Vimana Review

A vertical shmup that has roots in the arcade scene of the early 90s, Vimana manages to play the part quite well. If one were to wander through an arcade from this era, its blasts of green bullets, sci-fi spacecrafts, and constant action would becon for any gamer to plunk in a quarter in to see what’s in store.

However, like all good shmups, there’s so much more to Vimana’s formula to discover as players progress each cycle. Players will still be taking down anything and everything that moves, but the rate of fire helps to change things up. Players of Vimana will have a twin shot by default, which can be upgraded in typical genre fashion – that much is par for the course, albeit welcome nonetheless.

However, there’s also a charge shot that spreads the love into a greater area. Knowing when to attack head on and knowing when to blanket the surrounding world could very well mean the difference between victory and failure in a signature one-credit-clear run. Of course, there’s also a bomb that varies things out by turning into a seeking target against foes. Again, not the deepest or mos revolutionary system around, but it nails the fundamentals.

Completing Vimana is a fairly short endeavor, but the game does cycle players through for a more challenging run upon doing so.

Of course, the joy of a shmup is its replayability, and Vimana has a suite of options that allow players to tweak their playstyle. Feel like things are too difficult? Players can rewind for minutes at a time, just to make sure they get past that tricky section that did them in.

There are other ways to improve one’s playstyle, including the activation of a visible hitbox, adding additional hitpoints or even quick saving and loading (though we would never save scum!). Want to get more out of the experience? The ability to see an enemy’s health bar and change the overlays is also available. Want to see where things went wrong? There’s even a replay functionality baked into this release.

It’s just a shame that there’s little to this package outside this functionality. The Steam release of Vimana is arcade-perfect – and then some – but the lack of bonus content is somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, there’s still Steam achievements for those looking to show off their prowess, along with online leaderboards.

While this release of Vimana is arcade-perfect, it does prove to be a bit light on content. Those looking for their next one-credit-clear will enjoy this space showdown, but more casual fans might be left in the lurch.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Vimana Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

FixEight Review

For those who have yet to play FixEight, it serves as the spiritual successor to the cult arcade classic Out Zone.

For those who have yet to play Out Zone (don’t worry – Steam has got you covered with last year’s release), they’ll come to learn that this vertical run-and-gun series hits hard and fast. Taking control of one of eight different mercenaries with the most radical of designs, they’ll have two different weapons and their own special. Much like the shmup genre, players can then upgrade each of these weapons with dropped power-ups and chuck out the occasional bomb for good measure.

We especially like this system, as each FixEight character has their own unique weapon system. We were partial to the lizard Vistario and his wide range of attack via the Gel-Burner and Acid-Wide sprays. Did we mention that even the attacks have cool names? No matter who you choose, getting the right weapon in your hands and upgrading it to hit an enemy’s weakpoint for massive damage is a thrilling feeling. Put simply, FixEight and its action never gets old for the Rambo wannabes among us.

Throughout the surprisingly robust 50-minute runtime of each FixEight playthrough, players will navigate a number of different levels against the Gozzu alien menace – some of which are truly the stuff of nightmares. As players progress, they’ll come across a boss at the end of each stage before moving on to the next stage. While the power-ups to the score-based system to the flow all follow the typical arcade formula to a T, FixEight nails the run-and-gun formula with style.

Of course, it’s not all predictable; gameplay provides a hefty challenge if you’re not credit feeding, and there’s the occasional wrinkle like controllable hovercrafts that turn FixEight into a shmup.

While the core game is solid, the outside options of FixEight are fairly bare-bones. While we do appreciate the option to rewind to our heart’s content (up to minutes at a time!) and play with hitboxes and credits, there’s little here to really celebrate this deeper cut in Toaplan’s library.

FixEight does have the usual Steam accouterments like achievements and leaderboards, there just isn’t enough to really have this as a tribute. This is the first release of the game outside of arcades, that much is true, but at the same time the suite of options is not unlike what can be found in a tool like RetroArch.

