War Mongrels | PS4 Review

Developer Destructive Creations', through their game "War Mongrels", takes the gamer on a gritty and heart wrenching portrayal of fictional characters and events centered around and inspired by the very real World War II. Through the recorded account of Manfred, and a collective of joining rebels light is shed on several different Eastern Front scenarios. From a living penal colony escape to the rescuing of Jews on their way to extermination, and even a joint jail encounter the developer sets the key characters, their predicament, and their control commands up for stealth tactical navigation within the various locales. Forcing the gamer to mind things like line enemy of sight, and destructive environmental set pieces. Using mostly stealth application to go about undermining the enemy. 

Labyrinth of Zangetsu | PS4 Review

Harkening back to retro dungeon crawlers of old PQube's and Acquire's, "Labyrinth of Zangetsu" stays true to the set formula of the genre while lightly innovating with new mechanics, and forwarding a fantastical plot with class based create-a-characters placed in a corrupted feudal setting. Taking place in an ancient land ravaged by a miasmic plague of deadly ink the sole survivors seek and find refuge in the last safe haven known as the Ido temple wherein lies humanity's last hope. 

Led into the fray by a leader of tried and true mercenaries for hire comprised of various races and creeds who commit to the cause of Blightbane Proper they engage the enemy, willingly. They are a collective of committed combatants whose main job is to brave the ink infested Labyrinths in hopes of ridding the world of the corruption, and it is your job to lead them to victory ...

Nuclear Blaze | PS4 Review

Just as a small burning ember can set a whole forest on fire so goes the inferno that you are chasing to it's source within "Nuclear Blaze". As circumstances would have it, it is this very blaze that leads the lead character into some sort of military compound or secretive nuclear test facility hidden from plain sight. Starting off as a residential fire the battle at hand quickly escalates into a threat of nuclear proportions as things unfold. 

As the fire engulfs the surrounding location a nameless firefighter ventures forward from his troupe only to discover an underground complex that seems to be the source of the fiery carnage. Not stopping there he continues onward through gated access, and points of peril where mortal danger makes itself known time and time again. Utilizing the on person firefighter equipment to put out flames, and stopping by conveniently placed refill stations to refill his tanks as he ventures forth into the fray. Ultimately facing a problem that isn't as clear cut as it might seem. Something that is only made known through notes left behind.

The Creepy Syndrome | PS4

Encapsulated in a single quote the premise of this psychological horror anthology plays out as if the gamer is a patient who is looking to find themselves in sessions with a questionably motivated psychiatrist. The starting quote points to the fact that, like the patients here, we do not find ourselves, but instead create ourselves ... 

Through distinctly different gameplay sessions filled with horror elements, puzzle solving, and clue finding that are presented in different genres and gaming eras this quote rings ever true. We find five sessions in total featuring different people confronting different memories of life altering events that have led them to seek help. There's everything from a guilt trip brought on by the aftermath of a car accident to a cult where murder played a role in one's fall from grace. The sessions are short lived, and indie in nature with pixel designs built to compliment pathways of linear storytelling. Allowing the player to pause and take a break whenever they feel the tension becoming too much.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord | PS4

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you've been here or done that? Like a serious case of Deja vu? Well, in this latest Fairy Fencer F story the Fury wielder Fang, and Eryn his fairy partner are experiencing that very thing. From an initial clash leading to Fang's surprising death to his resurrection in a familiar prison things seem to be repeating themselves to some degree. Still on the pursuit of Furies, or weapons inhabited by Fairies, Fang and the gang carry on seeking to free the Goddess from her impaled state so that they can defeat the Vile God once and for all. Part of the way in though things take another twist, and through behind the scenes meddling between some mystery characters a new more dire turn of events presents itself. Wherein Fang isn't the Fang we remember, or so it seems ...

Ultra Pixel Survive | PS4 Review

Taking it one day at a time is all some of us can do to survive this mad world that we are living in. We work hard for a better tomorrow, but that better tomorrow always seems to be just out of reach. In a similar way Ratalaika Games' and GS Studios' "Ultra Pixel Survive" takes that idea of day to day survival, and makes it into a potentially unending experience wherein day and night cycles bring forth the benefits of farming and the battle against beasties. A lucrative opportunity if you can maintain your hunger, health, and stamina as you farm for materials to craft what needs to be crafted for long term living. In the face of insurmountable odds, no less.

Mangavania | PS4 Review

From mobile to console this mildly monochromatic Metroidvania that is 'Mangavania' brings with it a speedrun style undertaking presented in an episodic fashion. A timed action platforming experience where precision, and collect-a-thon elements collide to create a proper challenge. To the tick of the clock and three hearts the onboard protagonist must collect souls and save spirits as he deals with demons and works his way around maze-like environments. Utilizing tools like the wall jump, double jump, dash, sword slash, and bow to bypass obstacles and threats. Avoiding pitfalls and perils of the damage dealing sort all while earning gems that can be used to further unlock the previously mentioned abilities, or to try again should he succumb to an untimely death.

Hyper-5 | PS4 Review

After having landed on PC, "Hyper-5" finally makes it's way to consoles under the banner of publisher EastAsiaSoft. Carrying with it a polished, and well functioning port that could easily be compared with other shmup greats. Darius comes to mind in that regard. I realize in saying this though that I have a bad habit of comparing games that have obvious influences, but do bare in mind that while there are some similarities 'Hyper-5' does good to bring what once was hype back in the 90's to the next level. Putting the "Hype" in "Hyper". Both visually, and mechanics-wise. Tweaking, in it's wake, staple scoring and shooting gimmicks. Making modes that have been done time and time again fresh, and exciting. 

Below you will find an easy to consume series of sectional paragraphs detailing everything from the plot to the gameplay, and even the mechanics. I have spent enough time with the game that I can give you an honest opinion at the end as well, if you care for it.

Process of Elimination | PS4

Heavy on the plot, and light on the gameplay NISA's new IP, "Process of Elimination" lives up to it's name in more ways than one. It features, within it's many layers, an intertwining story involving the protagonist Wato Hojo. Wato, starting off as a fledgling detective working for an amateur detective agency, pursues his first suspect only to be drawn into a plot so thick and twisted that not even his familiarity to mystery novels could have prepared him for it. 

After finding out his supposed first suspect was actually the Senior detective of the DA (Detective Alliance), but not the target Wato finds himself potentially and surprisingly living out his detective dreams. Having been forcefully recruited though and against his will he finds himself, instead, waking up on a remote island three days later where things begin to fall apart in short order. Carrying in tow a haunting past memory of a childhood friend murdered, and aspiring to be the one who catches the infamous serial killer "The Quartering Duke" Wato and his world quickly becomes the stage of an unfolding Greek tragedy in which 13 quirky detectives share in his fight for finding out the who, what, where, when, and why of the given situation.