Dark Arcana: The Carnival

Dark Arcana: The Carnival

Dark Arcana: The Carnival is a hidden object game where you step into the shoes of a detective tasked with locating a young mother who went missing at a carnival. Evidence seems to suggest that the manager might be involved, but it quickly becomes apparent that it is not an ordinary missing persons case. If you like hidden object games with creepy locations and interesting twists, then you’ll enjoy this one. Just be warned that none of the puzzles or mini-games are particularly challenging and the game is quite short overall.

Gameplay: Interesting, but relatively short.

Graphics: The artwork is decent, but cut-scenes and animations definitely show their age.

Sound: The voice acting isn’t great, but the music and sound effects are good

SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy

SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy

Don’t approach SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy expecting an indepth move list and longevity. Instead, it is a very newcomer-friendly brawler with a firm emphasis on fan service. The customization options are nice, but not as extensive as we would have liked and the story mode is unlikely to keep players hooked for very long. The game is undeniably fun, especially if you don’t have the time to practice endlessly just to become proficient with certain characters, but sadly this also means that you’ll tire of it quite soon.

Gameplay: Very newcomer-friendly, but can’t hold a candle to some of the bigger titles available.

Graphics: Characters look great and the outfits are eye-catching, but the backgrounds could have been much better.

Sound: Nothing remarkable about the music, but the Japanese voice acting is very fitting

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN

Ace Combat 7 offers a superb selection of aircraft and a campaign spanning twenty missions to use them in. The controls feel great, and there are enough settings to ensure that even total newcomers can have fun. However, the game can sometimes get frustrating, and the lack of support from the rest of your squad is a bit annoying. In addition, the multiplayer component of the game feels a bit lacking. Despite these issues, the game is very solid and offers an action-packed experience that is hard to beat.

Gameplay: A little frustrating at times, but overall the experience is action-packed and a lot of fun.

Graphics: All of the planes in this game look great, and the amount of detail is also impressive.

Sound: Decent voice acting and a superb soundtrack complement the action nicely

Devil May Cry® 4 Special Edition

Devil May Cry® 4 Special Edition

Devil May Cry 4 does a much better job than the usual shoddy console ports and is hugely entertaining to play as well. You will want to invest in a good gamepad to get the most out of the game and the amount of backtracking is a bit disappointing, but overall this is a solid offering.

Gameplay: Nero makes for a nice change but Dante is still playable.

Graphics: Much better looking than the usual console ports.

Sound: Good voice acting although the music can become slightly repetitive

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice might not have the best combat or puzzles in the genre, but it is hard to beat in terms of storytelling and immersion. There are not many other games on the market that can hold a candle to it when it comes to visuals and animation, while the way it realistically portrays psychosis is also groundbreaking. The game still features plenty of combat, but it is not the primary focus, so players expecting something closer to previous Ninja Theory titles will probably be a little disappointed. However, if you can appreciate something with a strong narrative focus and willingness to tackle subjects that few others dare, then Hellblade is your game.

Gameplay: The combat and puzzles are a bit weak, but the overall experience is superb.

Graphics: Although the game is very bleak overall, the detail and animations are top notch.

Sound: This is definitely a game that must be played with headphones thanks to the awesome binaural sounds

Warhammer: Chaosbane (Eko Software)

Warhammer: Chaosbane (Eko Software)

Considering the source material, it really is surprising that the upcoming Warhammer: Chaosbane is the first every hack and slash set in this universe. Of course, there was Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr a while back, but Chaosbane is the first to use the Warhammer Fantasy world, which is honestly a much better fit for the genre. We were fortunate enough to try out the VIP beta of the game, which included the first act as well as two out of the four playable characters

Dead Effect

Dead Effect

Dead Effect is a first person shooter where you play as yet another space marine who has to clear out a zombie infestation on board a spaceship. Shooting zombies is quite satisfying, but the levels feel cramped and generic while the story is laughably cliched. The game does offer a ton of content for a very small price, but with so many better games available, it is hard to recommend this one.

Gameplay: Entertaining in parts, but overall a little lacking.

Graphics: Not bad for a game that started out on mobile, but definitely not cutting edge.

Sound: The voice acting is bad and the music unremarkable, but the sound effects are surprisingly good

Dead or Alive: Dimensions

Dead or Alive: Dimensions

Dead or Alive Dimensions is a solid debut for the series on 3DS and makes good use of the hardware to provide an entertaining experience. It features a ton of content, great visuals, and the controls very responsive as well. The Chronicles mode, which attempts to explain the entire Dead or Alive timeline in one story mode is a bit confusing at times and turning up the 3D slows down the framerate, but overall this is a great title for fans of DOA and newcomers alike.

Gameplay: Fast and fluid, provided you turn the 3D down.

Graphics: The game looks great, with and without the 3D.

Sound: The soundtrack is great and all the characters are fully voiced

Zanki Zero: Last  Beginning Unveils New Gameplay Trailer

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning Unveils New Gameplay Trailer

Spike Chunsoft has recently unveiled the latest gameplay trailer for their upcoming survival RPG, Zanki Zero: Last Beginning, and it is looking pretty interesting to say the least. For those unfamiliar with the title, it is a new type of survival game from the creators of the Danganronpa series, Yoshinori Terasawa and Takayuki Sugawara. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where you take control of eight protagonists who are not just fighting for their own survival, but also trying to figure out the meaning of their never-ending cycles of life and death