We attempt to cowl each Swap sport we’re despatched a code for right here at Gamezebo. Typically we discover ourselves with a little bit of a backlog although – like proper now for example.
So listed here are some shorter critiques of video games launched or up to date on the Swap over the previous few months – that we would not have gotten spherical to overlaying in any other case. This instalment is just a little particular as we’re focusing largely on first particular person shooters. With a zombie apocalypse thrown in.
Style Police Squad
Style Police Squad is that the majority uncommon of issues – a genuinely amusing parody of first particular person shooters. And we don’t say that flippantly.
It revolves round you exploring a world the place your job as an officer is to proper vogue disasters. To do that you employ a spread of weaponry to attain this. Whether or not it’s firing needles to repair saggy pants to calming down eye-bleeding neon clothes.
The twist is that you just do that whereas persons are nonetheless carrying the garments, and so they all have a spread of varied methods of stopping you from correcting their get ups.
There’s a powerful variety of enemies to face, and it’s all wrapped up in massively endearing pixel artwork presentation. Even the writing is sharp.
The place we do have a minor situation is that each kind of enemy requires a particular weapon to take down, which does take away a few of the immediacy to the motion.
In the end although Style Police Squad is a effectively priced and beautifully introduced shooter that gives one thing very totally different to its friends.
Rating: 4/5
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Boltgun acquired numerous hype as soon as launched, largely resulting from Warhammer followers being starved of excellent videogame tie-ins for the beloved miniature wargame.
It could’t fairly stay as much as that hype, however is a massively satisfying shooter at instances. What it actually isn’t is a ‘boomer shooter’ – one thing the sport’s advertising staff have been all too eager to say.
As an alternative it’s extra within the vein of Doom 2016, with largely linear ranges that funnel you into arenas the place it’s a must to defeat waves upon waves of assorted foes.
And though it’s no advanced masterpiece it presents some extremely satisfying fight. The titular Boltgun mows by way of enemies, and there’s a melee assault that tears by way of foes – fairly actually.
The visuals are deliberately pixelated, and do look fairly fashionable. Sadly they make taking part in the sport handheld fairly troublesome, particularly whenever you’re leaping across the bigger areas.
There isn’t an enormous quantity to Boltgun, however what’s there largely satisfies – simply don’t go into anticipating it to be the throwback shooter many have recommended it’s.
Rating: 3.5/5
Chasm: The Rift
A largely forgotten shooter from 1997 developed by Ukranian studio Motion Varieties, Chasm: The Rift has so many spectacular parts – that are solely matched by its many flaws.
Technically a 2D title however designed in a approach to seem 3D, it’s a marvel of design – for the mid-nineties anyway.
Modern-day gamers usually tend to discover how shonky sure parts are nonetheless, comparable to navigation being unnecessarily troublesome due to arduous to see switches or doorways. There’s a boss early on that requires various trial and error to determine too.
The fight could be massively entertaining although, particularly as foes can have sure elements of their anatomy blown away when you shoot away at them.
Ranges are a various bunch too, with a time touring component within the storyline that means you’re taken to historic Egypt and, er, varied navy bases.
If you happen to’re a fan of first particular person shooter historical past Chasm: The Rift is value testing when it’s on sale – in any other case it’s possible you’ll battle to miss lots of its creakier parts.
Rating: 3/5
Nightmare Reaper
We’re personally just a little bored with roguelite first particular person shooters that declare to be replicating previous traditional shooters.
The attraction of video games like Quake and Doom was the mixture of fight and tight degree design. By eradicating the second issue – like Nightmare Reaper does with its randomly generated phases – you’re left with one thing that may’t even declare to be a pale imitation of the titles it claims to observe.
There are some fulfilling parts right here all the identical, comparable to a various enemy set and a few private touches – together with a hospital room which acts as a major hub.
The variety of weapons and upgrades can also be dizzying, and the presentation is usually glorious. Together with a thumping Doom 2016 fashion rating.
Sadly the shortage of concrete degree designs and excessive price ticket means Nightmare Reaper ought to solely be regarded into by essentially the most devoted FPS roguelite followers.
Rating: 2.5/5
Raging Bytes
Initially launched on cell earlier this 12 months, Raging Bytes is a slight however reasonably charming entry within the zombie survival style.
Boasting fundamental however charming pixelart visuals, it’s based mostly in 1978 the place you – Ben, a police officer – must survive a zombie apocalypse.
You staff up with varied characters, and there’s a spread of weapons. However what’s attention-grabbing right here is the slower paced flip based mostly fight that you just’re compelled into whenever you tackle a horde of the undead. It provides an attention-grabbing layer of technique to a sport that might have simply ended up feeling quite simple and one observe.
Raging Bytes can’t fairly justify its excessive asking worth, however actually presents one thing just a little totally different within the survival horror style.
Rating: 3.5/5
