In our latest roundup of indie game reviews, we are checking out Tiny Pixels Vol. 2 – Stormy Knights, Galacticon and Scholar’s Mate.
Tiny Pixels Vol. 2 – Stormy Knights review (PS5)
Eastasiasoft’s Tiny Pixels Vol. 2 – Stormy Knights is a compact, retro-flavored roguelite brawler that rides high on its arcade sensibilities while occasionally stumbling under the weight of repetition. You play as a chivalrous knight on an endless quest to rescue a rotating roster of pixel princesses, each housed at the end of short, enemy-packed gauntlets. With its medieval setting spanning cultures from Europe to Japan, it’s a stylistic throwback that leans into simplicity – both in narrative and structure – and largely succeeds because of it.
Gameplay is deceptively straightforward: slash, block, dodge. That’s the loop – and while it sounds barebones on paper, there’s nuance in how it plays out. The one-on-one nature of combat rewards precise timing and enemy pattern recognition, growing steadily more complex as new foes enter the fray. You’ll frequently die, but with every run you collect golden medals that unlock permanent upgrades across a branching skill tree, leading to real mechanical progression over time. The difficulty curve can be steep at first, but once you start stacking upgrades and picking up timing subtleties, there’s a rewarding rhythm that kicks in.
What helps this loop land is the game’s tight control scheme – minimal inputs that feel responsive and never get in your way. There’s even a limited-use lightning attack that adds some welcome punch to your arsenal when used strategically. But even as your knight levels up, the game’s rogue-lite structure can start to wear thin. Progress resets with every failure, and the grind-heavy nature of repeat runs may not be for everyone – especially when the game’s later content is locked behind skill ceilings and attrition. While unlocking new upgrades and seeing a different princess per run adds a bit of freshness, it doesn’t fully solve the core issue of limited variety over the long haul.
Stormy Knights’ visuals and audio lean into nostalgia with confidence. The pixel art is sharp and expressive, especially during boss encounters, and the soundtrack delivers a punchy chiptune vibe that fits the visual tone well. It’s all wrapped in an appealingly retro aesthetic that pays homage to the arcade and 8-bit eras without feeling dated. At a low price point, Stormy Knights is a small game with a focused vision, and while its grind might not sustain marathon sessions, there’s enough polish and punch here to make for a satisfying pick-up-and-play experience – especially for genre fans looking for that one-more-run itch.
Galacticon review (PS5)
Galacticon from Dolores Entertainment and Radin Games is a delightful trip back to the golden age of arcade shooters, marrying the flair of Defender with the airborne combat of Joust, and adding Jetpac-style shooting in clipped, strategic loops. Each stage challenges you to herd sci-fi critters of matching colors into pods, aiming for puzzle-like combos before evasive maneuvering. The game’s design winks at nostalgia while weaving in compelling score-chase depth, especially for players driven to climb the leaderboards.
What stands out most is the combat-puzzle blend. Controls are razor-sharp: every direction press, gunfire, and captive pickup has satisfying feedback. As you rescue more aliens, their combined weight subtly modifies your flight dynamics – adding a tactile layer to movement and escape timing. There’s an addictive kind of simplicity to it, but thanks to fine execution of deeper mechanics there is more to it than you’ll initially think.
Visually, Galacticon captures vibrant retro arcade charm with bright pixel sprites and slick animations. The 8-bit-inspired audio punctuates each action-packed moment, reinforcing the arcade authenticity. While enemy patterns and level layouts can feel familiar after a few plays, this can be seen as a framework for mastering your rhythm and reactions – gradually improving on each attempt.
Some players may crave additional modes beyond the endless loop, but the secret bonus pickups on each stage and online leaderboards give enough fresh incentive to keep coming back. In short, Galacticon is a polished slice of arcade homage – it’s easy to pick up, harder to set down, and captures nostalgia with enough modern finesse to earn its place in any retro gamer’s collection.
Scholar’s Mate review (PS5)
Scholar’s Mate thrusts you into the role of Judith, trapped in the claustrophobic halls of a derelict psychiatric ward. It’s a premise that screams horror and its narrative hook is simple – escape by any means – but the storytelling remains sparse, leaving you piecing together scraps of documents and environmental cues, a process that at times feels more cryptic than compelling.
The core gameplay blends escape-room–style puzzle solving with tense stealth as you evade a relentless pursuer known simply as “Eddie.” The puzzles are satisfying when solved, but their obscure nature often leads to dead-ends and frustration. Meanwhile, stealth segments too often devolve into simply hiding until it’s safe to inch forward – a loop that grows tedious rather than terrifying.
Despite pacing quirks, the game shines in its audio design. Footsteps, door creaks, and faint echoes carry weight through a quality soundscape that heightens tension – especially with headphones or a good surround set. Visually, the abandoned hospital with its ominous lighting nails the mood, even if static geometry and occasional jagged visuals halt immersion.
At roughly two hours to complete and priced around $13, Scholar’s Mate offers a brief, moderately engaging horror experience. It won’t satisfy hardcore horror fans seeking intense scares or replayability, but its audio atmosphere and cerebral challenges may still appeal to puzzle-horror enthusiasts – if you’re patient enough to endure its rougher edges and are merely looking for something that won’t last more than an evening.
Press Play Media 