Astronite | PS4 Review

Metroidvanias have made their mark on the industry over the years, and it's clear to see. You can find new ones in just about every gaming storefront to date. With all that new there was also once the all time greats like Castlevania, and Metriod which spearheaded the genre boom. A gaming industry trend that has yet to slowdown. I've personally seen some tried and true indie metroidvanias in my career that stick closely to tradition, and others that blend other genres into the mix to create something more innovative. Some just as great, if not better than their predecessors. I've also had the displeasure of playing through some of the worst there ever was. Stuff I don't care to mention. On that scale of bad to great, in comparison to other metroidvanias, somewhere between great and okay lies JanduSoft's "Astronite" ...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II | The Multiplayer Experience

I've followed, reviewed, and supported Call of Duty since it's golden years. Without fail I've played each new release despite my growing concerns over the multiplayer experience. I witnessed the ups and downs of matchmaking, saw skill based matchmaking introduced, and the lobby system in general struggle to maintain a from the start experience. Problems that continue to persist.

With each new release I stuck by my own claims saying that the biggest problem with Call of Duty was not so much the game itself or the gameplay, but the players who were playing it. To an extent that claim has always held true. Multiplayer continues to be what kills the CoD experience over time. From toxic gamers to hackers, and modders it has grown increasingly problematic. Fast forward to MW2, and almost immediately those player problems reared their ugly heads to an extreme, but that was not the only problem this time around ...

Knifeboy Rebooted | Switch Review

Coming from developer Runic Codes like a cryptic piece of pop art is the hand drawn video game "Knifeboy Rebooted". A cryptic conspiracy driven comic book hero style action adventure with light Metroidvania features, and speed running in mind. It is centered around a dude with a knife protruding from his forehead, and a dystopian community under the rule of tyranny. Move over Chainsaw Man cause you've got some competition now!!! ...

This mystery man, and living weapon who has been resurrected into the alien post-dystopian world as it's savior is there to make sense of himself, and the world around him. Through interesting characters of different races, and information gathered from various sources he slowly comes to terms with the fact that he was the one to put an end to the New World Order, and that Anonymous has risen to take their place. That in this sordid recollection every conspiracy theory imaginable is made manifest. From Free Masons to the Illuminati. All throughout the jointed yet disjointed world. A world filled with disheveled makeshift locales named as if they were borne of fringe conspiracy theories themselves. Places like Mountain of D.O.O.M., Twin Peaks, and Pirate Bay just to name a few. It is here that Knifeboy must find eight hidden Golden cogs, return them to Dr. J, and rediscover his lost memories in relation to those who seem to know him more than he does. It is in this discovery that he can then come to terms with the truth, and his role in that truth.

Donut Dodo | Switch Review

Harkening back to the age of arcades Flynn Studio's "Donut Dodo" brings to us a hi-score challenge that is somewhat familiar yet distinctly different. Featuring the eternal rivalry between baker Billy Burns, and the donut thieving Donut Dodo this collect-a-thon platformer brings to the table a formula most retro fans will be able to grasp from the start. An undertaking complete with a main antagonist in the form of Donut Dodo, and three enemies in the form of Sniffy, Stinky, and Ghastly. Taking the confrontation to carnival themed locales across the globe with different layouts joined together by platforms, ladders, ropes and other devices meant to help you avoid danger as you collect all the donuts so that you can reclaim the king of all donuts from Donut DoDo before moving on.

The Bounty Huntress | PS4 Review

Have you ever wondered what a budget, under ten dollars, "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" would look like? Well, look no further than Ratalaika Games' "The Bounty Huntress" . . .

While plot points, and features differ ever so slightly this mock Castlevania experience follows the same basic formula as it's inspiration. Almost to a point of parody. Playing as a female bounty huntress named Rhea who animates oddly like Alucard or Maria Renard you take up arms, and set forth into a village to find out what your latest bounty is all about. It seems Vaunard, and it's soldiers have stumbled upon the once dormant Aresdale Castle stronghold filled with monsters that were once trapped their by their king. A castle that has just recently reemerged as a threat to the populous for unknown reasons. After three villagers disappear under strange circumstances the soldiers set forth to investigate the matter themselves on castle grounds. This only leads to further missing persons, and the desperation to hire a bounty hunter to deal with the situation. Not wasting time Rhea heads into the castle to confront whatever evil lies in wait . . .

Bravery & Greed | PS4 Review

Have you ever seen those 'Conan the Barbarian' movies? The ones where a destined to be king barbarian, and group of tag along outcasts travel the world in search of riches, and power?  Well, Team17's "Bravery & Greed" has a storyline that's not all that different than those films. As an odd pairing of four adventurers you have a plan to infiltrate a long forgotten, and abandoned Dwarven vault that is told to have the wealth of kings. To gain access to said vault they need to collect the four colored gems in order to open up the sealed door. Each gem is protected by a guardian that must be defeated in order to obtain the gems in their possession. This of course will take the adventurers through various lands filled with monsters, traps, and other deadly hazards. Though it is an adventure rich in bounty for those who can survive long enough to loot it, it is equally as trying with the randomized challenge presented. 

