Very cool, very short, over-the-top throwback side-scrolling shooter/platformer.

User Rating: 7.5 | A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda PC
Developed by a Thai development studio, ARES is an anime influenced, story driven side scrolling shooter/platformer. You control Ares, presumably a human or cyborg in a super advanced robot halo master chief whatever suit. You know the one. They're all the same. You're on a mission to rescue crew from a United Earth (akin to UN) ship, but end up having to save the planet in the process.

This game reminded me a lot of Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, which rocked. 2D characters with a 3D environment. Not exactly beautiful but fun and varied, with some interesting. The engine is rock solid. Mechanics are fluid and shooting is very satisfying. The controls at times - I used the 360 Controller for Windows - are maybe slightly unusual but you get used to them fairly quickly. You need to.. as the game is only 2 or 3 hours long.

There's definitely replay value here, but I never continue playing a game passed its main campaign. Too many other games to play. But even when I had finished the main campaign (rather efficiently), I had only achieved few of the many upgrades available - some to your suit, weapons, grenades and actions.

There are two difficulty options. Normal and Hard. I found normal a little on the easy side which I felt like at the time, bar the main boss, but I can imagine needing to switch to hard on a second play through.

Pretty fun, worth $5 or $10.