W.Kohaku Media

River City Girls 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed and published by WayForward in collaboration with Arc System Works, River City Girls 2 is a follow-up to the original 2019 title. Take on a whole new threat to River City as Misako, Kyoko, Kunio and Riki as they brawl their way through the hordes of enemies that get in their way. This title is available on all major platforms, with a link to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank WayForward for providing the copy of River City Girls 2 that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story. I have also covered the “prequel” title, River City Girls Zero, which was released earlier this year which can be found (HERE).

Story – after their previous adventure, a new threat for the gang has arrived in the form of an old enemy from their past. When the Yakuza takes over River City High, the gang are violently expelled from the school by their henchmen. Two months later, as they leave the house to go to the game store, they are attacked by thugs paid by the yakuza. Now a new adventure begins as the River City gang must brawl their way through the city to take down the Yakuza and its leader.

Gameplay – River City Girls 2 is a roaming brawler with a fairly open exploration system, action RPG mechanics and some search action elements. When the player starts a new game, they can select one of four characters (with two unlockable characters). All characters at the beginning are set to level 1 with a basic move list and all stats reduced to 1. The player will play through the tutorial before the game starts proper.

Once the tutorial is completed, the player will be spawned into the main hideout where they receive their first quest. This first quest starts players on their adventure, with enemies appearing after leaving their home base. The enemies that appear will start with students, bullies and cheerleaders as the first enemies to overcome. However, as the game progresses, there will be a greater variety of foes to battle, with their own strengths, weaknesses and special attacks.

To take down wave after wave of enemies, players have access to the same core move set which will expand as they level up. The attacks are split into a few categories, with normal attacks that can be chained into combos, heavy attacks to end them and special attacks to deal big damage. Players can also find weapons scattered about the place, which can be traditional items like baseball bats to unconventional objects like benches.

The combat flows fairly well with smooth actions and combos that can be chained together well. There is a lot of flexibility with the weapons and special attacks thrown in to combat, making for a challenging and fun battle experience. At set points there will be encounters with enemies that lock the player into battle. These fights will trap the player in the boundary of a single screen, with a lock and chains around the edge of the screen.

As the enemies are defeated, the lock will become damaged to show progress of the fight. Once all foes have fallen the chains and lock will break, letting players continue on their way and sometimes drop food to heal damage. These battles can come out of nowhere so it is important to be vigilant and prepared. This can be done by destroying vending machines, which will drop health up items or the player can buy food from shops (discussed further below).

Fighting enemies will give players experience points which will level them up at set milestones. When a player character reaches a new level, they will be fully healed of damage, gain a stat boost making them stronger, unlock new skills and even open up upgrades in special shops. Defeated enemies will also drop money based on their strength, with the tougher the foe, the bigger the pay day. All money can be used at various shops scattered through the game.

The shops include convenience stores/cafes which offer food to heal lost stamina (and more), clothing stores that sell accessories to give extra effects and the Dojo where new attacks can be learned. When purchasing food items, it can be eaten immediately to provide a quick boost for the character, or saved to be used later while in the midst of battle. Whenever a food item is consumed for the first time, a permanent stat boost is gained, making shopping very important.

This release features a mostly non-linear approach to exploration, with the different locations being broken up into interconnected zones allowing some freedom to explore. During the early stages of the story, paths will guide the player in a single direction towards their goal, but as time passes more and more areas will open up. These zones and paths can be viewed via the GPS map, which lets players see where they have been and what is located where.

This system has a metroidvania feel to it as there will be a lot of backtracking to get to different areas. This is made a little less time consuming with the transit system, a series of bus stops that the player can use to hop between set “warp points” in the game. Speaking of backtracking, there is a quest system that is used for this title, with the types of quest often split into two distinct styles, story quests and side quests.

The main story quests will have the player moving all over the city to complete the various objectives needed. These missions can have boss battles where a powerful enemy will appear, battling them in multi-phase combat encounters that can be very challenging. The other type of quest is side quests that have a variety of objectives, like a dodgeball challenge for example. When these missions are cleared, players will gain XP and money as well as other rewards.

While most areas of the game will be locked off from the player, clearing the missions will open up new areas for the player to go to. These areas may have new shops, enemies and NPC characters for the player to interact with, who can give missions and information to the player. The open areas are shown with a green door icon at their border, with the closed areas having a red locked door icon. This is where the bus stops come more into play, helping players move quickly around areas.

The last things I want to talk about are the hideout and henchmen system. During battle with enemies, some of them may beg for mercy and offer to join the player. When this happens during play, the player can take them as a follower and recruit them. Each player can have 2 henchmen at the same time, one for each back trigger on the controller. These characters can be called into battle when their cool-down meter is full, unleashing an attack before leaving.

These henchmen can be defeated by other enemies if they take enough damage and will go to the hideout. There are also paid recruits that will appear at different parts of the game. These characters will cost money to join the player as unique support characters, but if they are defeated they will return to their spawn and must be paid for again. This makes for a tough choice on whether to focus on getting free recruits or splurging on the expensive paid ones.

