When it comes to dungeon crawlers, this is one very strange yet intriguing beast. Hints to quests and other necessary information are freely available to the player, but coming to grips with everything else can be troublesome. For the crowd that loves building legendary heroes from nothing, this game is ceaselessly entertaining. Not everyone will have the patience for the grind, especially when their hard-earned level-ups turn out to be massively disappointing. In the long run, this is a small price to pay. There is so much to see and slaughter that time is liable to lose all meaning. Minutes, hours, and days alike will pass as if they never actually occurred. Perhaps this is less a recommendation and more a warning. Elminage Original is dangerously addictive.

A brief couple of minutes' long test is what Blasting Agent takes to convince the player whether or not it's worth playing for much longer than that. It offers some robust and snappy gameplay on the one hand, but, on the other one, it just doesn't seem to perform at its very best on the Nintendo 3DS. In such a competitive scenario - where solid alternatives don't seem to run low - it's hard to recommend to anyone else than those action-shooting maniacs who want them all in their collection.

With Minecraft available on both Wii U and Nintendo Switch, it's difficult to work out where exactly Cube Life: Pixel Action Heroes belongs on the Wii U eShop. It tries to do too much and doesn't succeed immensely at any of it, making it little more than a watered-down clone with little lasting appeal for anyone outside of those wanting a local multiplayer shooter - and, even then, it's lacking.

The gameplay isn't overhauled here, but it doesn't need to be. Cities: Skylines - Green Cities adds new content and refreshes current content, making for a more whole and diverse gaming experience, which is just about everything a good add-on needs to do. It might not be a must-have, but it does add to the Cities: Skylines experience, which is one the development team at Colossal Order has kept running strong since launch.

A very solid pinball pack offering three tables that offer varied experiences. At least one table will catch the flavour of almost any pinball player with the wide appeal of the package. The faithfulness to the movies mixed with the usual Zen Studios quality makes this an easy purchase for pinball fans and Universal movie fans alike.

Heiankyo Alien 3671, with its unique blend of high intensity action and devious problem solving, is the most engrossing game you will play all year. 2017 has seen a slew of excellent releases, but it's this title that will keep you coming back to it again and again. Many a sleepless night will be spent chasing high scores. Adjusting to the controls and scoring mechanics will take time, but the results are well worth the effort.

In crafting a very specific identity for itself, Light Apprentice unfortunately fails to fully deliver on many of its main fronts. As an RPG, it offers too little party customization and features some of the most tedious battles in the genre. As a point and click adventure, it never requires more than a basic amount of perception. As a narrative driven title, Volume 1 stops just as soon as the story starts to pick up. There is one key area where Light Apprentice excels, however: the presentation. It reads and feels like a proper comic book. Panels are well drawn and well placed, and the interactivity at play is a great way of creating intimacy with the main cast. The biggest problem here is simply that this is one third of a story - of a game. With more time, it's likely that battles would pick up the pace, puzzles would become more thought provoking, and the story would explore some deeper themes and plots. As is, this is an okay way of killing a few hours, but it might be worth holding off until at least Volume 2 is out to get a fuller experience.

While Pathfinder Adventures is largely a faithful reproduction of the board game, in many cases this is not enough. A single player romp through a card game designed to be played in real life leaves much to be desired. There is nothing majorly wrong with the game, but Pathfinder Adventures is entirely average as the gameplay quickly devolves into endlessly clicking dice and cards without meaning.

For the very modest price of this first chapter of the Stories DLC, it is hard to criticise. Starting at $1.99, or the season pass for $4.99, there is plenty of content here to entice fans who may have set This War of Mine down to pick it back up again. Hopefully, the rest of the stories match up to the quality on show here in terms of the narrative of the protagonist, Adam, and his journey to save his daughter and escape the besieged city. The same compelling gameplay, graphics and sound from back in 2014 remain, and placed on top is the forward momentum that a story brings.

Trulon: The Shadow Engine truly displays an interesting combat system and artwork that has some charm to it. Despite that charm, its animations are extremely dead, but that is far from the biggest problem in this version of the game - the dead animations would not have killed the game, only make it a little less enjoyable. The biggest problem is the fact that the game currently sits at a 0% completion rate going by trophy data, in this humble reviewer's experience. This is due to an error that breaks, among other things in the zone, one key NPC that is required to continue. It is very sad, as Trulon: The Shadow Engine shows some interesting aspects in the combat that would have been much more fun to leave the experience with rather than the broken mess it currently is thanks to the error.

The price is cheap and the new race is a lot more different to play compared to others. There are still some aspects of Stars in Shadow: Legacies that are a little rough around the edges, but the team listens to the community, and the game has come a long way. If a fan, this is an easy recommendation.