For those that don’t mind a bare-bones package, FixEight and its run-and-gun action is a bona fide arcade hit that is well worth the attention of any classic gamer.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post FixEight Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

For those just entering the Hollow Night, Sys:Celes will transport players to a world where speed and maneuverability reign supreme. Dashes and combos are the key to coming out on top, with stuns, EX Moves, and Special Moves also playing a big role. Don’t be fooled though; Sys:Celes has got a much different feel than Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1. This, in turn, makes for a refreshing experience – albeit one with a high skill ceiling.

All of Sys:Celes’ intricacies admittedly are a lot to take in, this 2D fighter gives players multiple options for players to fly. Like previous entries, Simple Inputs make it easy for players to get a feel of each battle, with characters like series mainstay Hyde featuring familiar inputs that are easy to grasp. A robust Tutorial, Missions, and an Arcade Mode also provide the proper training ground. There’s even Casual Matches in its online mode, with rollback netcode ensuring a smooth experience.

Sys:Celes does have enough new content for returning Under Night players as well. Featuring incredible names like “Twin Barrel Beauty” Kaguya, “Steel Guardian” Tsurugi, “Eternal Re-Birth” Kuon, this trio provides additional variety to the cast. Whether it’s gunslinging, a bulwark, or countless floating blades, each of these three features a wildly different style we enjoyed diving into.

Sys:Celes also packs some new tricks with additional moves among its roster. Our tried-and-true habits caught the best of us with these changes, but they do help differentiate this entry and add depth all the same.

New mechanics also make an appearance in the form of Creeping Edge and Celestial Vorpal. The former is a clever dodge, not unlike the system found in SNK’s The King of Fighters series. As for the latter, Celestial Vorpal gives players the entire GRD gauge if there are six or more nodes. While we like how Creeping Edge taps into i-frames, we feel like Celestial Vorpal lacks balance. Time will tell how things play out with future play and patches.

Note that those braving the Steam version of Sys:Celes like us will have a less than smooth experience. We had trouble at launch with options like fullscreen and menus, though it should be noted that there have been some patches as of February 5 that have improved upon things. While not as polished as previous entries, it does provide a serviceable experience.

While the Steam version still has some bugs that need to be ironed out, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes provides a number of great reasons to visit the Hollow Night in what is the most robust roster to date.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

TEKKEN 8 Review

Striving for accessibility, TEKKEN 8 is the perfect entry for both newcomers and veterans alike.

Never played a TEKKEN title before? No need to worry – there is an extremely solid foundation that lets players gradually get the hang of things. For those who don’t play fighting games too often, the Special Style mechanic will quickly become your best friend. Boiling the system and combos down to a few select buttons, it gives players the chance to grasp the overall flow of this 3D fighter, seeing how juggles, combos, and counters all come together. For those who’d like to try out the main system, it can just as easily be disabled at the press of a button.

Want to up your game? No need to worry – there’s a wealth of content here that’ll get you up to speed. The industry standard Replays, training, versus, story mode, arcade modes, and Character Episodes are all present and accounted for, but they are tried and true for a reason and will be most welcome for those still starting out in the fighting game genre. There’s even fun content like Tekken Ball, which has players bouncing a beach ball (or an iron ball for the masochistic) in what could possibly be the most violent game of volleyball to date.

Rather, the real star of the show for neophytes is TEKKEN 8’s new Arcade Quest mode. For those who can’t make it to Dave & Busters or Round 1, this mode simulates the arcade experience and serves as a battleground. No need to worry about a daunting atmosphere; after creating a cutesy avatar, players can set off to improve their skills. It’s a very gradual process, but we do appreciate the presentation and system present here – and we’re sure newcomers will appreciate it as well.

