Sam Harkin
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Writing For
Checkpoint GamingLatest Reviews
Co-op games have grown a lot. Back in the day, the genre felt like it was somewhat swallowed up by other styles of game such as the shooter. Despite this, co-op developers never stopped making new titles for two from all corners. The work of Hazelight studios, among a crowd of other indie developers, has demonstrated how cooperative gameplay can work in any context.
If you had asked me weeks ago, I doubted that I’d be presenting a review for JETT: The Far Shore without seeing the end credits. Although unfortunately, mere days before the game was released, my save data corrupted during an update and I lost all progress. With that said though, I did see A LOT of this game. It was an experience considerably lengthier than I expected. But what I found most unbelievable is the feeling of relief when I decided I was not going to start from the beginning and ...
Of all the stories that games can tell, a lot of indie games tend to orbit around adolescence and coming of age. Popular titles, such as the recently released Life is Strange: True Colours, tell a coming of age story through narrative choices. It makes sense because so much of adolescence is bearing the weight of your free will and the perceived consequences of choosing incorrectly. But Sable explores a different side of adolescence: self-discovery. The mechanics in the game exist to allow ex...
Boomerang X is a title that is very simple and very focused in its approach. Coming to us from indie studio DANG! and publishing label Devovler Digital, this first-person “boomeranger” plays out like an arena shooter, albeit with a uniquely stylised weapon of choice. A huge amount of work and effort has gone into polishing the moment-to-moment gameplay of Boomerang X to a mirror shine. The small-scale experience is fantastic. However, in keeping that focus, a lot of the traditional large-...
I don’t know if I’m just a bit of a hermit, but it’s rare that I actually sink my teeth into an exclusively multiplayer experience. Sure, some of it is just not wanting to deal with toxic people in chat. However, some of it comes down to the feeling that multiplayer tends to sacrifice the individual experience in favour of larger servers. Chivalry 2 shows that you can have both mechanical complexity and large servers, though it is not without some frustrations.
I’m not usually one for the “annual sequel” games. I’ve played a bit of FIFA here and there and the occasional Assassin’s Creed, but that’s pretty much it. I’m generally wary of games that return to store shelves too often. In fact, MLB The Show may be the first AAA franchise I’ve played in back to back years after having reviewed last year’s release and having the opportunity to check out this new one as well. Thankfully this allows me to compare both releases and raise que...
When I first saw Olija being advertised, the thing that really struck me was the gameplay. The character fluidly teleporting around the battlefield and carving pixelated chunks of flesh from their opponents. I knew nothing of the context for what was happening. I didn’t really care. It looked hectic, vicious and all kinds of enticing. In practice, all these attributes lie at the core of Olija. There’s just a lot of wasted time that surrounds it.
It’s odd talking about A Fold Apart given the circumstances. At present, we are a few weeks into COVID-19 shutdown. Friends and family are separated, and only through technology can we maintain any modicum of a relationship. A Fold Apart feels like quite the reflection of the world today. In it, a couple struggles to maintain their connection despite the vast distance. However, not unlike self-isolation, the game can feel confusing and uncomfortable.
In the grand scheme of things, I generally feel like sports games get a bit of a bad rap. Maybe it’s a false dichotomy of the geeks versus jocks. Do people think that sports games are inherently bone-headed? In my mind sports games are such an interesting fusion of ideas. It’s a game genre where skill, strategy, and luck meet. Any play is only as good as the plan behind it and the ability to execute it. But there is a lot of chaos that ensures that luck is an integral part. So in this spi...
Long ago, an archaeological excavation uncovered the Gates, portals to other worlds. The areas beyond the Gates, referred to as “Dungeons”, laid as habitats for both fearsome monsters and vast riches. Heroes came from far and wide to attain their fortune. With the influx of heroes came the demand for items, and from the community of item shops sprung forth the commercial town of Rynoka. Will always wanted to be a hero, but fate stood against him. His parents were not heroes, but merchants...