Connor O'Malley's Reviews
Tempest is a sure-handed, extensive and bold addition to an already remarkable game. Not content with simply adding a little garnish to the meal, Amplitude have re-written the menu.
But it would be remiss to end on a negative for this review of a very, very special game. Wheels of Aurelia is a narrative triumph, with dialogue that has more to say than the vast majority of games would ever dare.
All in all, this was a game that, after expecting little more than an entertaining diversion, turned out to be so much more. A minimalistic aesthetic, awesomely satisfying gameplay and an unexpectedly gripping and mysterious narrative work together to create something truly brilliant in Hacknet.
There’s a lot to love about Ballhalla, even without mentioning its art style that’s gleaming with colour, or its foreboding electronic soundtrack which is evocative of Frozen Synapse’s. What could so easily have ended up as a perfunctory effort bolstered only by inventive marketing, as I feared was the case, has actually turned out to be an inventive and joyous ride.
Breached is plagued by a litany of errors and missteps, some of which strike at heart of its gameplay in a manner that may render it inadmissably flawed for some. It’s testament, then, to the stunning world design, the mystique of the story-telling and the strength of the conceit that I found Breached, in its better moments at least, not only enjoyable but gripping.
Afterbirth is a weighty expansion, filled to the brim with content, to a game which was already no slouch when it came to things to do. What may be regarded as 'the base game' is challenging, enjoyable and intriguing and worthy of the purchase. What sets Afterbirth apart from those foundations is the mechanical minutiae, providing hundreds upon hundreds of hours of exploration, competition, and manic fun.
The true triumph of Battlefleet is that it provides the opportunity, after a number of cases of trial and error, to succeed. Each battle brings with it a thrilling trepidation and, as you progress, the infuriating futility of past endeavors begin to blossom into a glorious aptitude, hinting that you might just be getting the hang of it after all.
I think you'll know whether this is a game you'd be inclined to play. All I can give you is my heartiest recommendation. Expand is quite obviously designed with great care and attention to detail from the maze design, to the soundtrack, and to the pacing that had me on tenterhooks. I loved every minute of it.
Not only is it fun, it's also horrendously cute. I mean, in the first level an enemy warrior threw a spear at me, it connected, and he jumped for joy shouting a delightfully high-pitched "woo-hoo". Now, I'm pretty sure this is a personal first, but I was actively happy for the guy.