See whether CASCADE captures that same magic with our review…

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

The aforementioned CASCADE takes the spotlight in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. This former spy has been brought back into service, only to find her double spy partner Pseudopod zeroed out and in a vegetative state.

As a result, all the details of CASCADE’s job, why she is here, and any intel on locals is basically gone.

Before she can even fully process what happened, The Opera calls to ask about the job.

The Opera serves as the spy group you work for – well, worked for.

After a job gone bad, CASCADE was put on ice and has been out of the game for the last five years. However, Pseudopod has specifically requested her for this job. With him out of commission, there is no job.

From there, The Opera calls it a bust and orders you home.

Let’s be real – that wouldn’t make for a good game.

CASCADE agrees, rejecting that order and setting out to find out what this job entails – and how to help Pseudopod.

While gameplay in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is important, creating one’s character comes first.

Those that played Disco Elysium will have a big advantage in how this game works.

Starting out. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies lets players assign points into the following three prime categories:

• Action – A strength and reaction speed style
• Relations – An empathy and persuasion style
• Intellect – A “good with tech and ideas” style

From there, players can assign an extra point to each sub-skill of the main skills. For instance, picking Personalism in the Relations tree allows for a better understanding of people.

These are all for skill checks in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies, which are presented as dice rolls. The higher the skill, the lower the roll needed to pass.

There are premade characters to ease this, but doing so is selling this title short.

Scratching your head at this info?

Playing Disco Elysium definitely helps, as ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies has an insanely rough opening for those not used to this type of game.

Not only does it task players with picking core points, there are also another three to assign – among 15 skills.

Then, to top it off – before even moving one’s character – CASCADE is bombarded with anxiety.

While it makes sense to put players in her shoes and make players feel her tension, this almost feels like a forced failure from the offset.

Said anxiety is one of three things to be mindful of with CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. If her anxiety, fatigue, and delirium reach a peak, the only way to reset is to lose a point in a skill.

That anxiety I mentioned from the start of the game? That’s nothing compared to the fact there’s a brain-dead spy in the room – and you need to report it to your boss.

I didn’t even leave the first room before my anxiety peaked, and so I lost a skill.

Rough is right.

However, while ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies features a harsh start, the rest is pretty reasonable.

While exploring the city, players will meet people, find quests, go to shops, and (of course) enter hidden paths with loot and goodies.

Players will first be digging through trash cans, looting empty bars, or picking things up from hidden paths.

It’s essential to do so, as those items heal CASCADE’s anxiety, fortitude, and delirium – preventing from lost skills.

By day two, CASCADE was well stocked up, with a good rotation between items and sleep to keep status bars from peaking. The best suggestion is to just run the first day, learn what you can, and restart the title.

While getting free beer and ciggies is always a bonus, the real reason to explore in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is for new clothes.

Not only do they change CASCADE’s appearance, but every piece of clothing also has bonus stats on it. Players normally lose a skill, but these really open up builds.

For instance, my current boots give me +1 to Cold Read and -1 to Coordination, because they are fancy shoes rather than running shoes. Find enough points and even a person with the low Intellect skill can skill pass checks without too much trouble.

It almost feels like cheating – but that’s why it’s so enjoyable.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies also features a number of people ripe for interaction. While not all are winners, players will no doubt find some enjoyable characters in the bunch.

When outside quests, they provide new thoughts – think new passive skills that players can spend points to learn and really make CASCADE your very own.

Right now I am rolling with five thoughts on my character:

• One lets me steal from vending machines once per day
• Another heals me more when I drink coffee
• A third is the “I’m too young to spy” one

I put on the last one to test for the review!

When turned on, all skill checks are lowered by one, basically serving as a confirmation you want an Easy Mode.

That being said, the option is there to be unlocked.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies does have some bugs at launch, namely one with a lock pick skill check that didn’t actually unlock the door. That being said, it wasn’t a big deal since there was another option. Another instance had me throwing a guy get stuck in a certain spot that made the phone unusable.

While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

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LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

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World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Continue Reading World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

Invincible VS Review

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MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

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The post ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Featuring rollback netcode and plenty of TLC (also from the 90s), should players brush up on history with this four-button fighter?

