Geek Culture Reviews

Rob reviews Blasphemous 2 on Xbox Series X… Blasphemous 2 is the reality of all those childish nightmares about monsters under the bed. It’s a surreal dream-like experience that’s filled with enough horrors that’ll make Clive Barker, and Guillermo del Torro blush. Whether it’s the Penitent One, or one of the games many terrors, The Game Kitchen have turned the often cute art of pixel imagery into a hellish collection. While the same can also be attributed to the original Blasphemous, here The Game Kitchen have taken their art to the next level. Inspired by the folklore, architecture, and iconography of the Spanish and Andalusian cultures, the developer have created a high gothic landscape that’s steeped in its own illustrious history, as well as it’s hideous present.  On every aspect that took the shine off of the original, The Game Kitchen have made considerable improvements. While Blasphemous 2 retains the great mix of Metroidvania and Soulslike that made the first game a hit - i...

  What lurks in the deep?  It’s been a long day out at see and the sun is fading in the sky. My little fishing boat is laden with fish, and I’m heading back to the friendly town that’s now my home. As I rock up to the friendly fish monger, he tells me stories of mutant fish that have been found lurking in the deep. I then sell my cargo and head off to rest. The next day I head back out into the blue beyond and continue to fish. During my latest haul I manage to pick up a mackerel that’s so hideously mutated it doesn’t resemble a fish…maybe that old cook was right! As I’m still reeling from this revelation, something much larger emerges from the deep!  Dredge is best described as an Eldrich horror that’s been entwined with a very addictive fishing roguelike. It’s a game that captures you within its net, and does let go until you’ve seen the credits roll. It’s both relaxing, and nightmare inducing, and it just so happens to be the best game I’ve played this year.  So,...

Rob reviews Crown Trick on Xbox Series X... Roguelikes and Roguelites seem to be gaining in popularity over the last couple of years. With so many being released, a few of these have diluted the true meaning behind what being a Roguelike(lite) is. Thankfully Team 17 and NEXT Studios ' Crown Trick  knows exactly what the genre is - and more importantly brings something new.  Much like the initial Roguelikes of the late 80's early 90's, Crown Trick perfectly replicates what made these games great. It's fully played via a turn-based system that incorporates both movement and combat. Throw in the complete random factor of procedurally generated maps, and a punishing difficulty setting, Crown Trick is certainly worthy of being part of the cluttered game type genre.  The story sees you play as a mysterious character who finds herself trapped within a dream-like world. To escape this world you'll team up with a talking crown that'll grant your hero plenty...