There is nothing majorly wrong with any single part of Space Pirates and Zombies 2, but the inconsistency drags it down. From an actual good/dark story, to oddly ham-fisted "zombie" references, it is not clear what direction this title wants to go, and both two sections leave more to be desired as they only are purely average. The lore is interesting, and it is unfortunate this does not dive into it more, which is like the game in general: everything works, but it leaves the player wishing there was more.

DreamBreak fails to offer much because it's just so dull. Sure, the controls are bad for the most part, but that's made up for by some enjoyable, yet again, mostly boring gameplay. It never aims to be much more than a typical adventure game, and fails to even get that right thanks to its myriad of issues. Due to that, it really can't be recommended to anyone other than genre diehards, and that cousin of yours you're trying to trick out of his birthday money. "Bet you can't beat this game without throwing the controller." Don't take that bet!

Odysseus Kosmos and his Robot Quest is by no means the perfect introduction to an episodic series, but it's one that still manages to thrive thanks to high production values and a genuinely interesting premise. The artwork is beautiful, featuring gorgeously animated sprites and well-drawn environments, and the puzzles build an intimacy with the environment. The script is lacking, and far too much time is spent establishing the story with little payoff, but Oddy's quest being episodic means that this can be remedied going forward. Odysseus Kosmos and his Robot Quest isn't the best it could be, but it lays down the foundation for a point and click adventure with a lot of heart and soul.

Cities: Skylines - Snowfall is a rare expansion that manages to bring holiday cheer to a game that could have easily exposed it for a cheap cash-in if it wasn't done right. However, there is just enough added challenge and detail to the expansion that makes it a welcome addition to the core experience. It is by no means essential, but it adds some twinkle to the transport and some ho-ho-ho to the heating. Cities: Skylines - Snowfall is a perfect expansion to welcome in the Christmas season.

Super Turbo Demon Busters rides a very strange line. On paper, the action and gameplay is woefully simple and repetitive, but actually playing it, the player is drawn in by the heart and old-school charm it possesses. The largest issue preventing a much more favourable verdict is the more you play, the more you wish the systems found in here were much more fleshed out, such as a deeper RPG system, a deeper skill system, a treasure system, anything, since the base is so solid, but leaves so much more to be desired. Rarely is a game like this passable, yet hints at such greatness that could have been.

It is tough to recommend this DLC, especially at the price point it is offered at. Most of it simply feels tacked on, and the lack of a full overhaul of the advisors is a major missed opportunity. The Humanoid species pack lacks perhaps what would be most obvious: more human faces. Even beyond all this, though, the general feeling for it could best be summed up with: Is this it?

With its tight controls, solid mechanics, and fun scoring system, Tenta Shooter is an altogether pleasing addition to any shmup fan's library. Each game mode is worth spending some time with, and dedicated individuals will enjoy seeking out all of the secret bonuses. The fairy types, particularly Type-C, are a little unbalanced. Perhaps there should have been separate high score tables for each of them. The lack of online leaderboards is also unfortunate. Then, of course, there's the explicit content. It's entirely optional, but curiosity gets the better of everyone. Now, this critic is left wondering about all of the life decisions he made that led to this point.

Super Hydorah is a great spaceship shooter with plenty to explore and see. Realistically, though, its difficulty can come across as a bit too much early on, and first time players of the shooter genre are unlikely to enjoy the game as much. The smaller screen of the Vita also makes the game slightly more difficult to play, so if you can, be sure to try it on a bigger screen. It can all be a bit overwhelming, but fans of the genre are very likely to view this as one of the better modern takes on the classic shooter.

36 Fragments of Midnight is over far too quickly, and the limited number of traps means players will likely see everything there is too see before an hour has passed. Perhaps for a child or a new gamer, this would be an enjoyable introduction. However, gamers have become used to platformers offering a wealth of content, and that's not what will be found here. Instead, this is the trimmings, the parts of the turkey thrown from the table to the dog without much care. The worst part? It sets up this awful joke. Ready? 36 Fragments of Midnight? More like 36 Minutes of Game! No, that won't do at all…

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Friends to the End and the new mechanics it introduces. There's only one major issue with it, though, which makes it hard to recommend. Similar to Pirate Queen's Quest, it expects players to remain entertained by the same levels, which many, even fans, will find hard to do so.

Quite frankly, this practice is unacceptable. This particular expansion shouldn't be punished since the problem is broader and more wide-spread. How making an admittedly large patch then charging full price for it is a bad Paradox! Bad boy! There are people out there making workshop content and mods for free that affect far more and aren't some minor fringe either. Meanwhile, with a full team, Paradox manages to change one, admittedly large, nation? Why not sit down with all the other religions and give them their own little iconographies? Or work in something else? Anything else! This is a mini-expansion and the result of a sad, yet likely unstoppable, practice.

