REVIEW: Pretty Girls 2048 Strike on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Zoo Corporation are back with yet another release in their "Pretty Girls" series, this is number 19 and is called Pretty Girls 2048 Strike.

The 2048 in the title is because the game is based on the classic tile sliding puzzle game of the same name.

If you are unfamiliar of the original game, the idea was to use your arrow keys to move the tiles. Tiles with the same number merge into one when they touch. You would win the game when you have a single tile reach 2048, now with this being a Pretty Girls release, there is a twist in the game. Each game will have a title, or multiple tiles featuring one of the Pretty Girls, they will have a score, and every time you move titles in the direction of the Pretty Girl, whatever number is on that particular tile, would take off the same amount from their score, get the Pretty Girl to zero, and you win the level. However if the board fills up, and there are no moves left, you lose.

It may sound a bit confusing, but this may very well be the most addictive Pretty Girls release yet. The addition of the Pretty Girl tile, really does take the original game to a new level, throw in some special skills, that both you the player, and the Pretty Girl can activate, and that brings another level of gameplay and tactics.

Skills for you can include a shuffle of the whole board. Which is very much needed on harder levels when you are running out of mergeable tiles. Another skill when activated will automatically "attack" every Pretty Girls tile, with the equivalent number of the highest tile on the board.

Skills for the Pretty Girls include things like unmergeable tiles, add another Pretty Girl character tile to the board, put a shield around a tile, and so on.

The game is incredibly easy to pick up, and you will get the hang of it pretty quickly. Each set of stages is attached to a different Pretty Girl character, beat all the stages, unlock that girl, earn points for the shop.

As with all Pretty Girls releases, these are sexy Japanese style "Bishoujo" characters, no nudity. Once you collect the Pretty Girls, you can unlock costumes, facial expressions and backgrounds so you can make your Diorama. You can then save the image.

There are 10 stages for each of the five characters. All get progressively harder. And all characters are voiced in Japanese.

There is also an endless mode, where the main aim is just to survive as long as you can, and get as high a tile score as you can. There are 3 stages to play in endless mode, 3x3, 4x4 and 5x5 size boards.

There are two types of Character, with Exorcist Swordsman and Demon Tribe, and each character has their own little bio and story. For example

Chikage - Chikage specializes in a ninja-like fighting style. She has a personality that is both hardworking and confident. She admires her mother, who was an exorcist Swordsman, and dressed as a male in order to pursue her strength and follow the path of swordsman.

Lilim - A dream demon. She looks down on humans as food for her energy. She is mischievous and playful, and enjoys bullying humans. She absorbs energy through dreams and hallucinations.

These are mainly just window dressing and don't affect the game, but it is nice that the effort has been made in these characters.

The Good

As with all of the Pretty Girl's releases, they are based on classic games, this is the first one however where I had never played the classic game before, so for me this was a totally new game in every sense. And despite the main gameboard being very simple, the addictive nature of the gameplay cannot be understated. This is a fantastic game, and perhaps my favourite out of all of the Pretty Girls releases, and I have played a lot of them.

Super simple gameplay, with a growing challenge, that really will challenge all fans of puzzle games.

The Bad

Of the various difficulty levels, the first 3 are pretty easy and you will get through the stages in no time, I think either more levels, or more of a balance on those earlier levels would have been good, but then again it might just be that I am very good at this game?

Overall

I loved this game, definitely my favourite of all the releases, and a game I will keep playing after I have written this review, which is always the biggest compliment a game can get. I honestly can't think of anything that would improve this game outside of more levels. It is that good.

Easily Puzzle game of 2022. I score Pretty Girls 2048 Strike on PC (Steam) a super strong 9.5/10. Near puzzle perfection

Out on PC (Steam) Now!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2210630/Pretty_Girls_2048_Strike/

REVIEW: Whisker Squadron: Survivor on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Another day and another review, this time we are looking at Whisker Squadron: Survivor.

