Retro

13May

By Parker FauxNo Comments

The Third Shift – PC Review

When I was a kid, my mom would take me to a big natural history museum close to our house. I remember feeling both enraptured and terrified by the taxidermy animals, with their frozen poses and glassy eyes. Sometimes I would wonder if they moved at night, or when I wasn't looking at them. It was a strange atmosphere; a place of learning, yet with a sense of quiet, creeping dread. It's a sense of horror that very few games have capitalized on, at least up until now. The Third Shift is a survival horror game developed and published by Teebowah Games. The initial demo released all the way back in 2020, and I distinctly remember watching it back in high school. Development has been on and off for the past few years, but the game finally released this April, and I was excited to finally ...

15Apr

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Ghost Master: Resurrection – PS5 Review

I am, admittedly, a bit of a sucker for remasters/remakes. Or, at least, the ones of games that didn't come out a few years ago... Being able to experience something from my younger years on modern hardware is both nostalgic and comforting. So, when I saw that Ghost Master was returning from the dead, I knew I had to check it out! Released in 2003 for PC and a year later for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, Ghost Master is a sort of puzzle/strategy hybrid. A game my younger self would often describe as "The Sims but you have to haunt them instead of take care of them". Not that I really took care of my sims... Now, in 2026, Ghost Master: Resurrection is here! Developer Mechano Story Studio state that this is a "faithful remake of the beloved original" but with some much-needed bug fixes and upgr...

13Apr

By JoseNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance – PS5 Review

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, developed by Bit Bot Media and published by Crystal Dynamics, is a retro pixel-art 2D action platformer and the first original entry in the series in over two decades. The long-awaited follow-up arrives 23 years after 2003's Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the franchise's previous installment. After three remasters in recent years, Soul Reaver 1, Soul Reaver 2, and Legacy of Kain: Defiance, fans of the franchise finally get to explore never-before-seen characters, places, and timelines. Which, at first, may sound intriguing and interesting, but unfortunately, new personalities like Elaleth do not feel like an organic addition to the lore. Instead, the execution falls flat, burdening a beloved franchise with retroactive continuities, or rather, I should say retroact...

10Mar

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Under The Island – PS5 Review

If you're a gamer of a certain vintage, chances are you have fond memories of the '90s and early 2000s. From Alundra to the 2D Zelda titles, there were plenty of brilliant action RPGs during that era. With Under The Island, developer Slime King Games attempts to capture the magic that made these classics so memorable. Blending elements of modern and retro (are we calling the '90s retro now? I feel old...) games, Under The Island may well be a great debut for the developer. Can the gameplay match what is arguably a gorgeous-looking love letter to games gone by? Under The Island is out now, and is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. With that said, let's get on with the review! Above, Around, and Under The Island! With...

20Feb

By JoseNo Comments

PC Reviews

Crimson Capes – PC Review

Crimson Capes is a pixel-art 2.5 D roguelike / roguelite developed and published by Poor Locke. The game is set in a dark-fantasy medieval Europe, where you can switch between four characters of the witch-hunting Crimson Capes guild. Retro Bloody Retro In recent years, the indie game industry has been flooded with roguelites, roguelikes, and metroidvania style games. Crimson Capes enters this crowded landscape with a realistic swordcombat "flow" that may be challenging at first but is highly satisfactory once mastered. This combat system relies strongly on the well-known formula of souls and soulslike games, patience, dodging, and precise timing. The story is centered around the adventures of Milon, also known as the Tempest, who has been ordered by the king to take down a conspir...

11Dec

By JoseNo Comments

PC Reviews

Marvel Cosmic Invasion – PC Review

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a pixel-art beat'em up developed by Tribute Games Inc. and published by Dotemu. Playable solo or with up to four players in local or online co-op, the game delivers fun and fast-paced combat where players will visit some of the best-known locations of the Marvel Universe. Retro Pixel Arcade Action Galore After the success of 2022's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, game developers Tribute Games have come up with another excellent retro, pixel-art, arcade-style beat-'em-up game. Marvel Cosmic Invasion uses the same action-filled formula as its predecessor but enhances it with a larger hero roster and adds another layer of complexity through its swap mechanic. This game is a deep cut to 90s pop culture, when home PCs and consoles weren't as ...

Class of Heroes 3 Remastered – Switch Review

15Sep

By Tyler DenyerNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Class of Heroes 3 Remastered – Switch Review

Dungeon crawlers are an acquired taste, but sometimes the allure of a long-lost Japanese gem is too tempting to ignore. Class of Heroes 3 Remaster, developed by Acquire Corp and published in the West by PQube, is one of those titles. Long stranded in Japan since its original PSP/PS3 release, this remaster out now on Nintendo Switch and Steam finally lets us enrol in Preciana Institute, Draken Academy or Takachiho College and experience the quirky, grind-heavy world our friends in Japan have known for over a decade. Class of Heroes 3 Remaster - Just missed the Master Grade The real magic here is seeing games that were once locked away in Japan finally crossing the seas. It’s exciting to watch these once-region-bound titles get a second life in the West. Have you ever longed for a favourit...

11Sep

By JoseNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Gears of War: Reloaded – PS5 Review

The iconic alien horror shooter best known for its over-the-top gore, its unironic use of macho bravado, and its high-adrenaline action is back (once again). That's right this is a review of Gears of War: Reloaded. The Coalition, the Xbox Studios developers behind this gory chainsaw party, could have delivered just another lazy, half-hearted remastered game like we have unfortunately grown used to in recent years, looking at you The Last of Us. Instead, they have delivered a significant visual upgrade compared to its 2015 remastered Xbox version. Welcome to the War (again)! Nearly 20 years since its exclusive release on the Xbox 360, Gears of War has arrived on the PlayStation 5. The remastered game, rebranded as Gears of War: Reloaded, signifies the end of an era known as the console wa...

Chronicles Of The Wolf – PC Demo Preview

20Jun

By JoseNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Chronicles Of The Wolf – PC Demo Preview

Chronicles Of The Wolf is a metroidvania so fiercely loyal to its source material that it could have fooled me into believing it was made in the early 90s. As cliché and overused as it may sound, the game is a true love letter to the roots of the genre. Whilst the game is available now on Steam this is a preview article of the demo only. A Nostalgic Throwback, For Better And For Worse As soon as you open the game, your senses teleport you back to a time when the internet made strange noises, phones had long curly cords, and televisions were as heavy as modern fridges. The menu options, the eerie retro music, and the 32-pixel resolution all work together in harmony to deliver an incredibly immersive experience. Let's check it out. Gameplay You play as Mateo Lombardo, an initiate of ...

20May

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews, Retro Reviews

Farming Simulator 16-Bit – PC Review

Now we all know that Farming Simulator games have been around for a long time. Now it's time for a new entry to the franchise, and whilst you've already guessed, just pretend you didn't know. We have gone old school, with Farming Simulator 16-bit Edition! Giants Software has released an absolutely iconic-looking game for new and old hardware. Featuring a limited run of a physical Sega Mega Drive cartridge, which, unfortunately, at the time of writing, was sold out. As well as the PC download if you want to give it a little play through on your computer. Farming, but not as we know it! I'm a big fan of the franchise and have spent many hours playing the fully fledged versions of the game both with friends and on my lonesome. Would the 16bit retro version keep me as occupied? It's time to ...