Both tables in the Pinball FX3: Carnivals and Legends pack offer a moderate challenge that, being offered for free for a limited time, complements well the already free table offered with the game on Switch, Sorcerer's Lair. They indeed both feature a challenge that is a little higher and should serve as a good continuation from the aforementioned free table for people who really got into Pinball FX3 through that one and then felt like dabbling in some more advanced tables, while still being fairly manageable for less skilled players. Son of Zeus might be the more interesting of both with some more crazy ideas, while Adventure Land feels more like a classic, "all mechanical," real life table, but that fits the theme so well for the latter and both offer such different experiences that they complement one another perfectly at the end of the day. They are both well worth the purchase even now that they are not free anymore.

While larger maps are irritating to navigate, there's so much to love about this experience that it's hard to really care. Thankfully, with the added replay value, you can start the series and finish it a couple times in anticipation for the final book, and it should hold up just fine.

Both tables in the Pinball FX3: Carnivals and Legends pack offer a moderate challenge that, being offered for free for a limited time, complements well the already free table offered with the game on Switch, Sorcerer's Lair. They indeed both feature a challenge that is a little higher and should serve as a good continuation from the aforementioned free table for people who really got into Pinball FX3 through that one and then felt like dabbling in some more advanced tables, while still being fairly manageable for less skilled players. They are both well worth the purchase even now that they are not free anymore.

The idea and mechanic behind Mudd Masher is simple enough to easily pick-up and play, whether on a commute or at home. However, as the few minutes of playing become hours, the mechanic withers away into a repetitive and boring slog that rarely has anything to keep playing for except a tile-counter. The finger-swiping mechanic isn't always accurate, as the sprite-based character sometimes jumps in the opposite direction to the swipe, while scaling large procedurally-generated stages to combat the monsters becomes a chore with the larger stages. The base ideas in this game are good, and, with a lot of fleshing out, has the capacity to greatly improve if future updates are released.

Ridiculous fan-service aside, Caladrius Blaze is a very enjoyable STG. Each action-packed stage is filled with exciting moments, and they are all capped by thrilling boss battles. The eight pilotable ships offer a myriad of strengths and weaknesses, ensuring a high amount of replay value. While the graphics are far from cutting edge, at least they aren't unpleasant to the eyes. Everything from enemy ships to their bullets is clearly visible, so there's no chance that something life threatening will get lost in the chaos. The sound balancing is also a little suspect, so feel free to crank the music up, while turning the sound effects down. All in all, this is a worthwhile pick-up, so give it a shot sometime.

Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis is a great episode that sets up the high school world quite well and makes it a believable setting. While the story does proceed to get a little slow after the introduction of the time-rewind mechanic, it is necessary for the build-up to set the stage for the series going forward. It sets an intriguing premise that promises an epic finale centring around the mysterious storm that only Max knows is going to hit the small town of Arcadia Bay. While the app isn't perfect, and suffers from momentary lag, or crash issues, coupled with the sometimes clumsy control input that mixes up interactional finger taps with movement taps, this is still a great game to check out for newcomers who don't own the mainline consoles.

While the earlier portions of Life is Strange: Episode 2 - Out of Time seemed like a way to flesh out the game time, the story takes a dip into menial tasks and clunky technical issues in a junkyard. However, once that part of the episode is over, the story ramps up into a thrilling conclusion that highlights the importance of every decision that Max has made up to this point. This episode shows that no time can be wasted dwelling on the unimportant aspects, and that Max's time-rewind mechanics can have fruitful results, while also walking on the line of unfortunate consequence. If anything, though, this does a fantastic job of elevating the stakes right through to Episode 3 - Chaos Theory.

Life is Strange: Episode 3 - Chaos Theory is the highest point of the series thus far, which contrasts with the dark and murky beginnings of the episode. While the fun of breaking into a school at night is mildly hampered by a weathered fetch-quest, no thanks to the junkyard stage from the previous episode, Chaos Theory doesn't spend too much time on that. Then it quickly accelerates to an unpredictable and even more dramatic conclusion that turns the series on its head. The voice acting is top notch as it helps to drive the story, while the game's technical aspects are still broken in terms of controlling Max's movements. One thing is for sure, however, Arcadia Bay will never be the same again, and the remaining iOS episodes cannot come soon enough.

The ending to Little Nightmares: The Hideaway is very creepy indeed, and looks to tie things together with the exploits of Six from the main adventure, perhaps in the next piece of DLC. For now, though, this finely crafted puzzle-platform-adventure is highly enjoyable and truly gripping and tense in places. More laidback than The Depths, though, this makes for a better experience overall as the whole atmosphere can be appreciated more. A few minor gameplay hiccoughs cannot take away from the fact this will definitely be a few quid well spent, and hopefully the wait for the next episode is not too long.

