Ravenous Devils | PS4 Review

Paying homage to the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and his crazed female accomplice the developers over at Troglobytes Games have created a cooking simulator with a similar premise. A blend of murder and mealtime spearheaded by sinister shop owners Percival, and his beloved wife Hildred. These con artists, and partners in crime who have a bad habit disappearing their customers for product and moneymaking sake try to hide their dirty deeds through the guise of a multi-floor fashion boutique and indoor cafe wherever they set up shop. Their customers serve as cannibal cuisine as well as a means to gather the fabrics needed for Percival to tailor some fine threads for male and female patrons. Whereas Hildred acts as the resident chef. Honing her culinary skills as she learns new recipes to whet the appetites of those who are unknowingly addicted to the taste of human flesh. 

While they may have narrowly escaped their first failed attempt at this lucrative endeavor they have found themselves elsewhere doing the same dastardly thing, but this time at the beckon call of a mystery man who seemingly knows their secret. A man of wealth and taste, as it were. Caught between a bloody business scheme, and trying not to get outed by the mysterious Mr. J, Percival and Hildred must not only outwit their customers, and make bank doing so, but must also tend to their mystery manipulator as well.

Sorrowvirus: A Faceless Short Story | PS4 Review

Sorrowvirus is perhaps one of EastAsiaSoft's most haunting releases yet. Visually impressive, and audibly unnerving this walking simulator that takes place in purgatory has the player, as Wyatt Heyll, trying to break free from his paranormal predicament. Haunted by dolls from the 1940's, and the voices of those he left behind Wyatt tries desperately to discover the clues needed to escape his perpetuated torment. That torment taking place in a disjointed realm where locations, and people are represented by symbols of sorts. Ranging from ruinous rooms, curious corridors with furniture oddly placed amongst debris, humanoid figures draped in sheets, and a host of creepy puppet dolls. All bearing hints of a past existence mashed together like some twisted Wonderland labyrinth. A place where time passed means death by age, and the only thing to stave it off being safe rooms, and grandfather clocks happened upon along the way. 

Hints of an otherworldly apocalypse are made known the deeper Wyatt delves through found files within his altered reality. Details that reference various patients time in purgatory as well as his own. That and information surrounding the Sorrowvirus itself, and a desperate hunt for a cure. 

Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King | PS4 Review

Beautiful, bleak, and bold by design. That is what I think of when I think of "Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King". It is an ambitious soulsborne title with a fresh take on the genre, if lightly so. Filled to the brim with it's own fleshed out lore, and key characters it quickens the pace of combat, makes it more player friendly, and renders it more forgiving than anything that's come before it. It immerses the player in a darkness shrouded Limbo wherein the protagonist, a nameless wanderer, finds himself guided by a curious skeletal apparition known as Y'AAK. It is through this tour guide of sorts, and the many NPCs found along the way that the plot, and history behind the involved alien races are disclosed. Details hidden in and out of plain sight. There for those who want more than just combat or exploration. While the game does have it's own unique appearance, story, and world it does not innovate too much on the given mechanics though ...

Andro Dunos 2 | PS4 Review

Andro Dunos 2. The successor to the original Andro Dunos of Neo-Geo fame. By now you've likely heard your favorite shmup reviewer giving the game high praise, and touting it as the best shoot 'em up of the year. An ambitious kickstarter led sequel to the original experience released on multiple platforms including the 3DS. How does it really stack up though? Well, I'm here to give you the truth. Truth as far as my opinion allows. I've played all kinds of shmups in my lifetime, and know of all the sub-genres. I know good from bad, and even bad from the worst. Having spent time learning what Andro Dunos 2 is all about I believe I'm ready to give a proper critique, in that regard. So, hold onto your seats, and buckle up. You're in for one heck of a ride ...

