Darius Cozmic Collection Console (REVIEW)

Spanning 9 games, a handful of console platforms, and different regions "Darius Cozmic Collection Console" offers up the more varied collection of games between the two collection variations. Not only do you get console ports for Darius II, SAGAIA, Darius Twin, Darius Force, Super Nova, and Darius Plus, but Darius Alpha itself which is a game that was never released for sale. A game in the series that was limited in releases to 800 copies worldwide. It is in the rarity of Alpha, and the collection as a whole that the developer sees value nearing $60. Whether or not you agree is up to you ...

Pixboy (NS)

Welcome back to the 90's era of Gameboy inspired gaming! Here with Pixboy, a game born of 90's gaming inspiration, you get a trio of task driven platforming opportunities filled with plenty of secrets, and color palettes to swap between on the fly. As a boy of no name, a boy with a science experiment stolen you must venture forth into four themed locations with several stages each in order to save your secret formula from sticky fingered thieves. You'll face enemies, hazards, a timer, and looting opportunities as you go from start to finish trying to perfect each playthrough. An award given for feats achieved. Bragging rights for the modern retro gamer!

Pity Pit (PS4/NS)

Little context is given for Panda Indie Studio's latest indie arcade platformer, "Pity Pit". Through a starting intro cinematic, and tools of the trade though you'll be able to figure things out fairly easily. Basically Oratio, a dwarven miner, finds his beloved kidnapped by the devil, and taken down into the depths of a pit. A pit which Oratio bravely dives into for the rescue. Armed with a pick axe, and a satchel for carrying bombs and materials he ventures downward as the pit collapses in after him. A journey towards the center of the Earth done up in a randomly generated fashion that changes the perils, and plundering opportunities with each consecutive playthrough.

Rigid Force Redux (NS)

Shmups usually fall into one of a handful of categories. I like to call those categories the Gradius, Xevious, Space Invaders, and Raiden. Basically you have horizontal side-scrollers like Gradius, vertical top-down shmups like Xevious, stationary wave base verticals like Space Invaders, and bullet hell shmups like Raiden. In the case of "Rigid Force Redux" the category it falls best under is the Gradius lineage. It harbors much of the same horizontal side-scrolling mechanics, but does so in it's own unique way.

In Rigid force Redux, whether you're playing through the multiple stage story driven campaign or action only arcade mode, you'll find your ship has certain functions tied to shooting, satellites, and power-ups. These functions include satellites that can be moved towards the front or back in multiple positions for wide and streamed shots in the left or right directions. Giving you the ability to take care of forward facing or backward facing enemies simply by pressing the right or left shoulder buttons, respectively. On top of that the shot type changes with collected power-ups. Power-ups can be stacked to gain a variety of simultaneously firing projectiles. Things like downward, and upward firing missiles on top of the bullet type. Also included with shot, and power-up function are force shards which can be collected to increase the power level of the power-ups. In tandem with the energy bar which utilizes gathered or magnetized energy left behind from fallen enemies or enemy waves you can blast an even more powerful concentrated shot to clear out more formidable enemy types and bosses. That's the gimmick in a nutshell.

Maneater (REVIEW)

I'll make you fishers of men. That's what Jesus told his disciples ages ago. While his definition of such fishing is different from Tripwire's there is definitely the common theme that is "Fishers of men". In Maneater you get to actually hunt prey, including humans, as you evolve to get revenge on the one hunter that killed your mother. You are bull shark, and while you start off as a tiny terror you will, by constantly eating, grow into a formidable finned foe. Utilizing abilities, shear brute force, a tail whip, and gnashing rows of razor sharp teeth you will make your way to the top of the food chain as this televised, and comically narrated adventure's apex predator. With the territory comes threats though, and evolution is the key to survival.