Finally, I want to cover the hideout. This is the home base where the player can respawn if defeated without losing any money. While in the hideout, players can also switch their active character and heal some damage when returning there. There is also a store box to hold inventory items for later, a dedicated area for recruiting an unlocked henchman and Kyoko’s Mom is there too. This is an important area for newer players, offering a safe zone to heal during missions.

Now with the gameplay covered, I want to move into the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the control layout for this game is perfect for this brawler, with the movement on the left side of the controller, the attacks on the face buttons and assorted features like recruit attacks on the triggers/shoulders. All of the inputs work really well and have a good amount of feedback, there is no feeling of lag but the occasional input can be missed. Overall the game plays very well and feels very comfortable with a set of Joy-Cons or pro controller.

Difficulty – this is a challenging brawler, with enemies that can attack from all sides and overwhelm the player immediately. This can be frustrating, however it is a little easier when playing co-op, as players can revive each other if they make it in time. The respawn system of checkpoints or hideout helps lessen the difficulty a little as players don’t have to worry too much about failure. However, if players want to make the game tougher, there are two additional difficulty settings that make the game really tough.

Presentation – visually, River City Girls 2 has a very old school look to it, with the bold and vibrant sprite work that is used for the characters, enemies and environments/objects. This combines well with the slick anime style artwork for character portraits, the manga style cutscenes and animated cinematics. Everything flows together smoothly with zero issues in regards to frame rate, slow down or graphical instability.

The sound for this title is of the same quality as the first River city Girls, with a soundtrack that mixes several styles together to create one cohesive and distinctive sound. The opening theme that plays at the title is fantastic, featuring the vocal talents of Megan McDuffee and Cristina Vee. There is also English and Japanese voice over for this release, featuring the talents of Kayli Mills (Mary Skelter Finale), Kira Buckland (JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure) and Kaiji Tang (Jujutsu Kaisen).

Final Thoughts – when I first heard that this was getting a sequel I was really excited, as I really enjoyed the first RCG game. This is as good if not better than that title, with expanded gameplay and an overall larger scope in terms of the world and characters. I very much enjoyed the ability to choose from multiple characters right from the start, as well as the extra unlockable characters that appear later. This is a fantastic brawler filled with self-aware humour, intense action and kick ass tunes.

I have no problem recommending this title to people. It may be a little tough for some, with the way that enemies can surround players and beat them down, but the game doesn’t punish players in defeat. I wasn’t able to test out the online features, but there is local co-op which is an absolute blast when playing with others. WayForward have outdone themselves with yet another excellent action title, which I feel was very much worth the wait.

In the end, I give River City Girls 2 a final score of 5/5. This is the perfect sequel to an already excellent game, taking the groundwork laid out in the first and expanding it into a larger, more chaotic experience. The combat is solid with a variety of attacks to use, all of the characters feel distinct from each other and the slick pixel sprite work gives the whole game retro charm. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version are below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Jitsu Squad – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Tanuki Creative Stuido and published by ININ Games, Jitsu Squad is a fast paced 2D action brawler with a classic arcade gameplay style. As the members of the Jitsu Squad, take on the forces of evil and save the world, all while doing it in style. This title is now available on all console platforms, with links to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Jitsu Squad that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts an opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story. I will be covering only the basic core elements of the game, avoiding any of the surprises and spoiling the secrets of this title.

Story – Containing the soul of a powerful demon, the legendary Kusanagi Stone can grand godly powers to those who awaken it but has remained hidden over the centuries. Now, the wicked sorcerer Origami, destroyer of worlds and lord of darkness, has summoned ancient warriors to find the stone for him, cursing their souls and turning them into animals in the process. Luckily, a mysterious monk called Ramen manages to save four warrior souls from Origami’s call and together they are the Jitsu Squad.

Gameplay – Jitsu Squad is a fast paced, action brawler with traditional beat ‘em up and action RPG mechanics. These systems combine together with the frantic combat and chaotic action that takes place, as the player is surrounded by enemies on all sides. The player can take on the enemies that threaten the safety of the universe alone, or with three other players in local co-op or using two (or more) characters in the tag-team mode (also in local co-op).

The action takes place across several worlds, made up of multiple areas with enemies swarming the player in battle. Each of the action stages pits the player against wave after wave of enemies, with destructible objects, treasures to collect and health pick-ups. The player has limited lives when playing solo, with a single life per character in tag team mode, which makes this title vastly different from other action brawlers.

During the stages the threats increase over time, with stronger enemies and mini boss level threats, as well as end of stage battles. There is a variety of enemies that appear in battle, with each planet having their own theme and creatures tied to it. These include a city planet with Yakuza inspired enemies, a grave yard zone with zombies and even a pirate themed world. All of these areas will also feature the Oni/goblin enemies from the starting stage as the most common combatants.

When a world has been cleared, the player can move onto another or return to a previously cleared stage and replay it. However, there is no real incentive to return to stages, aside from grinding to collect scrolls to power up the characters that are in use (explained further below). At set points during the game, there are cutscenes that play out with pop culture references, plot development and some voice acting to tie it together.