Combate Monero | PS4 Review

Combate Monero is one of those games that came completely out of left field. A surprise release that even I didn't expect. It is a fully fledged fighting game from the Mexican comic book multiverse. A developer's own take on MvC games with all the trimmings to boot. I can say without a doubt that I have never seen or played a fighting game like this, nor any comic books so culturally diverse. Making Combate Monero a first of hopefully many more ambitious releases by Oribe Ware Games.

Game Type DX | PS4 Review

Nathan Fouts of Mommy's Best Games has a storied past on the indie scene. He is one of many indie developers on the Xbox 360 platform that fought to be noticed, and eventually found his way in. I think of Nathan Fouts as one of the pioneers of the modern indie scene. A man who dared to challenge the status quo, and set himself apart from the ordinary. He was, and is still one of my favorite indie developers of all time. Seeing his works return as relevant as they ever were to new platforms is a welcome sight for sore eyes. I've seen the ups and downs of the indie genre as Nathan has, and watched as something that once flourished and encouraged originality, and creativity has now become a cash grab collective looking to game the system, and capitalize with the lowest effort rendered. Thankfully games like "Game Type DX" continue to exist to remind us of this struggle, and point out that the road to 'Triple A' isn't as clear cut as it might seem.

Super Chicken Jumper | PS4

Bullsh*t! Bullsh*t!! Bullsh*t!!! You say "Bullsh*t" out loud three times in front of your favorite gaming rig, and EastAsiaSoft's "Super Chicken Jumper" will Bullsh*t you. If you thought Flappy Bird was bad you ain't seen nothing yet. This randomly generated, and player predictive auto-runner/jumper has you attempting to do the impossible. In fact I don't think the game was actually meant to be beaten it's so stacked against your every effort. You actually earn trophies for dying a lot, and if that's not telling I don't know what is.

As a president appointed savior you, the chicken, must battle the evil that is XX. A terrorist organization that is creating monsters to take over the world. As a flightless master of disguise, gadgets, and weapons you are tasked with running, jumping, attacking, and dodging all manner of creatures and obstacles as you go to fight the fiend at the end of each set of runs. Each time you fail, the entire run from the creatures to the static obstacles, are randomized creating a pattern of threats that are both unpredictable, and also geared towards cheating you of your finish line victory. As short as each run may be it is a hard lesson in not giving up. Perhaps the hardest version of that lesson ever created. It will test your willingness to see it through to the end in every imaginable way. If you have anxiety issues be warned. It is wholly unforgiving, and rigged to read your every move.

Heidelberg 1693 | PS4 Review

If horror is your thing, and you don't mind a bit of gore laced with sacrilegious freak show oddities, "Heidelberg 1693" might just suit your fancy. This Victorian era mashup of the metroidvania genre, and "Ghosts & Goblins" games has you taking on the role of an unnamed Musketeer under the orders of the Sun King. It seems that the King's arch-nemesis the Moon King has been up to some nasty things. Conjuring up armies of the damned and grotesque in an attempt to end the Sun King's reign. As the Musketeer with a single bullet musket rifle, and a rapier on hand it is up to you to deal the deathblow to your King's sworn adversary, and his army of darkness. 

Orbital Bullet | Switch Review

In 4532 Columbus sailed the ocean blue ... just kidding, lol!!! In that dreadful year, however, someone was indeed setting out to conquer and that alien species was known as the Dread Corps. They had their eyes and hearts set on humanity's extinction, and humanity was already in a world of hurt. Suffering from their own population problems. Seems these last remnants of humanity had to up and arm themselves or face total annihilation. One such soldier, who in the heat of battle lost his life, managed to pull off a ghost in the shell moment and send his soul sailing right into a cyborg body. As fate would have it this lone soldier turned terminator is humanity's last hope, and it is he whom you will guide along alien worlds in search of the Dread Corps. and their leaders. Ultimately to stave off the impending doom.

Succubus With Guns | PS4 Review

Some games should never see the light of day. Games that reach hard for your money without deserving it should never ever be entertained. They should not be shown off for the clicks, nor should they be shilled to the public for moneymaking sake. SometimesYou's "Succubus With Guns" is such a game. It puts the "Ass" in "Asset Flips" quite literally. 

As the gamer you get to play as a weeaboo's wet dream. A sultry succubus that awakens from her slumber after a satanic ritual gone awry. In a mission to combat the spawning minions of Hell, and the corrupted undead her walking talking display of TNA (Tits N Ass) struggles to do even that. Through janky, and jittery gameplay with a whole host of problems the Arse-nal she's packing does little to help her as she trudges along wave after wave as if she's some Soulsborne anti-heroine. Blasting fools with hot lead, and slashing away with her claws, and sword. All in a wave based affair with end bosses that can be cheesed to death just by standing near them and attacking.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | The Campaign

For those of you who have yet to buy or play through MW2's new campaign you don't have to worry about spoilers here. I will not go into detail about key plot points, story instances, or character roles. I will give you a basic take on the plot, and give you my honest thoughts on my experience with the campaign playthrough ...