Bewareo
2017
Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away in a deadly stealth game of hide and seek. A little girl in a yellow raincoat looking to escape from a ship without being eaten.
⭐ Fantastic creepy world. Tarsier Studios has worked hard on the visual presentation and sound system.
⭐ No plot, no dialogues, no diary pages or object descriptions like in Dark Souls where you can figure out what's going on. They are not missing though, the game doesn't need them to show powerful narrative moments.
⚠️ Very short game and little replay value.
⚠️ Punctual inaccuracies in control.
⭐ Fantastic creepy world. Tarsier Studios has worked hard on the visual presentation and sound system.
⭐ No plot, no dialogues, no diary pages or object descriptions like in Dark Souls where you can figure out what's going on. They are not missing though, the game doesn't need them to show powerful narrative moments.
⚠️ Very short game and little replay value.
⚠️ Punctual inaccuracies in control.
2020
It resembles Final Fantasy Tactics Advance in the container, but not in the content. Anyone who has been drawn to this game thinking that it is just like the Square game has to be prepared for a disappointment.
⭐ Great sprite work, ideal for pixel Junkies.
⭐ Nice user interface and simplified controls. I think it's pretty intuitive and plenty of explanations for smooth combat.
⚠️ Little itemization and summoning progression. In FFTA and sequel you have at your disposal a mileage theorycrafting of races, jobs, skills and equipment. Objects are not simple stat buffs, they allow you to learn new skills and change jobs to get, for example, a paladin with thief or ninja skills and have a more balanced team. That offers a huge range of customization and is what I like the most about this game. In Fae Tactics you can have just three characters on the battlefield, each one with the same three actions (basic attack, assist and wait), scrolls that give stat buffs and you can only put one per character and summons that can't carry items and they're just to buff the three main chars. That's all.
⚠️ Combat takes too long. Not just story driven combats, simple trash mobs fights for grinding purpose take a fair amount of time because the boss is either summoning new minions or shielding itself non-stop, so most of combats end up being to knock down a wall.
⚠️ The plot is dull and you won't even remember it while you play. Combat is all that matters and is easy to burn out.
⭐ Great sprite work, ideal for pixel Junkies.
⭐ Nice user interface and simplified controls. I think it's pretty intuitive and plenty of explanations for smooth combat.
⚠️ Little itemization and summoning progression. In FFTA and sequel you have at your disposal a mileage theorycrafting of races, jobs, skills and equipment. Objects are not simple stat buffs, they allow you to learn new skills and change jobs to get, for example, a paladin with thief or ninja skills and have a more balanced team. That offers a huge range of customization and is what I like the most about this game. In Fae Tactics you can have just three characters on the battlefield, each one with the same three actions (basic attack, assist and wait), scrolls that give stat buffs and you can only put one per character and summons that can't carry items and they're just to buff the three main chars. That's all.
⚠️ Combat takes too long. Not just story driven combats, simple trash mobs fights for grinding purpose take a fair amount of time because the boss is either summoning new minions or shielding itself non-stop, so most of combats end up being to knock down a wall.
⚠️ The plot is dull and you won't even remember it while you play. Combat is all that matters and is easy to burn out.
2016
A farming game where you "ghostbust" slimes and feed them with their favourite food or something. The grinding is too repetitive and with little reward. Besides is funny that it's sold as a relax game and a break from everything, but can drive you crazy if you don't pay enough attention to 10 corrals, feeding largos, the power running out and multiple plagues of Tarrs. Meh, it didn't catch me.
2017
"Groundhog Day" mixed with "And Then There Were None" in a good narrative puzzle game.
⭐ Beautiful aesthetics of the game. Too bad you can't zoom.
⭐ Great music that integrates perfectly with the game world.
⚠️ Some puzzles turned out to be too easy, or even accidentally solved. The ending is nothing special.
⚠️ There is no way to know which invitations or cards you are missing. Getting the last 4 or 5 will be very difficult even with a guide.
⭐ Beautiful aesthetics of the game. Too bad you can't zoom.
⭐ Great music that integrates perfectly with the game world.