If the rest of the season pass content is as specialised as this, the future for Project Cars 2 certainly looks diverse.

Against all odds, Energy Invasion manages to take its almost too simple Breakout-inspired premise and spin it into something truly original and engaging. Adding the ability to fire off miniature, bouncing balls from the main ball is an ingenious addition that elevates the gameplay from just a mere homage. While there are only 50 stages between Linear and Invasion mode, the difficulty curve allows progress to feel earned, and Endless offers an unlimited amount of levels to bounce through. Along with Nick R 61's fantastic soundtrack, Energy Invasion is a surreal, and strangely addictive, evolution of the Breakout formula.

Energy Invasion shows some interesting and bold design choices that challenge some core aspects of one perhaps the most static genres that is still relevant today. However, these changes are badly implemented, only adding too much unnecessary clutter that is sometimes annoyingly hard to spot due to the small size. It is easy to want to like Energy Invasion as it adds more action to a genre in which some people desire more action and there is a desire to see more like this, but the drawbacks and flaws slowly creep up on the player. All that can be done is to hope that a sequel or spiritual sequel to the game get made that fixes some of the annoying things and decrease clutter to make it a more enjoyable experience as there clearly is a lot of untapped potential.

The cinematic platformer had a very simple formula to follow and it isn't hard to make an appealing game in this genre. There have been so many over the years and the recent influx of independent developers doing their take on the whole 'kid in a nightmarish world' sub genre, there are more options now than ever. This should be at the very bottom of that list of options as it feels more like a Chinese boot-leg than anything of artistic merit. Dull, buggy, unpolished and, most of all, Albert & Otto is criminally derivative - its best quality is that it is over in about 90 minutes.

Altogether, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition is the ideal pick-up for survival horror fans. Ethan's night of horrors is liable to go down as a classic. There's also a lot of excitement to be had in the DLC. Some of the offerings, notably Daughters, are weak and uneven, but they are still worth a play-through. At this point, anyone who hasn't already experienced this game is doing themselves a disservice. It's an astonishingly executed title that pours a lot of love into its mechanics and game design - the hallmarks of a quality Capcom product. What else can be said? The company makes it look easy.

Nightmare Boy is an admirable first attempt by a two-person studio, with a compelling artistic vision backed up by wild and unexpected creativity. However, strict adherence to outdated gameplay tropes and questionable narrative pacing make this a difficult game to recommend to everyone, especially with the abundance of other high quality Metroidvanias on the market.

While by no means revolutionary or necessary, the Fun Pack is a strong enough foundation to start a season pass on. Two new tracks and eight new vehicles add a hefty amount of freshness to the experience, and the Rallycross focus is a nice way of giving the pack a central theme. The new cars may not be a big enough grab for casual drivers, but more hardcore fans will certainly find themselves pleased with the additions. Time will tell if Project CARS 2's season pass will be a worthwhile investment, but the Fun Pack sets the stage quite nicely with plenty of content and focus to go around.

One Piece: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition is that rare licensed game with enough lasting power to please both fans and newcomers alike. Prior knowledge of the series certainly bolsters the experience, but the core mechanics are strong enough on their own where newcomers can hop in and enjoy themselves. The gameplay itself can feel repetitive during longer play sessions, but the mechanics aren't so simple to the point where they aren't at least somewhat engaging. At its core, One Piece: Unlimited World Red's MO is to be an easy to play adventure game set in the One Piece universe and, at that, it succeeds rather well.

Given how addictive the free base game is, hopes are high for CROSSNIQ+. The best puzzle titles are those that keep things simple, removing overly complicated instructions and getting straight into the action, whilst carefully building up complexity at an appropriate pace. CROSSNIQ gets the balance just right, easing gamers in, and then gradually introducing extra elements to bring great levels of depth to proceedings. Excellent in its current form, it has the potential to be a memorable great in its expanded version.

For a budget title, Headmaster is definitely worth a buy and is great at demonstrating some of the best aspects of VR. Certainly this is not the most epic of the medium, but what it does provide is an addictive pick-up-and-play style of game that is always welcome on any gaming apparel or add-on like VR. Very solid graphically, as well as being humorous, and underpinned with a realistic physics engine, Headmaster is a good introduction into VR for developer Frame Interactive. Hopefully, it now follows this up with some more great ideas using this as a base.

It is understandable why AeternoBlade has developed its cult following. It is a game full of many good ideas. Unfortunately, AeternoBlade is not the sum of its parts. It is a good try, and even might be a game to admire since there are some interesting ideas involving time travel in what is basically a Castlevania clone. There is a legitimate attempt to make something that had some passion behind, but what holds this Switch version back is that it also comes with all the baggage of the original 3DS release. The developer did not address any of its flaws or make any updates to the visuals to make it comparable to other remakes or upgraded ports on the market. The Switch port is ultimately pointless, better played on the 3DS or PlayStation Vita since they make more sense contextually.