Aqua Lungers (NS)

This action filled 2D competitive platformer that is 'Aqua Lungers" has up to four players minding both the treasure looting of various island locations, and the creatures that inhabit said island's waters and land. Armed with a spear, a deep dive suit, and some power-ups you must brave the waters, and their depths in order to score a set amount of loot before you, your friends or the island monster does. It's all about looting, dropping said loot off at deposit stations, and finishing the aquatic foes that lie between you and your fortune.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens (REVIEW)

WayForward's half-genie hero Shantae returns in her fun loving form to face a new mystery, and threat. This time around Shantae, while on vacation, finds herself confronting the disappearance of five other half-genies who have seemingly vanished into thin air. During a staged performance put on for the mayor and patrons of Paradise City Shantae finds herself to be alone in front of an audience of equally baffled onlookers. Shortly after having been in the presence of the half-genies of a similar pedigree. Going against her uncle's and friends advice about staying put Shantae ventures forth into Paradise City to solve the case at hand. Armed with her hair whip, belly dance, and a few new additions to her arsenal she braves the depths of the sunken ancient ruins that lie just below Paradise City.

Call of Duty | 3 Battle Passes In

Call of Duty for me is a love/hate relationship. On one hand it is my go to guilty pleasure. I enjoy playing it for the laughs, and the grinding. It gives me something to work towards, and with the latest installment there is so much more to earn, and unlock. With the battle pass being as generous as it is it gives even non-paying players a reason to grind. On the flip side of all that is the glaring problem that is the online multiplayer. That, and matchmaking. It is plagued by a handful of problems. These problems include the usual player mischief as well as decisions made, and implemented by the developer in such a way as to steer the player base towards a certain type of experience. With the latter I'm talking about the throttling of players' internet speed when they opt out of crossplay. They seem hellbent on forcing crossplay despite the community collectively calling it out as bad. I've personally known before the cross console play was a thing that going up against PC and mobile gamers was a major issue. With different controls, and netcode between the platforms there are both advantages, and disadvantages to some. This of course still has not been addressed by the developer.

The Daily Grind | A Poem by Brad Carver

Superhero-X (PS4)

Well, what can I say? This game, Superhero-X, is ambitious. It's definitely indie. It most certainly feels like the foundation to something that could be better. For those of you who happened up on this review, and are wondering what the hell I'm blabbering on about it's all about a new 2.5D fighting game on the PS4. A 2.5D fighting game known as "Superhero-X". It is a bare bones concept style of experience that isn't anywhere near as polished as modern fighting games, but does present some interesting features that are unique to it. Coming in with the staple arcade mode, survival mode, missions, and training mode is a character customization that is somewhat decent. It allows you to create your own Superhero-X from the name to appearance, and allows you play as said character offline, or in couch co-op. Something that's been done to an extent in 3D fighting games, but not in 2D fighters. Unfortunately that plus side, is greatly overshadowed by the game's glaring issues.

SHMUP Collection (REVIEW)

I think it's safe to say that at this point the Nintendo Switch is the new home of the SHMUP, or shoot 'em up genre. With the debut of PixelHeart's SHMUP Collection this is made ever more evident. With the 'SHMUP collection' PixelHeart, and Astro Port not only bring back to life a trio of classics, but also offer revamped versions for a couple of them. Included in the collection are two versions of 'Armed 7', two versions 'Satazius', and a single version of 'Wolflame'. All of which are brilliant examples of just how impressive games from the genre can be. Each with similar yet unique approaches to gameplay mechanics. A little side-scrolling here, and a little top-down vertical climbing to boot

Ion Fury (REVIEW)

Enriched with excessive amounts of estrogen, and booming with badass bitchery "Ion Fury" answers that age old question scratching at the back of everyone's brain noodle ... What if there were a female equivalent to Duke Nukem?

Based on the goings on within the fictional world of Neo D.C., a distant future locale where augmented cyber criminals disobey a mandated martial law ordinance, Cpt. Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison steps in to be the judge, jury, and executioner. Wielding a revolver, and a stun baton she ventures forth into the city to dispatch local scumbags with extreme prejudice. All while offering one liners that would make the Duke himself shed a proud tear.

