ZTGD

Heidelberg 1693 is a familiar game with a unique hook and dreary art style. I loved the time I spent with it and recommend anyone with some patience to check it out. It will beat you down, but once you get into the groove it is hard to put down.

Triangle Strategy wasn’t the game I thought it was when I accepted the review assignment, but I am glad I did because after I really got into the game I enjoyed the story, and the extremely tough decisions it asks the player to make. Triangle Strategy isn’t a perfect game but it is a really good time.

There is an online leader board that players can chase for the high score, but other than that, there is not much replay value. Granted, it’s a six dollar game and one that has some easy achievements for those achievement hunters out there, but for the shmup fan, there are better ones out there.

Inquisitor Martyr is a fun action RPG that I think fans of the genre will enjoy. The moment-to-moment combat is fine and serviceable, but the true meat of the game is in the builds and skill trees. So much so that it can be a little daunting to the player.

This, to me was massively more enjoyable than trying to struggle through the games clunky combat. While I loved the depth offered in the RPG elements of the world, I came away disappointed enough by the combat that is just made the whole experience feel like a chore to play; combine that with the lack of a real story and I Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord just didn’t turn out to be the total medieval simulator game I was hoping for.

What Valkyrie Elysium lacks in story and world building though can be kind of forgiven because of how fun the combat is. I enjoy some fast, and fluid combat and luckily VE delivers. Inputs are on the similar side only using std attack and heavy attack button; but the more complex stuff comes in when you start using the Einherjar and the various ‘Divine Arts’ which are the magical abilities.

The audio is all over the place with some of the interviews. Some are much louder than others. There is also a weird blur at the bottom of the videos that can be distracting. I also noticed the captions were broken on the final interview. Again nothing game breaking, but something that will likely get patched out over time.

I wanted to like The Last Oricru very much, I was intrigued by the fish out of water story, but the abrasiveness of the main character and the basic feeling combat just killed it for me.

Its inclusion of the rhythm mechanics and even the ‘bullet hell’ aspects of some fights that have players dodging bullets and enemies around an arena is one of those things. This might not be the best example of a demon slaying game done right, but this is a fantastic tribute to those that have come before and a great example of thinking outside the box and taking a change on something different in a sea of sameness.

Visually the game opts for the vertical style seen in a lot of games of this type. I love that there are tons of filters and screen borders to unlock as well. Even more incentive to keep playing.