Ahead of its time and yet also so arcane, this futuristic roleplay adventure has a splendid presentation with a grueling difficulty. That first-person traversal is some of the smoothest style that 8-bit has ever seen. Additionally, the Sega Ages version allows for a large cushion against its grinding systems, while also making the labyrinthine dungeons a lot clearer.
The final stretch is still mean-spirited and makes a walkthrough mandatory, being full of divination and spikes in encounters, which makes this otherwise grand journey a little more outdated.
The final stretch is still mean-spirited and makes a walkthrough mandatory, being full of divination and spikes in encounters, which makes this otherwise grand journey a little more outdated.
Torn between worlds, this utter failure of a video game is held up by its premise and subsequent message. At its core, this is an adventure that makes the player a first-person spectator of humanity's downfall, both heartwarming and soul-crushing at the same time. This prescient atmosphere is the entire game, as all the frustrating, shoddy video game parts around it maul that carefully crafted immersion at every stage, time and again.
Man, I really wish they had worked on the actual video game of this; what a bittersweet heartbreak. Luckily, it's still worth gnashing teeth to get through its 3 hours of fumbling around. We'll see the end unfold one way or another anyway.
Man, I really wish they had worked on the actual video game of this; what a bittersweet heartbreak. Luckily, it's still worth gnashing teeth to get through its 3 hours of fumbling around. We'll see the end unfold one way or another anyway.
2024
An innovative mix of poker with roguelite trappings that feels refreshing each run, though it can also have its limits in the end game. Luckily, tons of variety in decks and cards sway the odds heavily in its favor. You can play the absolute hell out of this game. And I have!
The game from hell, where a simple matching mechanism gets turned to masochism in bright colors. Never before have artificial opponents played so ruthlessly perfectly, so quickly. I think they forgot the part where the game is supposed to be enjoyable. It's cute though. That skeleton has a little Mountain Dew and they're very proud of it...but they're also going to kick your teeth in with it.
🗣️🗣️🗣️ DO RI RU RANDOOOO!!!
2023
I don't know why I started playing this. The racing is "okay," but the sheer amount of shards and other mandatory upgrades and pools and events and tiers... It's making my eyes glaze over. The best part about this free game are its crazy race tracks and even crazier Disney remixes. Anything else is ill-conceived. That's capitalism, baby!
2023
Okay, I've seen enough. Cozy online life sim that feels like the 2008 post-WoW boom, where every competitor focused on longevity over anything else. There are jobs and relationships and resource management, but it's all funneled into some of the hardest grinding compared to any contemporary alternative. Fighting over the few end game materials that aren't shared, to only get one or two drops, will require a metric ton of patience to complete any task. Luckily, the soft charm and entry level pace make it an extremely playable chore, even if it comes with a ton of obsolete design choices.
A peerless collection and documentation of Atari games and franchises, packaged in a sleek whole. Full review
2023
Throwback pseudo-rotoscope platformer, heavily invoking Flashback, but moreso exuding others in the genre, good and bad. Often mean and with unnecessary idiosyncrasies, such as no save states, as well as brutally peculiar controls. Still, the game also successfully manages to provide diverse and challenging gameplay, accompanied by exquisite audiovisual design that helps that bitter pill go down. A tight 5-6 hour experience and a dozen locales hits the sweet spot between aggravation and accomplishments. Half a star extra for being mostly a one-person operation.
2019
This theatrical choose-your-own-adventure is an unfortunate case of style over substance. As a storytelling method, the pop-up book visuals and rousing choirs really set the mood in this humorous doctor's practice. As a game, however, the choices are oft confusing and feel scattershot with no real payoff. Mayhaps it's an issue of not seeing the forest through the trees. Alas, the stars say it's a bit daft.
I wish it was just a tiny bit more upfront with what buildings did, but it's a very meditative puzzle game masquerading as a city builder otherwise. Smooth audiovisual design amplifies its chill vibes.
2023
A word puzzle that encourages a freehand style and ends up feeling aimless. Additionally, its free trial is much too restrictive to delve any deeper. It is, however, optimistic and colorful in nature as something to mess around in, but not much else.
EDIT: I'm giving it one more star. It's fine for once a day, once you stick to it enough days. Like Wordle, in any sense of the term.
EDIT: I'm giving it one more star. It's fine for once a day, once you stick to it enough days. Like Wordle, in any sense of the term.
Insanely fast arcade puzzle game about changing coins into bigger values, with combo possibilities. It sounds simple, but that's only in concept. This pace will test anyone's limits.
It's one of the best games of all time, now packaged with the sequel that was never released locally. I'm not going to be thinking critically about this one.
2021
What a beautifully elegantly created game, as simple as it is self-evident. Building the world into a bespoke and continuous challenge is instantly captivating, especially with that snazzy pixel art; not to mention the dripping sound design. As a cherry on top, overflowing the path with enough parts will help you get lost in the loop both literally and figuratively. It's just such an intelligent design.