Christian Bognar
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Writing For
DualShockers 
Attack of the Fanboy 
PC Invasion 
CBR Latest Reviews
Total Chaos is an exciting survival-horror game that follows a man descending into madness within his own mind. The story and combat are the standouts here, as both are engaging enough to keep the player on the edge of their seats, pushing them further into the depths of the game's world to learn more about the protagonist and take down deadlier foes. Discovering the lore of Fort Oasis, the game's main location, and how its hidden meanings connect to the main character's mental state and sickness shares a strong resemblance to Silent Hill 2, and it's fascinating to uncover. The biggest negative is the game's core survival mechanics and how it often feels too punishing because of its lack of resources, to the point that some players might be forced to go back to an earlier save depending on their situation. The extreme lengths it takes to make the player feel hopeless may be too much for the casual player, so it's definitely not a game that could be recommended to everyone.
Constance is a fantastic game that I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of the genre. It draws heavy inspiration from Hollow Knight, which is clear as day, but brings fresh ideas to the table that make it feel like a unique experience. The story, where players bounce between the real world and a world inside the protagonist's declining mental state, is a sad tale that sends a powerful message about depression and anxiety. Constance tackles subject matter that we don’t typically see enough of in the gaming industry, at least with this much depth, and it’s refreshing to see them explored here. The mix of a heartfelt story, addictive gameplay, and incredible platforming makes Constance easy to recommend.
The Lonesome Guild isn’t a game I would really recommend to anyone, but it’s also one I can see a very specific type of player enjoying. Every aspect of the game is undercooked, such as barebones combat, a childish story that never reaches its potential, and a relationship system that feels shoved into the game just for the sake of it. In other words, there’s no standout reason to play through its 12-hour journey. However, it does have a cozy vibe to it that may appeal to players just looking for an easy game to pick up and play, and while they may find some fleeting joy in their adventure with these characters, I wouldn’t imagine them ever coming back to it. The Lonesome Guild isn't necessarily a bad game, it's just one that doesn't do anything particularly special or great to stand out from the crowd.
Little Nightmares 3 is a solid addition to the beloved franchise, and Supermassive did a fine job with the project. The atmosphere is on point as it does a great job at telling a story, creating a sense of dread, and is genuinely exciting to venture through. Unfortunately, the game has minimal horror, and I wouldn’t go into it expecting to be scared. As for the gameplay itself, it’s really basic to its benefit and detriment. It’s a great game to pick up and play in a weekend, especially due to its short runtime, but it won’t offer any challenge or thought-provoking puzzles. Still, Little Nightmares 3 feels right at home in the franchise and I wouldn't mind seeing Supermassive Games take another crack at a sequel, especially if they learn from their mistakes on this one.
Hell Is Us is a rare gem that we don’t normally see in the gaming industry. It’s more than a game that simply “doesn’t have waypoints or quest markers.” Instead, it’s an engaging experience that truly trusts the player’s intelligence, curiosity, and active listening skills. Figuring out how to progress the main story or its side quests through pure investigative work is immensely satisfying and constantly rewarding, to the point that I couldn’t put the controller down. It feels as if Rogue Factor has created its own genre in a way, similar to how FromSoftware spawned Soulslikes. The game’s only true disappointment is the lack of enemy variety and minimal bosses, which can result in the combat growing stale pretty quickly.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a good game that could have been so much more if some changes were made. The game is way too short, and the fact that there's usually only one solution in each level removes replayability, making it a one-and-done experience with almost zero reason to return. Unless, however, you're a completionist looking to find all the collectibles. Still, I'm happy I played it due to its fantastic stealth mechanics and heartfelt "stick it to the man" story of political corruption.
Blades of Fire has unique mechanics that are refreshing in a genre that seems to be oversaturated as of late. Having to switch between weapons on the fly and target the correct body part adds a layer of strategy to each encounter, making combat more exciting, especially during big boss fights. This is where Blades of Fire shines the most and is the reason to play the game. Unfortunately, too many design decisions left me frustrated. The weapon-forging minigame is a slog, NPCs are overly annoying, and losing weapons upon death isn't nearly as impactful as I had hoped. It's clear that MercurySteam has a good concept on its hands, but the execution could have been better in some parts. Perhaps these ideas will be better executed in a sequel.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is an adventure to behold, especially for those who are fans of Oblivion and Skyrim. With endless build variety, a beautiful dark fantasy world, an interesting story, and satisfying combat that feels weighty, this game is a great choice for RPG enthusiasts. While the game can feel like it's still in early access in some ways, specifically with its enemy AI, outdated character models, and a world that can feel too empty in parts, none of these issues take away from what makes Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon so special. It's a project where passion is on full display and I can't wait to see what Questline does next.
Spirit of the North 2 has its moments in its beautiful landscapes, relaxing music, and overall cozy vibes. Unfortunately, everything else is pretty underwhelming. The open world has nothing special to discover and mostly feels like a chore to navigate through, which is a shame considering the game forces the player to search the map for necessary items to progress. Even worse, the game has a ton of bugs that are downright frustrating, such as a boss refusing to attack, audio cutting out, lighting issues in some areas that make it nearly impossible to see, and environments refusing to spawn. Spirit of the North 2 isn't a bad game, and some dungeons are a ton of fun, but it's clear the game needed more time in the oven and would have benefited in a linear format.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a decent 2.5D action RPG with a beautiful world. However, the game has some serious design and balance issues that prevent the experience from reaching its full potential. Heavily focused on artificial difficulties, such as boss fights mostly reliant on gimmicks, annoyingly placed enemies through its levels, and exhausting runbacks after failed boss attempts, Mandragora sometimes forgets the whole reason people come to play these types of games — to have fun. Despite these apparent issues in its design, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is still an enjoyable time for the most part, thanks to its great build variety and Metroidvania-style map. Still, the bad feels like it outweighs the good, so I don't think I'll play it again anytime soon.