That’s very much how I feel about Creatures of Ava. While the game is not without problems, the story reminded of me of why these games are so important.

Creatures of Ava Review

When developers aren’t pressured to chase AAA juggernaut success, and can instead just tell a passionate and meaningful story, that’s when video games stand apart as the greatest entertainment medium on the planet.

Following Vic’s adventures through the world of Ava as she fights to save its creatures and the natives from a planetwide infection called The Withering is an experience that will remain with you long after you finish the game.

It’s a story of human heart, passion, and our constant drive to fix our mistakes, to right our wrongs, even if we still don’t truly understand the world around us.

The world of Ava is beautiful, captivating in places, and filled with charm and character. Exploring across the different biomes, Jungle, Desert, Swamp, and Grasslands, is an enjoyable and worthwhile endeavor, hampered only by the bizarre decision to cut slices of the world away through story progress.

While each area is unique in the creatures and puzzles Vic faces, exploration incentives remain the same throughout. Permanent Upgrades in the form of increased health, stamina, and backpack capacity, and various collectibles and photography opportunities to learn more about the world of Ava and the creatures that call it home.

During the early hours of the game, I really enjoyed exploring the Grasslands region. Saving the creatures, finding the permanent upgrades and lore collectibles, taking snaps of the creatures to fill out my Avapedia. I felt like I was running around as Spyro in a world of Pokémon Snap.

All of which quickly became a chore when the game’s multiple pivotal story moments forced me to cut off parts of the world, never to return.

This point of no return conundrum is one faced in many games over the years, but typically in the final moments of the game. Having several, in a game that runs about 18 hours, felt very oppressive.

It all makes sense from a narrative perspective, and the story is easily the game’s most defining aspect. However, constantly being faced with the choice of finding items I’ll never have the opportunity to find again, or following the heart of the story, felt contradictory to the game’s empathic nature.

Part of that decision-making process was made easier by the rather disappointing impact of the upgrades. The increased health, stamina, and backpack capacity was nice, sure, but you can get through the entire game without much of it.

Couple that with the fact that you need to invest skill points, alongside finding the collectible items, and it became all too easy just to ignore them entirely.

Thankfully, the rest of the skill tree was more impactful, albeit difficult to complete if you don’t spend the time completing areas fully before progressing.

Various upgrades improve Vic’s ability to craft items, tame creatures, and solve puzzles, but much of it still felt unnecessary.

I couldn’t help but feel much of the time dedicated to these systems could have been better spent on the game’s namesake, the creatures of Ava.

Each region is home to a variety of unique, colorful, and gorgeous creatures that Ava can interact with. During my adventures, I encountered 21 unique species, each as mesmerizing and intriguing as the last.

Each creature makes sense, feels like it belongs, and has a real impact on Vic’s progression. Although, as the hours passed, the initial awe and that fuzzy feeling you get when you pet something cute, was replaced by mechanical understanding and expectation.

Once tamed, Ava is able to connect with these creatures, controlling them for a short time and gaining access to their Co-Op Ability.

These abilities are just additional skills to solve puzzles, making the creatures feel more like tools than living, breathing entities. Using creatures to navigate pathways Ava is unable to use, breaking down walls and pillars, moving heavy boulders, it synergizes perfectly with the environment, and learning how these skills behave early in the game was really rewarding.

The puzzles are all very simple, minimal stress, and almost calming and relaxing in places — and this is from someone that absolutely hates puzzles. That said, I would have enjoyed more complexity to some puzzle elements of the game. However, if you’re easily frustrated by puzzles but still enjoy the positive returns of solving one, this is the perfect adventure for you.

That is, sadly, the only purpose the creatures serve. You save enough to complete a region, use some to solve puzzles, and you move on.

At the beginning of my adventure, I was enamored with the opportunity to snap as many images of these gorgeous creatures as I could, only to ultimately leave somewhat disappointed at the lack of unique character and environmental interaction.

Take a snap of one infected with the Withering, take a snap of one not infected, and you’re done with the camera.

Although much of your time is dedicated to exploring and solving puzzles, Creatures of Ava does feature a combat system.

Well, it’s sort of a combat system? You don’t really fight, but you do kinda fight? I’m not really sure what to call it. A pacifying system?

Many of the creatures that inhabit Ava are infected with The Withering, a deadly infection that causes creatures to become aggressive and attack Vic on sight.

In order to tame these creatures to solve puzzles or just get that warm feeling of helping innocent animals, Vic needs to “attack” them with the Nafitar, a ceremonial stick of sorts.

