All posts by Aaron Dobbe

Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess Review (Vita)

PAIN IS GOOD

Last year saw the release of Deception IV: Blood Ties, a somewhat puzzly action RPG with an unusual premise: instead of attacking your enemies, you lay traps for them to walk into. Much like another Koei Tecmo title, Dead or Alive 5 Last Round, the game has been rereleased with some new content in order to get it on the PS4, with Vita and PS3 getting digital releases. This new version, Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess, features an extensive new campaign with a new main character, but is it worth buying the game again? Continue reading Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess Review (Vita)

You Must Build a Boat Review

GRINDING FOR THE GRIND’S SAKE

You Must Build a Boat is both the title and the objective of the latest effort from EightyEight Games. A follow-up to their previous game, 10000000, this game features a similar combination of frantic match-3 action with RPG-style combat and progression. There’s a lot more to it this time around – everything has been expanded in some way. Do the new features buoy a simple formula to new heights, or do they drag it down beneath the waves? Continue reading You Must Build a Boat Review

Chip’s Challenge 1 & 2 Review

YOWSER!

Chip’s Challenge is one of the hidden treasures of the late ‘80s (or early ‘90s, depending on which version you played). It’s a game with a very simple objective – navigate a maze and step on the exit tile – but through clever use of tricky obstacles, it presented a serious, engaging challenge that has remained close to the hearts of many of its original players. And, indeed, the Chip’s Challenge internet community remains vibrant and prolific to this day, working on speedruns of individual puzzles as well as creating and sharing homemade levels. It was for these people that series creator Chuck Sommerville developed Chip’s Challenge 2 a whopping 25 years ago. After its two-year development time, Chuck found out that the trademark to his game had been sold, and the new owner wasn’t interested in publishing the game. Now, after the success of spiritual successor Chuck’s Challenge 3D (and five years of negotiation with the rights holders), the unreleased sequel has finally arrived on Steam, along with an updated version of the original title. These games have a legacy, but have they aged well? Continue reading Chip’s Challenge 1 & 2 Review

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Review

WELCOME TO GENSOKYO

The Touhou Project is easily one of Japan’s most popular and most prolific series of indie games, with a history spanning almost 20 years. In that time, the series of shoot-em-ups has achieved explosive popularity in Japan as well as a dedicated cult following elsewhere in the world. And now, finally, the series has had its first Western release: Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character. Does this latest release live up to the series’ reputation? Continue reading Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character Review

Gengar Coming to Pokkén Tournament

Upcoming fighting game Pokkén Tournament has been generating a lot of buzz among Pokémon fans worldwide. To build the hype, an hour-long livestream was broadcast in Japan showing some never-before-seen footage of the game. Among all the gameplay was a surprise announcement: the ghostly Gengar will be joining as a playable character! Continue reading Gengar Coming to Pokkén Tournament

Touhou Project Finally Getting Official English Release

Touhou Project, the cult classic series of hauntingly beautiful and brutally difficult shoot-em-ups from Team Shanghai Alice, will finally be making its way to Western shores with the release of Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character. Continue reading Touhou Project Finally Getting Official English Release

New Fire Emblem Screenshots Reveal Interesting Details

The currently-untitled Fire Emblem 3DS received a new trailer in last Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct. But if you’re truly a hardcore Fire Emblem fanatic, that may not have been enough to tide you over. If that’s the case, check out this new batch of screenshots for the upcoming game, courtesy of Siliconera! Continue reading New Fire Emblem Screenshots Reveal Interesting Details