Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek from Publisher GameMill Entertainment and Developer PHL Collective
Classic Goosebumps with a new story not available in the book series. Different endings gives it replayability. Age appropriate challenge level on puzzles and game play.
A game based on R.L. Stine’s book series with an original goosebumps story. Filled with mysteries, monsters, haunted locations, puzzles, and spells.
You play as Sloane Spencer, a young teen caught up in a mystery that has taken over Little Creek, the small town. You work together with your friends to solve the mystery. You are equipped with a Slingshot that can be used on enemies as well as used to solve some of the puzzles or for hints to solve the puzzles. There are other items you will find while exploring the town, you will come across newspapers and notes which provide the exposition. You will also be able to find clues for the puzzles near most of the puzzles. Making the puzzles rather easy for older gamers but on theme for the Goosebumps audience being a little younger. The game is rated “Everyone 10+”. As the story progresses you will find a spell book that will also help you explore the town, using secret passageways, solve puzzles and get items. Some of the puzzles will reveal a new spell that will be needed to progress the story.
The story is easy to follow along with a few red herrings to keep you guessing till the end. While exploring the small town you will need to go to several of the town’s locations including the cemetery, library, gas station, and theater. It seems to us there are a few too many fetch quests and recycled locations having you circle back to the same place after getting a new spell in order to open a new path.
Most of the game can be played using the stealth mechanic to avoid the majority of the enemies. Alternatively, you can choose combat using your slingshot to take out most of the smaller enemies. There are different types of slingshot ammo to find and collect from vending machines or hidden in filing cabinets, drawers, and on top of desks. Some of these additional ammo types can be used to take out the larger enemies or for a distraction.
There are some times where using the stealth mechanic is the only way to get past the “boss” areas. At times the bosses will spot you and chase you. If this happens, you will need to run and find places to hide. This doesn’t always work though, as we have had times that the boss found us in the hiding spot and caused damage. This part seemed a little broken to us in some cases as the boss couldn’t have seen us enter the hiding place but somehow knew we were there to attack. Most of the time you will need to wait out the boss and watch their movement patterns till the coast is clear. We did have a few times where the boss kept going around in a circle blocking us in a room. None of this was game breaking as long as you have a health item; which the game has a lot of so that was never an issue.
We did notice a weird graphic issue. While using the slingshot and looking down, Sloane’s arms move through her body. It wasn’t game breaking but did look pretty weird.
The game has multiple endings based on choices you make during your gameplay. It’s always nice to see your choices matter in a game. Since the endings are based on the choices you have during the game and there is no “chapter select” it will require another full game playthrough.
Overall, we liked the story and puzzles. They are age appropriate for the target audience but older gamers may find them to be too simple.
Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Steam. A digital copy of this game was provided to SimpleGameReviews for the purposes of reviewing the game.
Split Fiction from Publisher Electronic Arts and Developer Hazelight Studios
Fantastic story and characters. Immaculate game mechanics and some of the best co-op game play we’ve seen.
A co-op game which blends the sci-fi and fantasy worlds into one. You play as one of two aspiring writers Mio, the Sci-fi writer, and Zoe, the Fantasy writer, who are invited to come to a publisher’s offices to get published. Upon arrival at the publisher’s offices, Mio, Zoe, and the other aspiring writers are connected to a virtual reality machine that simulates and records their stories directly from the writer’s imagination. As you might have guessed, something goes wrong. Two writers accidentally get connected to the same pod. This starts to blend the stories from both writers’ imaginations together. You two must work together to escape from the machine.
Each of the levels alternate between a Sci-fi or Fantasy theme based on one of the writer’s stories. They have their own unique locations, visually impressive backgrounds, mechanics, and abilities. There are also side missions/mini-stories that you can encounter in many of the levels. Some of the mini-stories feature more unique mechanics, extra exposition, and character development as well as help build the relationship between Zoe and Mio.