World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

While the control scheme in World Heroes Perfect features two punches and two kicks, the fun comes when you combine buttons. Special Attacks, fake faints, and even taunt. Throw in some throwing and dash mechanics, and this is one swift title.

World Heroes Perfect also keeps things fresh with its cast of world heroes – it’s in the name! With Rasputin, Hanzou, Captain Kidd, and the aptly named “Muscle Power” among its 19-character roster, this approach encourages experimentation and packs a number of left-field picks as players fight in the Jurassic Period and the like.

We’re looking at you, Mudman.

For those who’ve played previous World Heroes entries (great taste!), World Heroes Perfect serves as the culmination of the series.

Not only does this entry pack the most polish, the aforementioned Special Attacks from pressing three buttons tap into one’s Hero Gauge. It adds a nice dash of resource management we greatly appreciated.

Throw in some Desperation Attacks, and it allows for one to turn the tables and for a number of clutch, hype-worthy moments that still deliver, even decades later.

When it comes to World Heroes Perfect’s Steam release, its online mode features rollback netcode that just works, Todd Howard-style.

While players get ready for the next battle, they can also take part in its One Player Mode or Practice modes – the latter featuring a dedicated menu with speed settings, inputs, and adjustments to its different gauges.

It’s always better to lab than just twiddle your thumbs, after all. 

This release also pays tribute to its world heroes with its gallery mode featuring a number of illustrations, along with a set number of achievements. There are also a handful of frames one can choose, and players can finely tune the graphics to one’s liking. Leaderboards for Single Play and Online Wins are also present and accounted for.

For those looking for power, the mid-boss Zeus (above) is also playable in this release from the offset. While a small addition, tapping into his superhuman strength and energy attacks (that translate into energy punches) is a welcome touch.

The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

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Continue Reading LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

Continue Reading ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

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Invincible VS Review

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Continue Reading Invincible VS Review

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

While MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t quite scratch that detective itch, its incredible aesthetics and lively cast make it well worth the trip to Mouseburg.

Continue Reading MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

The post World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time! appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Invincible VS Review

When thinking a fighting game with three-on-three bouts, Marvel vs. Capcom immediately comes to mind, right?

Needless to say, Invincible VS will also take you for ride with its non-stop action and wombo combo launchers-a-plenty.

Featuring character “functions” like Rushdown, Zoner, Mixup, Mobility, and Striker, Invincible VS’ roster packs the punch to properly punish. 

No need to worry about clones among its ranks – unless we’re talking Dupli-Kate. Characters like the larger-than-life Monster Girl easily differentiate themselves from Rex Splode and his explosive F-bombs.

We mean that last part literally!

However, the action in Invincible VS also packs a different flavor, one that hits harder. Sure, “ukemi”-style mid-air recoveries, active tags, and snapbacks are all familiar to FGC vets, but each attack in this title carries far more weight.

This is also apparent with Invincible VS’ over-the-top “Overkill” finishers.

After all, it’s not enough to defeat your opponent; you have to make heads roll.

We mean that part literally too!

Of course, tied to the red-hot comic and Amazon Invincible show, Invincible VS also makes sure each character gets the love they so rightfully deserve.

Between its custom SNK-style intros that are character specific, its top-tier voice acting, and its countless Easter eggs, fans are properly covered.

The same can be said for Invincible VS’ solid control scheme. Featuring a light, medium, heavy, and special button, maneuvers are easy to understand and pack great potential we can’t wait to see unfold in the coming weeks/months/years.

However, looking at Invincible VS at launch, this package is a bit spartan.

Long load times (even when factoring in post-launch patches), a standard Ladder Match Arcade Mode, a roster with less than 20 characters, and a handful of stages mean this release could use more variety.

However, tapping into its wildly popular comic and animation roots, Invincible VS also features a Story Mode featuring a standalone narrative that determines the fate of the planet. While fairly straightforward with story bits between fights, it is welcome nonetheless.

Also tapping into its comic roots, Invincible VS also features an Extras mode features an Art Gallery, Comic Covers, and more – always a nice touch.

Making players feel strong, Invincible VS will take you for a ride with its heavy-hitting action – even if it could use a bit more content.

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LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

Featuring sharp writing, accessible gameplay, and plenty of discovery opportunities, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is another strong entry in the LEGO franchise perfect for younger players.

