Joseph Barrood

“Overall, Ship of Fools is a nice experience. The gameplay is unique, blending a top-down roguelike with an almost Overcooked style crisis management gameplay loop. Enemies, while somewhat simple, clearly telegraph their attacks and kept me entertained throughout my playthrough. The lack of wholly novel bosses and artifacts does make some playthroughs somewhat repetitive, especially as the majority of the challenge comes from the end, but I definitely can recommend this game.”

“As a whole, I am glad I played Through the Nightmares. It certainly is not the best game I have played this year, but there are a decent number of solid components. The Sandman’s movement is fun, there are unique components relating to his size augmenting abilities, and the artistic design has some standout pieces. However, the primary gameplay loop had me waiting more than I would have liked, and I had some issues deciphering the on-screen information sometimes. It is a fun game, but there are other platformers I would recommend first.”

“Overall, while there are some decent downsides, the core gameplay loop of Card en Ciel certainly is fun. I liked building decks of cards to take out enemies and experimenting with the different card attributes. Though the story and design were nothing special, this game does still offer some fun gameplay.”

“I did not enjoy the Rose & Camellia Collection very much. The gameplay was not universally interesting, and while the concept is fairly novel, there is little depth here, either in the story or the combat. This would be fine for a cheaper experience, but coming in at such an expensive price point seriously hinders my ability to recommend it. While there are some decent pieces here, I do not recommend checking this one out.”

“At the end of the day, I thought PRIM was fine. I expected more going in, as I like the publisher’s previous work. However, this game does bring a unique perspective to hell, with modern characters and writing. The puzzles, while fairly simple are nicely set up, and I enjoyed knowing that if I got lost, there were plenty of guardrails to keep me back on track. Further, the game experiments with unique styles of puzzles throughout my journey. Despite these neat features, the lack of a moving story combined with the relatively simple items made the game somewhat forgettable. PRIM has many great elements and is a decent choice overall, but I am not rushing to recommend it.”

“Overall, I can easily recommend ANTONBLAST. It is a fun frantic platformer with a complex yet rewarding move set and a vast expanse of locales to explore. Enemies are cool, bosses are better, and the experience as a whole comes wrapped in a juicy campaign with thoughtfully animated characters. If the game sounds even remotely interesting, I strongly recommend that you check it out.”

“I did not enjoy my time with Clock Tower: Rewind. The game is serviceable, but the puzzles were dissatisfying, the story is nothing overly memorable, and the item pickups themselves are very simple. Few things which make it uniquely justifiable.”

“I had high hopes for Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel and I was not disappointed whatsoever. The game has style, runs well, and stands out as unique compared to other games I have played. Sure, the game is short, coming in at under two hours, but the price point is right for the game.”

“Backyard Baseball ‘97 is a very fun game. The core gameplay loop is fun. It features a unique roster and a lot of content. Even with all this content, it maintains a low price point.”

“It has a lot of fun mechanics like unique vehicles and rewarding challenges. However, the level designs did not encapsulate me in the way I was hoping. This game is packaged wonderfully with lovely music and visual design and a decent game within. However, I think the price is just a bit too high right now.”

“As a whole, Decline’s Drops is a beautiful game. The art, style, and combat blend nicely into a package that is simply fun. I enjoyed learning how to master my main character and uncovering different secrets. I did feel that I could have been rewarded a bit more for skilful gameplay, but even just exploring the game and finding secrets was already very enjoyable. Decline’s Drops is a lot of fun, and I recommend it.”

“Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a party sports game featuring the Looney Tunes characters. The sports featured are soccer, tennis, basketball, and golf. Did these two concepts blend to create an engaging experience? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Super Catboy is an action-platforming video game showcasing a cat with a wide arsenal of attacks. Though nothing in the trailer caught my eye immediately, the visual style was pleasant and generally, I enjoy platformers. Thus, I was eager to give this title a shot. Did I maintain my excitement throughout my playthrough? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Sephonie is a narrative-focused action platformer that follows three scientists on their journey to a somewhat living island named Sephonie. Along the way, they discover unique areas to traverse, interesting creatures, and more about themselves and their history. I was excited to get into this game, as I played and enjoyed Anodyne 2 last year, a game from the same developers. Did Sephonie make its way into my heart? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Garlic is a highly stylized action-platformer featuring a humanoid garlic character attempting to ascend a tower and woo a goddess at the top. The concept is silly, for sure, but having watched some trailers, I had high hopes that I would enjoy the gameplay. Did it meet my standards? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“OTXO is a fast-paced top-down shooter seemingly inspired by Hotline Miami. However, this game is a rogue-like, meaning upon death, I had to begin all the way from the very beginning. Did these two elements combine to create something meaningful? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Velocity Noodle is an action-platforming video game where I worked as a noodle delivery person working to deliver noodles in a dangerous city. It is a simple premise, and instead of crazy antics, the level designs focus on replaying levels and completing them quickly. Did the experience deliver what I hoped it would? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Fishing Paradiso is a narrative-focused fishing simulation game. I was initially drawn to the game because of its charming pixel art and calming vibe. Did the game leave a lasting impact on me? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Shadow Warrior 3: Definitive Edition is a high-intensity first-person shooter that also focuses on comedy and creating a personality for the main character. While I have not played either of the previous titles, I was excited about the release of this game, and am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to review it. Did the game live up to my hopes? Find out in this Rapid Review.”

“Kukoos: Lost Pets is a three-dimensional platformer featuring Kukoos, fuzzy yet sentient creatures who inhabit a small island. After their pets get hypnotized by an evil frog, the Kukoos must jump through platforms with the help of some pets that are not hypnotized. Does the game make for a good experience? Find out in this Rapid Review.”