Let’s say you’ve been playing TEKKEN since 1994, knowing the difference between Lee and Law, Jin and Jun. TEKKEN 8 covers this oh-so-important demographic with a number of new wrinkles that differentiate this title from the rest of the pack. The three newcomers – Victor Chevalier, Azucena Milagros Ortiz Castillo, and Reina – bring a number of subtleties that let players use samurai swords, caffeinated mixed martial arts grabs, and other radical moves.

There’s also a number of returning characters in its roster, with many fan favorites and deeper cuts in the mix. Not everybody made the cut – we’re still languishing the removal of Robert “Bob” Richards – but players will likely find somebody they click with among its 30+ character roster.

With TEKKEN 8’s focus on aggressiveness, the focus is less on a game of chicken and more on a game of action. For instance, those that pull off a Power Blow will be able to briefly stagger an opponent and rush through – a thrilling feeling that never gets old!

There’s also Rage Arts super moves that kick in when one’s health gets low; while returning from TEKKEN 7, they are far more streamlined and quicker this go-around, making us want to actively go on the offensive when the chips are down.

Perhaps the biggest draw for those looking to up their game is TEKKEN 8’s online modes. An improvement over TEKKEN 7, we enjoyed chilling in the TEKKEN Fight Lounge online lobby, taking part in both Ranked and Quick Matches. There are ways to filter by rank restrictions, connection quality, and even platform, so those looking to optimize their experience can most certainly do so.

TEKKEN 8 hits hard with what could quite possibly be the best TEKKEN entry to date. Fresher than newcomer Azucena’s signature coffee blend, this title does everything in its power to make this King of Iron Fist tournament worthy of all players.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post TEKKEN 8 Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

So, does Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League stand out in a crowd of games struggling to survive, or is this, as some feared, the downfall of Rocksteady?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review

Kill The Justice League’s story follows the traditional superhero trope: There’s an impending world-ending event of biblical proportions that only Earth’s greatest heroes could hope to overcome. Well, that was if the entire Justice League hadn’t been turned into Brainiac’s mind slaves.

Instead of the usual spandex-wearing goody-two-shoes, players take the mantle of the Suicide Squad, a ragtag group of Arkham convicts set loose on Metropolis. This was pulled off by Amanda Waller, who, quite honestly, may just be the greatest villain in the entire DC Multiverse. She’s more terrifying than any of the Suicide Squad; I’d rather go toe-to-toe with Brainiac.

The story follows Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, the latter of which has quickly become one of my all-time favorite characters. They all set out to take down the Justice League and destroy the evil Brainiac before he enslaves what’s left of the human population.

It’s a rewarding narrative, one that toes a careful line between routing for the antihero and just flat-out destroying our childhood dreams before our very eyes. Its most impressive feat is the ability to create a bond between the player and members of the Suicide Squad that’s strong enough to endure some of the heinous events of the latter stages of the story, events that could sour the experience for some.

Unlike the humor, which is smashed out of the park in the first 30 minutes. The writing is fantastic, effortlessly blending a rather doomsday-like scenario with quick one-liners and banter between allies, all timed and delivered to near perfection. Some of the game’s funniest moments don’t even require words; the facial animations are some of the very best this industry has to offer. An entire joke can be delivered with the raising of an eyebrow or the rolling of the eyes. Supported by fantastic performances throughout, it left me feeling both fulfilled and empty. As a live-service title, the story was so much better than I was expecting. Despite this, it left me lovesick, wondering how much more we could have had in a more traditional single-player setting.

Running in at about 10-12 hours, the story felt short. It does flow through the games-as-a-service end-game style grind in fantastic fashion, arguably the most thematic we’ve seen in the genre to-date, but if that GaaS style end-game grind isn’t your thing, the experience may not feel deserving of the price tag.

Each of the four main characters – Deadshot, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Harley Quinn – each boast their own arsenal of weapons, abilities, and traversal powers. I typically struggle with games that require diverting of attention between too many skill trees and loadouts. While Suicide Squad’s user-interface makes it a seamless and effortless process, I still found myself drawn to Deadshot – a character I played throughout much of the game.

