REVIEW: Moony: Black_Lotus (2025 Vide Game) by Icegrim Softwork

Review by Jon Donnis

Icegrim Softworks' Moony: Black_Lotus invites players into a world of corrupted memories and shattered identity, where a ruined city hums with mechanical ghosts of its past. It's a 2.5D side-scroller that blends traditional jump-n-run mechanics with puzzle solving and light stealth, framed by a hauntingly beautiful orchestral score. On paper, it's familiar territory. In practice, it's a moody and thoughtful experience that manages to charm, even if it occasionally stumbles.

The atmosphere is Moony: Black_Lotus's greatest triumph. The visual storytelling carries the weight of the game's mystery without the need for dialogue or exposition. Every flicker of shadow and echo of metal feels deliberate, pulling you into its dreamlike world. The environments, though restrained in palette, are textured with decay and memory. It's the kind of world that feels alive despite being long dead.

The live-recorded orchestral soundtrack deserves a spotlight of its own. It's rich, dynamic, and seamlessly adjusts to your actions. When the strings swell as you leap across crumbling platforms or fade to a lonely piano during quiet exploration, it hits with real emotion. It's a reminder that even smaller indie titles can reach cinematic heights with the right musical direction.

Gameplay is accessible and responsive. You'll be running, leaping, and solving environmental puzzles within minutes of starting. The introduction of special abilities such as teleportation or walking through barriers adds a welcome layer of complexity without overcomplicating the core flow. The stealth segments, while not revolutionary, bring tension and variety to the pacing.

That said, the genre is saturated. For every creative spark Moony: Black_Lotus offers, there's an unavoidable sense of déjà vu. It sits in the shadow of giants like Little Nightmares and Ori and the Blind Forest, which set a high bar for emotional storytelling and mechanical precision. Icegrim's effort doesn't quite reach those heights. 

Some sections suffer from mild repetition, particularly during climbing sequences where one small mistake sends you back through long, uneventful stretches. It's not difficult, just tiresome.

Still, there's heart here. The game's willingness to tell its story through imagery rather than dialogue gives it a poetic quality. It trusts the player to pay attention, to notice, to piece things together. That's rare, and it's refreshing.

Moony: Black_Lotus is a quietly compelling experience. It doesn't redefine its genre, but it doesn't need to. For those drawn to atmospheric platformers that whisper their stories instead of shouting them, this is a fine addition to the collection.

7.5 out of 10, Beautiful, moody, and familiar. Not groundbreaking, but well worth your time.

Out Now on PC (Steam) - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2900900/MOONYBlack_Lotus/

REVIEW: Motel Business Simulator (2025 Video Game) - on Playstation

Review by Jon Donnis

Motel Business Simulator, released in 2025 on PlayStation and published by Nostra Games, puts players firmly in the role of a motel manager. From the moment you step behind the front desk, the game tasks you with juggling housekeeping, guest satisfaction, and property upgrades. It is a straightforward management experience that keeps things simple, offering a glimpse into the logistics of running a roadside motel.

One of the game's strongest features is its addictive core loop. Cleaning rooms, furnishing them, and renting them out provides a satisfying rhythm, particularly during the early stages. The progression system, which includes achievements and opportunities to upgrade and expand the motel, adds a clear sense of purpose. For its price point, (£6.49) the game delivers good value, making it accessible for those looking for a casual management simulation.

On the other hand, the gameplay can become repetitive once the motel is fully operational. The early variety of tasks gradually gives way to a routine of repeating similar actions. Graphically, the game feels dated, with visuals that lack polish compared to other titles in the genre. Players seeking deeper management mechanics may find the options restrictive, as the game does not provide much beyond maintaining rooms, handling supplies, and keeping guests satisfied.

Motel Business Simulator is a decent, no-frills simulator. It offers enough engagement for a short playthrough or a casual gaming session, but it lacks the depth and variety to sustain longer-term interest. The straightforward approach is both a strength and a limitation, making it approachable but somewhat shallow for dedicated simulation fans.

Score: 6/10 - A simple, accessible management game that delivers a basic motel experience but lacks lasting depth.

Out Now on Playstation

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10015006/

REVIEW: Sonic Wings Reunion (2025 Video Game) - For Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

There's something oddly comforting about a game that still looks and feels like it just rolled out of a 90s arcade cabinet. Sonic Wings Reunion, or Aero Fighters Reunion if you prefer the Western name, is exactly that. A throwback to the days when your job was simple: fly up the screen, shoot anything that moves, and try not to blink.

