Following its public reveal at Gamescom, we sat down behind closed doors with Dlala Studios for a first look at Murals – a dark, subverted fairytale action-adventure where Sleeping Beauty is suddenly an insomniac, Rapunzel’s hair has a mind of its own, and Rumpelstiltskin has developed an unyielding passion for theater. Known for their vibrant, hand-painted aesthetic on titles like Battletoads and Disney Illusion Island, Dlala’s latest project traps players in a twisted world alongside a sentient sketch companion named Loaf, tasking them with hacking, slashing, and experimenting through crooked castles and living mazes. Following our hands-on preview, we sat down with Dlala CEO and Game Director Aj Grand-Scrutton to dive deeper into tone balancing, player-driven balance breaking, and what it really takes to self-publish their first original IP in over a decade. Continue reading “Developer interview: Murals (Gamescom)”
SiN Reloaded review
SiN was always an interesting case. Released in 1998, Ritual Entertainment’s shooter arrived with plenty of ambition, attempting to combine the fast-paced action associated with Quake-era FPS games with more elaborate interaction, branching objectives and a greater sense of place. Unfortunately, it was released only days before Half-Life and consequently struggled to receive the attention its ideas deserved – and the same can be said for when SiN Episodes stopped after a single episode. Almost three decades later, Nightdive Studios has brought the original game back with SiN Reloaded, a remaster that adds modern conveniences without attempting to disguise the age of its underlying design. The result is an unusual mix of genuinely forward-thinking ideas and unmistakably late-’90s game design, making it as much a piece of FPS history as it is a modernized shooter. Continue reading “SiN Reloaded review”
DEMONS’ NIGHT FEVER preview (PS5)
Tactical RPGs generally revolve around keeping valuable units alive. Every character represents an investment, and losing one can turn a carefully planned battle into a desperate struggle. DEMONS’ NIGHT FEVER takes that familiar formula and turns it upside down. Developed by Drecom Co., Ltd. and published by Arc System Works, the game makes sacrificing allied units one of the most important parts of its combat system. Created by Sōhei Niikawa, best known as the creator of the Disgaea series, it is clearly rooted in the tactical RPG tradition, but its central mechanics are designed to make players approach that genre very differently. Continue reading “DEMONS’ NIGHT FEVER preview (PS5)”
Graveyard Keeper 2 review (PS5)
Graveyard Keeper 2 takes the already unusual premise of its predecessor and makes it considerably more elaborate. Published by tinyBuild and developed by Lazy Bear Games, the sequel once again turns the business of dealing with the dead into the foundation for a management RPG, but this time the player is caught up in a much larger crisis. The story begins with the protagonist trapped in a dungeon before he escapes and eventually assumes the role of a graveyard keeper and, somewhat surprisingly, a Grand Inquisitor. From there, the mystery surrounding his identity becomes intertwined with an undead outbreak and the rebuilding of a struggling town. It is not an especially sophisticated narrative, but it does not need to be. The deliberately ridiculous situations, macabre subject matter and dry humor give the story enough personality to keep the many hours of management from feeling completely mechanical. The talking skull Larry is particularly effective in this regard, while the increasingly absurd situations provide a welcome counterweight to all the resource management. Continue reading “Graveyard Keeper 2 review (PS5)”
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis preview (Gamescom)
There are few video game characters as immediately recognisable as Lara Croft, and even fewer games that carry quite as much historical baggage as the original Tomb Raider. Reimagining that first adventure for a modern audience is therefore a considerable challenge, especially after the high bar set by the recent trilogy. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is taking a somewhat different approach, retaining the locations, premise and adventurous spirit of Lara’s debut while rebuilding almost everything around them. After seeing an early build during Gamescom, there is plenty to be excited about, although some questions remain about how well its modern additions will fit together. Continue reading “Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis preview (Gamescom)”