REVIEW: Wavetale on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

From Developers Thunderful comes a new 3^rd person action-adventure game called Wavetale.

Unlike anything I have played before.

Here is the synopsis:

"Surf the waters of a submerged city! Fight gigantic sea monsters, save your neighbors and uncover the secrets hidden under the surface.

Explore the open sea and the decaying archipelago of Strandville in Wavetale, a story-driven action-adventure game introducing you to fed-up fishermen, secretive hermits and maybe a pirate or two. Traverse calm waters and surging waves as Sigrid, a young girl who befriends a mysterious shadow that provides her with the power to walk on water.

Speed through the waves, swing yourself from housetops with your net, and defeat monstrous enemies to save the citizens of the islands. All with a little help from the shadows down below and your cranky grandmother."

@gamingcouchspud #Wavetale is coming to #PC and Consoles on December 7th! (Clip from #NintendoSwitch) #Xbox #PS5 ♬ original sound - Jon

My thoughts.

This game really is a joy to play. On land you can run about, jump, double jump, you can even glide, dash, and of course swing your net and use it as a weapon. You play as a young girl called Sigrid, at the start of the game you find yourself running chores for your cranky grandmother, when this weird dark tsunami washes over the world. When everything clears up, you have to follow various instructions to progress, these are things like killing off monsters, collecting energy, and getting from one location to another.

The game really excels not in the combat but in the travelling, as you glide across the sea you can power up a great jump, glide, you can even lock onto points which allow you to swing. It really is so much fun, that it is easy to forget you have things to do as you are swinging and gliding about.

Combat is basically swinging your net, as well as doing stomps and power swings.

Everything is presented in a pretty striking and unique looking style, there is some fun humour in the game, and a great sound track.

As you play you can upgrade your character, change outfits, hair styles and so on. You can catch a ride on a boat to travel at higher speeds. You will meet and talk to lots of characters, usually after saving them from the monsters that have captured them.

A lot of effort has been put into crafting an interesting story, all about "loss and reconciliation". You will keep a record of your progress in Sigrid's scrapbook, through drawings. All very well done.

The Good

I loved the art style of the graphics in this game, just looks so great. The storyline is detailed and fun, but the real winner here is the gameplay, it is just a lot of fun, simple as that. It is fun to play, it seems strange to say that out loud, as every game should have that at its core, but Wavetale succeeds here with the most basic of things.

The Bad

I tried the game on the Switch Lite and regular Switch, the game is better on the big screen. Don't get me wrong it is ok on the smaller screen, but I just found it more visually enjoyable on the larger screen. So, if you only have a Switch lite, you will be missing out slightly.

Overall

What a great little game. So much fun.

I highly recommend it.

I score Wavetale on Nintendo Switch a stonking 9/10

Released on 12/12/2022 on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Wavetale-2304595.html

REVIEW: I Am Jesus Christ: Prologue on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

I try to avoid reviewing prologues, or free games, as I don't see much of a point, since anyone can just download them and play themselves, no need to read a review for advice. However, since this is the first game (that I am aware of) to let you play as Jesus I just had to have a go.

Note: All screengrabs are from the cinematics and not the in game stuff, you will find out why as you read on.

Inspired by the New Testament stories, this is a simulation, so not quite an action-adventure game that perhaps we would all like. Personally, I would love Ubisoft to use their Assassins Creed Engine, and make a Jesus game using that! Would be very cool. Unfortunately, this is an indie game with a small budget. You start the game as a grown Jesus, after a decent opening cinematic, telling the story of Jesus etc, you finally wake up in bed, first thing you need to do is go find your mother, Mary, Yes THAT Mary! All the big names are here you know!

You quickly learn you need to find John the Baptist, so you can get baptised. Some back and forth to the village, speak to a few people to find out where he is, and then head off to the river to find him.

Feeling hungry? Pick some berries to eat. Pretty much the game revolves around recreating stories from The Bible. 40 days fasting in the desert, fight Satan, cure sick people, perform miracles, all the classic stuff. Including new things like charging the Holy Spirit through prayer!

I guess you complete the game one you get resurrected. Since this is the prologue, you will have to wait for the final game to get that far.

