Stephanie Watel
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Writing For
DualShockers 
Twinfinite 
The Escapist Latest Reviews
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is clearly intended to be a love letter to the source material that's drawn many fans across the globe for its dramatic, protagonist-driven story, fascinating lore, thrilling fight sequences, and surprisingly emotional moments. However, the creative execution of that homage in this game leaves a lot of confusion and disappointment on the story front, which should serve as its foundation rather than a botched afterthought. As a result, it almost forcibly alienates Solo Leveling newcomers, who are left without a premise to base their experience on. The combat and endgame grind does make up for it well enough, as cutting through fearsome foes as Sung Jinwoo feels satisfying and seldom gets old. Time will tell if the development team fills the holes it needs to for this game to become a true retelling of Solo Leveling, or if it remains more about fan service.
Of Ash and Steel is a truly fascinating world and experience that absolutely has merit. The sheer amount of content the game contains (there's even an 'Arena Master' mode outside of the main story that allows you to enjoy more combat challenges) is remarkable for an indie studio that's just now getting its feet wet. It checks a whole lot of boxes for what a love letter to classic 2000s open-world RPGs should contain, and the care and attention to these details is abundantly clear. That said, it does try to differentiate itself in ways that it doesn't need to, such as the lack of navigation UI elements and skill requirements. It also needs a bit more polish on other fronts, such as its dialogue mechanics, and the cutscenes can feel a bit awkward to watch at times. With a bit more time in the "forge" as it were (or just constructive update patches), this game could truly be one to remember.
Tormented Souls 2 is a fun, albeit thematically predictable, sequel to a game that served as a delightfully nostalgic surprise to longtime horror fans. It's abundantly clear that Dual Effect has put their heart into this ongoing love letter to classic survival horror, utilizing elements that few other horror indies have dared to touch in favor of modern playstyles and concepts. Charmingly familiar tank control gameplay, ambitious puzzle mechanics that can still feel a bit too heavy-handed for the average player, and thematic horror elements that do work well for the most part. Like its predecessor, Tormented Souls 2 still struggles with storytelling and character elements that just don't quite hit the mark. While it doesn't go as deep as I would like, above all else, it still serves its grandest purpose with all the passion you could ask for.
Overall, much like the focus of its story in the depths of the Interchange, Atomfall is a fascinating experiment that definitely has merits for what it’s accomplished in helping push the singleplayer RPG genre forward. It may not grant all of the 2010s nostalgia some of us want, and certain creative choices behind its structure and gameplay may sooner divide its playerbase, but it’s one you may not want to leave the phone ringing on.
While we may enjoy a good dosage of serious, emotional, and moving storytelling that more heavy-toned games can give us, sometimes there's nothing better than pivoting to one that can transport you to a colorful and carefree world of hilarious whimsy, and effortlessly deliver a different set of emotions - laughter, levity, and just good ol' fashioned frivolity that just wants to put a smile on your face and let you have fun with your friends. Recreate Games brings a flock of the fluffiest and funniest looking animals to their version of multiplayer whack-a-pal with Party Animals, and after a few matches this one honestly and thankfully feels like the opposite of a friendship-breaker.