Rick Henderson | PS4 Review

EastAsiaSoft, and Fat Pug Studio brings to us, this week, an indie shmup roguelite with endless replay value and two ways to play. Featuring an endless mode that loops around in accordance to two different difficulty settings, and three pilots with their own individual ships. Mechanics-wise it's shmup of borrowed or inspired proportions titled after the game's main, but unrealized protagonist, Rick Henderson. It has a trio of weapons to use on the fly as well as a special attack unique to each pilot. That and a grazing mechanic that will call in the other two pilots for support when filled. As Rick Henderson, Ben x9 or the porcine Zoraxx you will basically be blasting through waves of asteroids, and alien spacecraft before going head to head with an enemy boss ship. All in the name of saving the universe. After each boss is bested you'll have a selection of four different perks that will add to, or improve upon your ship functions. Adding in an additional roguelite element to the shmup part of the game ...

Dusk Diver 2 | PS4 Review

In the most heavy handed way possible the developers of 'Dusk Diver 2' bring the player forcefully up to speed while forwarding the new plot. Through Yumo, and a colorful cast of anime inspired characters we find a story about an advanced race of beings called kunlunians, their Dragon Vein technology geared towards combating interdimensional chaos beasts, the chaos beasts themselves, and a Dragon Vein control system. This is all information presented front and center through contextual character dialogue, and catch up referencing via an in-game glossary. All of this made available alongside a constant barrage of mechanics tutorial messages that span the entirety of chapter one, and beyond.

Fast forward to the present, and Yumo along with her ragtag group of kunlunian partners are in the midst of developing new D.ARMS tech so that Yumo can better harness and separate herself from the Dragon Vein Control System. Ultimately utilizing a diverse set of attacks, and skills to battle the ongoing chaos beast threat, and a new enemy orchestrating things behind-the-scenes. Her transformative abilities gives her superpowers with which she serves her Boss, and the kunlunians who setup up shop in the human world to be mediators for the ongoing conflict between that realm and Kunlun. It is with her party of newfound friends that her battle is made easier. 

Slaycation Paradise | PS4 Review

Slaycation Paradise is the answer to a specific scientific question. That question being, "What if humans gained interdimensional travel capabilities, and were able to travel to alternate worlds?". The answer to said question is not all that surprising. Humanity has a bad habit of destroying their own planet. Of stripping it bare of all resources, and taking more than their fair share from nature. As it turns out the travelers of the future have taken that inherent human greed, and envy to the next level. Looting, and plundering the metaverse, and it's endless array of alternate Earths for fortune and power. 

The only thing that stopped them in this pursuit was a ban of moral measures enacted, because of the ramifications of such travel. Through a loophole though humans, as they so often do, exploited the system and turned the advanced technology into a lucrative business endeavor, regardless. Creating Slaycations, or rather violence ridden vacations, for people willing to pay to visit post-apocalyptic worlds in order to kill, steal, and destroy to their hearts' content. All you need is the cash, a boarding pass, some weapons, and the right connections to get you where you want to go. It's a modern family affair where wanton destruction is the reason for that round trip.

Yars': Recharged | PS4 Review

The Yars' games of yesteryear and Atari fame were not without their lore. As such it kind of saddens me to say that once again the developer dropped that aspect of the game in favor of gameplay. Minor complaints aside, this recharged reimagining of Atari's "Yars' Revenge" packs a helluva punch with it's gameplay presentation. Focusing mainly on two modes of play including arcade, and mission you'll find plenty to return to as you shoot or nibble your way to that top score. 

The gameplay objectives, regardless of mode, are not unlike the methods of a murder hornet setting up shop in a bee's hive. As one of two winged alien humanoids you have to harvest energy from protective honeycomb like barriers surrounding your enemies, and destroy defense cores/turrets in order to make vulnerable said enemy's super weapon that lies behind them all. All while dodging bullets, and one hit cannon blasts. Doing so fills up an energy gauge, and gains you pilot seat access to a super cannon that can deal the deathblow to your alien adversary in two well placed shots. Attempts at clearing these battles are governed mostly by your life stock of three hits, and your ability to dodge threats while minding the end goal with your variety of attack options. It is with those three hits, and your skills that you'll either succeed or fail at your mission. It goes without saying that you can go solo or have a friend tag along for some local co-op in both the arcade and mission modes.