Jehanne
One of the weaker games in this series, in my opinion.
I honestly enjoy the drama and the campiness of the Dark Pictures Anthology but Man of Medan just felt a bit boring to me. The setting seems interesting in theory, yet the game fails to build on this potential.
I think this might be due to its cast: None of the characters are particular lovable or exciting, they lack depth in a way. I am not expecting the most complex personalities from a game like this, of course. However, in this case, I just found them very forgettable and bland.
The same is true for the narrative. Honestly, I can't even remember most of the plot, I just remember walking through uninteresting landscapes and corridors.
I still had a bit of fun while playing, even though I don't think I will be coming back to this game.
I honestly enjoy the drama and the campiness of the Dark Pictures Anthology but Man of Medan just felt a bit boring to me. The setting seems interesting in theory, yet the game fails to build on this potential.
I think this might be due to its cast: None of the characters are particular lovable or exciting, they lack depth in a way. I am not expecting the most complex personalities from a game like this, of course. However, in this case, I just found them very forgettable and bland.
The same is true for the narrative. Honestly, I can't even remember most of the plot, I just remember walking through uninteresting landscapes and corridors.
I still had a bit of fun while playing, even though I don't think I will be coming back to this game.
2022
What a masterpiece. Wonderful art style, distinctive gameplay and a story that got under my skin.
This game has this really strange, sublime sense of horror - this fog of dread that just hangs over your every move. The surrealism of the plot is paired with a wonderful sort of weirdness and philosophical discussions which makes this experience entirely unique and addicting.
You never really get to know any of the characters. In my opinion, they were surprising, yet vague concepts that have to be explored through interpretation. I feel like this is the kind of game that everyone reads a little bit differently and that's the beauty of it.
This game has this really strange, sublime sense of horror - this fog of dread that just hangs over your every move. The surrealism of the plot is paired with a wonderful sort of weirdness and philosophical discussions which makes this experience entirely unique and addicting.
You never really get to know any of the characters. In my opinion, they were surprising, yet vague concepts that have to be explored through interpretation. I feel like this is the kind of game that everyone reads a little bit differently and that's the beauty of it.
What is going on in this game? The plot is completely nonsensical: There's a morgue under the school for some reason, students just hang out at the school at night, enemies have the worst AI I've ever seen in a video game.
And the dub. Oh god, the dub. How this managed to get released is a mystery to me. No shade to the voice actors (who are probably really lovely people) but the script isn't giving them much to work with.
Let's be honest, the first game was, despite its popularity back in the day, not a master piece. And still, the sequel seems like a horrible insult to the original.
And the dub. Oh god, the dub. How this managed to get released is a mystery to me. No shade to the voice actors (who are probably really lovely people) but the script isn't giving them much to work with.
Let's be honest, the first game was, despite its popularity back in the day, not a master piece. And still, the sequel seems like a horrible insult to the original.
2023
this game's biggest crime is that it is not bad enough to be funny but also not good enough to be enjoyable
2012
Admittedly, The Cat Lady has some flaws: Exploration feels clunky, you can't skip dialogues. The plot can be a bit slow as well and has little replay value, unless you just want to experience the story for a second time.
On top of that, it deals with some heavy themes that might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Yet, I still utterly adore this game. It provides an atmosphere of complete isolation, a sense of alienation. Every moment of happiness, human connection feels fragile and brittle, thus becoming a cherished instance of light in a sea of despair and hopelessness.
Susan's tale is not a happy one. There's not much solace to be found. At times, the surreal scenes reminded me of Kafka's works and I was reminded, again and again, of a line from A Country Doctor: “What am I doing in this eternal winter?” Indeed, playing this made me feel as if I was trapped in a November night, the last person awake, just my thoughts to keep me company. Heavy and foreboding and, at the same time, so very kind and comforting.
Just give this a shot. Maybe it won't turn your life upside down but I think it changed me a bit. I am quite sure it saved my life a tiny bit. If someone would ask me what it means to be human, I would point at this game without hesitation.
On top of that, it deals with some heavy themes that might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Yet, I still utterly adore this game. It provides an atmosphere of complete isolation, a sense of alienation. Every moment of happiness, human connection feels fragile and brittle, thus becoming a cherished instance of light in a sea of despair and hopelessness.
Susan's tale is not a happy one. There's not much solace to be found. At times, the surreal scenes reminded me of Kafka's works and I was reminded, again and again, of a line from A Country Doctor: “What am I doing in this eternal winter?” Indeed, playing this made me feel as if I was trapped in a November night, the last person awake, just my thoughts to keep me company. Heavy and foreboding and, at the same time, so very kind and comforting.
