We attempt to cowl each Swap recreation 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 as an example.
So listed below are some shorter opinions of video games launched or up to date on the Swap over the previous few months – that we’d not have gotten spherical to protecting in any other case. This instalment is a little bit particular as we’re focusing largely on first individual shooters. With a zombie apocalypse thrown in.
Trend Police Squad
Trend Police Squad is that almost all uncommon of issues – a genuinely amusing parody of first individual shooters. And we don’t say that frivolously.
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 variety of weaponry to realize this. Whether or not it’s firing needles to repair saggy pants to calming down eye-bleeding neon clothes.
The twist is that you simply do that whereas persons are nonetheless carrying the garments, and so they all have a variety of varied methods of stopping you from correcting their get ups.
There’s a formidable 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 problem 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.
Finally although Trend Police Squad is a effectively priced and fantastically introduced shooter that provides one thing very completely different to its friends.
Rating: 4/5
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Boltgun obtained quite a lot of hype as soon as launched, largely on account of Warhammer followers being starved of excellent videogame tie-ins for the beloved miniature wargame.
It could possibly’t fairly stay as much as that hype, however is a massively satisfying shooter at occasions. What it actually isn’t is a ‘boomer shooter’ – one thing the sport’s advertising staff have been all too eager to assert.
As an alternative it’s extra within the vein of Doom 2016, with largely linear ranges that funnel you into arenas the place you must defeat waves upon waves of various foes.
And though it’s no advanced masterpiece it affords some extremely satisfying fight. The titular Boltgun mows via enemies, and there’s a melee assault that tears via foes – fairly actually.
The visuals are deliberately pixelated, and do look fairly trendy. Sadly they make enjoying the sport handheld fairly tough, 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 instructed it’s.
Rating: 3.5/5
Chasm: The Rift
A largely forgotten shooter from 1997 developed by Ukranian studio Motion Kinds, Chasm: The Rift has so many spectacular parts – that are solely matched by its many flaws.
Technically a 2D title however designed in a technique 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 nevertheless, resembling navigation being unnecessarily tough due to arduous to see switches or doorways. There’s a boss early on that requires numerous trial and error to determine too.
The fight may 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 diverse bunch too, with a time touring component within the storyline which means you’re taken to historical Egypt and, er, numerous navy bases.
Should you’re a fan of first individual shooter historical past Chasm: The Rift is value testing when it’s on sale – in any other case chances are you’ll wrestle to miss a lot of its creakier parts.
Rating: 3/5
Nightmare Reaper
We’re personally a little bit bored with roguelite first individual shooters that declare to be replicating previous traditional shooters.
The enchantment of video games like Quake and Doom was the mix of fight and tight stage 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 pleasurable parts right here all the identical, resembling a diverse enemy set and a few private touches – together with a hospital room which acts as a principal hub.
The variety of weapons and upgrades can be dizzying, and the presentation is mostly wonderful. Together with a thumping Doom 2016 model rating.
Sadly the shortage of concrete stage designs and excessive price ticket means Nightmare Reaper ought to solely be appeared into by probably the most devoted FPS roguelite followers.
Rating: 2.5/5
Raging Bytes
Initially launched on cellular earlier this 12 months, Raging Bytes is a slight however relatively 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 – should survive a zombie apocalypse.
You staff up with numerous characters, and there’s a variety of weapons. However what’s attention-grabbing right here is the slower paced flip based mostly fight that you simply’re pressured into whenever you tackle a horde of the undead. It provides an attention-grabbing layer of technique to a recreation that might have simply ended up feeling quite simple and one be aware.
Raging Bytes can’t fairly justify its excessive asking worth, however definitely affords one thing a little bit completely different within the survival horror style.
Rating: 3.5/5