Indie Bin: Senran Kagura, Switchblade, FutureGrind

From the embers of the Push Square Podcast rises Indie Bin – a feature that draws attention to some of the smaller games in PlayStation's busy release schedule. Once the Indie Bin is full, we'll put it out for collection in these consolidated articles featuring several pint-sized reviews. The metric here is simple: games we don't like stay Indie Bin and games we do like get taken Outdie Bin. Without further ado, let's crack on.

Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal (PS4)

If you like scantily clad anime ninja girls, then this is the game for you. Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is a remake of the 3DS title of the same name; a hack and slash game with some very questionable themes. You play as one of many school girls who's being trained to become shinobi, which is achieved by removing the majority of their clothes and wielding a sword. The entire game is level-based, with each one tasking you with the very same objective of clearing the screen of foes with your swords. The story seems very disjointed with each level picking up an entirely new subject, you could go from going out to get food to helping out your classmate who is getting inappropriately groped. The levels get very repetitive very quickly in terms of fighting the same foes and visiting the same combat arenas that feel bland and empty. SF

Verdict: Indie Bin

FutureGrind (PS4)

This challenging arcade game puts you in the seat of a crazy bike that can grind on suspended rails. You'll perform jumps and flips as you hop between various coloured platforms in the pursuit of higher and higher scores. Simply land one of your wheels on a rail with the corresponding colour and you'll continue to rack up points -- otherwise, it's an insta-fail. FutureGrind is twitchy and surprisingly difficult, but it's a neat idea that has the potential to keep you hooked for one more go. Ignore the frankly needless story and this is a decent little distraction. ST

Verdict: Outdie Bin

Switchblade (PS4)

Rocket League proved that blending four wheels with football can work, so Switchblade’s mash-up of MOBA and car combat surely must be a recipe for success. It’s not bad, actually – this free-to-play multiplayer release is easy to pick-up-and-play, but with each vehicle boasting different abilities, there’s no shortage of depth. The art direction feels almost RIGS: Mechanized Combat League-esque, with NFL-style squads and a festival atmosphere. The servers aren’t massively populated yet, though, and you can find yourself queuing for a few minutes before getting a game. SB

Verdict: Outdie Bin

At Sundown: Shots in the Dark (PS4)

At Sundown is a top-down, 1-4 player PvP twin-stick shooter, the aim being to wipe out your foes and be the last one standing. Stealth is a heavy focus in this title which makes it stand out from other games in this genre. Your player is only visible in spotlights on the map so the majority of the time you’ll be stumbling around blind, guided only by the vibrations through the DualShock 4 when you hit a wall. It’s a very interesting premise and works well. Each game will only last you a few minutes but it’s such a blast with a few pals and has a wide variety of customisation options that entice you back for more. If you’re looking for a fun and addictive local multiplayer game to play with friends, we’d recommend giving At Sundown a go. SF

Verdict: Outdie Bin

Holy Potatoes! We're In Space?! (PS4)

A game about anthropomorphised potatoes in space? Thank goodness the name of your spacecraft is the 'Spudnik Sweetheart', or we'd be having a word with Daylight Studios. Anyway, this cutesy space exploration title sees you managing and upgrading your ship and its crew as you venture to new worlds and engage in turn-based battles with hostile forces. From the start, the game has a real problem with cramming information onscreen -- there are meters, icons, and text everywhere. The game isn't all that complicated, but the UI certainly is. Crafting new weapons, assigning crew members, and battling enemy ships is all decent enough, but the convoluted presentation is a real mess. ST

Verdict: Indie Bin

Genesis Alpha One (PS4)

This complicated intergalactic game has confuddled us numerous times at industry events over the years, but playing Genesis Alpha One at home we still have no greater grasp on how it’s all supposed to work. Well, we do, but we’re saying it’s a bit too complicated for its own good. This is effectively a rogue-lite crossed with a ship builder crossed with a first-person shooter. In essence, you build utilities for your space craft which is floating perilously in space, and then use cloning machines to concoct a crew before heading out to foreign planets in order to farm resources. Honestly, it’s nowhere near as good as it sounds. SB

Verdict: Indie Bin

Words: Sammy Barker, Stephen Tailby, Simon Fitzgerald