I do not understand Sker Ritual. At all. It seems that at every opportunity the developers took what was great about Maid of Sker and do the exact opposite to it, and so now, across just two games in the “Sker” property, we’ve got a confused mess across the “franchise” that seems to have no creative idea behind it beyond…
I finally have a Windows handheld console. See, here in Australia the thing is that they’re not all that easy to come by. The Steam Deck isn’t available here yet, the Ayaneo Next is over $2,000, and while the Ayaneo Air looks like a good option, it’s not landing until…
Read MoreI’m a big fan of itch.io for the freedom and open platform that it allows for developers to be creative, experimental, and directly canvas the audience for feedback for games that are not yet ready for primetime on Steam and its ilk. In addition, itch.io allows you to be transgressive,…
Read MoreThe Dee Dee Zine is a magazine for people who love games, music, film and art from Asia and independent artists. Every month we produce a magazine filled with essays and culture. In the August 2022 magazine (which you can purchase as a high-definition, printable pdf from our Payhip store),…
Read MoreThe big news in gaming this week is that Embracer Group has gone on yet another one of its spending sprees. This time around it has picked up everything from Tolkien’s Middle-Earth (from film to games), to Snow Bros. (Toaplan, in the company’s first-ever Japanese acquisition), and Limited Run Games…
Read MoreDefiant Development was a favourite Aussie studio. Responsible for the excellent Hand of Fate, and the even better Hand of Fate 2, this team of game development veterans were doing amazing work to build the local industry and create a franchise that had real potential. Unfortunately, Defiant couldn’t survive a…
Read MoreSoul Hackers 2 is a throwback to the glory days of Shin Megami Tensei. There was a point where Atlus’ premier property focused on ideas rather than sheer style, and some real classics came out of that approach. SMT 3: Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga duo were my favourites…
Read MoreLittle Goody Two Shoes is a blend of horror, 90s anime aesthetics, and classic fairytales. It’s also an RPG being published by the Square Enix Collective, and it might just be my most anticipated game of 2023 now. The game is being developed by AstralShift, a Portuguese studio that was…
Read MoreANNO: Mutationem is a really decent action RPG blended with an adventure game, set in a cyberpunk world. This is good cyberpunk, too, not like that big corporate Cyberpunk game that felt like a big corporate take on cyberpunk. And now, ANNO is coming to the Nintendo Switch. The game…
Read MoreIf you haven’t got your entry in yet, do it ASAP – the competition closes on FRIDAY, Australian time! It’s fuzzy, it’s cute, and it’s the perfect match for the most adorable cult simulator you’re ever going to play. Thanks to We Are Robots and Devolver Digital, we have a…
Read MoreMaono might just be my favourite “entry-level” sound equipment manufacturer. The previous Maono product that I tested, the Maonocaster E2 A sound production studio, is an excellent piece of kit that looked and felt premium. It has an excellent range of features, and does its job with minimal fuss. I…
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