External reviews
1687
in total
published by DarkStation
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SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
A review for DarkStation2019-06-17
The games might be as old school as they come and the lack of Metal Slug and other top tier SNK titles are missed but the SNK 40th Anniversary collection is more than a compilation of the company’s early hits. The clean interface, breadth of games, added console ports and new playback options represents a new beginning for legal retro game emulation.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Duck Game
A review for DarkStation2019-06-12
All things considered, Duck Game is a thoroughly enjoyable and silly party game. Its simple but fast-paced gameplay, varied map design, and penchant towards bedlam make for unpredictable fun. While I would only wholeheartedly recommend the game for local play, it makes for a great addition to anyone's rotation of couch multiplayer titles.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Void Bastards
A review for DarkStation2019-06-07
Although it would benefit from being either a bit shorter and/or having a bit more variety, Void Bastards is easy to recommend. It looks unique and has enough fun baked in that failure rarely feels frustrating or punishing. Fans of action games as diverse as Bioshock or FTL will enjoy it and anyone who chuckles at games like The Stanley Parable will feel at home with Void Bastards’ sense of absurd humor.Read entire review on DarkStation -
American Fugitive
A review for DarkStation2019-06-05
American Fugitive is an enjoyable homage to GTA of the distant past, with a good deal of content and a story that does a good — if rarely memorable — job of moving game through its paces. Some regrettable mechanics and repetition in mission design steal some of the game’s good will but American Fugitive is engaging simply for competently exploring an under-represented genre and style.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Darkwood
A review for DarkStation2019-06-03
Overall, Darkwood does a good job of presenting a very tense and often horrific story with just the right amount of survival elements mixed in. While I’m not sure it is strictly fun, surviving a monster-filled night certainly is a relief and feels satisfying. Difficult enough at its normal setting, there are ample opportunities for true masochists to enjoy Darkwood’s singular approach to the genre.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Team Sonic Racing
A review for DarkStation2019-05-31
Team Sonic Racing isn’t the fastest thing alive, but it moves at a decent pace. It won’t convert those who hate the kart racing genre, but it offers a decent twist on the formula for existing fans. That in itself is enough to justify its existence at a budget price, and it thankfully isn’t an embarrassing mess like Sonic Forces.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Layers of Fear 2
A review for DarkStation2019-05-31
Layers of Fear 2 is impressive to look at and listen to but like so many games in its genre, it feels sterile. Dream logic environments and an actor’s unraveling personality are interesting hooks but the game does little to make us care much about the star of the show to begin with. Real fear comes from attachment and the prospect of losing something or someone close to us. By the time Layers of Fear 2 has really defined its leading man, we’ve long grown impatient for the voyage to be over with.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Redout
A review for DarkStation2019-05-30
Redout delivers fast-paced anti-gravity thrills on a variety of futuristic, winding tracks. Presentation in the Switch version isn’t ideal, and races aren’t always easy to follow. Career mode is the reason to pick this up, and it will consume most of your playtime, partly because there is disappointingly no local multiplayer and online is already a ghost town. With competition like the Switch launch game Fast RMX out, Redout may not hit first place despite its potential. But if you’re just looking to scratch that F-Zero or Wipeout itch, then it’s worth strapping in for the single-player.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Observation
A review for DarkStation2019-05-30
After tediously fiddling through all the menial puzzles, the ending just made me shrug my shoulders instead of giving me shivers that I was supposed to have felt. It’s too bad that the promising premise fizzled as soon as the gameplay showed its true colors, watering down the prevailing mystery in the process.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Draugen
A review for DarkStation2019-05-28
Draugen didn’t make me a fan of walking simulators overall, as its excellent insight is more exceptional than a norm. However, it made me a fan of Edward and Lissie and the particular brand of storytelling designed around them. I was happy and most curious when the ending credits promised that the dynamic duo will return.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Vambrace: Cold Soul
A review for DarkStation2019-05-28
