Clockwork Aquario Switch Review

Clockwork Aquario 

Developed By: Westone Bit Entertainment

Published By: ININ Games 

Date of Release: December 14, 2021 

Price: $19.99 

 

Well now, this was an unexpected one! An arcade action-adventure game that started it's development cycle in 1991 at the now defunct Westone Bit Entertainment, and ended up coming out in 2021! A world record breaking 30 years later (too bad for Duke Nukem Forever!), and Clockwork Aquario is now available to purchase and play for the Nintendo Switch (and PS4). It's a colourful pixel-art run and jump affair, and it looks absolutely impressive on the Switch in both handheld and docked mode with it's myriad of graphics options, including some great CRT effects. It feels like it would be perfectly at home on the Sega Saturn, with it's crisp sprites and detailed backgrounds.

The controls are as tight as can be, and that helps a lot as you hop and bop and pop your foes. Despite the game being short, clocking in at around 15-20 minutes, it's still worth replaying over and over, and once you finish the game once you unlock an arcade mode with infinite continues, though that might make things a bit too easy. There's a crapload of extras too, including two soundtracks, a gallery, multiplayer minigames, and plenty of settings to tinker with. It's clear that Clockwork Aquario had a lot of love poured into it's development. I definitely think that it's worth picking up, as it absolutely oozes charm.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition PS5 Review

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition PS5
Developed and Published By: Wayforward
Date of Release: November 2, 2021
Price: $39.99

Hey everyone! Our favorite half-genie is back! From the time that the original Shantae launched back on the Game Boy Color up until the last release, Shantae and The Pirate's Curse, this series has been known for awesome metroidvania gameplay, an amazing soundtrack, bouncy beauties, and a familiar pixelated charm. However with Shantae: Half-Genie Hero things have majorly changed on the latter front, pixels are out and gorgeous hand drawn HD sprites are in! Thankfully all the series other hallmarks are still there (including Jake Kaufman's signature jams), all that has changed is the visual aesthetic.



From the first level of the game (which features an AMAZING vocal number by Shantae's voice actress, Christina Vee.) where you face off with the Part Omni-Organic, Partially Titanic, Ocean-Optional Tinkerslug (don't call it P.O.O.P. T.O.O.T.!) it's clear that the team at Wayforward have not lost their touch, and that Half-Genie hero is definitely not Half-Baked. The game runs at a smooth 60fps, and scales nicely all the way up to 4k. On top of that the controls are tight with zero discernible input lag. All the good stuff is still here in full form, and the new visuals just add a nice feel to the whole experience. Also, giant-ass mermaids are freakin' awesome!



Of course it wouldn't be an Ultimate Edition without a shipload of extras, and this edition delivers the booty! All of the original DLC is included, and a whole raft of extras like concept art and formerly backer-exclusive content is there. The game is majorly extended by all the new game modes that have been added, I've already sunk about 30 hours extra into everything after clearing the main scenario. It feels just as good to play it on the PS5 as it did on PS4, and the new haptic effects are a nice touch. 

 

My only complaint about the Ultimate Edition is that it feels a bit overwhelming at first. You've got a damn lengthy main game, a remixed version where you play the villain, a hardcore mode, and three costumes to mix things up. The added costumes even have their own playstyle and rulesets that pretty much change the game completely. There's a helluva lot of stuff there, and my complaints really aren't a negative. So if you love platformers, metroidvanias, bouncy babes with bodacious bods, and counterfeit mermaids, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero on PS5 is the game for you. The best part is if you already have the PS4 Ultimate Edition it's a free upgrade!

Cotton 100%/Panorama Cotton Switch Review

Cotton 100% / Panorama Cotton

Developed By: Success/Ratalaika

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: October 29, 2021

Price: $14.99 Each

 

 

The Cotton series of SHMUPS has always been an adorable franchise, a Cute-Em-Up if you will. Starring the cute-as-a-button candy-obsessed witch named Cotton, the series has been a gleeful romp through various fantasy worlds with no signs of slowing down at all. And now with ports of two of the best 16-bit entries in the Cotton universe, it's easier than ever to experience these titles for yourself, no need to import any cartridges!

