Pinobee: Wings of Adventure

Pinobee: Wings of Adventure

Pinobee is a unique take on the platform genre but it is definitely a love it or hate it type of game. If you take your time and explore each level or play to see all the endings you will get value for your money, but if you are just going to race through the game you will be looking at the credits in about an hour’s time.

Gameplay: Very easy if you plan on just playing without exploring.

Graphics: Colorful and detailed.

Sound: Whimsical but ultimately a bit grating

Fez

Fez

Despite all the hype and delays, Fez managed to live up to expectations. The gameplay appears charmingly simple at first, but once you start analysing the cryptic puzzles there is no turning back. The beauty is that casual players can have fun simply exploring while the hardcore can delve deeper and uncover all the secrets.

Gameplay: An excellent blend of platforming, exploration and puzzle solving.

Graphics: Packed with detail and animation despite the retro aesthetics.

Sound: A perfect match for the gameplay and visuals

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles

Having to unlock the best game in the compilation (imo) sucks but for the rest this is a great compilation and really a slice of history as well. Castlevania fans should be in seventh heaven with this title and all platform fans should pray for more releases of this quality.

Gameplay: Tough as nails but well worth persevering as the rewards are good.

Graphics: The remake is looking good and SOTN is still awesome.

Sound: Good music is synonymous with Castlevania games

Temple Run

Temple Run

Running away from demonic monkeys while dodging all kinds of obstacles is surprisingly a lot more fun than it sounds. While the gameplay is relatively simple the game is addictive enough that you will be coming back for more. Best of all is the fact that it is free and the only purchases that requires real cash is coins which can be earned in the game so there is no need to take out your wallet unless you want to save some time.

Gameplay: A very simple idea but very addictive.

Graphics: Could do with a bit more variation.

Sound: The usual drumming sounds interspersed with some simian shouts

Full Bore

Full Bore

Full Bore is a sprawling adventure with plenty of puzzle based challenges to tackle while you are exploring. Apart from a few rare instances you are not racing against a clock or facing any type of enemies so you can progress at your own pace. Some players may find the experience too sedate while others will be hooked by the fascinating gameworld and tricky puzzles.

Gameplay: A block based puzzler with some very clever challenges.

Graphics: Lovely pixel art with some great animations and lighting effects.

Sound: An excellent glitch/blues soundtrack rounds off the package

DuckTales: Remastered

DuckTales: Remastered

Wayforward definitely handled this remastered version with the respect that it deserves. The updated visuals look fantastic and the audio sounds great. It was also very nostalgic to hear the original voice actor for Scrooge reprising his role after all these years. If you loved the original you will have a blast with this one, but newcomers might wonder what all the fuss is about.

Gameplay: Very true to the original.

Graphics: The new character sprites are awesome, but I would have liked 2D backgrounds as well.

Sound: Nice renditions of the classic tunes

Castle of Illusion

Castle of Illusion

Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is a polished and great looking update of a 16 bit classic but it is not without issues. The controls feel a bit too floaty and the whole experience can be over in one sitting. The updated visuals look fantastic however and fans of the mouse will appreciate the attention to detail that has gone into this game.

Gameplay: Captures the spirit of the original bit is a bit on the easy side.

Graphics: The highlight of the game.

Sound: The ability to switch between the original and remastered soundtrack is great

Team Indie

Team Indie

Team Indie features an all-star lineup of characters taken from some of the best indie titles of recent years. You’ll also have to put these characters to good use as while the game is a platformer at heart it also features a heavy puzzle element. The game doesn’t quite live up to its full potential though and unfortunately there are some annoyances that drag it down. However, if you enjoy the genre and like the characters it should keep you busy for quite a while.

Gameplay: With its large cast of characters and challenging levels it will take you a while to see and do everything.

Graphics: Nice character designs, but the backgrounds are a bit bland and the animation could have been better.

Sound: None of the tunes, except for the one during boss battles, are exactly memorable

Super Comboman

Super Comboman

Super Comboman contains some great ideas, but is let down by less than stellar gameplay. Games such as Guacamelee! and Aces Wild have already demonstrated how great titles in the platform brawling genre can be, but Super Comboman doesn’t quite live up to expectations. The controls are the biggest source of frustration and the steep difficulty curve also feels more like a punishment than a challenge.

Gameplay: Lots of potential, but let down by frustrating controls and a steep difficulty curve.
Graphics: The sticker style visuals is an interesting and unique choice.
Sound: Not bad, but a little repetitive

The Waste Land

The Waste Land

The Waste Land is a great entry in the genre and while it is not without its flaws has plenty to offer fans. The gameworld is absolutely huge and the retro inspired visuals are spot on. There are also plenty of enemies to battle as well as huge bosses that take some skill to take down. The open world design is great for players who want to forge their own routes through the game, but can be confusing to those who don’t. Some areas, such as the combat, could have been made more engaging, but fans of the genre will still find plenty to enjoy.

Graphics: Imaginative, gory and very true to the 8-bit titles from which it draws inspiration.

Sound: Some nice tunes, but they repeat way too often which causes repetition.

Gameplay: Challenging and entertaining, but could have been a little more rewarding