Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival – Demo Impressions

Now, this demo was a surprise. I was expecting a linear moody walking-simulator, but Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is an actual game with stealth, machete-combat London-style and the blasting of foes with guns. It was also incredibly bloody, with breasts and genitalia on full display—so very Hellraiser and Clive Barker. I found the lady with the massive flesh-constructed tongue upsetting, but not in the pearl clutching way—it was more like: It’s time to get the hell out of here!

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Crypts Of Carith – Demo Impressions

Since we are on a blobber roll, why not try another one! And this time we are playing the Crypts Of Carith demo, a turn-based blobber made by a solo developer. Right off the bat, I can say that this game certainly tickles the dungeon-crawling itch. The visuals do not impress me much, as it frankly looks a bit drab and empty. Yet the gameplay, which is based on some kind of ruleset akin to Dungeons and Dragons, made me feel right at home with the combat and dice rolls. 

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Singularity – In Mother Russia, Time Clocks You [Review]

Welcome to Singularity, a game with serious time shenanigans, horrible mutants with a taste for human flesh, and masses of Soviet soldiers out to kill you—both futuristic and classic brown-shirted ones from the past. The plot isn’t overly complicated, but it’s a bit of a mess when you start to think about it, especially if you are sensitive to media tackling time travel. However, being a Call of Duty style shooter, you don’t actually have to give that much of thought, since you are here to blast things to kingdom come—regardless of which timeline the enemy belongs to.

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Cralon – Demo Impressions

It’s time to try Björn and Jennifer Pankratz’s (former Piranha Bytes) game Cralon from their newly established studio, Pithead Studio. Cralon is a first-person dungeon crawler that is clearly inspired by the classic title Ultima Underworld. After finishing the short demo, the exploration and atmosphere sure are there. However, the combat will require some serious polishing, as it felt clunky and not very satisfying. But mood is one of the fundamentals to get right for a game like this—so, I’m glad they nailed this important aspect in the demo.

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Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! – Demo Impressions

The eternal enemy of the human race is once again back to torment us. This time in the style of a chaotic retro shooter with a ton of gore—human and insect alike! Welcome to the demo of Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! My impression after playing the demo is: this will not be known for its story, except that the bugs need a good stomping.

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Ardenfall – Demo Impressions

I decided to try the Ardenfall demo, which is an Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind-inspired RPG, set in a fantasy world that can best be likened to Vvardenfell—strange wildlife and all. The oddity of the place, just like Morrowind, comes from the familiar, mixed with the unfamiliar—and while I’m not entirely sold on the visual style, it does play a huge part in its oddness. So, if you love to explore bizarre alien worlds with an oriental cultural flavor, this will feel tailor‑made for you.

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