REVIEW: VISCO Collection on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

The VISCO Collection is a delightful time capsule, preserving the essence of classic arcade gaming in a revitalized bundle of seven games. Each title holds its own unique charm, appealing to a wide spectrum of gaming preferences.

Andro Dunos: Blast through space in a side-scrolling shoot 'em up adventure, facing off against swarms of alien foes and enormous bosses. With fast-paced action and impressive visuals, it's a classic that will test your skills and reflexes.

Bang Bead: Get ready for intense one-on-one battles in this addictive arcade-style fighting game. Choose your favorite character and engage in epic showdowns, mastering various moves and combos to claim victory.

Captain Tomaday: Take control of the titular hero, Captain Tomaday, in a quirky and challenging shooter. Transform into different forms to navigate bizarre levels and defeat eccentric enemies in this unique and fun-filled adventure.

FlipShot: Challenge your friends or AI opponents to a thrilling game of futuristic pinball. With a variety of tables and physics-defying action, FlipShot offers a fresh twist on the classic pinball experience.

Ganryu: Assume the role of either Musashi or Suzume on a journey to defeat a resurrected Kojirō and his legion of evil ninjas and monsters terrorizing Kyoto.

Goal! Goal! Goal!: Experience the excitement of soccer in this fast-paced, arcade-style sports game. Choose your team and compete in exhilarating matches, scoring goals and making epic plays to win the championship.

Neo DriftOut: Get behind the wheel of high-speed rally cars and drift your way to victory in this thrilling racing game. Navigate challenging courses, master the art of drifting, and compete against other skilled drivers to prove your supremacy on the track.

The range of genres covered is impressive, shoot 'em ups, fighting, shooters, sports simulations, and racing, ensures there's something for everyone. Andro Dunos stands out for its space shoot 'em up adventure, a true test of reflexes and skill. Meanwhile, Goal! Goal! Goal! resonates deeply with nostalgic sentiments, transporting players back to the days of arcade coin-drop matches.

What's particularly noteworthy is the way these games evoke nostalgia, tapping into the memories of anyone who frequented arcades in their younger days. Even if you didn't play these exact titles, the collection brings that familiar arcade ambiance right to your screen.

In summary, the VISCO Collection offers a diverse selection of classic arcade games, making it a recommended choice for anyone seeking a dose of nostalgia or a varied gaming experience. Whether reliving the past or discovering these gems for the first time, it's a journey worth taking.

Out Now on Xbox at https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/visco-collection/9NVBQZ9MBWRD

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REVIEW: schleich® DINOSAURS: Mission Dino Camp on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

DINOSAURS: Mission Dino Camp is a fun, educational and engaging game that is perfect for young dinosaur fans. The game is set in a beautiful tropical forest that is home to a variety of dinosaurs, including velociraptors, brontosaurus, and T-Rexes. Players take on the role of Jack, a dinosaur research scientist who must explore the forest and rescue the dinosaurs from an erupting volcano amongst other things.

This is very much a jobs based game, your character will be given missions, like collecting herbs, or photographing a Dino, and then bring those to other workers, so a lot of going back and forth.

One of the best things about DINOSAURS: Mission Dino Camp is the graphics. The game looks great and the dinosaurs are very well-rendered. The forest is also very detailed and immersive.

The gameplay is simple and easy to learn, even for young children. Players must explore the forest, find the dinosaurs, and then use a tranquilizer gun to stun them and transport them back to base camp. Once the dinosaurs are back at base camp, players must care for them by feeding them, giving them water, and healing any injuries.

The game is also very educational. Players will learn about the different types of dinosaurs that lived on Earth millions of years ago. They will also learn about the importance of conservation and protecting the environment.

My only complaint about the game is that towards the end, it can feel repetitive, and this is definitely a game for younger gamers, older gamers mind find it a bit limited.

Overall, DINOSAURS: Mission Dino Camp is a great game for young dinosaur fans. It is fun, educational, and has great graphics. I give the game a 7 out of 10.

Out Now at https://amzn.to/3QREBKd

REVIEW: Dreamworks Trolls Remix Rescue on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Trolls Remix Rescue is a delightful, family-friendly game for the Nintendo Switch that takes players on a musical adventure through the Troll Kingdom. Playing as beloved characters like Poppy, Branch, and Guy Diamond, you'll embark on a mission to save the kingdom from the melodic mastermind Chaz, who has cast a spell on the trolls with his smooth Jazz saxophone, turning them catatonic and causing them to grow mustaches. The game's quirky premise is sure to entertain and make kids laugh.

One of the standout features of the game is the impressive level of customization for your troll character. You can choose from a variety of hairstyles, facial features, outfits, and even select a feminine or masculine voice, allowing for loads of combination possibilities, since this is a game directed at kids, I am sure this element of customisation will be greatly enjoyed by the younger gamer. As you progress, you'll unlock additional clothing options and classic characters to play as, adding to the game's replay-ability.

The gameplay offers a mix of 3D platforming, combat, and rhythm-based mini-games, providing a well-rounded gaming experience. While the platforming aspect is fairly basic, there's room for improvement with additional skills like hair-whipping, swinging, and creating unique objects with troll magic. The inclusion of rhythm-based mini-games and boss fights set to the Trolls soundtrack adds an enjoyable variety to the game.

The game map is sprawling and divided into four regions, each featuring three different levels with unique themes and challenges. This ambition in level design keeps the gameplay engaging and prevents it from becoming monotonous. However, the level design could benefit from clearer navigation paths in some areas, as players might face challenges in finding their way forward, leading to frustration and backtracking.

