Mike

About Mike

Mike gets all the racing games because he understands that stuff even though he doesn't drive.

I’ve always been a coward. Even as a bike lover, I could never bring myself to mount one and ride in anger. I value my skeleton too much. It’s why I take great joy from riding virtually and RiMS Racing is the latest effort to have me covered. Coming from […]

RiMS Racing – PS5 Review

August 26, 2021 in PS5 / Reviews tagged aprilla / bmw / circuit / ducati / mechanic simulator / motorcycles / motorsport / mv agusta / online multiplayer / point to point / raceward studio / rims racing / suzuki / time trial by Mike

For a lad that spent a lot of his youth with old machinery, I have some serious blank spots when it comes to retro games. Spelunker HD saw a PS3 re-release a decade ago and it’s come back around again in Spelunker HD Deluxe. A reimagining of a 1983 classic, […]

Spelunker HD Deluxe – PS4 Review

August 19, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged cave dwelling / co-op / ghosts / online multiplayer / retro 2D platformer / score chasing / spelunker hd deluxe / tozai games by Mike

I know the market’s full of them but I haven’t played a Metroidvania in a while. When they’re good, the deliver a flowing experience that I’ll always enjoy. Exploration always appeals to me and uncovering new secrets across an expansive map. Unspeakable Pixels released Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials last […]

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials – PS4 Review

August 3, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2d / batbarian: testament of the primordials / companions / light-hearted / luminous bat / metroidvania / Pixel art / puzzle platforming / rpg elements / secrets / unspeakable Pixels by Mike

You know, I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to get used to seeing EA’s logo on an F1 game. This is Codemasters’ first title since the acquisition and I think more than a few people wondered what influence, if any, the new bosses would have. As it turns […]

F1 2021 – PS5 Review

July 28, 2021 in PS5 / Reviews tagged braking point / career mode / codemasters / F1 2021 / george russell / lando norris / lewis hamilton / motorsports / online multiplayer / racing / sports / story mode / time trial by Mike

7 months on I’ve finally had a chance to get a Playstation 5. Naturally, this opens me up for some reviews and I’ve had my eye on Chivalry 2 for the past month. Torn Banner Studio’s medieval multiplayer combat has been confined to PC, until recently. With console versions out, […]

Chivalry 2 – PS5 Review

July 20, 2021 in PS5 / Reviews tagged bow and arrow / chivalry 2 / dismemberment / medieval combat / melee / objective-based / online multiplayer only / screaming / sword and shield / team deathmatch / torn banner studios / warfare by Mike

Survival games have never really clicked with me. The idea of planning a run out is appealing but I’ve never enjoyed the meter management that comes with it. On top of that, some feel perpetually in a state of early access and I’m never sure when a survival game is […]

Conan Exiles: Isle of Siptah – PS4 Review

July 9, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged barbarians / bases / bosses / combat / conan exiles / crafting / funcom / isle of siptah / loot / settlements / survival / trading / vaults by Mike

Another day, another visual novel. Not really a genre I gel with, I keep trying to find ones I’ll enjoy. I find them to really lack interactivity and the stories they tell aren’t especially deep or enthralling. Hopefully Cross the Moon will change that. Written by Patrick Rainville, it’s a […]

Cross the Moon – PS4 Review

June 30, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged conspiracy / cross the moon / Murder mystery / occult / patrick rainville / vampires / visual novel by Mike

It’s great to see retro staples come back with a new coat of paint. Re-releases are key to preserving gaming’s past and it’s always nice to see the games of old making a comeback. Today it’s the turn of Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX. Coming from Jankenteam, this port […]

Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX – PS4 Review

June 22, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2D Platformer / alex kidd in miracle world dx / jankenteam / paper / retro remake / rock / scissors / sega master system by Mike

Sports titles often get a lot of flack for making minor changes on a yearly basis. Cyanide Studio’s long-running Tour de France series often feels like stagnating under the pressures of an annual release schedule. Whilst tweaks and new features are mooted, I can’t help but feel this year is […]

Tour de France 2021 – PS4 Review

June 12, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged cyanide studio / cycling / paris-roubaix / racing / time trial / tour de france by Mike

Call it a hunch but I think I prefer visual novels that adapt a source that is somewhat well-known. Having reviewed Cinders in the past, I enjoyed that take on the Cinderella story. It also felt like a breath of fresh air from a genre more pre-occupied with telling the […]

A Little Lily Princess – PS4 Review

June 3, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged a little lily princess / boarding school / dating simulator / hanako games / narratively-driven / victorian / visual novel by Mike

It’s not very often I sit down to write a review and have to really consider the value proposition on offer. I’m no stranger to dealing with shorter experiences but I tend to see most of them as appropriately priced. With all this in mind, Gutwhale arrives from Stuffed Wombat […]

Gutwhale – PS4 Review

May 26, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2d shooter / frogs / gutwhale / roguelike / sealife / speedrunning / stuffed wombat / underwater by Mike

I don’t know what I expect from visual novels any more. I keep wondering if I’m ever going to be given one that’s got more intrigue and a story that will actually grip me. I came into this genre well aware of the stereotypes and Angels with Scaly Wings hammers […]

Angels with Scaly Wings – PS4 Review

May 9, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged angels with scaly wings / crime / dating simulator / dragons / narratively-driven / radical phi / romance / sci fi / visual novel by Mike