Just give this a shot. Maybe it won't turn your life upside down but I think it changed me a bit. I am quite sure it saved my life a tiny bit. If someone would ask me what it means to be human, I would point at this game without hesitation.
Wasted potential - the video game.
The premise of the game is one that is absolutely dear to me: The power of stories, how they connect us, how they can change our lives a little bit. Personally, I believe that humans were made to tell and share stories, it's in our blood. They're something really sacred.
It pains me even more to admit that almost everything about Where the Water Tastes Like Wine felt pretty undercooked. From the practically useless map to its weird approach to plot progression, nothing really clicked with me.
Although I found some of the stories in the game rather beautiful, they felt also very shallow. I grew tired of the whole concept after playing for a bit, mostly because some of the tales you hear were quite similar to each other and never felt unique enough to actually be rememberable.
That being sad, I appreciate what the devs were trying to do. Just wish they would have thought about this a bit more before releasing it. The soundtrack is wonderful, though.
The premise of the game is one that is absolutely dear to me: The power of stories, how they connect us, how they can change our lives a little bit. Personally, I believe that humans were made to tell and share stories, it's in our blood. They're something really sacred.
It pains me even more to admit that almost everything about Where the Water Tastes Like Wine felt pretty undercooked. From the practically useless map to its weird approach to plot progression, nothing really clicked with me.
Although I found some of the stories in the game rather beautiful, they felt also very shallow. I grew tired of the whole concept after playing for a bit, mostly because some of the tales you hear were quite similar to each other and never felt unique enough to actually be rememberable.
That being sad, I appreciate what the devs were trying to do. Just wish they would have thought about this a bit more before releasing it. The soundtrack is wonderful, though.
Certainly not the best game in the series but it has an odd kind of charm to it. They just don't make stuff like this anymore.
I wish more people were talking about this game. It is a wonderful exploration of loss, grief and self-reflexion and utterly, utterly beautiful to look at. The art style fits the uncanny atmosphere of the narrative perfectly - this is the first visual novel that ever got me excited to unlock new images in the game's gallery, simply because each one of them is a piece of art.
Sure, the game isn't without faults, far from it. There's very little replay value to be found, some endings are incredibly hard to find and require a few, rather repetitive playthroughs.
I'd still highly recommend it - it is a lovely experience with wonderful symbolism and refreshing art direction.
Sure, the game isn't without faults, far from it. There's very little replay value to be found, some endings are incredibly hard to find and require a few, rather repetitive playthroughs.
I'd still highly recommend it - it is a lovely experience with wonderful symbolism and refreshing art direction.
2010
Had I played this when it came out in 2010, I would have rated it much higher. At the time, it must have been quite impressive, certainly unique in a way. Sadly, it hasn't aged well.
The graphics might be a bit dated but they're still holding up in my opinion. I didn't even mind the gameplay mechanics. No, I was just very, very disappointed with the writing.
The narrative is pretty silly: It has plot holes, misplaced sex scenes and characters behaving rather weirdly in general. All of this wouldn't be much of an issue if the game didn't take itself so seriously but it just does.
I got the feeling that it was trying to tell me something important about society's structure but whatever point it had got overshadowed by its rather lazy writing and its awful conclusion.
The graphics might be a bit dated but they're still holding up in my opinion. I didn't even mind the gameplay mechanics. No, I was just very, very disappointed with the writing.
The narrative is pretty silly: It has plot holes, misplaced sex scenes and characters behaving rather weirdly in general. All of this wouldn't be much of an issue if the game didn't take itself so seriously but it just does.
I got the feeling that it was trying to tell me something important about society's structure but whatever point it had got overshadowed by its rather lazy writing and its awful conclusion.
2019
I could say a lot about this game. You play as the world's drunkest driver, saddest detective, most pathetic human being. The people around you are mostly broken beyond repair, there's little hope left for anyone or anything. The writing is nice, perhaps even experimental, poetic in the most profound, primitive sense.
I could go on but I think I could never say enough so here's that: I will never forget about my experience with the game. At its core, I believe Disco Elysium is a game about the avatar of a crumbling city, about hope in weird places and, most of all, about the human spirit. About connections between us, some gentle, kind, in spite of a decaying society, others more visceral.
This RPG is a piece of art in motion and it confronted me with some of the darkest parts of myself.
I could go on but I think I could never say enough so here's that: I will never forget about my experience with the game. At its core, I believe Disco Elysium is a game about the avatar of a crumbling city, about hope in weird places and, most of all, about the human spirit. About connections between us, some gentle, kind, in spite of a decaying society, others more visceral.