One significant downside to "DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue" is the camera, which can be a major obstacle. It frequently zooms in too close to the character, obstructing your view of the surroundings. This issue can make precision platforming and navigating obstacles difficult, especially during 2D boss fights, which become unnecessarily challenging due to the problematic camera angles.

Despite its camera issues, "DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue" offers a solid family-friendly gaming experience. With fun character customization, a variety of gameplay elements, and the incorporation of the Trolls movie soundtrack, it has the potential to entertain players of all ages. The addition of local multiplayer for up to four players makes it a great choice for family gaming sessions. Overall, "DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue" is a charming game, scoring a 7 out of 10, but it could achieve even higher ratings with some camera and navigation improvements.

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://amzn.to/45WvThV

REVIEW: Ghostrunner 2 on Xbox - A Thrilling Upgrade to the Cyberpunk Slasher Genre

Review by Jon Donnis

If you loved the first Ghostrunner, you're in for a treat with its sequel, Ghostrunner 2. Building upon the foundations of its predecessor, the game offers a thrilling and immersive experience with several notable improvements. This hardcore first-person slasher keeps you on the edge of your seat as you navigate a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world, making it one of the standout action games of the year.

Much like its predecessor, Ghostrunner 2 features fast-paced, one-hit-kill combat, where agility and precision are paramount. You'll dash, slide, and execute enemies with your trusty sword, and the game introduces new ninja tricks to customize your playstyle. The addition of a stylish motorcycle segment adds variety to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.

One of the game's strengths is its more fleshed-out world, captivating level design, and challenging boss battles. The cyberpunk dystopia of Dharma City comes to life with engaging storytelling and well-developed characters. The conversations with fellow rebels in the hub world offer valuable insights into the game's lore, making them worthwhile diversions before embarking on your next mission.

The game's combat and parkour elements are further accentuated by a pulsating soundtrack that gets the adrenaline pumping, intensifying the action and immersing you in the dystopian atmosphere.

However, Ghostrunner 2 does have its drawbacks. Some players might find it easier compared to the first installment, potentially diminishing the challenge, especially the boss fights. The hub world, while offering valuable narrative content, disrupts the pacing of the game. Combat arenas sometimes feel too open, with large gaps between enemies, and some dialogues suffer from awkward silences. Additionally, the boss fights, while decent, could have been more engaging.

Ghostrunner 2's plot places you in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world, one year after the fall of the tyrannical Keymaster. You'll face a violent AI cult outside Dharma Tower, the last refuge of humanity, as you shape the future of your kind. The game features remarkable katana combat mechanics, nonlinear levels with intricate motorbike sections, and exciting new modes. Boss fights now offer more interactivity, allowing players to choose their strategies.

The introduction of new skills adds depth to the gameplay, encouraging creativity and adaptation to different encounters. The player progression system is revamped, providing customization options for your playstyle. The Cybervoid, interactive environments, and a dialogue system further enrich the experience.

In conclusion, Ghostrunner 2 successfully builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, delivering an exhilarating and immersive cyberpunk slasher experience. While it might be slightly easier and the hub world interruptions can be a pacing issue, the game's engaging story, refined gameplay mechanics, and captivating soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of the genre. Dive into the dystopian world and save humanity in style, all while enjoying the synth-wave soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

I score Ghostrunner 2 on Xbox a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now at

https://amzn.to/3FIlMCN

REVIEW: My Cubes on PC - "A Towering Challenge of Creativity"

Review by Jon Donnis

"My Cubes," developed by BloodAlibi, is a refreshing take on the indie gaming scene, offering players a unique platforming experience that demands both creativity and perseverance. In this first-person adventure, you'll tackle the challenge of reaching a high point using only two cubes, with the ability to position and reposition them in mid-air to craft your path to the top.

Gameplay: My Cubes introduces a distinctive and satisfying gameplay mechanic that tests your wits and agility. The goal is clear: reach the summit with just two cubes. What might sound simple becomes a complex exercise in spatial reasoning as you manipulate these cubes to create platforms to reach the next safe point. The addition of checkpoints ensures that players can recover from setbacks, preventing frustration and maintaining an enjoyable experience.

Controls: The game's primary flaw lies in its control scheme. While the mouse and keyboard setup is functional, it can be a bit finicky, making precise cube placement a challenge. It's worth noting that My Cubes lacks full gamepad support, which is unfortunate, as the gameplay would really suit a gamepad. Furthermore, there doesn't appear to be a way to rotate the cubes, which, while not a critical gameplay element, could enhance the overall aesthetics and flexibility, when jumping onto a placed cube, I never quite felt like I was on the cube.

Graphics: My Cubes may be simple in design, but it successfully maintains a clean and visually appealing aesthetic. The graphics are well-suited to the game's straightforward concept, and the games architecture feels suitably simple as you progress. While it may not be a graphical powerhouse, the minimalist approach adds to the game's charm, and that also means a nice small download size.

Challenge and Replayability: The game offers an intriguing challenge, and the integrated speed run counter provides a significant incentive for replay-ability. Whether you're aiming to conquer your previous record or simply looking for new ways to tackle the tower, My Cubes has the potential to keep players engaged and determined to improve their skills. Speedrun listed on www.speedrun.com/My_Cubes

Conclusion: "My Cubes" by BloodAlibi is a worthy addition to the indie gaming landscape, offering a unique and engaging if short experience. While it may have its control quirks and some room for improvement, the game's creativity and challenge make it a fun title in its genre. With its straightforward graphics and enticing gameplay, it's a solid choice for speedrun enthusiasts looking for something a bit different.

My final score for "My Cubes" on PC is a fair 7 out of 10, reflecting its distinctive charm and engaging gameplay, despite some control limitations.

Available now at https://bloodalibi.itch.io/mycubes