Things continue to be rough in the video game industry this year with more layoffs, controversies and confusion in 2024.
Alex Green takes a look back at March to try to figure out what is going on.
Review | The Secret Of Varonis - What's Old Is New Again
We’ve seen a lot of retro throwbacks drawing inspiration from some of the most beloved classics (like Chrono Trigger and FF7), but what if a modern RPG took inspiration from a less beloved series and sought to make it more palatable for modern audiences?
Adam W. reviews The Secret of Varonis to see if SaGa games or yore have something to offer in 2024.
Early Access Review | Azoove - Like Sands In The Desert Bus, So Are the 10 Days of Our Lives
Early Access has proven beneficial for countless games but Azoove developer, Timeless Toucan, isn’t just using this time to balance the game for 1.0, it’s using it to workshop ideas for a TTRPG.
Vivian Winn checks in to see how its shaping up.
If Alan Wake 2 Had Better Gameplay It Would Be A Worse Game
Everyone would enjoy Alan Wake 2 a whole lot less if its combat was good. Look into your heart and you’ll know this is true. If you have no heart, read this piece and let Brad Fresno (also heartless) explain.
Review | Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore - Time Heals All Wounds
In 1991 the CD-i was released upon the world to mockery and ridicule. Now three decades later, we are finally at a point where we are nostalgic for these oddities and Arzette is here to defend the legacy of Link: Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamalon.
Review | Blade Prince Academy - Needs To Apply One's Self In Class
It’s time to knuckle down, pick up a book, and study the blade.
Branford Hubbard enrolls in Blade Prince Academy, but isn’t sure if this isometric tactical RPG is capable of a passing grade.
Review | Backpack Hero - Pack Rat Experience
Sometimes it doesn’t matter who you are, but what you bring with you.
Backpack Hero brings inventory management to the roguelike genre. Brandford Hubbard reviews.
Review | Persona 3 Reload - Back To School
18 years after its original release Makoto and Co. are back to kill shadows, summon persona, and scrape a passing grad in school.
Aric Leighton returns to the site to see if the halls of Gekkoukan feel smaller all this time later.
Review | Berserk Boy - Buster Boys Break Out
With Capcom’s recent success with RE, Monster Hunter, and Street Fighter it’s beginning to feel like we won’t see The Blue Bomber again for a while.
Berserk Boy is trying to update Mega Man for a modern audience and Ash Schofield is here to investigate if it succeeds.
Update Patch | February 2024
As 2024 enters its third month, let’s look back at everything that happened in February and try to figure out what the hell is going on right now.
Alex Green returns for this month’s Update Patch.
Review | CorpoNation: The Sorting Process – Lift Goes Up, Lift Goes Down
GOOD NEWS: THE FUTURE IS HERE!
BAD NEWS: THINGS SEEM NOT GREAT HERE.
Corponation is the latest game to try its hand at interactive satire. Does this Orwelian tale bring something new to the table, or is too close to our own mundane dystopia?
Linden García reviews.
Review | Please, Touch The Artwork 2 - Picasso's Puzzles
Welcome to the exhibit, please do not bring food or drink beyond this point, and refrain from using flash photography.
That said, Amy Eastland is here to remind you… Please, Touch The Artwork 2.
Review | Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden - Ghost Out Of The Shell
Don’t Nod has been busy in the years since the release of Life Is Strange. The studio’s latest game however takes more inspiration from action games like God Of War than it does from adventure games like The Walking Dead.
Kate Robinson returns to the site to review Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.
Review | The Legend Of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III/IV Review - Class VII Remains A Class Act
The Legends of Heroes series continues to see near-constant releases and when there aren’t new games there are remakes. Herny Stockdale has taken some time to revisit Trails of Cold Steel III and IV now playable on PS5.
I'M NO HERO | DEEP HELL'S HOW TO
Welcome to a new weekly feature here on startmenu, “DEEP HELL’S HOW TO”.
We kick things off with Skeleton examining Super MMOs and the curious case of City of Heroes
Sarah Thwaites Wants To Play Smaller Games | Winter Spectacular 2023
In a year full of blockbuster releases, Sarah Thwaites found some of their favourite experiences in smaller games.
These are some of the best bite-sized experiences from 2023.
Some Games Squidge Rugby Played In 2023 | Winter Spectacular 2023
It’s been a year full of some of the best rugby ever played, but we wanted to check in with Robbie “Squidge Rugby” Owen to see what some of the best video games he played this year were.
And look, he didn’t even make a joke about Johnhalo Sexgames retiring!
Update Patch | January 2024 - Everything Sucks, Sorry
2024 has picked up where 2023 left off and we mean that in worst way possible.
Thankfully, Alex Green is doing his best to keep us up to date on everything going on in this trashfire right now.
Kate Robinson Hightlights Some Of The Best Sleeper Hits Of 2023 | Winter Spectacular 2023
In a year full of triple-A bangers there is no doubt you missed some truly special smaller games.
That’s why Kate Robinson has rounded up some of the sleeper hits of 2023.
Branford Hubbard Reflects On A Wholesome Year in Gaming But There’s Still Work to Do… | Winter Spectacular 2023
2023 was an exceptionally tough year for many, but the characters in video games and media made Branford Hubbar feel a bit better about the year.