If you can get behind the idea of a horror game about cars trying to kill you, then this is actually pretty good.

It's very short, but manages to be anxiety inducing for most of the run time. I always got an inexplicable intense feeling of terror from people chasing me (even if it's not threateningly), and that's what this game felt like, although this time it's an unstoppable metal thing trying to murder you. The concept is silly, but there's enough self awareness humor to appreciate, like the cars taunting you by playing loud music or the ice cream truck that plays daisy bell (which holy shit, that got me). Something to note is the devs decision to make the game take place in a snowy setting, I thought that was a clever way of justifying the cars' crazy movement. Apart from some minor clunk, the only negative thing to mention is the story, that to me personally didn't contribute much. But that's not to say it shouldn't be in the game, I just think it could've been done better. Overall a good surprise, go try it if you have an hour free.

For a god-like all-knowing powerful being, the puzzles it throws at you are a really pitiful attempt at stopping you... Something ludonarrative dissonance something something.

I was enjoying the game whenever it let you explore (specially those sections that give you the illusion of an open world), that's where the dev's world design shines (great atmosphere for what is a minimal style), that's accompanied by some interesting moments of subtle world building or quirky interactions. But sadly ruined by mundane puzzles and clunky platforming sections that take away from the experience. Also, what's the point of the breathing mechanic? You use it for like 10% of the game, and it practically only exists to distract and not let you immerse yourself. Maybe the devs should've stuck to the premise of it being an "artistic experience" and not a game, even though it sounds pretentious as hell in the steam description. Anyway, I don't want to rip too much into this game since it's free, and the most offensive thing it does is being amateurish... Overall, a decent short game. Discovered "BLAME!" thanks to it too, so I'll probably go right ahead and read that.

(Oh, if you have a monitor with an energy saving feature that turns it off whenever the screen is black, turn that off before playing because the game's really dark, and lifting the gamma to max on the settings seemingly doesn't help lol.)

I honestly don't remember which taught me about video games as an art form first, LSD: Dream Emulator or Shadow of The Colossus... But anyway, I'll always appreciate this game for that, even if I didn't quite understand it at first (I remember a childhood friend in primary school talking about this game and I thought it was dumb hippie stuff, lol).

Coincidentally, I've just played a few dream logic games before this, and they didn't quite grab me. I think what LSD excels at is creating those dynamic unique moments, be it scary, bizarre, or beautiful. I guess those previous game felt a lot more linear... like there's a trail to follow, but at least to me, that's not really how it works in dreams. I mean, just a few days ago I had a dream where I was in Asgard(?), a golden city full of people, then the dream turned into a horror scene where I was being chased by a dark figure in a tunnel, which that figure turned out to be Orlando Bloom in a monster(?) suit. After, I remember an image of a car getting out of control, and I woke up hysterically laughing from that image. Pure nonsense, just like this game. Perfect.

Citra decided to stop working mid-game, and I honestly can't be bothered to play the whole thing from zero right now. First impressions from what I played so far are not great, though. AM2R is light-years ahead in terms of charm, specially because of the added variety to the different levels that here are just an ugly mess. Easily the worst looking Metroid. Apart from that, I wasn't enjoying the gameplay, but I guess I didn't play enough to be sure. I'll play it again sometime in the future, but that is what I gathered right now.

(Obligatory fuck Nintendo for stopping development of AM2R for this ugly ass game.)

I was surprised reading reviews about Fusion (outside of backloggd), because of how polarizing the views on it are, but I can understand it. It's not the most fun Metroid, the bosses are kind of hit or miss, and it requires patience by the slow pacing. But it does everything else so well, that I personally couldn't care less. It's so effective at creating an oppressive atmosphere, that as a 2d game it's pretty impressive. From the context of the mission of you stranded on a spaceship, to the infestation, you being separated from your suit, to being distrustful of the voice guiding you, a copy of yourself that is hunting you down... This might as well be a horror game, lol. And by being more story oriented, it created an emotional impact similar to Super's that I was not expecting at all. I might be wrong, but I can't honestly remember a single old 2d game that was able to make me cry like this one. That alone puts Fusion on top so far.