Continue Reading LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

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While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

Continue Reading ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

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World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Continue Reading World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

While MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t quite scratch that detective itch, its incredible aesthetics and lively cast make it well worth the trip to Mouseburg.

Continue Reading MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

The post Invincible VS Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

It’s a shame we have yet to see an AAA pirating game in that time. AAAA did take a shot with Skull & Bones, and while I enjoyed it (gave it an 80/100!), it wasn’t what people were expecting. Sea of Thieves’ rough launch was also off-putting for many.

As often the case with niche genres, we rely on the resilience and creativity of the indie gaming scene to raise the flag – and the Windrose Crew has done exactly that.

Windrose Early Access Review – It’s About Damn Time

Don’t be fooled by Windrose’s Early Access banner currently adorning its Steam page – this is as good as any full indie release on any platform today.

While simple in spots, needing some quality-of-life touches and a tad more fleshing out, I’ve never seen such solid foundations on which to build an Early Access game.

Windrose’s core gameplay loop will no doubt be familiar to survival players. Players will spend many of their early hours gathering resources and materials as they build a settlement, completing quests and upgrading gear along the way.

While fantastic toward its latter stages, Windrose’s building system can be frustrating to wrestle with early on; at least in a creative sense.

Exploration, quest, and reputation rewards in Windrose bless players with new buildings elements. That being said, its procedurally generated nature means that something specific – like a certain angled roof piece – could very well be a long ways off.

A highlight of Windrose’s overall base-building process is linked to how its fast travel system doesn’t punish those that spend hours on their first island.

A little settlement made in Windrose’s first hour, we still used that as our main settlement even 50 hours later.

Windrose allows players to construct up to 10 fast travel bells to be placed anywhere near water, unlocking immediate fast travel from any other bell or while aboard a ship.

You can have entire villages at each of these locations, or simply use them to access resources and materials not available on one’s home island.

Windrose really shines in the versatility of its character builds – especially for an Early Access game. Through the combination of food buffs, armor set bonuses, and select weapon choices, players can craft a wealth of unique and engaging combat builds.

Focusing primarily on Greatswords, I spent most of my points on Character Traits to increase critical hit chance, stamina, and survivability.

As my build neared completion, I was stacking healing and critical damage on perfect blocks, gaining buffs for defeating enemies, and launching widespread sword swings as I tackled large groups of foes a blast.

Needless to say, character builds are important in Windrose – this is not an easy game.

On that note, playing Windrose on the recommended difficulty as a solo player will be challenging for even the most seasoned of survival players.

Adding friends to Windrose’s co-op mix is hugely beneficial, as having an extra sword or musket in a fight has clear benefits. However, this also allows players to double up on many rewards, proving that co-op play is a huge focus for the title.

Character progress in Windrose is based on the character rather than the server, so players can swap between games without losing progress.

Rewards in Windrose – including those as big as ships – are provided to all players upon quest completion, allowing groups to form small armadas even early in the game.

While each person taking a ship is obviously the best idea when tackling Blackbeard’s pirates, it’s not the only option. Windrose allows players to share ships, and although functionality is currently quite basic, they can interact with one another.

You can pilot other players’ boats, you can man the guns and fire while another steers – you can even throw your line over the bow and do some fishing while your captain plots the course.

Get ambushed by pirates in the process? No worries – simply summon your ship and hop aboard.

Even boarding enemy ships in Windrose can be done by multiple players. Only one ship may “officially board,” but nothing stops other players from jumping aboard and helping take down the enemy crew.

That being said, boarding combat in Windrose is a bit rough. Cannons, rigging, multiple enemies running up a small set of stairs – it’s very easy to die due to getting stuck or not being able to dodge properly.

However, as the only real issue lies with naval combat speaks, it speaks volumes for Windrose’s overall quality.

Windrose is definitely a survival-lite experience when it comes to traditional survival games. Food, while vital for surviving combat, is not a required resource to literally stay alive.

No need to run to the ocean every 10 minutes to fill up a hydration bar.

The true challenge with survival in Windrose comes with the combat system – and it is gloriously brutal.

Characters in Windrose – both friendly and enemy – use a Posture system that represents how many times a character can block attacks before succumbing to exhaustion.

…and likely get smashed in the face several times as a result.

