Harry Glynn Jones's Reviews
VED is a game split right down the middle in almost every way. Awkward, often confusing dialogue that interferes with the story’s clarity, as well as a lack of cohesion between the two game worlds makes up the weaker half. In contrast, VED has an inventive and challenging turn-based combat system, rich world design, and excellent art direction. Unfortunately, a game is the sum of it’s parts, no matter how they are sliced.
Perfect for a single afternoon of gaming, or even a daily commute, Echo Isle is a short, nostalgic experience that looks and feels like the titles it is clearly inspired by, but ultimately offers little more. Aside from the deliberate time/size limitations, Echo Isle doesn’t iterate on what came before, making it difficult to even call it an homage. Charming, polished, and very familiar, I enjoyed my single hour playing Echo Isle, but I wish I had seen some new ideas brought to this little world.
There’s something special about GIGASWORD. Beneath its technical flaws and occasional frustrations lies a game built with real care, a throwback that manages to feel both familiar and fresh. It’s rough around the edges, certainly, but every pixel and puzzle carries the mark of a creator swinging for something big. I genuinely enjoyed my time with it, even when its issues got in the way, and I hope future updates can smooth out the experience so more players can appreciate what’s here. Like its protagonist burdened by his colossal blade, GIGASWORD stumbles under its own weight, but still manages to stand tall in the end.
Overall, ReSetna is a solid metroidvania with smooth and satisfying traversal, challenging combat, and overclocked art direction. It’s just unfortunate that it is hampered by some lacking UI/UX, awkward pacing, a simple narrative clouded by obtuse world lore, and a couple frustrating boss fights/gameplay sequences. I think metroidvania fans that can overlook these flaws will have fun with ReSetna, and I see it a strong foundation for a sequel. While the game may not have the grace and efficiency of its protagonist, it still fulfills its directive.
While it may not prove to be the next step in evolution, Voidling Bound's strong visuals and polished gameplay make for an entertaining experience, one that is worth having in the creature-collector family tree.
Overall, I had a fun time with Clockwork Ambrosia and its heavily moddifiable gun-based combat, stunning pixel art visuals, and vibrant soundscape. However, a lacklustre narrative and signposting, unsolvable tech issues, as well as missing quality-of-life and fundamental design elements, led to frustration, confusion, and left me feeling somewhat deflated by the end of my 16-hour playthrough.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance may not be the triumphant return that long-time fans have hoped for, but it is a confident step toward bringing the series back into the spotlight. Its moody pixel art, stellar voice performances, and thunderous industrial-orchestral soundtrack capture the gothic soul of Nosgoth remarkably well, even in a new 2D form. While the straightforward combat and brief runtime keep it from reaching the heights of the series’ best entries, the game still delivers an entertaining slice of dark fantasy that respects the lore and legacy that came before it.
At its best, Chico’s Rebound captures the addictive satisfaction that made block-breaker games a classic arcade staple. The clever stage design, creative boss fights, and charming pixel presentation make every successful run feel rewarding, even when luck occasionally plays a role. However, the repetitive tower exploration and occasionally demanding score requirements can slow the momentum and turn triumph into frustration. Despite these bumps, the core gameplay remains engaging enough to carry the experience, making Chico’s Rebound a fun, if slightly uneven, climb up the Celestial Tower.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is both a time capsule and a restoration project. Its new camera option and visual overhaul breathe fresh life into one of the series’ most ambitious entries, while its narrative remains as compelling and operatic as ever. But beneath the polish lies the unmistakable rigidity of early-2000s design; backtracking-heavy levels, archaic combat quirks, and the occasional technical stumble. For returning fans, this is easily the definitive way to experience Kain and Raziel’s intertwined fate. For newcomers who are willing to wade into the deep lore, it’s a fascinating, if sometimes stubborn, relic of a different era. Imperfect, dramatic, and unapologetically gothic, Defiance still has fangs, even if they’re a little worn.
