Keystone Kapers (Atari 2600)

Like most Atari games, Keystone Kapers really has to be looked at in the context of the Atari era. Side scrollers were a new evolution in the platforming genre. Keystone Kapers came out in 1983. Only one year prior, in 82, David Crane's Pitfall was released and broke new ground with the platformer. Programmed by Garry Kitchen, who also programmed Pressure Cooker, Space Jockey and Donkey Kong on the Atari 2600, I see this as Garry's attempt at making a faster paced, and more liner version of the side scroller using the standard set by

Among Us - Moble/Steam Game Review

Games which use social engineering have been done before, but they are few and far between. Other notable entries into this niche sub-genre are Trouble in Terrorist Town and Spy Party. Now along comes a little game called Among Us. This mobile game, now ported to Steam, utilizes social engineering, fast matches, solid online play and low cost access ability to make the perfect storm.

Saints Row II - PC/Xbox 360 Game Review

The Saints Row series is a timeless classic that has done a great job filling the void in the very long gap between Grand Theft Auto games. The second in the series is the earliest game available on multi platforms, so most PC gamers start here unless you are ready to dust off that X-Box 360 and order a copy of the original game.

Kuso (PC/Steam 2017)

Minimalist platforming can be fun. How minimalist is too minimalist? Developer Fred Wood aims to find out with Kuso. The big gimmick of Kuso is that the player can, at any time, leave a shadow behind for use as a respawn point upon death. Apart from that, we are treated to a stick figure (named five-eight,) navigating beautifully drawn levels with 100 extra lives. (Or infinite lives, or one life depending on what mode you play).

Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy (PC - Steam Review)

I have always had an affection for old school first person dungeon crawlers, but they are definitely bigger in Japan than they are in North America. Today’s modern dungeon crawler, with a few choice exceptions, is a very anime experience. The anime element in this particular game is really strong indeed.

Storm of Spears (PC - Steam) Review

I still stand by my initial Steam review of this game:

“There is no storm of spears in this game, nor does the character on the banner art and title screen appear in the game anywhere.”

Mechanically, it’s a run of the mill RPG Maker game. Much of the graphical content is appears to be reused from other games. The text boxes that appear during in-game dialog is inescapably recognizable as RPG Maker style text.

In combat, player sprites can be seen attacking the enemy, which is a small detail, but its something not every RPG Maker game does. Another positive is that battles are initiated by colliding with sprites on a map screen much more akin to Chrono Trigger's encounter style rather than Dragon Warriors abrupt random battle style.

For those of you who are wondering, there is no...

Nimbatus: The Space Drone Constructor (Steam)

 

Did you ever watch that show where people build robots and have them fight each other? Today’s game “Nimbatus: The Space Drone Constructor” is like a single player version of that show …. “IN SPACE!”

Echo Royale - Steam Review

Ready to take a trip into sadness? Let’s explore depression as if it were a dark cave in Virginia that we could visit for the afternoon. Don’t stay too long, or you won’t be able to get out. (Also bring sandwiches and toilet paper.) Readers, I bring you the budget title Echo Royale.

Fatal Labyrinth (Sega Genesis) Review

Not everything needs to be fair. Fatal Labyrinth is a fantasy dungeon crawling game for the Sega Genesis in which the player explores randomly generated dungeons in a top-down layout. Everything is turn based. Nothing on the screen moves unless the player moves. This gives the game a bit more of a table-top Dungeons and Dragons type feel. Players have all the time they need to obsess over the randomly dropped gear before taking the next step into combat.

∀kashicforce (Steam) - Review

∀kashicforce is a verticle scrolling puzzle game that looks closely related to Puzzle Bobble or Tetris Attack. It's developed by Endless Shirafu, and it’s selling for 12.99 on Steam.

It’s like Tetris Attack on crack! I don’t mean that to say that it's amped up and exciting. It’s more like Tetris Attack with a debilitating drug addiction that’s causing it to hurt it’s friends and family.

Treasure Hunter Simulator (PC) Review

Treasure Hunter Simulator is one of many low-intensity simulator games to come in the wake of the ‘Simulation’ craze. We aren’t saving the world here. We’re just going to go walk in the woods and look for buried garbage. Grab your metal detector and click the 'read more' button to become that weird guy who walks around on the beach. You have seen the guy before. Let's do this.