product review
Product reviews for gamers; reviews of the best video games, consoles, accessories and gaming technologies.
REVIEW / Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time (X1)
Samurai Jack is a cartoon unlike any other. With four seasons rated TV-Y7 from the early 2000s and a fifth rated TV-14 from 2017, the show takes a visually beautiful approach to telling the story of a samurai sent to the distant future when the known galaxy has been conquered by the god of evil Aku. Told through visually beautiful and creative episodes, subtle writing that explores themes of morality, justice, kinship, destiny, and many others while sprinkling in plenty of moments of levity, every episode of Samurai Jack is something special. So, how does the new game, awkwardly released three years after the show’s sudden resurrection, fare?
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (XO)
I love the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. I always have, from the moment I first played the demo on my Dreamcast (yes, the first two games did come out on Dreamcast.) And while I stopped playing new installments after American Wasteland, I never stopped going back to the old ones. I’ve been wanting to see some representation of the series on modern consoles for a long time, and now that the completely remastered Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is here, I can’t put it down. I could end the review right there, but I have a feeling some people might need a bit more convincing.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Helheim Hassle (PC)
Limbs are useful things. They make life easier when you want to get around, pick things up, or remove them, and throw them at people you don’t like. No? Well no, maybe not the last one but you have to admit if you could pull your arm off and use it to get to those spots that are just out of reach it would be a bit handy. In Helheim Hassle, the slightly mad-cap puzzler I’ve been playing of late you can do just this. You can also remove your head. This creates its own set of questions about your mortality that we’ll hopefully be answering in just a little bit. The more pressing query for the moment, though, is as to whether it’s any good. Let’s see, shall we?
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / WINTERMOOR TACTICS CLUB (PC)
The strategy genre is a funny one. I feel that out of all the genres this is one of the most love/hate. The tactics sub-genre definitely doesn’t get as much love as it deserves and this is where we’re going to be today. The game is Wintermoor Tactics Club and I have to say that I’m having a heap of fun with it.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Battletoads (XO)
I never played the original Battletoads back in the day; it was before my time. And when I did eventually learn about the series, I didn’t give it much thought. That is, until the closely-timed releases of Rare Replay and Rash’s appearance in Killer Instinct. With the former including the much better-looking arcade game, this is how I learned about the appearances and personalities of the toads, and I really liked what I saw. Now the Toads are back with something a little bit different.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Mittelborg: City of Mages (PS4)
I’m a massive fan of all things strategy. It doesn’t matter what a game is asking of me, if there’s brainpower involved I’m usually in. On paper Mittelborg: City of Mages looked rather cool, so I thought I’d give it a whirl and let you lot know how I got on. The experience was definitely an interesting one, whether that be good or bad, however, very much remains to be seen.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield (Switch)
Like the rest of the world that’s been staying safe at home, I tuned in to the recent Indie World Showcase that happened last month to see what’s going on in the world of indie games coming to the Switch. One of the games that caught my eye was Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield. Who is this Aerial_Knight? Why is his moniker using an underscore rather than a space like a normal name? Why is he endlessly running on this game?
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Secret Government (PC)
I love a bit of cloak and dagger. There’s something really satisfying about not having to do any fighting because you’ve manipulated another sap into getting stabbed a lot for you. Anything that makes me want to rub my hands together and cackle with glee is bound to be bags of fun. I fully realize that none of what I’ve just said says anything for my personality or mental stability but it does lead us nicely into today’s game. I’ve been playing Secret Government on Steam and I decided it would be mightily remiss of me not to share.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Alchemy Emporium (PC)
Some people out there enjoy the minutiae of everyday life, especially when it comes in the form of management games. One of those genres is shop management, where the joys of buying low and selling high, as well as appeasing customers, are the keys to success. An Italian developer, Curtel Games, recently took a stab at it with its game, Alchemy Emporium, out now on Steam for PCs.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
REVIEW / Imagine Earth (PC)
In the not-too-distant future, mankind boldly goes where none have dared before, the vast reaches of space. In the Serious Bros’ debut title, Imagine Earth, it’s up to the players to take an environmentally conscious approach to planetary colonization as we extend our reach through the stars. Build, compete, sustain, and ultimately create a planet that’s worth calling home.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
PREVIEW / Tandem: A Tale of Shadows (PC)
I love a good puzzle game. The thing about puzzlers is they’re usually full of interesting mechanics. We’re generally talking about very simple things too. I mean, who thought a bunch of falling blocks would captivate the world for thirty-odd years? At the most basic level, sticking a bunch of letters or numbers into a grid can be extremely satisfying. My point is the building blocks can be as basic as you like, it’s all about what you do with them. This little thought leads me nicely into the game we’ve got our eye on today. It’s called Tandem: A Tale of Shadows, and it’s taking some fairly simple ideas and doing wonderful things with them. Excitingly, this is also a preview so we can look at it together before it comes out.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
PREVIEW / RECONNECT : The Heart of Darkness (PC)
I, like many, can get a bit stuck when it comes to the RTS genre. I enjoy playing the A.I, but it can get so predictable that the challenge will dissipate. When it comes to PvP in strategy games, I’m terrified because I’m more of a casual fan and think the other players are going to demolish me. So what is a casual RTS player to do? The answer could come in the form of RobotHeart Labs’ RECONNECT – The Heart of Darkness which sets out to accomplish what few, if any, have attempted before: an enemy A.I. that learns and adapts to how you play.
By Bill Wilhelm5 years ago in Gamers