⚠️ Some puzzles turned out to be too easy, or even accidentally solved. The ending is nothing special.
⚠️ There is no way to know which invitations or cards you are missing. Getting the last 4 or 5 will be very difficult even with a guide.
2017
This game is pure satisfaction. Everything with a meaning. It's amazing how soulful this game is when has the word "hollow" in the name.
⭐ A silent game full of invisible clues that tell you a story without actually telling you anything and it motivates you to want to know more. The complete opposite of games with endless cinematics that tell you their boring shit and motivate you to want to know less.
⭐ Audiovisually amazing.
⭐ Soul magic mechanic. The combat in general is great and very fluid, but this is my favorite aspect of it. You build mana every time you hit an enemy with your basic attack. It is then when you decide how to manage that mana, whether to cast spells and deal quick damage or reserve it for healing.
⭐ The price!
⚠️ Many side quests are really hard to find without using a guide, like The Grimm Troupe's Quest, hidden behind a false wall which is behind other false wall in an area that you'd never think to come back again. There is a need of some hint that these quests at least exist.
⚠️ LOTS of backtracking.
⭐ A silent game full of invisible clues that tell you a story without actually telling you anything and it motivates you to want to know more. The complete opposite of games with endless cinematics that tell you their boring shit and motivate you to want to know less.
⭐ Audiovisually amazing.
⭐ Soul magic mechanic. The combat in general is great and very fluid, but this is my favorite aspect of it. You build mana every time you hit an enemy with your basic attack. It is then when you decide how to manage that mana, whether to cast spells and deal quick damage or reserve it for healing.
⭐ The price!
⚠️ Many side quests are really hard to find without using a guide, like The Grimm Troupe's Quest, hidden behind a false wall which is behind other false wall in an area that you'd never think to come back again. There is a need of some hint that these quests at least exist.
⚠️ LOTS of backtracking.
Has someone ever recommended a fabulous manga to you, but warned you that the good stuff doesn't start until chapter 500? Well, that's what this game is.
⭐Ultimate replayability. Beat Mom for the first time just means 0.001% is done in the game. Tons of dungeon rooms, deformed siblings, secrets, item drops, and treasure chests that make each run unique.
⭐Crazy item combinations that can actually break the game.
⭐Baranowsky's music.
⚠️There are too many things that the game itself doesn't explain to you, important things like what each item does. You will die a lot and feel that you have not progressed. It is a game that requires patience, something rare these days. It is common among players to start saying shit about this game simply because Soy Milk came out in the run. Poor guys.
⭐Ultimate replayability. Beat Mom for the first time just means 0.001% is done in the game. Tons of dungeon rooms, deformed siblings, secrets, item drops, and treasure chests that make each run unique.
⭐Crazy item combinations that can actually break the game.
⭐Baranowsky's music.
⚠️There are too many things that the game itself doesn't explain to you, important things like what each item does. You will die a lot and feel that you have not progressed. It is a game that requires patience, something rare these days. It is common among players to start saying shit about this game simply because Soy Milk came out in the run. Poor guys.
2017
Hello Error
⭐It reminds a lot of "The Burbs". Nice movie.
⭐I like the art style.
⚠️Glitched as hell. First time I've seen a game where its alpha is much better than the release.
⚠️I feel like it's a great idea, but a lot of potential has been wasted.
⚠️You can't drive the neighbor's car. :(
⭐It reminds a lot of "The Burbs". Nice movie.
⭐I like the art style.
⚠️Glitched as hell. First time I've seen a game where its alpha is much better than the release.
⚠️I feel like it's a great idea, but a lot of potential has been wasted.
⚠️You can't drive the neighbor's car. :(
2019
A game clearly inspired by Dark Souls or Fear & Hunger, among others.
⭐A pocket Breath of the Wild. Way more practical and cheaper.
⭐The flying/gliding system. It gives a sense of calm and control that you've rarely seen in a video game.
⭐ It cheers you up and puts you in a good mood!
⚠️ Too short. A life lesson game: everything good is short-lived and you have to enjoy the moment.