It’s an intriguing extension of the game’s puzzle system, one that works really well. The Nafitar can pacify multiple creatures at once, if you’re able to catch them in its beam. It definitely feels like Vic may have been a Ghostbuster in a previous life.

It’s a balance of trying to tame the creatures in the quickest way possible, while trying to use specific abilities to counter certain creature traits.

For example, certain creatures are infected with an advanced form of The Withering, requiring the use of the Krist ability to break through an additional shield before the Nafitar can begin the taming process.

Other creatures may be incredibly fast, requiring the use of the Ushun ability to briefly levitate them above ground, giving Vic a chance to tame them before the next attack.

While initially skeptical at how challenging or in-depth this system could be, by the end, it was one of the game’s features I enjoyed the most.

There is so much to love about Creatures of Ava. The 2D cinematic scenes are a work of art, the world of Ava beautiful from start to finish, and the puzzles a perfect balance of accessibility and challenge. I just can’t help but feel so much time was spent in areas of the game that really didn’t need it.

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old. A captivating tale of empathy and reflection, its story will leave you pondering its teaching moments long after the credits roll. This title is pure charm, hampered only by a number of shallow features that feel like they don’t belong.

The post Creatures of Ava Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 kicks off with players having a skeleton crew and their ship impounded by the Navy – talk about humble beginnings.

However, your crew is deathly loyal, and they help you get your submarine back. While that puts a huge mark on your back from said Navy, you were also planning to steal from them anyway.

You travel the ocean helping out other Steambots by clearing out levels and getting more fresh water. As you progress, you get additional crew members, better ship parts, and even more fame and glory. The ultimate goal? Rally the troops, push back the darkness, and keep the water free from oppression.

The story of this ragtag crew becoming something greater than themselves is certainly a good one, but the real story comes from Captain Leeway. Leeway lost his gun arm, his sub, and his confidence before the start of the game, and you have to help him earn it back.

Being the son of the great Krackenbane, he has a lot to live up to, and that pressure often overwhelms him. Despite this, his crew is adamant that he is the man to lead them. They believed in him, and as a result, I believed in him.

At that point, the rest of SteamWorld Heist 2’s story didn’t matter much to me; it was now all about getting my man his gun arm back and regaining his confidence.

To do this, you take on missions from various areas of the world. Most are quick affairs, with SteamWorld 2 having that “one more run” feeling in spades. Mission types vary, but since the game has “Heist” in the title, one is often stealing loot from someone or something.

On that note, players will have a set amount of turns to get said loot before it disappears. After securing the loot, players will have to fight back to the ship to escape. How one actually gets to the loot is up to you, because this game really lets you play the way you want to play.

For instance, there are no penalties for playing on easy or even quitting a level. Each character starts with a class, but you are highly encouraged to swap their class. In fact, not only is it encouraged, but on higher difficulties, it is mandatory. By switching to other classes, you can then learn the moves from that class.

Let’s say you are a Sniper, but you want to be able to move really far and shoot each time. By swapping into the Flanker class, you can Wheel and Deal, which lets you move twice and then shoot.

As for the combat itself, it’s pretty simple – at least, at first. Every class has their own weapon type and starts with one or two abilities.

For instance, Reapers can kill an enemy and then shoot again because they killed someone. Engineers can put down cover and eventually heal allies as well. Melee charges in, and bashes enemy bots to bits.

It’s a simple system, but depending on your skills, classes, and weapons, you can make some incredible things happen. There is nothing like missing with your sniper only to have the bullet bounce off an icicle, which falls onto an explosive barrel and kills three enemies. Happy accidents, as Bob Ross would say.

When you aren’t scraping bots, you are exploring the overworld in your sub. When you first get it, the sub is bare bones; in fact, it can’t even go underwater. As you progress, though, you get new weapons, engines, and boosts and can go underwater.

You can think of this sub as a separate character from the rest of your crew; it needs to be managed, upgraded and kept safe for you to succeed. The best part is that all you have to do is steer and aim; the guns fire on their own. That might sound annoying, but the contrast between combat and open-world exploration is a welcome one.

Besides, it’s nice just to spin the stick until enemy boats sink.

Between missions, you can also hang out at bars to buy items, recruit new allies, and sometimes even receive missions. The bar is also where you will call it a night to rest up your crew.

After you rest, any missions you complete will reward you with bounty coins that you can spend on items, more water, and other upgrades. Any coins not spent are converted to water, and you are reset to zero each day. It’s just another incentive to grind missions for more loot and EXP.

