A lovely, crunchy reimagining of Berzerk that seems to understand Berzerk better than Atari understand Berzerk as evidenced by their recent reimagining of Berzerk that wasn't as good as this reimagining of Berzerk.

If you go into Death By Scrolling expecting a manic Survivors-like with screens full of enemies and the ability to create unfathomably powerful builds that fill the screen with projectiles you are going to be disappointed. It a shame that it has been lumped into that genre simply because it's a top-down arcade game with auto-shooting and some light roguelike elements. In truth it's a much more relaxed experience. A trot through some delightful pixel-art landscapes where destroying enemies is helpful but optional, and all you really have to concentrate on is staying one step ahead of the wave of death at your back, and the grim reaper who pops up from time to time.

In short, it's a very chill, good humored experience ideal for playing in short bursts.

I think Akka Arrh might prove to be my favourite Llamasoft game.

So much more than the twitchy arcade blaster that it might seem from the trailer, it's a game that demands accuracy and a careful rationing of your weaponry, closer perhaps to Missile Command than anything else.

This doesn't make it chore to play though, as the right shot in the right place at the right time can set off gorgeously satisfying chain reactions.

It does require you to pay attention and learn its ways, to a degree not seen since Space Giraffe, and I can see how easy it would be to bounce off of it and declare it too hard, but it's super rewarding when it clicks.

My only real complaint is with those little bastard bullets that fly off the screen, turn around, and fly back again at speed. Unless you spot them being launched and deal with them quickly it's very easy for them to take you by surprise in a way that can feel a bit unfair. There is an audio cue when they turn around, but it's easy for that to get lost in the din - and it is a glorious din that deserves to be turned up if you can.

The pacing's spot on, too, building up the chaos and tension, then throwing you a nice, chilled level or two to let you cool off.

Anyway, get it, and don't be put off if for the first few games you feel like you have no idea what's going on. Akka Arrh speaks a language worth learning.

Lovely crunchy pixelly flashy-lighty fun. And a bargain to boot!

Twin Sticks of Genius!

ITS TF2

Good in 2D, incredibly atmospheric in VR.

Beautiful, absorbing, abstract, pure-zone gaming. Yes there are a few problems with the initial release, which hopefully will be patched, but nothing game-breaking (for me, at least.)

The biggest omission is that there's no mention of holding LT and a direction to extend your claw's firing-arm into the adjacent lane. Perfect for picking off enemies that have made it to the edge of the web. Once I learned that, and it no longer because a death-sentence to have them reach the top before acquiring the jump powerup, things got a lot easier.

Space Giraffe is still the best of Llamasoft's "Tempesty" games, but it's not for everyone. T4K's a must-buy for fans of the genre.