Ayo the Clown | PS4 Review

I present to you a cute, and crass clown collect-a-thon titled "Ayo the Clown" that's all about casual or competitive gameplay. Starring Ayo the clown himself, and a whole host of other colorful characters that look as if they were ripped straight from a children's story book. While the main man with the master plan that is Ayo is a happy-go-lucky kind of chap his sweet dreams are abruptly shattered as he finds his pet pooch lost or stolen upon awakening one night, and as such sets out on an adventure trying to find him. Along the way, and by helping others in need, he gains the tools to face frightening foes as he collects the treasures needed to make it where he needs to be. 

Metal Tales: Overkill | PS4 Review

Well, it seems like Nicalis, and their "Binding of Isaac" franchise might have some competition, if lightly so. Out of seemingly nowhere "Metal Tales: Overkill" pops up with little to no marketing efforts, and probably for good reason. As it were this Euro-Metal roguelike unabashedly, and unashamedly capitalizes on the procedural dungeon layout, and features of Nicalis's cash cow. With an uncanny resemblance to the obvious source of inspiration it does little to deviate from that beaten path. Whereas Isaac treads his Mum's basement for salvation you are tasked, in "Metal Tales", as Axel or Eve to confront the evil that has consumed the Guitar Gods. All of which is done through dilapidated dungeon-like areas filled with the usual venue staples. Beer kegs, pinball machines, bars, and all that fun stuff plus some hazards to boot. 

With blazing electric guitars in hand the two protagonists of the comic book intro story dive head first into these various concert stages, and festivals in order to deal with the manipulated mosher minions, headbangers, groupies, screamers, back-ups, flying beverages, and finally the mutated Guitar Gods themselves. A brutal gauntlet of music heavy scenarios with all the bits and baubles needed to best the baddest baddies. Everything randomly placed in themed rooms to help you on your metal af mission.

Cathedral | PS4 Review

When one thinks of Metroidvanias they think of 2D platforming based map exploration, puzzle solving, boss fights, and looting. Decemberborn Interactive's nod to said genre that is "Cathedral" is no different in that regard. In fact it adheres so closely to tradition that it has a sense of familiarity by design. This extends through the pixel graphics, the chiptune soundtrack, and even parodied mentions of games that gave the developer inspiration.

 

From a starting standpoint Cathedral drops the player into the fray all willy-nilly with no clue as to who, why, when, what, or where. The only instructions you are initially given is to escape the cathedral which your re-animated corpse had found itself resurrected in. This includes navigating through several possible paths in order to gain the tools needed to make it further on. When it comes to capabilities in this task at hand you are a mysterious red knight with sword, and it is with that sword and other pieces of equipment found along the way that you are meant to progress. To progress to a point of understanding. You see, nothing about the game is explained outright. Not the story, or the character you find yourself playing as. It is only through progress, puzzle solving, and interactions with key characters along your journey that things gradually begin to make sense. That and a growing checklists of to-do quests involving the characters that you encounter. Giving you some sense of direction ...

ESCHATOS | PS4 Review

If ever there was a shmup that gave you more than what you paid for it would be Eschatos for the PlayStation 4. This QUTE Corporation triple package deal includes not one, but three fully realized shoot 'em ups. From classics like M-KAI's Judgement Silversword to their follow-up Cardinal Sins, and finally Eschatos you get to see the evolution of this series in full. While the mechanics might be more straightforward than most shmups in each entry it's the presentation and gameplay gimmicks that really set them apart as a genre pioneer. Never have I seen a simple two shot type, and shield inclusive shmup with the usual power-up gimmicks offer so much in return for dedication. And it is in that hearty content offering that this game truly excels.

Z-WARP | PS4 Review

SSDD. Same Shmup Different Day. That's what comes to mind when I think of Panda Indie Studio's latest entry in their ongoing, but disjointed series. Z-Warp, for what it's worth, is more or less a reskin of former Panda Indie Studio shmups like Crisis Wing, and Void Gore. Complete with slightly reworked mechanics, and scoring gimmicks. It features a story with a classic take on intros regarding the year 21XX, and an experimental space-warping ship that has gone missing on it's maiden voyage. As a pilot of the Z-Division it is your duty to locate that missing ship, and retrieve it's black box, so what transpired can be made known. It's a spacefaring shoot 'em up adventure into the bowels of the universe, quite literally.