This is the first game set in the Whisker Squadron universe, and a roguelite shooter from the makers of RACE THE SUN. In Whisker Squadron: Survivor, the action takes place in a continuous corridor setting over the course of 30 minute runs, with a strong emphasis on roguelite survival.

With a variety of feline pilots, ships, and weaponry at your disposal, you may customize your loadout before setting out on a run that only gets tougher with each wave. You can upgrade through a dizzying array of randomly selected upgrades by collecting scrap from your defeated enemies, giving each run a distinctive build.

Whisker Squadron: Survivor, which serves as a prequel to the 2023 space-faring adventure Whisker Squadron.

With a relatively tiny download size, this is an impressive looking game. The sound effects and music are all decent. The music could have been lifted right out of an 80s detective TV show! But now we get to the all important question of how does it play.


You have a choice of using keyboard and mouse, or gamepad. You would think that this game would be made for gamepads and console type controllers. Unfortunately this is the one part that the game really trips on. One of the aspects of the game is turning your ship side ways, it helps you avoid enemy bullets and also get through some tight areas, but using the gamepad, this extra control aspect just didn't feel easy to use, and I found myself totally ignoring that, and just flying with the ship flat. I then tried with a mouse and keyboard, and to be fair it definitely felt easier to control, and even I found myself using the side ways option and also the full rotate, to not only avoid enemy fire but also to go through those tricky areas.

With the mouse and keyboard being a better option, the game still struggles with the control aspects. It just never feels quite right. You are aiming with the mouse at the enemies, but this also controls the direction the ship is moving, so it is hard to do what you want at times. But the more you play, the more you adapt and get used to the controls.

The Good

Very nice looking and sounding game. Nice simple concept that plays ok once you get over the controls.

Shoot at the enemies, progress and upgrade your weapons, shoot at more enemies.

The Bad

The controls. 

Overall

A simple little game, bogged down by a poor control system, stick with it and you will be rewarded with some fun game play.

I score Whisker Squadron: Survivor on PC (Steam) a fair 7/10

Out on 2023 on Steam.
Wishlist at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2140100/Whisker_Squadron_Survivor/

TRAILER: Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

 

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a new Stealth Strategy game from Mimimi Games, the developers of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Desperados III.

In Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, you will join a ghost ship with a living soul, sailing the Lost Caribbean, and assemble a cursed pirate crew. Embrace supernatural powers to defy the menacing army of the Inquisition, who stands between you and the mysterious treasure of the legendary Captain Mordechai.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is coming to Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in 2023.

Welcome to the Lost Caribbean! In this stealth strategy game, join a ghost ship with a living soul and assemble a cursed pirate crew. Embrace supernatural powers to defy the menacing Inquisition of the Burning Maiden, who stands between you and the mysterious treasure of the legendary Captain Mordechai.

Join The Red Marley, a ghost ship with a living soul. On deck, plan your next adventure or just hang out with your crew mates while they enjoy their un-life. Get to know these legendary cursed pirates of the Lost Caribbean. With individual character missions find out about their backstories, learn who they are and what led them on their cursed journeys.

REVIEW: SEASON: A letter to the future on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

SEASON: A letter to the future is a third-person, atmospheric adventure bicycle road trip game. Bet that is the first time you have ever heard of one of these types of games! 

You play as Estelle and will Immerse yourself in the environment as you take your first trip leaving home to gather memories before a terrible catastrophe wipes everything out, you know the catastrophe is coming, but there is nothing you can do to stop it. Your only wish is to record everything of the "old world" before the new one comes, whatever that may be.

 

Exploration, recording, meeting new people, and understanding the weird environment you're in are the main game objectives. Each recording technique catches a unique layer, including noises and music, artwork and architecture, and the narratives of people going through crucial events. Your instruments will remove these layers until you can see the underlying culture, history, and ecosystem. 

You are brought to the big questions by this adventure: What is this season? Why is it ending? What will the upcoming season bring?

