Geek Culture Reviews

Astlibra Gaiden: Cave of Phantom Mist is the standalone expansion to developer KEIZO’s hit, Astlibra. Taking place during the middle section of the base game, Astlibra Gaiden: Cave of Phantom Mist aims to portray another side of the wider narrative.  I’ll admit now that I’ve never experienced Astlibra , so when I was greeted with a spoiler warning, it did not phase me. I had no emotional attachments to these characters, so finding out the events of the first game didn’t bother me at all. That being said, if you’re currently playing through Astlibra it’s probably best to finish it first before tackling this one. You have been warned. Taking place around the middle portion of the Astlibra Revolution , we’re placed in the role of the nameless daughter of the settlement baker. With the protagonist of the main game away on that adventure, it’s down to you to protect the village from the encroaching darkness. This standalone adventure soon entwines with the original story as you’ll soon...

Xenoblade Chronicles 3  is the culmination to over twelve years of storytelling that was started back in 2010 with Xenoblade Chronicles. Part of the wider ‘Xeno’ series of RPGs, this relatively unknown series has since gone from obscurity to becoming one of Nintendo’s big-hitters. With the premise of another massive world to explore – and a story that aims to tie-up the loose ends of  Xenoblade Chronicles  and  Xenoblade Chronicles 2  –  Xenoblade Chronicles 3  already had an air of anticipation around its release. But, does it live up to its reputation? Much like its predecessors,  Xenoblade Chronicles 3 kicks off with the onset of a pretty destructive battle. It’s here where we’re introduced to two sides locked in an eternal battle. For generations the technology driven Keves and the ether-orientated Agnus have waged war over the land of Aionos. As the war rumbled on, each nation resorts to utalising swaths of expendable genetically engineers so...

The classic SEGA Genesis shmup get reinvented for the Nintendo Switch… When it comes to talking about retro shmup’s, Steel Empire isn’t one that initially comes to mind. Nestled behind the likes of Ikaruga, Raiden, Darius, and many more, Steel Empire is the often overlooked retro delight. Originally released on the SEGA Genesis back in 1992, the shoot’em up then received ports for both the Gameboy Advanced in 2004  and the Nintendo 3DS ten years later in 2014. In keeping with their tradition of releasing the game every ten years, Nintendo have brought Steel Empire to the Nintendo Switch in the form of, The Legend of Steel Empire.  Developed by Mebius, The Legend of Steel Empire retains this plot that drove that initial release back in 1992. The basic plot revolves around the war between two steampunk-inspired nations in the year “18XX”, one side is the small Republic of Silverhead, the other the vast spanning Motorhead Empire. Due to the lack of natural resources, steam power...

Rob reviews DreadOut 2 on Nintendo Switch… I’m a fan of horror titles, and anything from fighting ghostly apparitions, to hiding from a seemingly unstoppable monsters are a big hit in my book. Horror games are done well when they make the player unsettled, but give them enough rope to come back for more. A good example of this is Alien Isolation - which I think is a title that’s still not been beat in terms of making you feel truly trapped in a nightmare. The same can also be said for the 2001 PlayStation 2 title Project Zero (Fatal Frame if you’re not in Europe or Australia). Project Zero cast you as Miku Hinasaki who only armed with a camera had to battle supernatural forces whilst attempting to save her brother. The dark corridors were unsettling enough - and that’s before you used the camera to realise you weren’t alone.  DreadOut 2 is very much like these two horror heavyweights. And it’s a title that I’m glad to have experienced. Even if it’s on the Nintendo Switch.  ...