⭐A pocket Breath of the Wild. Way more practical and cheaper.
⭐The flying/gliding system. It gives a sense of calm and control that you've rarely seen in a video game.
⭐ It cheers you up and puts you in a good mood!
⚠️ Too short. A life lesson game: everything good is short-lived and you have to enjoy the moment.
Ghostbusters in Hell, basically.
Very little known game. In the past, before God created mankind, he first created another being, but it was too powerful so God aborted him and imprisoned him in the Abyss. This being has had seven chances to escape and all seven has failed, but each time he took with him a piece of the world at that time, from Sumeria to World War II. All that pieces configure the forgotten city of Al Khali, which connects with the Abyss. Managing Jericho Squad, an elite commando, you must prevent this being from escaping for the eighth time. This is Clive Barker's Jericho.
PROS
⭐It tried to bring something new. Each character in the Jericho Squad possesses different weapons and supernatural powers. The key of the game is switch from one character to another whose abilities are the most suitable for each situation (the rest of the team do not stay still, they are handled by the AI). In major battles it can be chaotic to switch characters every 3 seconds, but with practice it is a great experience.
⭐Good enemy artistic design from the nightmares of Clive Barker.
⭐Awesome music. Ominous as hell.
CONS
⚠️Terrible ending. Or rather not ending, because it doesn't have it. The game ends and that's it.
⚠️No online multiplayer. A FPS with this fresh teamwork mechanic it is a sacrilege.
⚠️Not replayable.
Very little known game. In the past, before God created mankind, he first created another being, but it was too powerful so God aborted him and imprisoned him in the Abyss. This being has had seven chances to escape and all seven has failed, but each time he took with him a piece of the world at that time, from Sumeria to World War II. All that pieces configure the forgotten city of Al Khali, which connects with the Abyss. Managing Jericho Squad, an elite commando, you must prevent this being from escaping for the eighth time. This is Clive Barker's Jericho.
PROS
⭐It tried to bring something new. Each character in the Jericho Squad possesses different weapons and supernatural powers. The key of the game is switch from one character to another whose abilities are the most suitable for each situation (the rest of the team do not stay still, they are handled by the AI). In major battles it can be chaotic to switch characters every 3 seconds, but with practice it is a great experience.
⭐Good enemy artistic design from the nightmares of Clive Barker.
⭐Awesome music. Ominous as hell.
CONS
⚠️Terrible ending. Or rather not ending, because it doesn't have it. The game ends and that's it.
⚠️No online multiplayer. A FPS with this fresh teamwork mechanic it is a sacrilege.
⚠️Not replayable.
1989
A gem of a game in which we play with Scrooge McDuck to find 5 legendary treasures: the Scepter of the Incan King, the Giant Diamond, the Lost Crown of Genghis Khan,the Coin of the Lost Realm and the Green Cheese of Longevity to increase his already incredible wealth. All this with sticks, golf swings and pogo jumps. This is DuckTales.
PROS
⭐Scrooge. Love this guy.
⭐Amazing level design. African Mines, the Amazon, the Himalayas, Transylvania and the Moon. 5 levels with an incredible personality that the player can play in any order.
⭐Moon theme. Can stuck in your head for decades.
⭐Tight responsive controls.
CONS
⚠️It's very easy, especially if you are used to Megaman.
⚠️Ancient game. There is not reason to play it when there is a great remastered of it released a few years ago.
PROS
⭐Scrooge. Love this guy.
⭐Amazing level design. African Mines, the Amazon, the Himalayas, Transylvania and the Moon. 5 levels with an incredible personality that the player can play in any order.
⭐Moon theme. Can stuck in your head for decades.
⭐Tight responsive controls.
CONS
⚠️It's very easy, especially if you are used to Megaman.
⚠️Ancient game. There is not reason to play it when there is a great remastered of it released a few years ago.
1989
80's-fashioned fantasy beat ‘em up about slaying orcs and scantily-clad men, casting spells, smashing blue gnomes to steal their delicious mana tonics and destroy an anabolic dark lord who had kidnapped a king and his daughter for the evulz. This is Golden Axe.