The magic of Windrose’s combat comes in a player’s ability to hit the Perfect Block: a timed block that preserves the character’s Posture while reducing one’s opponent’s.

Put simply, Windrose features as satisfying a combat system can get in an Early Access release of an indie game.

While tough to start when learning the timing and attack patterns of different enemies, the end result of becoming an almost unstoppable force against crowds of up to five enemies is worth every scratch and bruise along the way.

The thought of dying to single enemies even toward the end of the game won’t appeal to everyone, but Windrose features incredibly accessible difficulty settings. With three main difficulty settings, each one can also be tweaked even further to reduce difficulty.

I played Windrose on various difficulty options, customizing each one. Regardless of survival or combat experience, I can confidently say that Windrose is accessible to all players.

That being said, playtime in Windrose will vary massively depending on one’s play style.

Our team played through Windrose’s entire story in co-op. Finishing most of its content – including maxing out our gear and building all the stock ships – clocked us at approximately 50 hours.

You can probably halve that playing on easier difficulty settings, or alternatively add up to 20 hours playing solo. Either way, the sheer amount of content in Windrose in Early Access easily matches the level of content and quality as full releases on the market today.

For an Early Access release, Windrose is incredible with zero technical problems. Not only are the foundations across every system and mechanic rock solid, Windrose is already feature-filled with ideas often months – or years! – away from their Early Access launch.

While it will earn an official final score once fully released, Windrose comes out of the Early Access gate strong with an easy 85/100.

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LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

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Continue Reading LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

Continue Reading ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

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Continue Reading Forza Horizon 6 Review

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The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Continue Reading World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

Invincible VS Review

Making players feel strong, Invincible VS will take you for a ride with its heavy-hitting action – even if it could use a bit more content.

Continue Reading Invincible VS Review

The post Windrose Early Access Review – It’s About Damn Time appeared first on GamersHeroes.

See whether players should battle for the title of top eatery with our review…

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! Review – The Sweet Spot

Taking over their grandmother’s ramen shop, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! has players entering the restaurant biz in the titular town of KuloNiku as they serve tasty bowls packed with noodles, meatballs, and other treats that warm the soul and bring in the tips.

When it comes to food prep, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! blesses players the whole operation, from soup to nuts.

Or bowl to bell in this case.

On that note, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! tasks players with washing bowls, chopping chilis, tending to a handy-dandy hotpot, adding broth (unless they don’t want it!), and fine-tuning flavor profiles to ensure customers are happy and Reputation Meter is filled.

Don’t worry about this being a high pressure environment, however – leave that to the hotpot!

Rather, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! features a methodical method to the madness, with clear instructions from Cassie (great name!) and easy-to-understand controls that just work. Ingredients, crafting recipes, and tools like frying pans are gradually introduced – no need to wield pickled bok choy from the offset…

Playing KuloNiku: Bowl Up! with a keyboard and mouse, tasks flowed naturally with streamlined controls that allowed for precision – there’s even a button for it.

Still too pressurized?

Never fear – KuloNiku: Bowl Up! also includes an optional Cozy Mode at the offset that disables both the timer and patience elements.

On the opposite end, those looking to level up their Reputation can partake in KuloNiku: Bowl Up!’s Meatball Brawls – or “Meatbrawls” for the portmanteau lovers.

Held every Monday and Thursday at its local TV station, Meatbrawls have players setting out to make judges happy Iron Chef-style as they set to razzle-dazzle and go for that perfect score.

Score Bonus ingredients, playing to the Crowd, and other feats of fancy added some spice to our in-game weeks.

Do note that Kuloniku: Bowl Up’s Meatbrawls are mandatory for progression! Nevertheless, they manage to bring the fun with a number of exclusive minigames, which we enjoyed tapping into.

Outside of cooking, KuloNiku: Bowl Up!’s world is also ripe for exploration. Budding chefs can break up their restaurant days by hitting the town with some shopping and socializing – think of it as a “diet” version of Persona’s Social Links system (so to speak).

While not the most in-depth (it’s clear which option is best), we nevertheless enjoyed these Friendship Moments and the over-the-top anime personalities that shone bright.

Those that do take the time to be social in KuloNiku: Bowl Up! will form deeper Bonds that bless players with gameplay bonuses – and who doesn’t like bonuses?

