Mondoku (Mobile)
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Posted on July 21st, 2021 by
So what happens when you mix Sudoku puzzles with modern art? You get Mondoku, that’s what! You know how in Sudoku, you must place numbers on a grid so that no two of the same numbers appear on a row or column of squares? Well what if those squares were different sizes? That’s what you have to deal with in Mondoku, and when you finish a puzzle, the squares will be colored in and look like those famous modern art paintings by Piet Mondrian (yeah I had to look that up, I’m not THAT cultured). Anyway, Mondoku is a free-to-play mobile game, but reviewed on iPad here.
Beasts of Maravilla Island (Switch, PC)
Posted on July 19th, 2021 by
Boy do I love me some New Pokémon Snap! I even named it my Game of the Year SO FAR recently. It’s just so much fun taking pictures of Pokémon. But what if I told you there was another game where you get to take pictures of mythical creatures, but instead of being on-rails, you’re free to move around in 3-D space! Well that’s exactly what you get to do in Beasts of Maravilla Island. In the game you play as Marina, a young woman who was told fantastical stories of a magical island with one of a kind creatures by her grandfather. When her grandfather passes away, she inherits his camera and journal, with his dying wish for her to photograph the creatures on this island to prove to the world that it exists. So now she’s off on an expedition in this 3-D photography game that takes elements from titles like Pokémon Snap and the photo mini-games in Beyond Good and Evil. It’s available to play on Nintendo Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Knockout City (Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC)
Posted on July 14th, 2021 by
One of my favorite sports video games of all time is Super Dodge Ball on the NES. In fact, it was my number one favorite sports game until Wii Sports came along. So when I heard about Knockout City, a 3-D online dodgeball game that’s free to start on the Switch, I was willing to give it a try!
Retrograde Arena (Switch, PC)
Posted on July 12th, 2021 by
Retrograde Arena is a multiplayer twin stick shooter, with a retro vector visual style. It’s free for Nintendo Switch Online users, so I figured, ‘what the heck, I’ll give it a go.’ Like most twin stick shooters, you move with the left JoyCon and aim with the right. Fire your lasers with the Z trigger button. But from what I could tell, most weapons won’t kill you, but push you back farther. Firing your own weapon does that, too, so you can use that to your advantage to move faster. What you really have to watch out for are dangerous walls that you can bump into, that can ether bounce you around or outright kill you!
Guilty Gear -Strive- (PS4, PS5, PC)
Posted on July 7th, 2021 by
While Street Fighter 2 is probably the most recognizable one-one-one 2-D fighting game series, there are plenty of others that have made a name for themselves over the years. With its anime styled characters and rockin’ soundtrack, Guilty Gear is just one of those series. Now the newest entry is out for PS4, PS5, and PC (reviewed on PS4 here). Is it any good? You’ll just have to read on to find out!
LEGO Builder’s Journey (Switch, PC, Apple Arcade)
Posted on July 5th, 2021 by
I have been fortunate enough to review nearly every LEGO game that has been released in the past decade or so (maybe longer). It’s been a true honor and it’s great because the LEGO games are fun and perfect for both kids and adults to play together! But there’s only one problem. Pretty much every LEGO game in the past 20 years has played the same. So much so that I can basically cut and paste parts of my reviews and change very little to meet the needs of each LEGO game review. Don’t get me wrong, this format of LEGO game is still tons of fun. But if you crave something a little different, this next LEGO game has you covered. Builder’s Journey presents small single screen areas made of LEGOs, and you must solve puzzles with real LEGO blocks in each one (kind of reminds me of Captain Toad in a way). Originally released on Apple Arcade, Builder’s Journey is now available on Switch and PC (reviewed on Switch here).
Fishing Fighters (Switch)
Posted on June 30th, 2021 by
Fishing Fighters is a Switch exclusive fishing game with an emphasis on story and multiplayer. In the main Story Mode, you play as Kaito, a young aspiring fisherman who gets a letter in the mail from his long lost dad. Inside the letter is a ticket to a fishing tournament, so now he’s off to compete and be the best angler ever. He’ll meet anime inspired characters like a busty professor lady that teaches him the ropes, as well as a host of other friends and rivals.
Dreamworks’ Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on June 28th, 2021 by
I have a younger cousin who lives in Alabama who just loved horses as a kid. One time when I came to visit she had a N64 and a copy of Ocarina of Time and wanted me to help her get to the part of the game where she could ride the horse. So I played to that point and gave the controller to her and that’s all she did! A few years later when I came back to visit, there was an animated movie in theaters that we took her to see called Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and she loved it! Bottom line is, kids love horses. And why wouldn’t they? Horses are pretty cool animals. And now there is a computer animated spin-off series of Spirit on Netflix, plus a new movie based on the Netflix show out now in theaters. And now you can play a game based on the new movie and Netflix series with Dreamworks’ Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure. It’s available on nearly all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
0 Degrees (PS4, Switch, Xbox One)
Posted on June 23rd, 2021 by
You are a climber exploring snowy mountains, and you have the power to create ice blocks. Solve platforming jumping and block pushing puzzles in this 2-D action game available for most current consoles but reviewed on PS4 here.
Rift Racoon (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC)
Posted on June 21st, 2021 by
You are a raccoon who has free reign to walk around a science lab. Maybe this animal is a pet or mascot, as one of the scientists in the lab gives you a hug when you walk past. Although you can knock down beakers and break computers when you go by. Anyway, shortly after you start, you find a wrist device that lets you warp a few feet in front of you, and these same scientists are ok with letting you test it. So as a raccoon, you’ll run, jump, climb walls, and warp between them as you make it to the end of super challenging 2-D platform levels. For a while their spelling of ‘racoon’ in the game’s title bugged me to no end, but apparently it’s also a correct way to spell it. I’m still using two C’s for my review outside the title, though. Anyway, Rift Racoon is available to download on nearly all current game consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
