I was completely enthralled with Bad North‘s simplified take on the RTS and its straightforward yet tactical gameplay – up until I died the first time. There are some neat ideas here, but the roguelike structure highlights its weaknesses more than its strengths. The brilliant minimalism is really only intriguing the first time around; all other times you’re trudging your way back to the part where it gets interesting, then suddenly losing it all.

If you are looking for a true dungeon experience that offers significant challenge and great depth or even just a classic style game to enjoy what made these style of games great in the first place, then this is definitely not it. All technical difficulties aside, this should be far more than what it is for what it claims to be.

There’s always room for fun when it comes to gaming. When something doesn’t take itself too seriously, it has to lean on the bad to be the good. While this game captures that in some areas, it also seems to be lacking in “so bad it’s good”. It starts out well, with the comedy and terrible dialogue, but then tries to steer into atmospheric horror. And while the tension is needed for horror, the silly beaver from the beginning is quickly forgotten about. The funny phone calls stop. It becomes a hide-and-seek game for the rest of the game. The pacing isn’t bad, but because the game is so short, it ends just when you think things could start getting interesting.

While Super Mutant Alien Assault stays true to the arcade inspirations of coin-eating games from yesteryear with fantastic artwork and 2D shooting action, it is cut at the hamstrings from reaching a wider audience by the varying challenge playthrough to playthrough. Random elements, graphical slowdowns from action heavy sequences and a focus on repeating games to grind out for equipment are not for everyone.

There’s quality in At Sundown, but sadly its biggest strength in online play didn’t work out. There’s not much fun to be had past a couple of matches against bots. I didn’t really get into the “in the dark” element because I didn’t like or dislike it. I was impartial and though I thought it was a neat idea, I wasn’t impressed with the implementation. Without an online presence, the only appeal this will have is to those who seek out games they can play with people they know.

For the brief moment it lasts, SPIFFING is a great game with an excellent script and a fairly high standard of production. Unfortunately, it's so short that it feels like a tutorial or a demo even. I'm known at XBLA Fans for commenting on game prices too often, but I can't ignore the fact that SPIFFING weighs in at nearly $20, yet lasts for less time than a decent TV drama.

Planet of the Eyes is a surprisingly short game, clocking in at around an hour and a half. The game just doesn't have the level of polish that allows such a length to be excusable. It's an incredibly simplistic take on gameplay and narrative ideas we've all seen a million times before, never doing anything new or memorable. Even at its best, it amounts to little more than a bland experience, one that will be over quickly and easily forgotten.

The difficulty in this platformer is beyond frustrating. It has its moments but falls just as often as you will. You won’t even worry about your times; you’ll be more concerned with surviving. The ranks end up feeling like you have to find the faster routes which require a lot of upgrades. It’s either you complete the level with a low ranking, or you find an alternate route to get a cheated S rank. There’s really not much in-between. This leaves the whole idea of speed running in the dust. It just doesn’t work, and I don’t feel many people will enjoy trying to obtain better times. Razed is playable even with its flaws, but how much you play will be up to your patience and determination.

Ittle Dew 2 was a fun little title that I enjoyed about 80% of the time. It controls well and unabashedly pulls from many classic games from the past. However, it fails to achieve the same level of greatness their inspirations achieved. Instead, you find bosses who feel impossible to beat and solutions to puzzles you will only find by accident or Google. The idea of me finishing off as many bosses in as many dungeons as I did and never once feeling accomplished or masterful was saddening. If you're a fan of this genre in need of a quick fix, maybe check it out, if not, don't waste your time.

One person made this title. I can’t imagine the dedication it takes to complete a project by yourself. The ideas and design feel like they could be escalated with a good budget and a team of people. It’s a mixing pot of potential that seems to fail at almost every corner. Having something mimic a play-to-win structure without the actual option to pay real money is confusing. Not being able to feel comfortable with the movement was the biggest issue. I didn’t hate what I played, but I didn’t really like it either.

At the end of it all, Drift Zone truly feels like an unfinished game. It lacks the polish that many other current racing games have, and doesn’t bring anything new or interesting to set it apart from those games. The lack of a tutorial makes the game complicated for those new to the concept and puzzling for those who know the basic mechanics, but not how to implement them here. The only real variety comes from the cars which unfortunately don’t really vary at all. Even when considering the obvious price difference, if you’re looking for a game with strong customization including varied tuning options, a catchy soundtrack and the possibility of completing a handful of tracks within a 7-hour period, then you’re most likely better off looking for a Forza or Need for Speed title.

It really isn’t a bad game, for what it is, it just lasted way too long. A lot of work is sadly overshadowed by the flaws where frustration can ruin the fun.

This isn’t the worst physics game by any means, but there isn’t much to it. With nothing fun to unlock and no sense of accomplishment in gaining three stars, you find yourself bored very quickly. Reload times are fast and the instant retry is great for when you want to test out the level first and mess around before you make an actual attempt. This is probably better on a mobile platform where you can use touch controls to determine the force at which the little square guy flies. With an analog stick, it’s like being in a constant sand trap. I can’t say I hated Midnight Deluxe, but I can say I didn’t really like it either.

There are some redeeming qualities, such as the level design, puzzles, and the ability to replay levels at your leisure. However, the camera and jumping controls really make the game almost uncomfortable to play. The puzzles are fairly easy (minus one extremely difficult mirror one) and can be somewhat enjoyable. Each level serves as its own little world, keeping you from becoming bored. There may be some people who enjoy it, but the vast majority likely won’t have enough patience to complete the story (even thought it’s pretty short).