The members of the Jitsu Squad each have their own unique attacks, skills and traits that are based on themes connected to each character. The characters all have their own strengths and weaknesses, making them different from eachother and adding variety to the in game action. Here are the profiles for each of the members of the Jitsu Squad;

HERO YAMAGIWA: The Shinobi – Transformed into a Tanuki and armed with the powerful Sakura Katana, Hero is a Shinobi and Ninpo Master. When he was young, his father’s village was destroyed. Hero was the only survivor and was rescued by a monk who taught him the “Art of Ryushido”. He has sworn to avenge the death of his father and his clan.
BABY O HARA: The Vengeful Cyber Ninja – Baby ‘O Hara is a true fighting machine and the fastest of the Jitsu Squad, flashing across the battlefield in the shape of a rabbit! She joined this team of skilled warriors hoping to avenge the death of her beloved sister. Baby is armed with her two Usagi Kunai and an Umbrella.
JAZZ AMUN: The Magic Kung-Fu Master – Jazz was one of the royal guards of the Black Lotus, a group of Holy Priests who served Sapphire, the mysterious god. Jazz is a fast and skilful warrior, with a serious attitude. He uses his giant golden pipe called “the Ishtar” and the “Flame of Amun” in combat. Transformed into a frog, he has a double jump ability that gives him enormous air combo potential.
AROS HELGASON: The Dragon Slayer – Piece of massive muscle, Aros Helgason is a legendary dragon slayer Viking armed with a huge sword called Balder. Strongest of the Jitsu Squad, his right arm was once bitten off by a fierce dragon and was replaced with an indestructible magic metal arm. The arm can be used as a shield and is extremely powerful in close combat. Takes the shape of a massive warthog.

In battle the characters can use the same basic skills, with a dash, jump and chain/combo attacks to name but a few. As the game progresses, the characters can level up by collecting scrolls and when thresholds are met, new upgrades will be unlocked. These include new abilities, special attacks and upgrades that make the chaotic battles even wilder. Alongside the level upgrades, there are support characters that can be found and the player can collect special character specific weapons to use.

These weapons are usable as long as the player has energy in their weapon meter, which is drained with each use. The weapons also have their own special attacks, power levels and can turn the tide of battle quickly in the players favor. As well as the special weapon bar, there is also the Fury Meter which is filled by taking damage in battle. When this meter reaches a set limit, special attacks can be used which will cause massive full screen attacks that will devastate enemies.

The last ability that characters have access to is the Fury Transformation, a special super powered mode where the player can decimate their foes with ultimate power. This powered up mode can be used until the Fury Meter runs out, with all stats increased for a limited time. The chain attacks, special abilities and super attacks add to the chaotic action that unfolds during battles, increasing further with additional players being added to the mix.

Finally, I want to discuss the accessibility options and features that have been added to this game. There are several features to make the game a little easier for players to get into it, including health bars for enemies, character indicators and the ability to reduce on screen effects. There is also an option unlock all character abilities early, which can allow players that may not otherwise be able to get through the game to access all the features.

Now with the gameplay covered, I want to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this title are laid out well, making for a fun and reactive experience with zero input lag during play. The inputs are set to allow all actions to be accessed quickly, in a way that lets chain attacks and tag combos to be implemented quickly. This title plays very well regardless of the controller that is used, which include the Sega Saturn controller from Retro Bit or arcade sticks from Hori/8Bitdo. The only downside is the lack of single Joy-Con support, needing two to play the game.

Difficulty – this is a frantic action brawler, with some challenging combat encounters in game. To make the challenges a little more approachable, players can select three different options that alter the difficulty of the game. At the lowest setting, players can wipe out enemies with ease and will be able to get through the game with little difficulty. However, if the player wants a tougher experience, the highest setting will increase the damage that enemies can deal/take and really push the player to their limits.

Presentation – Jitsu Squad is a vibrant and stylish release, with the Saturday morning cartoon style of the visuals that contrasts with exaggerated blood and gore. The animations for the characters are smooth and flow well, along with the unique designs for each of the squad members. There are references to games, movies and even figures in gaming, with lines related to Kung Fu movies and even a guest appearance from YouTube creator Maximilian Dood (but I won’t say where).

The sound for this title has a lot of elements from different musical genres, taking heavy rock guitar rhythms and mixing them with traditional Japanese styled melodies as an example. There is a wide variety to the soundtrack for this release, as each world has multiple themes that add further depth to the experience. This title also features a lot of voice work, with the character cast having voice lines that are played during the game and vocals in music from Crush 40 singer Johnny Gioeli.

Final Thoughts – when this game was announced to be coming to consoles there was a lot of excitement for me, as I am a fan of action brawlers and have enjoyed many of the newer offerings this year. This title is reminiscent of the classic titles like Captain Commando and Turtles in Time, but with an ultra-violent and ultra-vibrant presentation. The action flows very well and there is a lot of excitement with the combat itself, as ability unlocks increase the chaos of play over time.