PROS
⭐Great chiptune music.
⭐Overflowing high fantasy. Golden Axe levels evoked the stylings of 80's fantasy classics like Conan the Barbarian or Fire and Ice but with more high fantasy fuel. A town built on the back of a turtle, a giant eagle that transports us on its back with skeletons hidden among its feathers. You get the idea.
⭐We can ride on fantastic creatures for more comfortable killing. That includes Chicken Leg, a weird monster from Altered Beast.
CONS
⚠️Really short. The map is minuscule.
⚠️Controls can feel orthopedic and outdated.
PROS
⭐Great chiptune music.
⭐Overflowing high fantasy. Golden Axe levels evoked the stylings of 80's fantasy classics like Conan the Barbarian or Fire and Ice but with more high fantasy fuel. A town built on the back of a turtle, a giant eagle that transports us on its back with skeletons hidden among its feathers. You get the idea.
⭐We can ride on fantastic creatures for more comfortable killing. That includes Chicken Leg, a weird monster from Altered Beast.
CONS
⚠️Really short. The map is minuscule.
⚠️Controls can feel orthopedic and outdated.
Perhaps the best beat ’em up that Capcom has ever made. A game that has devoured millions of weekly pays around the world in the 90's.
The Earth has become uninhabitable and mankind takes refuge underground in order to survive. 600 years later, humans emerge from their underground bunkers and discover that the planet has been taken over by dinosaurs! Some humans try to live in peace with them, but other punks want to kill and sell them and make a fortune from poaching. Four dino-activists set out to stop them and restore peace with dinosaurs mainly through of cadillacs and cool flying kicks. This is Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.
PROS
⭐Do not disturb the dinosaurs! They remain neutral until attacked. If you dare to hit one, it will stomp and bite any simp in the way.
⭐A lot of weapons. Knives, submachine guns, assault rifles, bazookas, stones, butcher knifes, grenades ... All well balanced. They make things easier, but they won't guarantee victory.
⭐Elevator stage included (quality beat ’em up game sign) and also a whole section where you get to drive a cadillac and you can run over every punk you come across on your way.
⭐Up to 3 players and not just 2. :)
CONS
⚠️Some bosses can be frustratingly difficult, like twin slisaurs.
⚠️It doesn't have console version and it's unlikely to ever see a legit re-release on a modern system for license agreement reasons.
The Earth has become uninhabitable and mankind takes refuge underground in order to survive. 600 years later, humans emerge from their underground bunkers and discover that the planet has been taken over by dinosaurs! Some humans try to live in peace with them, but other punks want to kill and sell them and make a fortune from poaching. Four dino-activists set out to stop them and restore peace with dinosaurs mainly through of cadillacs and cool flying kicks. This is Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.
PROS
⭐Do not disturb the dinosaurs! They remain neutral until attacked. If you dare to hit one, it will stomp and bite any simp in the way.
⭐A lot of weapons. Knives, submachine guns, assault rifles, bazookas, stones, butcher knifes, grenades ... All well balanced. They make things easier, but they won't guarantee victory.
⭐Elevator stage included (quality beat ’em up game sign) and also a whole section where you get to drive a cadillac and you can run over every punk you come across on your way.
⭐Up to 3 players and not just 2. :)
CONS
⚠️Some bosses can be frustratingly difficult, like twin slisaurs.
⚠️It doesn't have console version and it's unlikely to ever see a legit re-release on a modern system for license agreement reasons.
1990
A game not suitable for color blind people.
One of those multiple games that sought to enjoy the success of the eternal Tetris, but one of the few that has also been able to endure over time and be also eternal. It looks like a clone, but it is different. One has a Russian background, the other Phoenician. One is based on placing blocks and not leaving any gap in the line; the other is based on combining colored jewels to get rid of them. This is Columns.
PROS
⭐Nice pixel art, fluid and delicate. Like real jewels.
⭐The audio juice just feels amazing. The clunk fo the jewels falling down, the rewarding sound when jewels break... Recognizable and varied sounds. Even the smallest action has a dedicated sound.
