Game Reviews

Review: The Flame in the Flood – Surviving the Flood

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

the-flame-in-the-flood-switch

Pros:
+Battery consumption is minimal while playing in handheld mode on the Switch
+Transitions well as a console/handheld hybrid title
+One of the most enjoyable games thanks to its artistic direction
+Resources are scarce, forcing players to understand survival

Cons:
-Menu’s can be hard to navigate
-Extremely unforgiving for new players
-Could have used a simpler crafting and menu navigation system

It’s been an interesting couple of months with The Flame in the Flood. On the surface, it’s a game that presents players with a beautifully crafted world, one that uses stylized art and charming audio for fans to enjoy. What isn’t apparent to those paying extreme attention to detail is something a bit more detailed: The Flame in the Flood by Molasses Flood’s debut title is not near as charming. It’s the harsh reality of what it’s like to survive.

Continue reading →

Review: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Switch) – A Fight on the Go

/ Dustin Murphy / 2 Comments

dragon-ball-xenoverse-2-switch-title

Pros:
+Transitions well to hand-held and docked modes on Nintendo Switch
+Even the graphical downgrades don’t take away from the games overall appeal
+Combat shines even on the Nintendo Switch
+Load times have been significantly reduced

Cons:
-Small audio bugs can cause some voice queues to come in louder than others
-While playing online via handheld mode, battery decay speeds up, and shortens the handheld experience

Growing up, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z were large parts of my childhood. For me, they were the epitome of what entertainment was, and they easily began to triumph over any of the animated franchises I’d been watching at the time. With the recent releases of Dragon Ball franchise themed games, it was only time before we’d begin to wonder if we’d ever see one land on the Nintendo Wii U or Nintendo Switch.

Continue reading →

Review: Forza Motorsport 7 – The Racing King Returns to Compete

/ Dustin Murphy / 4 Comments

Forza-7-Screenshot05

Pros:
+By far one of the best looking games available to date
+Offers one of the most realistic racing experiences available
+Graphic quality and overall performance is astonishing regardless of platform
+Loot boxes are done right and do not prevent a players overall enjoyment of the title

Cons:
-Career mode does feel a bit off-center, forcing players to save credits to purchase cars, and locking their progression behind such tedious manners

When I first started Forza Motorsport 7, I’d expected something I’ve been familiar with in many ways. First, I was expecting moderately amplified graphics, utilizing the power of the Xbox One or my Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU. Second, I was expecting a moderate collection of cars that would help bring my experience to the forefront and push my immersion to all new levels. Third, I was expecting Forza Motorsport 7 to be slightly problematic with the implementation of loot boxes.

Continue reading →

Review: Nioh: Complete Edition (PC) – A Completely PC Worthy Experience

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

NIOH_04

Pros:
+Runs extremely smooth on PC with minor to no frame rate hiccups
+Graphics are just as beautiful on PC as they are on consoles
+Steam is not required to play the game making the launcher a useful utility
+Controller support is a must-have for this game

Cons:
-Lack of keyboard and mouse will be a drawback for some PC gamers

I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen this shrine. I’ve probably seen it half a dozen times. Half a dozen more than I cared to at this point. I’ve dodged, dodged, dodged, and unfortunately somehow I’ve still managed to get knocked into the bigger foe ahead of me only to somehow get an arrow in the back. Not even the small alley’s between these huts have saved me. I should know this well by now, I’ve played this plenty on PlayStation 4 with Nioh (you can read our PS4 review here), and somehow – I still. Manage. To. Freaking. Die. Every. Damned. Time.

Continue reading →

Review: SUPERBEAT XONiC – Dropping the Beat on the Switch

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

superbeat-xonic-logo

Pros: 
+Performs extremely well on the Nintendo Switch
+68 tracks for players to enjoy
+Very intuitive controls that are learned by playing the game continually
+Extremely rewarding no matter what you do

Cons:
-Can be overwhelming from time-to-time for players new to beat rhythm titles
-Tutorials themselves are quite punishing for players at first
-Switch controller thumbsticks do not play nicely with the games thumbstick requirements

I’ve always been a fan of beat rhythm games. I first got my start at playing dance rhythm and beat rhythm titles in March of 1999 thanks to Dance Dance Revolution, or as it is lovingly called, DDR. I’ve invested in games such as Deemo, Guitar Hero, Just Dance, and even Rock Band. But something was always missing. Something that was fun, portable, and highly enjoyable to play.