I'll admit, as someone who sank hours into the SNES version back in the day, as well as spending a fair wodge of coin in the arcade game, firing this up gave me that instant jolt of nostalgia. The pixel art isn't trying to impress anyone, and maybe that's what I like about it. It's rough in places, sure, but it's faithful to what those games looked like. You can almost hear the hum of an arcade cabinet behind it.

To its credit, there's a decent amount packed in. You've got more than eight characters, each flying their own aircraft with little quirks, and eight stages that whisk you around the world in rapid bursts of colour and chaos. 

The local co-op is still a joy, especially if you've got someone who remembers how to weave through a wall of enemy fire. And the Tate Mode, where you can flip the screen into a proper vertical setup, is a thoughtful touch for purists.

But let's be honest, the price hurts. Somewhere between £25 and £33 for what's essentially an old-school shooter feels off. Nostalgia only stretches so far, and this one pushes it. The soundtrack doesn't help much either. It's serviceable, but there's not a single tune that sticks. You'll hear it once and forget it ten minutes later.

That said, I still found myself having a good time. Maybe that's habit talking, maybe it's comfort. There's something satisfying about that familiar panic when the screen floods with bullets and you somehow scrape through untouched. It's not thrilling in a modern sense, but it scratches a very specific itch.

Sonic Wings Reunion isn't going to win over anyone new, and maybe it doesn't care to. It feels made for the people who were there the first time round. I can't quite decide if that's charming or lazy, but it works well enough.

Score: 7 out of 10.

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://amzn.to/3W7oEkP

REVIEW: MotoTrials™ (2025 Video Game) - A Brutal, Beautiful Little Gauntlet

Review by Jon Donnis

You wake in a shipping container, groggy and disoriented, and the game makes you figure out a few things first before allowing you to get on a bike, the very first puzzle is a simple one, you need to remove your handcuffs, find a giant saw, turn your back to it, time it right and voila you are free, get it wrong and you are shredded to pieces. That blunt opening sets the tone. MotoTrials™ is a compact, 100 per cent physics-driven motorcycle platformer that asks one simple thing of you. Learn the machine. Keep trying. Survive the gauntlet.

Ricky is not a hero with a backstory laid out in cutscenes. He is a name, a body and a bike, and the environment does the talking. The concrete labyrinth is industrial and claustrophobic, full of moving platforms, flame jets, crushers and bridges that give way underfoot. The design merges tight, exacting sequences where momentum and balance matter as well as reflex and quick thinking. Everything is governed by the physics, crashes feel consequential and recoveries feel earned. That honesty makes success quietly thrilling.

Controls are the heart of the thing. The bike behaves like a real object. Throttle, brake and lean change outcomes in an immediate, tactile way. At first it is unforgiving, because the bike is twitchy and your timing will be off. Spend a little time with it and the reward is big. Landings that would feel like luck in a scripted game become obvious once you understand speed and weight, and those moments are where MotoTrials lives. Checkpoints are placed with an eye for balance. Instant respawns mean you are nudged back into the loop rather than punished out of it. The loop is short, sharp and addictive.

The decision to include on-foot sections is bold. I prefer riding, personally, but the occasional moment where you leave the bike to solve a small puzzle adds variety. It is not flawless. Ricky's movement on foot can feel slightly floaty, and that undermines the otherwise consistent relationship between input and result. When the physics that make the bike sing do not translate perfectly to the character, the contrast pulls you out of the experience for a second. Still, those small puzzles break the rhythm in a useful way and stop the game from being relentless in one gear.

Story and voice work do more than you might expect. Cryptic messages and unsettling vocal lines stitch a loose narrative into the gameplay. Ashley and Crusty are memorable in different ways, MOM and Silent Mike add flavour, and the Announcer keeps things eerily formal. The cast does not handhold. Instead, it hints and teases, and that ambiguity works with the environment to create an atmosphere that is quietly unsettling. It does not aim to be profound, just unnerving enough to make you keep listening on the off chance the next line will spell something out.

Visually the game is modest. Textures and models are functional rather than showy. Lighting and sound do the heavy lifting for mood, and they do it well. The soundtrack is minimalist and atmospheric, shifting as you progress and underlining the tension without getting in the way. Together with the voice work it pushes the small studio presentation into something that feels cohesive rather than unfinished.

There are rough edges you should know about. The graphics could be cleaner, and a few physics quirks crop up away from the bike. Some transitions feel abrupt. These are the sorts of issues you forgive if you care more about the loops and less about visual polish. For a project that, by all appearances, was made on a modest budget, the trade-offs are understandable. The core mechanics are intact, and that is the main thing.