Once the story is over, when the GaaS grind begins, these games live and die by the quality of the combat. Thankfully, Kill the Justice League’s combat system is one of the most exciting I’ve played in a long time. Hulking brutes, long distance snipers, armored melee units, fortified tanks…the game throws a bevy of different enemies at you, each requiring different tactics and solutions. The satisfaction of stringing together the perfect counters, launching to the next group of enemies with combined traversal abilities, and hitting special attack to clear an entire platform never grows old or feels stale.

After every cutscene and story segment, I was eager to get back to the skies of Metropolis and just kill stuff for the fun of it. Both fitting of the genre and the theme, I suppose. However, that enthusiasm did dwindle somewhat when it came to the boss battles. While none of them were bad – you battle against the majority of the Justice League at one point or another – none of them really stood out either. Not really a crime, but when you are battling against characters as iconic as those seen in the Justice League, I expected combat on far grander scales.

As with all the GaaS launches of recent years, much of the pre-launch discussion was sharing the woes and concerns of the genre. I get it, they are not for everyone. Grind and repetition are often seen as negative elements of the gaming experience, but there’s still a large audience that thrives on the challenge and lives to log in each and every day. Is this that game? I’m not sure, but it has a hell of a lot more chance than I thought it would have.

The live-service elements, while limited in variety, do boast an impressive array of character customization and loadout options. Every aspect of the characters can be enhanced and improved. Personal stats, weapon rarity, weapon traits and perks, special abilities, there’s a huge list of min-maxing opportunities that offers the perfect playground for fans dedicated enough to withstand the limited mission choices of the post-game scenario.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is a great game for a certain type of player, having all the hallmarks of a fantastic single-player cinematic experience. It features a great story, excellent voice acting, beautiful environments, and captivating characters, but it all feels cut short to service this live-service model. I had a lot of fun playing through, and I’ll likely dive more into the end-game grind. Still, I still can’t help but ask: What if?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by captaincamper
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review: Running on GaaS? appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review

Granblue Fantasy: Relink follows an airship captain (your character) and their crew as they search for the Promised Land. There’s just one thing: The skies on the way to the island they are searching for aren’t safe. Your tutorial fight is with some Wyverns, and eventually a Bahamut summoned by your ally Lyria. For some reason, this summon briefly turns on the team, but Lyria eventually gets him back under control. With the ship in rough condition, Lyria slips and falls overboard, with your character trying to catch her. You both fall to the land below and somehow manage to survive. You find Lyria, save her from monsters, and reunite with your crew.

Your ship in shambles, players will then head to a local village to find some new transportation. A captain named Rolan agrees to take you all on his ship if you help him out. Naturally, the first island you go to is under attack by goblins, putting you to work. As it turns out, it is also being affected by strong, unnatural winds that make it hard for ships to leave. The goblins aren’t a big threat, but the Primal Beast rampaging concerns your character. You set out to calm the beast, and hopefully secure the island. The story is very quick, clocking in at about 15 hours for me. That being said, the story is a tiny portion of Relink.

During the game, you can take on quests at a quest board. Think of it like Monster Hunter World. You pick a quest, and you can set out with your party to do the objective. If you play online, you can have three other allies or do them offline with your NPC party. After you beat the game, these quests open up a lot more. You get the more difficult missions, bosses, and other modes you didn’t have during the main story. I might have beef with the boss fights in the main story, but online quests immediately put players in action. And with Quick Quest, you can join a team in seconds. The main story is a slow burn, but the post-game is quick and snappy.

Relink is a character-action RPG, and the combat is excellent. First, there are over a dozen characters, and they all play differently. As overwhelming as that sounds, it also helps ensure you find a character you like. Everyone has the same button layout with basic attacks and strong attacks, but some have stances or other mechanics that help power them up. Where things get tricky is your special skills. You can only bring four of them with you, meaning you need to be picky. Do you want more damage, an AoE spell, heals, buffs? Whatever you choose, choose wisely; you can’t change mid-fight, and only having three good moves really hurts your chances of being the highest scorer online.