Cotton 100% for the Super Famicom is a fine entry in the series, basically a brighter more colourful remake of the original Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton. It featured better level designs, tight controls, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack. It has incredibly vibrant graphics and perhaps slightly overly detailed backgrounds that can be distracting at times, but the eye candy isn't too distracting. This port from Ratalaika matches their other retro ports in quality and scope of options, though the video aspect ratio menu is bugged and has no effect. Still a solid port, and the definitive way to play this classic title.

 

 

Panorama Cotton for the SEGA MegaDrive on the other hand takes an entirely different approach to the formula. The best way to describe it would be Cotton in Space harrier form. It's a massive departure from the rest of the series with it's over-the-shoulder view of oncoming enemies and hazards, but it somehow manages to work. All the fancy options that are present in Ratalaika's other ports are present here, and the aspect ratio does actually take effect properly this time around. My only real complaint with both of these titles is they are untranslated, sticking to the original Japanese script. Still completely playable, but it would be nice to know what is going on. All in all though, both titles are amazing, and worthy of a place in any SHMUP fan's collection!

Forza Horizon 5 Review

Forza Horizon 5

Developed By: Playground Games

Published By: Xbox Game Studios

Date of Release: November 4, 2021

Price: $59.99

I'm going to admit that I've never been terribly good at serious racing games. I've always given them a fair try, but all the simulation style racers like Gran Turismo and the like are way above my skill level. Arcade racers on the other hand, those I can do well in. That's why ever since the beginning I've been in love with Microsoft's Forza Horizon series. The Horizon games take a more arcadey, open-world design to the standard racing formula, with a greater focus on exploration and car collecting. 

I'm glad to say that Forza Horizon 5 lives up to the pedigree of the franchise, starting off rather bombastically with a parachute landing on the rim of an active volcano in Mexico while driving a 2021 Ford Bronco. And the insanity doesn't stop there as you'll soon be exploring ruins and jungles, chasing storms, and finding classic cars stashed in barns all across the country. Forza Horizon 5 takes the precedents set by the previous entries in the series and just turns everything up to 11. You'll always have something to do

                      . 

Despite being a cross-generation title across the Xbox One and Series consoles, Forza Horizon 5 looks AMAZING on the Series X. I personally played in the performance mode, as the slight reduction to the visuals is worth it for a locked 60FPS. I've had an absolute blast collecting cars and racing against my friends and their Drivatars, and I can safely say that this is my favourite Forza experience to date. Anyone who is a fan of driving games, or collecting cars in general should give Forza Horizon 5 a spin, it's really worth it.

Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer Switch Review

Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer

Developed By: Masaya

Published By: Ratalaika Games

Date of Release: October 15, 2021

Price: $6.99 

 

When it comes to the venerable Shoot-em-up (SHMUP) genre, one system always comes to mind for me, and that is the SEGA MegaDrive/Genesis. The little 16-BIT powerhouse of the 90s was home to a massive library of SHMUPS, and so many of them still hold up today. And MASAYA's Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer is one of them for sure. Featuring some impressive graphics for the time with some absolutely amazing parallax scrolling that pushed the system to the limits and really gave a glorious sense of 3D space. The number of sprites visible on the screen is massive, and the details on the enemy ships really can't be matched.

Gleylancer also features a rocking score by none other than Noriyuki Iwadare, who composed for a lot of amazing JRPGs and SHMUPS of the 16-bit and 32-bit era. Add to that an arseload of digitized speech and meaty sound effects, and the soundscape absolutely blows away the vast majority of competing titles. Gleylancer would have easily looked at home on the early days of 32-bit consoles such as the PlayStation or Saturn.

