Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Taito and published by ININ Games, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends: The Baron is Back is an expanded version of the previously exclusive Nintendo Switch release. The arcade style platform action title features the iconic bubble dragons Bub and Bob, alongside two new friends for this fun adventure. This title is available as both a standalone release for the Playstation 4, with both a complete edition and a free update for the Nintendo Switch. Links to both versions of the game will be available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound who provided the copy of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends used for this review. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this piece, all thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own. Please note that this title was originally covered earlier in the year. However, along with the new content update, the initial work has since been lost prompting this revamped coverage.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story.

Story – one night in a child’s room, the bubble dragon Bub is brought to life by magic along with the magician Bonner (known as Drunk in other regions). The magician is jealous of Bub being the favorite toy of the child, attacking the bubble dragon and challenging him to battle. With the help of his friends, the dragon goes on a magical adventure through the child’s room, battling the minions of the jealous magician during the quest.

Gameplay – the objective of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is to clear each of the 50 stages spread out through five worlds, capturing monsters in bubbles and defeating them by popping the bubbles. The worlds are made up of single screen platforming challenges, featuring platforms and obstacles to overcome. Each set of stages has a unique theme, culminating with a large boss battle on the tenth stage of each world.

The bubbles are the main way that players can attack enemies, when a monster is trapped in a bubble the player can pop the bubbles by using the spikes on their back or stomping on them. When several enemies are trapped, the bubbles can chain together as they pop boosting the score that is earned. As well as trapping enemies, bubbles can be bounced on allowing access to enemies that are far away.  Along with standard attack, there are special bubbles that can be used to defeat enemies.

During each world, the player can collect special letters to spell the word extend. These letters are placed in different points in each world, with successful collection of the letters providing special rewards. When each world is completed the player gains a new power-up, with extend giving that ability an upgrade. The special power-up items have a limited number of uses, recovering a different number of actions when each stage of that world is cleared.

When playing this title in single player or multiplayer, there are some differences in the way that the game will function. The differences between the two styles of play are subtle but effective. The total lives available during each world are limited to four when playing alone, with a total of ten in a pool for two or more players. During solo play, when the player is hit by an enemy or makes contact with a hazard, death is certain. However, in multiplayer the injured player is trapped in a bubble and can be saved by an ally, preventing a life from being lost.

The last thing I want to discuss is the additional play modes that players can access. Here are some details on each of the three extra modes that are available, they are as follows;

  • Hard Mode – this extra mode is unlocked by completing the story mode, providing an additional fifty stages, more upgrades and an increased level of difficulty. The stages are rearranged to an extent to make them different from the standard stages.
  • Arcade of Memories – a special treat for the fans of the original. The original arcade title has been included in its entirety, all one hundred stages, infinite credits when playing in two player mode and the ability to toggle scanlines. This is a perfect conversion of the game that started it all and an excellent addition to the overall package.
  • Arcade of the Future – new to the updated release, the Arcade of the Future (also called BB4F: The Baron is Back) is a special mode that is unlocked by completing the standard story mode. This is mode functions as an endurance/survival mode, with players having a limited number of lives to clear one hundred new stages. There are no continues available, making this is the toughest challenge in the game but there is a practice mode for cleared stages.

All four game modes have global rankings available, bringing the spirit of the arcade to a new generation as players can challenge others from all over the world for a position on the leaderboards. The inclusion of worldwide high score systems gives more replay values to Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, rounding out an excellent experience for all.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – Bubble Bobble 4 Friends uses a simple control method, all key functions are attached to the face of the controller, with special skills on the shoulder buttons. The movement is smooth, the jumping is precise and the bubbles/skills are effective. There is zero input lag when playing all gameplay modes, providing a comfortable experience when played with any controller set-up, be it the pro controller, Joy-Cons or additional third party peripherals like the Retro Bit Sega Saturn Controller.

Difficulty – the overall challenge is balanced in all game modes, with a gradual increase in difficulty over the course of the game. This allows players to build their skills over time, with new enemies and hazards being introduced as the player progresses. During the main story mode, hard mode and in the Arcade of Memories (co-op only), the player has access to infinite continues.

There is also the option to continue a stage with invincibility, this will last until that stage is cleared and made available when three game overs have occurred in one stage of story/hard mode. The way that the game balances the challenge across all four difficulty settings provides a level of accessibility that means anyone can enjoy this wonderful game.

Presentation – the visual style of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is very cutesy and charming. The designs for the bubble dragons and enemies look like toys, fitting the setting of a child’s bedroom. Each world has its own unique theme, with each stage having elements in the background that are appropriate for overall aesthetic that the game presents.

There is also a the use of pixel art in some stages, including sprites of Bub and Bob, alongside rainbows and a message of dedication to the creator of Bubble Bobble, Fukio Mitsuji. The soundtrack is a delight to listen to, with rearrangements of the original Bubble Bobble theme as well as original compositions.  The combination of bright chiptune styled sounds along with more conventional electronic beats adds to the experience and ties the whole game together.

Final Thoughts – when I first played this game, I felt that it couldn’t be improved upon. However, the introduction of the Arcade of the Future made the package even better, with an additional one hundred stages to challenge alone or with a friend. The addition of online rankings gives players the incentive to return to the game after completion, adding a competitive element to the experience. The only thing I would say is missing is an online multiplayer component to play with others around the world.

I can recommend this title to everyone, as the overall experience has something for all players to enjoy. The inclusion of the original arcade version of Bubble Bobble was a great choice, as a piece of gaming history I feel should be experienced by players both old and new. The content, gameplay and quality of this release is a testament to the hard work that Taito puts into their games. If you have a PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch, go out of your way to play this game.

In the end, I give Bubble Bobble 4 Friends a final score of 5/5. This is an excellent return for one of the most iconic franchises in the history of gaming, providing a fun experience that is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels. The content on offer and the depth of challenge can keep players engaged for hours on end. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to both versions will be available below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Gal*Gun 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Inti Creates and published by PQube, Gal*Gun 2 is the third entry in the bishōjo rail shooter series that combines frantic action and dating sim mechanics. Team up with the angel Risu, fight demons to save the female students and teachers of the academy, while also dealing with some problems in the protagonist’s personal life. This title is available for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows, links to each version of the game will be available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: this title was chosen for review as part of a poll for anime month on the site. The software used was purchased independently and is part of my personal collection. I want to thank every person who interacted with the poll and voted to see the game they wanted covered, more polls will appear soon.

Mature Content Warning: Gal*Gun 2 is a mature rated title, there is sexual content, imagery and innuendo featured throughout. If you are under the recommended age guideline for this title as presented by the relevant rating boards, or if you find any of the content included in this release inappropriate/offensive, please proceed at your own discretion.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story.

Story – the plot of Gal*Gun 2 revolves around a nameless male student at Sakurazaki Academy. One day while sat at his desk, the protagonist finds an unfamiliar application on his phone, upon opening the app a box appears in front of him containing a headset and an unusual object that looks like a hair dryer. After putting the headset on, an angel appears in front of the protagonist and informs them that they have been chosen to fight demons in the academy. Now, the protagonist has 20 days to get rid of the demonic presence, with failure resulting in the demons taking over the school.

Gameplay – the core focus of Gal*Gun 2 is stationary rail gun shooting, using a special gun to subdue girls that attack from all sides with the Pheromone Shot. While the player is stationary, they can still look around with full 360 degree movement, giving a first person shooter style to the action. Over the course of the 20 days that the player has to exorcise all the demons, they take on missions to help progress the story and earn points.