I very much enjoyed my time playing Jitsu Squad, as it is a fun and exciting brawler with a lot of love for the genre baked into it. The player characters, environment themes and in game humor is a lot of fun, making this game stand out from many others. It does have some flaws as there are some minor inconsistencies with hit detection, the occasional missed input when dashing and a little slowdown at times. However, I have no issue with recommending this game to everyone that enjoys beat ‘em up games.

In the end, I give Jitsu Squad a final score of 4.5/5. This is a quirky and vibrant action brawler, with buckets of cartoony blood and gore that is shed during play. The visuals, sound and gameplay mechanics combine together to create a unique experience, with the references to movies, games and other elements of pop culture adding the cherry on top. If you want to check this title out for yourself, links to each version of the game are below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Macbat 64 & Beeny – Nintendo Switch Double Feature

Hello, this review will be slightly different from what I usually publish on this site. I am going to be doing coverage of two budget indie games from the same developer, discussing them and showcasing what these titles have to offer. This is going to be a double feature, with all of the usual details for both of the games in a condensed format, giving the basic outline of the games and some thoughts on them both at the end. So with that being said, let’s get into it.

Overview – developed by Siactro and published/ported by Diplodocus games, we have Macbat 64, a low-poly style adventure where players complete puzzles to clear each micro world. We also have Beeny, a vertical 2D platformer with a 90’s style pre-rendered background in the style of Donkey Kong Country. Both of these titles are available on the Nintendo Switch, with a link to both of them at the bottom of this special review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Siactro for providing the software that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the reviews. I will be giving brief summaries of the games, but I will be omitting the story details as I only want to highlight the game experience. Starting off with Macbat 64.

MacBat 64

Macbat 64 sets itself up as a low poly 3d platformer, where the core objective is to just clear the objectives of each stage with platform action. With the player needing to complete platforming challenges, puzzles and talk to NPC characters to get clues on how to proceed. However, as the game progresses more gameplay styles are introduced, including a kart racing stage, 2D side-scrolling platforming and more.

The move list for Macbat is rather simple, with movement of the character and camera, as well as being able to jump. This is as simple as you can get and it works well with this release, as it makes the game easy to pick up and play. This isn’t the most challenging of games with a rather brisk 10 stages, but there is a lot of fun that can be had in those stages. Alongside extra content that can be unlocked post completion and secret hidden collectibles.

The controls for the game handle really well, without any issues when it comes to movement or input lag during play. The inputs feel comfortable with both a Joy-Con and a pro controller, with snappy and intuitive button inputs for the platforming and other actions. The simplistic controls, easy to understand gameplay and overall experience make this a charming love letter to early 3D games.

The visual style does pull from the inspirations behind it, providing graphics and sprite work that is close to the Ultra 64 look. The music has a jaunty charm to it, with music that has a good sound to it and fits each of the themed zones that the game is made up of. There is also some voice over work in this title, with a cameo from a well-known figure within the N64 and 3D platformer community.

Overall, this is a fun and charming experience that offers a lot of fun for the very low price asked. Now, let’s get to the other title in this double feature.

Beeny

Beeny is a simple 2D vertical platformer that has a very simple premise, get from the bottom of the stage to the goal at the top. The player is able to move left, right and jump controlling their momentum in the air. There are platforms that are positioned in challenging formations through the stage, with additional hazards and gimmicks that are added as the game progresses. The stages also have a variety of themes, from different seasons to weather and even a spooky haunted forest.

This is a relatively short title with only 10 stages to challenge, but there is also a time challenge that is unlocked when clearing the game. This adds a little more play time at the base level, but it also allows players to challenge themselves to beat stages as fast as possible in a speedrunning capacity. There is also a special teaser for the game Super Kiwi 64 included, giving players a small 3D platform area to explore.

The game controls are easy to use with very simple inputs that anyone can pick up and play. The movement and jumping is reactive, with little if any input lag. This game can be played comfortably with both the Joy-Cons and pro controller, with the thumbstick and D-pad/direction buttons working very well during play. The single button controls, easy to understand mechanics and limited failure states make this a fun little game that everyone can enjoy.

The visual style for this release is reminiscent of the old pre-rendered sprites of games like Donkey Kong Country, using sprite work that gives the game an old school vibe. The environments and everything is designed well with this design philosophy in mind. The music is also influenced by the classics, with music that fits each stage it is used on. The overall presentation combines together well, making for a retro styled title that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

With both games covered, I will now give my final thoughts about these two games.

Final Thoughts – I enjoyed both of these games and I am happy to have been able to experience them courtesy of Siactro. These two games have their distinct gameplay styles which all hit different markets. The 3D platforming of Macbat is there for fans of collectathon games, and Beeny for those who want a simple pick up and play title. The price point for both of these titles is very low and I would call them “pocket money games”, but that isn’t a negative as there is a lot of fun to be had with them.

I can easily recommend these titles for everyone, they are cheap and cheerful, with the only negative that I could find being the game length. However, that doesn’t detract from the overall quality and hard work that the development/porting team has put into bringing these games to the switch. With fun games that are perfect for anyone to pick up and play with ease. These are both passion projects and it can be seen in the references to older games, the visual design and the gameplay style.

