DeVuego

All in all, Kromaia Omega certainly isn’t a bad game, but it’s far from being great. Its unique audio-visual design is perhaps its greatest asset, but unfortunately the gameplay doesn’t always sit well with it, creating an experience that is at times unsatisfying. It also doesn’t help that some of its gameplay systems such as the grapple and the ability to strafe up and down are either useless or unintuitive. Despite these issues, there’s still some fun to be had here by shooter fans willing to put the effort in, and those that do so will be rewarded with their senses being titillated by Kromaia Omega’s charms.

Despite my gripes with UnEpic, it’s hard to not be charmed by it. With its lengthy adventure full of action, character development and humour, its positives more than outweigh its negatives, creating a highly engrossing and enjoyable experience for the most part. Additionally, whilst its visuals are basic and generic, its boasts a fantastic musical score that is sure to impress. If you’re a fan of action RPGs, there’s a great game here for you to sink to sink their teeth into, providing you can deal with the frustrations, and anyone else looking for a solid adventure with a great deal of humour should also consider checking it out.  UnEpic may not be quite as epic as it could be, but it’s still a fantastic achievement that deserves your attention.

Overall then, you can probably gather that I didn’t enjoy my time spent playing Dogchild very much. It’s certainly not the worst game I’ve had the misfortune of playing; I’d rather play Dogchild than the likes of Toro or Yasai Ninja for example, but that’s like saying I’d rather have a broken arm than a broken leg – neither of them is desirable. Pretty much everything here is below par; the graphics, the audio, the gameplay, the controls; and on that basis, I recommend that you give Dogchild a miss.

Essentially, Blues and Bullets: Episode Two is just what you’d expect; more of the same. When the focus of the game is on its storytelling however, and it’s just as solid as it was in episode one or maybe even better, that’s absolutely fine.  Running a little longer than the first episode at just less than three hours, the pacing lets it down a little due to the overlong shooting scenes, but it remains an absorbing experience from beginning to end nevertheless. Adding yet more layers to the web of intrigue, episode two of Blues and Bullets offers us few answers to the questions on our lips at the end of the first episode, but it doesn’t leave you dissatisfied; it just leaves you eager for the next chapter of the chilling and mysterious tale that’s unravelling to arrive. For a story-driven experience, surely that’s the highest praise that can be given.

All things considered though, if you like a good challenge and value quality gameplay over length, which you should, Rise & Shine is a great little title and a great start to the gaming year. The visuals impress from start to finish, the audio constantly delights despite a lack of voice acting, and the frenetic action is varied and addictive. It’s a game for gamers who’ll chuckle at every little visual cue that’s generously strewn throughout its running time and then go back to see if there’s any they may have missed. Those with little patience may quickly find themselves throwing their pads in despair, but those who can hack it will be utterly charmed.

It’s a shame that there are no online gameplay options – that, I feel, would make Oh My Godheads a commercial hit – but even just as a local multiplayer only game it deserves success. Oh my Godheads is without a doubt one of the most original, polished, balanced, and entertaining local multiplayer games I’ve played all year, and so if you’re the type of person that has friends around on a regular basis for some gaming action, it deserves your attention.

Immortal Redneck is a game that rarely frustrates, even though it'll kick your ass. Repeatedly. Why? Because it always feels fair. The controls are perfect, the visuals are charming, and no enemies or traps ever feel overpowered. Being a roguelike you're always destined to fail, sure, but it never feels the odds are unduly stacked against you. As you unlock new characters, bolster your stats and become more knowledgeable about the game, you know victory will one day come, and that makes your desire to keep at it even stronger. Immortal Redneck is perhaps the best roguelike I've ever played because of that fact, and it's a title you should definitely check out now that it's available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

It should go without saying that the Nightfall expansion is essential for those who have completed Aragami and are keen to once again delve back into it. And if you’ve not played Aragami yet? Well, with the arrival of Aragami: Shadow Edition there has never been a better time to do so. Bundling up the base game with its expansion and the Assassin Masks DLC, it’s a sizeable game available at half the price of a standard release. For fans of good, old-fashioned stealth, it’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.

