Koihime Enbu

Koihime Enbu

Join the all-female cast of fighters in Koihime Enbu for some great 2D fighting. The character roster is fairly small, but very unique and the game is designed to be accessible to newcomers. However, there is still plenty of depth and experienced players can take the fights to a whole new level. Even if you are not familiar with the source material we recommend the game to anyone looking for a fun, accessible and great looking 2D beat ‘em up.

Gameplay: Deceptively simple, but with enough depth to keep you coming back for more.

Graphics: Great character designs with plenty of detail and colors.

Sound: Full Japanese voice acting and some nice background music

Resette’s Prescription ~Book of memory, Swaying scale~

Resette’s Prescription ~Book of memory, Swaying scale~

Help the short tempered Resette and her feline companion Gaede as they enter the mind of a young boy suffering from a sleeping sickness. This point & click adventure features charming chibbi character designs and beautifull hand drawn watercolor backgrounds along with an interesting storyline. It is quite a short game though, and the puzzles pose little challenge, so it might not appeal to everyone.

Gameplay: Short and easy, but certainly very entertaining.

Graphics: We love the beautiful and unique visual style.

Sound: Unfortunately there is no speech, but the music is very good

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

Face dangerous creatures and evil spirits in this engaging hidden object game from Artifex Mundi. The game features their trademark polish when it comes to visuals and presentation, but the story is actually very good as well. It features 14 hidden object scenes to complete, but these can be substituted for a domino mini-game if players prefer. Add to that 24 varied mini-games and plenty of interesting locations to explore and you’ll find that this is an adventure not to be missed.

Gameplay: Nothing too out of the ordinary for the genre, but the domino mini-game is a nice touch.

Graphics: Beautiful hand-painted locations with plenty of detail and nice use of color.

Sound: Decent voice acting and a great soundtrack

Selenon Rising

Selenon Rising

Selenon Rising is a great visual novel with an interesting story and great setting. The psychic abilities of the main character also makes for an interesting gameplay mechanic as it adds a bit more depth to interrogating suspects. It is an episodic release, so time will tell if it can remain as engaging throughout, but so far so good.

Gameplay: Searching crime scenes and interrogating suspects make it a bit more interactive than your typical visual novel.

Graphics: Decent visuals, but the cut-scenes could have been better.

Sound: No voice acting, but superb music

Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s Stone

Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s Stone

Join Emma as she searches for her missing uncle in a couple of elemental based realms while outwitting the guardian that is intent on stopping her. Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher’s Stone features great visuals and entertaining puzzles as well as decent hidden object scenes that make up for the rather generic storyline. Thanks to the robust customization options it is also an adventure that can be enjoyed no matter what your skill level is.

Gameplay: The puzzles are enjoyable and the hidden object scenes well done.

Graphics: Beautiful hand drawn visuals that show a lot of imagination.

Sound: The soundtrack is quite enjoyable, but the voice acting is average at best

RefRain -prism memories-

RefRain -prism memories-

RefRain is a great shooter that strays a little from the usual formula to offer an action packed experience that is based more on skill than luck. Mastering the use of the M.E.F.A2 and Concept Reactor attacks are immensely satisfying and also allows you to play more aggressively. Players used to power-ups and weapon upgrades will find that RefRain has a bit of a learning curve, but this also provides it with more longevity and replay value. Overall, if you are a fan of the genre, then RefRain certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Gameplay: Challenging, but very rewarding when mastered.

Graphics: The designs are a little bland compared to other shooters, but the game is very colorful.

Sound: Features a very fitting electronic soundtrack

Tibetan Quest: Beyond the World’s End

Tibetan Quest: Beyond the World’s End

Travel to Shangri-La and find your missing niece in this hidden object game from Brave Giant LTD. It doesn’t have much to offer that is new in terms of gameplay and story, but remains enjoyable throughout. The setting is interesting and the polished visuals as well as atmospheric audio make up for the lack of challenge.

Gameplay: Not much of a challenge, but still fun.

Graphics: Definitely not a realistic depiction of Tibet, but the visuals are detailed and polished.

Sound: Nice music and great sound effects

Mass Effect

Mass Effect

Gameplay: A nice blend of action and role playing.

Graphics: A decent looking port.

Sound: Very good.

Mass Effect is yet another offering from Bioware that does not disappoint. The story is gripping and the characters interesting. Best of all, this is just the start of a trilogy, so there is still plenty of adventures ahead for Commander Shepard and his crew

The Purring Quest

The Purring Quest

The Purring Quest has a few flaws, including a rather limited number of levels, but it is hard not to be charmed by the delightful protagonist and moving story. The hand-drawn visuals and animations definitely stand out, but the game is genuinely fun as well. It might not feature many innovations in terms of gameplay or puzzles, but there is no doubt that it was a labor of love for the creators and something all cat fans will enjoy.

Gameplay: The controls are a little stiff, but this doesn’t detract too much from the fun.

Graphics: The game features beautiful hand-drawn visuals and some stellar animations.

Sound: The orchestral soundtrack is quite epic

Pinball FX2 – Aliens vs. Pinball

Pinball FX2 – Aliens vs. Pinball

If you are a fan of the Alien license and enjoy pinball then this pack is a no-brainer. It features three tables that not only look great, but are a lot of fun to play as well. Zen Studios also made sure that the tables stay true to their source material in regards to audio and visuals. Even amongst all the other excellent titles already released for Pinball FX2, this pack stands out.

Gameplay: The Aliens vs. Pinball table is the most fun, but the other two are great as well.

Graphics: Great use of the source material.

Sound: Once again the source material is used to good effect