Rogue Explorer | PS4 Review

Eastasiasoft's "Rogue Explorer" is a stage by stage Metroidvania platformer with roguelite elements, and an easily accessible crafting system. In it you take on the role of a customizable explorer as they explore newly themed areas, and the depths therein to find the loot and coin needed to progress further on their journey. Perils come in the form of lesser enemies, and bosses that vary from stage to stage. The stage themes consist of about four to six rooms each with the exit to each room being a purple vortex hidden somewhere in the mix of the maze that each stage is. An exit which an onscreen pointer points you towards from your spawning point. 

As you make your way through each maze-like interior you'll find chests to loot, and item drops or coins from downed enemies that stand in your way. The item bags provide materials as well as the occasional equipment piece for your explorer. These stages are made accessible via a menu system at a village hub area where three staple menu features are present. At the hub you can spend coin on permanent skill upgrades via the ability menu. Things like extra health, dodge ability boosts, and critical hit boosts among other things. Stacking them for use in follow-up playthroughs. You can also visit the guild menu where access to the named stages are there to choose from. Each initially accessible with only an explore option immediately available. A playthrough that requires full completion before the depth explore option is opened up for additional loot farming purposes.

Spelunker HD Deluxe | PS4 Review

Out of the box or borne from digital Tozai Games' "Spelunker HD Deluxe" is an utter failure of a classic arcade experience. Even though it offers four modes of play with solo or online/offline multiplayer options it fails to impress with it's carried over mechanics that hailed from a free-to-play version which was equally as horrible by design. There are no tutorials to instruct you on what it is your spelunker can do, nor details on the restrictions in cavern exploration that comes with simple approach. It is a broken, and frustrating experience not worth the asking price, and certainly not worth the aggravation. I sampled all modes, and even tried matchmaking with online players which were absent, and likely due to the same reasons I ditched the game for.

Apple Slash | PS4 Review

What's black, white, and red all over? Apple Slash! I know you thought I was going to say newspaper, but this little indie is actually all of those things too. With a black background, a white bordered maze, and red outlined monsters this 8bit minimalist action RPG comes to life in the most interesting of ways. Featuring an adventuring knight with a sword who finds himself facing an invasion of monsters Apple Slash makes itself at home on the PS4 console. Venturing out with a sword in hand at the behest of his brother the hero of this tale must slash his way through mobs of respawning blobs, and other attacking creatures as he solves puzzles, and gain abilities that will help him progress forth to the root of the problem or mystery, if you will.

Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+ | PS4 Review

Mechanized maritime monstrosities. A bullet hell ballet against the Belsar. That, and four fight and flight filled mission centric modes with branching paths. That's what you get with ININ Games' HD port of this competitive arcade cabinet shmup known as, "Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+". Alone or with three other friends you'll engage in space combat of the extreme kind dancing around bullets, and shooting baddies as you each pilot a Silver-Hawk Murakumo. A ship decked out with upgradable shots, missiles, and the series' newest gimmick, the burst beam. It's a high scoring competition where score matters, and making your name known on the global leaderboards is the end goal.