Ethan Krieger
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
DualShockers Latest Reviews
Discounty is the right type of cozy game that you can get completely lost inside for a few days. It thrives in the "Just one more day" zone and has an addictive loop that feels good as a distraction from the real world. At the end of the day, I wish it went a bit deeper with some of its systems to make the grocery store sim aspects a little more fleshed out, and some optimization hiccups are genuine bummers and frustrations at times. Still, I've enjoyed my time in the small town of Blomkest and feel ready to run my own store someday.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers doesn't soar all the way to FromSoftware heights, but it comes darn close. What's presented here is likely the best traditional Soulslikes I've ever played from a competitor, and well worth checking out for any fan of the genre. At its core, it's a brutal game with lots of build variety, but can eventually be trivialized if you know how to exploit some of your options. Still, it never stops being fun and interesting, and melee players will have great challenges in spades. Occasional "frustrations" will arise during your experience, but it's typically nothing we don't let FromSoftware get away with time and time again. Bottom line, if you want a brilliantly interconnected Soulslike map with plenty of great bosses and overall design, this is another fresh genre option that shows the field is truly beginning to close the gap.
I get why diehards love System Shock 2, but it doesn't change the fact that it hasn't aged all that gracefully in 2025. This game deserves its legendary status for the influence it had on the industry at large, but it's one most of us should just appreciate from afar. This remaster is undoubtedly the best way to play the game on modern hardware. Still, it also ultimately feels like a low-effort endeavor that's devoid of desperately needed Quality of Life improvements, making me question why they even bothered. The lore and vibe are still incredible, but the moment-to-moment gameplay can sadly be a downright slog. You'll already know if this remaster is for you, and I think you'll enjoy it if that's the case. Curious newbies should just watch a playthrough.
Ruffy And The Riverside has a lot of cool and new ideas, but doesn't always execute on the necessary basics. The hand-drawn levels and characters are awesome, the semi-open world is fun to traverse and works well as a collect-a-thon, and several gameplay switch-ups and surprises along the way feel refreshing. Unfortunately, the few bosses and enemies present here are quite bland, and though the environmental puzzle-solving is initially unique and rewarding, it eventually stalls out in creativity and challenge. Overall, Ruffy ends up feeling a bit inconsistent, but it's still a cute, enjoyable indie that has me looking forward to future efforts from Zockrates Laboratories.
Lost In Random: The Eternal Die is a slightly more accessible entry into the Roguelike genre that's a blast to play and rewards you with meaningful progression after each and every run. The charm of the original Lost In Random's gothic storybook meets Tim Burton movie is alive and well in The Eternal Die, though the narrative never really reaches anything special or poignant. Ultimately, however, this is still a pretty addictive and extremely replayable Roguelike that manages to bring fresh and interesting ideas to the party, and I always had a very good time with it.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a game that's likely going to split FromSoftware players in a way we haven't seen before. In addition to being a clear departure from what fans expect from the studio, it's also a title that 100% hinges on the team you experience it with. Play with Elden Ring pros, and it can be a blast. Play with average Nightfarers or casual matchmakers, and it can turn into a slog. This leaves the game in a little bit of a No Man's Land, too punishing and brutally tuned for the mass audience the new genre format wants to attract, and perhaps too much of a departure for some of the longtime fanbase. Nightreign can be really fun once you adjust to it, when everything clicks, when you have the perfect team of three, when the RNG is friendly, and when you have a lot of time on your hands to chip away at final bosses with ridiculous amounts of HP. Sadly, the repetitive nature and balancing issues also can make it feel like a series of the world's longest Soulslike runbacks ever—over, and over, and over.
The Midnight Walk is my favorite game on the PSVR2, and a true proof of concept for the platform if you still need one. Not since my first time playing Journey has a title struck as strong an emotional chord with my very soul. The claymation world is absolutely beautiful yet terrifying, the soundtrack is hauntingly gorgeous, and the gameplay is full of wildly unique and creative ideas that I've never experienced before. Most importantly, the narrative combines an approachable storybook style with very deep themes and symbolism that are sure to tug at your heartstrings by the game's truly amazing conclusion. Each character and story beat has insane levels of charm. It's a title you really should play in VR if you can, despite a couple of very minor design inconveniences. Still, outside of VR, the 4 or 5 hour runtime may feel short, but what's here is amazing and worth experiencing regardless. Pardon me as I Google if the PSVR2 warranty covers tears shed within the headset.
I had a blast playing Revenge Of The Savage Planet. The varied planets are gorgeous, the goofy creatures are charming, and the absurdist Rick And Morty meets Tim And Eric humor lands more often than not. Exploring vibrant new worlds and cataloging all the flora and capturable fauna scratches an itch for any sci-fi fan that wishes they lived in a timeline where space exploration was possible. Unfortunately, while combat does bring some interesting things to the table with elemental synergies at play, the gunplay is pretty basic despite being a frequent and expected part of your expedition. It's serviceable, but never truly exciting. Some fairly pervasive framerate issues and a co-op mode that feels more like an afterthought also don't do the game any favors. Still, the game is definitely fun at the end of the day, and I'm going to stick around for the post-game content to continue cleaning up some quests after rolling credits. It doesn't soar quite as high as I might've hoped, but it's still a deep-space voyage worth embarking on.
Bionic Bay is a truly special platformer that is wildly creative and endlessly smart.
Rusty Rabbit isn't a bad game at all, but it is extremely simple for the genre it slots into. It fails at having any sort of real challenge, memorable bosses, interesting puzzles, or rewarding routing. The story is surprisingly lore-filled, intriguing, and emotional by the conclusion, and the cast of cute rabbit characters do lend a nice level of charm to the game as you occasionally reach a flow state of map clearing, dungeon-crawling, mindless fun. Still, the game overstays its welcome by the end of its 20+ hour runtime, and there are better options if you're looking for a more accessible take on the Steamworld Dig-meets-Metroidvania formula. The entry cost is low, however, so it's not one to completely write-off if you're looking for a breezy side-scroller to sink some free time into.