Torinto (Xbox One, 2023)

Torinto

Developed by DVL Games/Leaf Team Games

Published by Eastasiasoft Limited

Released for Xbox One (5/23/2023)

Optimized for Series X|S

Also on PC/PS4/PS5/Switch

Review Intro

Torinto was originally developed by DVL Games and released for PC back in 2019. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here, but as far as I can tell this was ported by Leaf Team Games and published by Eastasiasoft Limited and Ratalaika Games. It's all a bit confusing figuring out who does the porting and the publishing when both of these companies are involved.

Torinto caught my interest because it looked like an interesting take on the run & gun genre. The game sports a medieval fantasy theme and features some nice hand-drawn artwork. Hoping for some good mindless run & gun fun, I didn't hesitate to pick this one up and give it a shot. Let's get into it and see if you should do the same...

Outbreak: Lost Hope (Xbox One, 2019) | Outbreak: Lost Hope Definitive Edition (Xbox Series, 2021)

Outbreak: Lost Hope

Developed/Published by Dead Drop Studios LLC

Released for Xbox One (6/26/2019)

Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4/PS5/Switch

 

Review Preface

Outbreak: Lost Hope is the 4th entry in the Outbreak series, which is basically a low-budget tribute to the old-school Resident Evil survival-horror games. Brought to us by a small indie studio based out of Connecticut in the USA, one has to keep their expectations in check and also bear in mind the price point the game sells at ($12.99). Being a fan of the old RE games, I've been interested in dipping into this series for some time and what better place to start than the 4th title in the series? At some point I intend to check out some of the other titles in the series, but for now let's check out Outbreak: Lost Hope and see how it fares at delivering the scares...

Graphics/Presentation

Outbreak: Lost Hope isn't going to blow anybody away with its visuals, but with that being said it's not a terrible-looking game either. The majority of the map consists of wooded areas that you'll be navigating in the darkness and rainfall. Visibility is constantly limited due to this and it does help to add to the game's atmosphere. The environment itself is detailed, but the protagonist's character model leaves something to be desired. The character more closely resembles a plastic action action figure more than an actual human, particularly when looking at the hair which looks like something from the PS2 generation. The creatures in the game fare much better, sporting some creepy looking monsters for you to shoot at. Another department that could use some improvement is the sound design, which feels downright barren at times. The game lacks any kind of footstep sound effects which would've helped add to atmosphere. While these things are forgivable to an extent and don't ruin the game, there are several aspects of the game in regards to the visuals and presentation that needs some work before it becomes better than slightly above average.

Mighty Goose (Xbox Series, 2021)

Mighty Goose

Developed by Blastmode/MP2 Games

Published by PLAYISM

Released for Xbox One/Series (6/5/2021)

Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4/PS5/Switch

INTRO

Just from taking a quick glance at the preview screenshots for Mighty Goose, it's obvious from the artwork of the tank vehicle that it was paying tribute to the run & gun classic series Metal Slug. Immediately intrigued and always on the lookout for a good new run & gun action experience, this one had been on my radar for some time now. Finally, close to a year after its release and after missing it's run on Game Pass, I finally got around to dedicating some time to play through Mighty Goose (brought to us from Netherlands-based developer Blastmode), so without further ado let's get right into it and see if it's worth your dollars & time...

PRESENTATION

Right off the bat, Mighty Goose impresses with some very colorful & detailed pixel graphics. The menus are simple and easy to navigate. The explosions look awesome and are quite the spectacle. The soundtrack, composed by Dominic Ninmark (Blazing Chrome), is a blend of rock/jazz music and is easily one of the highlights of the overall package. There's a decent variety of enemy designs and they're all fun to blow to smithereens. Unless you just really dislike pixel-art, there's little to complain about with Mighty Goose in regards to the overall presentation...everything looks and sounds good.