It’s been a while since we did an indie game roundup, so today we’re checking no fewer than four recent releases. Here are reviews for Willy’s Wonderland – The Game, Rider’s Spirits, Froggy Bouncing Adventures and Glyphs of Gitzan.
Willy’s Wonderland – The Game review (PS5)
Willy’s Wonderland – The Game takes the cult horror film starring Nicolas Cage and translates it into a 2.5D beat ‘em up experience. Players can step into the shoes of either The Janitor or Liv, battling through hordes of creepy animatronics like Tito Turtle and Willy Weasel. But while the game does a decent job of capturing the eerie atmosphere of the film, with themed stages that evoke the look and feel of Willy’s Wonderland, Nic Cage’s likeness is nowhere to be seen. The narrative feels thin as well, relying mostly on the film’s premise without adding much depth – though you could say the same about the film.
The gameplay mechanics are straightforward, offering a range of combos and special abilities to dispatch waves of enemies. And while the combat system provides satisfying action for a while, it can also become repetitive over time. The controls are responsive, but the limited move set might leave players wanting more variety, and this one is definitely a step down from the better beat ’em ups out there.
Visually, the game embraces a retro aesthetic that suits its horror film roots, but the 2.5D graphics can sometimes feel underwhelming rather than nostalgically charming because they’re not going for a full retro look and feel either. The audio design is decent enough with a creepy soundtrack that enhances the horror vibe, but it doesn’t quite reach the atmosphere of the film in the process. In conclusion, Willy’s Wonderland – The Game offers a fairly standard beat ‘em up experience that’s mostly intended for fans of the film, though it has its shortcomings – and not just that it lacks Nic Cage.
Rider’s Spirits review (PS5)
Rider’s Spirits, recently brought to the PlayStation 5 by Ratalaika and Shinyuden, brings the original Japanese SNES title Bike Daisuki! Hashiriya Kon to the west for today’s audiences. On the surface, it’s easy to compare this one to Mario Kart because of its look and feel, but it leans more into more serious racing mechanics than Nintendo’s iconic racer. It features 20 diverse tracks featuring various obstacles, from traffic cones to water ponds, with each rider and bike combination feeling different.
The gameplay also benefits from having a variety of modes, such as Rider’s GP, Time Trial, and the quirky Chicken Run. Each mode brings a different challenge, keeping the gameplay fresh. However, while the controls are generally responsive, the depth of the game can feel inconsistent, with the rearview mirrors feel more like a novelty that was technically impressive thirty years ago than a real necessity.
Visually, Rider’s Spirits retains a retro aesthetic that will appeal to fans of early 16-bit 3D racing games (most notably Mario Kart). This graphical design, while charming, feels rather dated by modern expectations though, making the environmental details and backdrops appear rather bare. It’s a product of its time, and the first Mario Kart also hasn’t aged that well.
Overall, Rider’s Spirits is a nice throwback, and it’s nice to see a different take on a familiar look and feel. Its blend of arcade fun and subtle simulation elements offers an engaging experience, though it may not fully satisfy those looking for the polish of contemporary titles. It’s a neat little part of gaming history, best appreciated by those with a taste for nostalgia.
Froggy Bouncing Adventures review (PS5)
Froggy Bouncing Adventures, developed by 9Ratones and published by Ratalaika Games, offers a cute little platforming experience on the PlayStation 5. Players step into the role of Froggy, a little frog on a mission to rescue his friend Buzzy from a mysterious portal. The game features 60 increasingly difficult levels, divided across four biomes, each with its own look and feel. The pixel art, combined with subtle 3D effects, creates a visually appealing and cozy atmosphere – having characters like “Froggy” and “Buzzy” sounds cute, and the visual style backs that up.
Gameplay is straightforward and focuses on precision jumping and collecting coins, which can be used to unlock various hats for Froggy. The controls are responsive, and as players progress, they unlock new abilities such as dashing and double-jumping, adding depth to the gameplay and mixing things up over the course of the campaign – though the early levels are definitely a bit too much on the easy side.
Froggy Bouncing Adventures’ pixel art style is complemented by a soothing soundtrack, creating a relaxing atmosphere that contrasts nicely with the game’s more challenging moments. The enemies and hazards fit well within the game’s theme, although their interactions are somewhat limited, serving more as obstacles than real threats. This contributes to the game’s overall gentle and inviting nature, which makes this suitable for more casual platforming fans as well.
But despite its strengths, the game has a few drawbacks. The pacing of difficulty could benefit from a more aggressive ramp-up as trophies come far too easily in the beginning, and the level design, while competent, doesn’t always push the boundaries of innovation, while coin-collecting isn’t too exciting if you don’t care about being a completionist and getting all the hats. Nonetheless, Froggy Bouncing Adventures is a solid addition to the budget platformer genre, offering a light-hearted and visually pleasing experience that is enjoyable throughout its 60 levels.
Glyphs Of Gitzan review (PS5)
Glyphs of Gitzan, developed by DoubleMizzlee and published by Eastasiasoft, uses the classic block-sliding puzzle formula and tries to put its own twist on it. The game places players in the role of a young explorer navigating through ancient ruins, with the goal of aligning stone pillars to illuminate glyphs on the floor. With 50 levels to tackle, the game aims to challenge players’ problem-solving skills while offering a nostalgic top-down pixel art aesthetic.
The core gameplay revolves around pushing stone pillars to specific spots on the floor to light up glyphs. The simplicity of this mechanic makes the game easy to pick up, but the increasing complexity of the levels keeps it engaging. Each pillar has a unique glyph, and players must think ahead to complete each level, especially later on. Because while the initial stages are straightforward, later levels introduce elements like spikes, changing up the gameplay a bit.
Controls in Glyphs of Gitzan are intuitive, yet the lack of quality of life features like a restart or undo button can be frustrating. This forces players to restart entire levels if a mistake is made, which can detract from the overall experience. This is particularly noticeable in more complex levels where a single misstep can necessitate a complete do-over – which is frustrating in longer puzzles where you get near the finish line. The game’s audio-visual presentation, on the other hand, is charming, with its retro pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack creating an engaging puzzle-solving environment.
Glyphs of Gitzan does have its drawbacks though, as the repetitive nature of the block-pushing mechanic can feel tedious over time, especially as players are required to perform similar actions repeatedly without significant variation in gameplay. Additionally, the narrative, delivered via minimal text, fails to add much depth to the experience, leaving players with little motivation beyond the puzzles themselves. However, for fans of the genre looking for a straightforward and aesthetically pleasing puzzle game, Glyphs of Gitzan offers a satisfying, albeit not terribly innovative, challenge.
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