I didn’t run into any bugs or crashes, but there were a couple of annoyances. When aiming down and to the right, your skill bar will sometimes get in the way. The worst part is that a big box with the skill description pops up and takes up a large chunk of that bottom-right sector.

I don’t know if I missed the prompt to remove the box, but man, it was annoying. You can work around it, but you shouldn’t have to. I also had a pretty jarring difficulty spike at one point. I went back and grinded for a bit, and it was good again, but it hit me like a truck.

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Anger Foot Review

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Continue Reading Anger Foot Review

The post SteamWorld Heist 2 Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

The Star Named EOS Review

Following the story of Dei, things kick off with a letter and a photo from his adventurous mother. Getting a camera as a birthday present, this photography protégé sets out to take a number of pictures of his own.

Players immerse themselves in its story across different vantage points. The Star Named EOS brings players through a number of different chapters, transporting them to train carriages, lakeside campsites, café’s and other areas.

It’s a slow burn, but The Star Named EOS prides itself on its world building as players get a chance to know Dei and his mother through its approximately two hour tale.

Players are not given the whole story in The Star Named EOS, gradually piecing the overarching story and its intricacies as things progress – sometimes literally. However, The Star Named EOS is a journey well worth taking.

To aid in its immersion, The Star Named EOS gives players free rein over their camera. Players can take pictures of whatever they’d like, but there are a number of points of interest that can be added to Dei’s scrapbook. 

This is a huge plus, as it gives players the chance to appreciate the beauty that can be found in the smaller details of each area. Some pictures are done to move the plot forward and need to be staged just right, but some of The Star Named EOS’ best segments are when players truly live in the here and now.

Puzzle boxes, Morse code segments, and suitcase shenanigans alike also make sure players never get bored. Those that successfully complete each one are then able to unlock an inventory item or other point of interest for players to wrap their head around next. 

There’s a great flow when it comes to The Star Named EOS’ puzzles, and these brain-teasers entertain without overstaying their welcome – even if some require multiple steps and a dash of math.

Rounding things out is a fantastic presentation that blends animation with detailed environments. Paired with its excellent voice work, and you’ve got a polished presentation that leaves a lasting impression.

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand. For those willing to piece things together and live in the moment, this title’s mystery – and its many puzzles – are just waiting to be explored.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Anger Foot Review

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Continue Reading Anger Foot Review

The post The Star Named EOS Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Inspired by the international competitions held by Nintnedo between the late ’80s and early ’90s (what a glorious time!), Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition lets players experience the championships of this bygone era in a convenient package on more modern hardware.

Nintendo fans might have played through the likes of such Nintendo Entertainment Classics like Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda countless times before, but Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition turns these time-honored classics on their head.

For instance, in its Speedrun Mode, players will be tasked with becoming a speed run master by taking on challenges AQAP (as quick as possible), netting clear times, coins that unlock additional challenges, and those oh-so-important bragging rights.

How does this play out? Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition reaching Goal Posts, defeating Bosses, and even taking on an Octorok Onslaught. For those who have been there and gotten the Triforce, there’s also Master Challenges to be cleared.

These are all rudimentary tasks, but the chance to get a high letter grade (including the coveted – and shiny! – S Rank) and hit a Personal Best is a thrilling feeling that had us attempting even the most rudimentary of challenges multiple times. 

It’s just a shame that Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition doesn’t take this concept far enough. Titles like Kid Icarus and Ice Climber weren’t designed to be multi-hour epics, but at the same time the challenges feel a lot smaller in scope.

As a result, it can be far too easy to see everything that Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition has to offer sooner rather than later – especially when considering the small cut of titles it has chosen to pull from compared to the massive Nintendo Entertainment System library.

To be fair, there’s some other content in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition to keep players going. The titular World Championships lets players test their skills against others from around the world, with certain competitions popping up in a set period of time.

The heat is also on with Nintendo World Championships: NES Editions’ Survival Mode, which has players taking on an elimination match against ghost data worldwide. This is nothing that will have players clocking in hundreds of hours, but it is still welcome nonetheless.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content. Those who live and breathe the Big N will enjoy this new take on the classics, but there’s not enough for more casual fans to enter the competition.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Anger Foot Review

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Continue Reading Anger Foot Review

The post Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Originally released by Playmore back in 2003, SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos takes design from The King of Fighters series of fighters, rather than the Street Fighter-oriented roots of the Capcom vs. SNK series.