 

As for this new port, the emulation is absolutely flawless on the Switch, and the controls are tight an responsive with zero discernible input lag. Add to that a well done translation, various tweaks and enhancements to make the game accessible to newcomers, and some amazing CRT shaders, and it's clear that a lot of love has been put into this offering. At $6.99 it's pretty much a steal for what you get. Every switch SHMUP fan should add Gleylancer to their collection immediately. And if you're just starting out with the genre, it's an amazing title with which to start out on your journey into the world of SHMUPS.

Dusk Nintendo Switch Review

Dusk

Developed/Published By: New Blood Software

Date of Release: October 18, 2021

Price: $19.99

 

So as you can already surmise by the name of this site, I absolutely LOVE the original Quake game from id software. The mixture of fast shooting, awesome level design and lovecraftian elements complete with an utterly atmospheric soundtrack by Trent Reznor has always kept me coming back for more. In 2018 New Blood Interactive decided to blow the world away with DUSK, an absolutely raunchy love letter to fans of all things Quake. With retro styled graphics, awesomely sprawling level design, badass enemies, bigass guns, and even badder enemies, plus a banger of a soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, DUSK is a perfect example of what can go right with a retro FPS throwback.

And now that glorious experience has been ported to the Nintendo Switch. Normally it seems that ports make sacrifices to shoehorn an experience into another platform it was never designed for. Not DUSK though, it feels like it has transcended it's original medium. The Switch version is an evolution, a tour de force, a magnum opus. Running in 1080p at 60 frames per second, it almost feels too smooth to be true. Add to that the refined interface and gyro controls, and it's a match made in heaven for the Switch hardware, whether playing in docked or handheld.

People usually complain until they're blue in the face that games using the Unity engine are slow and janky, but DUSK is absolute proof that the engine can be used to craft incredible experiences. It absolutely plays as smooth as a game like Doom or Quake, and would completely feel at home in the 90s. The PC version was already frigging awesome, but the Switch port goes just the extra mile and makes it in my opinion the definitive DUSK experience.

       I give DUSK for the Nintendo Switch 10 Ralseis smoking a fat blunt out of Dave Oshry.

Mary Skelter Finale Review

Mary Skelter Finale

Developed By: Compile Heart

Published By: IFI

Date of Release: September 30, 2021

Price: $49.99

 

Well, Compile Heart's Mary Skelter series is back again, and this time it's the big finish. Mary Skelter Finale is out for the Nintendo Switch, however it's an unfortunately lacklustre spectacle. It's pretty much using the same assets as the previous games, just with a new plot slapped on top. That's the problem when a game series start re-using previous assets and layouts lifted verbatim, things start to feel like a retread. That's not to say that the production values aren't still high, they just don't hit as hard as they did in Mary Skelter 2. Sorry if it seems like I'm being overly critical of things here, it's just that the devs kinda dropped the ball on this one.

 Speaking of the previous games, the stories of both games have been shoehorned into the new engine, so you can watch them at your leisure. At that rate though I'm not sure why the devs didn't just include the full gameplay, as the assets are all there. What's there is all well and good though, and if you enjoyed the previous games you'll have a good time, but it still feels a bit lazy and rushed, there could have been so much more to it. 

At the end of the day, Mary Skelter Finale is a slightly mediocre if passable dungeon crawler. It really does feel like it could have been a DLC for the previous release, which had a far greater scope. Go for it if you're a fan of the series, otherwise you might want to wait until something a bit meatier comes along, or wait for a sale. Sorry to be a downer but the way this release was put together just rubbed me the wrong way.

G-Darius HD Switch Mini Review

G-Darius HD (Switch)

Developed By: Taito

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: September 28 2021

Price: $29.99

 

 Ahh Darius... one of the great classic SHMUP series of the 90s. These games are famous for awesome gameplay and baddies that resemble massive mechanized sea creatures, and they seriously stand the test of time. And 1997's G-Darius is no exception. Originally released in arcades and soon ported to the Sony PlayStation, G-Darius is one of the series big sluggers. And now ININ Games has brought it back on the Nintendo Switch with an excellent port by the geniuses at M2.