During each day, two missions are available to play with one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Stages are made up of several objective types, with the most common being a traditional enemy elimination mode. The player battles waves of possessed girls who must be subdued with the Pheromone Shot, moving from position to position when all the girls are purified, working towards the goal of the stage.

The possessed girls will try to attack the player head on and from a distance, touching and screaming at the protagonist to deal damage to them. When exorcising the girls indicators can flash on screen, showing a weak point for the player to hit and cleanse the girl immediately, a special Doki-Doki shot can be activated by charging up a meter by zooming in on a girls eyes. A successful charge shot also has the capability to purge all demons in the immediate area, making for a risky tactic with a big reward.

At preset points during a stage, girls with visible demons attached to them will appear, with the player needing to shoot them off before saving the girl. These demons that get shot can be sucked up by the Pheromone Shot using a feature called the demon sweeper, a limited use skill that can be charged by shooting demons and sucking up angel puffs hidden in the stage. Be aware, after enough progress has been made, upgrades for the sweeper can be unlocked giving the player the ability to suck up clothes as well as demons.

When a stage has been cleared, the points are totaled up for all girls that have been exorcised. Bonus points will be applied for the demons that have been captured by the player, split into four categories depending on their strength. The points are the added to the players Demon Buster Score, with progress for the next story mission being opened at specific point totals. As well as the points earned in stages, special item rewards can be earned during the course of the game.

Alongside the story missions, the player can take on additional side/free challenges to earn extra points and rewards. The side missions provide additional narrative details, with some of them requiring specific requirements to unlock. The free missions are optional stages that the player can take on with little impact on the plot, allowing for a more relaxed approach to be taken to these challenges. The free/side missions also provide additional rewards based on their difficulty so take advantage of them.

Between stages, the player is able to interact with various characters, starting with the angel Risu, classmate/childhood friend Nanako and neighbor Chiru. As the narrative progresses more characters will arrive depending on the choices made by the player, with some adding more layers to the flow of the story. Additional girls can be unlocked to interact with by clearing the additional stages, allowing the player to interact with them in different ways in a manner similar to a traditional dating sim.

When interacting with the characters, the option to give them candy is present increasing their affection towards the protagonist. As more candy is given to the girls, special events will trigger depending on the character. These events can be simple story segments or interactive scenes that ramp up the fanservice, giving the player the option to touch the girls in lewd ways. The other interactions that the protagonist can have with the girls encountered are something that I feel should be experienced firsthand, so I will be omitting those details from the review.

The last thing I want to talk about is the collectables that can be unlocked during play. At the end of each in game day, the protagonist returns home to their room before beginning the next day. Throughout the course of the game, the player can collect items to decorate their room with posters, figurines and set pieces that can be arranged freely. The collectables and other rewards provide a lot of value to this release, giving players more reasons to return to the game several times.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this release are comfortable in both handheld and docked play, using either a pro controller or Joy-Cons. The movement works well, allowing the player to turn in a full 360 degrees with smooth aiming and precise shooting. Gal*Gun 2 also supports the use of motion controls to varying degrees, allowing for full motion controls for the entire game, minimal use when using the zoom and off completely. The inputs are also customizable, allowing players to modify most aspects of the controls to fit their own play style.

Difficulty – the challenge for this title is fair and balanced, with a gradual difficulty curve that increases over time. This slow building challenge gives the opportunity for players to take their time, playing the less demanding stages over to practice and improve skills. The punishment for failure isn’t a stumbling block, when defeated by the girls attacks or if the timer expires the player can restart the stage from the beginning without losing momentum, even if it is from the starting point.

Presentation – visually Gal*Gun 2 is a beautiful game, with vibrant anime style visuals, colors that pop and adorable (yet spooky) chibi models for the demons. The quality of this title shines during the interaction events, featuring lewd animations and CG art that is expertly crafted adding to the fanservice. The framerate and performance is smooth, with zero lag when played in both TV and handheld game modes, especially when using the motion controls.

The soundtrack is a treat to listen to both inside and out of the game. when booting up the game, the game hits the ground running with the opening them, a fast paced J-Pop/Rock track and then transitions into a happy menu theme that had me tapping my foot the entire time. The rest of the music is comprised of bright melodies and brooding tracks that contrast well. The voice over for this title is Japanese only, however this doesn’t detract from the experience as the acting feels natural and fits the tone presented during the game.

Final Thoughts – overall, I had a lot of fun playing this game, I had it in my backlog for a long time and needed a reason to play it, which I am really glad I did. Again, thank you to everyone who participated in the poll and voted for the game they wanted to be covered. The action is paced well even if it is frantic at times, with controls that fit the gameplay style and the switch in all gameplay modes. The content on offer is well worth the price asked both new and second hand, so check it out if you can.

I can easily recommend this release to fans of rail shooters, dating sim style games and fanservice anime in general. The presentation, sound and overall quality of the package is outstanding. However, there are a few minor flaws that could possibly put a dampener on the experience, with gameplay possibly becoming repetitive and the level of fanservice being tasteless to some. That being said, this is a fun game and I am looking forward to seeing Gal*Gun returns in 2021.

In the end, I give Gal*Gun 2 a final score of 4.5/5. The action is paced well, the presentation a delight and the fanservice element is entertaining. Gal*Gun 2 provides a lot of content in an inexpensive package, with plenty of additional DLC content if you want to add a more risqué element to the experience. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be available below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Black Desert: Prestige Edition – Xbox One Review

Overview – developed and published by Pearl Abyss, Black Desert is an MMORPG set in a fantasy world filled with magic and monsters. Create your own custom character from a variety of classes, battle enemies in high intensity combat or take it easy with activities like fishing, crafting, cooking and more. Then Black Desert: Prestige Edition is available on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (the game is also on Windows). This is an MMO with various packages available for purchase, however I will be focusing on the Prestige Edition with a link for to purchase the specific bundle at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Tinsley PR for providing the copy of Black Desert: Prestige Edition that was used for this piece. The provision of this software and content has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own. Please note that the standard Xbox One hardware was used for this review, so some opinions may not apply to other system variants.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be omitting story details as I feel that the narrative should be experienced first-hand, so I will be going directly into the gameplay section, providing detail of the basic system mechanics on offer.

Gameplay – Black Desert is an open world MMORPG, featuring a living world that changes over time, with special timed and regular updates to keep the game world stable. The sandbox nature of this title gives players the freedom to explore the world, there is a caveat to this due to the fact that some features are restricted due to level requirements and/or joining an in game Guild. These restrictions encourage co-operation and heavy grinding, leading to long play sessions in game.

Now I want to take a moment to discuss the character creation element of the game. At the start of the game, the player must select their server and create their character. In the customization menu, the player has the option to select from 20 classes, with each one tied to a specific race and gender. However, there are similar classes with minor differences depending on if they are male or female, such as the Witch/Wizard and Ninja/Kunoichi.

In the character creation menu, the player can alter the body, hair and overall appearance through the use of various sliders and color options. There is a preset selection of parts and features that the player can use to build their avatar alongside the in depth settings, giving all players a process that fits their style of play. The only negative that I found with the system was the limited character slots, requiring purchase with premium currency to create more than six characters, limiting options for class diversity.

