Mike

About Mike

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

There always seems to be a vocal audience clamouring for retro platformers. Whether it’s a ‘make Sonic great again’ sentiment or people desperate for another Donkey Kong Country, the voices have always been there. Indie studios are all too keenly aware and the latest to try and bring some 90’s […]

Kaze and the Wild Masks – PS4 Review

March 23, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2d platforming / carrots / collectibles / kaze and the wild masks / pixelhive studios / rabbits / soedesco / speedrunning / vegetables by Mike

As my last review involved dreaming, I might as well keep this existential train rolling. Coming from FFT Games, Into A Dream is a narratively-driven puzzle-platformer about a man’s depression. With some obvious cues from games like Limbo, this game manages to keep the gameplay fairly light whilst delivering some […]

Into a Dream – PS4 Review

March 16, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged depression / fft games / into a dream / narratively-driven / platforming / puzzles by Mike

The indies appear to have gone into overdrive this year and I certainly feel relieved when a smaller game comes to my attention. Dreaming Sarah is one such game that feels almost like a short experience rather than a traditional game. A puzzle-platformer from Asteristic Game Studios, this fairly slim […]

Dreaming Sarah – PS4 Review

March 13, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2D Platformer / anthony septim / asteristic game studio / dreaming sarah / metroidvania / surreal by Mike

Every now and then you come across a game where mechanically, there’s something on offer that feels different and fresh. Spooky Chase by QUByte Interactive and Burning Goat Studio, is one of those instances. From a combination of small Brazilian studios, this platformer looks to a neat idea and hangs […]

Spooky Chase – PS4 Review

March 7, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2D Platformer / burning goat studios / candy / capture the flag / ghosts / halloween / qubyte interactive / spooky chase by Mike

Whilst I do take my motorsport very seriously, I can’t help but admire the spectacle of monster trucks. These behemoths live for big jumps and destruction and Rainbow Studios have arrived to bring for a new edition of the Monster Jam series. Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 looks to build […]

Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 – PS4 Review

March 4, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged destruction / freestyle tricks / monster jam steel titans 2 / monster trucks / motorsport / open world / racing / rainbow studios by Mike

Can I level with you guys? I don’t think I like the way visual novels play out. I don’t like the stereotypes they conform to, the fact they seem so reluctant to play a straight story. How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered is another one of those. Developed by […]

How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered – PS4 Review

February 20, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged anime / cat girls / creepy japanese / how to take off your mask remastered / narratively-driven / ratalaika / romance / roseverta / visual novel by Mike

It’s another day in the visual novel dungeon and this time Vera Blanc: Ghost in the Castle is my quarry. Ian reviewed Winter Wolves’ last effort Full Moon back in November, to be honest, not much has changed. Our titular heroine is back in the mood for some paranormal investigating. […]

Vera Blanc: Ghost in the Castle – PS4 Review

February 3, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged hangman / narratively-driven / paranormal detective / ratalaika / spot the difference / vera blanc ghost of the castle / visual novel / winter wolves by Mike

Couch co-op might not entirely be the best thing in mind during a pandemic. Still, there’s plenty of people stuck indoors, potentially with family, friends or flatmates so games of that ilk might see some joy. One such game is Bonkies, a cooperative building game that oozes charm but maybe […]

Bonkies – PS4 Review

January 28, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged bananas / bonkies / building / cooperative / couch co-op / monkies / physics / solar system / space / stacking / studio gauntlet by Mike

Override: Mech City Brawl had some neat ideas but a bland single-player experience and a barren mutliplayer resulted in a half-baked experience. Now Modus are back with an expanded sequel. With a bigger focus on multiplayer competition, Override 2: Super Mech League looks to deliver some simple but nuanced combat […]

Override 2: Super Mech League – PS4 Review

December 28, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged arena battle / brawler / fighting / local co-op / modus / online multiplayer / override 2 super mech league / robots by Mike

As maligned as the visual novel genre is, I keep wondering if I’m going to come across one with a genuinely good story. They do exist but I find the majority I encounter land in the same trappings that stifle my enjoyment of a good read. The latest to cross […]

Autumn’s Journey – PS4 Review

December 15, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged apple cider / autumn's journey / dodgy parenting / dragons / friendship / narratively-driven / romance / visual novel by Mike

I don’t tend to see a lot of brawlers these days. Sometimes it’s a genre that’s tough to get right but we’ve seen with the River City Ransom revivals and Steets of Rage recent return that there’s an audience for a good punch-up. Paw Paw Paw is the latest indie […]

Paw Paw Paw – PS4 Review

December 9, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2D brawler / couch co-op / hack and slash / local multiplayer / melee combat / paw paw paw / simpleton / skill tree by Mike

Another day, another indie title. This one comes from Ninja Rabbit studios. Micetopia is a fairly simple tale of a mouse called Rich. He’s one of the few villagers left after monsters have taken some of the other residents hostage. With a sword in hand, our little hero has two […]

Micetopia – PS4 Review

December 8, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged 2d platforming / exploration / hack and slash / metroidvania / mice / micetopia / ninja rabbit studios by Mike