This RPG is a piece of art in motion and it confronted me with some of the darkest parts of myself.
2023
Killer Frequency's concept is unique and honestly, a lot of fun. Dialogue and choices make up most of the game play and offer a pretty intriguing narrative. I loved the campiness of it all - it truly reminded me of 80s slasher movies, an aesthetic that I enjoy a lot.
Yet, the game kinda overstays its welcome. It's clear that the devs were going for more of a comedic tone , silly and comical. After a while, the writing gets a bit annoying, especially because it accepts glaring plot holes in favour of mediocre jokes. People like to call this a horror game, however, there's not a lot of horror in it. Every "scary" moment seems inconsequential and none of the characters have enough charisma to make up for the lack of lack of tension.
Also, the ending was atrocious. It manages to make zero sense, while being highly predictable at the same time. This is the kind of game that's fun for a few hours and then promptly forgotten about.
Yet, the game kinda overstays its welcome. It's clear that the devs were going for more of a comedic tone , silly and comical. After a while, the writing gets a bit annoying, especially because it accepts glaring plot holes in favour of mediocre jokes. People like to call this a horror game, however, there's not a lot of horror in it. Every "scary" moment seems inconsequential and none of the characters have enough charisma to make up for the lack of lack of tension.
Also, the ending was atrocious. It manages to make zero sense, while being highly predictable at the same time. This is the kind of game that's fun for a few hours and then promptly forgotten about.
2013
One of the most iconic protagonists in otome history. My girl has one whole braincell and acts like she only has a vague idea of what it means to behave like an actual human being.
Also, there's this moment where she just basically goes: "OH? So people die when they are killed?" and it makes me spit my drink every time.
Anyway, the three stars are for Scarlet, just because the narrative simply forgets about him at some point.
Also, there's this moment where she just basically goes: "OH? So people die when they are killed?" and it makes me spit my drink every time.
Anyway, the three stars are for Scarlet, just because the narrative simply forgets about him at some point.
2005
Aged very poorly but I swear, back when this came out it was the scariest thing I had ever seen.
I replayed this in 2023 and I have to admit, the gameplay doesn't offer much. You have to click on a few different objects until something happens. Then, you enter the next room and do the same thing again.
The art design isn't much to look at either, just a bunch of real life images that someone slapped a filter on.
Yet, for some reason, The House is also what started my obsession with horror games so bonus points for the nostalgia.
I replayed this in 2023 and I have to admit, the gameplay doesn't offer much. You have to click on a few different objects until something happens. Then, you enter the next room and do the same thing again.
The art design isn't much to look at either, just a bunch of real life images that someone slapped a filter on.
Yet, for some reason, The House is also what started my obsession with horror games so bonus points for the nostalgia.
2013
Listen. Hidden object games are my guilty pleasure. There's something about turning your head off and squinting at the screen like a 70-year-old woman who just discovered the wonders of video games.
This is one of the worst of the bunch and I'm 100% here for it. The voice acting is abysmal, the puzzles nonsensical and the plot (?) incomprehensible.
I mostly did what the vaguely Eastern European man on screen told me to do - such as throwing holy water on a crocodile in the Mississippi River and destroying priceless cultural heritage sites (to get to a skull that was hidden in a wall?).
Coppola could never.
This is one of the worst of the bunch and I'm 100% here for it. The voice acting is abysmal, the puzzles nonsensical and the plot (?) incomprehensible.
I mostly did what the vaguely Eastern European man on screen told me to do - such as throwing holy water on a crocodile in the Mississippi River and destroying priceless cultural heritage sites (to get to a skull that was hidden in a wall?).
Coppola could never.
2011
Honestly, the nostalgia is strong with this one. When I was a teenager, I watched so many people play this on Youtube. Used to have a real soft spot for it, too.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed playing it myself for the first time. Sometimes, the game really doesn't do a great job of telling you what you're meant to be doing and it's frustratingly easy to get a bad ending.
The writing is mostly fine but not the plot not particularly scary or well constructed. This very much has that edgy, gory vibe that was essential to older pixel horror games. Younger me loved Corpse Party for that just but now, as an adult, I can't really bring myself to care much about it anymore.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed playing it myself for the first time. Sometimes, the game really doesn't do a great job of telling you what you're meant to be doing and it's frustratingly easy to get a bad ending.
The writing is mostly fine but not the plot not particularly scary or well constructed. This very much has that edgy, gory vibe that was essential to older pixel horror games. Younger me loved Corpse Party for that just but now, as an adult, I can't really bring myself to care much about it anymore.