PixlBit

We’ll finish out June with another batch of game reviews I’ve recently written over at GamerDad.com.  Please click on the links and read as many as you can, and maybe even post a ‘like’ or comment or two.  I’d really appreciate it.  OK let’s begin!

R-Type Final 2 (PS4)

R-Type is a classic 2-D side scrolling shooter series that was super popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  While these kinds of games were a dime a dozen back then, R-Type stood out with its detailed graphics (at the time), and unique power-up system.  In fact, many consoles back then that had a home port of R-Type would show it off in commercials to demonstrate the power of their system, like the SEGA Master System and Turbo Grafix-16.  Many, many years and sequels later, game maker Irem, creator of R-Type, would release one last game in the series called R-Type Final on the PS2.  Of course it really wasn’t the last in the series, as I do believe they also made a strategy game spin-off.  And even though Irem is sadly no longer in business, R-Type lives on with R-Type Final 2, a sequel nearly 20 years after the last one.  The problem I had with this game is that it’s one of those one-hit-and-you-die shooters, and half the time I didn’t know what hit me.  And you must restart at a checkpoint with no power-ups, so that turned me off right there.  I even had this game set on the easiest difficulty.  I know R-Type games are hard, but sheesh!  Anymore I think when you buy a game, the makers should let you see the whole game to your liking.

Pocoyo Party (Switch)

And now a couple of games for the little ones.  I always like reviewing kids games so I try to every chance I get.  Pocoyo is a children’s TV show co-developed by Spanish and British producers.  It kind of reminds me of those old British clay animated kids programs from the 70’s and 80’s, which were also parodied by shows like Saturday Night Live’s Mr. Bill or Aardman’s Pib and Pob.  Anyway, Pocoyo stars a four year old boy and his animal friends, like a duck and elephant, as they play games and learn lessons.  Even though it’s computer animated, it still has that Claymation feel to it.  In the US, the show was on Nick Jr. for a while, but hasn’t been on in a long time.  But I think the show has found new life on YouTube.  Anyway, now there is a multiplayer video game for very young players starring Pocoyo.  In Pocoyo Party, Pocoyo is making invitations for his friends to come to a get-together.  Angry Alien flies by and doesn’t see an invitation for him (Pocoyo just hasn’t drawn it yet).  But Angry Alien gets, well, angry and steals all the invitations.  Now it’s up to Pocoyo and friends to play mini-games to get them back.

Pok Pok Playroom (Mobile)

Another one for the youngsters.  Pok Pok Playroom is a mobile app with activities for young kids to do.  They’re not really ‘games’ per se, just fun little quiet time things to mess around with.  You pay a monthly subscription and then your kids can play it without ads and you don’t need to go on the Internet to play, so that’s nice.  There are no words so kids can play with no help from parents.  My favorite is the activity that lets you ‘play cars.’  Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I think this app caters to an age that would be better playing with real toys instead of an expensive, easy to break tablet or phone.  

Incredible Mandy (PS4)

A brother and sister live in a fantasy world and must solve tricky dungeon puzzles based on their childhood fears.  And I’m assuming the sister’s name is Mandy but I’m not really sure as you play as the brother in this one.  Had I not read the press release before writing this review, I wouldn’t have been able to glean so much information about the story, as it’s not really presented in the game at all.  Something about the boy losing his hand in an accident or something?  I don’t know.  But what I do know is that you play as the boy who wears a metal glove which gives him the power to unsheathe swords of light that you can use to solve puzzles and defeat bosses in Zelda-like 3-D dungeons.  In fact I’d say Nintendo should hire the makers of this game to design Zelda dungeons for them.  I would’ve really liked this game had it not been for one dungeon that focuses on stealth gameplay, and I can’t stand stealth in games.  Especially how its handled here.

Very Very Valet (Switch)

Boy they’ll make a game out of anything nowadays!  There are games where you’re a cook, a lawyer, and now you can play one where you park cars!  Valet parking, more specifically.  Very Very Valet is a madcap multiplayer game where you must drive and park cars, and then deliver them back as quickly as possible.  Cute idea, but impossible in single player so only get this one if you have a bunch of friends to play with.

Fire: Ungh’s Quest (Switch)

Ungh is a caveman who is in charge of guarding the fire for his village.  When he falls asleep and lets it burn out, the village elder kicks him out and now Ungh must find more fire.  Shortly after, he comes across a magical tree with seeds that can teleport him all over the Stone Age, but they scatter so now Ungh must search for those seeds and ultimately, a new fire.  Fire: Ungh’s Quest is a really odd, wordless animated point and click adventure style game.  I loved the animated graphics, but the solutions for puzzles were so nonsensical that I was constantly using a guide to solve them.

Graviter (Switch)

You are a red ball…planet…alien…thing…out in space, but luckily you have your beloved space kitten (complete with little spacesuit) to keep you company.  But one day a bad black hole monster comes and takes your kitten away from you!  Oh no!  You then find a trail of rainbow colored paw prints.  Could these lead you back to your feline friend?  In Graviter, you’ll use planets to affect your gravity as you fling and swing your way to collect all the pawprints in a level.

Rift Racoon (PS4)

The next two games were published by the same folks and it shows.  You are a raccoon who has free reign to walk around a science lab.  Maybe this animal is a pet or mascot, as one of the scientists in the lab gives you a hug when you walk past.  Although you can knock down beakers and break computers when you go by.  Anyway, shortly after you start, you find a wrist device that lets you warp a few feet in front of you, and these same scientists are ok with letting you test it.  So as a raccoon, you’ll run, jump, climb walls, and warp between them as you make it to the end of super challenging 2-D platform levels.  For a while their spelling of ‘racoon’ in the game’s title bugged me to no end, but apparently it’s also a correct way to spell it.  I’m still using two C’s for my review outside the title, though.  I liked the chunky monkey 16-bit style graphics, but the game is way too hard.

0 Degrees (PS4)

You are a climber exploring snowy mountains, and you have the power to create ice blocks.  Solve platforming jumping and block pushing puzzles in this 2-D action game.

Biphase (Mobile)

Play as a character made up of shapes in this 2-D jumping puzzle game for mobile devices and PC (reviewed on iPad here).  Each time you jump in this game, the background colors change from red to black, and you can land on the opposite color.  Use this simple skill to reach the exit in every level.  Supposedly this game was made to promote awareness of bipolar disorder, but had I not read the press release beforehand, I would never have known.  I think there is a story about it in text before every level, but it flashes by so fast I couldn’t read it.  Proceeds from the game go to helping out the cause, but since the game is free with no ads, I don’t know how that works either.  Controls are awful and I don’t think they do the bipolar disorder awareness thing very well either.

And that’s all for now!  Thanks for reading my reviews and posting ‘likes’ and comments!  I really do appreciate it.  Later!  --Cary