The levels start out a little simpler and more comedic (in one level you get to play as magic pigs) but as you start learning about the characters and their back stories, the levels become a little more personal and challenging. While there are core game mechanics that carry over between the different levels, there are also many mechanics that are specific to the level and the story being played out in it. The game features a variety of puzzles, some of which require a little more timing and coordination between players than others. Each chapter in the game has a boss fight at the end based on the story being played out in that chapter. All of the boss battles help progress the main story perfectly. In the later parts of the game the boss battles become more than just a simple boss fight, it’s a fight through their personal traumas for the characters.
There are references to previous Hazelight games here and there. They’re done very nicely and add a fun little Easter Egg for people who get the references.
The game really shines when it comes to the writing. It’s fantastic. All of the characters feel real and engaging. As you start to care and become invested in these people the story really has emotional impact. The trauma that each of the characters overcomes feels so real like it might have happened to one of the game writers.
Even though the game is split screen co-op, we found that we were so focused on our own character and everything that was happening in our own part of the screen that we missed what was happening to the other. This added another reason to replay the story as you can choose the other character just to catch everything you missed.
The game has a couch co-op option, which is how we played the game, but it also has online co-op. One great bonus with this game is that it comes with a friend pass which means only 1 person needs to own the game for both to play. The developer has done this with previous co-op games they’ve released which makes it a lot easier to convince a friend to play with you.
Overall, we loved this game. The story was great, the characters felt real, the locations were beautiful, and the game mechanics with the flow back and forth between sci-fi and fantasy were incredible. Hazelight really does co-op right and sets a standard that other co-op games should strive for.
Split Fiction is available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, Playstation 5 and Steam
Cats and Seek : Dino Park from Publisher Silesia Games and Developer Noobzilla
Quirky cats hiding in a Dino themed park. More color customization options than you can shake a stick at. Peaceful and fun search and find game.
A simple hide and seek game starring Cats in a Dinosaur themed park. There are a total of 5 hand drawn pictures with 100 cats you must find hiding throughout the park. Each level also has some bonus Birds or Bees to find.
Sounds pretty simple, and it is, but where the game shines in with the details for each Cat. With each of the 500 cats you find, you get a brief card with their name and a little something written about them. If you have cats or have had cats before, you’ll appreciate the details even more as they fit very well. That is true about their hiding spots too since most of the cats are hiding in trees, boxes, and hanging from the walls/fences.
The game has simple controls with the standard zoom in and out and the thumbsticks to move the screen and cursor. It also has a help find button which moves the camera and puts a circle of stars around the area of a hidden cat. One of the little additions that we loved is when you get to the last 10 cats on a level you start to hear the cats meow when they are on screen. This helps you locate the remaining cats without using the help find button.
The game has a surprising amount of color customization options. This adds something extra for anyone who might have some visual impairments or who might have photosensitivity as you can change the colors of the background, lines, and even what color the cat becomes once you find them.
Between the simple controls, massive amount of color options, and cats, it’s easy to see why anyone would enjoy this game no matter their age.
Overall we really enjoyed this and it reminded us of some of the “find the hidden X” games we played as kids.
Cats & Seek Dino Park is available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Steam
Nick Jr. Party Adventure from Publisher Outright Games and Developer Melbot Studios
Solid kids game enjoyable for both kids and former kids that grew up with these Nick Jr characters.
Nick Jr. Party Adventure is an autorunner platformer full of Nick Jr characters. You play along with 25 familiar characters from six popular shows from Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and a few others.
Dora is having a Fiesta and needs your help to pick up guests and party favors. There are a total of 6 different worlds based on classic Nick Jr characters. While playing through the worlds, you will need to use springs to make your character jump and move platforms into different positions to keep your character moving. You will also have other guests/characters join your party to help you pick up the party favors and collectibles.
There are a lot of character customizations that you unlock by playing levels and picking up the collectibles. These unlocked accessories are also based on the world of the Nick Jr character you are currently in (ie: Dora the explorer’s Hair Clip or shoes or Chase’s Pup Pack from Paw Patrol). Don’t worry if you miss one as all levels can be replayed once completed.
