GROOD (REVIEW)

The machines have invaded so you built GROOD. That's about as deep as the story goes with this trippy shoot 'em up. Thankfully the game's mechanics, and brutal difficulty offer the player much more than just that one line introduction. In what could best be described as the rise of Skynet versus 'Batteries Not Included' we get a cute 'em up that has it's own unique damage taken, and damage dealt mechanics. All with a flying tube television that has a rocket booster, and a gatling gun strapped to it. Thus is GROOD ...

As GROOD you will basically be flying left to right blasting the fool out of mechanical enemies while dodging hazards, and avoiding death by repeated hits. Damage not only changes your lights from green to yellow, and finally to red as you take in the hits, but also breaks the fourth wall by putting cracks in your television screen. Obscuring your already impeded vision. In the process of screen shattering the game creates a visual color distortion that mirrors that of a real television malfunction. Going from dark, to rainbow colored, to grey scale, and even blurred. In the way of combat things are fairly straightforward, given the addition of a slowdown mechanic, and the weapon power-up/weapon upgrade system. 

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?

One Finger Death Punch 2 (REVIEW)

All hail the return of the ultimate test of reflexive combat! Packing more punch than that hammer scene from Old Boy, and more martial arts prowess than the IP Man himself (dare I say it) we find the journey of a pupil in training returning for yet another barrage of badass brawls. Utilizing attacks and defense that require precision timing along with the game's single button per side mechanic that in itself harbors multiple functions the path to perfection isn't so easily earned, but once it is achieved it is the most satisfying feeling you'll ever get from a kung fu video game experience. 

Along with the return of the series' staple mechanics tied to various enemy types and threats comes new modes of play, and newly added animations not seen since the first entry. New bloody bone crunching finishers finish off foes while background combo characters pop-up in time with the players' skilled application to further add to the visually pleasing spectacle of carnage. Also included in the mix of mortal combat is a newly introduced skill list of 26 skills that can all be added to effectively dumb down the challenge at hand with what amounts to earned and unlocked cheats. cheats so underhanded it might very well undermine the entire point of the game, but I digress ... You'll find returning as well the introductory tutorial which will give you a hands-on lowdown on controls, and mechanics. All just outside of the main single player journey mode that is stretched across several themed maps. Each map with points of interest that will reward you for your efforts. You'll also find lying in wait a new gauntlet mode which is the game's newer rogue-like feature that has you, and one life's worth of health, trying to best a set route of combat based challenges which incorporate the game's enemies and their mechanics. There's that, and survival. Survival, as it were, comes in a few different varieties. Each with their own gimmick centered around the single life series of fight until you die battles that take you up the tiers of an ancient tower per kill count. Increasing the overall challenge, and score rewards for the feat. All for bragging rights, no less.

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.

Minoria (REVIEW)

Warrior nuns, a holy kingdom under attack by witches, and a princess in peril. These are the things that make up Bombservice's spiritual successor to Momodora. With new visuals, a new story, new mechanics, and a fresh take on the metroidvania experience Minoria aims to lure those accustom to the developer's previous offerings as well as those new to it. Taking place in the kingdom of Ramezia a war waged between witches, and warrior nuns is in order. Started by the kidnapping of Princess Amelia this inquisition is one of penance and persecution. As Sister Semilla, and her companion Anna Fran you must make your way into harms way as you face the threat of witchcraft, and witches who are hellbent on using the princess in their diabolical ritual. Do you have what it takes to best a coven of evil???

Party Hard 2 (REVIEW)

Sadistically satisfying is this stealth serial killer simulator. Teeming with many taboos including that of wanton murder, prostitution, and drug dealing 'Party Hard 2" once again puts you in the shoes of a serial killer insomniac known as the Party Hard Killer whose sleep is interrupted by obnoxious party goers. Going postal through pixelated perfection this serial killer that you control must utilize the environmental hazards around him, collected items found along the way, weapons on hand, preternatural abilities, and stealth to do the dirty deeds per checklist while avoiding an untimely death, and apprehension via the local police. Objectives are the key to completing each area themed episode, and unlocking the other protagonists as well as the underlying story at hand. Needless to say there are plenty of Easter eggs hidden among the rogue-like replays, and finding different ways to deal the death blow without being noticed in a timely fashion is where the true fun is to be had. If ever there was a 1,000 ways to die video game this would be it. That is if you consider the endless variety of deaths of the unsuspecting targets, and innocents who happen to cross your path to progress.