Blasphemous is hands down one of my favourite games of 2019. I wasn’t expecting it to be, but it’s one of those unexpected surprises; a gift that you didn’t think that you wanted but quickly becomes to be loved. Sitting between Castlevania and Dark Souls, its combat is fast-paced and requires timing and skill, the difficulty pitched just perfectly. But it’s the sense of discovery and hardship that your character goes through that really makes it what it is, as well as the atmospheric world they inhabit. Blasphemous may not be entirely original structurally or mechanically, but The Game Kitchen has cooked up something that feels very unique.

I wanted to like Dawn of Fear. I really did. It’s not all bad. It has some well-designed enemies that are truly creepy, for example, and its environments are dripping with atmosphere. But it just feels broken. Combat is a gamble, the health system is a joke; throw on top a myriad of technical issues and you have a game that at times feels borderline unplayable. Unless Dawn of Fear gets heavily patched after launch, steer well clear of it unless you’re a glutton for punishment or have the patience of a saint.

If you’ve got the patience for it, Relicta is undoubtedly a neat puzzle game. It’s quite lengthy for a game of its type, which is perhaps why it eventually begins to feel overly repetitive, but you are spurred on when you encounter an a-ha! moment and go on to solve a puzzle that’s been perplexing you for the last 15 minutes or so. If you’ve made your way through the likes of the The Talos Principle and QUBE 2 and are eager to get stuck into yet another brain-teasing adventure, you’ll get a lot out of Relicta, even if it won’t have quite the same impact on you.

So, should you buy Evil Inside? Probably not unless you’re really desperate to be reminded of P.T., or truly love jump scares. Though even then, the fact that it’s only an hour long should make you think twice. On the balance of things it’s not a terrible horror game, but it brings nothing new to the table at all. It tries to mimic P.T. but is inferior to it in pretty much every way. Even worse, you have to pay for the pleasure.

The first game to released as part of the Horror Tales Saga, Horror Tales: The Wine isn’t likely to wow anyone. It is a solid effort though, and one that horror fans should definitely consider checking out if they want a short and sweet experience to occupy an evening. While its presentation leaves a little to be desired and its puzzles eventually become a tad samey, it tells a chilling story and backs it up with some genuinely hair-raising scenarios.

Treasures of the Aegean is a unique game, blending rewarding exploration, energetic parkour and thoughtful puzzles. It’s also refreshingly devoid of combat. It’s just a shame that the controls aren’t a bit tighter, and the overall game a little more polished. It’s also questionable if the time loop mechanic does the game any favours; with such a sprawling map, it can be frustrating starting in a different place each time and having your progress in various puzzles reset. Ultimately, some players will get a great deal of enjoyment out of Treasures of the Aegean, but many will find it scrappy and repetitive.

For those who enjoy thoughtful narrative adventures, it’s easy to recommend The Longest Road on Earth. It’s brief but very moving, and there’s every chance you might play through it more than once given its fantastic soundtrack and the way its story is open to interpretation. On another playthrough you might notice a detail in a scene that changes how you view it, for example. There’s one thing for certain: The Longest Road on Earth makes an impact.

TAPE: Unveil the Memories is a decent-looking game, and it has a nice enough soundtrack, too. It’s just a shame that its blend of engaging puzzles and fairly accomplished storytelling are brought down by poor stealth sections that feel out of place. Still, it’s definitely worth a play if you enjoy a sordid tale full of twists of turns. You’ll just need a little patience and persistence to get through some of its encounters.

Evil Dead: The Game has quickly become our favourite 4v1 horror title, and we can’t wait to see how it grows and develops. There are two distinct experiences to be had playing as either a demon or a survivor, but both are huge amounts of gory fun. And thanks to the fantastic atmosphere generated by the game’s visuals and map design, you’re genuinely kept on the edge of your seat as you play. We’re so glad that some 40 years after the release of The Evil Dead, the series remains relevant. And on the back of Evil Dead: The Game we think it’s got much more life in it yet. Come get some.

Metal Tales: Overkill is a fairly competent game; one that’s somewhat enjoyable but not remarkable in any way. You can have hours of fun with it, and can even play it with a friend or family member by your side thanks to couch co-op, but chances are you aren’t going to remember your time with it all that fondly. Still, if you’re into metal music and roguelikes, it might be worth picking up.