The game was designed for a younger audience with bright colors and Nick Jr characters. The game has a great save system as it autosaves after every level making it easier to play for short time frames as well as for short attention spans.
The platforming is really easy as you can’t really fail the levels. If you miss the platform your character will have a magic bubble form around them and move them back to a previous safe platform. This is also where the simple controls come into play. You will use a button or thumb stick to move the objects or bounce from the springs. Each time a new item for you to interact with is introduced you are provided with a simple tutorial letting you know what to do and how to do it.
There were a few things that became repetitive. Once you collect the other 3 characters and have them in your party you will need to complete the level with each party member no matter if you picked up the levels collectibles or not. The catchphrase sound clips that the main character of the world says is the same every time you complete a level and becomes a little much. The in game music is different for each world and is based on music from their show. Unfortunately, it is a short clip on a loop and is the same for every level in that world.
We did run into a few issues that broke the level but restarting the level fixed the issues. We have also reported those issues to the publisher and they are forwarding the info to the Devs.
Overall even though we aren’t the target audience, we did enjoy the game for what it was.
Nick Jr. Party Adventure is available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Steam. A digital copy of this game was provided to SimpleGameReviews for the purposes of reviewing the game.
Artifice: War Tactics from Publisher and Developer Silvine Games Studios
Enjoyable turn based strategy game with quality of life features that make it accessible even to gamers new to the genre. RNG item drops and quest rewards make replaying the game a different experience every time.
Artifice: War Tactics is a Turn Based Strategy game with roguelike elements. Taking place in a medieval fantasy world. You play as the leader of a conclave working for Sirion, the last of the relic holders, standing against Theosus, a self-appointed tyrannical God-King. As leader of the conclave, you will send your rebel champions on missions to overthrow the false god.
There are 12 champions that can be gathered. You start out with 3 Champions, Ranger, Pyromancer and Zephyr. As you make it further into the game you will be able to add other champions to your party. Each Champion has their own movement and attack patterns with varying ranges. This aspect, coupled with their varied abilities, adds to the strategies you need to learn in order to advance through the territories. Understanding what each Champion can do is a big part of the game. The Champions can be upgraded with new abilities, items, and by leveling up their default abilities.
Similarly to Champions, each enemy has their own attack and movement patterns. You can analyze these by holding the spacebar after selecting an enemy. Hovering over enemies also allows you to see their attack pattern (which lights up when they move). I really enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have to guess if moving my Champion to a new position would cause them damage, where the damage would be coming from, or if it would put me in a position to attack one or more enemies.
Each territory has one of a few different battle types. The Escort game mode involves moving a bomb as if it is a 4th character (you start with 3 champions in your control as default). Ambush involves preventing enemies from reaching your starting positions either by killing them or using skills such as Behemoth’s “Enroot” or Zephyrs “Concussive Blast” to push enemies back 1 tile (this can be upgraded to pushback 2 tiles). In Capture mode you must damage the “Shade” until it collapses and then touch it to capture it and win this mode. These are some of the main quest objectives that must be completed to advance.
In addition to the main quest objective, there are also optional objectives that don’t have to be completed to get credit for successfully clearing the quest. However, completing them will grant additional rewards at the end of the mission so they’re worth shooting for. This was an interesting game play feature as you could get a victory without killing all of the enemies on the level unlike many other games in this genre that require defeating all enemies every time.
There are 3 island biomes to complete and 1 final boss fight. Each of the biomes have their own hazards to watch out for like Sandworms, Frost Wraiths, Poison Ivy, and Floating Runes. The hazards can be used for your benefit if you are skillful as attacking an enemy next to a hazard will cause extra damage but be careful, they can also be to your detriment if you get caught in the Area of Effect.