The end result is something that is a bit more niche. SNK vs. Capcom will feel right at home for those rockin’ the big red arcade cabinet after all these years, but the stiffness of the inputs, steep learning curve, and even four button setup admittedly take some getting used to.

None of these factors are inherently bad, but they do require a change of pace; this is doubly so when reflected with its 36 character roster. Series vets Ken (and Violent Ken) and Ryu and present and accounted for, but SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos features left-field pics like Metal Slug’s Mars People and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts Red Arremer.

This title also features a unique twist in the form of its Groove Power Gauge. Similar to the meter found in titles like Capcom’s Street Fighter Alpha series (naturally), this system also allows players to perform special maneuvers like Guard Cancels.

It’s nothing to the level of Garou: Mark of the Wolves’ Just Defend, but it does keep things interesting.

Despite these factors, Code Mystics did incredible work to make sure this version of SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos is in its best form.

For those looking to adjust its display options, one can change scanlines, resolution, enable VSync, and even trigger a flicker filter. There’s also Leaderboards that support best times, total wins, and character wins, alongside a gallery with art from legends like Falcoon and Shinkiro – a nice touch.

Perhaps the greatest addition to this title is its online play with rollback netcode. Players can choose to wait for the next battle with its one player mode, or can alternatively practice – a godsend for those looking to sharpen their skills.

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Anger Foot Review

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Continue Reading Anger Foot Review

The post SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess follows Soh, a guardian of the Goddess Yoshiro. A skilled warrior, Soh sets out to purge the land of demons and monsters known as Seethe.

However, Soh simply isn’t strong enough to protect Yoshiro on his own. As the pair work their way down the mountain, they travel to villages, caverns, and outposts as they find villagers the Seethe trapped in fleshlike cocoons.

Using energy gifted from the Goddess, Soh can open up these cocoons and change the villagers into fighters, thieves, priests, and even Sumo wrestlers. With their combined might, they protect Yoshiro from the enemy and set out to help her get down the mountain.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is broken up into levels, with each level containing a certain amount of villagers you can recruit. At first, this number is small, averaging around four villagers. I was hoping to bring villagers from each level to the next, but that isn’t how it works.

Instead, after clearing a level, you will then be able to fight the boss of the area, and beating them normally unlocks a new class for your villagers. The villagers will then stay behind in that area and rebuild, giving you more healing items, new talismans, and even EXP to make your classes stronger. It’s a simple system, but one that will have you replaying levels to get more loot.

Speaking of replaying levels, each one has hidden objectives that you don’t see until you beat a level. Bosses are typically time battles, giving you a few minutes to clear the stage and move on. Your more typical missions might want you to find all the pots you can break, purify some animals, take no damage, or even beat the mission without lighting any lamps.

If you complete the optional objectives in real-time, you will still get the reward at the end of the level. Some of them are impossible until you get further in the game, though, and this means sometimes you HAVE to replay levels to get 100%.

A typical level will have you escort Yoshiro down a path until she gets to a gate. Once at the gate, you can purify it and move to the next part of the map or complete the level. During the day you purify the Seethe infection, free villagers, and can even dig up treasure with thieves.

At night, however, the Seethe comes out, and your only objective is to protect Yoshiro. Combat is about as basic as it gets, with some light attacks and heavy attacks. You can combo the two, but don’t expect Devil May Cry combos or anything like that.

Players will also get a special move that charges up over time or by killing enemies. The one I liked was the flaming sword, but you can get a few different ones as you progress in the game.

The game’s best strength is the fact that the villagers you recruit can protect Yoshiro on their own if you position them right. The enemies spawn from the gate and are invincible once they step out. That part is annoying, but the more annoying part is that you take damage if you sit at their spawn.

While you can camp the spawn point, you need to do it from a respectful distance, or else you all die quickly. Once you understand this, you can place the units a few feet out from the spawn and let them go wild. It is a very satisfying feeling to watch all the enemies die before they can even set foot near Yoshiro.

Outside the combat and escorting the Goddess, you will also set out to repair villages, which nets EXP to level up your villager classes. The base levels are pretty generic, with more HP and more attack-type upgrades, but get more advanced down the line.

For instance, Archers can get fire arrows, Lumberjacks can do power attacks and gain a wider attack radius, and Thieves learn to pick locks. The hardest part here is deciding which points to put into what class, because you won’t be able to max every class. Thankfully, you can reset the points if you need to and rebuild your army.

When it comes to annoyances, Yoshiro will only follow the path, and during boss fights, she stands still. This can sometimes be a problem because a rampaging centipede boss will just trample her to death because you can’t kill it quickly enough.