Extremely well voiced, highly amusing for the majority of the adventure, complete with smart puzzles that mimic the best of the genre, and all for the grand price of…nothing! The Adventures of Nick and Willikins proves to be a highly entertaining piece of point and click adventuring goodness that definitely deserves a lot more attention, as well as an expanded sequel.

If the original base game, Cities: Skylines piqued your fancy, then this new Snowfall DLC is a fairly small, yet robust, expansion that should bring gamers back for more. The new management and maps, as well as the new update to all users, reinforces the already solid main experience, making it a greater purchase. Overall, it's a thoroughly recommendable expansion pack.

Rendering an adventure in pinball form is something that can't really be expected to play identically to the original, but it is surprisingly faithful, and that is as much of a commendable effort now as it was over three years ago when it first graced consoles.

More of the same as found in Book One, with the same beautifully drawn characters and locations.

Newbies and veterans to Starward Rogue alike are most certainly going to enjoy this brand new update, AuGMENTED. While the added content may well lead to many a sleepless night, which probably isn't a good thing, the enjoyability factor of Starward Rogue: AuGMENTED, random capitalisation and all, is well worth the sacrifice.

It was easy to see Portal and pinball going well together. As soon as thinking of the concept, balls flying through one portal and coming out of another sounds like an amusing and fresh take on the genre, and it is a marriage made in heaven, indeed. Pinball FX3: Portal is a blazing score-fest that keeps gamers on their toes and hooked fairly easily. Zen Studios has done a great job once again with a game that was sadly absent from Nintendo consoles before, and the team has done great in choosing what tables it would include for the Switch at launch, choosing wisely by including almost exclusively tables that did not feature in Zen Pinball 2 on Wii U in the past. However, now Nintendo fans are expecting all of the back catalogue to become available on the Switch, as well, in the future, so that they may finally keep playing these tables on the go from here on out!

Having an interesting premise and a wacky idea can sometimes lead to a successful gaming achievement, but unfortunately The Deer God fails to put the emotional care into what should have been a really moving and powerful story. Illustrating the concept of how wrong hunting animals are, and then turning the main character into a hunted deer in order to teach him right or wrong doesn't work that well when the entire quest focuses on helping two people get to a church, or hunting skunks for the evil witch in the woods. The art style is beautiful and it makes for some nice shots of the locations, but other than that, there is really no need to delve into this endless-platformer.

Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two: The Telltale Series is another good inclusion to the Telltale library of adventure games, and is well worth checking out. It does tell an intriguing story with an almost child-like level of danger, as the Admin threatens the world with his petulant, whiny behaviour. A llama accompanies Jesse and the gang as their friendships become tested, in minor ways, in order to bring about an end to the evil Admin. Crafting tables bring about small puzzles that require finding the ingredients, but they are not too hard to figure out, while the story ebbs and flows with minor hiccups, and does well to highlight the importance of friendship.

A solid package all round, there is nothing to complain about with Pinball FX3: Balls of Glory Pinball, save for the odd colour banding present in this Switch rendition of the cel-shaded tables. This is a problem that might not be addressed in an update patch considering Zen Studios' priorities have never laid with Nintendo's systems in the past, although this may change with the Switch being a roaring success globally and if enough people complain and demand a fix. Nevertheless, this is only a minor gripe that does not get in the way of the fun to be had with this hefty dose of pinball that comes highly recommended to any virtual pinball fan and mostly those due to the unrealistic approach used here... and even more so to pinball fans of the shows these tables are based on as, being properly licensed unlike the Universal Classics pack, the voice cast and music score are present to reinforce the feeling of familiarity.

Boring when playing solo, and just 'good' when playing with a bunch of friends, Aperion Cyberstorm is just a few steps above mediocre, but not enough to be recommended. Yes, not a single flaw truly stands out, but, sadly, none of the positives do, either.

Just Dance 2018 is the ninth instalment in the long-running dance-a-thon series, and it still grooves deep into the early hours of tomorrow morning, even with this excellent Wii U version. It may not be a revolutionary entry by any means, but it adds enough to be a fully-fleshed game for newcomers, while also tempting enough for any series veterans looking to dust off those dancing shoes.

The abundance of bouncing, wet boobies that Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash is full of is, strangely enough, not capable of making this something more than what it is: a subpar, repetitive, extremely grindy third-person shooter that's actually boring (yes, boring) to look at.

