Dialing it Back ... El Gancho

Instead of going back to the original review where this additional information is likely to be missed I will do a follow-up right here. Apparently there's more to El Gancho than I previously thought. I gave up on it early due to control frustration, and didn't give it the proper playthrough it deserved. When it comes to things I left out there's a couple, or more. Initially I claimed that the selectable Coco's were merely cosmetic. This is false. Each costumed Coco has their own ability that changes gameplay. The Astro Coco, for example, defies gravity allowing it to reach greater heights easier ...

El Gancho | PS4 Review

It would seem that EastAsiaSoft's latest indie release, "El Gancho" takes place in the same sci-fi setting as Task Force Kampas. Task Force Kampas being a shoot'em up with a colorful cast of characters who are also out against all odds facing a particular enemy threat. Like that game El Gancho is also a spacey arcade adventure, but one with it's own unique take on gameplay. It's centered around a nameless cheddar cheese colored dino known as a Coco. Coco's, the happy little critters that they are, are the target for a power hungry space conquering empire known as the Pogovon. The Pogovon, being the dastardly villainous scum that they happen to be, see power potential in the Coco's happiness supply. They aim to capture the entire Coco population, harvest their infinite supply of happiness, and put it to use in their latest weapon designs. Standing between them, and that endgame though is a lone Coco with a pistol whip. A literal pistol that fires a laser whip. With this weapon the daring Coco can not only grapple to higher surfaces within a given area, but also fire deadly bullets at enemies. Something that will have to be put to good use if the Coco hopes to rescue it's kidnapped mates.

Millie & Molly | Nintendo Switch

Ported from the Commodore 64 version that came to light back in 2020, "Millie & Molly", a retro inspired game which was created by industry veteran Carleton Handley, makes it's way onto the Nintendo Switch in true to Switch fashion. This 'Thalamus Digital' and 'Below The Tower' published indie is a casual yet challenging interactive handheld experience brought to life with retro inspired pixel graphics. The game follows, without a backstory, two pigtailed protagonists with two different hair colors as they take on, in tandem or alone, puzzles involving monsters. These two devoted sisters, as you'll find out, are separated by 100 stages of monster filled madness, sometimes uniting for the cause ...

This simple yet complicated 2D puzzle platforming game that is divided by chapters, and further by numbered stages has both Millie and Molly fighting off monsters of varying sorts in an attempt to reunite at the end of it all. There's 100 stages in total spanning 5 chapters. Each chapter with 20 stages to unlock before the next chapter is made available. Past the initial tutorials brought to you by pop-up text inclusive panels in the early stages of chapter 1 you'll find that the game kicks into high gear with increasingly challenging puzzles centered around ladder climbing, the movement of objects, and the manhandling of monsters. Despite it's spike in difficulty at chapter 1 stage 20 there is an additional rewind/restart mechanic built in that allows the player to rewind actions taken, and correct any mistakes that were made. As hand holding as this key component might sound you'll find that you still have to figure out how to solve the puzzles, in the end, and that is honestly no walk in the park.

Swords & Bones | Nintendo Switch

RedDeerGames' "Swords & Bones" is a pixel perfect indie with a pint sized protagonist. That protagonist being a mysterious knight of unknown origin, name, and age. A knight who has traveled back to his kingdom of Vestus to undo a curse brought on by the crowned usurper of the throne, the Wolf Demon. It seems the Wolf Demon not only took over the ruling class position, but turned Vestus into flaming Hell on Earth. Thus it is the knight's assumed duty to rid the land of the damned along with the curse, and bring an end to the Wolf demon's reign of terror. That's where you, the player, come in ...

The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna | PS4

EastAsiaSoft's "The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna" is a game with a title that no doubt peaks curiosity. Most would immediately think of a fantasy adventure centered around a dead tree which holds significance in the story being told, and to be fair they wouldn't be too far off. Though rooted somewhat in a human-like reality this walking simulator of a game uses conversations with ghostly apparitions and characters that represent past interactions to weave a tale of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a tale centered around a main character named Andrei, and his trip down memory lane back through his abandoned village of Craiova, and into the ruinous wilderness that goes beyond it's boundaries. Along the way he collects, and shares his thoughts on life in general. Whether it be the city life he left to return home, or his village sweetheart, and the love interest therein he reflects often on past decisions he made. There's deep wisdom with each textually visible and voice acted reading of the dialogue that appears onscreen, and it comes only as you progress correctly through Andrei's world. Ultimately leading the player, through fantastical means, to a conclusion most gamers won't see coming.