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Dragon’s Crown Pro Review

Dragon’s Crown Pro
Developer- Vanillaware
Publisher- Atlus
PS4, previously on PS3 and PS Vita

When Dragon’s Crown originally released it was packed with esoteric design decisions. There was plenty of classic brawler legacy within it, but those decisions almost felt out of place. Strangely, time has only served to make those eccentricities feel more at home.

Cursor based interactions and menus have become much more common on consoles, and the addition of a touchpad on the PS4 has only made that more natural. The online integration feels normalized too–the death messages that litter a stage have plenty of precedent, and seeing a party automatically populate with AI based on other players feels smart. And the heavy focus on multiplayer feels obvious now, especially with the popularity of RPG systems and loot based progression. Weirdly, even the bizarre structural turn in the second half, where you’re tasked with backtracking to do new objectives in the same areas, makes a lot more sense given the popularization of MMO style loops of repeated content. Despite being an entry in a genre a lot of people dismiss as being regressive, Dragon’s Crown ended up being rather prescient.

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by Amr (@siegarettes)

de Blob 2
Developer- Blue Tongue Entertainment, Blitworks
Publisher- THQ Nordic
PS4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, Wii

[TRANSCRIPT BELOW]

When I started de blob 2 I expected a breezy puzzle platformer full of cities ready to be painted. What I was greeted with was an opening that dragged its feet, was a bit too wordy on the tutorials, and took its sweet time getting to the playful coloring bits. It was all well and good from there, with the dynamic soundtrack and simple puzzles providing a pleasant whir of activity.

Then I hit Blanctown.

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Copy Kitty Short Review

by Amr (@siegarettes)

Copy Kitty
Developer- Nuclear Strawberry
Publisher- Degica
PC

A lot of action games suffer from a lack of feedback. Copy Kitty isn’t one of them. Its got the type of feedback you get when you stick your microphone in front of your speakers, crank the volume, and fill the room with distortion. Its colors are overwhelming and obnoxious, garish in delivery, with several competing styles and guaranteed to compete for your attention with things get chaotic. I ended up playing it more by feeling than by sight.

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Rad Rodgers is a throwback that doesn’t even know what it’s nostalgic for

by Amr (@siegarettes)

Rad Rodgers
Developer- Interceptor Entertainment (Slipgate Studios)
Publisher- 3D Realms, THQ Nordic
PC, PS4, Xbox One

[TRANSCRIPT BELOW]

A throwback platformer emulating games like Commander Keen and Duke Nukem, Rad Rogers follows the Rise of the Triad reboot and Bombshell as one of Interceptor Entertainment’s attempts to bring back the spirit of classic PC gaming.

For the first hour or two, I was on board for Rad Rogers. The opening was embarrassing to watch, but the platforming and gunplay had enough to them to make running around a level and collecting all the trinkets entertaining. But before the first world was even done Rad Rogers wore out its welcome.

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Mulaka brings Indigenous Mexican mythology to life, with varying results

Mulaka captivated me with its low poly art and mythical atmosphere. I’m a sucker for good mythology, and the stories of the Tarahumara, the indigenous Mexican tribe the game draws from, are definitely cool in their own right. It’s a beautiful mix of the strange and familiar. Mulaka’s shamanistic quest has plenty of recognizable beats, but its in the particular of the beasts and people that you meet that it stands out. There’s a lot of cool illustrated scenes and fantastical set pieces. Even the loading screens felt like they had interesting stories to share.

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Yakuza 6 makes Kamurocho feel like a new playground once again

by Amr (@siegarettes)

Yakuza 6
Developer- SEGA
Publisher- SEGA
PS4

Becoming familiar with the Yakuza series means becoming familiar with Kamurocho, the bustling entertainment district that the series calls home. And like Kiryu Kazuma I’ve come to accept that Kamurocho is a place I can’t escape, but also a home of sorts. The are others cities, each with their own character and charm, but the heart of Yakuza has always been Kamurocho. So I’m pleased to see that Yakuza 6 has once again brought new life to this city.

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DJMAX RESPECT Review

By: RJ (@rga_02)

DJMAX Respect
Developer - Neowiz
PlayStation 4

In the press email for DJMax RESPECT, it says “This really is like the “Dark Souls” of music games, so don’t be disheartened when at first you don’t succeed.”

The game is difficult, but I think it would be disheartening to compare it to Dark Souls. DJMax is its own thing, and it deserves more respect than a comparison.

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DJMAX Respect is the bullet hell of rhythm games

by Amr (@siegarettes)

DJMAX Respect
Neowiz
Arc System Works
PS4

“The Dark Souls of x” is a phrase so ubiquitous now that you’ll probably hear it used to refer to any difficult game. obviously the creators of DJMAX have gotten wise to this, as all the press copy for DJMAX Respect, the latest in the notoriously demanding rhythm series, includes the phrase. But is it true? Is this really the Dark Souls of Rhythm Games?

No. What? That doesn’t make sense.
In fact, that whole ~Dark Souls of~ thing is seriously just… useless for describing…anything.

Let me offer a better comparison: DJMAX Respect is the bullet hell for rhythm games.

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