Oliver Shellding

“Lovish has some tight, punishing and unrelenting gameplay firmly packed into an aesthetically pleasing and insane narrative that never tries to justify itself beyond “why not?” The game has as much replay value as you want to put into it, and I personally found it to be a delight and a treasure.”

“The Perfect Pencil, ironically, is not perfect in the gameplay or pacing, but it does stand out in concept and delivery. While some moments are a trifle ham fisted, it nonetheless promises and delivers a unique metroidvania that keeps you moving, keeps you exploring and does a lot for fans of the genre wanting to try things from another angle. I’m not sure if I’m the ideal audience, but I listened, and I think I was able to hear John clearly. I hope others can, too.”

“Adults who enjoyed Earnest Evans as kids will be disappointed to find out how truly janky it was, and those intrigued by the companion titles will be let down. It’s a coffee table book where anyone reading it will immediately set it back down. The digital edition holds curiosity and little else. Pick up a copy if you must, especially for preservation’s sake, but don’t expect this to do anything but collect dust.”

“Simulation games nowadays may be incredibly granular and pithy, but the end results tend to be very satisfying for people locked into the builds of their characters, cities or vehicles. You develop something of which you can be proud. Milano’s Odd Job Collection is eight mini games slapped together with a deeply unhappy backstory that gives nothing to the players at the end of the day, and serves no purpose in helping you develop a connection with anyone in the story.”

“Saborus is certainly memorable, but so is the first time I found a bone in a chicken nugget. It has potential, but you can’t explore it on the Switch, and the tonal shift and odd choices might take away from the overall effect. Truth be told, if it does help someone better understand animal rights and start the steps towards either reforming the industry or at least making more informed choices, then I’d chalk it up as a win. But please keep in mind: this “horror” title is only scary when you remember the true monster is mankind! Or something like that.”

“As I Began to Dream is a lovely, if bittersweet, experience that delivers in the storytelling department, but fumbles a bit in the gameplay execution.”

“You will get frustrated. You will grind your teeth. You will feel your hands shake and that one muscle in your neck will get sore from being tense. But you will persevere, and Bittersweet Birthday will reward you as a result. If you cannot take the stress of it all, trade off with someone who doesn’t mind the fury and take over the controller when you’re given the chance to chat, play mini games, and collect gatchas, because that’s all lovely and good. But when the soundtrack shifts and menace is on the horizon, it’s time to beat your plowshare back into a sword.”

“Million Depth has such a compelling throughline that I’m doing my damnedest not to ruin for newcomers, and the approach is unique, engaging and successful. Minecraft fans will take to the weapon upgrade faster than I did, and those of you who want to simply do the “story” mode will find incredible satisfaction in spite of the watered down difficulty. It’s brilliantly unique and reminds me that the worst damages wrought by humanity often are tinged with good intentions and the erroneous beliefs of righteousness. If you’re prepared to face the pain of it all, hold your oxygen tank close and dive in. There’s so many layers to peel back to reach the truth.”

“This is Onion Games’ opus, and I hope they’re proud of what they’ve accomplished. On nights of sonder and existential loneliness, remember that we have all been, at one time or another, stray children. I hope it comforts you.”

“Brief and memorable, Cling to Blindness builds tension and horror without relying on cheap tricks and does well to craft a story and experience that sticks with you until the very end.”

“Overall, Jackbox Party Pack 11 is a fantastic iteration and adds more to the series than not. While some of the titles may be lost over time, there’s still a lot of joy to be had here and it’s a necessary addition to any Jackbox enthusiast. Draw, accuse and doom your friends, and then have a nice screaming sesh in between answering adventurous trivia. This pack goes all the way to eleven!”

“MotionRec is an absolute delight that both crafts an incredible experience while keeping players happy with actual gameplay. It kept me coming back again and again, and, in spite of some very difficult Notes to find, I was enthralled from start to finish.”

“Dreams of Another is a surreal sensation of mixing creation through destruction and conversation through solitude. You come away with things on your mind, and often forget what your intent was other than to simply “understand.” This has the panache and the flair of a title that will glitter brightly for those who pick it up, and could be enjoyed by people who aren’t traditionally gamers or into shooters specifically.”

“Clover Pit can hook you and keep you there, but so can a bear trap, and I wouldn’t recommend stepping in one to spend an afternoon. There might be some balancing in the future that’ll make it more worthwhile, but, for now, it becomes a Skinner Box of pain that fills you with hope and dashes it just as quickly.”

“Spindle has heart in a bare ribcage, and it beats for the player as well as the NPCs. Take a chance, breath deeply, and remember: you’re already dead. You’ve got all the time in the world.”

“I wish I could say more good things about Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer, but the fact is that it’s an arcade style shmup with a good amount of replay as long as you get into the vibe and potentially the storyline. If you bounce off that, you’ll never let the game hook you in a solid way. But if you’re ready to put your critical thinking skills on pause and not consider a lot of what’s happening in terms of story (really? Only a bounty hunter was available?), then you have some awesome graphics, fun blasting and a killer soundtrack to round out a really solid package from EastAsiaSoft.”

“I love a game where you can literally pick up and play for a few minutes and put it down without consequence. I love being able to sink close to an hour at a time, doing the same rewarding actions, and then walk away without needing to get another move, another turn. It’s the most ideal way to casually enjoy a game, and Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition keeps players locked in for the most viciously enjoyable cycle that I could imagine. If you loved it the first time, you’re going to adore it the second.”

“Enthusiasts and collectors will want to grab the physical version of Sonic Wings Reunion, and players determined to make it to the top of the leaderboards first are probably already in poll position when the game goes live on console. But, for the choosier player, the shiny graphics and silly nature of some elements might not be enough to retain engagement, at least not at launch. It’s a decent shooter, but I’ve played dozens of decent shooters, and my memories of enjoying an SNES title isn’t going to keep me hooked into something that’s just “decent.””

“Candy Rangers falls solidly in the middle when it comes to on rails shooters. It’s got plenty to do and it’s inventive in the execution, which kept me locked in for exciting fights and the arcade mode. But needing to repeat myself simply to justify the lack of margins of error was exhausting and, frankly, unfun. I’d much rather do a level again because it was thrilling or because I want to challenge myself, not because the game won’t let me go out to play until I clean my plate.”

“Once everything is said and done, Blippo+ may only run you about six hours of “play” time, but it’s one of the most honest and unique titles in the last decade of gameplay. It’s an FMV without any game, and it works in a spectacularly bizarre fashion.”