This is not as much of a game as it is a story, a journey of discovery. Find a cemetery, follow side paths, stop off at a temple, there is so much to explore.

Your bicycle is your main mode of getting about, although you can also walk. As you explore you will reach points of interest, at this point you will get off your bike and explore that area. You can take photos, record audio of various sounds, and in general make a record of what you are experiencing. You can even make sketches. You have a journal which you will also use, and you can collect various items that you also think are of interest. The journal will allow you to make conclusions about what you experience. Along with that you will also meet various characters, and how you interact with them will also affect how things turn out for them.

This is a super relaxing game, which will give back to you depending on how much you put in. You can take your time to really explore, and fill up your journal, or you can rush through the game. Clearly it is better and more rewarding for you if you take your time. The more you investigate an area, take photos, audio clips etc, the more you will get back as you will unlock inner thoughts of the main character which may then be jotted down in your journal.

The graphics and general style of the game is pretty damn unique and just feels so warm. You feel like you are truly experiencing a game, as opposed to just playing it. Voice acting is all of the highest quality, and the sound effects are just about perfect. 

This is a really unconventional game, which is such a refreshing change from prety much anything else in the gaming world. It is a hard game to even describe. It is an experience, something that will make you think, but after you have finished it, you will want to replay it, and see what else you can find out and explore.

The Good

Beautiful graphics, great sound effects and voice acting, and a wonderful relaxing experience.

The Bad

You might find yourself obsessively trying to collect every keepsake, and get everything, which is not the point of the game, also mouths do not move on the characters when they speak.

Overall

An exceptionally well made game, original and unique in so many ways.

If you want something different, an experience more than a game, then check this out.

I score SEASON: A letter to the future a solid 9/10.

Out now on Steam and also PS4/PS5

https://store.steampowered.com/app/695330/SEASON_A_letter_to_the_future/

REVIEW: BROK the InvestiGator on PC (Steam) - Available on Consoles from March 1st 2023

UPDATE: Available on Consoles from March 1st, 2023

Review by Jon Donnis

I was asked to take a look at BROK the InvestiGator by my good friends at CowCat Games.

If you have been following my reviews on this site, then you will know I am a fan of the old fashioned point and click adventure games made famous in the 80's and 90's, well for the first time ever (I assume, I have not actually checked), we have a point and click adventure mixed with a Beat'em Up and RPG.

You play the part of an InvestiGator, (The G is capitalised due to the character being an Alligator), you live in a world where the humans are gone, and replaced by animals, you have the privileged class and the not so privileged class. You live with the son (Graf) of your deceased wife, and you are just trying to make your way in this new world. As with all point and click adventures, you will examine a scene, pick things up, try to solve the various puzzles that come your way, but here is the big twist, your character is an ex-boxer, and as such with a click of one button, you can use your fists to help you in your travels, that might entail you beating up some bad guys harassing a friend, or destroying a panel to open a door. Either way it is a nice addition to a genre that has seen pretty much everything before.

As you play and meet new people you will have various missions and side missions to complete, puzzles to complete, some you will need to use your brains, others you might just need to beat up, the story will change depending on your choices you make, giving your different endings depending on those choices.

The Prologue which is out now gives you full access to the first chapter of the game, there will be 6 in total.

The Good

This is a well-crafted game, fantastically drawn characters, full voice acting, the puzzles are just what you would expect in such a game, and the beat em up elements are fun and really do give a tired genre a kick up the ass.

The Bad

None really, this is a fun well-made game.

Overall

The Prologue is free, so download it, play it, and I am sure if you are a fan of point and click adventure games, then you will enjoy it.

I score BROK the InvestiGator a solid 8/10

Review by Jon Donnis

The "Prologue" is available NOW on Steam and GOG : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1318790

Available on Consoles from March 1st
PS4™

PS5™

Xbox One

Xbox Series X|S

Nintendo Switch