If she dies, you have to redo the whole encounter. Other times, I’ve had the AI archers just ignore a flying enemy as it goes right by them and heads to Yoshiro. Maybe it’s there to keep you on your toes, but it is still irritating. I didn’t run into any major bugs or crashes.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level. If you’re still on the fence, check out the demo and get yourself hooked.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Anger Foot Review

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Continue Reading Anger Foot Review

The post Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Either way, expect plenty of puns.

Anger Foot Review

After copping – and subsequently losing – their new Preemo sneakers, players will be thrown into a world where crime is the law by the four biggest gangs: The Violence Gang, The Pollution Gang, The Business Gang, and The Debauchery Gang.

Enter a hunt for players to go hunt them down – kicking down anyone and everyone who stands in their way. Of course, there are guns and other weaponry, but sometimes a good ol’ fashioned foot to the face (or door) is just what the podiatrist ordered.

Anger Foot lives up to its name by throwing players into a world where first person shooting is swapped out with first person kicking. It manages to make the whole endeavor feel fresh, with speed and action being the name of the game. No knee-high walls here; players need to constantly be on the move if they don’t want to start from the top.

On that note, an always ticking clock and a ranking system that rewards players factors into play, channeling players to be efficient and accurate in equal measures. 

One must make sure they are kicking first and asking questions later – it’s a foot forward approach we instantly fell in love with. Of course, the aforementioned weapons will also give players an immense feeling of power – including our favorite, the railgun.

If anything, this manic approach is factored into Anger Foot’s overall fabric. Long, sweeping levels are far too plodding; rather, short stages that run a few minutes and reward players for taking everyone down with a headshot are much more its speed.

While Anger Foot’s pace (and thumping soundtrack) will keep players on their toes, the overall presentation tends to blend together throughout its short length. Explosive elements, riot shields, and boss fights with exotic threats like the 1997 Lucida all pop up, but most levels follow the same multiroom – or multi-sewer – structure.

These stages were meant to be played multiple times for better stars and times, which is designed for those who grew up with the skill-based gameplay from the arcade days. Players can also choose the right Anger Shoes for the job, too, bringing a new perk to spice up each run.

Anger Foot’s fast and frantic pace is just what the podiatrist ordered. Though its bite-sized levels and twitchy gameplay aren’t for everyone, those who like to go on the offensive and nail the perfect run will enjoy stepping foot in this new territory.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

The Star Named EOS Review

The Star Named EOS’ world building is at the top of its class, turning the genre on its head with camera in hand.

Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

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The post Anger Foot Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Review

Platforming giants Sonic and Mario dominated the 16-bit landscape when Sparkster and his Rocket Knight Adventures first hit the scene, but just because he never took center stage doesn’t mean he should exit stage left.

Kicking things off with Rocket Knight Adventure, players wield a chargeable energy sword and jetpack (cool tools of the trade, to be sure) to take on the evil Devotindos Empire. Boss fights, shoot-em-up sections, and even robotic mech duels make sure this title leaves a lasting impression – the impressive spritework and soulful musical source are no slouch either.

Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 follows similar beats, pitting Sparkster (and his sword and jetpack combo) against King Gedol in an attempt to save Princess Cherry. 

Gameplay mechanics are as sound as ever, though the slot machine after collecting gems is a mixed blessing. Nevertheless, Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 is well worth a playthrough for platforming fans.

Finally, a second Sparkster title is included, though it was a completely different title that was released for the SNES. Players will know the drill, with more high-flying and sword-faring action platforming fans will love. Just be warned that players will need to bring their A-game to see the true ending on higher difficulty settings.

While Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked packs three absolutely killer platforming adventures, the rest of the package is a bit light on content. Features like filters, eight different borders, screen size adjustments, and a rewind feature are par for the course, but emulators like RetroArch have been doing that for years.

To sweeten the pot, Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked features a Boss Rush mode for each title, a Music Player, and a Museum.

The first two don’t have too much flair to them; Boss Rush says what it is on the tin, while the Music Player doesn’t have too much functionality outside playing the tracks themselves. 

Even the Museum Mode of Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked is more of a gift shop. While it’s great to see magazine ads, box art, internal design documents, manuals from different regions, it’s not taken far enough.

Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked features platforming greats that are absolute must-plays, but the overall package is bare bones. It’s great to see Sparkster and his jetpack make a return, but this awesome opossum deserves so much more.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

The post Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD Review

Things go sideways right from the offset, with the ghosts of Professor E. Gadd’s world changing from pacifist to terrorist after the Dark Moon was shattered. Making a swift retreat to his bunker, Professor E. Gadd enlists the help of his good pal Luigi to get the pieces of the Dark Moon back together – and collect some goodies like gems along the way.

