While a little rough in some parts, the variety of assist mode options give players the agency to tailor their own experience, letting them make Key Fairy as relaxing or controller-throwingly hard as they wish. What this game lacks in colour it makes up for with personality and atmosphere. Key Fairy feels like the little creature you swear lived among the moon-bathed branches of the trees outside your childhood window. If you’re looking for a game which rewards exploration and has a movement system it challenges you to master, this is definitely the game for you.
Overall, even though the game falters a bit in its execution, I can’t help but be in love with its vision. With the state of the world, it’s always nice to engage with art that preaches positivity, optimism, and embracing what makes us different.
Despelote tells a familiar story that is the reality for a lot of South American countries: economic unrest, unstable governments, political coups and violent grabs for power. But you still keep going. You still go to school, go to work, meet friends, walk your dog, scream for your favourite sports team. What Despelote highlights is that sports are about national pride, banding together with other people, and allowing yourself to experience joy, hope. They’re important muscles to flex in what is becoming a more complex, violent, and oppressive world. We need to practice feeling joy, remind ourselves a better world is always possible. This game won’t be for everyone, but you’ve got little to lose from a less than two-hour game. So why not give it a try? Shoot your shot. You might even score.
While this game may exude a git gud air from its presentation, don’t be fooled. Shotgun Cop Man isn’t looking for players to break keyboards or smash controllers. It feels like it earnestly wants its players to enjoy a slickly designed power fantasy and have fun. I am delighted to have games that strike the sweet spot of being inventive and rewarding without going into rage-quit territory. It’s a quick, accessible precision/action platformer that I think you should definitely check out.