2020
OMORI is one of the most emotionally overwhelming and utterly compelling things I have ever experienced. I suspect that had there not been a 7 year wait for it, there really wouldn't be any controversy to speak of.
I actually only found out about this game a mere day after it's actual release, and was initially totally oblivious to the development hell this game went through, but honestly, I think it's better for it, the long time it spent simmering away lead to a game that is polished to an almost disturbing degree, not since Undertale have I played a game so simple, and yet so packed with heart. This game proudly radiates the fact that the people making it really, really gave a shit about it.
I'd also like to state that I am not a fan of either of the genres OMORI encompasses, I don't generally like RPGs, especially not ones with standard turn-based combat, and while I do like scary stuff, I have never been into horror games at all. OMORI is both of these things, but without spoiling anything, it tackles both of these genres in such a unique and engaging way that I scarcely had a complaint.
To touch on this, the combat system is actually fast paced and fun while still remaining strategic, the game is pretty much void of a lot of things I find obnoxious in RPGs (random encounters, insufferably long game lengths, boring fantasy settings etc), and while it might be too simplistic for people who are really into this genre, it offers enough in the way of unique mechanics and variation via the emotion system and the fast-paced follow-up mechanic to stop itself from ever getting tedious. It's a genuinely fun and even pretty challenging game at points.
But that's only one part of this game, after all this is a psychological horror at heart.
I know this is extremely personal, what is scary to one person is laughable to another, but for me, horror games don't really scare me, they just sort of serve to make me anxious and uncomfortable. Horror games that a lot of people look upon with praise like Silent Hill or Amnesia I find either incredibly boring or incredibly unpleasant without all that much interesting substance. But OMORI actually scared me, like, kept me awake for an extra half hour at night, some of the concepts and the way it tackles them not only hit pretty close to home for me personally and are therefore pretty emotionally resonant, but are genuinely freaky and harrowing in execution, this game is not at all afraid to pull you away from the wacky, silly dream world most of the game takes place in to show you something that'll give you chills, only to push you back in without warning.
I can't stress that enough, this game actually really got to me in a way pretty much no other piece of horror media has, and it did so with very little in the way of gore and only a few bits that could be considered jumpscares.
It's a hard game to talk about without delving into spoiler territory, but I wanted to make my appreciation for this game clear somehow. This is a very, very special game, and even if you aren't normally into this style of gameplay, I would recommend giving it a shot.
I actually only found out about this game a mere day after it's actual release, and was initially totally oblivious to the development hell this game went through, but honestly, I think it's better for it, the long time it spent simmering away lead to a game that is polished to an almost disturbing degree, not since Undertale have I played a game so simple, and yet so packed with heart. This game proudly radiates the fact that the people making it really, really gave a shit about it.
I'd also like to state that I am not a fan of either of the genres OMORI encompasses, I don't generally like RPGs, especially not ones with standard turn-based combat, and while I do like scary stuff, I have never been into horror games at all. OMORI is both of these things, but without spoiling anything, it tackles both of these genres in such a unique and engaging way that I scarcely had a complaint.
To touch on this, the combat system is actually fast paced and fun while still remaining strategic, the game is pretty much void of a lot of things I find obnoxious in RPGs (random encounters, insufferably long game lengths, boring fantasy settings etc), and while it might be too simplistic for people who are really into this genre, it offers enough in the way of unique mechanics and variation via the emotion system and the fast-paced follow-up mechanic to stop itself from ever getting tedious. It's a genuinely fun and even pretty challenging game at points.
But that's only one part of this game, after all this is a psychological horror at heart.
I know this is extremely personal, what is scary to one person is laughable to another, but for me, horror games don't really scare me, they just sort of serve to make me anxious and uncomfortable. Horror games that a lot of people look upon with praise like Silent Hill or Amnesia I find either incredibly boring or incredibly unpleasant without all that much interesting substance. But OMORI actually scared me, like, kept me awake for an extra half hour at night, some of the concepts and the way it tackles them not only hit pretty close to home for me personally and are therefore pretty emotionally resonant, but are genuinely freaky and harrowing in execution, this game is not at all afraid to pull you away from the wacky, silly dream world most of the game takes place in to show you something that'll give you chills, only to push you back in without warning.
I can't stress that enough, this game actually really got to me in a way pretty much no other piece of horror media has, and it did so with very little in the way of gore and only a few bits that could be considered jumpscares.