Focusing on puzzles rather than action – most noteworthy encounters are delivered via quick time events – Oxide Room 104 may be rough around the edges but it has a certain something that elevates it above many of its competitors. It has a genuinely oppressive atmosphere, its puzzles are engaging, and its looping mechanic adds a exciting twist. If you’re a survival horror fan looking for something that will occupy an evening or two, this may just fit the bill.

Overall, Curse of the Sea Rats is a perfectly playable metroidvania that feels rough around the edges. Mechanically it can feel a little unfair at times due to things like stiff animations and unfortunate enemy placements. And while its four protagonist set up is a neat touch, it can be a grind to upgrade skills if you do decide to change. Still, fans of the genre are likely to enjoy their time with it.

While its gameplay can feel a little basic at times, we’re really glad that GYLT is now free of Stadia. This is a small but powerful horror title that tackles an important issue while also providing hours of engaging gameplay. And though there’s nothing truly original here, Tequila Works has obviously put this together with care. If nothing else, it deserves praise for simply being a horror game accessible to younger audiences while still being unsettling for all.

While it’s unlikely to win over anyone that tried the first and didn’t vibe with it, Blasphemous 2 is undoubtedly a treat for fans wanting to spend more time with the Penitent One. With more variety in terms of both visuals and gameplay, this is a confident sequel that builds on the foundations of its predecessor. And while its story may be confounding at times, we can’t help but be mesmerised by its dark and mysterious world.

Pick up Enchanted Portals and you’ll find that you can have some fun with it, especially if you get a friend in tow and play in co-op. But while it sports an attractive art style and a listenable soundtrack, the gameplay will frustrate you from time to time, and you’re likely to find its run ‘n’ gun stages a tad too repetitive. Throw in difficulty spikes, disjointed boss transitions and a lack of sound effects, and you have a game that’s ultimately a stylish disappointment.

Neon Blood will likely grab you from the outset thanks to its interesting premise and attractive visual style. Unfortunately, poor localisation, unrewarding combat and some other issues pull the whole experience down.

With its intriguing narrative that keeps you on your toes and some genuinely creative puzzles, Luto is a first-person psychological horror game like no other. It has an important message, but its dark subject matter means that it perhaps isn't suitable for those sensitive to themes of depression and suicide.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a genuinely challenging action game with lovely visuals and rewarding fast-paced gameplay. It feels a bit rough in places, though, and often borders on being simply too chaotic for its own good. Assist options mean that anyone can see the journey through to its end, but better balancing or difficulty levels would have been preferred.

With its charming player models and fast-paced 3v3 matches with simplified mechanics, NBA Bounce offers a fun take on basketball that's suitable for all ages and skill levels. It's not quite as exciting to play as it could be, however, and a lack of online multiplayer will be disappointing to some.

A surreal narrative exploration game, A Pizza Delivery doesn't do much to impress, but it's an enjoyable adventure nonetheless. There are some fun puzzles to solve here, and interesting people to meet, but it's all over very quickly.

Dark Atlas: Infernum has a somewhat interesting story, but aside from that there's nothing else positive to say about it. Annoying enemies, poor checkpointing, bad voice acting, and more, all combine to make for a psychological horror game that's impossible to recommend.

It's quite short and rather rough around the edges, but The Last Case of John Morley has an interesting case for you to crack. Just don't expect anything too ambitious or impressive.

A first-person survival horror game with a story steeped in Spanish history, folklore and religion, Crisol: Theater of Idols may borrow from the likes of Resident Evil but it manages to stand out thanks to its creepy enemies and clever blood bullet mechanic.

Take God of War, Dark Souls and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, put them in a blender along with some new elements such as being able to craft weapons and target specific body parts, and you have Blades of Fire. Its map design can be devious at times, and its enemy placement a little questionable, but overall it's an engaging, and rather epic, adventure.

Taking on the role of a paranormal investigator, The Occultist gives you multiple unique abilities to make use of as you explore areas and solve an assortment of puzzles. It's a bit rough around the edges, but fans of narrative driven supernatural adventures will likely get plenty of enjoyment out of it.