 

 

The Switch port of G-Darius HD is extremely impressive, presenting the original game in 1080p as the name would suggest. There are plenty of options to adjust the visual presentation, including a 2D representation of the arcade cabinet, and you can also switch the graphics back to their original arcade resolution. The controls are tight, and the soundtrack is crisp and clear. All in all M2 did a solid job as they always do on this port. I seriously recommend this release to SHMUP fans, despite the price being a tad steep.

Space Invaders Invincible Collection Review

Space Invaders Invincible Collection

Developed By: ININ

Published By: ININ

Date of Release: August 17, 2021

Price: $59.99

 

The year was 1978. Pong and a handful of other primitive cabinets ruled the arcades alongside various pinball tables. Many of the current games were made by Taito, a game developer from Japan. However all of these games paled in comparison to their new release, a game that many would credit with the beginnings of true arcade gaming: Space Invaders. A modest affair featuring monochrome graphics paired with a color overlay, and simple mechanics involving shooting incoming aliens while protecting your bases, Space Invaders also introduced features such as earning points and high score tables, and inspired many games to come in the future. And now with the Space Invaders Invincible Collection on Nintendo Switch, ININ Games have paid a massive tribute to the history of this proud franchise.

 

 

This massive collection includes: Space Invaders original and color versions, Space Invaders Part II, Super Space Invaders '91 with both Japan and USA variants, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE, Space Invaders DX, Space Cyclone, and Lunar Rescue. An additional title, Arkanoid VS Space Invaders supposedly comes with it as a separate download, however the review copy we were provided did not include it, and as of publishing this review a lot of customers are reportedly still without the bonus game.

The important thing here is the collection of games and quality of the emulation, which is to say the least top-notch. Every title on offer here is presented with a plethora of visual options and all play true to their original versions, with superbly emulated graphics and sound in both handheld and docked mode, with no sign of input lag to be had. The only way they could have made this more like the arcade experience would be if the game included a coin slot for your switch. All in all Space Invaders Invincible Cpllection is the definitive Space Invaders experience, and should not be missed by fans of the series.

Cotton Reboot Review

Cotton Reboot

Developed by: Success

Published by: ININ

Date of Release: July 20, 2021

Price: $39.99

From the first time I experienced them I've always been a big fan of the shoot em up genre (shmups), having played so many games over the years in that style. After a while some of the more serious games get quite boring, so it's nice to see a wacky offbeat game like Cotton come around.

Cotton Reboot is definitely one of those remasters where a clear love of the original source material shines through at every point. The new pixel art is lush and detailed, but doesn't stray away from the original designs, I'm really glad they went this route rather than HD sprites or 3D models. The backgrounds are beautiful as well, though it's a shame that they lack the gorgeous parallax layers of the x68000 original. The arranged soundtrack is a treat for the ears, with every song getting a decent remix.

All in all with the arranged game, x68000 original, time attack mode, and all the various bits and bobs that were added to Cotton Reboot it manages to stand as an amazing experience, though IMO it could use some different video scaling/scanline/crt options for the x68000 version. It's a solid remake however, and is great for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Neptunia ReVerse Review

Neptunia ReVerse

Developed By: Compile Heart

Published By: IFI

Date of Release: June 8, 2021

Price: $49.99

 In the game industry of our world we have seen countless companies come and go, bringing us amazing consoles, epic games, and so much enjoyment and innovation. From the simple joysticks and clunky cartridges of the past, to the sleek disc-based consoles of today, video-gaming over the ages has told a rich and and storied saga. Now imagine if you will, a world where people live and die based on the market shares of their respective game companies. A world where software pirates and modchip makers are the scourge of the seas. A world ruled by digitally deified divas who symbolize the hopes and dreams of their console nations. Welcome to the digital frontier of Gamindustri!

Neptunia ReVerse marks the fifth outing for this original story, and though it may be a remake of a reboot it is not to be taken lightly. If Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 was considered a reboot of the original, then perhaps that makes Hyperdimension Neptunia Re:Birth1 a reboot of a reboot, and Neptunia ReVerse is a remake of said reboot! This literal rebirth of the original game took the original story, polished it up a majorly, and stuck it on top of the gameplay system that made Hyperdimension Neptunia: Victory so great. As if that wasn't enough, there is now a full on arrange mode for this PS5 remaster, better graphics (including raytraced reflections for *ahem* interesting "undercarriage" views in the overworld), and a solid 4K60 presentation to cap it all off.

