Nine Sols is Red Candle Games’ Metroidvania masterpiece that mixes a hand-drawn sci-fi world inspired by Eastern philosophy and mythology with fast-paced parry-based combat. There are many aspects to this game that make it both unique and a revitalization of something we’ve already seen.

Let’s analyze how Nine Sols holds up in the modern 2D Metroidvania world.

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is IllFonic’s video game adaptation of the 1988 movie of the same name. The game is classified as an asymmetric horror, meaning two different-sized teams with opposing goals try to win a match. There have been several video game adaptations of famous horror movies in this genre, so you might wonder if it’s worth playing.

Source Material Recreation

Whenever I play a video game adaptation of a popular horror movie like Killer Klowns from Outer Space, I always compare how well the developers matched the content to the original source material. I do this because I want to feel like I’m inside the movie’s universe, whether by playing unique characters inserted into the story, faithfully recreating characters, or exploring maps that recreate iconic locations from the film.

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Astor: Blade of the Monolith aims to blend Zelda-esque adventure design with Soulslike combat mechanics in a post-apocalyptic yet whimsical world filled with cute construct people. You’ll explore semi-open world areas and fight monsters in hack-and-slash fashion with different weapons, Construct abilities, and combos.

C2 Game Studio managed to combine all of this action and adventure with a unique and appealing art style, so does Astor hold up well mechanically?

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Serum combines horror and survival crafting to create a riveting world full of glowing creatures ready to tear you to shreds. Along with the music that accompanies you on your journey, you’ll have the hairs on the back of your neck rising as you play. Serum forces you to face your fears as you try to survive in a mutated, post-apocalyptic world, and while the story is solid, the actual gameplay leaves you wanting.

Serum’s Lore Is Intriguing

The opening cinematic of Serum explains much of the lore. A disaster struck humanity, a blight. Scientists created the serum, a supposed miracle that saved humans from the brink of destruction.

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Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is an investigation game about a down-on-his-luck duck and the low-stake crime he’s forced to investigate. It’s also an example of what happens when a mystery game fails to build tension, suspense, or even a vague sense of curiosity but pretty much nails everything else.

Good Game, Bad Mystery

What makes a bad mystery? In the case of Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, it’s a mix of underwhelming resolution and a plot that never thickens enough. Its short playtime doesn’t help either, wrapping up at just over two hours. Even the final revelation carries a weight that would only be appropriate for a mid-game twist. That’s not great for any game, but it’s utterly devastating for a mystery.

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The concept of a survival game like Survival: Fountain of Youth certainly isn’t new. However, even with so many options, I’m constantly searching for that game that lets me become a true Robinson Crusoe or Castaway. Survival: Fountain of Youth succeeds at that lonely deserted island approach with a fun twist on historical events.

A Tale That Goes Down in History

The legendary Fountain of Youth has been used as a theme for plenty of stories, TV Shows, and movies, but I never would have thought to tie it into a survival game experience. Odinsoft pieces it together perfectly, allowing you to step into the shoes of a 16th-century sailer and a member of Ponce de Leon’s crew. After the boat goes down due to a bad storm, you’re all alone in the Caribbean Islands.

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Fabledom is the most recent city builder to be released. But it adds an unusual subgenre into its formula to help set it apart from others: romance. Instead of using strategic elements that let you conquer other lands, you’re looking for love to unite regions. The result is a whimsically relaxing game.

Fairy Tales Come to Life in Fabledom

Medieval city builders tend to have rather serious tones. Many start off with a group of villagers who were exiled or simply want to start a new life, but they have nowhere else to go. Fabledom offsets this seriousness by building a world where familiar fairy tales are real. You find references to various stories throughout the regions and even in events that pop up. I started next to a tile that had Cinderella’s lost shoe. Once you have a hero, you’re able to start interacting with these references. However, it can take a chunk of time to reach that point.

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Little Kitty, Big City is a true labor of love from developer and publisher Double Dagger Studio. Available to play across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, the open-world exploration game is rife with strategy and platforming elements that span the length of its lighthearted story. Following a seemingly nameless cat that’s fallen from its apartment window, you’ll traverse the city to find your way home, stopping at anything and everything on your way there. Cat lovers and avid gamers alike will surely appreciate this wholesome indie marvel.

Curiosity Can’t Kill This Cat

In the best way possible, Little Kitty, Big City plays a lot like a viral collar-cam video following an outdoor cat on its daily routine. Set to a soundtrack of chirps and purrs, the lost pet’s problems somehow seem small in comparison to the adventure that awaits in the Eastern-inspired city. If you’re like me and tend to work in circles, you’ll find the overlapping quests and menial tasks of your typical cat endlessly fun.

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V Rising is an open-world survival crafting game that puts you in a vampire’s coffin. It pits you against the sun, as well as bosses descended from Dracula’s blood. Featuring castle building, vampire hunters, different quests, and an expansive map to explore, V Rising is a standout survival title with more potential waiting to be developed.

V Rising 1.0 Full Launch Review

Much has changed since we first got our hands on the vampire-themed survival title by Stunlock Games. V Rising Early Access released on May 17, 2022, and the game has had various improvements implemented over the last two years. These include a complete overhaul to castle building and a map expansion to the new area of Gloomrot.

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Indika is a journey through the world of a conflicted nun by the same name. The game itself mixes a variety of mechanics and design types as it explores theology, relationships, and surrealism in an alternative Russia. With gorgeous attention to detail throughout the various environments, Indika is a narrative delicacy for those who enjoy heavier philosophical titles.

A Mixed Media Take on Gaming

The main focus of Indika is the story that’s spun. Indika is a nun who’s sent on a journey to deliver a letter. It’s winter in an alternative version of pre-revolution Russia. To portray the various elements, different graphic design choices are made.

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