30XX Is a Great Start to a Mega Man X Successor

30XX Is a Great Start to a Mega Man X Successor

In my time going through runs of 30XX, I kept feeling like I was supposed to have some more information than I already did. Like if I started another attempt and kept playing, I’d learn more about some quirks of the game’s story, layouts, and mechanics that would be better explained as I got more familiar with the game. And while I have enjoyed 30XX and gotten more comfortable every time I’ve gone back in, I’m still left with a lot of questions where I feel I wasn’t meant to. (more…)

Review: The Tartarus Key Is 32-Bit Horror as Good as You Remember It

Review: The Tartarus Key Is 32-Bit Horror as Good as You Remember It

As someone who has quite a soft spot for both the psychological horror of early Silent Hill games and the unique low-poly aesthetic of the 32-bit PlayStation/Sega Saturn era, The Tartarus Key immediately grabbed my attention when I saw it start to pop up online. Seeing a lot of big budget horror games largely rely on in-your-face jumpscares for their value threw me off the genre for quite some time, not wanting to partake in that kind of cheap substitute for genuinely unsettling stories. And it’s clear that indie studio Vertical Reach had this in mind as well when working on this game, with that sense of unease coming from every bit of the world presented. When the gruesome environment combines with building tension to where even the slightest shake or out-of-place noise leaves you questioning your surroundings, it’s a sure sign that you’re in quite an unforgettable horror experience. (more…)

Pokémon Stadium Without Transfers Is Worthless

Pokémon Stadium Without Transfers Is Worthless

If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are an example of too much corporate meddling to make Pokémon games as good as we know they can be, then Pokémon Stadium‘s re-release for Nintendo Switch Online shows the absence of oversight to stop an incomplete release. (more…)