Go! Go! Nippon! My First Trip To Japan

Go! Go! Nippon! My First Trip To Japan

While this game isn’t aimed at the typical visual novel fan, it serves as a nice introduction to the genre as well as the culture. The link to Google street view photos of the locations you visit is an inspired touch and you can pick up some interesting tips and facts about Japan.

Gameplay: A short but enjoyable tour of Japan.
Graphics: Nice apart from the recycled visuals.
Sound: No voices and recycled music

Wasteland Angel

Wasteland Angel

Top-down shooters such as Wasteland Angel offer a nice quick burst of arcade action but tend to suffer from being repetitive. The idea behind this game is nice enough, but the small arenas that force you to stick close to the towns you have to protect all feel too similar. The lack of enemy variety doesn’t do this game any favors, either.

Gameplay: Mindless fun but soon becomes repetitive.

Graphics: The overhead visuals are not too bad, but they don’t hold up well in first person.

Sound: The voice acting is decent enough, but the rest is nothing special

Will Rock

Will Rock

Even if you were a big fan of the Serious Sam games Will Rock just tries too hard to imitate the master. It’s still very playable but soon becomes tedious. Play it if you like your shooter games brainless.

Gameplay: Very average compared to what’s available.
Graphics: Nice in places but not really up to scratch.
Sound: Average

Xpand Rally

Xpand Rally

Awesome graphics if you have the hardware to run it and some challenging gameplay makes this one a winner if you are a rally fan. While Colin McRae still beats it when it comes to pure entertainment but if you are a rally purist then get this.

Gameplay: Good but not for the easily bored.
Graphics: Great looking cars and tracks.
Sound: Average

The Yawhg

The Yawhg

We were surprised at how short a single playthrough of The Yawgh is, but with more than 50 endings, you’ll definitely want to complete it more than once. The randomly generated story has a surprising amount of depth, and the gorgeous artwork by Emily Carol is a definite plus. The Yawgh is best enjoyed with a group of other players, so if you are a solo player, the experience is just not the same.

Gameplay: While the game is short and simple, it does have tons of replay value.

Graphics: The visuals are great, and Emily Carrol provides her signature artwork for the game.

Sound: The game features a moody soundtrack that adds to the ominous vibe

Zuma’s Revenge

Zuma’s Revenge

If you enjoyed the original game then you will love this sequel. It doesn’t change the addictive formula in any drastic way but it does offer a polished and compelling experience. Expect to sink more hours into this one than you may think.

Gameplay: Every bit as addictive and engrossing as the original.
Graphics: While not spectacular the visuals are very polished.
Sound: Similar to the original

Zombie Bowl-o-Rama

Zombie Bowl-o-Rama

Zombie Bowl-o-Rama doesn’t look like much and to be honest it is going to be too short and easy for most peoples taste but if you enjoy casual games this one has its moments. The whole thing is based around wacky power-ups and the two-player mode is actually quite fun. You might want to wait until it is at a lower price tag however.

Gameplay: More of an arcade game than anything resembling real bowling but has its moments.
Graphics: Simple enough to run on virtually any PC.
Sound: You’ll be hearing the phrase “brains” a lot

Zen Bound 2

Zen Bound 2

Zen Bound 2 is a puzzle experience unlike any other I’ve had on computer so far. The graphics are gorgeous and the whole mood of the game fits the theme perfectly. While it might not look like much from the outside once you are hooked and aiming for that elusive 100% completion you’ll realize just how deep this game goes.

Gameplay: A calming breath of fresh air in a crowded market.
Graphics: So real you can almost touch it.
Sound: Soothing

Zombie Driver

Zombie Driver

Zombie Driver is a nicely retro flavored indie arcade title that is a blast to play. It might not last for very long but with the promised updates and low price it is well worth the effort. This is definitely a game for all those people that had more fun in the original Grand Theft Auto, running over pedestrians and driving like a maniac, than actually getting out of the car and doing missions.

Gameplay: Driving over zombies is fun.
Graphics: Retro style greatness.
Sound: Splattering zombies sounds just like it should