Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 4/5: A heartfelt, quirky adventure, cute characters.
Content Challenge – 3/5: Engaging but sometimes tricky.
Controls – 2/5: Movement and combat take practice.
Graphics & Aesthetics – 3/5: Simple yet charming.
Sound Design – 3/5: Fun and fitting, though not standout.
What the Kids Thought:
Our Review Club loved the unique characters and emotional storytelling but found some parts challenging. The simple graphics and fun music added to the charm, though some struggled with the combat and movement. Overall, they rated it a solid 3/5!
Age Rating: E10+ (mild violence, deeper themes).
Available on: PC, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, Xbox One.
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 3/5: Basic storyline with minimal character development, leaving much to be desired.
Content – 3/5: Limited variety in environments and tasks, lacking enough to keep players engaged.
Gameplay – 3/5: The gameplay has potential but feels repetitive and doesn't offer much excitement.
Controls – 2/5: The controls are clunky and difficult to manage, leading to frustrating moments.
Graphics – 3/5: Decent visuals, but nothing particularly special or eye-catching.
Sound – 2/5: Basic and unremarkable sound design that doesn’t add much to the experience.
What the Kids Thought:
The kids found the game’s repetitive nature and clunky controls frustrating. While the visuals were okay, the overall experience didn’t captivate them.
Age Rating: T (Teen) – Suitable for players who enjoy basic survival horror.
Available on: PC, Steam.
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 3/5: Quirky and mysterious, but the pacing drags in places and some characters feel underdeveloped.
Content – 4/5: Plenty of dialogue and puzzles to keep you occupied, though a few clues feel a bit too easy.
Gameplay – 3/5: Engaging detective work with clever mechanics, but can feel slow if you’re not hooked by the mystery.
Controls – 3/5: Straightforward point-and-click style, though some navigation is a little clunky.
Graphics – 4/5: Charming hand-drawn visuals with vibrant environments and expressive characters.
Sound – 3/5: Functional background music, but nothing particularly memorable.
What the Kids Thought:
They enjoyed the colourful characters and light detective work, though some younger players found the reading-heavy parts a bit tiring. The art style was a hit, but they wished there were more interactive moments to break up the conversations.
Age Rating: E10+ – Best for kids who enjoy mystery stories and puzzles.
Available on: PC, Switch, Mobile.
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 2/5: Not a focus; it's all about strategy.
Content – 4/5: Resource management and tower defense create an engaging experience.
Controls – 3/5: A bit clunky at first but rewarding once mastered.
Graphics & Aesthetics – 4/5: Stylish pixel art adds to the charm.
Sound Design – 3/5: Functional but not particularly memorable.
What the Kids Thought:
Mindustry started with a steep learning curve, but once the mechanics clicked, the kids loved it! Even those unsure of their contribution to the team found themselves hooked on the game's deep strategy and base-building challenges.
Age Rating: E (Everyone) – Suitable for all ages.
Available on: PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Steam.
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 3/5: Basic storyline with minimal character development, lacking depth.
Content – 3/5: Limited variety in environments and tasks, could use more to keep things engaging.
Gameplay – 4/5: Fun and engaging mechanics, though it can feel repetitive at times.
Controls – 2/5: Controls are awkward and hard to manage, which can be frustrating during gameplay.
Graphics – 5/5: Stunning visuals that are detailed and immersive, a highlight of the game.
Sound – 3/5: Sound design is decent but lacks variety and doesn't add much to the atmosphere.
What the Kids Thought:
The kids enjoyed the visuals and the gameplay, though the controls were difficult for some, making progress harder at times.
Age Rating: T (Teen) – Suitable for players who enjoy adventure games with a bit of a challenge.
Available on: PC, Steam
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 2/5: Minimalistic and ambiguous, leaving much up to interpretation, which may feel unsatisfying to some.
Content – 3/5: A short but focused experience with atmospheric puzzle-platforming.
Gameplay – 3/5: Solid platforming mechanics, though trial-and-error deaths can be frustrating.
Controls – 3/5: Simple and responsive enough, but limited in complexity.
Graphics – 3/5: Striking monochrome visuals create a moody atmosphere, though they lack variety.
Sound – 2/5: Subtle and sparse, adding to the tone but not particularly memorable.
What the Kids Thought:
They found the atmosphere intriguing but also a little too dark and eerie. Some liked the mysterious feel, while others preferred games with clearer goals and brighter visuals.
Age Rating: T – Suitable for teens, especially those who enjoy atmospheric puzzle games.
Available on: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Storyline & Characters – 3/5: A fun Adventure Time setting, but the narrative could be stronger.
Content – 3/5: A large map to explore, though it lacks variety and depth.
Controls – 3/5: Simple to use, but turn-based combat felt frustrating at times.
Graphics & Aesthetics – 3/5: Beautiful backgrounds, but character visuals could be improved.
Sound & Music – 3/5: Enjoyable voice acting, but the constant singing got a bit annoying.
What the Kids Thought:
The class enjoyed their time with Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion but felt it didn’t quite live up to its potential. While they liked the humor and world, they wished for more variety in the gameplay. Still, they found it more engaging than last week’s game and are excited for next week's review!
Age Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and up).
Available on: PC (Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 3/5: Basic story that sets up the action, but lacking depth and character development.
Content – 3/5: Limited variety in enemies and levels, with some repetition as you progress.
Gameplay – 3/5: Classic platforming, but can feel repetitive and challenging in frustrating ways.
Controls – 4/5: Responsive and straightforward, making gameplay manageable despite difficulty.
Graphics – 3/5: Decent for its time, but the visuals are simple and don't stand out much.
Sound – 2/5: Basic sound design with a limited soundtrack that doesn’t add much to the atmosphere.
What the Kids Thought:
The kids enjoyed the challenge and nostalgia, but found the repetitive gameplay and limited sound a bit off-putting.
Age Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and up) – Suitable for players who enjoy retro platformers.
Available on: NES, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch.
Review Club Rating: 3/5
Story & Characters – 3/5: Lighthearted and charming, though fairly simple and predictable.
Content – 3/5: Plenty of building, crafting, and exploration, but missions can feel repetitive.
Gameplay – 3/5: Fun mix of RPG elements and sandbox building, though pacing can be slow.
Controls – 3/5: Mostly smooth, with a few fiddly camera issues.
Graphics – 3/5: Bright and cheerful, fitting the series’ art style, though not technically impressive.
Sound – 3/5: Familiar, upbeat Dragon Quest tunes, but repetition sets in after a while.
What the Kids Thought:
They enjoyed the creativity of building and the friendly tone, though some got tired of the repetitive quest structure. The colourful world was a highlight.
Age Rating: E10+ – Great for younger players who like building and light RPG gameplay.
Available on: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One.