Winter Burrow is made up of many well-crafted parts that never quite knit together into something greater. Its charming world, heartfelt characters, and exquisite art direction create a warm, inviting atmosphere that’s easy to sink into — but its survival systems and narrative pacing rarely meet the same level of polish. For those seeking a gentle, low-stress adventure to unwind with, Winter Burrow will feel like a comforting cup of tea. For others hoping for a more engaging or cohesive experience, it might leave them out in the cold.
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a genuinely solid and charming isometric dungeon-crawler that makes good use of all of the Nickelodeon IPs jammed into it, bolstered by great art direction and an excellent voice cast featuring many of the original voice actors. However, the game’s attempts to appeal to multiple audiences put it at a disadvantage.
Overall, I had a great time playing through Kong: Survivor Instinct, with my first playthrough at just under 6 hours. While it may not be the most ground-breaking metroidvania with a few flaws, it is a fun, well designed experience that I think Monsterverse fans in particular will surely go ape over.
Few games commit to an idea as boldly as Wander Stars, and its anime-inspired episodic structure is a triumph in style and ambition. Yet, the weight of overlapping systems and limited difficulty options makes it harder to love than it should be. A lighter touch on restrictions or a greater spread between difficulty levels could open the door for more players to enjoy what Paper Castle Games has built. For now, it remains a dazzling but demanding journey; rewarding for some, frustrating for others.
Hirogami is a solid, polished 3D platformer that offers a good amount of replayability. Its art direction and sound design go to great lengths to build an Origami world, while its narrative falls a bit flat and doesn’t do anything interesting with the game’s themes. Basic combat is improved with Hiro’s different animal forms, while I found the puzzles and traversal satisfying from the start. The game’s camera does its best to be a constant nuisance, but even the bizarre angles and perspectives couldn’t ruin a good time. A bit frayed at the edges and with a few extra creases, Hirogami is a fun adventure that is worth your time and paper.
Trails is a relaxing and well-designed experience that will keep puzzle game fans happy for a few hours. While it may not always be smooth sailing, I think it is a cerebral excursion across the dunes worth taking.
While I may have been let down by the isolated nature of Lost In Random: The Eternal Die’s design, with its single-note narrative and detachment from its predecessor, I was happy to be back in the wonderfully weird world of Random, with its charming cast and bizarre rules. I thoroughly enjoyed its fun, easy-to-pick-up combat, progression systems that offer variety and strategy, challenging boss fights, and delighted in the superb voice acting and singular art direction. I may not be a gambling man, but if you like a good roguelite, Lost In Random: The Eternal Die is a sure bet for a great time.
EMUUROM is a delightful, layered, and intriguing Metroidbrainia, making its narrative just as much part of the puzzle as its mechanics. It has a satisfying gameplay loop that builds on what you have learned, all while creating a bizarrely beautiful ecosystem you must understand to progress in your mission to preserve it. It’s a title that borderline demands multiple playthroughs to uncover all its secrets, and while I can’t imagine ever having a full grasp of where to go or that certain elements won’t prove frustrating, it’s not enough to deter me from returning to its strange world. It’s safe to say that I won’t soon forget EMUUROM.
Despite some technical issues, I had a great time with Demon Tides, from my first double jump to my last spin rush. The beautiful world and fun character designs, the amount of customisation to both move set and character appearance, as well as the bumping soundtrack, mostly made up for any frustrations and metaphorical skinned knees I went through. I have no doubt speedrunners and platformer fans, far more skilled than I, will find no end of fun in Ragnar’s Rock, and will be competing for top spots on the game’s leaderboards for years to come.
Just like with my kids' elaborate games and worlds they think up, it may not all make sense, but it didn't stop me from having a great time. Under the Island is a fun and often wacky adventure game that wears its heart on its sleeve and does right by its inspirations. It's a game that begs to be explored from top to bottom, with the intent of giving the player something to find or do at nearly every turn. I loved my time on Seashell Island, and I think that plenty of other people will too.
Like the Calicorns, Herdling is a bit slow to start, but it gathers momentum throughout until the game reaches its top speed in its final chapters, delivering a satisfying ending that neatly punctuates Herdling’s themes of reconnecting with history, culture, and the world around us.