NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: We here at GameTyrant have been absolutely bombarded with so many games this year. We will be rolling out select quick reviews to let our audience know about games and DLC that may have slipped under their radar. We appreciate the amazing support from all publishers and developers out there!

Loony Toons: Wacky World of Sports

Something about me; though I’m typically not a sports kind of girl, sports video games can often be the thing I need to switch off my brain. My favorites though are often cartoonish ones like many of the games available on the Wii back in its heyday. But the recently released Loony Toons: Wacky World of Sports manages to scratch the itch quite nicely.

Though it doesn’t pack too many games into its belt, Wacky World of Sports offers players 4 sports to play (soccer, basketball, tennis, and golf) in various modes like a quick play, championship, and even a special challenges mode. However, I would say that golf is a standout, as it allows for some creative Loony Toons setpieces to be used not only as great set dresses but also as obstacles to avoid or interact with.

And I think that what Wacky World of Sports has going for it is that it manages to practically implement wonderful Loony Toons characters and slack-stick comedy into its gameplay. It’s as if Space Jam was further explored with other sports flavored with Loony Toons unhinged behavior. My one complaint though is that the soccer game is just “ok”.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

On the flip side of the cartoonish comes the grim. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is a very dark, brooding, and oftentimes melodramatic brofest. Honestly, this game wasn’t my cup of tea for various reasons. Typically, I can sit back and laugh at hyper-masculinity when it’s looked at through the lens of critique, such as Helldivers 2 or a show like The Boys. Unfortunately for Space Marine 2, this game is just too stuck in its edgy teenage phase story-wise to be anything intriguing.

As for its gameplay, it’s nothing to write home about. It’s reminiscent of games like Aliens: Fireteam or a Gears of War, which isn’t a horrible idea. My problem is that the combat didn’t seem to stick the landing for me, as it was a bit too bland. What wasn’t bland though was the way the game looked. I have nothing but high praise for what the developers were able to accomplish with this game both from a style and graphics standpoint.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 can be a fun time if you have friends to play with. And while I understand that this title wasn’t designed for me, I can see why others may like it. However, it’s a very uneven experience in my honest opinion; there are the high highs of visuals, the mids of gameplay, and the lows of the bros.

The Plucky Squire

I’m going to be honest, The Plucky Squire may be my GOTY for 2024. It is such a darling indie title. From the time you pick it up until the time that the credits roll, The Plucky Squire offers you nothing but charm and enjoyment. Though not very similar at all gameplay-wise, The Plucky Squire reminds me of It Takes Two, blending in real-world elements with the multidimensional.

My favorite part of this game though is how it manages to evolve far before things feel stale. There were often times when I had wished certain gameplay mechanics would’ve stuck around just a little bit longer because of how much fun I was having with them. As someone who has a short attention span, that’s super rare for me.

The Plucky Squire is a title that I’ve been eyeing since its initial announcement some years ago and am happy to have seen it to this end. I knew that it was going to be something that I enjoyed because of the childlike wonderment that it exudes, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. If you haven’t played this one, you have to go out and play it for yourself now. The Plucky Squire is exactly what games these days should be like.