Over the course of its roughly three-hour runtime, I laughed and smiled a bunch. That's more than enough for me. This could have easily ended up as an embarrassing attempt to relive and milk the franchises' past success, but it turned out to be something much more enjoyable. It's not the flashbang of passion and possibility that the original offered, because few things in this world are, but it feels like it has something unique to say, and I think most fans will walk away happy if they take the time to listen.
Silver Dollar Games has wholeheartedly delivered on the promise of the original and managed to outdo my expectations spectacularly. One Finger Death Punch 2 is everything I love about the series turned up to 11, and it's a fantastic example of how minimalist design can effectively carry a game, even when pared down to just two simple inputs.
All in all, The Case of the Invisible Wizard is a fantastic way to spend an evening, and it improves and builds on the strengths of the original in iterative but meaningful ways. Whatever happens next, I'm fully invested in this series. The price is more than fair, and it's a unique passion project that's so dang wholesome and smile-inducing. It'll montage dance its way into your heart and prove that ground pies, picked up and cleaned off, can still be delicious, perfectly sanitary sources of nourishment.
A Short Hike is far from perfect, but it absolutely is unique and worth your time. It's also super fucking rad, and I love it. Warts and all. If you're looking for something different, and you don't mind the price of admission, I think this is more than worth the price of entry. It may not be perfect, but life never is, and that's fine and beautiful in its own way.
This may not be the definitive way to experience the series, but it's damn sure the most accessible, and it beats the hell out of the neutered anime adaptation. For new fans, this is a fantastic entry point. For returning fans, Steins;Gate Elite is a solid reason to revisit a beloved series with a fresh set of eyes. I adored every second of it.
Unfortunately, YIIK ultimately fails to deliver in its execution, and it's difficult to recommend for anyone that isn't willing to sit through 25 hours of drudgery for a few hours of psychedelic brilliance.
Luckily, a sequel is already in the works and I will absolutely be there day one to play it. This has some great potential as a bite-sized series to spend an evening with. If I had kids, this is exactly the sort of experience I'd want to share with them. As a thirty-one-year-old bachelor, I still think it's pretty gosh darn rad.
Save me Mr Tako successfully apes a period of gaming history, but I just wish it had shed a few of the more tiresome tropes from that time. If you're part of the niche audience that this is catering to, you'll find a fun romp down what feels like memory lane. For everyone else, I'd proceed with caution.
The Hex is a really solid game that does a lot of very creative things. It's definitely worth the asking price. However, it certainly won't set your loins on fire and leave you dry humping the air for more. It's an enjoyable jaunt with some cool ideas. Nothing more, nothing less.
428: Shibuya Scramble may be a ten-year-old game, but it's such a unique experience that it feels like a slightly flawed, modern classic even today. If you have any love for the genre, don't skip this one.
By taking a genre that thrives on its deep mechanics and attempting to streamline it into something anyone can pick up and play, we're left with an experience that doesn't wholly appeal to anybody. It sucks because there was so much potential here, and it ends up shooting itself in the foot before it really has the chance to bear fruit. With some updates and balancing, Bad North could, one day, deliver on its promise. Right now, however, it just feels like a wasted opportunity.
However, it had some pretty big shoes to fill, and it left me slightly wanting. I really hope this isn't the last we see of this universe, and I'd love to eventually get a direct sequel to Ray's adventures from the original, but this serves as a wonderful appetizer in the meantime. If you're looking for some low stakes, goofy fun, you could do far worse.
This is not a game for the faint of heart. It's offensive, perverted, and subtly violent at times during its opening moments. It's also adorable, funny, and heartwarming in equal measure. It's a complicated beast that rewards those who persevere. While far from perfect, it lays the foundation for one of the most epic sci-fi stories ever told. There is nothing else like it.
The story may be a tad lackluster, and the combat may be clunky as hell, but Vampyr does offer a compelling adventure for those looking for some blood-sucking fun. It also manages to effectively make you feel like a creature of the night at times. Unfortunately, the frequent technical issues sapped just about every ounce of joy from the experience, leaving this digital world a dry, lifeless husk.
Omensight is a fun fantasy romp starring fuzzy animal things. It's endearing in a way that, considering its flaws, it has no right to be. With a little more polish, this could have been a great game. As things stand now, it's still a pretty damn good one. The story kept me invested, and I found myself smiling more often than not. If you can see past the rough spots, you're in for a treat.
There's so much passion on display here. The two guys who created this were definitely onto something, and I'll be there day one for whatever they cook up next.
This isn't a horror game in the purest sense of the word. There aren't any jump scares, yet there is a very real sense of dread as you chip your way through the story. It never fully lets up and, instead, allows itself to build until you're almost used to the oppressive paranoia.
For anyone looking to scratch that nagging Okami itch, even if it never quite reaches the same heights, you're going to have a good time here. It may feel a tad familiar, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, it's just great to lose yourself in a goofy world for a bit.
Dandara has a firm foundation, but suffers from inherent design flaws and a lack of direction. Despite its imperfections, I mostly enjoyed my time with it. It treads a lot of familiar ground with its gameplay mechanics, but those were the portions of the game I found myself having the most fun with.
For the first time in ages, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Celeste was everything I'd hoped for and then some. I'm not saying this is the best video game I've ever played. It's much too early to start declaring things like that. What I am saying is that this is an essential gaming experience. Everything this team set out to do they accomplished. If you have any love for indie games, you're about to fall head over heels. These people have created something very close to perfection.