The Stone of Madness. It’s an inarguably catchy title for one thing, but it also happens to be the latest release from developer The Game Kitchen and publisher Tripwire Presents that represents something of a switch-up for the former. Though The Game Kitchen may be known for the successful stamp its left on the metroidvania
I’ve always considered myself a fan of Warriors games. One of my earliest reviews for this site was actually Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada back in 2017 and I’ve poured hundreds of hours into the various Warriors spin-off games… and yet somehow I’ve never played an actual full fledged Dynasty Warriors before. So of course
Nearly a decade ago I played a little game called Life is Strange, and it stuck with me in a way that few games do. With its relatable characters, tense narrative, and a central mechanic that was wish fulfillment in all the best ways, the original Life is Strange ticked all the boxes for an
Kill Knight is a title that immediately jumped out at me when it came across my virtual desk. For the absolutely radical name, yes, but also for far more than that: the isometric viewpoint, the chunky original PlayStation-esque aesthetic, the apparent emphasis on tight mechanical execution and strict resource management… Everything about it screamed the
Throne and Liberty’s trek toward release has been a long and winding one. Originally announced all the way back in 2011 as Lineage Eternal, the title has run the developmental gamut of changing engines, changing names, and even the excision of its connection to its parent series before settling on its October 1st, 2024 launch
Say what you will about the towering monolith that is The Walt Disney Company and its interesting history in their early years (especially when you deep dive into EPCOT). But there’s a reason why their properties are so beloved, and studio after studio has tried to capture the same magic that’s captivated audiences for well
To say that Behaviour Interactive’s Dead By Daylight has had some staying power would be underselling things by a pretty significant margin. Now in its eighth year of operation, the title has expanded by leaps and bounds thanks to a dedicated fanbase, consistent updates, and a plethora of crossovers with major players in the horror
Star Wars video games have covered an awful lot of ground in their forty-odd years of existence. From its first platformer in 1987’s aptly titled Star Wars, to its first FPS in 1995’s Dark Forces, its first MMORPG in 2003’s Star Wars Galaxies… The list could go on ad infinitum, but suffice it to say,
I have to admit to no small amount of surprise that I’m penning a review for Volgarr the Viking II, the source of which is twofold. Firstly, because its predecessor was a highly punishing, highly niche indie title that hooked its claws into me personally for its particular brand of arcade-style gameplay and required precision
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of The Chinese Room? Not the thought experiment, of course, but the development studio. If you’ve been around for a while, you might think of Dear Esther, the Half-Life 2 mod eventually remade into a full release, or its spiritual successor Everybody’s Gone to
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a game that immediately intrigues. If not for the gunpowder-and-magic stylings of its world, then certainly for the blend of two somewhat disparate gameplay genres. Ostensibly Flintlock reads as a Soulslike, but then you begin to take note of the protagonist’s high mobility, the number of tools at her
Ah, South Park. Throughout the span of the late nineties and early aughts, it was a show that was hard to avoid, what with quotes and catchphrases from the show abounding on the campuses of middle- and high-schools. It was a series that was never very far from sight in its heyday, and this is
When I saw the initial trailers and pictures for Palworld back in 2021, I and many others had a similar reaction: “This can’t be real. This has to be a troll or something.” After all, we had just seen creatures that looked eerily similar to Pokémon engaging in gun fights and slave labor assembly lines,
Way back in the late 90s, I had many a fond memory of playing Turok 1 and 2 on my N64. Naturally when they were remastered I had to pick them up, but I never did play Turok 3. Now it’s finally getting a remaster of it’s own, and it was finally time to see what I had been missing all these years.
Nothing beats getting stuck into a great metroidvania. The non-linear exploration, the progression of new abilities, challenging boss fights—when prepared properly, all of these elements confect one of gaming’s most satisfying, addicting experiences. The appreciation I have for this genre is on my mind with every metroidvania I play, but it’s especially true for those
A couple months have gone by since I had the opportunity to preview Jusant, the latest release from developer Don’t Nod. The demo wasn’t a complete homerun, particularly when it came to the more straightforward elements of its storytelling, but I left the experience heavily enticed by the game’s beat-by-beat climbing gameplay and unique atmosphere.
It’s hard to deny the equalizing factor of the Jackbox Party Pack series. Regardless of the personalities of those present or overall friend dynamic, the games typically always feature some neat gimmicks that allow for just enough input to foster player creativity and generate a plethora of inside jokes. And infusing alcohol in the mix?
CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 has walked quite the rocky path. Following a launch burdened by myriad technical issues and negative player reception, the game has nevertheless soldiered on and steadily improved. I was lucky enough to miss out on a lot of egregious technical issues in my initial playthrough, and thus enjoyed my time
Jusant was a game that immediately and intensely caught my eye upon its announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase this year. The title’s visual style was undeniably a huge part of that initial eye catch, but its premise was what intrigued me most: traversing a towering monolith of stone and unearthing the stories of the
In 2019, Remnant: From The Ashes showed up on the scene with an interesting fusion of third-person cooperative shooting gameplay and the challenging, more exploratory emphasis of Soulslike games. While a novel blend in its own right, the first game’s rougher edges prevented it from really sinking its claws in me as much as I’d