A Short, Sufficient Build
HIGH Levels with multiple solutions.
LOW Levels with single solutions.
WTF That robot sure can barf up lots of bricks.
LEGO Builder’s Journey Review
Author: Brian Theisen
Mighty Goose Review
Running, Gunning and Goosing!
HIGH Hopping in a vehicle for extra firepower.
LOW The dodge button not being adjacent to the fire button.
WTF It’s convenient that the goose’s name is Goose.
Devil Slayer Raksasi Review
Satisfactory Slaying
HIGH Branching levels that let the player choose which boss to fight.
LOW The first time against the boss on horseback.
WTF How exactly did I obtain that invincibility power-up!?
Capcom Stadium Arcade Review
No Quarters Required
HIGH A collection with well-polished presentation.
LOW The platformers are less than stellar.
WTF Did there really need to be three Street Fighter II games!?
Shoot 1UP DX Review
Still Great Years Later
HIGH Obtaining 30 ships and then the ghost for twice the firepower!
LOW That ghost always runs out right before a boss battle.
WTF Well hello there, floating half-of-a-lady-robot boss…
Tiny Lands Review
Tiny Game, Big Chill
HIGH A great, laid-back puzzler.
LOW No ability to pan left or right.
WTF Polar bears and penguins do not coexist!
Halloween Forever Review
A Sweet Treat
HIGH A well-themed 8-bit platformer that’s heavy on the charm.
LOW Not much guidance on the purpose of in-game collectibles.
WTF Was that boss’s chainsaw supposed to keep going after his death…?
Cyber Shadow Review
Great, Beyond A Shadow Of Doubt
HIGH Great graphics, great controls, fantastic bosses.
LOW A few platforming sections require a little too much precision.
WTF Wait, how long have I been able to swing my sword upward!?
Tanuki Justice Review
Retro Inspired Frustration
HIGH Great-looking levels and bosses.
LOW Having to replay entire levels after dying at the boss.
WTF Unreasonably large hitboxes during a late-stage boss.
Brian’s Under-The-Radar Picks
While 2020 stunk out loud, it did provide me more videogame time than I’ve logged in a long, long while. Even with all that extra time, one thing remained true — I didn’t play any of the big hits!