Customizing your heroes using items picked up in battle, or earned after defeating a boss, can help you overcome specific enemy types. Not every item grants purely positive effects, some have negative effects too, so you’ll have to decide if the tradeoff is worth it for you and your playstyle or the type or enemy you’re trying to beat.
Overall, I enjoyed the game. The visuals were spectacular, especially the champions themselves (So much so that I wish you could spin them around in the loadout screen!). The slow time events during some skills, especially when hitting critical hits were quite satisfying. Hoard your Jazis shards by keeping your champions alive and keep an eye on how many turns you have left or enemies you must kill in the upper right.
Artifice: War Tactics is available on Steam. A digital copy of this game was provided to SimpleGameReviews for the purposes of reviewing the game.
Hypercharge Unboxed from Publisher and Developer Digital Cybercherries
Feel like a kid again playing with action figures and fighting epic battles in this 1st/3rd person shooter/tower defense game reminiscent of “Small Soldiers”.
Hypercharge Unboxed is a first/third person shooter mixed with a bit of tower defense. You play as an action figure defending Hypercores from waves of enemy toys (think of the movie Small Soldiers or Toy Story with toys coming to life). You join forces with Sgt. Max Ammo to defeat Major Evil and save the Hypercore. This is the tower defense part and you are able to build objects (buildables) to defend the Hypercore; from traps to gun towers, all are part of your defenses. The in-game currency is used to purchase the buildables and there are set spots where you can build them during the between waves countdown timer. The currency is found around the levels and the enemies drop them when they are killed.
The story is set in 14 campaign levels that all feel a little different not just due to a location change but with the scale of the levels and the obstacles in them. As you might have guessed, playing from the perspective of an action figure, everything is massive compared to you. The game starts out in a bedroom, goes to a toy store, a backyard, and to an apartment. The levels grow in size as you progress and have more buildables available to add to your defenses as well as new enemies and enemy types. Not all of the levels are large. There are 3 that are pretty small; namely, an Air Hockey table, a backyard shed, and a battle arena for a boss battle. While these are a little on the smaller side they do offer their own challenges and enjoyment. To hit the nostalgia feels the story is told through a comic book style intro to the levels that really captures that sense of childhood memories many of us have.
One of the things we love about the game is the customization without monetization. All of the customizations are unlocked by completing in-game challenges. Each of the levels has a few challenges that you can complete. Some of the challenges are collecting all of the coins, making jumps from one location to another, and there are some bonus extra ones like finding hidden collectibles, placing stickers, and even shooting a bobble head or two. These are not mandatory to finish the story but if you want the customizations then you want to go for them. Most of them are pretty hidden and will take time to find but the game does have a free play option once you complete the level so you can go back and try for the challenges later.
The amount of customizations in the game is insane. From the amount of characters you can pick from, and several skins for each of the characters, heads, weapons, and even the boxes for the toys, all are made with care. All of it adds to the enjoyment of the game and really nails the concept of the characters as action figures.
The game has local and online co-op with cross play from Xbox to PC but can be played solo with bots. Like most online games, it is better with friends. There are several online PVP modes to play as well which extends the replayability of the game. You do not have to wait until after you’ve completed the campaign to play the PvP modes as they are not locked away behind story progression.
The only thing we did not like about the game was the story progression was locked behind getting a certain number of awards from the previous levels. Once you complete a level you are given an award based on how well you did and how many challenges you completed. We ended up replaying a few levels in free mode to complete the challenges before replaying the levels in story mode to get award credit for the completed challenges. There were a few levels where playing with the bots just wasn’t good enough but since you can play online we were able to play with others online and get the higher awards needed to unlock further progression.
Overall we really enjoyed the game. It had a good story and it made us feel like a kid again playing with action figures. We also spent more time than we would like to admit looking for the hidden spots to place stickers and for the hidden collectibles.
Hypercharge: Unboxed is available on Xbox, Nintendo Switch and Steam. A digital copy of this game was provided to SimpleGameReviews for the purposes of reviewing the game.
