Zapling Bygone | PS4 Review

In JanduSoft's, "Zapling Bygone" we find a planet sized hive minded entity known as the Zap on a quest to win a war against an encroaching parasite that seeks to devour both the living and the dead across the universe. With the Zap keeping the balance between life and death by consuming the dead this parasitic threat will effectively kill off it's existence, and disrupt that harmony altogether. 

As a Zapling sent out on a history seeking quest among dead planets from the Zap hive mind itself you must find out the facts through found fossils while fighting off the relentless scavengers left behind by bleeding them dry of their plasma. Utilizing spilt blood as a means of traversing biomes while collecting memories, relic abilities, and skulls that will gift new means for further exploration.

Gunman Tales | PS4 Review

Retro inspired indie game "Gunman Tales" from Ratalaika Games is a tough as nails turn based party game, and arcade shooting gallery experience made for one to four players. It features three modes of play with rules tied to treasure hunting, looting, and shooting. Playing as one of four functionally different pistol packing bounty hunters with special abilities you'll encounter helpful townsfolk, and an Indian Shaman as you take on wild western enemies while searching for missing pieces of a map that leads to a legendary treasure. Taking turns each day to explore action stages as the moon cycles, and the threat of werewolves grows imminent. Acquiring items and coin, in turn, that will aid you in your quest. Assisting in your attempt to beat three other bounty hunters to the prize, and make off with the haul.

Pretty Girls Breakers! PLUS | PS4

Brick breaking games are nothing new. Atari started the genre back in the 70's, and since then copycat clones have emerged a dime a dozen on various platforms. Each featuring different gimmicks that build upon the basic premise that is brick breaking with a pong style paddle. What if I were to tell you that EastAsiaSoft has created such a game that gives Atari's version a run for it's money? A brick breaking game with pretty anime girls, two modes of play, and an innovative scoring system tied to several different features? Well, buckle up my friends, because that game is here and for under $10!!! It's called, "Pretty Girls Breakers! PLUS" ...

BROK the InvestiGator | PS4

This game marks the first time I think I've ever seen a point and click hybrid of this nature. COWCAT Games does good in giving to us, through this blending of oddly paired genres, a crime solving action brawler with a crocodilian cyber sleuth as it's lead protagonist. Brok the Croc, in his dystopian future world, leads the gamer through chapter after chapter of interactive environments, and character inclusive conversations from the animal kingdom he is a part of. 

Haunted by a hellish nightmare of a lost wife, Brok does his best to make ends meet for him and his son. This entails taking on detective jobs for the Slumers and Drumers. A hierarchy of poor and elite governed by questionable authorities, and a government surveillance state. Rife with true to life goings on like religion, as well as moral and ethical dilemma Brok finds himself entrenched in others' affairs. Helping paid, and non-paid clients solve their issues. This is accomplished with everything seamlessly interconnected through easy map travel, on scene exploration, and puzzle solving. That, and quickly applied combat transition for battles that occur. All unfolding a case at a time and effecting Brok as well as those he holds dear as he fights the good fight.

Sakeworld | PS4 Review

Some games are merely forms of art and entertainment coded by developers who are into creating fun fantasy borne escapism for their audiences. Others are passion projects, or lifelong dreams made manifest through the medium. In Sakeworld's case it is a heartfelt tribute to a son who lost his life during a police chase gone wrong. An innocent victim caught up and killed during the criminal activities of others. Jack Phoenix was his name. In life Jack was an artist, and loved the rap scene as this game clearly shows. This is made more evident through his father's use of his son's artwork in-game, and the recruiting of real life rappers who contributed to this unique take on the classic brawler genre. 