I'll be brutally honest here, the original Hyperdimension Neptunia for PS3 was an absolute slog, with hours of grinding and frankly boring combat dragging the experience on. The only saving grace was its story, which made the most of things with its masterful console war allegory. Thankfully having been moved over to the gameplay stylings of Victory, ReVerse is propelled high and above its clunky progenitor. With the far more exciting battle system on offer in this entry, travelling through the games myriad dungeons and levelling up no longer feels like such a chore. Unrestrained by the formerly boring gameplay, the story is now free to take centre stage.

When it comes right down to it, Re:Birth1 was a shining example of what the Neptunia series can offer, and ReVerse for the PS5 has managed to make it impossibly better. I can only hope that if they decide to make ReVerse 2 that they can match the sheer awesomeness that has been shoved into this title, as the PS5's thus far lacking library could definitely use more JRPG experiences like these. I for one would gladly play every Neptunia adventure again if they were to be presented in this wonderfully streamlined format, and you should too! I can sincerely recommend Neptunia ReVerse to any fan of the series, new or old.

DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ Review

DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+

Developed By: Taito

Published By: ININ

Date of Release: July 27, 2021

Price: $39.99

Well, it would seem that Nintendo Switch is shaping up to be quite a good system for SHMUP fans. Between the recent releases of Thunder Force IV and AC, The massive Psikyo collections, and various other impressive releases, the system has become a SHMUP haven for gamers on the go. And now DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ has come to the awesome little handheld. It's a shame that it's not the full Chronicle Saviours package, this is just a standalone version of the game from Darius Cozmic Revelation.

 

The score in DariusBurst is amazing, and really serves to accentuate the mood. The graphics are also quite impressive, if a little difficult to see due to adopting the presentation of the original arcade game. The problem here is that the aspect ratio is extremely zoomed out, making it very hard to play in handheld mode. This could have easily been mitigated by adding options to zoom in further on the gameplay rather than using the bizarre 32:9 aspect ratio based on the arcade cabinet. At least the controls are tight, and feature some decent rumble effects as well.

All in all, DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ is a worthy addition to any Switch Shmup collection, as long as you can overlook how barebones the collection is from the point of video scaling options. There's still enough satisfying gameplay value here to keep you going for a while, as long as you're willing to put in a bit of practice to make up for the tiny viewport. Hopefully it will someday get a patch to take up the whole 16:9 viewport though.

Viscerafest Early Access Review

Viscerafest (Early Access)

Developed by: Acid Man Games/Fire Plant Games

Published by: 1C Entertainment

Date of Release: May 20, 2021

Price: $14.99

 

 As anyone who has read my steaming pile of crap humble blog may know, I absolutely adore retro FPS games, as well as the throwback games that honor them. Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, they are all classics. As a fan of these titles I'm so glad that we're living in an age of resurgence for the genre. And so I turn my attention to Viscerafest, the debut title from Acid Man Games and Fire Plant Games. Recently released into early access, Viscerafest has utterly opened a can of whoopass on the indie gaming scene, and shows no signs of stopping.

 

I've played and mastered a lot of hard games over the years, and Viscerafest ranks among the most ass-kickingest of them. It's an experience that doesn't bother to hold your hand, but instead drops you straight into the fray and lets you git gud by trying over and over again. I never felt the game was being unfair, it just takes a fair degree of skill to get through. With practice anyone can get through the levels, even with my dominant hand being bandaged up after surgery I managed to make a go of it. The tight controls and powerful melee attacks certainly helped.