Too much in the game depends on random checks on everything with not enough variables or interactions on the player’s side, giving you always a bad hand. It feels like you’re preparing for an arm-wrestling contest but someone breaks your wrist before that. With luck - and only with luck, mind you - you can make progress but all the trouble (read: multiple retries) you go through will no doubt make your head hurt. It’s as if there has been no play testing at all to see whether playing Vambrace is any way meaningful. If the developers themselves would realize what’s wrong with the game, it still wouldn’t help.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Trover Saves the Universe
A review for DarkStation2019-05-28
I actually liked playing Trover Saves The Universe despite the cheap laughs and sometime annoying cast of characters.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Rage 2
A review for DarkStation2019-05-24
The outside looks good, but the moment you get close enough to interact with anything, it never ceases to reveal just how shallow it is. The missions, the few that actually exist, end the same way and are quite frequently unimpressive, the wasteland looks great but is boring to traverse and explore, and the few things that are good, like the combat, are mired with systems that are either a hassle to get access to or a hassle to deal with. It’s been a while since I have been genuinely disappointed with a game in almost every way. I don’t like this feeling. And neither will you.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Everybody's Golf VR
A review for DarkStation2019-05-21
With different gameplay options designed to suit quick or extended play, cosmetic goodies to earn, and multiple courses, Everybody’s Golf VR offers good value for its thirty dollar price tag. I was concerned about using the Move wand at first, knowing that certain VR games I’ve played before suffered tracking issues, but I had absolutely no problems here. And it’s way, way better than using the Dualshock. Sadly, the Move couldn’t help me with my own physical failings, meaning that many, let’s be real, all missed and failed swings were my fault. Everybody’s Golf VR is challenging and more physically demanding but is just as fun and spirited as any other game in the series.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Whispers of a Machine
A review for DarkStation2019-05-17
Whispers of a Machine doesn’t seek out to revolutionize adventure games as its ambitions are elsewhere. Mundane wisdom and a Nordic cool ambience raise the game above the average crop that nowadays litters the once-flourished genre. It successfully does its bidding in showing why point-and-click adventures are so rewarding. You don’t need lightning-fast reflexes or to read enemy movements to make headway in them. Instead you need to be observant, thoughtful, and smart enough to interpret clues. Whispers of a Machine is a perfect game for everyone looking for a cracking whodunnit backed up by some contemplative thinking.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered
A review for DarkStation2019-05-13
Sniper Elite V2 felt dated in 2012 and V2 Remastered definitely feels dated in 2019. The game is not terrible by any means, but it’s not particularly good either.Read entire review on DarkStation -
A Plague Tale: Innocence
A review for DarkStation2019-05-13
The way the narrative and gameplay fit together to make Amicia and Hugo’s journey both compelling and emotional is an impressive accomplishment that put A Plague Tale up there with the best of them. If you are in the market for a somber, story-driven game, I cannot recommend A Plague Tale enough.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
A review for DarkStation2019-05-08
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was never a looker on the same level as other RPGs, and it has legions of devoted fans thanks to its unique mechanics, combat, story and not-quite-mainstream vibe. All those come across just as clearly on the Switch. This might not be the ultimate way to play the game, but everything that made Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen stand apart from cookie-cutter RPGs is still there and still a lot of fun.Read entire review on DarkStation -
Windscape
A review for DarkStation2019-05-08
Unfortunately, the game's uninspired characters and repetitive combat prevent it from capitalizing on its strengths. Throw in some other rough edges, from wonky UI design to dialogue quibbles, and Windscape solidifies itself not necessarily as a bad game, but as an average one, through and through. Die-hard Elder Scrolls fans may have some simple fun scouring Windscape's world for quests and bosses, but it's tough to imagine many others wishing to dive into Ida's unremarkable world.Read entire review on DarkStation -
World War Z
A review for DarkStation2019-05-07
All in all, World War Z is undoubtedly a ton of fun, especially if you have friends to play (and chat) with. If you're a fan of the Left 4 Dead games or Killing Floor, chances are very good you'll enjoy this game as well. If you aren't, I would recommend trying this game as a rental just to try it out before you dive in, as the entry price (for now) is rather high compared to similar games in the genre. And of course, remember to aim for the head.Read entire review on DarkStation