Ok, so yeah, everything sounds kind of cool, but the reality is this game is terrible. It NEEDS some holy spirit to fix the graphics for a start. They are terrible.

Voice acting is all good, the cinematics also look good, but the in-game graphics when you actually control Jesus are just poor, controls are awkward, and the whole thing is just a mess.

Poor optimized, and I suspect some bitcoin mining might be going on which is what slows the game down.

The Good

The narration, and voice acting as a whole are really good, the graphics in the cinematic bits are pretty decent.

The Bad

Everything else. It is a terrible game, you will play a bit out of curiosity, perhaps make it to John the Baptist, maybe even mess around in the desert a bit, but I highly doubt many will make it that far. This game needs a complete overhaul, from the ground up. It can't be saved.

Overall

I wish I hadn't downloaded this; it really is that bad.

I score I Am Jesus Christ: Prologue a god awful 2/10 (One point for the voice acting and one point for the cinematics.)

If you want to see for yourself, it is out now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1509650/I_Am_Jesus_Christ_Prologue/

NEWS: The Japanese Indie Shooter One-Two Punch Combo!

Stuttgart, Germany - December 2022 - Strictly Limited Games welcomes two new Shoot ‘em up titles in one ‘hot’ combo physical releases for the Nintendo Switch to their store. In collaboration with Hanaji Games, this is the only physical version of these two gems available.

This pack can be ordered from https://www.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/dezatopia-mecha-ritz

Two Different Styled Shooters, One Great Collection

Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo is a vertically scrolling ‘score’ focused shooter set in an apocalyptic mechanised world. With seven different ships to choose from, each with different attack and movement properties, this frantic paced shooter delivers deep and satisfying combat. Exciting unlockables - 14 playable mechas, branching paths, multiple endings, and much more will be unveiled as you delve deeper into the game. Quickly clearing enemies and raising your rank is key to unlocking the final stage and is just one ongoing task to complete.

In Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo, not only does the score hunt and challenging gameplay provide plenty of replay value, but also the branching stage paths will influence the ending. Paired with the quirky story and popping graphics, you sure won’t get bored playing this one.

Dezatopia is a classic arcade styled horizontal shooter with a huge assortment of content, which offers both value and an amazing experience. 24 different stages with 21 bosses arranged in 21 routes, with intuitive and simple controls that will please both experienced and novice gamers. Unique enemies, bosses, weapons galore and interactive components are supplemented with great art and visual backdrops.

Strange and unusual creatures inhabited Earth’s underground. These unknown to humankind until Momoko, a fashion-obsessed high school girl, accidentally discovered them; but now she plans to create a new world: Dezatopia. Akane and Aoba, Momoko’s schoolmates, are hired to help achieve her directive but things don't go to plan. The backdrop story could soon become a distant memory, as the all out colourful and non stop, over the top, but compelling, fire and hail explosive onscreen action ramps up!

The craft you control has four unique, intuitive weapons which can each be fired in one direction to halt the enemy onslaught. Upgrades and items can also be purchased from a mid-flight shop, but these advantages are countered by a dynamic difficulty system that automatically adjusts to match the player’s skill level to ensure their experience, strategy, technique and luck are always tested.

Both Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo and Dezatopia present great and amusing backdrop stories which set the scene for the action and challenges that gamers will encounter once they are ready to face the enemy forces, along with some awesome Bosses and cast that will materialise!

ABOUT THE SLG BOXED VERSIONS
The SLG Dezatopia & Mecha Ritz Limited Editions will come in two versions, each featuring a cover artwork focusing on one of the games in the collection, named Momoko and Veloce Edition as well as reversible cover artwork featuring both. Included is a colored manual for both games. The game cartridge included is the same. These are limited to 999 units each.

The Special Limited Edition will accordingly also be featured in 2 versions, with the artwork on the outer box being the same. These will be limited to 500 units each and contain the following items.

Game for Nintendo Switch
Special Limited Edition Box
Colorful Game Manual
Staff Book, approx. 80 pages containing developer insights for both games
2 CD Original Soundtrack
Double-Sided Poster, A3 Size

Mecha Ritz and Dezatopia are out now on the Nintendo eShop. Pre-Orders for the physical editions can be placed from 4th of December 2022 exclusively on StrictlyLimitedGames.com

REVIEW: Ship of Fools on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

From Fika Productions and Team 17 comes Ship of Fools, a two-player couch co-op and online multiplayer roguelite game.