Thankfully, Luigi has the right tools for the job. For those who have yet to bust ghosts in the Luigi’s Mansion series, this tall hero differs from his brother’s outings by having players utilize the Poltergust 5000 to suck up ghosts – and anything else of interest.

As a result, Luigi’s Mansion 2 prides itself on exploration. As Luigi utilizes the Dual Scream (heh) device, Dark-Light Device, and Strobulb, they’ll scour each area in the hunt for items, ghosts, and more. Each item keeps things fresh without overwhelming players with too many options.

On that note, think of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD as puzzle-based gameplay rather than the more traditional pixel-perfect platforming of Mario’s outings. No need to be scared, though; wrangling ghosts in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is easily a highlight. 

Originally made for the Nintendo 3DS, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD’s world of Evershade Valley gradually unlocks new areas over time. Haunted Towers, Old Clockworks, Manors, and more all await, each culminating in a bout with a possessor that contains a bit of the Dark Moon you so rightly seek. 

While it is nice that the title breaks each area down into bite-sized chunks (complete with a ranking system!), don’t expect each area to be too overly in-depth.

The same goes with the overall presentation of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. While it certainly lives up to its HD moniker with a higher resolution, the graphics noticeably show their age compared to his brother Mario’s adventures. 

One thing worth noting though is that the multiplayer ScareScraper mode manages to make the formula work well with others. Broken down into Hunter, Polterpup, and Rush, these different modes serve as a nice break from the game proper. They’re not overly in-depth, but they are still welcome nonetheless – and with online support to boot.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is well worth a play for those looking for sheer charm and puzzling adventures in equal measure; just don’t expect too many new twists and turns as you bust ghosts in the moonlight.

Creatures of Ava Review

Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

Fans of the SteamWorld series will be happy with Heist 2. If you like steam bots and robot pirates – and who doesn’t? – pick this one up.

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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

The post Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble Review

The world of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble (not to be confused with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania) will transport players to Juicy Island. Scuttlebutt says there’s a hidden Legendary Banana treasure just waiting to be discovered after collecting seven OOPArts.

Enter newcomer Palette, who also is hunting for said Legendary Banana to find her long-lost pops. Not one for lounging around, she teaches the old guard how to Spin Dash, hitting a wealth of different stages with the bunch in the hunt for points, golden bananas, and absolute glory.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is more or less the same as previous entries, albeit with a hefty amount more polish. Players will still be navigating stages across Golden Temples, Rose Gardens, Neon Arenas, and other fantastical worlds set above periless bottomless pits. 

However, the camera can be adjusted, the presentation has been kicked up a few notches, and the aforementioned Spin Dash adds a bit of pep to the monkey’s step by acting as a glorified slingshot (think Sonic the Hedgehog). There’s even some couch co-op action for players to dive into!

This is all welcome, but Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble’s single player mode sticks to its roots a little too closely. Gimmicks featuring switches and launch pads, along with shops, certainly add a bit of flair, but this title doesn’t reinvent the (monkey) ball.

The single player mode of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a bit on the short side, clocking in at approximately two hours. Rather, the biggest change to Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the banana rumble itself, with 16 player multiplayer across five different modes.

These follow the same tried-and-true gameplay of the series. Goal Rush has players earning points by rolling through goals, while the aptly named Ba-Boom! channels the best Mario Kart battles with explosive bombs.

While these Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble modes are nice, they play second fiddle to its single player top banana. We felt like they’re the equivalent of the minigames from previous entries; a pleasant surprise, but nothing worth going bananas over.

If anything, that’s Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble’s greatest weakness; its lack of content. This is a partial release priced at something far more. Those who don’t mind going through the same trials multiple times will enjoy its arcade-based challenges, but it is a bit light overall.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble sticks to its roots a little too closely, with its multiplayer mode coming off as more of a bonus than the main attraction. Those that don’t mind the same old song and monkey dance will have fun, but don’t expect anything revolutionary.

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Creatures of Ava is a heartwarming love letter to the action adventure games of old.

Continue Reading Creatures of Ava Review

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Continue Reading SteamWorld Heist 2 Review

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Continue Reading The Star Named EOS Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content.

Continue Reading Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

Continue Reading SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those games that will have you going back for one more quick level.

Continue Reading Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Review

The post Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.