A cozy cooking game that’s got the sauce, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! hits the sweet spot with its signature blend of minigames, social elements, and over-the-top personalities.

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Featuring sharp writing, accessible gameplay, and plenty of discovery opportunities, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is another strong entry in the LEGO franchise perfect for younger players.

Continue Reading LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

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While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

Continue Reading ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

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The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Continue Reading World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

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Continue Reading Invincible VS Review

The post KuloNiku: Bowl Up! Review – The Sweet Spot appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Should players climb the leaderboards of this single-screen platformer, or does it have egg on its face?

Go! Go! Mister Chickums Review

Featuring a simple goal, Go! Go! Mister Chickums has the titular Mr. Chickums (or Fritz via co-op!) doing one thing, and one thing only: 

Get the eggs back to their nest.

Scattered around each singular screen, players will defeat baddies, collect pastries big and small, and avoid one-hit kills as they traverse Funky Forests, Rocky Ridges, and other alliterative areas.

However, there’s a catch – said hefty eggs weigh the player down. 

While this obviously leads to less upward mobility, this is where the real fun begins.

Go! Go! Mister Chickums prides itself on its stellar platforming mechanics, tasking players to learn the ropes of each chickadee. Knowing how to angle a shot, which enemies to bounce eggs off of, or what a kicked shell does (read: take down a bunch of foes!) provides an addictive gameplay loop.

Always keeping players on their toes, Go! Go! Mister Chickums spices things up with unique mechanics in each world. Got those slippery ice slopes down? Time to contend with gusts of air!

There’s also the chance to learn the flow of each of Go! Go! Mister Chickums’ screens, knowing which enemies, eggs, and items to gun for first. While players can certainly treat this as a one-and-done title, that would be selling it far too short.

Rather, Go! Go! Mister Chickums encourages players to properly learn each of its stage layouts and general flow. Becoming familiar with mechanics is certainly a great start, but knowing how a stage-specific windmill or looping screen mechanic takes things to the next level.

So to speak.

On that note, Go! Go! Mister Chickums encourages replayability – a true hallmark of the arcade genre. While players can always immediately continue after biting it a set number of times, one’s score is wiped when doing so – and where’s the fun in that?

On that note, Go! Go! Mister Chickums features an online top 10 leaderboard that encourages players to do better. While each of its worlds packs a hefty 10 level gauntlet (complete with Grabbo boss fight!), we welcomed the challenge with open arms.

Of course, Go! Go! Mister Chickums looks and sounds the part too. Pixel art is at the top of its class, Composer Zane Little crafted some mighty fine chiptunes, and there’s even a pixel-perfect CRT filter – got to have that!

Shinier than its many golden eggs, Go! Go! Mister Chickums provides a pixel-perfect arcade challenge that had us gunning for yet another shot at its hallowed leaderboards.

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Continue Reading Mina the Hollower Review

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

Featuring sharp writing, accessible gameplay, and plenty of discovery opportunities, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is another strong entry in the LEGO franchise perfect for younger players.

Continue Reading LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies – just be mindful of that anxiety.

Continue Reading ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Review

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To no one’s surprise, Forza Horizon 6 provides the best racing experience this year – even if Grand Theft Auto VI hits.

Continue Reading Forza Horizon 6 Review

World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Continue Reading World Heroes Perfect Review – Back in Time!

Invincible VS Review

Making players feel strong, Invincible VS will take you for a ride with its heavy-hitting action – even if it could use a bit more content.

Continue Reading Invincible VS Review

The post Go! Go! Mister Chickums Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

See whether one should tap into its calm flow with our review…

Hozy Review

Featuring a number of spots across the city, Hozy provides the tools to properly restore music halls, artist workshops, and other ventures to prime condition.

Let’s be real – picking up literal mountains of trash in your sister’s small apartment sounds like work, right?

Trust us on this one – Hozy provides the perfect moment of zen, truly immersing players across its many micro worlds.

In Hozy, it’s just you, a paint roller (and your choice of three colors), and peace.

Each of Hozy’s isometric areas pay host to a natural task flow, helping us personally unwind as we helped beautify each world. Playing with a keyboard and mouse, Hozy’s streamlined controls make things easy-breezy, literally allowing one to pick things up at the press of a button.