After character creation, the game begins spawning the player in the starting zone and setting the player off on their journey. Here the player meets the Black Spirit, a mysterious entity that will guide the player through their quests, providing clues and objectives to complete. Between the missions provided by the mysterious companion, other NPC characters also give tasks that must be completed in order to progress through the story.

The objectives themselves range from simple enemy elimination and talking to key figures, all the way to battling hulking boss monsters and clearing dungeons. When an objective is complete, the player will receive a reward depending on the level and complexity of the task, providing appropriate spoils for a job well done.

While on quests or exploring the surroundings between objectives, dangerous monsters roam the land, in the areas called combat zones. During travel through the lands, enemies may attack the player initiating a combat encounter, with some being passive to the player unless they are attacked first. The high intensity combat is where the action lies for new players and those who just want to fight monsters and grind alone.

During battle with the various monsters, the player has access to a range of attacks and skills. The main attacks in a characters arsenal are the primary, secondary and kick attack, which are effective in almost all situations. However, some high level combat scenarios will require skills and strategies that work best in a party or raid group, so ensure that you are prepared to enter dangerous areas.

When enemies are defeated in battle, experience will be given to the player increasing the combat level of the player at specified amounts. As characters level up they will gain skill points, which are used to unlock new attacks and improve currently available ones. The cost of ability unlocks will vary depending on their level, giving players the option to wait and save up points, or spend them as soon as they are earned by leveling.

The last part of the combat leveling system is the Awakening system. At certain level milestones, the player will unlock a new system called Awakening and providing a new weapon, increased power and a new set of specialized skills. The new skills and weapon unlocks provide more encouragement to continue playing the game, while allowing the ability to freely switching between the main weapons and awakening weapons.

All of the combat skills and systems add to the depth of gameplay available to players, with a system that is easy to pick up yet complex enough to provide a rewarding experience. The only issue I found in combat was the lack of ability to lock onto enemies, this did make some combat rather clunky and cumbersome at times. However, the combat focused quests and objectives are not the only ones that are available to the player in the world of Black Desert.

Featured alongside the traditional battle focused quests of the game are life skill quests, providing a more relaxed experience compared to the intense battles before. Life skills are similar to professions in other MMO titles, with fishing, crafting and more available to players. These skills will level independently from the combat level of the player, providing a secondary focus with just as much enjoyment to be had compared to fighting monsters.

There is a variety of PVP (competitive) modes available to the player, they each have different requirements to activate and participate in. The main competitive modes are the Red Battlefield and Arenas, where players can freely battle other players with few penalties. The other PVP content revolves around Guilds and independent player choice, with large scale Guild wars where factions battle each other to see which group is the strongest in the region.

The final PVP system is the “non-consensual” battle system, where players can be attacked openly depending on their status. This system has significant penalties with a mechanic called Karma, altering how the world will see the player. The Karma system allows for the freedom to participate in negative behavior, functioning with a rudimentary law and order system as the offending player will have bounties placed upon them until they atone for their in game sins.  

The final part of the game I want to talk about is the financial ecosystem of the game. In the world of Black Desert, there are two main currencies that I want to focus on for this last segment. The first is Silver, a freely obtainable currency that can be earned from Life Skills, selling items to merchants and by offering materials/equipment to other players in the Central Market. The Central Market allows for the open sale of permitted items, however there are taxes applied for completed sales so bear that in mind.

Second is Pearls, a premium currency that costs real world currency to purchase. While I understand that the use of premium currency in MMO titles allows the game and servers to be maintained, the cost for some of the cosmetic items is too high for me to justify using the system. There is a positive to the use of Pearls as a currency, as the vast majority of items available for purchase from the premium store are purely cosmetic, adding zero gameplay advantage for the player.

There are items that can provide a temporary boost for players in the game as well as reducing the amount of time needed to level up other characters. This can be used to save time when playing several characters, or to boost the characters that the player may be struggling to level up. Another upside to the premium items is that some items have purchase restrictions to them, preventing a pay to win ecosystem from developing during in the system.

Before I move onto the other aspects of the game, since this is covering the Prestige Edition specifically, here is the content that you can obtain with purchase of this pack;

  • Exclusive Pet- Black Leopard x1
  • Limited Edition Glorious Shudad Premium Set x1
  • Value Pack (30 Days) x1
  • [Event] Enhancement Help Kit II x1
  • Advice of Valks (+40) x1
  • Blessed Message Scroll (100 min.) x15
  • Pearl Box – 2000 x1

The Prestige Edition is a special physical release of Black Desert, the items featured boast a total value of $140 (taken from the official website). Players who have already purchased the digital version of Black Desert will be able to receive the bonus content, this will be tied to one account so there are limits to how the bundle may be used.

Now I’m going to continue to the other parts of the game, having covered the basic systems present to a degree that I am happy with. So let’s get into the controls.

Controls – the controls for Black Desert are consistent during play, with inputs that work well when navigating menus and in combat. There is an issue however as the camera can be difficult to control during high tension situations, with the camera swinging wildly when trying to battle multiple enemies. Other than the problems with the camera, the layout and functions of the game suffer from no delay or problems during play.

Presentation – this is the most difficult part of the game to discuss. While the visuals are impressive and the graphical assets are beautiful there is a frustrating downside to it, but that may not be the fault of the software. While I was playing Black Desert, there was a consistent issue with both framerate and overall performance. The lag and frame drops are possibly due to the limitations of the hardware I was using as the system used for this review was the standard Xbox One.

These inconsistencies with the performance of the game were a source of frustration. Fortunately there are optimization options that can alleviate some of these shortcomings, helping to reduce the strain on the system as multiple assets are loaded at once, but not entirely. The sound for this release is pleasing, with a traditional fantasy score playing throughout the game and adding to the atmosphere in game. There is voice acting present in this title, which is effective although there is minimal implementation of voiced dialogue.

Final Thoughts – Black Desert was a mixed bag for me, the world, the narrative and the gameplay on offer was able to pull me in, keeping me playing for hours on end. However, the issues that I faced were jarring and broke the engagement that I had during the experience. The game excels in many areas that others of the genre are lacking when it comes to character creation, flow of combat, in world economy and depth of gameplay in general.

The downsides of performance with the drops in framerate, the lack of target lock-on and the camera controls soured the enjoyment for me during play. That being said, the graphical issues I encountered may be a symptom of the limits of the standard Xbox One hardware, so experiences may vary for other players.

At this point I will hold off on recommendations as I am unable to accurately determine the general performance of the game from my experience, but i will say that the value of the content on offer is worth the price tag. New players who want to experience Black Desert for the first time should look into this bundle, the base game is $9.99 alone and at $29.99 for the Prestige Edition this is an excellent deal. The only flaw with this bundle is that the premium currency included can’t buy a lot in the Pearl Shop.

In the end, I give Black Desert: Prestige Edition a score of 3.5/5. The world is immersive, the gameplay is engaging and the presentation is impressive, offering hours of content for all. The value of this bundle is a great selling point for new players and returning adventurers who want a little more, with $140 of content in a modest package. If you want to check this out for yourself, a link to purchase this release will be available below.

