Sci_Karate
BACKER
2022
Short, cute, inexpensive, and unique. While there's not a lot of meat on this one's bones, it's more than flavorful enough to be worth devouring.
Some of the gametypes are far better than others, but this is an incredibly fun time as a hilarious half-drunken party game
2023
Videogaming equivalent of a back-of-the-cereal-box "spot the difference" puzzle. It's not particularly deep, and it's very short, but I appreciate it as a creative snack of a game.
Disco Elysium is a game made entirely out of interesting choices.
I can only hope that games as a whole learn its most important lesson: roleplaying systems ought to be innovated and iterated. If anyone tries to make another acclaimed roleplaying epic using D&D rulesets I am going to build a bomb of incomprehensible proportion and detonate it in an unethical location.
Bless Disco Elysium for using 2d6 instead of 1d20.
I can only hope that games as a whole learn its most important lesson: roleplaying systems ought to be innovated and iterated. If anyone tries to make another acclaimed roleplaying epic using D&D rulesets I am going to build a bomb of incomprehensible proportion and detonate it in an unethical location.
Bless Disco Elysium for using 2d6 instead of 1d20.
2023
Quadrilla offers a cleverly challenging spin on classic tetromino puzzling with Treasure-like depth in its scoring and combo systems.
It's marred by a few sharp edges (particularly in its user interface), but that doesn't stop it from being thoroughly captivating.
It's marred by a few sharp edges (particularly in its user interface), but that doesn't stop it from being thoroughly captivating.
2022
The Vibes are Immaculate, but the actual moment-to-moment gameplay is often a little dry and unseasoned, especially if you start hunting for secret endings.
That said - the fact that I felt compelled to hunt out the secret endings at all must mean I had a pretty good time.
That said - the fact that I felt compelled to hunt out the secret endings at all must mean I had a pretty good time.
Time Bandit cleverly blends Sokoban, Metal Gear Solid, Animal Crossing, and Das Kapital into an enthralling game with unique flavour. Much like its PS1-vertex-jittered boxes, this game has some serious rough edges, but I'd recommend it regardless for its sheer creativity.
If you're wondering how much commitment this strange real-time medley requires: Time Bandit took me 5.5 hours across 17 days.
If you're wondering how much commitment this strange real-time medley requires: Time Bandit took me 5.5 hours across 17 days.
2023
Alan Wake II is one of the most genuinely creative videogames I've ever played.
It has problems - I really, really wish I didn't feel the need to run around picking up repetitive collectibles - but it's one of only a few "must-play" games this year.
It has problems - I really, really wish I didn't feel the need to run around picking up repetitive collectibles - but it's one of only a few "must-play" games this year.
2022
While its mechanical systems sometimes falter towards the game's latter half, Citizen Sleeper remains a remarkable body of writing, and it is worth playing for that alone.
2020
Much like the rest of Control, AWE is aesthetically remarkable but mechanically repetetive.
This expansion feels particularly formulaic - I would have preferred less gameplay and more Alan Wake scenes.
This expansion feels particularly formulaic - I would have preferred less gameplay and more Alan Wake scenes.
Despite being repetetive and a little goofy, this expansion resolves every issue I had with the Alan Wake base game. It's still not an incredible third-person shooter, but it is leagues better than its parent.
Nearly every level here is exquisite. You can feel multiple dozens of hours of playtesting behind every platform placement.
On one hand: the result is an incredibly tight and polished platformer.
On the other: its rough edges have been completely sanded off until a largely inoffensive square of a game remains.
In other words - I had a great time getting all 6 medals, but I felt uninspired by Mario Wonder, especially in a world where indie platforming masterpieces like Celeste exist.
On one hand: the result is an incredibly tight and polished platformer.
On the other: its rough edges have been completely sanded off until a largely inoffensive square of a game remains.
In other words - I had a great time getting all 6 medals, but I felt uninspired by Mario Wonder, especially in a world where indie platforming masterpieces like Celeste exist.
2023
Pineapple on Pizza is worth its single-dollar entry fee and fifteen-minute-ish runtime if only for the experience of seeing its final punchline and thinking, "ohhhh haha. Nice."
2023
Pseudoregalia is the only 3D metroidvania without "Prime" in the title that has ever compelled me to completion.
Every element of every movement mechanic is goldilocksulous beyond belief. There is immense joy in running around an empty room, hopping around, like it's 1996 and you've just come home with a copy of Super Mario 64.
The combat is a little disappointing, particularly in the bossfights, but it's absolutely worth experiencing, especially given its short playtime.
Every element of every movement mechanic is goldilocksulous beyond belief. There is immense joy in running around an empty room, hopping around, like it's 1996 and you've just come home with a copy of Super Mario 64.
The combat is a little disappointing, particularly in the bossfights, but it's absolutely worth experiencing, especially given its short playtime.
2010
Story so good! Gameplay so bad!
I had a similar emotional experience playing the last level as one might playing Desert Bus. It felt like a neverending and repetitive slog, and I wondered if it might go on forever.
Still worth a go for its style, creativity, B-movie charm, and compelling premise. On the other hand, maybe you could get all that from watching a "Cutscene Movie" online.
I had a similar emotional experience playing the last level as one might playing Desert Bus. It felt like a neverending and repetitive slog, and I wondered if it might go on forever.
Still worth a go for its style, creativity, B-movie charm, and compelling premise. On the other hand, maybe you could get all that from watching a "Cutscene Movie" online.