There is no getting away from the immense pressure that Redfall has been under leading up to its launch. It’s the first drop of blood extracted from the purchase of Zenimax in 2021, the first game that has been mostly developed under the purview of new owner Microsoft. Xbox has been struggling with a lack of strong exclusives to compete with Sony’s high-quality outings and Nintendo’s established names. And surely with Arkane Austin on development duties, Redfall should be a home run? No. Despite being about vampires, Redfall has no fangs of its own. The only thing it shares with the undead blood-suckers is that it’s lifeless.
Category: Videogame Reviews
All the latest videogame reviews from me. Take that how you will.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox Review
With a name like The Last Case of Benedict Fox, you might expect some sort of detective game, and that assumption is partially correct. Benedict is indeed a detective of sorts, one with a demon intertwined with his soul. In this early 1900s Lovecraftian-inspired Metroidvania you’ll delve into decaying memories, solve puzzles and fight shadowy entities. There’s a lot to love about The Last Case of Benedict Fox, but there are also a few problems that really hold it back.
Ravenlok Review – Game Pass Fodder
Ravenlok is the third game in developer Cococucumber’s self-described voxel trilogy, a series that is largely unconnected aside from its strikingly boxy visual style and a few characters. Launching straight onto Game Pass, Ravenlok is an action-adventure aimed younger gamers and casual players who want something light and breezy. It’s the gaming equivalent of a bedtime story.
Strayed Lights Review – A Spark of Brilliance
Strayed Lights is the debut title from Embers and they’ve certainly come out swinging. It’s a beautiful adventure that has you defending rather than attacking as you face down your inner demons. Not everything works, but there’s plenty that does, so let’s review Strayed Lights, shall we?
Moviehouse Review – Finally, a Sequel to The Movies?
In theory, Moviehouse combines two things I love: video games and movies. It hands over the keys to a movie studio, letting you hire writers and directors to craft scripts and produce movies across genres. It almost sounds like a spiritual successor to The Movies, a fantastic tycoon game from 2005 that has been crying out for a remake or sequel. Sadly, Moviehouse doesn’t capture the same charm as The Movies, nor does it improve on any of the concepts from 2005. In fact, it actually goes backwards with gameplay so simplistic you might think you’re playing a mobile game.
Have a Nice Death Review
Have a Nice Death is the latest 2D roguelite vying for your attention in a genre that is becoming rather crowded. Any game looking to throw its digital hat into the roguelite ring needs to do something special or risk being dragged down into the depths of obscurity. Have a Nice Death hits hard with a couple of killer scythe strikes: a gorgeous art style and satisfying combat. So grab your best black cloak and let’s head to the afterlife, shall we?
Company of Heroes 3 Review – We’ll Fight Them on our Turn!
Once a bastion of the RTS genre thanks to massive successes like Dawn of War and the original Company of Heroes, Relic has crumbled in recent years, their sterling reputation now resembling a building hammered by a mortar barrage. So after ten years without a sequel, bringing back Company of Heroes is their chance to show the world that Relic still has what it takes to deliver an awesome RTS experience. And do you know what? They come close. Company of Heroes 3 is very good at times. It’s also in need of some work.
Pharaoh: A New Era Review
The 90s and early 2000s saw the rise of Impressions Games thanks to their various city-builders like Caeser and Zeus. But the most famous of them came in 1999 when they launched Pharaoh, a city builder set in Egypt where you had to build expansive cities and construct vast monuments because what every desert needs is a big triangle. The game often makes it onto lists of the best city builders and many have tried to replicate it. Now, developer Triskell and publisher Dotemu are here with a remake that aims to bring the charm and fun of Pharaoh to a new generation. Let’s go and raid the t
Pronty (Switch) Review – A Charming, Fun Metroidvania Game
Water levels don’t exactly have a stellar reputation in video games. They’re notoriously hard to get right and have consistently appeared in lists of the worst levels ever or in rants on Reddit. But for some insane reason, the developers of Pronty decided to set the entire thing in the depths of the ocean, and somehow they’ve made it work. Pronty is an amalgamation of many modern Metroidvania games, not doing anything new as such but executing it all with verve. Although it was first released back in 2021, it has made the long swim upriver to the Nintendo Switch, giving me the perfect opportunity to dive in.
Hogwarts Legacy Review – Worthy of the House Cup?
Like many people, my connection to Harry Potter began with the books. Born in 1991, I was only 6 when the first book was released but I still had a copy. It’d be a few years until I began to even vaguely understand most of it, but I was a precocious little bastard who loved to read ahead of my years despite it all going over my head. Anyway, over the years I read the books like crazy, and then I got into the movies on Christmas eve when my parents gave me a copy of The Philosopher’s Stone on VHS because they thought it would be nice to relax on Christmas Eve with a movie. I’m telling you this so you understand that I’m most certainly coming into this review with a least a little bit of bias toward the franchise. Both the books and movies are ingrained in my childhood and even my adult life. While I wouldn’t consider myself a fanboy, I still re-read the books and re-watch the movies every few years. Hogwarts Legacy, then, was an exciting prospect from the very start. While we’ve had good Harry Potter games over the years, the best modern titles have come from the LEGO franchise. It’s baffling because the world J.K. Rowling conjured up seems to be perfect fodder for games. And finally, like magic, it seems that Avalanche has got it right: Hogwarts Legacy is pretty d
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