In the end, I think that both Macbat 64 and Beeny are very fun little games that have a very low barrier of entry. You can get both of them for less than a cup of coffee, and while they are relatively short experiences, there is a lot on offer in these titles. If you want to check these out for yourself, a link to each game will be below.

Link to Macbat 64 (HERE)

Link to Beeny (HERE)

GigaBash Godzilla Kaiju DLC – OUT NOW!

Hello! I have a special update concerning the special Godzilla DLC collaboration that has been released for GigaBash today. This special DLC pack is a collaboration between Passion Republic Games and Toho Company, with 4 iconic Kaiju creatures from the Godzilla franchise being added as playable characters. Check out the details below and the trailer at the bottom of this piece.

Alongside the special characters included as paid DLC, there is also a big FREE update for players to enjoy. This new update will include additional gameplay modes for players to enjoy, with both online and offline game modes that have been added to the game. I will be giving details about these new modes, but first I want to share some information about the new monsters added in the DLC.

Godzilla

Originally debuting in 1954, Godzilla is the original king of the monsters and the first Kaiju to gain popularity the world over. With the iconic look that has remained consistent throughout the franchise. This giant monster has come to the world of GigaBash to throw down with the other creatures, armed with his legendary Atomic Breath and destructive brute strength. This version of Godzilla is the ultimate Kaiju and a foe to be reckoned with.

Gigan

Making its first appearance in 1972 during the battle of Godzilla vs Gigan, the alien cyborg was an early rival of Godzilla, armed with steel hooks for arms and buzzsaw on its body. This incarnation of the beast is just as destructive as its movie counterpart. Equipped with an eye laser, tremendous power and even anti-gravity flight that can be used in battle with the other monsters.

Mechagodzilla

Created in 1974, Mechagodzilla is a mechanical clone of the original Kaiju, equipped with heavy weaponry that it uses in battle against the King of the Monsters. This version of the beast has been heavily upgraded, with even more firepower at its disposal. This time, Mechagodzilla enters the battle with heavy machine gun, powerful rockets and a jet booster on its back to give it increased combat prowess.

Destoroyah

Appearing in 1995, after being mutated at the microsopic level, Destoroyah quickly evolved and grew in size and shape until it reached its final form, battling Godzilla to the death. This incarnation of the creature appears in its final demonic form. Harnessing devastating power that leave disaster in its wake, including its powerful wings and lightning horn, an energy breath beam and the ability to split into smaller creatures to decimate foes.

Now with the new Kaiju covered, I want to give some detail about the new content that has been added for free to GigaBash.

New Features:

Arcade Mode – Test your mastery of your favorite characters! In this single player mode, challenge yourself against 8 random Ai-controlled enemies with increasing difficulty and solidify your rank by defeating the Final Boss. Do you have what it takes to beat ‘em all?
Onslaught Mode – Play Solo or with another friend in co-op Couch Play as you battle against endless waves of enemies. Acquire buffs as you progress and break the record for the highest number of waves cleared on the global leaderboard. You will also be rewarded with unique skins only unlockable through this mode as you clear a certain wave number. Can you survive the onslaught?
Mayhem Online – You asked, we delivered! By popular request, players can now enjoy Mayhem mode online via Private Match. Invite your friends and indulge in this wacky collection of minigames together.
Matchmaking and Online Updates – We have upgraded our Crossplay feature! Now, players from all platforms (PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Steam, Epic Games Store) share the same public matchmaking pool via Public Match. However, players will not be able to invite their friends from another platform via Private Match. We’ve also added an Emote Menu in the Online Mode so players can have some fun with GigaBash emojis while they wait for other players to be ready for battle.

Final Thoughts

I was able to get my hands on the DLC thanks to a PR rep from and Future Friends Games and I had a real blast with this. All of the Kaiju feel like they fit and the choices are very good for this game. I would have liked to see Mothra, King Ghidorah or even Hedora, but I was very happy to be able to play as some of the most Iconic rivals for the King of the Monsters.

All four characters have their own unique fighting styles and they feel authentic to their movie counterparts. I had the most fun with the new modes too, which was where I spent most of my time with this DLC, playing the new arcade mode over and over. That and the new onslaught mode are a good reason to check this update out, and even pick up the game if you have been holding off making a purchase.

I haven’t been able to test the online out unfortunately, due to some connection instability that I have been having. But, I do think that increasing the pool of players will be a net positive for the game, even if its only for public matches. The only negative thing that I have to say about this DLC and Update is that there was no Music from the Godzilla movies, which is unfortunate but doesn’t impact the experience.

I can easily recommend purchasing this DLC, and if you haven’t checked out my review for the game, you can read it (HERE) and I strongly recommend the whole package to Kaiju brawler fans (even more so now with the DLC). All of the extra content and updates to the online are a welcome addition, giving players more content to enjoy and creating a more definitive package.

