In Tidbits, we cover games that are difficult to cover in our regular review template. In this Tidbits, we review Wings of Bluestar, Crossover by POWGI, and Trenches.
Wings of Bluestar | 62% – A very traditional side-scrolling shmup with flashy visuals, mixed in with storytelling that doesn’t really benefit the game. You have two playable characters, Aya and Zarak. But the balance between the two are miles apart, it is defensive play against offensive play but taking Zazak whose main focus is the attack makes Wings of Bluestar much easier. Both characters have a different story and multiple endings but the dialogue should have been much better. Now I found it a waste of time between playable levels, they simply add nothing of real value to the game. Luckily the gameplay is decent enough, although it has some annoyances. For example, the downward flying levels don’t really work with the gameplay mechanics. You can individually control drones that fly with your main spacecraft, controlled by Lb & Rb. It takes some time to get used to this but you’ll be an unbeatable space monster in no time, especially if you take Zarak. You’ll collect risk points and collectibles in the eight stages, and with that, you can purchase extras like new game modes or art styles. A nice way to give the game a bit more replay value and longevity. It is a bit on the short side and publisher Eastasiasoft released better shmups in the past, nevertheless, I had a good time and for those who love the genre this is a no-brainer to purchase.
Written by: Dae Jim
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Crossovers by POWGI | 75% – Tjee, do I love developer Lightwood Games! They have released a few POWGI games in the past and the latest one is Crossovers by POWGI. If you ever played a game from them before you know what to expect. Word puzzles! Yes, plain old, those super ancient word puzzles that your grandparents did in real-life puzzle books. I still see them in shops, but I never see anyone buying them. Anyway, in this word puzzle game, you have to fill in a missing letter that fills out two separate words. For example: the S in Master and Loser. You have to do multiple words and with the missing letters, you can make a new word, which you have to solve based on a description. It can be difficult for those who aren’t that strong with English, so be cautious about that! But you won’t have any issues if you can read our LifeisXbox reviews. The interface is clear and controls are easy so everyone; even your grandparents who never hold a controller can play it perfectly.
Written by: Dae Jim
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Trenches | 74% – I’m quite confident that no other game has ever had more successful jumpscares. A big accomplishment considering the game takes around an hour to finish. Trenches is a mix between horror and war atmosphere, as the name suggests you walk around WW1 trenches in first-person. You will witness a soldier going crazy and experiencing the fear of being hunted by a monster. By listening to baby cries you’ll find baby dolls that you need to collect to finish your playthrough, the thing is that whenever you use the ability to hear the monster can find you. It is even intelligent enough to mimic these sounds to ambush you! Jumpscares happen frequently by things that suddenly appear – I was so in the moment that even the blinking eyes effect regularly managed to scare me. If you buy and want to play Trenches, I recommend playing with a headset and secondly that you have the option to turn off jump scares but please don’t do that. The tension between sounds and the monster simply vanishes if you decide to do that. SteelKrill Studio is behind this horror experience, a one-person studio! Ratalaika, who published the Xbox version, will hopefully continue to work with him as games like this are very unique on a console. You would think that more people worked on Trenches as the game looks decent and the sound is excellent, especially the inclusion of real-life pictures that help set an atmosphere. Staying alive gets more and more difficult, so keeping track of your location on the level and using your hearing senses to avoid the monster are two unusual gameplay mechanics that work surprisingly well. If the monster catches you it is game over and you have to start from the beginning…
Written by: Dae Jim
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Hello, I’m Victoria. I’m from the UK and have been playing video games for as long as I can remember; back on DreamCast. I’ve pretty much fallen for Xbox since I was around eight years old and remember BioShock being my first game on the Xbox360. Although I find it thoroughly enjoyable to not only experience gameplay, I also find comfort in getting lost and engrossed in the online worlds that sometimes differ greatly from what we know. Another side of my Xbox passion would be achievement hunting and gamerscore. I thrive when I hear the little sound of one popping up on the screen and I’m always finding ways to work on my backlog when possible. Horror is my favourite genre so if you have any recommendations, don’t be afraid to send them my way!