The other way you power up your characters is by weapons and sigils. You can craft new weapons with various elements and upgrade them for more damage and effects. I play Yodarha, a fisherman who uses katanas as his weapon. I stacked my blades with crit chance and ripped enemies up with him. My Percival, on the other hand, hits like a truck, so I just stacked damage on him. Sigils are similar to accessories, buffing you in various ways. The most common sigils will give you more damage, more HP, and things like that. Other, more rare sigils might give you a skill buff, earn you more cash, or provide you with life steal. My point is that you can make the type of character you want if you are willing to put in the effort.

During your downtime, you can visit the towns and do side quests or trade with Siero, a traveling merchant who likes to trade in treasure and sigils. The side quests always involve killing or retrieving something, but the rewards are worth it. You can go to him for crafting parts and new characters. The prices can be a bit steep on certain materials, so be sure to save your coins. As for the characters, the game isn’t a Gacha, so you can pick who you want and spend a voucher to hire them. You can only test them after you get them, which is a bummer. You can recruit them all eventually, so you don’t need to worry about missing anyone.

Just be warned: Granblue Fantasy: Relink was in development for a long time, and it shows. The areas and zones are very small, but there is no map. It isn’t needed online because most of the fights are arenas, but the towns should have them present. The boss fights during the main story can also be annoying; players can have a boss on the ropes, only for them to suddenly stop losing HP. When this happens, you’ll have to sit there for a move or cutscene to go off. These story boss fights disrupt the rhythm of a game with such quick-paced combat. You have to wait to leave lobbies between online matches until everyone agrees, or the timer runs out. I hope they can at least fix the online issue.

While it takes a while to get going, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is well worth the wait. Fans of quick-paced co-op action RPGs shouldn’t hesitate to check it out.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review

So you take a new job from an old friend and head to Hawaii to atone for past sins and to move on with your life. Sadly, things do not go much better here. You are mugged, drugged, and left on the beach naked. Eventually, you gather some new allies and set out to try and figure out what is going on on this island. The game is the longest in the series, and as of writing this, I have 91 hours in it with plenty left to do.

The Like A Dragon series has turn-based combat but still has the Yakuza flair. Your basic attacks feel heavy and impactful. Your special skills have you breathing fire, using cheese graters on enemies, or tossing dynamite at them. You can pick up weapons mid-battle and smash them into enemies, knocking them to the floor. My point is that even though it is turn-based, it is still entertaining, and you still have to think to succeed. There is an auto-battle option, but the AI does some silly things during combat so I rarely used it. Also, if you are at a high enough level, you can one-hit entire enemy groups, which feels good.

It’s vital that combat feels satisfying to play because there is a ton of it. I don’t know how much actual crime is in Honolulu, but this game makes it seem like you’ll be attacked on every street corner. Since I enjoy the combat, I’m fine with that; some players might not be. Another way they help keep fighting fresh is via the class system. Most characters can switch between five or six classes after you unlock them. Each of them has their own skills, stats, and weapons. That alone would incentivize players to try new classes, but the skill inheritance makes it even more juicy. Grinding up a character to an incredible skill and bringing it to a new class really encourages you to try everything. Honestly, all the classes were good, and I enjoyed playing each.

When you aren’t fighting, you have lots of choices of side activities to do—the arcade returns, with Sega Bass Fishing being the big game this time. The crane game, darts, Shoji, Majong, and a few others also return. One of the new, somewhat passive side activities is called Aloha Links. All you do with this is walk around the island, waving at people with green faces over their heads. Do this enough, and you become friends with them and get a stat boost to your personality. As you’ll see, the game constantly encourages you to explore the island and find hidden treasures and secrets. You can tell the devs are confident in their game world, and that confidence extends to nearly all avenues of the game.