While some checklist items focus on the minutiae, Hozy ensures players have what’s needed to bring beauty and spark joy. Squeegeeing said windows or doing any other of tasks in Hozy’s provides a satisfying dopamine rush – complete with a sound effect and flash of brilliance we never tired of.

On that note, Hozy’s light time commitment respects the player. Each cleaning job on our end clocked in at a swift 15 minutes, ensuring work in Hozy never becomes too burdensome. No need to worry about racing against the clock or any sort of deadlines – one is truly their own master in Hozy.

Of course, players are also rewarded at the end of each Hozy cleaning session with a bunch of moving boxes filled to the brim with goodies.

That’s where one can really sink the hours into Hozy!

It is here players can truly unleash their creativity in Hozy. Between the packing peanuts lie tiger rugs (that roar!), dinosaur toys (that also roar!) paintings, plants, and a wealth of other items waiting for the perfect spot.

There’s a lot of stuff to unpack (so to speak) in each of Hozy’s boxes – make sure you have enough room for the “Huge Things” box containing pianos and the like!

Once done, players can then tap into Hozy’s photo mode for the perfect shot.

Hozy also prides itself on a great immersive soundtrack that properly sets the mood.

Composed by Yann van der Cruyssen (of Stray and Cave Story fame), each area has music that builds upon itself as one progresses. We played through the title with a pair of quality Sennheiser headphones, truly getting lost in Hozy’s many worlds.

“Cozy” and “cleaning” might sound like polar opposites, but Hozy’s cozy world provides the perfect cure-all for those looking to unwind with some spring cleaning.

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The post Hozy Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Pearl Abyss, known for Black Desert Online, is launching one of the most challenging, systems-heavy, and complex games the industry has seen in a very long time:

Crimson Desert.

Forget Dark Souls – Crimson Desert Is The New Measuring Stick – Our Review

Crimson Desert is probably the most difficult game I’ve ever had to score…

On one hand, Pearl Abyss has achieved levels of greatness in Crimson Desert few developers dare reach.

On the other hand, something as simple as picking up items or speaking to NPCs can be frustrating enough to fist palm the nearest villager into oblivion – and subsequently get arrested.

Crimson Desert encompasses the full spectrum of emotions…

You’ll lose your breath at some of the incredible sights.

You’ll marvel at Crimson Desert’s flawless technical performance.

You’ll become engrossed in Crimson Desert’s addictive and rewarding gameplay loop, wherever your interests may lie.

However, you’ll also wonder how something so utterly ridiculous can make it into a AAA video game.

Crimson Desert is a game that is as divisive as it is expansive – and it’s huge.

I’ve just broken the 200-hour mark, and now feel comfortable that I’m at the point of post-game content.

Crimson Desert is truly unrivaled when it comes to its scope and complexity.

In my 200 hours, there was just one crash. I was sitting at a constant 80 FPS on its ultra setting before a pre-release patch, which thereby increased things to a buttery-smooth 100 FPS.

I can only speak of PC performance, but Crimson Desert is a technical marvel.

Crimson Desert’s draw distance is staggering, and even when I tried to break the game with the flashiest moves and combos in the biggest fights I could find, its frames never suffered.

Pearl Abyss and the BlackSpace engine have created one of the most beautiful game worlds I’ve ever had the pleasure to explore – and I’ve still got countless secrets to discover.

One of Crimson Desert’s most prominent features is Howling Hills, which serves as the Greymanes’ base of operations.

The area I’ve probably invested the most amount of time in, players can recruit new Greymanes to the cause here. Players can also increase the facilities available at this site, along with the number of comrades sent on Dispatch missions.

On its surface, this area is similar to ones found in other RPGs, but it’s connected to the world and exploration like no other.

Every region in Crimson Desert is filled with intriguing locations, many of which have facilities of their own.

Once discovered, quarries, farms, pottery barns, and ranches each offer employment for workers on Dispatch missions.

This, in turn, creates an almost player-centric economy in Crimson Desert, allowing players to carve out their economic prowess as they see fit.

Carefully maintaining the cost of each Dispatch mission with the resources obtained from others is a rewarding balancing act, one that is almost deserving of its own game entirely.

How many games are you truly excited to discover a random farm at the end of the road? Or perhaps a beautiful grove filled with wild flowers that offers more than a beautiful sight, but provides rare and valuable resources for your camp?