⭐Clotho theme.
CONS
⚠️It is a "chill" game. If you are looking for something like Puyo Puyo this is not for you.
⚠️If you play alone it can be monotonous and you get bored very quickly.
One of those multiple games that sought to enjoy the success of the eternal Tetris, but one of the few that has also been able to endure over time and be also eternal. It looks like a clone, but it is different. One has a Russian background, the other Phoenician. One is based on placing blocks and not leaving any gap in the line; the other is based on combining colored jewels to get rid of them. This is Columns.
PROS
⭐Nice pixel art, fluid and delicate. Like real jewels.
⭐The audio juice just feels amazing. The clunk fo the jewels falling down, the rewarding sound when jewels break... Recognizable and varied sounds. Even the smallest action has a dedicated sound.
⭐Clotho theme.
CONS
⚠️It is a "chill" game. If you are looking for something like Puyo Puyo this is not for you.
⚠️If you play alone it can be monotonous and you get bored very quickly.
The defunct Acclaim brought us this game in 1991, the first based on the famous TV series. It's a very old game, from a time when Bart was the family's favorite character and not Homer. Here, Bart must screw the plans of a group of mutant aliens (sadly not Kang and Kodos) who want to conquer the world using purple objects, hats and balloons. Pure sadism these mutants.
PROS
⭐It is a colorful game and recreates well the Simpsons atmosphere.
CONS
⚠️Hard as hell. No passwords, no continues, and no save option. You have 3 lives and you can find a few more by searching for Krusty's photos, but that's all. I didn't meet any kid who could finish this game. Besides, the controls are lagging and require perfect timing pressing multiple buttons to move around certain levels.
⚠️Only the first level is decently designed, the rest are insane. The fifth level at the nuclear power plant could drive Flanders crazy.
PROS
⭐It is a colorful game and recreates well the Simpsons atmosphere.
CONS
⚠️Hard as hell. No passwords, no continues, and no save option. You have 3 lives and you can find a few more by searching for Krusty's photos, but that's all. I didn't meet any kid who could finish this game. Besides, the controls are lagging and require perfect timing pressing multiple buttons to move around certain levels.
⚠️Only the first level is decently designed, the rest are insane. The fifth level at the nuclear power plant could drive Flanders crazy.
1995
Beat 'em up genre, full-fledged grunge music, shaved ponytails, 90's comic style graphics, just one life, not sissy checkpoints and a devilish difficulty that sometimes makes you want to throw the gamepad out the window. Everything here is raw 90's. This is Comix Zone.
PROS
⭐Great concept. In the game, comic artist Sketch Turner (the good guy) sees how a ripoff of Doctor Eggman that he created as a villain has escaped from the frames and transports his creator into the comic to kill him in the most fun ways for him, like burning pages or drawing killer monsters.
⭐Level design. Each level is a comic page with a non-linear system of progressing through the panels.
⭐Catchy soundtrack.
⭐Nice graphics. Despite being published in 1995 and with Playstation already in stores, SEGA wanted Mega Drive to continue to show off muscle with this game.
CONS
⚠️It's very short.
⚠️It has little variety of enemies.
⚠️It should be a little more forgiving. Practically everything could kill you, even breaking the iron gates with your fists took a health that it's hard to restore.
PROS
⭐Great concept. In the game, comic artist Sketch Turner (the good guy) sees how a ripoff of Doctor Eggman that he created as a villain has escaped from the frames and transports his creator into the comic to kill him in the most fun ways for him, like burning pages or drawing killer monsters.
⭐Level design. Each level is a comic page with a non-linear system of progressing through the panels.
⭐Catchy soundtrack.
⭐Nice graphics. Despite being published in 1995 and with Playstation already in stores, SEGA wanted Mega Drive to continue to show off muscle with this game.
CONS
⚠️It's very short.
⚠️It has little variety of enemies.
⚠️It should be a little more forgiving. Practically everything could kill you, even breaking the iron gates with your fists took a health that it's hard to restore.