Slayin' 2 (Nintendo Switch)

Indie games these days seem to follow the inspiration of the more well known, and well liked genres. The safe bets. Things like shmups, platformers, or metroidvanias. When a developer strays completely from this expected norm, and hits the mark with something new, unexpected, and well executed though it is the most welcome of surprises. Such is the case with "Slayin' 2". This sequel to an iOS original release comes to the Switch offering the gamer not only two modes of play, but gameplay that is both fun, and frantic. As a hero or heroine of your choice you will be battling in plane based combat an army of darkness that has destroyed a kingdom. Going from location to location besting waves of creatures in combo fashion as you loot them the best you can. Ultimately spending said looted treasure on helping rebuild a destroyed civilization, gaining perks from said rebuilding, and in doing so unlocking the tools and heroes for hire that will aid you in said grind going forward. Against minions, and bosses alike you must learn how to most efficiently gain fame and fortune utilizing a sword, meter based attacks, and plane/lane changing capabilities. That, and limited health. All within two modes of play that offer a slightly different experience each in regards to the game's core mechanics.

Grimvalor (Nintendo Switch)

Originally an iOS touch pad focused game, "Grimvalor" finds it's way to the Nintendo Switch in a competently readjusted port that makes the Metroidvania Soulsborne experience that it is all the more engaging and atmospheric in the console sense. Taking place in a cursed kingdom known as Vallaris the game puts you in the role of a nameless female or male scout who is assigned to search for the missing King Valor as encroaching monstrosities make their way in. Armed with dual weapons, Metroidvania mechanics, and equipment fitting for the task you will fight your way through multiple paths crossing both the land of Vallaris and the Nexus hub.

HyperParasite (PS4)

Oozing with 80's pop culture references, presidential pokes, and a dash of identity politics "HyperParasite" aims to entertain the gamer with an infinite rogue-like replay rich gameplay loop done up in a slight twin-stick shooter fashion. This semi-top down action packed alien adventure puts the player in control of a parasitic mass that is intent on reaching it's presidential target. All in hopes of conquering humanity via nuclear warfare through body snatching. Kind of like the current COVID-19 versus POTUS situation. Something that is oddly referenced in the game's opening cinematic where a Nick Fury looking Commander in Chief puts a bounty on the parasite's head giving the public a shoot on sight order in hopes of thwarting the end times ploy. With the parasite's ability to take control of a host's body though this means that those looking to capitalize will be killing their own kind if they miss the mark. In a villain versus hero situation how you fare as the alien invader will depend fully on how well you can utilize the game's unique mechanics. That, and how well you can make use of Wito's shop upgrades.

Snakeybus (PS4)

Do you remember classic 'Snake" from the old Nokia cellphones? Do you remember Katamari Damacy from the the OG PlayStation? If you do you'll find that this particular game, "Snakeybus" is a familiar mixture of the two. As the title of the game suggests the gameplay contained within is all about a snake-like bus. A snake-like bus that picks up passengers, and grows in length as it does so. Ultimately dropping off said passengers for points. All while trying to dodge it's own trailing tail as well as collision with the vertically stacked, and boxed in environmental obstacles.

Beyond that basic premise of familiar origins lies a simple start menu where the action kicks off. A start menu with a simple setup consisting of bus types, map locations, modes of play, and a leaderboard listing for all those high scores you earn along the way. As previously mentioned Snakeybus is a score based game. In each of the given modes you will be earning points by picking up passengers, and dropping them off at highlighted locations, or by jumping through rings via boost in the Aerial mode. As you go about doing so your bus will lengthen very much like it does in "Snake", and will make traversing the 3D maps more challenging as they are tightly cramped and cluttered with limited space for movement. To counter the quick end by default flat level driving, and automated acceleration you are given a jump with a limited jump gauge that can get you out of stalled situations. Once you get stuck though or go out of bounds it is GAME OVER.

Freedom Finger (PS4)

Wide Right Interactive's "Freedom Finger" is an unapologetic middle finger to everything anti-freedom, and everything anti-American. It is coined as being a "Bat Sh*t Crazy Space Shooter", and that's exactly what it is. It takes politics, throws in some 'HEAVY METAL" inspired songs, and sends your ship the Eagle Claw on a fight and flight mission against communist China, and their imperial leader Kang. All while giving you absurd real world quotes during intermissions from real world politicians. At times inserting profanity the likes of which haven't been seen in a PS4 video game since I don't know when. Through grabbing, middle finger shooting, and fisting mechanics you will literally give the opposition what for in the most crude of ways. Led by a foul mouthed general whose daughter has been kidnapped, and a mission control supervisor of mediocre mannerisms you'll face a campaign, and arcade mode experience unlike any other as you fight for freedom. Complete with top tier voice acting, trippy visuals, a rocking soundtrack and pro-American sentiment this shoot 'em up is likely to go down in history as the final middle finger to those who go against human rights.