Nebulous is a successful puzzle game in that it meets the general criteria to be one; however, it does not have any element that draws you in and makes you want to play for hours or even complete the game.

This game can be fun but not for long periods of time. It is more likely a game you would buy, play once then forget about until you are looking through your game library because you ran out of storage. I've said this before and I will say it again: puzzle games should require patience and skill rather than focus on speed and luck. King Oddball's enormous amount of levels and chuckle-worthy achievements just don't cut it.

The presentation was nice, but it had very limited gameplay. Awkward physics worked very well for duels though they were almost depressing during the mini-games. Watching the clock tick as your character makes no progress because you can’t move deters your desire for more. It’s going to have a niche group of gamers that love it but most people can look elsewhere to have a duel.

On the surface, the game looks nice, and the thought of playing inside someone’s story is quite awesome. But with so many bugs, annoying encounters, and obstruction of sight, there are too many flaws to make this very enjoyable. Also, a lot of what you do in the game is very mundane. Especially at the end, when you have to do chores. Get the plates, put them on the table, get the drinks, get the food, put the food on the table. Clear the table, get the coffee, and take the coffee to the people. That’s a whole lot of stuff to do that isn’t very entertaining. I also don’t understand why a group of people would drink coffee after having dinner and alcohol, at night, before bed. Pretty strange! Of course, there will be some people who enjoy it for what it is, similar to when people say art is subjective. There will be a few who adore it. But everyone else is a different story, one that Sid would not like reading.

Sadly for a game that is all about memories, Dear Esther just never does much to leave a lasting one.

I can almost see the appeal of playing Doddle God on a mobile phone. Perhaps when you're waiting for the next bus, or when your friend is late meeting you. I say almost, though, as I'm pretty sure I could find a million other more interesting things to do on my phone. Or maybe I've just never hit that level of boredom required to find a game like Doodle God fun. However, on a home console system, it's about as dull as you can get and at $9.99, there are hundreds of better games out there worth your time and money

Korgan is a game that fails on many fronts. The lack of a story is definitely the biggest issue. The world you’re playing in feels empty and lifeless. The characters you’re controlling are forgettable to the extent that you don’t know anything about them other than their class and skills. The enemies are only bad because the game is telling you so, not because you’ve been given any reason to despise them.

To summarize, I can't help but position Warhammer Quest as decidedly average. There is quite a lot to do here, and some of it is borderline enjoyable, but so much of it is dull, repetitive and so lacking in a strategic challenge that it feels as if it might as well play along by itself. I can't help but think it's quite a cynical release either, considering it costs ten times as much as the practically identical mobile game, which is a medium that feels much better suited to the subject matter anyway. Steer clear if you're looking for a pulse racing, genuinely enjoyable digital board game, and only dive in if you feel you know what you're getting yourself into.

The subject matter is deep, almost invasive. It might be something that actually helps you consider your own destiny. However, the actual gameplay is bad. There are easy puzzles then there are ones that slow down your progress, making you wonder if it’s worth continuing because the experience hasn’t been that great to begin with. It’s kind of bland and sometimes boring. Some may like the personalized questions that allow them to have a bit of self-discovery but usually games are an escape from reality. Instead, Solo: Islands of the Heart can actually bring back those memories. It really depends on your own life and experiences. If you’re happy and together with someone, the game will feel pretty pointless. If you’ve had your heartbroken or are alone, it may just highlight your failures instead.

It tells an excruciatingly sad, very real story about a person who is utterly helpless, and it does so using interesting mechanics and scenarios. The controls, aging graphics and lack of replay value, however, make it a difficult proposition to recommend wholeheartedly, so approach with caution unless you absolutely love similar games.

When I first started playing Steven Universe: Save the Light I was excited, but quickly that excitement turned to boredom and frustration. Several of your teams' special moves cause the game to freeze, and about 30% of the map was unreachable as it just wouldn't load. So when I learned of an update in the works, I became optimistic. I thought, okay, we'll postpone the review and wait for them to fix the issues. Then the update came, and I couldn't lie to myself anymore, this game is just not fun. I was ready for the game to be over right around the three-hour marker, which for a game that's around ten hours long, that's not good. So if you love Steven Universe and "like, just have to consume everything," then get your rescue on. For everyone else, there are much better RPG's for you to spend your money and time.

Even being one of the only party games on the Xbox, it sure didn’t seem to try very hard. There seems to be so much more they could have done and added, but there really isn’t much to do or unlock. Not all of the mini-games are bad. I actually really enjoy roulette. Some of them are completed in under a minute, reducing even more what was already a minimal game. I thought it was almost decent, but lacking online support and giving little effort to expanding a basic concept, Vegas Party may not be one you’d want to attend.

Robocraft Infinity can certainly be a fun and creative game. As you unlock more items, you can build better and cooler looking robots. You can even share your designs online for others to admire and use. If you like building-block type games, this is one you should try out. The customization ability, once you get past the controls, is a rewarding experience; the combat, not so much. If you are looking for a cool new shooter-style game to play with friends, this one doesn’t quite scratch the itch.

On the outside looking in, there is a lot to like about a crazy dating simulation. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, the game makes it absurdly difficult to win the affection of another. The scenarios faced are not only crazy but on the brink of being too immature. I have laughed at all kinds of nonsense in my life, but this nonsense was not clever. It was shock humor that leaned more towards shock than humor. While I enjoyed the art, it didn’t really match the context of what was being said. Everyone has different tastes in comedy, but I find it hard to pinpoint anyone I personally know who would laugh at anything being said. There were some good things about my experience with Monster Prom XXL, but most of it was a letdown.