 

 A lot of fps games over the years have been dull brown affairs, with scenery and enemies just blending together into a bland mush. Viscerafest kicks that trope square in the cojones. Everything is vibrant and stands out from the backgrounds, which quickly get painted in multiple colors by the gore of your foes. Despite being on the Unity engine, Viscerafest looks and feels like a classic 90's fps, with the gorgeous spritework, level design, and soundtrack to back it up. The only thing that doesn't feel like the games it plays tribute to is the save system, which requires you to save up single use items to create a checkpoint. Though it does make you think carefully and plan ahead, it would still be nice to have the option to save-scum through the levels for more causal playthroughs.

All in all Viscerafest is a great experience with a unique story that I don't want to spoil here, and I'm looking forward to see what comes next in the second chapter! If you love massively retro and/or balls-to-the-wall ultraviolence, you should definitely grab it ASAP!

Death End Re;Quest Switch Review

 

Death End Re;Quest

Developed by: Compile Heart

Published by: IFI

Date of Release: April 27, 2021

Price: $29.99

 

Alright, who pissed off IFI?

We all know that Compile Heart and IFI make some amazingly cute JRPGs, some of the fluffiest and most adorable series out there (I'm looking at you, Nep!). But with their most recent Switch release, Death End Re;Quest, the cuteness goes out the window and gets replaced with a heaping helping of grimdark. Considering the game immediately starts with the graphic and disturbing demise of the main character, it's safe to say that this is not a game that can be considered lighthearted. Sure the character designs are typical fare for these companies, but the subject matter certainly is not. 

That's not a knock against the game however, as it's quite refreshing to play something this horrifyingly gruesome, and the way that the game approaches the subject matter is quite tactful, the most horrendously grisly scenes are left to your imagination through the viciously detailed descriptions of the carnage occurring in any particular scene. This is definitely a mature story for visual novel/rpg fans that have grown up playing the other games from IFI and want something a fair bit darker.

The gameplay in Death End Re;Quest is all over the place genre-wise, at it's heart it has the same underlying visual novel presentation that Compile Heart/IFI are famous for, but the genre of the battle can shift at any time and that makes it fun. One minute it's a turn based RPG, the next it's a SHMUP. It will definitely keep you on your toes. Though the framerate can lag behind a bit at times, it's never unplayable in either docked or handheld mode, and the graphics hold up decently. All in all it's a really great package, and considering it has all the original DLC, plus it's uncensored to boot, it's definitely worth picking up!

R-Type Final Switch Review

R-Type Final

Developed By: Granzella inc.

Published By: NIS America

Date of Release: April 30, 2021

Price: $39.99

 

 

The R-Type series has had a long and storied history, spanning over decades and appearing in arcades as well as nearly every console in existence. It is a magnum opus of the horizontal Shoot-Em-Up (SHMUP) genre, and all of the entries hold up magnificently to this day. And now in 2021, R-Type Final 2 has burst onto the scene like Dobkeratops' second head. Developed by Granzella and published by NIS America, it has a lot to live up to.

 

 

Thankfully, R-Type Final 2 doesn't mess with the tried and true mechanics of the series, and puts quite an emphasis on amazing level design and spectacular setpieces, all made possible by Unreal Engine 4. The care they put into optimization is clear as day, as despite running on the fairly moderate Nintendo Switch the graphics are sharp, the action is fluid and there are excellent lighting effects as you traverse the hulks of dead spaceships and bring the fight to the Bydo. On top of that the action is set to a gloriously fitting score, definitely on track with the rest of the series.

The gameplay is classic R-Type, though with a twist that you can design your own ship this time around. You'll dodge bullets and frag your foes while you weave through the seemingly endless mazes of the levels. It never gets to be a fever pitch of bullets like in other games of the genre, R-Type has never been a danmaku series. The difficulty curve is just right too, with well tuned modes to choose from. All in all R-Type Final 2 is an excellent entry in the series, despite the odd naming choice. I'd definitely recommend it to any SHMUP fan.