Oniken: Unstoppable Edition (PS4)

What can a ten dollar bill buy you in the world of PS4 gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic? Well, if you fancy a retro inspired action platformer of the 8-bit kind then developer Joymashers and publisher DigeratiDM might just have the game for you. That game being "Oniken: Unstoppable Edition". Oniken isn't anything new outside of it's own lore and design, mind you, but it holds it's own as a unique experience regardless. It personally reminds me a lot of games like the OG Ninja Gaiden back from the NES era without being a mirror image of said games. The plot, as it were, is your run of the mill sci-fi warfare setup with humanity ravaged by an invading cybernetic alien species known as Oniken, and the world falling apart due to the invasion. All taking place at a generic 20XX date with a heroic protagonist named Zaku who is working with a resistance leader and two tag along partners to thwart the extenction agenda at hand.

You basically play as Zaku, a sword wielding and grenade chucking warrior of legend, who looks like a mix of that dude from Berserk or a lost concept version of Mad Max. As Zaku you'll clear armies of lesser enemies of varying types along with bosses with multiple attacks using your sword, grenades, and a berserk power that is activated by collecting a sword power-up. It is with this trio of weapon options that you will have to figure out strategies, and an approach to each of the given six stages plus additional bonus missions or succumb to the "Surprise MF'er!!!" moments which happen so often they will no doubt catch you offguard time and time again in your initial playthroughs. It is ultimately learning the layout of each stage, and where enemies lie in waiting that will either help you accrue a leaderboard score worth noting, or keep you repeating the whole entire thing as you continue via GAME OVER prompt after exhausting each of your allotted lives.

Red Death (REVIEW)

Returning with a shmup that foregoes the nature of the first entry in their series, Panda Indie Studios brings to us a worthy prequel to 'Project Starship'. A four tone shoot 'em up that not only ramps up the challenge, and does away with the rogue-like formula, but that also gives background on the main two characters of the first game. Following pilot RED-001 we are invited along with the accompanying instructor to see the demise of worlds at the hands, or rather tentacles of the old gods. Gods of Lovecraftian origin who have decided to wage war on the Earth, and force pilots like Nick (aka, RED-001) to face a final fight for the remainder of humanity. In his fight, and flight of nightmarish proportions we learn that Nick's wife departs the planet via shuttle during his skirmish with a baby on the way. A surprise bundle of joy that ties-in with the 'Project Starship' plot. It is in the eerie, and ominous revelation of potential doom, and hope for the future that the color scheme of reds, greens, whites, and greys along with thematic music elements geared towards intensifying the situation plays out in a per stage basis, and in an oldschool way.

La-Mulana 1 & 2 (PS4/NS)

The La-Mulana series dates back to a time when world adventure was in the entertainment spotlight. A time when make believe heroes like Indiana Jones were around to give us an exciting look into the dangers of dungeon exploration, and the historically rewarding business that is archaeology. The very inspirations that no doubt inspired some of today's real world archaeologists to some degree. While it obviously has it's inspirations the La Mulana series also takes some inspiration from classic game design. When it comes to such game comparisons La-Mulana 1 & 2 are like a blend of 'Spelunky', and 'The Legend of Zelda II'. Both games in the La-Mulana series featuring Metroidvania style puzzle platforming with basic combat, and RPG mechanics for dealing with the risky navigation therein. All of which is centered around a renown bloodline of explorers who each bare the Kosugi namesake, and who each have their own reasons for exploring the ruins of La-Mulana. As with any ancient site there comes some mythology, and for Lemeza as well as his daughter Lumisa that mythology is more real than they ever dared to believe. Named after the Goddess La Mulana who created humankind in hopes of getting herself back home the ruins harbor an unsolved mystery that attracts the curious, and those who are brave enough to venture forth into it's depths. That, of course, is where you come in ...