I’m not even touching on the ridiculous items and technologies that can be discovered.

The Howling Hills camp is the perfect representation of Crimson Desert as a whole.

On its surface, it’s familiar, inviting almost. However, as you dig below, it becomes so much more.

If building up a base camp isn’t for you, how about some puzzle solving?

Crimson Desert’s Abyss – a puzzle-filled world above worlds – not only offers some of the best vistas but also some of the most challenging platforming and puzzle experiences in the game.

Once you’ve got a grip of Crimson Desert’s puzzles – and it can take quite some time – it’s a nice change of pace from the otherwise combat-fueled exploration.

Puzzles are not exclusive to the Abyss, and can be found scattered throughout the game world.

Some are as simple as the traditional light all the braziers in the area style puzzles, while others will set you across the world looking for murals and clues.

While creative and engaging for much of the game, many offer no clues or insights on whether players have the tools or abilities to complete those puzzles at any given time.

This, in turn, leaves many instances of feeling like a complete idiot for spending 30 minutes to solve a puzzle you don’t have the means to yet.

Crimson Desert’s puzzles are intrinsically tied to its main story, so you’ll have to get comfortable if you’re hoping to finish the main campaign.

While early puzzle solving leaves a lot of frustration, Crimson Desert’s puzzles provide a rewarding end-game once you learn the fundamentals of each style of puzzle.

Crimson Desert’s combat is this title’s crowning glory, providing a fast-paced, fluid, and powerful approach that is easily accessible while also promising a high skill ceiling.

Put simply, Crimson Desert’s combat provides a huge payout for those willing to invest the time.

While somewhat held back by a clunky and complicated control scheme – even using a controller – Crimson Desert’s combat becomes natural with enough time and effort.

Combining various skills and abilities offers incredible maneuverability throughout Crimson Desert’s combat. It keeps things fresh and fast-paced, all without falling into the trap of just mashing buttons.

There are three playable characters in Crimson Desert to choose from, each with their own skill tree and combat style.

Do note that Crimson Desert’s progress system doesn’t encourage dividing resources between multiple characters.

For the best chance at taking down some of Crimson Desert’s more challenging bosses, you’re going to want your main character to be at their very best – something that isn’t possible when dividing materials.

Despite executing some of the more challenging aspects of such a huge project to near perfection, this title does admittedly struggle with some of the basics…

Fast travel – an industry standard to avoid frustration and wasted time – is inconvenient and irritating. Players cannot directly fast travel to towns, and oftentimes, points of interest that require return visits have no fast travel locations nearby.

While this encourages and rewards exploration, it does make the mundane tasks even more mundane. Having to make the same short run to town every time, jumping over the same fences again and again.

I get the concept, but as with much of Crimson Desert, it’s dialed in just a bit too much.

Even speaking with NPCs or picking items up from the floor – both basic functions in any game – are sometimes annoying enough to not even bother.

The story in Crimson Desert, while enjoyable, does suffer severely from pacing issues.

Each chapter typically sees a few simple missions followed by a boss battle, one that’s typically far more than the player can handle.

This requires players to seek out new materials and farm supplies for better gear and more food, but it breaks up the pace of the game in quite jarring ways.

Unless you’re in the top 10%, this is going to be much of the experience working through the story.

Crimson Desert does deliver on arguably the most entertaining mining and woodcutting systems ever conceived.

Early on, you’ll be slugging away with your hatchet and pickaxe. However, before long, you’ll be Bruce Leeing rocks and trees into pieces.

It’s fun, but it’s still grinding resources.

With the benefit of experience, there are definitely ways to mitigate this. However, for players coming into Crimson Desert for the first time, the forced repetition of the nature of upgrading gear may be off-putting.

I both applaud and appreciate the effort Pearl Abyss has taken to create a game that tests and challenges the player. That being said, there are areas where it would greatly benefit from being dialed back a notch or two.

Dark Souls has often been used to measure one’s gaming prowess, but that measuring stick has changed with Crimson Desert. Not only does it boast some of the most challenging boss battles ever seen in the industry, its required levels of patience, determination, and ability have set a new gold standard.

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The post Forget Dark Souls – Crimson Desert Is The New Measuring Stick – Our Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Packing a late 90s feel and the challenge to match, should one feel the need for speed?