Shantae Switch Review

 Shantae (Nintendo Switch)

Developed By: Wayforward/Modern Vintage Gamer

Published By: Wayforward

Date of Release: April 22, 2021

Price: $9.99

 

I can't believe it's finally happened! After all these years, the entire series of Shantae is playable in one place, in particular the Nintendo Switch. The original game, previously only available on the Gameboy Color and 3DS has received an amazing switch port created by Modern Vintage Gamer. The original Shantae was a game that absolutely pushed the Gameboy Color to it's limits, so to emulate it so faithfully is an amazing feat in my opinion.

As this is where the series started, you can pretty much expect how Shantae will play. It's an action platformer like the rest, with mild metroidvania elements thrown in. However since this is from back in the days of the GBC things are a fir bit more primitive. For one thing there's not even a map feature, which can make the dungeons and backtracking a little bit tricky. Not only that but the levels are more than a fair bit more primitive than the later games. However the controls are snappy and responsive, and with a bit of practice you can git gud, despite the harsh difficulty in the beginning of the game.

Not that any of that makes this a bad game. The chiptune soundtrack by series veteran Jake Kaufman is a treat for the ears, and the crisp pixel art, now blown up to a much larger size than the original version, is quite nice to behold. These were some of the best graphics back on the GBC, and even featured palette swaps to show the day/night cycle. Shantae truly was a showcase of how to make a Gameboy Color game back in it's time, and no collection is complete without it in my opinion. Furthermore at $10, it's not going to break the bank either. I'd recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the series.

ShadowMan Remastered Review

ShadowMan Remastered

Developed and Published by: NightDive Studios

Date of Release: April 15, 2021

Price: $19.99

 

In the beginning, there was Acclaim. Maskers of many good games, and seemingly as many bad ones. Masters of the licensed tie-in game, they weaved tales of dinosaur hunters, foul-mouthed children, and roid-raging police officers alike. Then came the game that in my humble opinion put Acclaim on the map, ShadowMan. Released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC to moderate fanfare, it was a sprawling third-person shooter of metroidvanian influene. The scope of the game was quite massive for the era, despite having a large amount of planned content cut out to ship it in time. Regardless of any cuts, the Nintendo 64 version was amazing, quite easily one of my favorite games on the system. I don't think I've ever played a game that just drips with so much atmosphere, with the dark ambience just oozing from every pore of this game's being. 

The voodoo-based trappings of ShadowMan's story paint a colorful backdrop to the game word, and the visual presentation is very unique. The visual aesthetic is wonderfully twisted as gothic architecture gives way to rusted industrial brutalism, and structures made of stitched skin with bone supports. The whole world has a real lived-in(or died-in) feel to it, and you can almost smell the blood and corrosion caking the surfaces. The soundscape of ShadowMan can simultaneously be a treat for the ears, but also nightmare fuel at the same time. The haunting ambient melodies that play as you traverse Deadside give way to the horrific sounds of torture and surgical machinery as you traverse the Asylum.

Now there original game holds up pretty well, but NightDive wasn't satisfied with that. They got Kaiser to rip out ShadowMan's soul and transplant it into the KEX engine, with all the modern conveniences that such a process entails, and on top of that they have restored the majority of the cut content, had the composer remaster the original soundtrack and compose new tracks for the cut areas, and then reskinned the entire package with HD textures, uncensored the models, and added improved rendering. As if that wasn't enough, they then updated the control scheme, re-did the physics, and then shoved a SECOND Violator up it's arse (hope it fits!). This has resulted in what is IMO the definitive way to play ShadowMan on PC, and there's console versions coming soon as well. all in all NightDive, Kaiser and the KEX team have outdone themselves. The Loa smile on this remaster, and I cannot recommend it more highly.

 

 

Azure Lane Crosswave Switch Review

Azure Lane: Crosswave
Developed By: Compile Heart
Published By: Idea Factory International
Date of Release: February 16, 2021
Price: $49.99

 

Back in the year 2017 mobile phone gacha games were taking off considerably, and one game in particular stood above the rest for not being as sleazy in it's reliance on gatcha mechanics compared to it's competitors (I'm looking at you, KanColle!). That game was Azure Lane. A 2D shoot-em-up featuring anthropomorphized warships, it was pretty decent, and had a decent enough variety to set it apart. However that's not really the topic of today's review, rather the focus is on it's spinoff for the Nintendo Switch, Azure Lane Crosswave.

