Rebecca Smith's Reviews
This game unfortunately doesn't quite reach the heights of the peers that provide its inspiration, although some will be happy just to find a title that allows them to experience it at their own pace.
The title is a more worthwhile experience than its predecessor, but there have been better games in the Artifex Mundi portfolio.
While not the best of the Artifex Mundi titles, especially with its minor gameplay issues, it is far from the worst of the bunch and is still worth a play.
Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala is the final episode of a proper trilogy with a continuing storyline, although it might not have been the best episode of the three.
Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a concluding episode of a trilogy that really bears little resemblance between the three episodes, although the darker story found in this episode is perhaps the most befitting of the trilogy's moniker.
Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends provides a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, but while it has its own tale to tell, it borrows mechanics from other entries in the publisher's catalogue.
Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders may well tell a storyline independent of the publisher's other titles, but the game mechanics will be more than familiar to those keeping up with them.
Unfortunately the episode is let down by the less than subtle way it deals with delicate subjects like racism, as well as gameplay that means this episode feels like quite a slow start to the story. There are several hints throughout the episode to suggest the gameplay may be spiced up in the future, and it may need it if players are going to make it through to the end of the story.
The overall result is a game that doesn't quite achieve what it wants to be. The story isn't given as much airtime as it needs. Exploration is thwarted by the survival elements, and although the latter are the most satisfying of them all, clunky combat, the driving need to find food, and constant resource management means that there are better and more balanced survival titles out there.
Oddworld: Soulstorm should have been the definitive version of the second entry in the Oddworld quintology, while the new story and characters hold their own, the gameplay lets it down. A plethora of bugs make the game far more difficult and frustrating than it should be, ranging from inconsistent enemy movement and teleportation to traces of elements no longer in the final product. There are more than 1300 Mudokons needing your help, but it might be worth waiting a while before you take on this mammoth task.
Twelve Minutes starts off well but eventually descends into chaos. The game’s premise of trying to rewrite 12 minutes of a couple’s time is a great idea but the execution varies in success. Twelve Minutes starts well with a convincing story loop and gameplay that makes sense. Unfortunately that story loop becomes confused with a controversial twist that muddies timelines and morals. Gameplay starts to lean heavily into trial and error and some will give up before they see some of the later outcomes. Those that persist will likely remain confused. Luis Antonio seemingly had a lot of ambition with this one, but it hasn’t completely paid off.
Buildings Have Feelings Too can initially feel frustrating and difficult, as well as completely unforgiving. Mistakes often end up being incredibly costly and the save system can feel unfair. Despite this, it's a fun puzzle game once players can fully grasp all of its different aspects and it's satisfying when everything falls into place.
Murder Mystery Machine could be a great distraction from the usual adventure games. Its emphasis on deductions rather than evidence gathering turns it more into a puzzle game than an adventure game, and it genuinely makes you feel like you're working things out for yourself. The problem is it's held back by several design issues that didn't translate well from mobile platforms to console and these can dilute the fun.
Aragami 2 had potential to be a great follow up to an indie classic released five years ago. Unfortunately it lacks any real challenge and feels bloated with repetitive mission types and locations. The game starts to overstay its welcome after a while, but there's definitely fun to be had before reaching that stage if you can put up with the plenty of bugs that still need to be fixed.
It's a world to which you want to return, but it's also a world that throws up a new problem with every visit. With several patches, this game could be a fun experience, but right now it can often be an exercise in frustration.
If ever a game felt like it was rushed to release, it is this one.
You'll remember the story long after the game has finished, but you'll likely forget how you got there.
At just 6-7 hours for a single playthrough and with little replayability outside of the achievements, I'm not entirely sure that it does justify that high a price, especially when there are other similar titles that offer more for a lower price point.
Frogwares has taken the best bits from Crimes and Punishments and has added to them for The Devil's Daughter. The problem is that these additions aren't always good. Accompanying the improved point and click gameplay are action sequences that add variety to each case, but they are also clumsy and prone to outstaying their welcome. Unfortunately the game's engine is also showing its age and loading times can often feel interminable. This title offers a typical Sherlock Holmes storyline and an easy completion, but its issues turn this into a mediocre affair rather than the elementary experience that you would expect from Holmes himself.
Yesterday Origins is a game that brings a retro feel back to the Adventure genre. It's a game that places emphasis on a decent storyline, a great cast of characters, thorough exploration and puzzles that actually make you think. While these factors will make the game appeal to Adventure fans, newcomers to the genre will likely be put off by the unforgiving nature of some of the puzzles.