Will fans enjoy Life is Strange: Before the Storm's Bonus Episode: Farewell episode? Without a single doubt, yes! However, for a chapter revolving around what is probably such a pivotal moment in the franchise's history, it's also kind of disappointing, as it's a bit too short, the drama is not as strong, and the choices at hand don't alter things that much. In fact, most of the fun will stem from snooping around, rather than everything else.

Admittedly shorter than the previous two, yet more satisfying overall, it leaves gamers thirsty for more, with an eventual sequel hoped for.

The state of KARAKARA 2's post-apocalyptic world is of no importance, as this is nothing more than just another harem visual novel that is not as funny, sexy, dramatic, or interesting as it thinks it is - but at least it doesn't overstay its welcome…

A Clockwork Ley-Line: The Borderline of Dusk is a decent-to-good light mystery visual novel that will please for those who look for something Harry Potter-ish to fill a couple of evenings with. Its flaws are its somewhat strong prologue-vibe, the awkwardly removed 18+ scenes, and its lack of anything substantially different than what the genre offers, but, as a whole, it's a decent read.

Being given the ability to play some of the 'major minors' of World War II in Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor is a solid expansion of content for the original base game. It is not quite as good as it seems, though, as they all have to be played in the 1936 scenario to be viable at all. While not as entertaining as the main powers, it can offer replayability for those that in general that actually want to try a different path of history.

As far as STGs go, Terra Feminarum plays well enough and could take many hours to master. The arcade and story modes approach the game from different directions, and they complement each other nicely. The bosses are also capable of some clever patterns. However, the wide playfield is more a hindrance than anything. The extra real estate is just an excuse to pile enemies and bullets into every margin. Even for a Bullet-Hell, there's just too much going on at once.

There are few games with as much personality as Kitty Powers' Love Life, and that alone makes it a truly interesting game to play for an hour or two. The problem is that it does not take too long until the game starts to feel repetitive and like work, and if there is one thing games should avoid it is for them to feel like actual work, even when simulating a profession. In the end, Kitty Powers' Love Life has a lot of personality, but needs to work out some quirks for this relationship to work out.

Instead of the traditional crossroads of visual novels, WILL: A Wonderful World lets you play with a bunch of separate stories by altering specific parts within them... and then doing so again to follow an alternative path. This intriguing mechanic isn't as good as it sounds, though, and the game is in some dire need for some additional artwork. At least the various plot threads are good enough to make this a pleasant recommendation for genre fans.

On paper it sounds more interesting than it truly is As far as DLC goes, Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger is merely sufficient as it gives a variety of Asian countries to play. Like previous DLC, many of these countries are practically unplayable from a balance perspective, but ones like China provide a unique take. This expansion will do little for those who did not like the base game, but those in love with the game will like this.

If Kite had been released in the early '90s it would be one of the biggest hits of the time. This is 2018, however, and nostalgia, while a strong marketing tool, is not enough. Sure, the action is fast and relentless, and it's a pleasure to use the many weapons at hand to wreak some havoc. Unfortunately, it all becomes repetitive too soon, even if you take the grinding for upgrades out of the picture.

Ridiculous setting aside, Maidens of a Hollow Dream is really impressive. Every aspect blends together quite nicely, giving players a unique twist on the standard shmup formula. Managing two characters at once is difficult, at first, but learning the intricacies really pays off.

Dragon Sinker is almost laughable in some aspects. The lottery system makes an absolute mockery of traditional RPGs, and completely imbalances the game. Once you have taken the gameplay out of the equation, Dragon Sinker is just a retro RPG filled to the brim with cliché fantasy tropes and boring storytelling. It does have a somewhat interesting job party system, but that doesn't make it any more worth playing.

Golem Gates is simply fun, and the CCG aspects work wonderfully well. Eliminating the conventional 'build orders' that plague modern RTS releases, and having the ability to design your own deck before battle is actually very impressive. This is relatively unknown at the moment, and it's a shame as with more popularity it could easily be a pretty big hit, as most enjoyment will be from playing other people.

This DLC does not change anything fundamental to in the base of The Escapists 2, so the good and the bad still exist; Big Top Breakout is merely a new map, nothing more or less. It is an interesting romp through some new terrain, but those looking for any new mechanisms to the main action may want to pass.

It's hard to find anything wrong with SteamWorld Dig 2 or to even suggest anywhere it could do better. This is an absolute masterclass in game design that is absurdly fun and addictive. It constantly keeps players on their toes by regularly introducing new mechanics that totally change up the experience.

Azure Saga: Pathfinder is easily recommendable to people who can stand flawed games as the core of the world and the combat system are very enjoyable and entertaining for the price-range and can actually in some aspects be seen as a textbook example of how to make a good JRPG.