I do hope that this does well, since that may renew interest in new standalone Godzilla games, which have been sorely lacking for many years. I don’t think that Toho will decide to make that jump, but I still have hope that if this DLC is successful, it will show that there is a market for the King of the Monsters to return to consoles and even PC.

You can find the Game and DLC below.

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Link to Epic version (HERE)

Pretty girls Escape – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Zoo Corporation and published by Eastasiasoft, Pretty Girls Escape is a new type of puzzle game in the popular series of games. In this release, players destroy block and shift the play field left/right to guide the portraits of the girls to the exit. This title is available on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation systems, with links to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Pretty Girls Escape used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment as this title doesn’t have a plot, so I will be going directly into discussing the gameplay.

Gameplay – Pretty girls Escape is a single screen puzzle title with a simple premise, clear out blocks of the same color in sets of 2 or more and guide the character block to the exit. To achieve this goal, players are able to shift the blocks on the play field left and right, moving all blocks at the same time. When blocks are erased, those above if any, will drop down and fill any gaps that are open.

There are 8 girls that the player can select from each with their own set of stages, individual style and obstacles (or combination of several). The difficulty of these challenges will gradually increase if each girl is challenged in sequence, however, players may choose to approach the stages out of order. If this is done, then there may be difficulty spikes that the player is not prepared for, making the stages harder to clear.

The core objective of clearing the blocks and getting the character to the bottom isn’t the only challenge for players. There are secondary missions that can be completed in each stage, which include deleting all of the blocks of a single color, clearing the stage in a limited number of moves or within a time limit. Each of the completed challenges earn the player points, which can be used to unlock new costumes for each girl.

Alongside the standard puzzle mode, there are two additional modes that the player has access to. This includes the challenge mode which offers an extra 20 stages for players to take on, with an increased difficulty and usually a single solution. The other option is the Dressing Room, where players can change/unlock outfits and arrange the girls in dioramas. The costumes unlocked can only be used in this mode and not the main game.

Now with the gameplay covered, let’s get into the other aspects of this game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this game are very simple, with the option for simple three button inputs to control the in game UI, delete blocks and shift left to right. There is also the option for touch screen controls, which offer a simple and more casual approach to the game. Both gameplay styles are comfortable and work very well with this game, but touch is preferred when playing the game in handheld mode.

Difficulty – this isnt the most challenging games in terms of mechanical difficulty, however, the challenge comes from the puzzles themselves. Depending on the approach that the player makes when tackling each stage and challenge, they may find a puzzle to be fairly easy or incredibly difficult. It is recommended to start the stage mode with the first girl, as rushing ahead to others can make it harder for newer players.

Presentation – this is a rather simple game visually, with anime style portraits for the girls and minimalist look to the play field so that everything can be seen clearly. The artwork is pleasing to the eye and is of the same quality as the other games in the Pretty Girls series. The sound for this game has a good mix of compositions on the soundtrack, alongside Japanese voice lines for each of the girls that will play during the game.

Final Thoughts – I have played and enjoyed several of the Pretty Girls games, which you can find on this site. This is another simple yet engaging puzzler, with a premise that is easy to pick up but can take some time to get 100% used to. This release has plenty of content that for the budget price, just like the others and I can easily recommend it to anyone that likes puzzle games. The only issue is that some of the challenges can be overly complex to artificially extend play time.

In the end, I give Pretty Girls Escape a final score of 4/5. This is another fun and easy to pick up puzzler in the Pretty Girls franchise, which offers a good amount of content and play time for the rather modest asking price. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version of the game are below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Dezatopia and Mecha Ritz – Special Physical Release

Hello again! I have some exciting news related to an upcoming physical release from our friends at PR Hound, HEY, Hanaji Games and Strictly Limited Games. Check out the news below to learn more about the contents of this retro style shooter double pack.

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, exclusively from Strictly Limited Games!

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.

Check out the trailer below to learn more about this exciting double pack of classic styled shooters.

Intrepid Izzy – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Senile Team and published by Ratalaika Games, Intrepid Izzy is a search action adventure, mixing together elements of several genres to create one complete package. As the titular Izzy, players must solve puzzles, battle monsters and navigate dangerous traps as they travel through different locations on their journey. This title is available on all major platforms, with links to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Intrepid Izzy that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story and moving directly into the gameplay, discussing the core features of this release to prevent spoiling the surprises of the game.

Gameplay – Intrepid Izzy is an action adventure with Metroidvania style exploration, where the player travels around the various locations, solves puzzles and collects items to progress. As Izzy, the player can move between the different areas, fighting monsters that appear and engaging in platforming action. There are several large levels to explore, with actions that are taken in one opening up another that are mostly connected to each other.

The action is face paced with a beat em up style to the combat, where Izzy can use combo attacks to battle enemies. There are also special attacks that can be used by collecting spirit crystals (or using spirit wells), which fill up a bar to use these skills. The monsters that appear are can be taken down with the different attacks that Izzy can use. There are also special costumes that can be obtained, granting special abilities to aid in exploration and battle during the game.