Continue reading →

Review: Total War: Warhammer II – A Smashing Good Time

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

krox_01_1508948081

Pros:
+Doesn’t deviate from Warhammer or Total War source materials
+Character models are top notch and highly detailed
+Combat remains as strategic as ever
+Four new and delightful factions to enjoy
+Post release content is a delight to play and look forward to

Cons:
-Can be overwhelmingly difficult to take in for newcomers

When we reviewed the original Total War: Warhammer title, we appraised the game rather highly thanks to its creative approach using the Warhammer setting, and the races that lie within. Again, Creative Assembly has already begun to prove the relevance of using the Warhammer universe in Total War. Of course, that doesn’t go without stating that the Warhammer properties have been used across all sorts of games and genres. They’ve been hits, misses, and a few successes.

Continue reading →

Review: Culdcept Revolt – Board Games and RPG’s Revolt

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

culdcept_revolt_sc01

Pros:
+Astonishingly well done card art
+A plethora of cards to work with while building decks
+Offers a unique take on both board games like Monopolgy and trading card games
+Solid and fast paced online gameplay

Cons:
-The story can be somewhat dull due to the constant focus on amnesia
-Characters are quite easily forgettable
-Dice rolls can be harsh and quite painful to deal with during early stages of the game

It’s my typical early Tuesday morning. I have some random Twitch stream running on my screen, my 3DS in my lap, and my Samsung XE303 Chromebook beside it. Given a few of my favorite activities are going on, I’m ignoring them, and not because they are bad options. Instead, I’m not paying attention because my eyes have become glued to my New Nintendo 3DS’ screen thanks to the new boards I’ve finally unlocked on Culdcept Revolt.

Continue reading →

Review: Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon – A Moon That’ll Never Set

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

NightsofAzure2_Screenshot16

Pros:
+An outstanding soundtrack as well as solid atmospherics that set the mood
+Graphics have been heavily upgraded from the previous entry offering more depth and artistic value
+Extremely enjoyable cast members that each feel unique and well rounded

Con:
-Combat system feels dulled down due to the limited party sizes
-Time restrictions while playing the game
-Exploring is slightly limited compared to the previous entry

Before games launch, we’re used to seeing a lot of interest being drawn in just before they hit the shelves in order to grow the games publicity, but also to reach a rather large audience. Games like Nioh, DOOM, and even Wolfenstien II: The New Colossus did this rather well. One such game that hasn’t, just happens to be Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon, a game that carries on the traditional elements we’ve seen from developer Gust in previous years.

Continue reading →

Review: Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle – A Battle Unlike Any Other

/ Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Touhou-Kobuto-V-Burst-Battle-3

Pros:
+Well-drawn character portraits and voice acting
+Some of the soundtrack is a solid piece for fans to enjoy
+Arcade mode is quite fun and offer a lot of replayability

Cons:
-Tutorials are extremely desired for newcomers
-Visuals are a bit rough
-Lackluster

If you aren’t familiar with the Touhou Project, a series of games, print works, and CDs that follow the series’ protagonist Reimu Hakurei as she adventures through a haunted region of japan, you are probably missing out, but that’s okay. It’s a series that you have to actually be familiar with. It’s one that is both odd, lively, and quite enjoyable all together. It’s also one that has a rather large crowd surprisingly enough.

Continue reading →

Review: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – Bigger, Better, and Meaner

/ Dustin Murphy / 2 Comments

Wolfenstein_the_new_Colossus_Sc02

Pros:
+Absolutely remarkable graphics, animations, and sound quality
+Weapons are bigger, better, and upgradeable
+New rig kits are absolutely amazing and fun to use
+Side missions are a blast to take part in
+Old enemies feel more threatening than ever before

Cons:
-Game crashes do become problematic from time-to-time

How do you talk about Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and not mention the fact you’re going to punch Nazis in the face? How do you not mention the fact the game also touches on racism, sexism, fascism, and how to be a patriotic scumbag to the Nazi regime? How do you not mention that this game, in ways, feels like it’s part Quentin Tarantino and part Steven Spielberg. It’s a game where an extremely pregnant Anya has ripped off her shirt, grabbed her guns, and lit up a group of Nazis with a well-deserved shower of lead.

Continue reading →