First the story.

"The Great Lighthouse that once protected the Archipelago is broken and a storm of malice and corruption is coming.

Together, you and your ship mates will jump aboard The Stormstrider and make your voyage across the sea. Man the cannons, ready your sails and protect your ship from sea monsters over multiple runs. It's up to you to defend your home from the almighty Aquapocalypse."

After your ship crashes, you find yourself washed up on a beach, after a quick look around, meet the locals, learn the story of the island, and what you are now tasked to do, you will find yourself going on journeys on your boat, each run in unique, and you will have to defend your boat with cannons, as you explore each area. In one player mode you will get an auto cannon on one side of the boat and a manual cannon on the other side, you can pick up and move the cannons around the boat, and you have to manually load them with ammo before using them.

You will also need wood to fix the boat when it is damaged. Enemies will appear on both sides of the boat, so you need to have your wits about you, this is where two player mode really is needed, as it can be tricky keeping up with everything in solo mode, even with the auto cannon.

You will make your way across a map, each block being its own area to beat. You can find lost treasures, collect important artifacts needed to upgrade your boat, stop at islands, and build up your strength. But be careful if your boat sinks, you will wash up at the shore, and you will have lost almost everything you had collected.

There are storms to avoid, or even perhaps head towards. Weird sea creatures to fight, and even fight off creatures who manage to get on your boat, just whack them with a paddle, seems to do the job. Fetch resources using a harpoon, and even rescue people and you are well on your way to saving the world.

The game is designed with replayability in mind, every run is different. You can upgrade yourself and your crew, unlock various items, and add new crewmates to your boat.

You do not need to worry about actually steering the boat, you just move from one area to the next. Maps are randomized each time you play.

Don't forget to visit Halga on the island either, you can give her things you have collected, and she can make magic soup, which in turn will help you on your next run. Basically, will give you a bonus, or upgrade your ship.

The Good

Cute little game, with a high replayability factor, each run is unique and fun, and once you get the hang of things, it quickly becomes addictive. The graphics are of a decent quality, and there is a nice level of humour throughout the game.

The Bad

As a single player game this will struggle to keep you interested. This is a multiplayer game; it just works better in every way with two people playing. Controls can be a bit tricky at first.

Overall

A fun game, that needs two players for you to get the most out of it.

I score Ship of Fools a solid 8/10, a really good little multiplayer couch co-op type game.

Out now on Nintendo Switch at

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Ship-of-Fools-2304790.html

REVIEW: Impaler - PC Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

Impaler is a basic first-person arena shooter. Clearly inspired by games from the 1990s, this game has a small download size, and will play on a PC with a potato for a graphics card.

The concept is a simple one, you can shoot at enemies, you can summon spikes from the ground, you can build barriers, kill all the enemies in a wave, move onto the next wave. Sometimes you will have other tasks to complete, like moving pillars to set positions, and so on.

With "Roguelike" elements, each run is unique. Graphics as mentioned are full on retro, so think 2D monsters moving in a 3D arena. As you progress you can collect different weapons and abilities. The double jump, and stomp is also a great way to take out multiple enemies at once.

The main trick to defeating the enemies, is not so much your firepower, but your movement, keep moving, pick off your targets, collect health bonus, and survive. Pick up gold, which can be used to buy 40+ upgrades, and the more you play, the better you get and further your progress.

Throw in a cool soundtrack, and for the nerds out there, the game engine is a custom-built C + OpenGL engine, so everything looks super smooth.

The Good

Summoning spikes is a cool feature, it allows for some great moves, the graphics are retro, so if you like that kind of thing, then this game does a great job. The sound track is also pretty decent.

The Bad

If you don't like 90s style retro games, then this is not for you.

Overall

A proper little indie game, where someone has put in a lot of care and love into making the game the best it can be.

Developers like this deserve our support, for without them we would have nothing.

I score Impaler on PC (Steam) a decent 7/10

Out on 6^th of December on Steam at

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1573090/Impaler/