Toree Saturn Review

Taking control of the speedy little chickadee Toree (that’s nice), players have a rival on their hands with Hawkee (that’s mean).

Swayed by the aptly named Evil Army (and its good food), Hawkee decides to embrace this malcontent side by stealing a flavor of ice cream from the world.

Oh, the humanity!

Enter Toree Saturn and its platforming prowess. This little bird’s got the moves – and the speed to match.

Packing a brass tacks approach to platforming, Toree Saturn has players rushing through levels as they aim for a high ranking in record time.

For those who lived through SEGA’s 9.9.99 Dreamcast launch, Toree Saturn pulls a number of moves from both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2.

Not only can Toree perform a homing attack like a well-known blue blur, one can also roll around at the speed of sound with a special maneuver.

Toree Saturn also goes its own way, featuring a double jump and the chance to go even further beyond with button press holds.

When it all comes together, Toree Saturn’s smooth flow encourages replayability and absolute mastery.

While bottomless pits prove to be periless, plentiful checkpoints make it easy to improvise, adapt, and overcome.

As a result, Toree Saturn is a true love letter to the SEGA era we so adore. Whether finding the best route through a car-packed city or traversing a cloud paradise, Toree Saturn packs pure soul.

We won’t spoil it, but Toree Saturn features an especially great nod that had us flying sky-high…

Love them or hate them, Toree Saturn also carries some Dreamcast-era quirks – primarily with its camera.

While it can be dialed in like an espresso machine, the camera in Toree Saturn does take getting used to. Take the time, and you will shine.

SEGA is also known for their stellar music, and Toree Saturn’s original soundtrack by KB goes all-in. For those who have opened their heart, Crush 40 legend Johnny Gioeli also lent his rockin’ talents for a very special track.

When it comes to extracurricular activities, Toree Saturn’s hub (accessible from the main menu) contains a skateboarding minigame (that channels another bird), along with costumes and even a “Streamblast” game console.

Again, Toree Saturn went all-in.

For those who dream of blue, blue skies, Toree Saturn and its speedy little chickadee guarantee it has been cast.

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The post Toree Saturn Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Does this platformer have a good head on its shoulders? Find out in our review…

Sir Noggin Review

Not one for idyllic paradises, the Evil Wizard Derek decides to rile things up at Gigan Island with a healthy dose of evil critters.

Enter the titular hero Sir Noggin, here to save the land….and possibly get a high score in the process.

A high-action platformer game, Sir Noggin channels the platforming greats we so adore. Packing a double jump and a giant sword, Sir Noggin’s responsive controls allow for one’s old-school skills to truly shine.

Just watch out for those birds – they’ll make a beeline for you!

If anything, that’s part of the joy of Sir Noggin – learning the ins, outs, and everything in-between to become an absolute master.

Studying enemy attack patterns, knowing where spikes are (the floor and the ceiling for those in the know…), and defeating larger-than-life bosses reminded us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place.

Sir Noggin also pulls from the book of Belmont with its Castlevania-style Sub-Weapon system. At the cost of MP, players can use a throwing Knife, a high-damage Bomb, a Firewand with a spread pattern, and a trusty Boomerang that returns to sender.

Knowing which Sub-Weapon is best for the situation in Sir Noggin could very well mean the difference between a high score and a “Restart” screen.

Sir Noggin features a number of unique elements across its six main areas. From Fungi Valley’s bouncing mushrooms to the windswept Sky Ruins, each of its six main stages keeps things lively, all without overstaying its welcome.

Like Master System homie Sonic the Hedgehog, there are two Zones for each area, along with a Boss Zone for a final showdown. Not too long and not too short, everything is tightly paced and just right.

Sir Noggin also does a masterful job capturing the Master System era with its presentation, with a clean look full of life and charm. Composer coda’s work on the soundtrack is also stellar, feeling nostalgic yet fresh at the same time.  

There’s a reason Sir Noggin features a Sound Test option upon completion!

While not the longest title (also true to the era), Sir Noggin also features a Boss Rush mode upon completion. A number of achievements tied to no-death and no-weapon runs also bring the challenge.

Masterfully capturing the Master System era we so adore, Sir Noggin has a good head on its shoulders with its high-action platforming.

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The post Sir Noggin Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.