rogue-like

Game ReviewsGamingPS5Sony

The Last of Us 2: Remastered, Review

The Last of Us 2 (TLoU2) was the swansong title for the PS4 in 2020 and it was AMAZING.

Hyperbole aside, it is the best video game ever made. So, Sony have seen fit to drop a native PS5 version and pack in some other goodies, plus a ‘rouge-like’ mode for good measure.

After replaying it all for this review I can say with confidence…it is STILL one of my favourite video games of all time!

Read More
GamingGame ReviewsIndie GamePC / MacPlaystationXbox Series SXbox Series X

Death’s Door – the review

Death’s Door has certainly piqued some interest in a relatively short space of time. Fortunately Gerard and Dylan were keen enough to follow up our preview with a deft 2-winger Death’s Door Review.

Site regulars, the boys share some interesting insight into the game.

It’s great to see how Death’s Door has bucked the norm in its genre and made its challenges enjoyable in a very nuanced way.

Read More
GamingGame ReviewsPlaystationPS5Sony

Returnal, Review (PS5)

I have always hated games from the Rogue-Like genre. The lack of progression, the severe penalty for simple mistakes and if I’m honest, the feeling of games just being unfair. It does nothing for me.

Well…the genius’s at Housemarque have found the perfect Rogue-Like recipe. Cooking up a beautifully atmospheric, AAA quality, frenetic shooter.

In fact, at this stage of the year Returnal currently sits atop my Game of the Year list for 2021.

Read More
GamingByte Size ReviewIndie GamePC / Mac

Loop Hero Review (PC)

Sitting down to write this I thought I’d just have another quick run to get me ready. That was almost three hours ago.

Loop Hero, from small Indie developer Four Quarters, is one of those games. One quick run and next minute you have missed that meeting, forgotten to pick up the kids, or been unable to start writing that review. And at first glance Loop Hero doesn’t look like much. Definitely not something that will grab huge chunks of your precious gaming time.

Thankfully Devolver Digital saw differently and got this gem of a game out to the masses.

Read More
GamingGame ReviewsPS4Switch ConsoleXbox One

Windbound (Playstation 4)

Stranded on a desert island, what do you bring? As much as I would love to say…. “a PS4 and a copy of Windbound”, alas I cannot.  Its beautiful art style and fun sailing mechanics, have been scuttled by the tough rogue-like penalties and clunky combat encounters.

Windbound is a survival game built around rouge-like mechanics and procedurally generated islands. Anyone who has played “Don’t Starve” will have a very good understanding of the design philosophy.

Windbound initially presents as a sort of paired down version of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Which, let’s be honest is a great place to start. Windbound will not however, have the broad appeal of Zelda. I think it’s going to be an acquired taste for many gamers as they will need to be patient and forgiving lovers of rogue-likes, to find joy here.

Read More
GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4Xbox One

West of Dead, [reviewed on PC]

West of Dead is one of those games where if at first you don’t succeed, then try, try, try again.

And believe me, you won’t succeed your first run. You’ll end up back at the bar where you always start every run, perhaps a little wiser, definitely a little deader.

A twin stick shooter featuring a dead protagonist cowboy with a flaming skull for a head

West of Dead is a procedurally generated shooter in the vein of Dead Cells. Death is a certainty and around just about every corner. The more you die, the more you get to grips with the nuances and fine details that make this game tick.

Read More
GamingGame ReviewsIndie GamePC / MacPS4Xbox One

Don’t Die, Minerva! Review (Xbox One X)

Every second game I have played recently seems to be a rogue-like or have rogue-like elements in them.

Thankfully, unlike the rest of the team, I am not adverse to this as I quite like the format and play style that rogue-likes fall into. That is not to say I don’t throw the odd controller in frustration at my 145th death in 3 minutes.

I have just learnt to throw it gently onto the couch beside me. But with a little Luigi flair this could be fun to play.

Don’t Die, Minerva! looks really nice and plays well. Although there isn’t a huge variety in what you are doing and where you are doing it, it maintains that, just one more run, feel you expect from a good rogue-like.

Read More
GamingByte Size ReviewIndie GamePC / MacPS4Xbox One

Children of Morta Review (Xbox One X)

Meet the Bergsons, the Children of Morta. John, Linda, Kevin, Mark, Lucy, and Joey. Good, solid hero names if ever there was. Living in the shadow of Mount Morta and entrusted with its protection, life has been pretty good for the Bergsons. Until an evil corruption takes hold with in the mountain.

Now it is time to take up arms and save the sacred mountain they call home.

When it comes to games, I don’t mind rogue-likes, talk to @nzbrowncoat and you might just get a different response. So thankfully for him, I have Children of Morta from Dead Mage Inc. to review and he doesn’t.

Read More