Filled with over 26 artistically patchworked stages brought to life through Jack's wild imagination we find the populated streets La Brea invaded by otherworldly beings with five rappers in the locale taking up arms to clean the streets of the menacing Martians. As either Trippie Redd, Chief Keef, D Savage, Rucci, or Yung Bans you're mission objective is anything but ordinary. Leading you to places where the very fabric of reality has been distorted, and the rabbit hole you find yourself diving down more deeply disturbing than Alice's adventure in Wonderland.

void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2

Returning abruptly from where the last game left off Robbie the AI bot finds himself facing off against a new threat after having defeated cloudAI in it's attempt to resurrect humanity at the expense of Tariko. A distorting threat that is upending his, and Toriko's already bleak circumstances. All of this taking place within the same dystopian scrapyard of a world where humans were been killed off by a toxic fungal miasma, and the remnants of civilization were left behind as a heap of electronic components meshed together in partially functioning capacity. Toriko being the last human survivor among the rubble, and Robbie her sworn protector. 

Previously led by the scrapyard's AI monitor this updated entry finds Robbie trying to find what he needs to get his guiding AI pal back online, so that they can continue caring for Toriko. He accomplishes this about 10 minutes into the game, and from there the problems begin stacking once again. With Toriko's ailments continuing to manifest due to outside contamination, and the deterioration of her terrarium habitat. No sooner is one problem fixed does another arise, and in an instant Robbie has to pack up and move the odd trio to a new safer location. A location where Toriko's care can continue, unhindered.

Ninja JaJaMaru: The Lost RPGs | PS4

Retro RPGs from the 8bit era were the shiz! Most of us of parenting age these days grew up playing the earliest forms of the genre. Including first entries in the Final Fantasy series on the NES, and the first Legend of Zelda games. We grew up in a time where our own imagination carried us far beyond what the pixels themselves could. Through textual conversations, perplexing challenges, and revealing exploration we came to enjoy a fantastical visual journey where heroes and heroines of original origin were masters of their domain. A time where when you heard the protagonists' names you knew exactly from which world they hailed, and whom they had conquered in their fight against evil. Their brave feats forever engrained in our impressionable minds. Giving us someone to look up to and aspire to be outside the realm of our reality.

While we all have our favorites from these glorious times gone by some of the more interesting releases from that era of gaming history found themselves to be so obscure or out of reach that they fell to the wayside. Only to be enjoyed by a handful of gamers privileged enough to have experienced them. One such series, by Jaleco, took the inspiration of classic RPGs of the time while adding the Eastern mysticism of Japan into the mix. Pitting ninjas against yokai. This RPG series was brought to light under the banner of "Ninja JaJaMaru". It had you taking control of a ninja master named JaJaMaru, and in some games the princess Sakura. The games often times included their own separate standalone stories, and featured inspired takes on the RPG genre from seasoned studios like Nintendo and Square. Bringing to us evolving mechanics in the form of textual turn based strategy, and action-rpg antics.

CyberHeroes Arena DX | PS4 Review

What makes "Vampire Saviors" so addictive, and attractive to gamers? That's what I've wondered since that game's inception on Microsoft's consoles/platforms. Unfortunately, until now, neither Sony nor Nintendo has released their own trending take on this new genre. Thankfully though with "CyberHeroes Arena DX" Ratalaika Games remedies this. We finally get to experience what all the hype was about with these roguelike auto-battlers, and while it may not be as good as "Vampire Saviors", graphically, it still manages to hit that dopamine craving just the same through it's given features. 

Pinball FX | PS4 Review

I'm going to preface this review with a quote I posted yesterday. It explains exactly what I think of live service games, and in turn how I feel about Zen Studio's latest Pinball game release ...

"Live service games in an overly saturated market of live service games fighting for a finite collective of people with a finite amount of money to spend are not the solution for financial business gain within the industry. It reeks of greed, and that greed in turn will eventually be met with the exhausted resources that are gamers and their money. Rendering any efforts for a sustainable business to be forfeit."

- Brad C. (OtakuDante)

The Legend Of Gwen | Switch

Speedrunning, precision platforming, and collect-a-thon goals are what you'll find in WIWI Games', "The Legend Of Gwen". This 3D witch versus evil adventure comes with minimal plot, and to the point gameplay with gated features locked behind an in-game paywall. Not a paywall in the real money sense, but a paywall wherein stars and crystals collected will open up new areas in the game's base hub. 