Azure lane Crosswave comes to us courtesy of Compile Heart/Idea Factory International, and has a LOT in common with their usual offerings. The story is presented in the tried and tested visual novel format that Idea Factory International is famous for, with crisp character portraits that shows off the amazing variety in character design, and cute voice acting that brings everyone to life. The soundtrack is great as well, perfectly accentuating the action onscreen.

The gameplay is a slight departure from the turn-based RPGs that make up the usual fare for IFI titles. Azure Lane Crosswave is a third-person action shooter that plays more like a 3D bullet hell shmup than anything else, and it's pretty refreshing. My only real gripe is that the gameplay is in a lower resolution and framerate than the story segments of the game, but that's to be expected I suppose considering the original release was on PS4. As a switch port though it more than does the job, and I'd recommend it for anyone who loves cute anime girls and warships alike!

Double Dragon Neon Switch Review

 Double Dragon Neon
Developed By: Wayforward
Published By: Majesco
Date of Release: December 21, 2020
Price: $14.99

Ahh, the 80's. The golden era of pop culture. It brought us many wonderful things such as the NES, Ray-Bans, Transformers, and bigass hair. It also brought us an arcade classic, a 2-player beat-em-up known as Double Dragon. It got everything right, from smashing gameplay to perfectly executed co-op mayhem. And now WayForward has stepped out of the DeLorean to hand us their throwback to the past: Double Dragon Neon. This magnificent tour-de-force blows the 80's head off with a rocket launcher, builds a cyborg out of it's corpse, and then puts said cyborg on a surfboard to the future to kick modern gaming convention in the cojones. All while listening to hair metal on a boombox. It has been a long time since I have seen a game that has this level of insanity taking itself with a gospel level of seriousness. And now for good measure, it's available on the Nintendo Switch!

And what would Double Dragon be without the twin heroes, Billy and Jimmy Lee? WayForward has brought the original dudebros to life with amazingly detailed cel-shaded models. All the classic enemies are here, from the lowly street thug cannon fodder, leather-clad whip-cracking bondage babes, and the infamous Abobo. Add to that the main villian, Skullmageddon, who could easily be described as a skeletal version of The Shredder from TMNT. That is if The Shredder was batsh*t insane, fond of femur-based double entendres, had Skeletor from He-Man voicing him, all while tripping balls on LSD. This guy is pure evil though, and he makes no bones about trying to pun you to death. Again, the voice acting for this dude alone makes me glad they opted for voiced dialog. On the music front, Jake Kaufman (AKA Virt) has brought the sound of the 80's back to life with a massively awesome mixture of vocal pop and hard rockin' hits. The complete soundtrack is downloadable at his Bandcamp page for the low low price of NADA, so check it out!

The gameplay in Double Dragon Neon is largely unchanged from the style of the original Double Dragon games, however there are a few new addons that change things up considerably. As you make your way through the game, defeated enemies will drop mixtapes. These audio treats come in two flavors, upgrade tapes that add to your stats, and Sōsetsuken tapes that add to your special attacks. Be sure to grab as many as you can, because you can stack each tape to further upgrade your stats and moves! The special attacks are quite varied, ranging from a classic cyclone kick to a hadouken-inspired fireball. Be sure to listen to each mixtape as well, the lyrics are good for a chuckle.

Back at the time of the original Steam release I started out playing Double Dragon Neon hoping to play a decent tribute to a beloved game, and I was not disappointed. That feeling of wonder still holds true to this awesome Switch port. WayForward has ripped the 80's a new one, and yanked this glorious beast out of the gaping void. The only thing really missing is the online co-op, but the local experience more than makes up for it. So if you are pining for the days of synthpop music, big hair, bad puns, and beating the ever-loving crap out of big dudes named Abobo, Double Dragon Neon will NOT disappoint. And it's only gonna take up $15 of your hairspray budget!