There is plenty to enjoy here, but the brilliant pacing, focus and storytelling from Case of the Golden Idol looms large over its sequel. It's a shame it doesn't live up to that potential, while still reinforcing the great ideas that are the foundation of the gameplay. Let's hope the Golden Idol shows up once more in the future to bring both styles together for a spectacular conclusion.
undefined.Sashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography could be a great supplemental tool if you're already working on learning Japanese. Its cute artstyle and miniature version of Shibuya is fun to explore and allows you to learn and discover a ton of Japanese words, but it falls a bit short as a full method to learn Japanese and as a photography videogame. Still, on your flight to Japan this is a fun way to learn a few words and phrases that you can put into practice when you're there.
The barrier of entry is a tad high for my taste, but once the orb got rolling I couldn't get myself to stop. In the end Peglin feels like one of those great background games, that I can see players picking up again and again. I can't look ahead in my crystal ball, but I foresee that Peglin may just stick around for quite some time.
Not just for those who engage with games on a daily basis, but especially for people who are unaware of why games are cultural heritage and deserve to be preserved and celebrated as more than just toys. The new inclusion of Tetris Timewarp makes for a fun Tetris variant and is particularly rewarding after learning about the series' wide and wild history. So put the game on like a documentary with the family, introduce it to your colleagues and make them understand that it won't be just Tetris forever, but games forever as well.
From its innuendos when milking cows, to the way the citizens interact with one another, it makes it a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. While at times the repetition of walking back and forth can set in, the game rarely drops the ball of making a joke. Give this game to your dad, neighbor or friend and watch them carefully explore what the town has to offer. I can guarantee their puzzlement will surely turn to laughter before they exclaim Thank Goodness for this Game.
Visually in particular, but also the trappings of the narrative adventure game that can get a tad repetitive over time without too many moments that shake up the gameplay. This all does not subtract from the astonishing writing and performances in 1000xRESIST and I urge those who are looking for boundary breaking storytelling to truly dive into this world blindly. It may even help you find the strength in these times to learn what it means to resist.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is every Zelda Dungeon, Resident Evil Mansion and Escape Room honed to its finest edge and plays with the player as much as the player plays the game. In a year already stacked with impressive indie games, this will be the one that is going to haunt me for years to come. I could not be more excited about seeing others experience it for themselves.
Even though it drops a few balls while juggling all these mechanics together, such as the boss battles. Still, ANIMAL WELL is a brilliantly put together game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost in a small but intricately designed game. I am quite convinced that both designers and players will be delving down deeper into this well over the coming years.
It is easy to pick up and play while looking to pass the time for a few minutes. Though its difficulty spikes and slightly too revealing hint system are at odds with its design, I found it to be a delightful puzzle experience that even taught me a few things about atoms and ions. While I am not head over heels for it, there was certainly some chemistry to be found.
One final note: At the time of writing I also experienced a de-sync of audio and video in the interviews. I was informed by a representative of Digital Eclipse that this is a bug in the Switch version and will be fixed in a patch soon after launch.
So rarely do we see this type of life portrayed in this particular way in games, let alone let a player walk their own path through it all. The twists and turns will keep you engaged and by the end Pentiment left me feeling with a sense of joy, purpose and appreciation. I am quite certain that if you enjoy adventure games, story driven games or roleplaying games, you will too.
But it gets stuck in the mud of not being able to stand on its own. It feels too slow for a 3D platformer and there are too few collectibles to call it a collect-a-thon. Cavern of Dreams left me dreaming for a better game and that's just a real shame.
With its cheeky cutscenes, action-platforming gameplay and side-quests that see you exploring all nooks and crannies of the world, the culmination makes for a fun game to play over a weekend. While I don't expect it to have the lasting impact that its inspiration has had, I am optimistic that Dopply continues to be inspired by games that others have rejected. So, let's hope that Arzette 2 might take after Zelda's Adventure. I'm definitely excited to see where this series can go.
So we'll see where they take it from here. With all the winks and nods to Unova I'm holding my breath as they seem to be gearing up to remake my personal favorite titles. So here's to hoping they won't screw it up.
So we'll see where they take it from here. With all the winks and nods to Unova I'm holding my breath as they seem to be gearing up to remake my personal favorite titles. So here's to hoping they won't screw it up.
The co-op, whether local or online is an absolute must and improves the experience by a mile. While you won't get too much out of the story and characters, the additional level packs add on top of the good serving of puzzles you'll encounter. I have to admit that after my time with Escape Academy, some actual escape rooms will have a hard time living up to this experience.
Leaving the door open for future Mara adventures, I think that these characters really lend themselves to different genres and experiences. Even if I didn't pick up on many of the callbacks to Summer in Mara, I could tell that the developers really like these characters and this world they've created. Perhaps it's time to explore the RTS or RPG genre in Mara?.
If you're already familiar with this game, you won't be missing out on any meaningful extras by skipping this release, but if you are new to Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective it is a must play. It is one of those games that doesn't need a sequel or prequel but is a perfectly self-contained story that truly hasn't aged a day. I couldn't be happier that Ghost Trick has been brought back to life one more time.
It's not about speedrunning, collecting hundreds of objects, or even fighting any enemies. Instead, Smushi finds joy in the moments where you can just explore this big world as a tiny little mushroom, making it just feel great to play. For those wanting to have a brief but cozy experience for an afternoon, or if you want to introduce a younger player to what a 3D-platformer is all about, this is one indie you don't want to miss.
The stories can be gruesome and horrific at times, but that also makes them intriguing puzzleboxes to sit down and solve. At times while playing I looked up at the clock and realized I had been squinting at the screen and was lost in thought solving a puzzle for nearly an hour. The year of narrative bangers just keeps on rolling and if you are even remotely interested in solving a good mystery, The Case of the Golden Idol should be at the top of your list!.