SFW Reviews From December and January

Sorry for the lack of updates, folks, December and January were... A thing. Very unpleasant, and if something could go wrong, it did go wrong. Nonetheless, we're finally here, at the end of January, and I can update these catchup posts!

Nexomon, an Early Access pokemon-like game, alas, grated me from the word go. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/nexomon-early-access-review/

Disc Creatures, meanwhile, while retaining that Game Boy Colour/Advance aesthetic, also brings a lot more of its own design decisions to the monster catching genre, so comes recommended! https://themadwelshman.co.uk/disc-creatures-review/

Blink: Rogues, a solid shooter, was nonetheless also pretty workmanlike, despite its gimmick of shifting between playfields. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/blink-rogues-review/

Blaster Master Zero 2, however, is a solid metroidvania style game continuing the story of a boy, his tank, his frog, and his friends. Good stuff, despite my griping. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/blaster-master-zero-2-review/

Gonna go outside of chronological order for these two, because, while Das Geisterschiff was pretty interesting, albeit somewhat hard (https://themadwelshman.co.uk/das-geisterschiff-going-back/), Der Geisterturm, despite its quality of life improvements, also turned up the difficulty. Damn. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/der-geisterturm-review/

Ashencame to Steam! It's a soulslike! It's got a bright world with actual hope in it! It's good! https://themadwelshman.co.uk/ashen-review/

Speaking of, there's a few "Came to PC!" titles, including SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays, a Super Robot Wars styled turn-based SRPG involving, you guessed it, the world of Gundam. With an absolutely sillyamount of content, this one comes highly recommended. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/sd-gundam-g-generation-cross-rays-review/

Little Dungeon Storieshas a mechanic we've seen before, the swiping from both Tinder and the Reigns games, and it's a nice little roguelike, works pretty well. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/little-dungeon-stories-early-access-review/

I also took a look at the complete Steam version of Divinationand, despite a hefty content warning for themes of self harm and suicide, this one's a short, but well written visual novel. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/divination-review-2/

Demon's Tiltreleased, and, if you know me, I love me some pinball, and I've been loving the multiple subtables of this goth synthwave pinball bullet hell game. Yes, that's right, all of those things. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/demons-tilt-review/

Jamestown+ , a revamped version of the original bullet hell with the original DLC, and a little extra on top, remains as it was when I first reviewed it. Love it, except for the gating of the final levels behind difficulty levels. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/jamestown-review/

For Sayonara Wild Hearts, I only reallyhave to say "It has literal Sword Lesbians" to sell it, but it's a solid multi-style arcade game, super fast, and also a music video with a heartfelt story about coming out. Hell. Yes. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/sayonara-wild-hearts-review/

The Coma 2: Vicious Sistersis one of the better horror titles I've reviewed in the past year. A 2d side scrolling affair similar in the basics to the classic Clock Tower, it definitely has its own identity, a lot to recommend it, and take note: Body horror! https://themadwelshman.co.uk/the-coma-2-review/

Another "Oh hey, a good thing came to PC!", Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth(Although it should more accurately be titled "Digimon Stories", since it also has the Hacker's Memories sequel as part of it) is two content filled games, with some crossplay mechanics, and all the DLC with it, including the timesaving stuff that, while I dislike, nonetheless is appreciated for the inclusion. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/digimon-stories-cyber-sleuth-complete-edition-review/

Remember how I often say "Hey, wouldn't it be nice if there was a game like [console exclusive] on PC?" , and, often, I get what I want, but in a Monkey's Paw kinda way? Well, Dragon Spearis not one of those times. Heavily inspired by noted RPG Beat-em-up Dragon's Crown, this one's... Solid! https://themadwelshman.co.uk/dragon-spear-going-back/

Kelipotis certainly an interesting one. A furry not-quite metroidvania, not quite roguelike, involving a take on the story of Cain and Abel, and multiple parallel worlds, alas, in its present state, I had a hard time with it. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/kelipot-early-access-review/

Piko Piko, similarly, is a game I'm having a rough time with right now, mainly out of bewilderment at its breakneck pace and somewhat confusing world. Still, despite that, it definitely shows promise. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/piko-piko-early-access-review/

Speaking of promise in Early Access, Spellsword Cards: Dungeon Top is a card-based, , turn-based, sortakindamayberoguelike strategy RPG that I've really appreciated so far. Check it out. https://themadwelshman.co.uk/spellsword-cards-dungeon-top-early-access-review/

Oho, another monster catching game? And it's an MMO? Yes, Temtemhas hit Early Access on Steam, and y'know? It's pretty good so far! https://themadwelshman.co.uk/temtem-early-access-review/

Finally, although I've seen folks griping about its length, Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York does exactly what it sets out to do: Tell interesting stories in the vampiric part of the World of Darkness. With a great art style, I honestly liked it.

And that's your lot for now, folks, look forward to February, not least because World of Horror is finally hitting Early Access next month, awwwwwh yiss!