Last Word on Gaming

“Sons of Valhalla has some ways to go. I’m hoping a couple of updates will ease some of the tedium of the city building and waiting for units. It felt like I was stuck through a lot of my playthrough, having to wait for something or another rather than forging ahead. I wouldn’t even mind waiting for tactical purposes, but there really isn’t much more to the game aside from clicking at enemies and watching your army take care of business. I died during 2 sieges. When I got back to the camp, my army had played the game without me and took them. It just feels a bit disconnected. With a little push, this game has something special. For now though, I’d recommend waiting some time.”

“On the surface, this looks like a decent sports/management simulation game and at first, I’d agree. For the first few hours I couldn’t put this down but as time went on it grew repetitive and more of a chore than a fun game. I’ve played a lot of games from this genre and sunk hours into similar games from Kairosoft but this one missed the mark and likely won’t make its way back into my gameplay rotation.”

“Figment 2 is one of the best games I’ve played in 2023. It may have a short runtime but it uses every second to tell a simple story and blow you away both with its visuals and its audio. The core gameplay remains interesting until the very end while every area you visit is full of character and charm that makes this one impossible to put down.”

“Overall, Nine Noir Lives has everything you’d want from a point-and-click adventure. The memorable characters, interesting item combinations and solvable puzzles are strung together in a fun and engaging mystery narrative that will keep you playing for hours on end. When you factor in the vibrant hand-drawn art style, the orchestral soundtrack and impeccable voice acting, it become a hard game for point-and-click adventure fans to miss.”

“Train Valley: Console Edition is a very good transition to consoles for the PC staple. While the User Interface at times isn’t great almost all PC-focused games struggle to make that change for consoles. Ultimately, the gameplay is very enjoyable and strategy fans will have a good time thinking three steps ahead to make sure things at the station continue to run smoothly.”

“Not every game has to bring the State-of-the-Art graphics that bigger companies install. The game is able to bring an old, campy style of art design that appeals to the roguelike playstyle of action-packed dungeon crawling. What the game lacks in high-quality graphics, it makes up for in retro-style visuals. The visuals of the game make the gameplay feel smooth yet consistent. The art is well-done including the OC, the enemies, the setting, and the action taking place. It isn’t a game that takes itself too seriously with the content, but they go beyond the visual standards of arcade-style roguelike games to give players a thrilling setting. The camera setting is also solid, but it can be moved to adjust to the players’ dependability and turn into previously hard-to-see areas.”

“I appreciate some of what Big Bang Pro Wrestling brings to the table. It is a retro port that wears its influences on its sleeve. The characters and designs look really good and the layout makes it feel like I’m actually playing a New Geo Pocket console. Sadly, there are just too many great wrestling games today that do what Big Bang Pro Wrestling does, but better. Its gameplay is at times aggravating and unforgiving, while the movesets and game modes get old fast. All in all, if you’re desperate for some old-time pro wrasslin action then the low price point of Big Bang Pro Wrestling may entice you, but it won’t occupy you for long.”

“If you want a relaxing puzzle game or have younger kids then this is a great game for both purposes. I had a lot of fun with the game but it doesn’t take long to beat. It’s charming, it’s well put together and proves that good things can come in small packages.”

“Fighting is a big part of Bush League Hockey but it is also undercooked. Punching doesn’t feel naturally responsive and although it’s got it’s charms it fails to hit the mark. Where the game does shine a little is when you play with friends. Grab a few mates round with a few beers and there is fun to be had for a few hours but the overall package is buggy, laggy and just not as much fun as it could and should have been.”

“Fast, furious, old school retro racing with lots of content and all for a cracking price.”

“Whilst Vagante feels like it has been a Labour of love in some ways, it’s lack of variety and shortness means it falls short of being a title I can recommend. Had there been more meat on the bones and a more compelling story to focus upon then this could have been a decent little game and I genuinely feel bad for not liking it but I have to be honest about what I found and whilst it is not the worst game I have played in recent times, Vagante fires plenty of arrows but fails to hit the target.”

