PC | GAMERamble

PC Game Reviews

Shadowrun Returns

The Shadowrun license lends itself perfectly to an in-depth and complex role-playing experience, but unfortunately, it feels like Shadowrun Returns just skims the surface. The story is interesting enough, and there are a handful of great characters to interact with, but at times, it does feel like the game was dumbed down a little too much for casual audiences. The 2D artwork looks great, and the soundtrack is very atmospheric, but we were left wanting more by the end of the 12-hour campaign.

Gameplay: The game is a lot of fun but not as in-depth as we had hoped.

Graphics: The 2D artwork looks great, but the 3D character models could have been better.

Sound: While it lacks voice acting, the soundtrack fits the game perfectly

PC Game Reviews

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

Galactrix tries to improve on the classic Puzzle Quest gameplay, but falls far short in a lot of areas. The story mode is not very engaging and the game squanders a lot of its potential. At every turn, we encountered something that could have been good if it was implemented properly, which is a pity. The core gameplay is still addictive but becomes tiresome far sooner than the original ever did. Add to this some technical issues and you have a game that is hard to recommend.

Gameplay: The basic elements are addictive, but you have to put up with a lot of tedium.

Graphics: Not bad, but nothing stands out as great.

Sound: The soundtrack is decent, but everything else is pretty forgettable

PC Game Reviews

A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence is not only a great looking game with a unique setting, but the strong narrative focus makes it very engrossing too. The combination of stealth and puzzle-solving could easily have been very annoying, but barring a few frustrating sections the game is actually quite entertaining. It is also unrelentingly grim, which might deter some players, but between all the horror there’s also some heartwarming moments. Single-player narrative focussed games such as A Plague Tale: Innocence is becoming rarer, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to play this one.

Gameplay: A nice mixture of stealth and puzzles that never really veers too far in either direction.

Graphics: The visuals are extremely detailed and the environments surprisingly varied.

Sound: Good voice acting and some soaring tunes

News

Juicy Realm Receives Eagerly Awaited Crossplay Update

Fans of the roguelike twin-stick shooter, Juicy Realm, is in for a treat with the latest update. Not only does the update, which went live today, include the eagerly anticipated co-op mode, but also a few other extras. X.D. network and SpaceCan unveiled the Lan Crossplay Update for the indie shooter, which allows friends who are on different platforms to play together as long as they are on the same local network. The update is available already for PC and mobile users while Nintendo Switch owners will receive it soon too

News

Where To Find More Free Indie Games

When it comes to PC gaming, the indie game scene has always been one that offers up some of the best diversity in game design that you’re likely to see from developers. Sure, rarely do the production values match the latest triple AAA release, but it’s not uncommon to see mechanics perfected in the indie space before they become popularized in the wider market. But if you’re looking for the next batch of free indie darlings to play, where should you start?

PC Game Reviews

Tetris Effect

Tetris Effect is not just one of the best looking versions of the classic game, but also the most addictive. In addition to the stylish “Journey” mode, there are a host of other variations on the Tetris theme to keep you coming back for more. The audio and visual style of the game is superb and it is only the lack of direct multi-player modes that dampens the fun a bit. Even if you already own some version of Tetris this is one that you should not miss.

Gameplay: Still a timeless classic.

Graphics: Very trippy and hypnotic.

Sound: Complements the puzzle action nicely

PC Game Reviews

Flying Red Barrel – The Diary of a Little Aviator

Flying Red Barrel makes its long-overdue debut on Steam with this update on the classic bullet hell shooter. It features five challenging levels, multiple bosses, and a scoring system that is a lot more advanced than it looks. The addition of modern resolution and controller options is a welcome touch, but the gameplay is still the same as what purists fell in love with when the game was first released back in 2007.

Gameplay: Very challenging, but also very addictive when you get the hang of it.

Graphics: Not exactly cutting-edge, but still charming.

Sound: No voice-overs, but the music and sound effects are good

PC Game Reviews

Fury Unleashed

Fury Unleashed doesn’t do anything radically different for a platform shooter, but the rogue-lite elements and combo-heavy gameplay make it a blast to play. It’s also very addictive and offers a lot more replay value than typical 2D platform shooters. We would have liked to see more variety in the environments, but the impressive number of bosses and enemies make up for this. Overall, this is a great game that shouldn’t be missed if you are a fan of the genre.

Gameplay: Fast-paced and very addictive.

Graphics: The comic book art style looks great.

Sound: The music and soundtrack are fantastic

News

Alex Kidd Set To Make A Comeback Thanks To Merge Games

Before Sonic The Hedgehog arrived on the scene and stole his thunder Alex Kidd was a pretty big deal during the eighties. At one point the Alex Kidd in Miracle World was built into the Master System console and numerous sequels followed. Unfortunately, things were less glamorous for Alex Kidd after the release of Sonic, and apart from a few cameo appearances in other games, we haven’t seen much of him. This is about to change thanks to Merge games, in conjunction with the developer, Jankenteam

Early Access Previews

HammerHelm (SuperSixStudios)

Ask any fantasy fan and they will immediately tell you that Dwarves, in addition to being brave and fearless, prefer making their homes underground. HammerHelm, a game by SuperSixStudios that is currently on Steam Early Access, turns this notion on its head by casting you in the role of a Dwarf that believes his kind could live above ground. Unfortunately, the other Dwarves didn’t take kindly to such rebellious thoughts and promptly banished you. The game opens with your Dwarf finally finding some fertile lands to start a new life in the open air