Before I forget, let’s talk about the personality traits. Ichiban has six core stat that rise as he does things in the game. For instance, fighting enough bad guys will raise your Passion skill. As that skill goes up, you get more and more passive buffs like sleep and fear resistance. It’s not just fighting that earns you points for your personality. It’s almost everything in the game. Your challenge list details how to get more points, but here are a few examples. Eating at restaurants, riding taxis, spending money, swimming, playing mini-games, and chatting with random citizens are all things you can do to raise those stats. Again, go out and do something, and you’ll be rewarded.

The meat and potatoes mini game of Infinite Wealth is Dondoko Island, an Animal Cross lite mode. When you start working at Dondoko Island, it is a trash heap with hardly any value. You clean it up and turn it into a resort for tourists. When you start, there are two or three buildings on the island, and it is up to you to create and place more. You mold this island in your vision and slowly raise the rating of the resort. Eventually, you invite some customers in and start making a little scratch on the side. These customers will all have their wants and needs, and you can give them gifts to raise their happiness. The more happy a guest is, the bigger your tip will be. It is simple to understand and a blast to play. My only complaint is that you can get to the max star resort pretty quickly if you focus on it.

I want to mention a few other things before we wrap this up. There is a pizza delivery mini-game that is very much like Crazy Taxi, and it is very fun. I lost hours to it and still want to play more. You can upgrade and craft weapons, making the game easier for you. There are fewer dungeons, but there is a dungeon area where you can farm mobs and materials. The game has choices, but they only affect your personality, and drinking with your buddies is a great way to raise your bonds. And lastly, cars will hit you if you get punched into them.

As for annoyances, the game is turn-based, and you can always see who is next but not the whole turn order. When fighting certain bosses, they would skip the turn order and get multiple turns in a row. I’m not sure if it was based on agility or what, but that got me killed a couple of times. The game has an English dub, but certain characters are not great, and they stick out. Also, I still don’t understand Majong or Shoji and don’t know if I ever will.

Tech-wise, the game ran great, and I didn’t see any frame drops, bugs, or crashes.

2024 picks up right where 2023 left off with a banger of a title in Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth. Anyone who likes big, meaty RPGs should give this one a whirl.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Review

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown follows the story of Sargon, one of the seven Immortals that are the strongest fighters in the kingdom. Sargon and his allies stop the invading forces of Kushan to protect Persia and its ruler. For Sargon’s part in defeating the enemy general, he is awarded a Royal Sash, which are only the best of the best warriors. After the ceremony, you meet up with your friends and celebrate into the evening. At some point, there is a ruckus, and the prince is kidnapped, leaving you and the Immortals to try to rescue him.

Before you get a chance to save the prince, he is slain, and you are blamed for his death. You soon realize there is some sort of time distortion issues in this place as you face off with another version of yourself. Once you beat him, you are told you can still save the prince if you learn to master time. To do that, you’ll have to collect all the relics and powers that are scattered throughout the game world. In all, you’ll probably spend 15-20 hours getting through the game.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2D metroidvania, which means a lot of backtracking, a lot of death, and a lot of platforming. At first, this isn’t a problem because it’s simple jumps and dashes, but it gets tricky fast. One of the more annoying platforming obstacles is these platforms that switch depending on which way you are looking. For example, one platform might be out for you to jump on if you look right, but it goes back into the wall when you look left. It forces you to fight that instinct to correct yourself midair and instead rely on faith that you won’t fall off. It threw me for a loop quite a few times, but players looking for platforming challenges will find them here.

