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PC Game Reviews

Blue Rider

Blue Rider is a game that will make you remember the days of encountering bosses that actually served as a challenge and not just a minor speed bump on your road to finishing the game. And while the game is far from easy it is addictive enough to keep you coming back for more. Thanks to the vibrant visuals and excellent enemy designs, especially the bosses, it is also a very good looking game. If you are not scared to be challenged and in the mood for a very polished shooter then get yourself a copy of Blue Rider.

Gameplay: Tough and uncompromising, but still very entertaining and addictive.

Graphics: Vibrant and varied.

Sound: Nice music and booming explosions

PC Game Reviews

XBlaze Code: Embryo

XBlaze: Code Embryo is set in the same universe as the BlazBlue fighting titles, but no prior knowledge is required to enjoy the story. The game features an intriguing storyline and multiple endings, but reading news articles to influence the path you take is a little confusing at first. Once you figure out the system, it is a lot of fun though, and the stylish visuals as well as great soundtrack make it easy to recommend.

Gameplay: A typical visual novel with a rather unusual system for choosing your path to the multiple endings.

Graphics: Not a lot of animation, but very detailed and colorful.

Sound: Plenty of music tracks and some great Japanese voice acting as well

PC Game Reviews

Grand Theft Auto IV

Its hard not to harbor some resentment for the delay and lesser port that PC owners have received with this game, but at the end of the day it’s still a lot of fun to play and a great game. As long as you can look past the technical issues that is.

Gameplay: The technical issues and more “mature” feel detracts a bit from the gameplay but it’s still good.

Graphics: With the right hardware this game looks stunning.

Sound: Decent voice acting and loads of good tunes

PC Game Reviews

Fallout 3 – The Pitt

The Pitt offers a more compelling story and better gameplay than Operation: Anchorage which is good news for Fallout 3 fans craving more of what makes the game so great. The new areas are interesting to explore and less linear than the narrow corridors of Anchorage. While not very long there is some replay value and even a scavenger hunt with loot rewards to keep you coming back for more.

Gameplay: More of what makes the base game so much fun.

Graphics: Only one new enemy, but the new locations are quite cool.

Sound: Good but nothing to rave about

PC Game Reviews

Chime

It is a pity that Chime does not have more songs and levels as the game is extremely addictive. It plays like a cross between Tetris and Lumines, but is unique enough to keep you hooked. The audio plays a big role in the game and features tracks from some famous artists so this is a great title to add to your library.

Gameplay: Simple but very addictive.

Graphics: Simple but stylish.

Sound: Tightly integrated with the gameplay

PC Game Reviews

Borderlands: Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot

After I praised The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned as a good example of how to do DLC properly Gearbox goes and does the exact opposite with Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot. The arena fighting idea is nice but by removing all the XP and loot gathering we are left with a empty shell of the addictive Borderlands experience. This could have been so much better.

Gameplay: A tedious grind with very little to show for all your efforts.

Graphics: Nice, but nothing we haven’t seen before in the main game.

Sound: Pretty good, but Moxxi can become a bit repetitive with her quips

PC Game Reviews

Layers of Fear

With its surreal setting and constantly shifting rooms Layers of Fear is a game that is both immersive and captivating. It loves messing with your perception, but also features enough jump scares to keep you on edge all the time. Unless you take the time to explore your surroundings and uncover the clues you’ll miss out on most of the story elements, so it is not a game to rush through. Thanks to its beautiful visuals and excellent audio it is definitely a cut above similar titles in the genre.

Gameplay: Minimal puzzles, but simply exploring the surreal setting of the game is a nerve wracking experience.

Graphics: Very polished and highly detailed.

Sound: Quiet when it needs to be, but also very effective at using audio to unnerve players

PC Game Reviews

GUILTY GEAR Xrd -SIGN-

With its crazy cast of characters, baffling storyline and perplexing amount of technical terms Guilty Gear Xrd can be a little daunting at first, but a comprehensive tutorial will ease you into things. After mastering the basics you’ll find a ton of modes to try out whether you want to take on the computer, your friends or random strangers on the internet. The visuals are excellent, the audio incredible and the gameplay very entertaining, which makes it an all-round great game. It also features enough content, including a lengthy story, to keep you busy for ages.

Gameplay: Plenty of depth for veterans, but thanks to the tutorial it is also very accessible for newcomers.

Graphics: The perfect fusion of 3D graphics and 2D style.

Sound: The soundtrack is rocking and the voice acting great

PC Game Reviews

NEKOPARA Vol. 2

NEKOPARA Vol. 2 once again demonstrates why this series has such a loyal and fanatical following. The artwork by Sayori is as beautiful as always and the animations for the characters continue to impress. The story is still quite lighthearted, but focusses on slightly more serious issues compared to Vol. 1. The Steam version is once again censored, but comes with a lower price point, while the uncensored version cost a bit more, but features plenty of animated H-scenes.

Gameplay: It is a kinetic novel, so there are no branching routes or choices to be made.

Graphics: Stunning artwork and great animations.

Sound: The voice acting is very good and so is the music although most of the tracks will be familiar

Early Access Previews

Hero Defense – Haunted Island (Happy Tuesday)

Grab your crossbow and put on your garlic aftershave because it is time to hunt things that go bump in the night again. This time the opportunity to thin out the freaks comes courtesy of Hero Defense – Haunted Island from Happy Tuesday. The most powerful vampire in the world, Count Necrosis, is making a menace of himself and his brethren, so you must gather your merry team of slayers to take him down. While this sounds like the perfect setup for some good old fashioned role playing, Hero Defense is actually a tower defense title