Overall, I think Fusion is a lot more mature than previous entries, and it should work as a reminder that not everything about a game is its gameplay. Don't expect something similar to previous Metroids, and you'll probably enjoy this.

The best feeling Metroid I've played so far, with also featuring some great bosses (the unique fights). Calling this fangame "impressive" leaves it short, but I'm not rating it as high as Super just by the fact that this is still a Metroid 2 remake. Inherently the story, repeat bosses (even more here actually), and level progression are still untouched from the original, so that brings it down a little. But if you enjoyed Zero Mission, you'll probably like AM2R even more, at least the gameplay side of it.

I got recommended to play Super before Zero Mission, which I would suggest against. ZM it's pretty much on par, but more accessible, less clunky, and shorter. And in terms of gameplay, I think it's just as fun, even though easier. But what I'm missing is the unique atmosphere of Super and the little moments that added to the story and overall impact of the game (like Crocomire and a certain cute interaction at the end). So overall, I don't have much to say about ZM. It's a decent Metroid, but not as memorable for me.

Builds a meta-relationship with the main character through emotional connection in such an effective way. Specially because to a certain extent, Henry and the player are in the same shoes, trying to escape reality. And when the ending comes, it hits the same way for both (even the players with negative views on it agree without realizing). Crushing game, but amazing at what it sets out to do. Loved it.

(Disappointing how the game sets the mood from the very start with a grounded heartbreaking story, but people still expect mysteries, conspiracy theories, aliens... but whatever, I'm just being cranky)

I couldn't get this game out of my head for some reason, and I'm finally done with exams, so I wanted to come back and finish it.

I've already done my review for this, but I've never finished it out of frustration with the Turnip Hill section, plus other stuff like some bugs and college. I think my opinion of the last chapters (8, 9 and 10) not being as good as the rest of the game still stands, even if chapter 10 gets better as it goes, but nevertheless, I LOVE this game. It's really rare to find a game so unique as this, and in a way it's something similar to Shadow of the Colossus, where the uniqueness of it is kind of a negative, at least to me. And I say that because I really loved the game, and I wish to go right ahead and play similar ones, but there just isn't. There's nothing like this, at least that I know of, and I think just by that alone it is worth to give it a higher rating. Like I said on my first review, there are obviously some rough edges like the voice acting or the jumbling progression, but the positives highly outweigh the negatives, so I'm changing the score from a 6 to a 7. In short, fantastic puzzles and "gameplay" loop, with the best compilation of infrastructures I've seen in gaming.

I can't stress enough how great INFRA is if you enjoy atmospheric puzzles games or walking sims, and I immensely recommend that you give it a try. Also, I just found out that their next game is already out on Early Access, hell yes.

★★★½ – Great ✅

Since setting up RetroArch indirectly led to a nostalgic trip that I've been enjoying, even if the games were not that up to par so far (not you, Dynamite Headdy), might as well keep it going.

If you understandably can't tell from the title, Spartan Total Warrior is a Total War series spin-off. You know, that one series of turn based strategy games with real time tactics where battles are massive? Well, the interesting thing about this though, is that it's not a strategy game, but a hack n slash God of War-style game. I think the word "clone" applies here with both protagonist being Spartans, both using swords called "Blades of Athena", both ultimately fighting against Ares, and the combat being a similar washed down version without combos. Kind of impressive how they were able to get this out in 8 months from GoW's launch even if it's basically blatant plagiarism. That said, it does have something unique going for it because of the Total War influence, and that's the size of battles. In GoW you'd fight at most 10 enemies at once, here... it's like in the hundreds. This aspect is probably the most appealing thing the game has to offer, and it is admittedly satisfying to button smash through a whole army of enemies, specially with some of the later weapons you unlock. Kid-me thought that was the coolest thing ever, enough to make me play it religiously. Sadly, as you may guess, that's where the positives end, with the game being a bland tropey mess, so overall I don't have much to say other than complaining about how incompetent it is. Still recommending it though, since there's nothing that much offensive about it, and if you're a classic GoW fan I guess you could enjoy it (?).

Despite everything, I love that this exists by the randomness of it. Why did Creative Assembly make this, lol? Is it more random than making Alien: Isolation, though? Idk, but at least that game was good.

★★ – Bad, but playable ✅

Death n Destruction kinda nasty.