Review key(s) provided by the publisher(s)
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: We here at GameTyrant have been absolutely bombarded with so many products and games this year already. We will be rolling out select quick reviews to let our audience know about products, games, and, DLC that may have slipped under their radar. We appreciate the amazing support from all publishers and developers out there!
Painkiller (First Impressions)
If you asked me where I would’ve stood before testing out Painkiller, I would’ve said it was just another Doom clone. But what Anshar Studios is set to deliver players is far from what it may seem from the outside. Sure, you’re wandering around beaten-down environments while killing the undead with an entire arsenal of weapons, but it’s got a bit more going for it, which has won me over thus far.
While it maintains that solid framework of Doom-like gameplay mechanics of sprinting and gunning, Painkiller borrows some ideas from other co-op survival titles, such as Back 4 Blood and the Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie games, allowing for up to three players to play together to complete its various “Raids”.
Not unlike Back 4 Blood, players can equip cards to make their fight against the enemy easier with various traits and upgrade weapons to utilize the power of their attack fully. Though it’s a bit too early to call it, I can see that I’m going to be pretty fond of Painkiller once its October 9th launch comes around.
Sensei! I Like You So Much
As an almost 30-year-old woman, if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to fan girl. Luckily for me, now I can keep the fangirling going at all times thanks to Sensei! I Like You So Much and the nearly endless possibilities it offers players in its unique little world. I was surprised by just how into fandoms this game gets, as you can truly see that the dev team actually gets it!
From the beginning, you’re able to create and ship your own couple, filling out your own in-game world with your own in-game imagination. But it goes deeper as you’re able to commune with other fangirls, create merchandise for your favorite IPs, and even visit conventions to further your reach among your own fans. Plus, you can even write fanfic, which I am absolutely living for.
Honestly, if you call yourself a fangirl, you've got to own this game. Even if its anime-style design ain’t your thing, you still need to see all of what this game offers. My only critique is that its screens can be a bit clunky to toggle through at times.
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi
When talking about Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi, I’m at a crossroads. One, because I really love its art design, concept, environments, and its combat (in theory). But when you look at the things it does wrong, the glaring issues can pull the overall experience down just a bit.
As a gamer who enjoys a good Zelda-look-alike title, Altheia is right up my alley. And in all honesty, not only does this title look like a Zelda game, but it has many story elements and gameplay elements that are ripped straight from one. Not that it’s a knock on the game at all, as the game presents players with a strong and emotionally impactful story about the parts we all play in bringing peace to our world.
When it comes to gameplay, this title has it all: combat, puzzles, and platforming. But when it comes to how these are handled, you may find some negatives to talk about. Perhaps the worst for me is that the movement is very sharp and clunky. The game at times feels cheap, working against you during tense platforming instead of with you in fluid movement.
I also found audio to be a bit devoid of any character sound during cinematics, which had me rolling my eyes, as these felt more like a design choice. Music would, at times, be cheerful during hectic combat and vice versa, which had me yearning for some kind of cohesion of the world. It’s a shame because there’s a good game here, it just misses the mark in a few key areas that I can’t overlook.