“I really liked The Company Man. It’s another strong addition to the indie 2D platforming catalog even if it didn’t reinvent the wheel. The main draw of the game is no doubt the setting and its satirical view of the workplace which makes it stand out from the crowd. Despite all the positives, there are some areas where the game didn’t fully live up to its potential and that is what keeps it out of the elite tier. The Company Man is a strong addition to anyone’s gaming library.”

“Lacuna is one of the best examples of point and click, adventure, puzzle and detective gaming I have played for I don’t know how long. From the mysteries changing to the multiple endings and the sound and visuals, this is truly an absolute gem of a game and one that deserves its place in your collection.”

“I really enjoyed Heaven Dust 2. It’s a cute little indie game, and it will give you a nice nostalgia hit. The puzzles and bosses help to break up the otherwise repetitive exploration of the facility, and it looks nice too. The biggest issue I had with this game is the navigation. Had some areas been more clearly signposted, it would have saved me a lot of frustration while wandering around. The translation could do with some work too. Otherwise, it’s a solid game that will give you a good 8-10 hours of entertainment.”

“Bat and ball games are not for everyone but if you do have a love for the genre there is fun to be had with this title although non fans will not get much joy I suspect. The solo mode could be better but the co-op is where the game does well and for a couple of hours play there is definitely enough to make this a worthwhile purchase for a low price. The platforming game element is a neat twist. This is a decent game that does what it needs to do well whilst not setting the world on fire.”

“There is quite a bit to like about Dungeon Munchies, but unfortunately, the major components that matter in a video game, especially one that is a side-scrolling action platformer, let the rest of its parts down. The platforming is extremely unwieldy and frustrating. The fact that I have to intentionally injure my character to try to progress through a stage should tell you enough. Throw in the combat that’s just kind of there, and it ultimately just winds up as an unsatisfying gameplay experience. It’s sad really because I liked the story enough to want to keep pushing through, the characters are silly and funny, and it has good music and art design as well. It is quite possible that Chapter 3 gets added to the game eventually, maybe by then some of these issues will be fixed.”

“Honestly, I was surprised by how much I got into Watch Over Christmas. I went into it thinking it would be a game to keep my daughter happy on Boxing Day, but the classic gameplay style and sense of humor kept me engaged for longer. If you fancy trying out a new point-and-click, it’s definitely worth checking out Watch Over Christmas. Grab it now and play it in the build-up to next Christmas, or use it as a nice, cozy distraction from your back-to-work blues in the new year.”

“It’s rare that I don’t have a bad word to say about a game but 6Souls is an example of a video game done right. It didn’t overreach and promise the world, it focused on delivering what it could and making the most out of the game’s core concept. While it isn’t a game of the year contender or even a game that MUST be played this would make for an excellent addition to anyone’s gaming library.”

“There’s been something of a PlayStation One era revival in the indie gaming scene over the past few years, with a visual style and presentation reminiscent of PS1 classics. Fatum Betula is no exception, adding further credence to the idea that we are seeing an early 3D era renaissance of sorts. Even for those that hold next to no nostalgia for such an old-school presentation, Fatum Betula’s problem-solving gameplay and borderline haunting mood make it a must-play.”

“Faraday Protocol is advertised as a story-rich puzzle game, well, I agree. I wouldn’t go into specifics, but the buildup of the plot was amazing. Basically, it is about the evolution of a specific galactic civilization. Not only that, but the voice-acting was also exceptional. Both Raug and Iris’ voices suit their character. The game was short, but I got to hand it to the developers for giving me an immersive experience. I enjoyed playing Faraday Protocol. A veteran gamer can finish the game in 5 hours. But it took me more or less 8 hours—because I am bad at puzzle games. If you want unique gameplay and a story-driven experience, I would recommend getting this game.”