There is something inherently appealing about seeing a developer known for one particular type of game step well outside its comfort zone. Realmforge Studios has spent years building the Dungeons series around dungeon management and strategy, but Rise of the Spellbaker takes that familiar sense of humor and fantasy and applies it to something considerably more unusual. Combining action-adventure, village building and a touch of life-sim progression with a magical baking system, the game certainly has no shortage of ideas. After getting hands-on with the PC version during Gamescom, however, it is clear that there is still quite a bit of baking left to do before the final recipe is ready. Continue reading “Rise of the Spellbaker preview (Gamescom)”
Moros Protocol review (PS5)
Moros Protocol throws players into the derelict warship Orpheus with little more than a weapon, a mysterious voice and a lot of things that want to kill them. That deliberately thin setup fits the game’s retro-inspired approach, where atmosphere and momentum matter more than delivering a deeply developed science-fiction narrative. Alex’s awakening from cryosleep, the disappearance of the crew and the strange circumstances surrounding the ship provide enough mystery to keep the player moving forward, while the roguelite structure ensures that uncovering what happened is only part of the appeal. The story remains firmly in the background, however, with most of its details delivered through brief encounters and boss-related moments rather than sustained character development. That can make the world intriguing without ever making it particularly compelling, especially since the lack of voice acting limits the impact of some of the more dramatic scenes. Continue reading “Moros Protocol review (PS5)”
Winter Burrow review (Android/iOS)
Winter Burrow looks like the sort of game that should make for a quiet, comforting survival experience. Its hand-drawn woodland setting, tiny mouse protagonist and focus on rebuilding a childhood home certainly give that impression, but Pine Creek Games’ survival adventure has considerably more bite than its storybook presentation initially suggests. Now on Android and iOS, the mobile version brings the same blend of exploration, crafting and light survival mechanics to a format that suits its bite-sized daily routines surprisingly well. At the same time, some of the game’s underlying design choices become harder to overlook when so much of the experience revolves around repeated trips through the same snowy environments. Continue reading “Winter Burrow review (Android/iOS)”
Mega Man: Dual Override review (Gamescom)
Mega Man has been away for long enough that the return of Capcom’s Blue Bomber already feels like an event. Eight years have passed since Mega Man 11, but Mega Man: Dual Override is not looking to reinvent the series from the ground up. Instead, it takes the familiar run-and-gun platforming formula and adds a handful of new systems designed to give players more options without losing the precision and challenge that have defined the series for decades. After going hands-on with the PS5 version at Gamescom, there are good reasons to be hopeful that this can be a meaningful return rather than simply a nostalgic one. Continue reading “Mega Man: Dual Override review (Gamescom)”
Nemesis: Retaliation review
Nemesis: Retaliation takes the familiar Nemesis formula and changes the question at the heart of it. Where the earlier games largely put players in the position of desperately trying to survive an alien nightmare, this third entry sends a squad of heavily equipped Marines into the darkness with considerably more firepower. That sounds like it should make things easier, but Awaken Realms and designer Adam Kwapiński understand that giving players bigger guns does not necessarily make them safer. Instead, Retaliation uses that newfound confidence as another way to create tension, as players push further into an alien-infested facility only to discover that ammunition, oxygen, health and trust can disappear remarkably quickly. Having played both the base game and the Stretch Goals box, the result is a huge, ambitious semi-cooperative horror game that feels distinctly different from its predecessors while still delivering the unpredictable stories that define Nemesis. Continue reading “Nemesis: Retaliation review”