March2024
Review Rebel Transmute (Switch) - A Brutally Brilliant Metroid-Like
There's always room for one more good one
About five years ago, solo developer Evan Tor set out to make a new game in the crowded Metroidvania genre called Rebel Transmute. Tor launched a Kickstarter in 2022 to secure the funding to get the game over the line, and after a successful campaign and development period, the title has finally made it to...
November2022
Review Astronite (Switch) - 1-Bit Metroidvania Adventuring With A Dash Of Dark Souls
The full Spectrum
Astronite looks like it hails from the ZX Spectrum, and that’s precisely its goal. Touted as a “1-bit Metroidvania”, it’s rendered in stark black and white, with thin line art and all the evocative hallmarks of PC gaming's bygone age. It even features little floppy disk icons at its save points and old-style telephones at...
April2022
Mini Review Waifu Impact (Switch) - Single-Player 'Fortnite With Fan Service', Minus The Fun
Sometimes fan service just isn't enough
When something becomes popular enough, it is bound to attract imitators. Sometimes those imitators will smash as many different genres together to try to capitalise on multiple other games' popularity. In the case of Waifu Impact, the developers took the principles that have made Fortnite a bewildering success...
June2020
Mini Review Indiecalypse (Switch) - A Deeply Unpleasant Game About Games
That joke isn't funny any more
Humour is highly subjective, so we're quite willing to concede that you might – might – find Indiecalypse hilarious. We only wish we could say that you'll find it fun to play with the same level of confidence. This bawdy adventure sees you taking control of three nerds as they bid to make a video game. It's a...
March2020
Mini Review Spartan Fist - This ARMS-Style Brawler Fails To Pack A Punch
Not quite a knockout
Spartan Fist is described as a 'first-person puncher', and for better or worse, that's exactly what it is. Taking place within a series of procedurally-generated arenas, the game is reasonably fun for short bursts, but thanks to some dodgy controls and a distinct lack of variety, it ultimately fails to pack a punch. Taking...
June2019
Review Furwind - Likeable Platforming Action That Dulls Too Quickly
Outfoxed
Animals make wonderful game protagonists, this much is certain. From classic games like Frogger to evergreen mascots like Sonic the Hedgehog, animals have enjoyed the spotlight in games for decades. Just recently, cats were well represented in the delightful Gato Roboto, and of course we have Animal Crossing: New Horizons to look forward to...
October2018
Review Super Hyperactive Ninja - Even A Massive Cup Of Joe Can't Save This Middling Effort
Far too bitter
Back in its heyday, Super Mario Maker was notorious for the proliferation of ‘Kaizo’ stages in its community; these were hyper-difficult platforming gauntlets that required dozens if not hundreds of tries and usually had only one successful route to completion, eliminating any margin for error. Games such as Super Meat Boy and...
March2018
Review Neonwall (Switch eShop)
It’s all in the wrist
Silly players should know better than to play at the arcade during a thunderstorm. There is always the off-chance that a lightning strike will teleport you inside the machine you're playing. And guess what? That's exactly what happens at the beginning of Norain Games' physics puzzle/shooting offering. Stuck inside a pinball...
December2017
Review Caveman Warriors (Switch eShop)
Short but enjoyable stone-age adventure for four orsomething
When some children from a prehistoric tribe are abducted by aliens (as is prone to happen in video games), four brave warriors set out to get them back. In gameplay terms this translates into eight levels of (mostly) platforming action as you bash a variety of baddies and avoid the...