Combat in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is fast-paced and simple, bringing with it a solid counter and dodge system. Similar to the platforming section, you’ll have to fight smart to survive. With trash mobs, you can spam your combo attacks and get through, but bosses and mini-bosses will put you in the dirt if you try that strategy. Watching the enemy tells and correctly reacting makes the game much more manageable. Deflecting the enemies and landing a huge attack only to then dodge them and land another slash on their back feels great. You also get a bow and a chakram for ranged weapons, which help add to the variety. It also means they can add flying enemies, which are always annoying.

All this fighting and platforming exudes cool, but you need upgrades to avoid dying often and losing A LOT of progress. There is only one currency in the game and it is used for weapon and skill upgrades, new amulets, hints, and general buffs. Weapon upgrades make you hit harder but you can also get more arrows or get extra amulet slots. These upgrades come at a high price, making the economy very balanced. Amulets are stat boosts and other buffs, like revealing hidden treasures or adding extra temporary HP. Hints are also nice because you don’t have directions, just markers on where to go. I always had something to work towards to get myself slightly stronger or more durable.

Speaking of secrets, the game is flooded with them. Breakable walls, invisible chests, hidden areas – you’ll find them all. If you pre-ordered, you get a bird that helps you find the secrets; otherwise, you’ll have to smack every wall to test them. These areas are necessary for you to find the crafting materials needed to upgrade your gear to higher levels. Lore items and side quests can also be found hidden throughout the game world. These are typically basic fetch quests or smash-and-grabs that help give you more reasons to explore. Just note that some of the hidden areas and side quests have some of the most challenging platforming sections in the game.

There are a couple of things I don’t like about the game. The fast travel system is very inconvenient. You need to find a statue and then warp from there to another warp point statue. The problem is there aren’t very many in the game, and you can’t warp to them from the map. This means you are doing a lot of needless backtracking. I also think the check points could have been more generous. You lose a lot of time dying to one-hit death spikes and pits.

Tech-wise, I didn’t have any bugs or run into any crashes.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a beacon of hope for a franchise that’s been gone for far too long. Fans of the series will be happy with this series’ new direction.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by johnny-hurricane
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Alan Wake II Review

13 years since the original release (has it really been that long?), things in Bright Falls are getting weird. FBI Agent Robert Nightingale is dead, and FBI Agent Saga Anderson and Alex Casey (good name) have been sent over to investigate the case. However, things quickly unravel into something much bigger, with the duo finding manuscript pages that tell of future events. It all ties into the titular Alan Wake, who has been trapped in an alternate dimension known as the Dark Place after all this time.

While the game wears its inspiration on its sleeve, Alan Wake II quickly subverts expectations as time goes on. Starting out, this release seems part and parcel similar to series like Twin Peaks, True Detective, and even Sherlock with Saga Anderson’s “Mind Place.” However, as things progress, the bizarre starts to take hold. We won’t spoil some of the elements, but what we expected from the first few hours of play quickly changed, leaving us eager to see what will happen next. There’s also some well-acted live-action segments to really drive the experience home.

If anything, that’s Alan Wake II’s greatest strength – its immersion. The dreary Pacific Northwest is a great backdrop, but it’s the moodiness and the overall mystery that seals the deal. One can breeze through from one point to the other, but actively seeking out elements like manuscript pages and even footage adds to its lore. It also helps that the sound design is at the top of its class – including a fantastic implementation of the band Poets of the Fall as the Old Gods of Asgard.

Just note that the gameplay of Alan Wake II is nothing too out of the ordinary. Players will take control of both Saga Anderson and Alan Wake as they take on supernatural threats. Much like the original release, it helps to shine a light on things – literally. Players will take down enemies by focusing a beam of light on them, stunning them for proper attacks and dodging when appropriate. It’s far from the deepest system around, following the same formula for a while. Nevertheless, it does tie into the overall motif of Alan Wake II quite well.

There’s also the detective elements that come from the aforementioned “Mind Place” and Alan Wake’s “Writer’s Room.” In certain segments, both Saga Anderson and Alan Wake will need to either piece together the mystery or outline this clairvoyant novel. We could take or leave these segments; while we did like putting the mystery together, we were all too eager to jump right back into its surreal world.

