Showing posts with label PS4 Indie Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PS4 Indie Games. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2020

9th Dawn III (REVIEW)

Dubbed a "Collect-A-Thon" this sequel that is "9th Dawn III" harbors content from various RPG genres. Coming at you as an action rpg or dungeon crawler with mmo missions, monster collecting, crafting, and it's own card game it aims to impress on many different fronts. Though simplistic in design with it's top-down pixel constructed elements the town of Ashwick, the surrounding world, and it's would be hero come to the forefront offering up a grand adventure the likes of which is rarely seen, especially from an indie game. 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

WARSAW (REVIEW)

The date is August 1st, 1944. The last of the Polish resistance faces insurmountable odds from both the Nazis, and the Soviets. Each of which are closing in from both sides. In a last ditch attempt to defy the seemingly inevitable outcome they plan, and execute an underground uprising. Looting supplies, hitting targets, and fighting back while trying to maintain morale, and survive the war ...

Keeping true to the nature of the real world war that this game is based on Crunching Koalas, and their developers, through gameplay mechanics, emphasize that each choice made holds a potential dire consequence if not managed properly. Maintaining a tone of seriousness respectful of the source material. Strategy is king in Warsaw of 1944, and the stake is 952,000 innocent lives which decline each day that the war wages on. Can you lead the resistance to victory?

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

GORSD (PS4)

Creative and disturbing are two words that perfectly describe Springloaded's indie release, GORSD. Best likened to a Splatoon-like horror game of ancient Lovecraftian proportions this single player puzzle based adventure, and it's multiplayer counterpart brings something new to the table the likes of which I've never seen. With seven hours of gameplay in the singleplayer adventure along with eight different types of fill in the line competitive challenges you'll find either frustration or satisfaction in your failure or completion of the given objectives. As you trudge along in the guise of a womb-eye borne protagonist with tiny tentacles, or a bleeding worm mercifully spared death by the gods you'll find that the colored trail you leave behind, and the single bullet you can shoot, catch, and guide are your only means to victory within the gauntlet of trials set before you. Through the trials that are setup by the GORSD gods themselves within the world's temples that you find yourself in you'll have to prove your worth, or die trying. Again, and again and again ... It is a true testament of skills against friend or AI foe that will most certainly require your ability to master the mechanics.

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Skater XL | PS4 Review

Growing up with the luxury of arcade skaters like the Tony Hawk's series kind of has me spoiled I think. To a point it does impact my thoughts on 'Skater XL'. While I get what the developer was trying to do with physics based mechanics I think it was an attempt that fell flat on it's face. For one of two reasons. Reason number one being it's more fun to actually skateboard in real life than it is to skateboard in a simulation of real life skateboarding. Secondly there's really no incentive to continue playing after you've completed all of the challenges. The way the game is setup with every customization option available upfront, and with a list of challenges that does not require precision execution it feels like a hollow attempt at mimicking something that would have otherwise been fun.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Hellpoint (REVIEW)

Somewhere between Clive Barker's "Hellraiser", and H.R.Giger's "Prometheus" lies the video game vision that is "Hellpoint". A proper blend of science fiction, fantasy, and horror with an atmosphere fitting of the setting. All presented in a somewhat familiar soulsborne gameplay loop ...

At the center of the story of a derelict AI driven space station known as Irid Novo which is floating near a swirling event horizon there exists a dark soulsborne tale about a human spawn brought to life to discover why exactly he is there. As a spawned human creation with a name of your choosing you are awakened, and tasked with the duty of facing the eerie inhabitants of Irid Novo while discovering it's dark past. As you progress you'll suit yourself up with increasingly better gear, and armor to face increasingly more formidable, and frightening foes. Both of the lesser, and more boss-like type. All while being guided in a foreign dialect by your creator, the space station's resident AI.

Monday, July 20, 2020

Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break (REVIEW)

Rolling onto the PS4 platform like a pinball trying to hit it's target we find the latest entry in the 'Rock of Ages' series. This third entry into said series seems to be a make or break deal for Ace Team, and their joining developers/publishers. I think a lot is riding on this new entry. Perhaps even the future of the studio. On a personal note, and from personal experience I've quite enjoyed Ace Team games over the years. They are in a league of their own when it comes to the unique, and unusual. The 'Rock of Ages' series, in particular, has kept me entertained along with it's Monty Python-esque humor. How it uses boulder rolling shenanigans, and tower defense mechanics to create an experience unlike any other is commendable. I also enjoy greatly seeing what the developers can cook up in regards to their pseudo-historical take on storytelling. With 'Rock of Ages 3' the development team continues doing what they do best, in my opinion, but opt to add in an element of gameplay not previously seen before. This time around the developers not only want you engaging in the single player campaign mode, but also creating levels for the community to play on. It's something that could very well make or break the future for this niche franchise, and it's creators.

Monday, July 6, 2020

CrossCode (REVIEW)

Centered around the MMO genre and including a diverse cast of characters, "CrossCode" slowly lifts the curtain of the story being told as chapters unfold, and characters involved interact. Heavy on the dialogue, and somewhat lighter on the action this oldschool looking isometric RPG introduces mechanics, and story elements not all that unique. Within the game we find an MMO world known as CrossWorld in which plugged in players from a real world can manifest as avatars, and take on quests. As with JRPGs which take on a similar theme this particular story takes that premise, doubles down on character amnesia, and has you fighting a threat from outside that is a threat to CrossWorld as well as to who you were before you lost your memory. Parading around as rookie player known as Lea you must find out who you are, why you lost your memory, and what your ties are to the enigmatic avatars that showed up on the scene with a mission of their own.

Monday, June 29, 2020

Ultracore (REVIEW)

It's not very often that gamers have the chance to play or own a never before released retro game. Thanks to Softdistribution, and Strictly Limited Games they get to do just that though. With the release of a reprogrammed 1995 Metroidvania platformer known as, "Ultracore" we get a sneak peek at what could have been. This DICE created game is a unique take on the Metroidvania genre, and attempts to do something different by adding in scoring as well as twin stick shooting. While there are no intros, and story elements can only be found during spaced out character interactions via progress once you learn the mechanics it's an interesting little adventure worth at least a try.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

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.