Recent reviews by JayLab

Sublime Soulslike. Might seem derivative at first, but it nails the core mechanics, and is elevated by the fabulous setting and overall aesthetic. Combat feels good, and the satisfying Perfect Guard mechanic means you can play it more as a Sekiro-like than a Soulslike (if that's your taste). There's some nice customisation options, and the story has some nice beats as well.

Progression is a bit more linear than a Dark Souls or an Elden Ring, which might irk some people, and if I was nitpicking I'd say that the base game could have done with a few more weapons and enemy types for more variety, but both of these are partly remedied by the excellent Overture DLC, which comes highly recommended as well.

Overall it's just a highly polished, highly impressive, and hugely enjoyable game all round. Really enjoyed it.

Followed this game with interest during its development and wasn't disappointed by the end result. The Megastructure is a terrific setting, and the game nails that sense of unfathomable, impossible vastness, as you descend deeper and deeper into the unknown bowels of this mysterious construct, passing through centuries of infrastructure along the way. Controls and platforming are fluid (once you get used to them) and the game is often exhilarating as you clamber over the collapsing remnants of ancient facilities, but be warned that it's quite difficult, and the game frequently requires precise and complex platforming to proceed. In a way it makes sense - this is a harsh environment not meant for humans (or androids), so traversal should be challenging - but you should be prepared to die a few hundred (/thousand) times along the way.

Low-poly aesthetic is very pleasing, and the game is well served by a moody and atmospheric soundtrack by Phrakture. The game is surprisingly substantial in length, and has additional challenges ('Simulations') for platforming pros as well. It's a great package, and although a few parts drag a little (chapter 7), the overall quality is high.

The game's difficulty had kinda prevented me from making an unreserved recommendation until now, but following some adjustments to the last chapter, and the recent addition of Explorer Mode, which tones things down and lets you tackle some of the timed sections at your own pace, I'm ready to give this a big thumbs up.

Follow the lure...

Sublime indie shmup, with tons of weapons and playstyles, varied stages, and an absolute banger of an OST. Scoring system is intuitive and extremely fun to optimise, and there are difficulty settings for newcomers and shmup veterans alike. Just an absolute gem of a game!

If you have fond memories of playing Descent, and/or you have a vendetta against evil robots, then you already know if you'll enjoy this game.