Replayability is solid for what it is. Time runs, collectibles tucked into awkward places and a handful of hidden secrets give players reasons to return after the first clear run. It is a short game if you rush, a bite-sized challenge if you take your time. That brevity helps it avoid filler, which feels intentional.

I am pretty strict with Trials-style games. I expect tight, fair design and a feeling that every failure can be learned from. MotoTrials meets that expectation more often than not. It stumbles in small spots, but it kept pulling me back, which is the highest compliment I can pay. It is a lean, occasionally rough gem that rewards patience and practice.

Score: 8 out of 10. It is not polished to excess, but it nails the satisfaction of learning a machine and beating the course. I hope ProudArts gets the chance to expand on this.

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/mototrials/9N8GC20N1R76/0010

NEWS: GUNNAR Optiks Celebrates Fallout’s 28th Anniversary with Vault 33 Glasses

By Jon Donnis

If there's one thing Fallout fans love as much as looting a Super Duper Mart or listening to "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" on the Pip-Boy radio, it's the mix of retro style and high-tech survival gear. GUNNAR Optiks seems to understand that perfectly. To celebrate the 28th anniversary of Fallout, the company has launched a special collaboration inspired by Vault 33, complete with a generous anniversary deal. From October 10 to 12, players, collectors, and wanderers alike can grab a pair of Fallout Vault 33 Glasses or Sunglasses for just $69.30 instead of the usual $99, simply by using the promo code FALLOUT28 at checkout. There's no fine print or purchase limit, just straight-up savings that feel almost too good for the post-apocalypse.

The Vault 33 Glasses are clearly designed with gamers in mind. Built from a combination of stainless steel and nylon, the square frame has a smart, retro-futuristic look that feels like it could have been pulled straight from a Vault-Tec prototype lab. The olive metal temples add a touch of authenticity that fans will recognise instantly. It's the kind of style that feels perfectly at home whether you're grinding through Fallout 4's Commonwealth wasteland or binge-watching the Fallout TV adaptation on Prime Video. Flexible spring hinges make the fit comfortable for long sessions, while the built-in side shields subtly cut out peripheral glare. These aren't novelty items; they're practical, well-engineered glasses that merge form and function in the way the Fallout universe always hinted technology should.

Under the hood (or rather, behind the lenses), GUNNAR's signature technology does the heavy lifting. The patented lens design reduces digital eye strain, which is a blessing for anyone who spends hours in front of a screen, whether you're modding Fallout: New Vegas or raiding in 76. The G-Shield® Plus coating adds a double layer of defence, providing anti-reflective and smudge-resistant protection while blocking 100% of UV rays and harmful blue light. This means sharper focus, less eye fatigue, and fewer headaches after long sessions, something every gamer and late-night Vault Dweller can appreciate.

There's also a sense of collectability here. Each pair comes with a collector's case, microfibre pouch, cleaning cloth, and a 12-month warranty, all stamped with official Fallout and Amazon Studios branding. It's a nice touch for fans who take pride in owning official memorabilia from their favourite franchise. It feels like something you'd find tucked away in a Vault locker, carefully preserved, practical, and unmistakably cool.

What's particularly clever about this collaboration is how seamlessly it ties into the Fallout world. The Vault 33 branding gives the glasses a sense of belonging, like standard-issue eyewear for explorers of the wasteland. They strike that perfect balance between nostalgia and modernity, appealing not only to hardcore gamers but also to those who simply love the design aesthetic that's made Fallout endure for nearly three decades.

In a gaming landscape full of crossover gimmicks, this one genuinely hits the mark. It's more than a marketing tie-in; it's a product that serves a real purpose. Whether you're crafting settlements, dodging Deathclaws, or working long hours in front of a screen, the Vault 33 Glasses bring a touch of Fallout style and serious functionality to your daily grind. For fans of the series, it's the closest thing to equipping a wearable perk, one that protects your eyes instead of just boosting your Charisma.

GUNNAR's Fallout Vault 33 Glasses are the kind of gear any Vault Dweller would be proud to add to their loadout. They're sleek, practical, and unmistakably Fallout, bridging the gap between the game's imaginative world and real-life comfort. And with the limited-time anniversary discount, there's never been a better excuse to treat your eyes, or your inner gamer, to something special before venturing back into the wasteland.

Check out https://gunnar.com/products/fallout-vault-33-glasses

But be quick if you want the discount, don't forget to use the promo code FALLOUT28 at checkout.

Thanks as always to GUNNAR Optiks, our favourite glasses maker!