Reviewed on PlayStation 4 Sonic Mania is one of the greatest Sonic the Hedgehog games of all time. That is, without a doubt, a fact. When the game launched last year, it brought a lot of positive attention back to the titular blue hedgehog. Now the game’s received a few noteworthy updates. Title Sonic Mania Plus, this enhanced edition is […]

Reviewed on PlayStation 4 I’m trying to figure out exactly why a Red Faction: Guerrilla remaster exists. Sure, the game was kind of underrated when it launched in 2009, but even then, it was pretty clunky and had a few issues. Unless this is leading up to a sequel or reboot, the game’s re-release raises a few questions. But you […]

Just like we saw a resurgence of 2D platformers at the start of the indie game boom, it would appear that we’re now witnessing a 3D platformer revival. As someone who grew up with the genre, I’m glad to see that style of game in 2017. Developed by Gears for Breakfast, A Hat in Time isn’t a flawless victory for […]

When de Blob launched for the Wii all the way back in 2008, it quickly became one of the most beloved third-party offerings on the console. I missed out on the game back then, and I always felt like it was a must-play Wii title that eluded me. I got a second chance to check out de Blob recently on […]

When A Pixel Story launched last year on PC, review scores were all over the place. The game received just about as many high marks as it did average reviews and low scores. Here we are one year later, and the indie project from Lamplight Studios is now available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s a fine addition to […]

It’s great when a developer tries new and interesting things with a familiar genre. Developer 17-Bit set out to create something special with Galak-Z: The Dimensional, its anime-inspired space shoot ’em up for the PlayStation 4. In a lot of ways the studio succeeded, because playing the game yields entertaining results all too often. At the same time, there are […]

It felt strange playing Axiom Verge on my computer and not on the Wii U. Though there are a few things that separate developer Tom Happ’s indie title from Nintendo’s Metroid franchise, the core concepts are all present. That’s not to say that this Metroidvania — or rather, Metroid-like — feels like a ripoff, because this is indeed a 2D […]

Nintendo 64 owners went nuts in 1999 when commercials for Donkey Kong 64 began airing on television. These advertisements featured live-action “footage” of people up in arms after seeing their city covered in fruit and nuts at the hands of Donkey Kong and his band of fruit gun-wielding pals. And when we all saw the glorious gameplay in action, with […]

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link showcased Nintendo’s ability to try new things in the ’80s. Though the game has its detractors, it remains a massively unique entry in the Zelda series and just a fine game on top of that. We never saw another Zelda like it, which is a shame because it was really good. Thankfully, Shovel Knight […]

There’s no debating that Super Mario 64 is one of the most groundbreaking titles in the gaming medium. Not only did the game mark a massive shift for the Mario franchise and for Nintendo, but it also helped inspire future 3D platformers, action-adventure titles, and many open world games. It’s a no-brainer, then, that Nintendo decided to release the heralded […]

Glorkian Warrior: The Trials of Glork has a shaky history. Though it’s one of the earlier titles to achieve Kickstarter success, developer Pixeljam Games ultimately needed more funds and was unable to deliver the game as expected. After taking on odd jobs, making a quirky platformer titled Potatoman Seeks the Troof, and developing a revamped version of Glorkian Warrior on […]

After spending time with two different versions of Citizens of Earth, Exophase has the final word on Eden Industries’ quirky RPG. For more on the game, check out our previous review in progress. It’s worth noting that the Wii U version has yet to be patched, so freezing and lengthy loading times are still a thing. As such, this review […]

As an EarthBound fan, it’s only natural that I jump at the opportunity to check out the latest RPGs influenced by Ness and company’s grand SNES adventure. Games like Cthulhu Saves the World and Boot Hill Heroes instantly spring to mind, as does the recently launched Citizens of Earth, an “EarthBound-like” where you take on the role of the Vice […]

Before there were perks and skill trees in shooters, there was just straight-up, in-your-face action. Developer Final Boss Entertainment is very clearly a fan of the genre’s retro roots, opting to create an FPS that’s simple to grasp and filled with raucous arcade craziness. Wrack isn’t about leveling up, building your character, or obtaining abilities. Instead, it’s about charging into […]

You know, that Phil Fish is kind of a genius. When I first played Fez on Xbox Live Arcade, I didn’t really see that. Of course, that could be because I didn’t actually play all the way through. Recently, however, I got to the end of the PlayStation Network version of the game, and my mind was blown. It’s finally […]

Soulcalibur has always been one of Bandai Namco’s standout franchises. That series, along with Tekken, delivers a robust yet approachable arcade fighting experience that’s a sheer pleasure. It’s no wonder the company wanted to test the free-to-play waters with its weapon-based fighter seeing how Tekken Revolution was actually pretty popular. Unfortunately, while Soulcalibur: Lost Swords is an interesting idea with […]

Sega went in a distinctly different direction with Sonic Lost World. While a lot of the series’ familiar trappings are present — you’ve got annoying characters, lame cutscenes, and high speeds — the way that the game presents its mechanics is largely unlike anything we’ve seen from past installments. For folks who just want a really fast Sonic game, Lost […]

There are some misconceptions surrounding Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. First and foremost, people seem to think it’s vastly similar to something you’d see coming from the mind of Suda51. Hell, I was one of those people. Well, it’s not. It’s also not as accessible as you might think it is. Last, this isn’t exactly your typical Ninja Gaiden game, even […]

Imagine you’re piloting an air fighter above the ocean. You sense you’re going to die out there amidst the clouds, and that thought becomes a reality the moment you spot an enemy fighter. Things only get more intense when you see another enemy, followed by a group of enemies, all flying and shooting straight at you. Then you realize that […]

I don’t say this often because it’s not something I genuinely feel when I play many games these days, but I sincerely hope that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is some four-year-old kid’s first game. Super Mario Bros. was my first game when I was four, and that experience really had a great impact on me as far as video […]