In total you'll find 7 uniquely themed moons with point marked stages, and boss battles. Each stage is a themed and timed event where speed running your way through to beat that timer will bank you some bragging rights if not rewards. While in each stage lives are limited, and items that must be collected specific in number. You'll find crystals, stars, and chests that when collected in full will grant you a 100% completion. Allowing you to not only move on to the next stage, but also to spend the items on base unlocks. Things like spells, and bonus mini-games that have their own rewards for effort rendered.

Spy Bros. | Nintendo Switch

Toaplan's erotic pixelated action platformer, "Pipi & Bibi's / Whoopee" gets a family friendly remake in the guise of RAWRLAB Games', "Spy Bros." for the Nintendo Switch. This lightly faithful recreation keeps the gameplay gimmicks intact while doing away with the erotic rewards for mastery. Gone are the skin revealing female photos, and the striptease for efforts rendered. Like 'Elevator Action', and it's obvious inspiration this building focused bomb runner that is 'Spy Bros.' has you stunning and evading enemies as either Pipi or Bibi while planting bombs at computer terminals before making a mad dash for the exit before time runs out. 

Wanted: Dead | PS4 Review

Hype is a dish best served cold, or maybe that's revenge ... I forget which. Cool or not HOI's "Wanted: Dead" comes at us katana first with a buttload of hype to boot. Advertised as a badass martial arts style brawler with unique sword & gun mechanics the game sets out to make a name in the genre. 

Through a female lieutenant sporting arm prosthetics named Hannah Stone we find a convoluted plot regarding mercenaries for hire, and a corporation that seems to be funding, and fueling wars across the globe. A Japanese cybernetics corporation named Dauer Synthetics at the helm. Both Dauer Synthetics, and war criminal Hannah Stone clash in this alternative historical hot take on real life warfare and espionage not out of mutual rivalry, but instead as a deal made behind closed doors. Hannah along with a ragtag group of partners go in guns a blazing, and sword a swingin'. Fulfilling their end of the bargain while looking into the recent break in at Dauer's corporate headquarters. 

Labyrinth of Galleria | PS4

In a world of whimsy, witchcraft, and wicked deeds we meet the unlikely pair of Eureka and Madame Marta. A noble girl looking to fill an odd job, and a wicked witch looking to acquire Eureka's special set of skills for that very job. It seems the Count of Galleria Manor and the assistant Witch in charge, Marta, are looking for something in particular. A special collection of art pieces known as Curios which are locked away in a dungeon-like labyrinth of miasma and monsters. To access it they need someone fit to not only collect the items in question, but to return intact along with said art. The catch being that it will take the binding of Eureka's soul to a powerful lost soul as well as an army of soul infused Manania puppets to traverse the dungeon depths, and return with the art/curios in hand.

Shuttlecock-H | Nintendo Switch

EastAsiaSoft is at it yet again. Trying to lure in an audience of wayward weeaboos with lite Western Hentai in the form of a half-baked game. The old adage, "Sex Sells" comes to mind often with these types of releases, and I have no doubt it may still very will find it's buyers despite what I'm about to say. 

With "Shuttlecock-H" art and gameplay gimmicks are of base level indie design. Almost like asset flips. Low effort material with spicy content included for the thrills. In it the developer reverse engineers the shmup genre, and turns it into a collect-a-thon with a dodgeball focus. 

You basically collect groups of five hearts that appear onscreen for a limited time while dodging bullet hell that shoots by faster than your ship is able to move. There's a certain number of hearts to collect per stage, and a certain number of the series of five hearts that must be obtained for that perfect playthrough. Your only ways of achieving this is by dodging bullets, and other hazards while utilizing a boost mechanic that doesn't even seem to work.

Putrid Shot Ultra | Nintendo Switch

 Abhi Sundu's original 1bit arcade game, "Putrid Shot Ultra" comes to Nintendo Switch in all it's retro inspired roguelike glory. Taking hints from the new sub-genre that is "Vampire Savior", and the 1bit pixel designs of the Atari age we find a potentially trendy roguelike that banks on choices made, and skills applied. In it you are this nameless wizard. Yes, Harry, you are a wizard. Sorry ... As a wizard you take on an army of ancient enemies using spell casting and wand blasting. To the tune of a cooldown meter.