It's a hard game to talk about without delving into spoiler territory, but I wanted to make my appreciation for this game clear somehow. This is a very, very special game, and even if you aren't normally into this style of gameplay, I would recommend giving it a shot.
2017
A game with a brilliant presentation and legitimately good character writing plagued by a complete lack of direction and barely any story to speak of for the majority of its run time. I wanted to love this so bad, but it just isn't for me.
2013
Wandering around Proteus's world is adorable, wide-eyed, life-affirming, childlike glee. If or not that experience is worth 10 bucks is entirely up to you. But to me, this is perhaps the closest a video game has ever come to feeling "alive" to me. Perfectly simplistic and beautiful visuals contrasted with an absolutely breathtaking dynamic OST. This is the ideal walking sim.
Best video game that isn't a video game of all time.
Best video game that isn't a video game of all time.
2006
A flawed mess? yes.
Terrible community? absolutely.
Do I have nostalgic bias? You better believe it.
Has this game brought me and several of my friends more joy and laughter than pretty much any other game across the last 10 years? yeah.
Terrible community? absolutely.
Do I have nostalgic bias? You better believe it.
Has this game brought me and several of my friends more joy and laughter than pretty much any other game across the last 10 years? yeah.
2017
For the first time, when I played Super Mario Odyssey, I thought to myself, "Y'know, if this was the last Mario game, and Nintendo made the insane decision to drop the IP entirely after this, I think I'd be find with that." Not because the game is bad, quite the opposite, in fact, I literally don't know what else they could do from here.
Like, here it is, guys, the perfect platformer. You can't really go higher than this, all of the mechanics are perfect, the level designs are extremely varied and striking, the OST, while maybe not the best Mario OST, is still nothing short of great, there isn't a millisecond of this game that isn't fun and I have so few gripes with it it's almost hard to write a review of it. Everything Super Mario Odyssey does it does pretty much perfectly.
Some might see it as safe, I guess, like, yeah it doesn't take a lot of risks, they didn't go for a cinematic narrative or anything, god forbid, but I see this as Nintendo taking the idea of what a Mario game is to it's fullest potential, it irons out all the flaws of previous entries and presents you with the very best of what the franchise has to offer in concentration, and did I mention it gives you like, a fucking unreasonable amount of it?
Perfect game + a frankly hilarious amount of content = 10/10, basic math, there probably won't be a better platformer for a very, very long time.
Like, here it is, guys, the perfect platformer. You can't really go higher than this, all of the mechanics are perfect, the level designs are extremely varied and striking, the OST, while maybe not the best Mario OST, is still nothing short of great, there isn't a millisecond of this game that isn't fun and I have so few gripes with it it's almost hard to write a review of it. Everything Super Mario Odyssey does it does pretty much perfectly.
Some might see it as safe, I guess, like, yeah it doesn't take a lot of risks, they didn't go for a cinematic narrative or anything, god forbid, but I see this as Nintendo taking the idea of what a Mario game is to it's fullest potential, it irons out all the flaws of previous entries and presents you with the very best of what the franchise has to offer in concentration, and did I mention it gives you like, a fucking unreasonable amount of it?
Perfect game + a frankly hilarious amount of content = 10/10, basic math, there probably won't be a better platformer for a very, very long time.
2012
One of the simplest, yet most addictive arcade style games ever made. It takes a sec to get used to due to the initially shocking difficulty, but one you get into the groove of this game, you'll be seeing hexagons every time you close your eyes.
2019
A very fun aesthetic indeed, but that seems to have been the first thing they thought of when they were making this game, the actual game was secondary. Crossniq+ is simply an ok puzzle game that is seriously lacking in content wrapped in dope visuals and a killer OST.
2013
What could easily be one of the coolest, most atmospheric and compelling puzzle games ever made had it not been a mere 2 hours long at most. But god, those 2 hours, they are really something.
2018
It's like jazzpunk but less funny and hideous
2014
I have 4th degree burns all over my entire face.
2010
This game actually kind of sucks but I find it impossible to rate because of the impact it's community had on my life. For better or worse.
Great if you love being called the n-word within 3 seconds of joining a server over your crosshair placement.
It sucks, but it's the product of a dev learning more than anything, the sequel is shockingly decent and goes to show just how much they improved over time. Kind of inspiring, honestly.
Being homeschooled, this game was my only friend when I was little. Couldn't have asked for a better friend, really. Yoshi's Island never stole my legos or threw up on my moms bed.
10/10
10/10
2020
go outside