112th Seed (REVIEW)

112th Seed is a perplexing puzzle platformer about the last remaining plant life in human history. Plant life that was created in a lab to withstand extinction in a bleak future where food isn't plentiful. A future where the last remaining humans sleep in stasis hoping for a miracle that could be seed 112. As seed 112 you are awakened amid the astronauts slumber, and must find your way to them making plants sprout along the way. Between you, and them lies puzzling situations that involve everything from water droplets to sprouting plants, and even plants that will transform you so that you can make your way to the tubular pipe exit. Puzzles are everywhere, and in every lab you happen upon. Growing increasingly complex with each new mechanic introduced. It literally puts William Edward Hickson's famous quote to the test ... "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again".

Mini Island Challenge Bundle (REVIEW)

Mini Island Challenge Bundle. I have no doubt that a lot of you wouldn't be able to guess what this indie game was by the title alone. It can be quite misleading, and without proper introduction one would likely never guess what it really is. That's why I'm here to help the developer, and publisher get your attention for one of the more unique action rogue-likes that the Nintendo Switch has to offer. Developed by MACKINN7, and published by Forever Entertainment SA this game that is "Mini Island Challenge Bundle" is a game that is home to a unique chibi race of mouse eared people who like to slide, dodge, and gun their way from start to finish in a lively world.

The game's gimmick involves the five RPG attributes that can be upgraded, and downgraded between each intermittent skirmish via dropped optional power-ups. Not only will you be boosting five different RPG stats that includes ATK, DEF, HP, LUK, and BTR through power-ups, but you will also be powering up for each consecutive fight according to stat priority. In the heat of battle you'll also be using the dodge mechanic or a slide, and the underlined (quite literally) indicator which will determine the amount of damage you take according to the attached stat markers. It's an interesting take on the rogue-like genre in that how well you power-up will determine how easy or how difficult the battles at hand will be.

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.

Demon's Tier+ (PS4)

Completing the Diabolocal Minds trilogy is "Demon's Tier+". A game that follows loosely in the footsteps of the unrelated standalone indie titles within the developer's series including "Xenon Valkyrie+", and "Riddle Corpses EX". All of which found a home on the PlayStation 4 platform. With this third entry by developer Diabolical Minds, and publisher COWCAT we get a somewhat familiar story set in a kingdom brought to ruin by a corrupt king's evil deeds. Through King Thosgar's legacy of evil, and his binding blood contract with a demon the future of the kingdom under his reign of terror falls to an invasion of monsters, and the mysterious return of said monsters thousands of years later through a hole in a nearby village. As a ragtag group of heroes for hire you set out to investigate the hole, and the monstrous plague. Through provided services you ready the weapons of your trade, pack for the perilous dive into the depths below, and face what awaits in the demon's tiers.

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.

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.

Task Force Kampas (PS4)

I have decided to do this review differently, and include my Youtube video review. I took to Twitch to stream some hands-on impressions, and go over the features and mechanics which I then exported to Youtube, and have in turn included here. As it turns out I found a shmup with potential lost to artificial difficulty. Through a narrow playing field, oppressive bullet hell/enemy population, and recovery options that reduce the long lived potential of a playthrough things are made much harder than they should be. It left me unable to make it past the first boss on Easy difficulty despite choosing different pilots with different perks that each offered a different advantage in regards to shot type and health. Visually the game is very appealing, and the soundtrack quite impressive. Sadly I found out that it was a game experience not worth buying into. Hopefully the developer can heed my advice, and improve upon this game or the next.

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.

Grizzland (PS4)

Sometimes simplicity can make for a beautiful spectacle in the world of pixels, and video games. I think the layered 1-bit nature, and scale of black to white within Grizzland achieves something both impressive to look at, and fun to play. It is a well thought out, and well constructed Metroidvania that doesn't hand hold, but gives the gamer just enough comprehension to move forward, explore, and uncover the many secrets hidden within. With basic combat and platforming tools at your disposal you, as the main character, must try to bring back to life the thirsty plant life while finding out exactly why it is you are on this adventure. You'll face alien threats along the way as well as some puzzle solving situations. There's plenty of backtracking to be done, and hidden areas to find. You'll even find scattered notes that get tucked away in your journal disclosing the details of the world around you, and your role therein.