Link to Amazon page for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 physical version (US) (HERE)

Link to Amazon page for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 physical version (UK/EU) (HERE)

Graveyard Keeper + Game of Crone/Breaking Dead – Steam Review

Overview – developed by Lazy Bear Games and published by tinyBuild, Graveyard Keeper is a graveyard management simulator with RPG style advancement systems. Along with the base game, several DLC expansions have been developed and published since initial release with titles and elements that reference popular media. This title (and some expansion content) is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam. Links to each version of the game will be available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I want to thank tinyBuild who provided the copy of Graveyard Keeper and the Game of Crone DLC that was used for this article. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own. Please note I will be discussing both the Game and DLC content in the gameplay section.

Content Warning: this game features content and themes that may be inappropriate for some audiences, with depictions of religion, violence and other mature themes. Please use discretion when choosing to proceed with reading this review or checking out the game.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, I will be skipping the story segment as I feel the narrative should be experienced firsthand.

Gameplay – Graveyard Keeper is a management sim with a unique twist. Rather than managing a city or farm like other titles in the genre, this release has the player take care of the operations of a cemetery, church and mortuary. After a series of unfortunate events in the present day, the player has been transported to a medieval village, being put in the position of the keeper of the graveyard. With the aid of a talking skull named Gerry, the player solves various tasks to find a way to get home.

BASE GAME – During the course of the game, the player will collect bodies from the Donkey, a disgruntled worker who drops the bodies at the morgue ready for collection. When a body is collected, the player can perform an autopsy to harvest parts from the body which includes flesh, blood, fat and bones which become resources (and food in some situations). After completing an autopsy, the player is tasked with laying the remains to rest, burying the body in the graveyard with a marker and fence (if desired).

Along with the responsibility of burying the dead, the player will also be given quests to improve the condition of the graveyard by the Bishop, who wants the church to reopen so that more donations can be collected. As well as the graveyard improvement objectives, the player can also get tasks from residents of the village, a small residential area with an Inn, Blacksmith, Potter and other useful NPCs.

When communicating with NPC characters, completing quests will give reputation points with the specific entity. As more points are earned, additional requests and features will be unlocked in the questline for that entity. At preset times during the game, characters will appear before the player initiating dialogue that will alter the way that the narrative progresses.  These special events will change the story and introduce new mechanics into the current playthrough.

There is an important thing to note about interactions with characters. Some of the NPCs encountered will only appear or interact with the player on specific days, or when conditions are met. This means that resources and materials are not the only important thing to manage, but time itself. The day and night cycle is shown by a clock in the top left of the screen, showing the current day via a dedicated symbol, with time passing quicker when the player sleeps.

The grave markers, fences and other equipment/supplies are crafted by collecting resources. Each time a resource such as wood, stone and iron is collected technology points are accrued, allowing the player to unlock new recipes for tools and equipment for crafting. The points are separated into three categories with different ones used to purchase upgrades, improve the quality of items and the complexity of each new item that is unlocked.

The different progression trees include smithing for turning metals into tools, building for processing wood and stone, cookery for food items and theology for the church. Additional trees will are unlocked as the game progresses and special trees are given from interactions with other characters. There is also a system called study, allowing players to examine items and document what they can be used in the alchemy system.

In order to create the grave decorations, lay bodies to rest and collect various other resources, the player will use energy for each action. The amount of energy consumed will vary depending on the task, with more demanding actions taking more energy. When the energy meter has been depleted, there are two ways to refill it, the first is by sleeping (this is also how the game is saved) and by consuming food/drink which is either crafted by the player or bought from merchants.

Be careful, when energy has run out, no actions can be initiated without sleeping or consuming recovery items, putting the player at risk of injury or even death if encountered by a hostile force. Management of energy and supplies can be very important if collecting resources far from home. Be sure to craft or purchase essential supplies where needed to be able to survive while out in the wilderness, as running out of energy mid task can be a significant setback.

The last part of the base game that I want to discuss is the dungeon system. Here the player is able to explore a multi-level dungeon, battling monsters, collect loot and complete quests relating to the dungeons. Each floor contains a set of monsters that must be defeated before progressing, as well as loot items that can be collected. Caution is advised, as running out of energy can result in death so tread lightly in the dungeons or you may get eaten alive.

EXPANSIONS – Alongside the standard questlines and story of the Graveyard Keeper base game, there is a selection of additional expansions in the form of DLC. I have been fortunate to be able to try out the Game of Crone expansion. There is also a free update for PC players called Breaking Dead (this expansion requires purchase on consoles).

The Breaking Dead expansion introduces necromancy, allowing the Keeper to resurrect the dead, creating an army of zombies that can be deployed in different roles. The undead can be used as miners, graveyard attendents and even as merchants. Use resources to modify and upgrade the zombie army, making them more efficient and consistent at their jobs around the graveyard.

The Game of Crone is a full story expansion, which provides additional narrative content for the player to experience, along with new quests and crafting recipes to make. New to this expansion is the introduction of refugee camps, a new settlement system that allows the Keeper to become a mayor of sorts. Assist the residents of the camp as they try to become prosperous and escape the dangers that caused them to flee.

Provide the residents of the camp with tents, wells, beds and more as the population starts to grow. Take care of the residents by helping to improve the conditions of the camp, provide what they need and protect them from those who seek to destroy them. This expansion aims to deliver an additional 6 – 10 hours of content, updates to existing systems and increasing the overall value of this expansion for both old and new players.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – Graveyard Keeper has full controller support as well as mouse and keyboard controls. I used the latter for my time playing and I can say that the controls are comfortable to use. The interface is easy to navigate, with the mouse being the best way to move between objects on while in the menus. The keyboard mapping works effectively with all relevant buttons, using a handful of keys on one part of the keyboard for actions and movement.

Presentation – this title uses 2D pixel styled sprites, giving the game a style aesthetic similar to Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. The character designs have a quirky charm and the darkly comic atmosphere of the games world add to the experience. There are moments that may make the player uncomfortable, including religious overtones such as inquisitors, cultists and even public executions via witch burning.

The sound design has a very medieval feel to it, with the use of flutes, harps and drums for the compositions featured. There is an absence of voice acting in this title, with simple noises for speech that fulfill their intended purpose. The overall performance of this title was satisfying, even though my hardware wasn’t the strongest I was able to play the game at a stable frame rate with a high resolution.

Final Thoughts – I enjoyed my time playing Graveyard Keeper, the narrative was both engaging and entertaining. The dark humor present when interacting with the bodies of the recently deceased, alongside the more creepy moments really brings this historically inaccurate world to life. The controls are comfortable when playing with the default setup and the performance of the game may work well with a range of hardware setups.

I can recommend this release to fans of sim style games and RPG titles. The abundance of content on offer in the base game and expansions provide enough depth to keep the player engaged for a long time. The only issue I found was that there some of the objectives can be cryptic during play, but this isn’t a significant downside. I sank a lot of time into this release during the writing of this review, I have a lot of praise for the team at Lazy Bear Games and an entertaining addition to the tinyBuild catalogue.

In the end, I give Graveyard Keeper a final Score of 4/5. Graveyard Keeper is a fun and entertaining experience, mixing farming sim style gameplay with a darkly comedic setting that doesn’t take itself seriously, offering a wealth of content in both the base game and expansions. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be available below.

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Link to G.O.G version (HERE)

Link to Xbox One version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Mad Rat Dead – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Nippon Ichi Software and published by NIS America, Mad Rat Dead is a hybrid of side scrolling platformer and rhythm action gameplay. Match the beat of Mad Rat’s heart to the rhythm of the background music, jumping over hazards, avoiding obstacles and fighting monsters on your quest to the goal. This title is available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, links to each version of the game will be available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I want to thank NIS America for providing the copy of Mad Rat Dead that was used for this piece. The provision of this title 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.

