Author: AndresPlays

Flexing virtual reality’s creative avenues to the fullest, the annual Creature Feature showcase from the Creature label presented new titles with much promise. Streamed in collaboration with the VR Games Showcase, the annual Creature Feature showcase from the Creature label announced a slew of game announcements and updates. With some new games releasing as soon as this week and others confirming new titles in the works from beloved studios, there is no shortage of variety to get excited for the future of VR. Here are the most notable surprises from the event: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Gets Sequel…

Aphelion is Don’t Nod’s latest ambitious sci-fi narrative adventure. While it does not reach the heights of what the studio has to offer, it is a commendable effort. Don’t Nod is a studio that has developed itself as a narrative powerhouse for almost 20 years now. From its early beginnings with Remember Me all the way to Aphelion, a pattern begins to emerge that they simply cannot seem to shake off. You have stories with emotional depth, but also gameplay that ends up leaving much to be desired. For every carefully crafted cutscene, there is a forced mechanic who does…

Fame or Folly is an upcoming deckbuilder roguelike set in medieval times when you control a group of traveling performers. In the world of video games, everything is derivative. Much like the Miles Morales meme overlooking what Peter Parker is doing, game developers analyze current trends. PEAK reignited the fun of co-op games. Hollow Knight and its sequel reminded us of the staying power of great Metroidvanias. Balatro stands in a class of its own. The snappy gameplay, the card sound effect when points were accumulated, the replayability. Fame or Folly aims to recreate this irresistible loop in a quirky…

NTE offers many possibilities to explore its urban landscape at your leisure, but getting in trouble with the law could result in ending up incarcerated. Here is how to serve your jail time, or not. NTE: Neverness to Everness is a sprawling open-world game with a frankly baffling amount of options. From going on dates with your favorite characters to racing sports cars on dazzling tracks, there is no shortage of fun activities for players to engage in. One of the sillier ones that earned NTE its nickname of the “anime GTA” is being chased by the police. By attacking…

Pennies 12 is a deceptively simple coin-flipping roguelike with clever mechanics that effortlessly achieves that “one more run” feeling as soon as you start playing. What is the allure of a game of chance? Taking out the dopamine effect, feeling lucky is more than flipping a coin and predicting the right outcome. Deluding your mind into having luck on your side means thinking everything will turn out great. This is a double-edged sword. I was once swindled at a carnival game where you followed a ball through cups. It had a trick, naturally, and let me win the first few…

NTE: Neverness to Everness debuts a confident open world ready to compete with the best-in-class. Style and substance—it’s all here. Considering the enduring popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series and the staying power of anime free-to-play games, it was only a matter of time until something like NTE: Neverness to Everness came along. Making headlines from its debut trailer for its seemingly unparalleled freedom in a modern city, many wondered if it would stick the landing, cramming so many activities in one package. Wonder no more, NTE is one of the most entertaining open-world games right out of the…

Bobo Bay is a charming pet simulator heavily inspired by Sonic Adventure’s Chao Garden. Not content with offering an expansive minigame, it adds a touching narrative on top of it. Kintsugi is a Japanese practice of fixing broken pottery that has taken hold because of its pure intentions. In a world of planned obsolescence, taking care of broken things and repairing them is an act of rebellion. It is no wonder, then, that Bobo Bay, a game primarily about raising a town in shambles, internalizes this philosophy to deliver THE feel-good game of the year. With the primary gameplay of…

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the latest video game adaptation from Tove Jansson’s kind world, now focused on its gentle protagonist. Every winter, the Rideau Canal freezes over. Accustomed to the harsh season, the people in Ottawa take this temporary opportunity to skate all over the world’s largest skating rink. Making the most of it, nearby pastry shops offer “beaver tails” (deep-fried dough) and warm chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows. In sub-zero temperatures, sipping a boiling hot beverage gives a cherished moment of respite amid the inclement weather. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth evokes this contrast by portraying its central character against an ever-present…

An opinion piece in which I navigate friction in video games getting the best of us and how simple it would be to just let it go. Studies indicate that informed buyers research before making their purchase decisions. A generally good practice, this becomes more difficult when talking about video games. Some may have a demo, but it might not successfully showcase everything a game has to offer. Gameplay elements could be tweaked by the time it releases. Player feedback could influence narrative arcs, combat mechanics, or even puzzles. In short, there are various factors that may not give a…

Tombwater is a top-down Soulslike dripping with atmosphere, successfully blending the Western genre with eldritch horror. Since Demon’s Souls release in 2009, developers everywhere have tried to replicate that inimitable FromSoftware formula. Eventually becoming its own genre—the challenging Soulslike—there are several recognizable staples any seasoned gamer will identify: a bonfire to rest (which also resets enemies), a distinct tinge of eldritch horror, and uproarious boss fights. Give or take a few of these elements, such as punishing enemy placement or traps, and you have the perfect formula. Easier said than done, Tombwater elegantly delivers a haunting blend of Bloodborne and…