The costumes aren’t the only power up that can be obtained on this adventure, as there are items that can be bought from the hub town, as well as heart fragments that can be collected from chests. The items that can be bought are foods that can grant the player health, spirit power and increased strength. The heart fragments can be given to a special character in the town, with the magician increasing the total number of hearts that the player can use.

While in the town the player will be able to go to Izzy’s house, allowing the player to rest and change costumes. This is the only way to change the costumes that Izzy is wearing, allowing players to switch between them for the area that they are exploring. There is also an arcade with mini-games that can be played by spending a coin each time. These are the same coins that can be used to buy foods, with coins being dropped by enemies at random and being collected from chests.

During the adventure, the player will encounter NPC characters that will give the player hints on items needed to progress. These can include getting garlic for a sailor or a helmet to ride a mine cart, with the items hidden in chests scattered throughout the world. Since this is an exploration focused game, there is a lot of back tracking, but the game makes it simple to travel between zones. There are black mirrors located in set locations, which allow players to jump between them.

At preset points during the game, the player will be locked in an arena with enemies in multiple wave battles, as well as in challenging boss fights. These boss battles can be tough as each of them will have their own gimmick/style to them, like a Kraken that fires lasers and a Minotaur that slams into the ground. These bosses are tied to different areas and some can be battled in a nonlinear way, letting players approach them however they want to.

The last thing to talk about is the checkpoint system. This can be a challenging game, with death occurring fairly often. This is made a little easier as there are checkpoints throughout the areas, symbolized by flags, save points and the warp mirrors. When the player does get defeated, they are taken back to the last checkpoint which is often relatively close to the point they are defeated. This makes defeat a little less of a setback, but may still be frustrating.

Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this game are laid out well, with the key inputs for jumping and attacks tied to the face buttons and movement to the left thumbstick/D-pad. There is also the map and inventory that are mapped to the shoulder buttons, with all inputs having no issues with input lag or delay. However, there is one minor issue with the controls. The thumbstick on the Joy-Con has some inconsistencies due to the travel and dead zone of the stick, with the pro controller being preferable.

Difficulty – this can be a tough game, with the player being taken down in only three hits during the early stages of the game. The difficulty does ramp up over time, with the platforming and monsters becoming tougher as the player progresses to the later areas of the game. However, the challenge isn’t as punishing as it may appear to be. The checkpoint system alleviates the struggles that the player may face, easing the potential frustrations that may occur from defeat.

Presentation – this game has a very pleasing look to the visual presentation, with a slick cartoon look to the sprites that are bold and stand out in this release. The animations that are used are fluid and everything moves at a steady, fluid pace during play. The environments are all distinct, with visual touches that add to their charm, along with a soundtrack that has been fine tuned to give each zone its own atmosphere and theme.

Final Thoughts – this is a very fun and entertaining game that I am happy to have been able to play, since I was aware of the release on the Dreamcast and Steam last year. The developers at Senile Team have created an experience that checks all the boxes it sets out to, even if it may be a little too difficult in places or suffer from the back tracking at times. However, I do feel that I can recommend this title to pretty much anyone who enjoys a fun 2D action adventure.

In the end, I give Intrepid Izzy a final score of 4.5/5. This is a fantastic adventure that mixes several styles together and does it fairly well. The environments are well designed, the gameplay is polished and the overall presentation has some quirky charm to it, making for a fun game that can be enjoyed by all. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game is below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Intrepid Izzy Release Announcement

Hello, I have even more news about upcoming titles. This time I will be sharing the information about the soon to be released title, Intrepid Izzy, coming to all major platforms this December, courtesy of our friends at PR Hound and Ratalaika Games. Check out the information below to learn more.

ndie publisher Ratalaika Games, together with developer the Senile Team, is pleased to announce Intrepid Izzy is set for release on the 2nd December 2022. Coming on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, priced at $10.99 EU 10.99. Billed as a genre-defying 2D game with a unique HD art style, Intrepid Izzy offers all the very best with a compendium of genres seamlessly blending platforming with beat-’em-up and adventure elements, that will please a whole raft of gamers who want variety and tons of action.

Unbelievable

Gameplay is inspired by various games from the 16-bit era that will be apparent to many gamers but Intrepid Izzy has its own originality and branding. Merging together many favourite gameplay elements and challenges, it offers up a colourful feast of action and exploration! Unbelievably as the developer explained, ‘many themes, characters and enemies in the game were inspired by real life events. For example, meeting someone with an allergy to kiwifruit inspired me to design kiwifruit monsters. The various costumes that Izzy collects to gain special powers are also (loosely) based on real-world examples’.

IDs and Fluidity – HD Art

The characters in Intrepid Izzy are animated using custom-made software which took a lot of time and effort to develop, but gamers will note, it was well worth it. Intrepid Izzy contains thousands of frames of animation, which cannot feasibly be created any other way. Retaining certain characteristics of classic game graphics, evoking a sense of familiarity and/or nostalgia marks this game as a real labour of love.

