Sword Daughter

Sword Daughter

Follow Tyrna the Sword Daughter on a quest that might lead her to vengeance, treasure, glory, death or even love in this adaptation of the original gamebook. Although short, the 22 different endings add a lot of replay value and the game is worth it for the beautiful art style alone. It is a little heavy handed when it comes to romance and some of the story elements definitely shows their age, which is no surprise as the original gamebook was released way back in 1984. Despite its flaws the game is still quite enjoyable and well worth checking out.

Gameplay: The story is straightforward, but has plenty of branching routes and a whopping 22 different endings.

Graphics: The fantasy artwork might not be very animated, but it is quite beautiful.

Sound: Not many tunes, but the ones on offer are very good

eden*

eden*

Although it might be set during the last days of a dying planet, Eden* is more about the personal struggles of its interesting cast. The story is wonderfully engaging though and definitely doesn’t pull any punches. Coupled with the amazing artwork and wonderful soundtrack this is a must for fans of the genre. Minori has a great track record when it comes to visual novels and Eden* is definitely amongst their finest.

Gameplay: It is a kinetic novel, so there is no interaction or branching storyline, but the plot is engaging and heartfelt.

Graphics: The visuals are outstanding despite the age of the game and features plenty of cinematic style illustrations.

Sound: The Japanese voice actors do a great job and the soundtrack is incredible

Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure

Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure

It might be just as short as the lifespan of a real mayfly, but Ephemerid lives up to its claims of being a musical adventure. The handcrafted visuals are charming, and the soundtrack is something that you will want to listen to again and again. Don’t let its length and the fact that it was originally an iOS title deter you from experiencing this captivating title.

Gameplay: The game is not very challenging, but it will put a smile on your face and is very relaxing.

Graphics: Ephemerid features beautifully handcrafted visuals and plenty of unique scenes.

Sound: The soundtrack is filled with some exceptionally good tunes

The Forest of Doom

The Forest of Doom

The Forest of Doom is a welcome interpretation of a classic adventure gamebook and will definitely be a trip down memory lane for players familiar with the paperback. Newcomers can expect a lot of reading and some trial and error, but the memorable encounters and large number of locations in the forest make it worthwhile. Although the game can be completed relatively quickly it does boast plenty of replay value thanks to the achievements and gallery.

Gameplay: The rules are very straightforward and anyone can start reading and enjoying the adventure.

Graphics: The original illustrations still look great and the overall presentation of the game is very good.

Sound: Nice music, but a few more tunes to provide a bit more variety would have been nice

Rock Boshers DX: Directors Cut

Rock Boshers DX: Directors Cut

Hats off to Tikipod for creating a game that plays exactly like a ZX Spectrum title and is a very good one at that. If this game were released back in the heyday of the Spectrum, it would have been rightfully regarded as a classic, and even in today’s market, it is still a lot of fun. Rock Boshers DX: Director’s Cut isn’t a game to show off your hardware, but if you want fun and a challenge, you can’t go wrong with this title.

Gameplay: The game is very challenging but also very entertaining.

Graphics: It looks just like a high-resolution and very polished ZX Spectrum title.

Sound: The game features catchy 8-bit tunes and authentic sound effects

Tengami

Tengami

The standout features of Tengami are the unique visuals and great soundtrack, but the tranquil gameplay is also quite good. It has no epic story or action, but the gentle, puzzle-solving, relaxing atmosphere makes for an interesting experience. The game doesn’t have a lot of freedom, challenge, or replay value, but it is pretty enjoyable while it lasts and leaves an impression.

Gameplay: The puzzles are relatively straightforward and not very numerous, but interacting with the game world by pulling or sliding parts of the scenery is quite neat.

Graphics: The pop-up book world visuals are simply beautiful.

Sound: The game features an atmospheric and very appropriate soundtrack by David Wise

Tales of Aravorn: Seasons Of The Wolf

Tales of Aravorn: Seasons Of The Wolf

Seasons of the Wolf strays even further from the visual novel path than Loren the Amazon Princess did and feels like a full-fledged role playing game. It still has great characters and an engrossing story, but you’ll be spending more time doing quests and less time romancing party members. Cranking up the difficulty setting also provides a much bigger challenge this time round. Since this game is not a sequel to Loren and only set in the same fantasy world you don’t need any prior knowledge to jump in and enjoy it. Don’t take our word for it though, check out the demo for yourself.

Gameplay: The game is more of a role playing title than a visual novel, but remains very engrossing.

Graphics: Beautiful artwork, varied locations and great character designs.

Sound: No speech, but some good music

Game of Thrones – A Telltale Games Series – Episode 01: Iron From Ice

Game of Thrones – A Telltale Games Series – Episode 01: Iron From Ice

Previous attempts at turning game of Thrones into a traditional gaming experience has had mixed results, but this adventure from Telltale Games hits all the right marks. It’s got a cast of intriguing characters, gripping storyline and plenty of drama to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its two hour runtime. Interaction is rather limited, but the overall experience is very true to the source material.

Gameplay: Basically a few quick time events and dialogue choices.

Graphics: The game uses a stylish painterly look for its characters and locations.

Sound: Great music and top notch voice acting especially from the television show actors reprising their roles

Kriophobia By Fira Soft

Kriophobia By Fira Soft

Kriophobia claims to be a new take on Survival Horror which, while inspired by the core concepts of the genre, isn’t afraid to pull out a few surprises. The game made it through the Steam Greenlight process in only 13 days, but its Kickstarter campaign could do with a lot more attention. The game will allow players to take control of a geologist named Anna who got herself stuck on an island in northern Russia. Her study of seismic activity brought her to this remote area, but it is a solitude that she has sought out herself. It would appear that Anna is haunted by events from her past which is why she shuns civilization. However, when she falls into a sealed military complex by accident Anna has to save her colleagues while also confronting whatever it is lurking in the dark

Words for Evil

Words for Evil

Words for Evil impresses with its fast-paced gameplay, gorgeous pixel-art visuals, and a large cast of characters. The gameplay is geared more towards stringing together words as fast as possible instead of searching for the longest words, which makes for a more action-packed feel. Unfortunately, there is no multi-player mode, but the low price tag means this is an easy and worthwhile impulse buy for all logophiles.

Gameplay: The game is fast-paced and quite addictive.

Graphics: Words for Evil features beautiful pixel art visuals but does not support full-screen mode.

Sound: The soundtrack is catchy and very fitting