Story – Mad Rat died in the middle of the night after being experimented on in the lab where he was born and raised. After his death, he encounters the Rat God who gives him the chance to relive his last day. Taking the opportunity presented to him, Mad Rat sets out on a quest to fulfill the only dream he has, revenge on the human that caused him to suffer. With only one day to achieve his goal, will he be able overcome the obstacles in his path or will it all be in vain?

Gameplay – Mad Rat Dead is a unique hybrid of side scrolling platformer and rhythm action, set to a pulse pounding soundtrack. The objective of each stage is to reach the goal within the time limit. To get to the goal, match the beat at the bottom of the screen to dash, jump, dance and stomp. Successful beat inputs will add to the combo meter on screen, building up for each well timed beat. However, a late/early input will cause the combo to reset and start over.

The game is separated into two stage types, Platformer stages and boss stages. Between stages, there are story segments that push the plot forward, often with humorous interactions between characters. During some of these segments, choices can be made with a simple yes/no style system, these choices may influence the end result of the quest but I won’t spoil what happens.

During platformer stages, Rat can collect shards that increase the beat timer, alongside hazards that can kill him in a single hit, including dangerous monsters, environmental hazards and dangerous pitfalls. When the player is hit or falls into a pit, a clock will appear allowing time to be turned back to try again, resetting the stage to the point chosen but shards don’t respawn and the timer continues to tick down. Be aware, if the timer expires the game is over, with the only options are to retry or go to title menu.

The boss stages feature the exact same mechanics as the platformer sections, however they each have their own unique objectives and hazards, further increasing the challenge presented to the player. To help give the player a guide on how close they are to the end of the current stage, a goal meter can be seen on screen and will fill up as progress is made. This can add tension to a difficult boss/platform stage as seeing how far away the goal is and a limited timer may cause some stress to the player.

At the end of a stage results are shown with a ranking given for the performance of the player and the song for that stage is unlocked for free play. The rankings given are determined by the number of beats left, the highest combo reached and the number of perfect beats hit. This system adds another layer of replay value to the game, proving players with a reason to return to the game to get the highest rank possible.

As well as the story mode, there is sound check, stage select and a trophy system. Sound check allows songs that have been unlocked to be listened to freely, with a practice prompt added to learn the beat of the song. Stage select gives the player the option to replay previously completed stages, with a choice of Normal or Hard difficulty and the ability to select the song that is played. The trophy system rewards players with titles for fulfilling requirements during gameplay, adding more reasons to return to Mad Rat Dead.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for Mad Rat Dead are simple and effective, both in design and execution. The face buttons are used for the actions, front shoulder buttons to activate the heart clock and the left stick to handle movement direction. The controls feel natural and comfortable when played with Joy Cons or a separate controller in either docked or handheld modes. The inputs are responsive and the vibration when hitting beats successfully provide positive feedback that is both satisfying and engaging during play.

Difficulty – there is a gradual difficulty curve with this release, getting tougher as the game progresses and the beats get more complex. In the normal setting, there is just a single type of beat to follow, whereas the hard setting introduces a second red beat that must have all markers within it hit to succeed increasing the challenge present .Through effective implementation of the rewind system, the overall experience isn’t too difficult and can be completed by anyone.

However, there is an issue that I must mention. When turning the clock back, the beat track continues from where the player was hit, potentially causing problems with timing inputs resulting in repeated failures. While the issue of interrupted beat timings upon restarting is a cause for frustration, it is not a major downside as there is no limit to the number of times the rewind feature can be used.

Presentation – the graphical style of Mad Rat Dead is both quirky and aesthetically pleasing, with creepy horror tones present during play. The characters themselves are designed wonderfully, with the cute style of the Rat God contrasting to the punk aesthetic of Mad Rat. The stages are also well made, however, they do have some faults as the foreground and background layers can blur together at points, making it difficult to see what is and isn’t solid ground.

The sound design is excellent, with a soundtrack that makes this release stand out above other rhythm action games. Using a mix of electro swing, dubstep and more to create a unique sound experience that gives Mad Rat Dead its own personality, utilizing the sounds of accordion, saxophone and bass to name a few. There is a lack of voice acting in this title, but that doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the game as the sound effects used for character dialogue work just as well in this style of game.

Final Thoughts – I had a lot of fun while playing Mad Rat Dead, but also had my fair share of frustrations at the same time. While the action is smooth and responsive, the platforming was tough at times due to minor visibility issues and poor input timing on my end, causing several failures by unintentionally falling into pitfalls or colliding with hazards. But to be completely honest, the majority of failures I suffered were human error on my part once I had gotten used to the way that the rewind feature functioned.

This is an easy recommendation to make as the overall experience on offer is accessible to all, with enough complexity for fans of both rhythm action and side scrolling platform to find something to enjoy. The diversity of musical styles from the talented artists bring this game to life, while also providing a selection of music that can be enjoyed away from the game. I applaud Nippon Ichi Software on another fantastic genre defying release.

In the end, I give Mad Rat Dead a score of 4/5. This release is a fun and frantic mash up of platforming and rhythm action, featuring an entertaining story, a charming cast of characters and a toe tapping soundtrack that ties the whole experience together. If you want to check this title out for yourself, links to both versions of the game will be below (demos available).

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Disgaea 5 Complete – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Nippon Ichi Software and published by NIS America, Disgaea 5 Complete is the definitive version of the tactical RPG originally released for the PlayStation 4. This enhanced release includes all previously released DLC content in a single package. This version is available for Nintendo Switch and Steam, the PS4 version is also available as a base version and a complete bundle. Links to each version of the game will be available at the bottom of the review.

Disclaimer: this is a rewrite of a previously published article, updated to fit the quality and standard of other reviews that are on this site. The previously published version of this article is no longer available, so this is the only version of the review available for reading.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story.

Story – Disgaea 5 focuses on Killia, a wandering demon who is travelling the Netherworlds on a quest for revenge on a man known as the “Demon Emperor” Void Dark. During his travels Killia encounters Lady Seraphina, an overlord who is battling an army called The Lost, commanded by Dark. After Killia decimates the enemy forces in a single strike, Seraphina joins the mysterious demon to aid him in fulfilling his vendetta and her own goals.

Gameplay – Disgaea 5 Complete maintains the same core gameplay mechanics featured in all other entries in the franchise. The isometric view, anime style visuals for sprites/portraits, thematic 3D worlds and chaotic turn based combat returns again, with special features that are exclusive to this installment. This is the third review in the Disgaea franchise, with Disgaea 1 Complete (viewable HERE) and Disgaea 4 Complete+ (viewable HERE), so I will be giving a brief summary of basic gameplay, alongside some notable exclusive features.

The story mode for Disgaea 5 takes place across 16 chapters, featuring battles across themed Netherworlds that have their own unique appearance. During each battle stage, the player is allowed to deploy up to 10 units from the starting space, with each unit able to make up to two actions per turn. Actions that units can make include standard attacks, special skills, movement and item usage.

When actions have been assigned for that turn, the player can execute the current actions to make more moves or end the turn, executing current actions and passing to the enemy. Be aware that if a unit is defeated, the slot that the unit was using is depleted, meaning if all 10 slots are depleted the battle is lost. The player may then retry, return to the home base or go to the main menu.

