the team's efforts through Sil (an early unrealized love interest), Ordo (the best bud kind of guy), and a couple other soon to be disposed of pals who find themselves facing insurmountable odds. This leads to a climatic initial ending where Daryon, the lone survivor, makes a choice to defy fate and go see about his mum. To find, with his sister Selene, a cure for the Corrosion. From there the game's identity crisis rears it's ugly head ....

Infernax | PS4 Review

Infernax was a game I was really looking forward to. The trailer showcasing the numerous ways to die, all those weapons, and tons of monstrous bloodletting opportunities that would make any horror fan giddy with anticipation was right up my alley. I loved the pixel art, the creature design, and overall the fact that it looked to be another proper Metroidvania inspired adventure fashioned after a certain classic Castlevania (or Legend of Zelda) title. To a point I was not disappointed in this regard, but what I saw in the trailer looked quite a bit different from what I actually experienced, in the end. What you'll find with Infernax is a heavy nod to 'Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'/"The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link". Both in control, and features. I'd call it the mature alternative of those games with light RPG elements, to boot. In fact, where mature content is concerned, there lies in the opening screen a warning asking the gamer if they are cool with blood, copious amounts of violence and gore as well as half naked demons ... of varying degrees of attractiveness, no less. After you get past that screen it's GAME ON!!! ...

Skautfold: Shrouded In Sanity | PS4

Blended together like a hot take on Lovecraftian horror and the Soulsborne genre, Red Art Game's "Skautfold: Shrouded In Sanity" brings the challenge unapologetically to the player in a masterfully crafted way. As a dug up, and resurrected corpse of no particular name you'll be tasked from the start with killing off certain manor inhabitants via a contract signed with the manor's overseers. Namely the 4 knights that act as the game's bosses. Equipped with a pistol, a katana, and a lantern you must trek through the darkness in the unnerving maze of the Waltham estate as you deal with deadly denizens who are hellbent on ending your quest before it begins. Limited by health, stamina, battery acid for your lantern, and health potions you must brave the odds. In true Soulsborne fashion. Even upon death you will not find reprieve though as the binding contract you signed at the beginning has you eternally bound to the deal you are obligated to fulfill. Death only brings with it psychological affliction which will affect your sanity, and increasingly so. Causing hallucinations, and the appearance of Lovecraftian creatures that will only make your job a hell of a lot harder to complete.

Dialing it Back ... El Gancho

Instead of going back to the original review where this additional information is likely to be missed I will do a follow-up right here. Apparently there's more to El Gancho than I previously thought. I gave up on it early due to control frustration, and didn't give it the proper playthrough it deserved. When it comes to things I left out there's a couple, or more. Initially I claimed that the selectable Coco's were merely cosmetic. This is false. Each costumed Coco has their own ability that changes gameplay. The Astro Coco, for example, defies gravity allowing it to reach greater heights easier ...

El Gancho | PS4 Review

It would seem that EastAsiaSoft's latest indie release, "El Gancho" takes place in the same sci-fi setting as Task Force Kampas. Task Force Kampas being a shoot'em up with a colorful cast of characters who are also out against all odds facing a particular enemy threat. Like that game El Gancho is also a spacey arcade adventure, but one with it's own unique take on gameplay. It's centered around a nameless cheddar cheese colored dino known as a Coco. Coco's, the happy little critters that they are, are the target for a power hungry space conquering empire known as the Pogovon. The Pogovon, being the dastardly villainous scum that they happen to be, see power potential in the Coco's happiness supply. They aim to capture the entire Coco population, harvest their infinite supply of happiness, and put it to use in their latest weapon designs. Standing between them, and that endgame though is a lone Coco with a pistol whip. A literal pistol that fires a laser whip. With this weapon the daring Coco can not only grapple to higher surfaces within a given area, but also fire deadly bullets at enemies. Something that will have to be put to good use if the Coco hopes to rescue it's kidnapped mates.

Millie & Molly | Nintendo Switch

Ported from the Commodore 64 version that came to light back in 2020, "Millie & Molly", a retro inspired game which was created by industry veteran Carleton Handley, makes it's way onto the Nintendo Switch in true to Switch fashion. This 'Thalamus Digital' and 'Below The Tower' published indie is a casual yet challenging interactive handheld experience brought to life with retro inspired pixel graphics. The game follows, without a backstory, two pigtailed protagonists with two different hair colors as they take on, in tandem or alone, puzzles involving monsters. These two devoted sisters, as you'll find out, are separated by 100 stages of monster filled madness, sometimes uniting for the cause ...

This simple yet complicated 2D puzzle platforming game that is divided by chapters, and further by numbered stages has both Millie and Molly fighting off monsters of varying sorts in an attempt to reunite at the end of it all. There's 100 stages in total spanning 5 chapters. Each chapter with 20 stages to unlock before the next chapter is made available. Past the initial tutorials brought to you by pop-up text inclusive panels in the early stages of chapter 1 you'll find that the game kicks into high gear with increasingly challenging puzzles centered around ladder climbing, the movement of objects, and the manhandling of monsters. Despite it's spike in difficulty at chapter 1 stage 20 there is an additional rewind/restart mechanic built in that allows the player to rewind actions taken, and correct any mistakes that were made. As hand holding as this key component might sound you'll find that you still have to figure out how to solve the puzzles, in the end, and that is honestly no walk in the park.

Swords & Bones | Nintendo Switch

RedDeerGames' "Swords & Bones" is a pixel perfect indie with a pint sized protagonist. That protagonist being a mysterious knight of unknown origin, name, and age. A knight who has traveled back to his kingdom of Vestus to undo a curse brought on by the crowned usurper of the throne, the Wolf Demon. It seems the Wolf Demon not only took over the ruling class position, but turned Vestus into flaming Hell on Earth. Thus it is the knight's assumed duty to rid the land of the damned along with the curse, and bring an end to the Wolf demon's reign of terror. That's where you, the player, come in ...

The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna | PS4

EastAsiaSoft's "The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna" is a game with a title that no doubt peaks curiosity. Most would immediately think of a fantasy adventure centered around a dead tree which holds significance in the story being told, and to be fair they wouldn't be too far off. Though rooted somewhat in a human-like reality this walking simulator of a game uses conversations with ghostly apparitions and characters that represent past interactions to weave a tale of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a tale centered around a main character named Andrei, and his trip down memory lane back through his abandoned village of Craiova, and into the ruinous wilderness that goes beyond it's boundaries. Along the way he collects, and shares his thoughts on life in general. Whether it be the city life he left to return home, or his village sweetheart, and the love interest therein he reflects often on past decisions he made. There's deep wisdom with each textually visible and voice acted reading of the dialogue that appears onscreen, and it comes only as you progress correctly through Andrei's world. Ultimately leading the player, through fantastical means, to a conclusion most gamers won't see coming.