Today’s batch of reviews takes players across three very different adventures. From the ambitious genre fusion of Artificial Extinction 2, which blends strategic planning with explosive first-person combat, to the retro-inspired dark fantasy of Beholgar 2 and the quirky platforming experiment of Love Chemistry – Sibella’s Formula, each game approaches familiar ideas from its own unique angle. While these titles may differ greatly in scope and execution, they share a common goal: creating memorable experiences through distinctive mechanics, visual identity, and a willingness to explore ideas beyond the traditional formula. The results are mixed, but each release offers something worth discovering for players looking beyond the biggest names in gaming.
Artificial Extinction 2 review (PC)
Artificial Extinction 2 takes an ambitious approach to blending real-time strategy, tower defense, and first-person shooting into a single experience. Set in a bleak future where machine factions battle for control of a ruined Earth, you take on the role of an AI commander tasked with building defenses, gathering resources, and surviving relentless attacks long enough to secure extraction. The narrative is intentionally light, functioning more as a framework for the action than a major attraction, but the machine-versus-machine setting gives the game enough identity to support its unusual genre mix.
The game’s biggest strength is undoubtedly its hybrid design. Instantly switching between a strategic overhead view and direct FPS combat creates a constant sense of involvement, forcing you to juggle base management and frontline combat simultaneously. When everything comes together, the result is tense and rewarding, particularly during desperate defensive stands where quick decisions can turn a failing battle into a victory. The variety of turrets, enemy types, technology upgrades, and support abilities provides meaningful tactical options, but the learning curve is steep and the early hours can feel overwhelming due to limited guidance and occasionally confusing interface design. Several systems also feel rough around the edges, making some defeats feel more frustrating than satisfying.
Visually, Artificial Extinction 2 punches above its weight in several areas. Large-scale battles, explosive effects, and futuristic weaponry help sell the fantasy of a desperate war between machines, while performance appears solid. The audio presentation is similarly effective, with weapon effects and battlefield sounds adding energy to the action, although the soundtrack and overall soundscape rarely leave a lasting impression. The controls generally support the dual RTS/FPS structure well, but managing a growing base during hectic assaults can become cumbersome, especially when important battlefield information isn’t always communicated clearly.
As a whole, Artificial Extinction 2 feels like a game whose ambition occasionally exceeds its polish, but that ambition is also what makes it appealing. The combination of genres is far more substantial than a simple gimmick, and players who enjoy demanding strategy games with a strong action component will find plenty to appreciate. At the same time, balance concerns, a harsh difficulty curve, and a lack of refinement in certain mechanics prevent it from fully realizing its potential. Even so, for fans of tower defense, RTS management, and challenging solo experiences, this is an intriguing and often enjoyable experiment that succeeds more often than it stumbles.
Beholgar 2 review (PS5)
Beholgar 2 continues Serkan Bakar’s retro-inspired dark fantasy series with a straightforward tale about forging a legendary weapon to stop the rise of the Djinn King. The narrative rarely strives for complexity, instead leaning heavily into classic sword-and-sorcery influences that evoke the barbarian adventures of the likes of Conan. What it lacks in storytelling depth it largely makes up for through atmosphere, presenting a grim world of cursed forests, ancient ruins and infernal landscapes that feel distinct despite the familiar premise. The Middle Eastern mythological influences help give the setting its own identity, while the pixel art does an excellent job of selling the sense of danger and mystery that drives the adventure forward.
The gameplay follows a traditional Metroidvania structure, with exploration gradually opening up as new traversal abilities are unlocked. Fast travel is available early and proves especially useful given the amount of backtracking involved, while hidden upgrades, rings and equipment provide a steady stream of rewards for curious players. Combat is the clear focus, offering a mix of melee weapons, throwable secondary attacks and upgrade systems that keep encounters engaging throughout the campaign. The dodge roll feels dependable, while the parry mechanic adds another defensive option, even if its strict timing means many players will likely rely on evasion instead. Boss encounters are visually impressive and generally more memorable than those in the original game, though their difficulty can be inconsistent, with many falling a little too easily once patterns are understood.
Visually, Beholgar 2 is arguably at its strongest. Detailed pixel art, fluid animations and excellent creature designs create an adventure that often looks far more ambitious than its modest scope suggests. The environments carry a heavy-metal album-cover energy that suits the dark fantasy setting perfectly, while the soundtrack reinforces the atmosphere with moody and sometimes surprisingly epic compositions. The game’s retro ambitions extend to some of its design decisions as well, but not all of them land equally well. The map lacks useful marking tools, exploration can feel more linear than genre veterans may expect, and some platforming sections suffer from movement that occasionally feels a touch floaty or imprecise.
Thankfully, these problems don’t completely undermine the experience, and there is still a solid old-school action adventure underneath the rough edges. At roughly four to six hours long, Beholgar 2 doesn’t overstay its welcome, delivering an enjoyable slice of retro-flavoured monster slaying that succeeds more through atmosphere and charm than innovation. It may not challenge the genre’s heavyweights, but fans of classic Metroidvanias and sword-and-sorcery adventures will likely find enough here to overlook its flaws.
Love Chemistry – Sibella’s Formula review (PS5)
Love Chemistry – Sibella’s Formula is the kind of budget platformer that immediately tries to stand out through its bizarre premise rather than through a complex story. Playing as the eccentric chemist Sibella, players fire mind-altering syringes at enemies and use the resulting effects to progress through a colorful pixel-art adventure. The concept is certainly memorable and gives the game a personality that many low-cost platformers lack, although the novelty of its flirtation-based mechanics doesn’t always feel fully explored and can occasionally come across as more strange than genuinely entertaining.
Beneath that unusual setup lies a straightforward side-scrolling platformer built around jumping, climbing ladders, avoiding hazards and dealing with enemies. The controls generally get the job done, but some platforming sections expose a lack of precision, particularly when navigating ladders and making jumps that rely on accurate positioning. While the game never aims to be a hardcore challenge, moments of awkward movement can still interrupt the flow and make certain sequences more frustrating than they should be.
Combat revolves around Sibella’s signature formula gun, which temporarily neutralizes enemies and creates opportunities to recover health. It’s an unusual mechanic that helps distinguish the game from countless similar platformers, but it also highlights one of its weaknesses. The interactions quickly become repetitive, and because there is limited variety in how different enemies respond, the central gimmick loses some of its impact long before the adventure is over. The accompanying animations can also slow down the pace, even when they initially add a bit of humor to the experience.
Visually, the game delivers charming retro-inspired pixel art across laboratories, urban environments and other themed stages, while the audio supports the action without becoming particularly memorable. Ultimately, Love Chemistry – Sibella’s Formula succeeds in giving players something a little different to look at, but its unconventional theme can’t entirely compensate for platforming that feels fairly standard and mechanics that don’t evolve enough over time. For players looking for a short, inexpensive platforming diversion, there’s some quirky fun to be found here, but it struggles to rise above the crowded competition.