In battle, the units that are deployed will gain experience by using skills, defeating enemies and completing objectives. After earning enough experience, the unit will level up, gaining new skills/attacks and boosting their stats. Alongside experience is Hell and Mana, two forms of currency that are earned during play, primarily used to purchase new equipment and giving access to various features while in the Netherworld home base.

This time the home base is a pocket netherworld, featuring the Rosen Queen Trading Co, Dimension Guide, Hospital and Item World. The Dark Assembly returns in this entry, along with special content that is exclusive to this release. Here is just a few of the new features included in Disgaea 5 Complete;

  • Revenge Mode – when a unit takes damage or allied units are defeated in battle, a special meter is filled. When this meter reaches the maximum threshold, that unit enters Revenge Mode. While active, this state allows the use of skills at a reduced cost, reduces damage and allows specific character units to activate a special skill. This special skill is a single use strike that can shift the tide of battle for that stage.
  • Quest Shop – in the Pocket Netherworld, there is a shop that the player can access to obtain quests and challenges. These optional objectives range from collecting specific items, to leveling up specific classes to unlock rewards and more.
  • Chara World – while the Chara World is present in Disgaea 4, that version of the mode was a variation of the Item World. In Disgaea 5, the Chara World has been revamped to function similar to a board game, with a preset number of turns to make it to the goal. Choose a character from your party and send them on a quest to unlock special upgrades.
  • Curry Shop – mix together items in your inventory to create special curry items, with each unique combination providing different results. Curry items can be bought from the shop with preset effects that can be used immediately.

Now with the details of gameplay covered to a degree that prevents spoilers, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the difficulty.

Difficulty – Disgaea 5 has a level of challenge that feels fair and balanced, with rapid advancement that is both satisfying and rewarding during play. The difficulty can be eased for players that struggle with the help of special Prinny characters, with each special character set at level 25 and available early in the game, boosting the power of the players party. Alongside additional features and special bonuses, this is the most accessible Disgaea currently available for players.

Presentation – the visuals are as crisp and vibrant as ever, with the portraits for the new characters/units featuring the same high quality as always. The animations for special skills, team attacks and cutscenes are spectacular, showcasing the trademark insanity that Nippon Ichi Software is known for. The best part of the graphical design is the variety of environments available to explore and battle through, making each Netherworld featured feel unique.

The sound has all the hallmarks of the Disgaea franchise, with exciting tracks that feature both operatic and traditional singing, alongside the usual rock and jazz style compositions. The most memorable part of the soundtrack is the theme that plays while in the Pocket Netherworld, titled Moving On, this track is calm and relaxing, featuring a vocal track that adds to the experience. Disgaea 5 features an English voice cast, with excellent performances by Stephanie Sheh (Little Witch Academia), Cherami Leigh (Brand New Animal) and Kira Buckland (Demon Slayer) to name but a few of the talented voice actors.

Final Thoughts – this is the best way to experience Disgaea 5, as the inclusion of bonus DLC content creates the definitive version of Nippon Ichi Software’s latest mainline entry in their most well know franchise (until Disgaea 6 is released in 2021). The developers have provided an excellent experience for players both old and new who may want to try the series on the Nintendo Switch, with easy to pick up gameplay mechanics and wonderful cast of characters.  

I cannot recommend this game enough as the gameplay, narrative and overall experience kept me engaged the entire time. The voice acting is a delight and the presentation spectacular, with beautifully rendered character portraits, Netherworld locations and voiced dialogue sequences that have a unique charm that only Nippon Ichi games have. I have lost countless hours playing this game and the other Disgaea Complete releases and with Disgaea 6 coming next year, I expect to lose many, many more.

In the end, I give Disgaea 5 Complete a final score of 5/5. This is an outstanding release and another feather in the cap for Nippon Ichi Software. The characters, story and gameplay are engaging, with the included DLC content adding more value to the overall package on offer. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Clea – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by InvertMouse and published by Sekai Games, Clea is a skill based, survival horror adventure set in a mansion overtaken by hellish monsters. Solve puzzles, avoid monsters and use the environment to your advantage to avoid the monsters that are out hunting you. This title is available for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Steam service. Links to the game will be 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 Clea used for this piece. The provision of this title has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be omitting the story section to prevent spoilers, so I will be moving directly to the gameplay section.

Gameplay – Clea is an unconventional horror experience, using a hide and seek style gameplay system with limited defensive capabilities. Within the Whitlock Mansion, explore the rooms of the house and avoid the monsters hunting you down, peeking under doors, hiding in closets and solving puzzles to access important items. The puzzles that the player must solve include button combination locks and color coded doors that require special keys to unlock, all while trying to remain undetected.

When exploring the halls of Whitlock Mansion, sounds will attract monsters to the room that the player is located in. When a monster is close by, they will be signaled by noises and footsteps that get louder as the danger builds. If the player doesn’t hide or use great care when monsters are nearby by peeking under doors, death will occur quickly as the most common monster will chase Clea down faster than she can run. However, there are some items and mechanics that can keep her safe.

In most areas, there are closets that Clea can hide inside, the monsters will be unable to see her while she is concealed and will go away after a moment. In some rooms there are button prompts that will create noise, these will alert nearby enemies who will be attracted to the sound, allowing Clea to sneak past or hide if a closet is nearby. The strategic use of noise and concealment can be critical to surviving the horrors of the mansion.

During the adventure, Clea will encounter an item called an arcane candle, which will repel all enemies in the room for the time that she is in that room. Additionally, potions can be found while exploring the rooms, which will heal scarring on Clea. The scarring acts as a corruption system, causing creepy apparitions to appear more frequently the longer that the scars are untreated. These important items are scarce so be careful when using them.

Now, each area is a separated into its own chapter, with a cutscene that will play before the stage begins providing more plot details. Alongside the story segments, additional details and clues to puzzles can be found in notes/books that are scattered in different rooms. These notes can be crucial for understanding what is happening in that area, providing critical information that can keep Clea safe. But not all notes are important as some are just filler, with jokes and references to break the tension.

The last thing I want to talk about is the medal system and unlockable items. At the end of each chapter, the player can earn medals depending on the difficulty level chosen. These medals will unlock bonus content that can be accessed in the main menu. Successful completion of other requirements will unlock special costumes and game modes, providing new gameplay challenges and cosmetics for new playthroughs.

Clea can be cleared in a few hours and while this is relatively short, there is a lot of replay value on offer for players. Additional difficulty settings, cosmetic rewards, play modes and multiple endings to unlock give more than enough reasons to return to this title more than once. This spooky experience has a lot on offer for the relatively low price being asked.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – Clea has a very simple control method that works very effectively. During the opening section, there is a handy tutorial that allows the player to practice each of the functions freely. While the majority of inputs are simple and work with little lag, there is a minor issue present. Some objects appear very close to each other, this can cause the wrong object to be activated at times, such as activating a door when trying to use a save point.

Difficulty – the difficulty of this title is balanced with the implementation of several settings and modifiers available. When starting the game, there are two settings available with an additional two settings and modifiers unlocked during play. The last part of the difficulty to discuss is the penalties that are suffered upon failure, unless the player saves regularly during each stage, a significant amount of time and progress can be lost when killed.

Presentation – the visual style and presentation of Clea is spooky and atmospheric, with a paper doll style to the character models and enemy designs. This flat look also causes animations to look jerky and unnatural, further adding to the horror aesthetic that the developer was aiming for. The effects used and overall performance is pleasing, with no issues when it comes to frame rates and graphical performance.