Grab a reward

Rewards and winning challenges are all part of the experience and most notably, new costumes for Izzy that grant her special powers is high on the priority list. For example, the flying squirrel suit that allows her to glide on air currents. There are also heart fragments to increase Izzy’s maximum health points, maps to help her find stuff, keys that open doors to new areas, coins that she can spend on various upgrades, as well as the arcade games in town, and various quest-related items. So much more is on offer.

Features:

Four large levels where the player will spend most of their time.
Many hours to explore every corner, and some areas require special powers to reach with each of these levels having a different theme.
- ‘Aztec Greece’ – a sunny place with temples, palm trees and flowers.
- ‘Chocolate Mine’- a subterranean maze where the way forward has to be unlocked step by step.
- ‘Haunted Forest’ is full of ghosts, bats and other creepy things.
- ‘East Pole” is an icy world full of dangerous ninjas.
- Awesome soundtrack by the critically acclaimed Ben Kurotoshiro.
A story filled with humorous dialogue, eccentric characters and mysterious secrets.
Easy to pick up, difficult to put down!

Besides the above, there are 11 smaller levels which often provide a different gameplay experience, such as a boss fight, a time-limited mission or an introduction to new gameplay mechanics.

This title will be available early December, along with a review for the game being published close to the release date on this site. Keep an eye out for that and check out the other coverage on the website.

Shady Corner Games Announcement

Hello, I have an exciting announcement regarding a game that is now in production from our friends at Shady Corner Games. They have recently announced that they are entering production of the next entry in the Marble Maid franchise. I have a press release regarding this new title to check out below.

We at Shady Corner are pleased to announce that we are entering the production stage for our next title, “Marble Maid: the NEGAtive Levels!” This title will take place before the events of the previous game, acting as a prequel for the first and give players a chance to take on the role of the antagonist from that game, the Nega-Maid.

With this release we will also be expanding the scope of the game, by introducing different types of dust bunnies that the player will encounter. We are also implementing elemental attacks that the Nega-Maid can use against the bunnies, as well as boss encounters that will be a first in this fledgling series.

We have recently finished pre-production with the groundwork for the game completed. The engine is coming along nicely, as well as the level editor, art assets and soundtrack. Our next objective is to focus on the overall stage design as we work to finalize the ideas that we have, then we will be moving onto the building stage.

We plan to introduce more content for players to enjoy in this release, with new hazards and obstacles for players to overcome. These include new secrets for players to discover as well as traps, switches and fire pits that we plan to include in some levels. We are also working to make the unlockable content in this entry even more titillating than before, so those who enjoyed that in the first game will get plenty of “bang” for their buck.

Finally we want to let everyone know that the fans can become part of this adventure with us too. Since we mostly use crowdfunding to produce our games, we would like to invite those who want to contribute to the game to join us on Patreon. We have a special tier titled “Name Your Bun” where members who pledge can have their own Dust Bunny named, with a mini bio section too. There will also be additional tiers and rewards in the future.

We are so very excited to be able to enter the world of Marble Maid again. This is a series that means a lot to us and the positive reception that we received from fans of the first, on both PC and the Nintendo Switch is what inspires us to make this new entry the best it can be.

You can find our games on Steam, Itch.io and Marble Maid Specifically on the Nintendo Switch. Thank you for all your support and we look forward to sharing more in the future.

I have previously reviewed Marble Maid for the Nintendo Switch, you can find that review (HERE). You can also find the Shady Corner patreon (HERE).

Slime Girls Smoothies DLC Announcement

Hello, I have some exciting news regarding a game that I have previously covered here courtesy of our friends at Shady Corner Games. Their recent title Slime Girl Smoothies will be getting a special update and DLC in the near future, this will introduce a new character, mechanics and content for players to experience. Here are some words from Shady Corner Games about this new content. (Please be aware, this game is intended for mature audiences and is rated as adults only)

We at Shady Corner are pleased to announce that work has begun on a special DLC to thank everyone for their support, titled Milkshakes with Lemon!

The staff at the Slime Girl Smoothies bar will have extra staff on hand with the Southern gal Lemon, who is voiced by the talented PixieWillow (You can find her on twitter HERE 18+ only). This new hire will be bringing milk related drinks to the bar, as well as a new hazard to overcome and additional story content that will expand the in-game universe.

Alongside the new content of the DLC, there will be some additional free content that will bring Slime Girl Smoothies to a more definitive state. This includes extra sketches, some behind the scenes materials and new drinks to make. This means that even if you don’t choose to purchase the DLC, you will still get something new added to the experience.

This DLC will also be available as a reward on the Shady Corner Patreon, which will cost less than purchasing the base game if you haven’t already obtained a copy. There is also additional content related to other Shady Corner releases, merchandise and more that can be found on their Patreon which can be found (HERE) and they are also on Twitter (HERE).

Please be aware that Shady Corner Games and the related material is for Mature audiences only and is rated 18+, this is due to the sexual nature of a lot of the content. If sexual/adult content is something that makes you uncomfortable or you are under the age of 18, then please proceed at your own discretion.

If you wish to learn more about Slime Girl Smoothies, you will find my coverage of the game (HERE). You can also find the game on Steam (HERE) and Itch.io (HERE).