Despite its innovative gameplay, its lack of variety and somewhat confounding story hold it back. As an action game, the fast-paced body possession system is addicting, but it doesn't provide as many challenges as you'd expect from its length.
I wish that we got to know Austin a little more, but this is only the first chapter. It will be interesting to see how she comes across in the other chapters as we get to know her from their perspectives. Overall, this is a strong start to the series that shows a lot of promise depending on how it weaves together all the characters' stories.
Though I had a few minor quibbles over Overcooked 2's garnishes, it's overall a delectable followup. At times, I wondered why Ghost Town didn't just release the new recipes and levels as DLC to its first title, but that doesn't detract from the delightful new challenges and the convenience of new features like online co-op.
I love that Semblance is challenging, and its presentation is lovely as well. It has a unique look, full of organic shapes and eye-catching colors. Though it's light on story, it's worth dying a few dozen times to experience.
The Lion's Song is an excellent point-and-click adventure game for those who enjoy narrative. It's not about fetching items or solving inventory puzzles in 20th-century Austria. Instead, it transports you back to a time fairly different from ours — but less so than you might think. The characters still experience anxiety and self-doubt, they search for the truth about themselves, they make certain compromises or changes to get what they want.
Though I have some minor quibbles about the game's interface, I find myself returning to its world again and again.
Unforeseen Incidents has its charms. It looks great, and some of the puzzles are genuine fun. And even though Harper is irritating, he's well-intentioned and a fairly good protagonist. The most serious issue for me is the loading time between screens and how slowly Harper walks.
If you're looking for really precise platforming, this probably isn't the game for you. But if you're looking for a narrative adventure with some light puzzle-solving and a lot of eye candy, then you should join Anne on her journey through the Forgotten Realm.
By the end of the series, I'll say that Batman: The Enemy Within has tentatively won me over. That's purely on the strength of the relationship between Batman and The Joker. The rest of the cast is a little wobbly, and I find it hard to care about them at all.
Yakuza 6 has an ambitious narrative, alternating between lighthearted and dramatic. Unfortunately, it doesn't give its characters enough love and care to truly pull off the pathos. But its sense of humor is impeccable. Its protagonist is lovable. And Sega has created a world with plenty to do.
I love the idea of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine. It has a lot of personality, and several days after I finished it, I was still humming some of the songs to myself. However, it's impeded by a few gameplay quirks, like how tedious it is to move around.
Moss is my favorite VR experience so far.
If you can get past some of its flaws, you'll be in for an experience that's full of wonder with fantastic visuals and an amazing soundtrack. Which I keep looking for online, by the way. But my search queries just keep returning discussions about Fire Emblem.
Even though the story is thin and the puzzles are a bit too simple, it's a game with a lot of heart.
Fortune-499 is a charming package. It's got witchcraft, mid-20s malaise, and puns and witty monsters galore. Though I wanted a little more from the story, what I did get, I really enjoyed. The combat system could have easily become monotonous, but it remained fresh and quirky with the addition of new cards and mechanics.
Most impressively, Iconoclasts evokes nostalgia without feeling derivative. It hits a lot of character tropes, but it manages never to feel stale thanks to fantastic visuals, a memorable world, and solid gameplay.
What Ails You is the strongest episode so far, giving Batman: The Enemy Within a much-needed injection of verve as it speeds toward the conclusion of the series.
Toward the end, Genderwrecked drops its pretenses and casual memes. I almost felt like it was rewarding me for making it so far — like it trusted me enough now to show its emotional core. It exchanges its flippant jokes for an earnest dialogue about how messy it can be to unravel the threads of identity, to figure out who you are when you're not backed in a corner by external forces and oppressors. And it reassures you that it's OK to not know, it's OK to be considered monstrous by those who don't understand. There will always be people out there who do.
Gorogoa is a brief but beautiful foray into mystery. But its puzzles are elegant rather than elusive, relying on internal logic and a cohesive exploration of the main character's psyche and the world around him.
It's a terrific sequel with its own personality that still leverages the fun, minimalistic mechanics.