It should be worth noting that Alan Wake II is a sequel in the truest sense of the word. While there are new characters, it also picks up after the events of the original. Those looking to start with this title and skip the original – or even Remedy Entertainment’s other titles like Control – will miss quite a bit.

Alan Wake II manages to subvert expectations with its immersive world. Combat gets the job done, but it’s the overall mystery that will have players eager to shine a light on this Dark Place.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Alan Wake II Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Sonic Dream Team Review

As he’s naturally known to do, the nefarious Dr. Eggman is up to no good with his new hard-boiled scheme. Sonic Dream Team already starts out in a dire situation – he’s captured Cream and Cheese (remember them?) and is using the power of the Reverie to control dreams. Sonic and his friends set out to stop him, but fall asleep and get stuck in a dream world.

This isn’t a complete nightmare, however; Reverie Haven Ariem (lovingly nicknamed Ari) is eager to help Sonic save his friends, get her powers back, and save the day once more. The story is displayed through still panels, but the voice acting – and dad joke humor – are up to the series’ signature standard.

Rather than keep things on a 2D plane like Sonic Superstars or go open-world like Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Dream Team takes design cues from the Dreamcast days. You’ve got your high speed acts with Dream Orbs at the end, your shard collecting that Knuckles/Rouge oh so loves, and even your checkpoint races that will take you up and down and all around. By collecting Dream Orbs at the end of each stage to unlock more stages in true mobile fashion, those weaned on the Sonic Adventure games will feel right at home – even if the camera can be kind of awkward.

There’s some more modern accoutrements in the form of boosting with a meter, collectible Red Star Rings, key collecting, and a free-roaming camera in select spots. There’s also the tried-and-true homing attacks, light speed dashes, and rail grinding – all of which work really well.

Even the use of touchscreen controls in Sonic Dream Team is fairly intuitive; while there is a bit of a learning curve, we were able to find our groove before too long. Of course, there is also controller support for those looking for it.

The levels of Sonic Dream Team definitely take advantage of the dream motif as well. No Green Hill Zone or Chemical Plant Zone here; rather, players will venture across Scrambled Shores, Dream Factories, and other fresh venues all channel signature Sonic elements while still trying something new. While all platforms are floating in the air, we still do appreciate the aesthetics.

Just note that Sonic Dream Team runs on the short side, clocking in at a little less than three hours and a handful of zones. While it’s a good problem to be left wanting more, we do feel like it is over before it even gets the chance to begin.

Forgive the obvious pun, but Sonic Dream Team is a dream come true for Sonic fans. While it runs a bit on the short side, those looking for some classic high speed Sonic action will welcome this homecoming.

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

Vimana Review

The fusion of Indian mythology and vertical shoot-em-ups might seem a little unorthodox, but these two fields come together to create something exotic with the release of Bitwave Games and Toaplan's Vimana on Steam. The titular Vimana craft is at one's disposal - should players step into the cockpit of this spacefaring adventure?

Posted Feb 9, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

FixEight Review

A run-and-gun from days gone by (1992, to be precise!), Bitwave Games and Toaplan are giving players all the firepower they could ever want with the Steam release of FixEight. Should players bring others along for some good ol' co-op blasting, or does this throwback feel a little musty?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes Review

A new numbered entry in the series, FRENCH-BREAD and Arc System Works’ UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes carries the series forward after a strong reception from fans and critics - including us! The series has established itself as a cult classic after multiple versions; does this full measure mark a substantial leap for the series?

Posted Feb 5, 2024 by casey-scheld
in Game Reviews

TEKKEN 8 Review

A series with a rich lineage (30 years strong!), players can get ready for the next battle with the release of Arika and Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8. New characters, new modes, and a new engine power this King of Iron Fist Tournament - does it prove to be a worthy contender?

The post Sonic Dream Team Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.