The sound design is creepy with a distinct lack of background music during the experience, with footsteps, creepy laughter and other sound cues being used to great effect. The way that the stereo audio is implemented makes the experience even creepier, with footsteps and other sound effects changing in volume depending on the distance to the player. There is a voice over used for the story segments, with fully voiced dialogue that is excellently performed, providing an unsettling tone to all character interactions.

Final Thoughts – Clea is an atmospheric and creepy horror adventure, with a charm that I found to be genuinely haunting during the experience. The use of sound was unsettling as it added to the tension when trying to solve puzzles and get to safety. Aside from the occasional input issue when trying to save or activate objects, this title is engaging and a lot of spooky fun.

The overall quality and presentation of Clea is outstanding given that the game was created by a small team. I applaud the hard work of InvertMouse and I look forward to seeing more from this indie dev, with hopes that the sequel will also come to the Nintendo Switch in the future. I can recommend this release to everyone, with a creepy story, haunting atmosphere and challenging gameplay that anyone can enjoy.

In the end, I give Clea a final score of 4/5. This is a creepy and haunting horror adventure, featuring a graphical style that provides another unsettling touch to the experience. The gameplay is engaging and the use of sound works fantastically, alongside the variety of additional content including special costumes that are based upon releases by publisher Sekai Games. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version will be available below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to Xbox One version (HERE)

Link to steam version (HERE)

Disgaea 4 Complete+ – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Nippon Ichi Software and published by NIS America, Disgaea 4 Complete+ is the definitive version of the tactical RPG originally released for the PS Vita and PlayStation 3. This release features updated HD Visuals, refined gameplay and all additional content from the previous iterations. This version of Disgaea 4 is available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam, links to purchase this game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: this is a rewrite of a previously published article, updated to fit the quality and standard of other reviews that are on this site. The previously published version of this article is no longer available, so this is the only version of the review for reading. This release was provided by NIS America for review at the time that the initial coverage was published. The provision of this title 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.

Story – the vampire Valvatorez, a former tyrant who once terrorized both the Netherworld and the world of humans has become a Prinny instructor in the Netherworld prison of Hades. Here he trains Prinnies, souls of dead humans transformed into demonic penguins in order to atone for their sins and be reincarnated. After the completion of training the latest batch of Prinnies, Valvatorez makes a promise to give each of his trainees a sardine.

However, before he can fulfill his promise, the Prinnies are taken away by a vortex that suddenly opens up. After locating the lost demons, Valvatorez learns that the president of the Netherworld Corrupternment has ordered the mass extermination of the Prinnies. Disgusted by the behavior of the president and infuriated that this will interfere with the promise he made, Valvatorez sets out to stop the plans of the president by reveling against the Corrupternment.

Gameplay – Disgaea 4 Complete+ features all the trademark mechanics that the franchise is known for. The isometric camera angles, 2D anime style sprites, vibrant 3D worlds and chaotic turn based battles return, with new features exclusive to this installment. I have covered the basic mechanics of Disgaea previously with my coverage of Disgaea 1 Complete which can be read (HERE). However, I will still provide a summary of the gameplay below.

The story takes place through several chapters, made up of a series of battle stages each with unique appearance based on that chapter.  During battle the player can deploy up to 10 units from the starting position, with each unit be able to make up to two actions per turn. The actions that can be used each turn include attacks, special skills, movement and item usage.

When actions have been assigned for that turn, the player can execute the current actions to make more moves or end the turn, executing current actions and passing to the enemy. Be aware that if a unit is defeated, the slot that the unit was using is depleted, meaning if all 10 slots are depleted the battle is lost. The player may then retry, return to the home base or go to the main menu.

In battle, the units that are deployed will gain experience by using skills, defeating enemies and completing objectives. After earning enough experience, the unit will level up, gaining new skills/attacks and boosting their stats. Alongside experience is Hell and Mana, two forms of currency that are earned during play, primarily used to purchase new equipment and giving access to various features while in the Netherworld home base.

The home base in this release includes many of the features present in other Disgaea releases, with the Rosen Queen merchant stores, Dimension Gate, and Item World present. Now with the summary covered, I will be discussing some of the new content that is exclusive to this release. Please note, that the features and mechanics I will be discussing here are new additions to this title when compared to both Disgaea 1 Complete and Disgaea 5 complete (which will be covered soon).

New Features;

  • Geo blocks – replacing the pyramids used in Disgaea 1 Complete, the Geo blocks are stackable and can alter not only the effects of the field but the terrain itself, being used as bridges, blocking steps and making up towers, if a matching block is dropped next to existing blocks a chain will occur and blocks will be destroyed.
  • Skill and Evility changes – a new feature in this release, skills are no longer improved by leveling up, instead skills must be improved by paying mana to boost the range and power of each ability. Secondly, the Evility system uses mana to purchase new passive skills that offer improvements for each character. These new systems put an increased focus on earning mana with favored units to strengthen them quickly.
  • Cam-Pain Headquarters – an alteration of the Dark Assembly, given the political themes of the game the player can place units on a map, moving them freely. The dark senate is situated here, allowing the player to create new party members. New structures can also be unlocked and placed on the map giving new skills among other new features available in this mode.
  • Network Features – in the Network mode, players can share characters between netherworlds to either help or hinder others, battle players in challenging battles and join the rankings to earn special rewards.

A disclaimer for users, there are micro transactions implemented in this release but they have no impact on the way the game functions, apart from providing boosts for players who may be struggling to progress.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the difficulty.

Difficulty – the difficulty curve of Disgaea 4 Complete+ feels a little more intense than other releases in the Complete line of remasters. The changes to leveling and skill advancement increase the amount of grinding required, increasing the need to grind earlier stages to boost units in the party. The difficulty increase is most prevalent during the early stages of the game and when creating new party members, requiring heavy grinding to prevent defeat as the story progresses.

Presentation – this release features the same anime style visuals that the franchise is known for, featuring beautiful character portraits and outlandish animated cutscenes for special attacks. The thematic stages are unique with each chapter, keeping the experience fresh throughout. Like usual, the overall visual quality of the presentation is outstanding and of the same high quality that Nippon Ichi Software is known for.

The sound design still has the grand and spooky feel to it that other Disgaea universe titles have. Classic melodies return, with the Rosen Queen Co theme and a retro styled rendition of Laharl’s Hymn. The voice acting for the English language track is of high quality as usual, with reputable voice talent from anime and video games. The cast for this release include Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Patrick Seitz (One Piece) and Kate Higgins (Naruto).

Final Thoughts – overall this is a great game, however there is a couple minor issues. First, the difficulty increase and the need to grind more than other titles can be a source of frustration. The other issue I found were the micro transactions, which are not intrusive but don’t fit the overall gameplay style of Disgaea. These changes can be jarring when first playing the game, but are otherwise a minor inconvenience to the overall experience.

While there are some things the game hasn’t done well at, there are many things that Disgaea 4 Complete+ excels at. The presentation of the story, additional content on offer and the high quality of the HD remaster makes this the definitive iteration of the game. I have no issue recommending this title to fans of the series, as the charming characters and quality of the game in general make this release of Disgaea 4 well worth picking up.