Sheeple's Sequel is a creative take on the base game that prevents it from becoming formulaic. Red Shadow and Marble-san are great additions to keep the gameplay fresh, and the more puzzle-inspired approach to level design allows Slime-san's stages to feel mentally and physically rewarding upon completion.

Beckett is a surreal experience, but a wonderfully unique take on the point-and-click style adventure that makes the delivery of the gripping story far more digestible for a wider audience. Anyone that enjoys an engaging tale but may be put off by the idea of playing in game form should reconsider this as it is perfect to jump straight in without any trouble, and the dynamic way the story changes dependent on certain choices makes it all the more enjoyable.

The system is likely not deep enough for hardcore strategy fans to want it solely based on this reason, though, yet for those more from the simulation genre fan club, they will find it all to be pretty fun overall. Those craving a sandbox simulator in space will feel right at home here, and the amount of crafting/decorating will be what some are definitely looking for.

ACA NEOGEO Gururin is a tough recommendation, even for hardened veterans of falling block puzzlers. The learning curve is enormous, which usually isn't a complaint in itself, but it just doesn't mesh with the pick up and play nature of arcade titles. A lot of time is going to be spent fumbling around and not achieving much of anything. Given enough practice, and a propensity for thinking several moves ahead, players might be able to make some progress. Until then, don't expect to have a lot of fun.

Somehow, it manages to take the original and, honestly, it makes it worse… The same story and the same game are still here at its heart, but it's hidden away under so many layers of imperfections and issues that it's almost indistinguishable. Frankly, it's a better idea to grab a SNES mini and enjoy the original instead. Horribly disappointing.

No, this isn't as good as those who have fallen in love with it say it is. In fact, for something that's supposed to be one of the best visual novels in comparison to the thousands of titles out there, CROSS†CHANNEL: Steam Edition's not that original. Sure, the premise is kind of interesting, and this is far darker than it looks, but the execution follows the standard harem anime approach, sadly destroying what little value this seems to have every now and then.

On the one hand, there's a compound of flavoursome ingredients, while on the other one lays a final course that tastes just like a million others. It doesn't do anything bad, but just does not reach notable heights or excel anywhere. The meagre offering - in terms of new releases - on the Nintendo 3DS right now, may actually work in Ansimuz Games' favour, convincing those who don't own a Nintendo Switch yet, or simply want to send their handheld of choice some love, to give Elliot Quest a try.

Despite its overall lack of polish, Aqua Moto Racing Utopia is a pleasant enough watercraft racer with a large number of tracks available (even if a lot of content is reused and modified) and decent mechanics. It's a shame that as a whole it's ultimately forgettable and its many small issues pile up, as this could have been something greater. Still, if you're looking for a type of racing game that you rarely see and have already played the Wave Race and its sequel to death, this might be worth checking out.

Ginger: Beyond the Crystal is a prime example of underestimating a genre and throwing in a half-baked port to gain some extra money. It is a near broken title with zero flow between balanced gameplay and out of the factory polishing.

It is hard to say for sure if the entire experience is worth it without playing the other campaigns, but Wardog Fury by itself is enough fun to warrant a look. If you can find someone to play it with, that is.

Without Escape is the perfect dish for those hungry for classic 1990s puzzle adventures like Zork, Myst, et al. It does not over-complicate matters by bogging players down with convoluted puzzles, instead focusing on streamlining the experience and delivering a haunting setting that will stick in the mind long after completion. Hopefully now this has been polished to perfection, Bumpy Trail will work on a successor.

Anyone who enjoyed Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth: Book One is going to enjoy Book Two. Outside of continuing the drama, the unusual gameplay mix of open-ended questing and mini-games make this series stand out from typical modern adventure titles. Book Two has a very old-school approach to this genre and isn't afraid to experiment and not hand-hold all the time.

In short, Last Encounter has a neat concept, but fails to follow through with it. A good challenge is the lifeblood of a videogame, especially when it comes to roguelikes. If the level of difficulty is incapable of matching and growing with the player's skill and arsenal, then there's no purpose in continuing to play. Before long, what should be a thrilling run deep into enemy territory becomes nothing more than a thirty-minute spectacle of light and sound.

The concept is definitely unique and it is the kind of title that is perfect for VR when it comes to encouraging manageable, time efficient sessions of strategic fun. The physics are great, with the act of throwing the grenades a real treat, albeit the animation quality of the NPCs is not the best ever seen. However, it is a shame that technical issues involving the performance and bugs mar what could be a really great experience. A bit of further development and tweaking, as well as adding some additional levels, would improve things immensely.

There is plenty here for newcomers of the series to enjoy, as well, as long as they don't care about minor things like character introductions. Along the way, they will encounter some fun and often self-referential humour and some challenging puzzles in a colourful and sugary sweet package.

