This game took some time to grow on me, but after seeing its conclusion, I find it be quite unforgettable. It has a well-written, mysterious story with some mind-boggling revelations and an incredible soundtrack. The first “ending” is surprising and made me eager to find out what secrets this small town was hiding.

While the (true) ending left a few questions to be answered, what happens is heartwarming and impactful. The song titled “Epilogue”, takes the ending to another level. It is simply masterful. The last image, the last bit of dialogue, and the last portion of the song all combine to create a poignant moment that I won't soon forget. It actually made me appreciate my father a bit more. I have rarely been affected by a game this much.

I grew up with Pikmin 1 and it is one of my favorite games ever. So, I am forever lured to any games similar to it. This game has a few key similarities to Pikmin, but it is a collect-a-thon platformer and not a strategy game. It is cute and delightful with a gorgeous art style, similar to Paper Mario.

You are an shrunken character exploring a house inhabited by insects. Each room represents a level and an entirely unique environment. Exploring is fun and easygoing, enhanced by the cheerful soundtrack. The game is straightforward with a few well hidden secrets to find. You also meet many humorous NPCs. My favorite is a group of tired looking silverfishes named Chill, Reelaks, Napp, etc.

While the story isn't great, it is pretty mysterious and the game has plenty of world-building. It concludes with a sweet and worthwhile ending. This is a joyous game that I am happy to have played.

3.75 Stars
This is a pleasant and faithful adaptation of the Gears of War series. It is amusing to see staples of the main series in a new light. The Tactics/RPG elements are grounded enough to fit in context with the Gears universe. It is fun to unlock loot after every mission and test each class/skill. Jack was introduced to the squad during the Xbox release and similar to Gears 5, his abilities are game-changing. I can't imagine playing without him.

While I was fond of this game, there are design choices that keep it from being great. Most notable is the repetitive mission structure. The missions (minus boss fights) and settings mostly feel the same. Even worse, you are required to do extra missions to advance the story, which drags the game out. This issue is compounded by the low amount of experience you gain. You are given an extensive skill tree, but will only acquire a few skills by the time you beat the game. Once beaten, you can unlock Supreme loot and experiment by resetting skill trees at will, but the repetition essentially kills this game's replay value.

This game was in my backlog for years, and I’m happy to have finally played it. It's concept was mostly executed well. I often thought about it when I wasn't playing, but I was burned-out after completion. One day, I could see myself returning to try a higher difficulty.