Aladdin – Arabian Nights [Review]

Sometimes you just want to play something truly nostalgic, and what better way to scratch that itch, than firing up the old Super Nintendo emulator for some platforming in Aladdin. I know I’m waltzing into dangerous territory here, since I’ve heard that Nintendo fans can be very passionate. For those, I just want to say: show mercy. I’m no expert in retro-gaming intricacies, but from playing Aladdin, I learned that it’s a damn fine title. And it felt like a perfect platformer for someone not used to these old-school games—not too hard, yet, still challenging without being frustrating. 

Continue reading “Aladdin – Arabian Nights [Review]”

Menace – Demo Impressions

Finally, the Menace demo has arrived for us to download and play like the tactics starved maniacs that we are! So, how is it? I would say it’s okay, showing potential for the future. However, the high boardgame feel of it really surprised me. It’s a game that is a lot more abstracted in combat simulation, LOS (line of sight), and damage than I was expecting—especially compared to their last title; Battle Brothers.

For example, “overwatch” has been dumped in favor of faster gameplay, forcing you to move forward instead of turtling behind defenses to ambush the enemy. Fair, I guess, but it also means that the defensive safe playstyle that I like is out the window. And it feels a tad ridiculous that my special forces unit when having action-points left after a move, say up to a building, can’t defend themselves. 

Continue reading “Menace – Demo Impressions”

Hell is Us – Demons of Boredom [Early (Final) Thoughts]

This is not a full review of Hell is Us, since I haven’t completed the game, but I felt I had to give my opinion on what I have played so far. Now, when I tried the demo, I got impressed, despite the large sword-anime antics, which is something I’m allergic to for the most part. Even so, the story felt mysterious, and the world, while being fairly large with plenty of areas to seek out, still felt tightly designed with an enjoyable dungeon to tackle at your own pace. I thought the full game would follow this premise, but so far, that’s not so.

Continue reading “Hell is Us – Demons of Boredom [Early (Final) Thoughts]”

Sword Hero – Demo Impressions

Now, here we have a game with some serious potential, for everyone that loves the Gothic, and the Elder Scrolls series. The Sword Hero demo is rather short, as you are limited to five arena battles, with increasing difficulty depending on the foe. However, what is showcased here is nothing short of amazing. Especially if you enjoy heavy system based RPGs/action games. By that, I mean how stuff interacts with each other, primarily through a damn cool physics engine. Expect hilarious ragdoll slapstick, which is right up my alley. 

Continue reading “Sword Hero – Demo Impressions”

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown [Teaser]

Now, this is not what I was expecting going through the AAA slop coming out of Gamescom. A game that might actually be fun. Once again, Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is set during one of the better shows, which I think is great, but also hilarious. It seems developers and publishers have zero faith in that anything created in the modern Star Trek era would sell. I don’t blame them. It feels a little like the curse of Star Wars, in how nobody wants to make a game in the Disney era – with everyone looking back to the glory days instead.

About the game itself, it looks to be some kind of strategy space survival, where you get to re-live the TV-show, making your own choices, instead of letting Captain Janeway run the ship. Could be fun, could be total toast, but more Star Trek is never bad. Trailer after the jump! 

Continue reading “Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown [Teaser]”