From beginning to end, Dark Rose Valkyrie feels as if it has every flaw of the JRPG genre combined into one package. The characters are stereotypical instead of memorable, the story sort of… sits there, and the battles are slow, and depend more on grinding than tactical thinking. Apart from all this, Compile Heart's creation is audio-visually unimpressive, a technical mess, and feels as if it hasn't spent the right amount of time in the oven.

Break Arts II is a deceptively complex racing game that is sure to create a dedicated and hardcore fan-base. Complex construction mechanics allow for the creation of machines that can be wholly unique to their builder. A high skill ceiling serves as a fine complement for the construction, as all the time spent in the garage will pay off as that machine navigates the small sampling of challenging tracks. While the combat interactions can feel unsatisfying at times, mastering those elements with the others provides players with a worthy challenge.

It struggles in the RPG department, giving players little-to-no reason to care about any of the events, and offering barebones levelling and equipment. More imagination in these areas would have made this easily one of the best games in its genre. Instead, the general repetitiveness and lack of role-playing, lore, or decent equipment or skill systems make it a run-of-the-mill roguelike that happens to have an absurdly clever combat system. In the end, though, it's easily worth its price, and definitely worth keeping an eye on the people involved to see if they can improve upon its format in the future.

A shining example of graphics not making a game, players who look past this issue and some user interface designs will find in Lost Technology a game with multiple, well-written plots, engaging strategy, and an entire system that encourages multiple replays. It is rare to have a story that is actually unique, compounded with a simple, yet deep strategy layer that combines into an overall package highly recommend for strategy fans that can handle a little anime flair.

STAY starts as an nail-biting adventure that's hard to let go of - literally and figuratively. Soon enough, however, it will become an exercise in frustration, partly because of the slow pace of it all, but mainly due to some bad design choices, with the aggravatingly cryptic, and speed-bumpy puzzles taking the biscuit.

Even accounting for its tough AI and problematic online mode, Fast Beat Loop Racer GT is still quite impressive. Races are just as intense and fun as fans of the genre could ask for. Dealing with traffic while trying to overtake rivals creates an awesome dynamic. It's especially satisfying to make those minor nudges and miss other vehicles by inches. The RPG aspects aren't too intrusive and actually help add to the challenge. After all, a faster car is harder to control. All in all, this arcade racer is a success.

NEKO-NIN exHeart 2 isn't notably awful, but it's unmemorable and bland nonetheless. Due to the experience's predictable nature, there's a lack of engaging plot points. It looks and sounds nice, but the writing simply isn't enough to make the game stand out. It's hard to recommend this to anyone outside of the target demographic, but if you are in that demographic and liked the first game then sure, give this one a look. Otherwise, though, you won't lose much by skipping this.

Focusing the DLC on zooming down to street level and getting into the nitty-gritty of placement of pretty much everything in the park was a stroke of genius, and something it will hopefully implement into future DLC releases. In a genre about building a city, it's interesting to get players to come down from the clouds every now and then and really set up something unique to their town, and serves as just another reason why this game is special among others of its ilk.

It's a delight to see that Paradox Interactive is still supporting the PlayStation 4 port of Cities: Skylines and this latest DLC is an essential for any player who thinks they have city building down to a tee. For casual players there is not much beyond childish delight but in the scenario sandbox of destruction and design, Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters makes a gameplay experience that is tense, trying, and terrifically satisfying.

Voxel Shot VR provides some splendid scenarios in this wave-based VR zombie shooter. Meanwhile, the bright colour palette and voxel visuals are charming, the frantic shooting, discarding of weapons, and environmental storytelling is immersive, and it culminates in a fun and exciting experience. However, it's all over with far too quickly.

It is difficult to find a more realistic economy simulator than this. All focus is on the core of how a market works, rather than to make it work well as a videogame. The result is a fantastic experience for those who are looking for just that, but few others will do so, and that is fine as Epic Car Factory never claims to do anything else. If this sounds appealing, this is certainly a game to get. If not, it is very unlikely that trying the game out will change anything. It is great for its audience, but not too many others.

If you are into puzzle-platformers, why are you reading this instead of playing Sling Ming right now? Sling Ming is an extremely creative experience, rivalling many great names in the pure enjoyment stakes, and comes with unique gameplay that is not found elsewhere. It is certainly a must-buy for all fans of the genre, no matter if people want some casual fun or rather prefer brain-teasing puzzles to keep their minds sharp.

It is easy to dismiss Lil Tanks prematurely because of how simple and shallow it looks as a game. This is, however, what gaming used to be back in the good ol' days, and this is one of few modern retro games that truly captures the feeling of simplicity and pure action many of those games delivered, with no frills. While certainly not for everyone, those who are looking for a classic old school shoot 'em up will find this scratches that itch.