In the end, I give Disgaea 4 Complete+ a final score of 4.5/5. An excellent remaster that has the trademark high quality that Nippon Ichi Software is known for. The characters, story and environments have that signature Disgaea charm, alongside a wealth of additional content that will keep you engaged for a long time. If you want to check this title out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be available below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Supermarket Shriek – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Billy Goat Entertainment and published by PQube, Supermarket Shriek is a unique puzzle based racing game, featuring a man and a goat who must navigate obstacle courses in various retail environments via the power of screaming. This release is available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows. Links to purchase the game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PQube who provided the copy of Supermarket Shriek that was used for this piece. The provision of this title has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be omitting the story section as there is little in the way of plot and move directly to the gameplay portion of the release.

Gameplay – Supermarket Shriek is a unique title, with all actions controlled by the screams of the man and goat. In the trolley, the screams of the man will turn left and the goat will turn right, with both screaming at the same time pushing the trolley forward. This unique method of propulsion is the only way to control the trolley, with the triggers and left stick used to control the two characters.

The main game is made up of 32 hazard filled stages to play through, with a variety of objectives to complete, earning up to three stars depending on the result of each stage. Here are some of the objective types that you can find in the game;

  • Obstacle Course – dash through the stage, trying to get to the goal as fast as possible. Dodge swinging pendulum blades, sound activated obstacles and deadly pitfalls to reach the checkout as quickly as you can.
  • Canned Carnage – smash through stacks of canned beans, collect time ups and avoid obstacles to earn the most points you can. A time bonus is applied at the end of the stage depending on the performance of the player at the end of the stage.
  • Shopping List – run around the store, collecting items on a shopping list as quickly as you can before heading to the goal. Navigate the dangers that surround you, avoiding harm as you head to try to get in and out with the goods as fast as possible.

The game is made up of streets with each one containing a set number of stars to earn in the stages, with a preset number required to access the final store of each zone. The stars also unlock cosmetic items that the player can use to dress up the characters, adding more reasons to clear each stage as quickly as possible to get the maximum number of stars.

To get used to the way that the characters function with the screams, the game provides a tutorial to practice maneuvering the trolley through each of the twists and turns of each level ahead. The variety of locations, traps and hazards is refreshing as new obstacles are introduced gradually, building up the challenge gradually during the course of the game.

This release also features parodies and references to stores, video games and even a tribute to a deceased television personality. The introduction stage is called Winton’s General Store, a reference to the late Dale Winton, the host for the UK version of the game show Supermarket Sweep during its initial run in the 90’s. The game also features secret stages based on other video games, including a parody of the special stage from Sonic 2 and a Micro Machines style race.

The gameplay is frantic, fun and very engaging, with a lot of content on offer. There is also a co-op mode for two players using a single Joy-Con per player and a party mode that can accommodate up to eight players simultaneously. I was able to play some of the co-op mode and can say it is both frustrating and fun, with chaos ensuing while trying to get around corners and even going in a straight line. Unfortunately, I was unable to try the party mode and so I will be unable to discuss that here.

With the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls are simple and work well, using only the triggers and left thumbstick to control the trolley if steering assist is active. Playing with both a pro controller and Joy-Cons is comfortable, with responsive controls that work very well. The single Joy-Con set up works just as well, with the ability to control the characters relying on the skills of the player.

Difficulty – there is a moderate curve to the challenge of Supermarket Shriek, gradually increasing with difficulty over time. The core aspect of the game that influences the level of difficulty on offer is the star system, as the stricter time limits and scores required to earn the full three stars can be very tough to reach without practice. However, the game can get even harder if playing with another person, as the ability to communicate between each other will have a knock on effect on the difficulty level.

Presentation – the visual style for this release is quite pleasing, with rendered models and creative environments for each stage used. The character models, shop fronts and locations are humorous, with the screaming models that appear on the HUD reacting when colliding with obstacles and walls. There are also humorous fail state animations, with the shopping trolley exploding and censor blurs appearing if the characters fall into a grinder, which is funny as there is zero blood in this game.

The sound is done very well, featuring catchy melodies and cheerful music that fits well with the stages that the player encounters, giving an exciting and upbeat pace to each challenge presented. The only issue I have with the sound design is the screaming itself, with the constant loud noises becoming grating over time. The overall performance is satisfactory, however, there were instances of graphical bugs causing full visual blackouts with only the HUD being visible, requiring a full software restart to fix.

Final Thoughts – overall Supermarket Shriek is an entertaining and fun experience. The unique control method implemented was a lot of fun to use and while it may be difficult to control with triggers at times, this is eased with the thumbstick assist system. The stages have a lot of diversity to them with thematic designs for each location, ranging from the simple supermarket, to a dim neon soaked arcade and water filled fishmongers.

I will state that the game may be a little rage inducing, but I can happily recommend Supermarket Shriek as it is a fun game at a modest price. The content on offer and diversity of objectives provide many hours of entertainment, both in single player and the multiplayer modes. The only issues I found while playing were the graphical bug that required a full restart, and the screams becoming a minor irritation over time. The graphical issues that I experienced were a frustration, but hopefully they are not a common occurrence and can be fixed in the future.

In the end, I give Supermarket Shriek a final score of 3.5/5. The unique gameplay style, diversity of objectives on offer and the humorous references/parodies featured all come together to create an entertaining experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to the game on all platforms will be available below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4 version (HERE)

Link to Xbox One version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Clea – Nintendo Switch Announcement

Hello, I have an announcement from our friends at PR Hound, Sekai Games and InverMouse for you to check out.

Publisher, Sekai Games, and developer, InvertMouse, are excited to announce the forthcoming release of the thrilling skill-based survival horror adventure Clea. Coming to Nintendo Switch™  and releasing this week on October 30th players can experience a thrilling Halloween ghoulish fest with console exclusive featured costumes of characters from games published by Sekai Games, soon to be revealed!

After experimenting on the Chaos Servants, Clea’s parents have let the monsters loose in the Whitlock Mansion. Trapped inside by her family, Clea must find her way out and escape with her little brother in tow. This Halloween help Clea solve puzzles and avoid the Chaos Servants in this exciting paper theater game!

In Clea, players follow the young woman and her brother as they attempt to escape a house filled with beings that mean them harm. Players must stay alert, listening and wondering where these creatures could be. Survive the horrors of Whitlock Mansion by solving puzzles, hiding, collecting and using objects to safely get through the sinister mansion and escape.

Outwit the Chaos Servants who are on the hunt. Listen for their footsteps, peek around doors, and stay far, far away from impending dangers. Hunt down key items and solve the puzzles designed to lock you from the outside world and unveil the family history, and possibly discover their bloodline is filled with dark memories. Obtain memory orbs and uncover your family secrets through bonus chapters.

Clea features:

  • Jump-scare free horror game, requiring you to be on your wits and listen to your surroundings.
  • 2D gameplay with beautiful HD paper doll style graphics
  • Fully voiced in English with Xanthe Huynh (Sword Art Online, K-On), Anairis Quinones (RWBY) among others.
  • Local leaderboards to compete against your friends who can uncover the mystery fastest.
  • Brand new title theme from video game music great Dale North.
  • No pre-scripted scares, promise. Your skills and actions will determine Clea’s fate.

Clea will be released on the Nintendo eShop on October 30th 2020, the game is rated ESRB Teen and PEGI 12 for Violence and Blood. This title will be available as a digital only release priced at $14.99/£13.49/€14,99. A link to the games official eShop page will be below the trailer.

Link to Nintendo eShop (HERE)