As the wizard you start off your perilous adventure by picking a starter spell that utilizes a shot usage system wherein the required number of shots fired will activate that spell. Be it a projectile, close combat, homing, orbital, or zonal style of spell. Through progress, and use of the tools of the trade you will face off against lesser enemy types, elites, and bosses in a stage to stage fashion using these stackable, and upgradeable spells rewarded unto you. Growing ever more powerful in the process the longer you survive. All while the 2D platforming arenas around you constantly change with new hazards, and new enemy spawning points. 

Helvetii | PS4 Review

We all miss Vanillaware games. I know I do. There's nothing quite like them. At least not until now. Using a slightly similar setup as a game like "Muramasa: The Demon Blades" we find a Red Art Games action roguelike with high replay value. Centered around a mixed mythology including that of the Helvetii tribes, and featuring three uniquely designed characters this epic journey is both beautiful and bold. As either Divico a sword wielding war chief, Renart a scythe wielding fox turned into a man, or Nammeios a staff and crow wielding druid you face off against beasts of lore as you loot, and make pacts with assisting deities. Forwarding the plot through campfire conversations, and inquiries at Bob's shops.

Albacete Warrior | PS4 Review

In a melding of 2D pixel sprites, and 3D polygonal stages EastAsiasoft's, "Albacete Warrior" comes at you with comedic cock slappin' content. Featuring an unlikely anti-hero in the form of a blonde haired Westerner named Benito who likes to get drunk on the regular at the local Spanish pub. In a twisted tale of revenge, and Asian absurdity that spans the globe this chosen one ventures forth with his pecking prized chicken Pepito in hand ready to dish out bloody justice one bandito at a time. 

Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix | PS4

The turbo charged titan of the shmup genre that is 'Raiden IV' returns in a full blown MIKADO Remix. Given the NISA treatment this all inclusive, and updated package comes complete with a new MIKADO BGM soundtrack, four modes of play, and settings galore! It's a beautifully rendered, and extremely challenging game package deal that's all about that highscore, and more bang for your buck. Longtime fans of the series will recognize the title, and the mainstay designs as they return in all their glory with 4k enhancements to boot! 

Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters | PS4

Metaphorically speaking, and perhaps even prophetically so the goings on in Game Industri once again reflect on real world conflicts of technological and socially relevant interests. Returning with glorious graphics, a slightly reworked battle system, and an overall visual reimagining for the new era of gaming the Goddesses, and Goddess candidates head once again into the fray in a tale that starts off at the climactic end, but retroactively catches the gamer up to that impactful point in time in a "How we got here" kind of storytelling.

It is in this most recent timeline of events regarding our playful protagonists that new and old Industri deities clash at the apex of an all encompassing threat to their existence. An army of foes in the guise of a Trendi Phenomenon. Ever spawning through Trendfluencers. All coinciding with an emergence of a mysterious new Game Industri candidate that has not only enveloped and consumed the PC continent, but has drawn in the Four Renown Nations of Lowee, Lastation, Planeptune, and Leanbox. Introducing into the mix Anri, and Maho among others. 

The State of MWII Q1 2023

I, like so many other Call of Duty players, have slacked off on playing Modern Warfare II since launch. The common consensus is that it released in an unfinished state, has some features the community does not like, and has seen little to no significant updates to content or gameplay. Even on the store front things aren't looking all that great. The only upside I find as a committed player is the frantic online multiplayer experience in playlists like Shipment 24/7, or Scrapyard 24/7. They're the only real go to modes for leveling up everything including the battle pass. On the battle pass side of things, things are surprisingly more doable than before despite the heavy XP throttling, and dependency upon XP boosts. I actually feel, and it's odd saying this, that it's easier to complete MWII's battle pass than it is Fortnite's. Fortnite's throttling is beyond ridiculous by comparison.