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Christian Donlan (Page 8)

A Subpar Pool table with a lump at the top edge. A line extends from the cue ball, which has a cartoon face on it, showing the trajectory of a shot that will rebound off the side. There are two balls to be sunk and two pockets.

Feature

I wish every game had Subpar Pool's card system

A la carte.

Oct. 14, 2023 Christian Donlan

A screenshot from Subpar Pool showing a top-down view of a stage in progress, with several balls surrounding a large hole. A line stretches from a number of balls denoting their possible trajectory if the player hits them.

Review

Subpar Pool review - golf meets pool and it all clicks beautifully

Pocket listing.

Oct. 13, 2023 Christian Donlan

A title card from Saltsea Chronicles. Against a shifting sky, the text reads: The crew takes a minute to gather themselves.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Why does Saltsea Chronicles feel so much like actual travel?

Sing out for new stars.

Oct. 13, 2023 Christian Donlan

Saltsea Chronicles - a look-out nest-type building stands at the top of a pole suspended above walkways and fauna in Saltsea Chronicles.

Review

Saltsea Chronicles review - a dreamy adventure that contains multitudes

Cloud atlas.

Oct. 12, 2023 Christian Donlan

Key artwork for Slay the Spire, showing two of the characters in the games facing the infamous spire itself, which pierces the clouds above it. There's an orange glow coming from the centre of the storm. Cards fly around in the rest of the image.

Feature

Supporters | Five of the Best: Towers

The non-faulty kind.

Oct. 11, 2023 Robert Purchese

Hardhat Wombat screenshot - a cartoon wombat dressed as a construction worked has built a 2D castle out of wombat faeces. I'm not here to judge.

Feature

George Fan, creator of Plants vs Zombies, on design and his new game about the greatest fact in the world

And whether three months is enough time to ruin a friendship.

Oct. 11, 2023 Christian Donlan

Super Mario Bros. Wonder official screenshot showing Mario, a Goomba, and the level itself silhouetted against a purple and blue background of long tree-like shapes. Mario and the Goomba are also long, stretched vertically.

Preview

Super Mario Bros. Wonder really is filled with secrets and surprises

Dipping into a few levels and trying to make sense of it all.

Oct. 9, 2023 Christian Donlan

Assassin's Creed Mirage. Basim stalks the streets in a hood.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Assassin's Creed Mirage is another great game about climbing

Onwards and upwardsish.

Oct. 6, 2023 Christian Donlan

Assassin's Creed Mirage star Basim climbs a building to escape from enemies.

Review

Assassin's Creed Mirage review - a fascinating new city and the embrace of a classic formula

Jinn in a bottle episode.

Oct. 4, 2023 Christian Donlan

A cowboy character lassos a pink chick in an egg. The cowboy looks sinisterly happy. It's WarioWare. I have no idea what's going on.

Feature

WarioWare: Move It! takes the series back to Smooth Moves

Take a stance on me.

Oct. 3, 2023 Christian Donlan

A Tomb Raider 2 render of Lara Croft, in iconic green top and brown hot pants, backed up against the corner of a wall, gun at the ready.

Feature

Cocoon, Tomb Raider 2, and the pros and cons of being stuck in a game world

To the Opera House!

Oct. 1, 2023 Christian Donlan

The Snake-like game Qrth-Phyl, which is of course based on the game Blockade. We see a blueish 3D room filled by a gigantic, luminous yellow 'snake', which is wrapping around itself as it tries not to bump into itself.

Feature

Qrth-Phyl and rethinking how we remember video games

Mental blockade.

Sept. 30, 2023 Christian Donlan

A screenshot of the game Cocoon, showing a largely dark scene that's illuminated in the middle by a glowing green orb of some kind. A little character with insect wings stands nearby.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: The impossible becomes the possible in Cocoon

Made fierce with dark keeping.

Sept. 29, 2023 Christian Donlan

Key artwork from the game Cocoon, showing a small insect-like character, with wings, looking into a large transparent dome that has a world within. And a dome with another world within. Which has a dome with another world in.

Review

Cocoon review - prepare to be astonished

Bug's life.

Sept. 28, 2023 Christian Donlan

The hero stands backlit in an elevator in El Paso, Elsewhere. All around is dark

Review

El Paso, Elsewhere review - hectic monster blasting with killer style

Motel shootout.

Sept. 26, 2023 Christian Donlan

Neurocracy 2.049 promo screen showing Xu Shaoyong's Omnipedia page.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Neurocracy and the manipulation of memory

Tl?n, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius.

Sept. 22, 2023 Christian Donlan

The retro-inspired Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. We see the four brightly coloured turtles together in a forested area, all pulling iconic poses.

Feature

What we've been playing

A few of the games that have us hooked at the moment.

Sept. 22, 2023 Robert Purchese

A sun-bathed plaza with swords-people in En Garde!

Review

En Garde! review - swashbuckling charm erupts in every direction

Cannon event.

Sept. 18, 2023 Christian Donlan

Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting with Sunflora inserted in the middle as if it's sitting in the vase along with the other sunflowers

Feature

Pokémon and van Gogh? Sounds good to me

The sunfloras.

Sept. 16, 2023 Christian Donlan

Tomb Raider 2 - Outside Croft Manor on a cloudy day with Lara and her butler. Lara wears gym clothes.

Feature

The best Tomb Raiders are coming home and I cannot wait

Back to the Opera House!

Sept. 15, 2023 Christian Donlan

A stark illustration from Mediterranea Inferno showing a blond young man, Andrea, sat at a table beneath a pergola, almost a silhouette against the bright summer sun.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Learning to listen in Mediterranea Inferno

What?

Sept. 15, 2023 Christian Donlan

A level map in Wargroove 2 with lots of units in play.

Feature

Wargroove 2 feels like an incremental sequel with a lot to love

Baa influence.

Sept. 14, 2023 Christian Donlan

Chants of Sennaar screenshot showing a large yellow building to the left in a wide orange desert to the right, with pastel turqoise sky and deep pink characters.

Review

Chants of Sennaar review - a puzzling linguistic marvel

Champollion's league.

Sept. 12, 2023 Christian Donlan

Elephant Mario in the 2D Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Feature

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is right: Nintendo's series has always been about secrets

My shh-room kingdom.

Sept. 10, 2023 Christian Donlan

Goodbye Volcano High screenshot of two teen dinosaurs sitting back to back on a rooftop, against a bright green aurora

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Maybe it's the energy of games that makes them so good at capturing youthful experiences

Onwards!

Sept. 8, 2023 Christian Donlan