Heidi Hawes
On one hand, it does have an interesting premise with some truly original ideas, but on the other, I found many of them to be a bit undercooked. The mysterious nature of the case was compelling and kept me intrigued along the way. However, it left many questions unanswered and ended with a weird and somewhat unsatisfying conclusion.
While Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders has the right idea in terms of how to best present a murder mystery in video game form, it unfortunately misses the mark. Having to exit the game and come back after completing a few tasks really kills the immersion and flow. I also think not making use of the Switch’s touchscreen was a huge missed opportunity.
Horace is a game of great challenge, quirky humor, and heart-wrenching storytelling, all wrapped up in an adorable package. You simply cannot let this game pass you by. I’m certainly glad I didn’t.
All Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty! managed to do was frustrate me. However, it did make me appreciate the controls in Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee more. Honestly, if you’re new to the franchise, it might even be better to just skip ahead to Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. At least those gameplay mechanics feel like something more from this era.
Considering this is Nodding Heads Games first outing, I’m thoroughly impressed with the results. The combat is fun, the environments are gorgeous, and the mythos is a refreshing plunge into new territory.
The only thing I can say for certain is in an ironic twist, all this game really made me want to do is drink a bunch of hipster craft brews. I might have actually gone out and bought a bunch after playing this game. Ok, I absolutely did. Cheers!
Even though I guessed what was really going on, I still enjoyed every second of this game. Mostly due to the delightful banter between Sonny and Marty. The end leaves room for a sequel and I personally can’t wait to see what the Chicken Police are in store for on their next adventure.
The song list might not be the most varied in terms of genres and styles to choose from, but you can subscribe to their Unlimited service to open much more options. I may have looked like a squid having a seizure while playing it, but I’ve never had more fun doing so.
With the updated graphics, reworked gameplay mechanics, and new content, Observer: System Redux is a treat for those already familiar with it and newcomers alike. If you haven’t already checked it out, then now would be a good time to do so.
Despite not having all of the same humor as the original, it still has the same storylines and puzzles as before. Returning fans to the game should have no problem jumping right into the action. Plus, people unfamiliar with the game will be delightfully entertained by its wackiness and hare-brained schemes (see what I did there?).
It’s an ambitious game, but one that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Without a doubt, this is one path worth traveling.
Call of the Sea wasn’t quite what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. It surprised me in a lot of ways. While the ending was easy to guess early on, the writing for the rest of the story was so strong that I still found it compelling.
For the most part, Spiritfarer is a charming and upbeat game, but it covers the themes of death and loss with seriousness and respect. I was genuinely shocked by just how much I came to care about the spirits in my care. Learning about them and helping them move on gave the management sim side of the game have a lot more meaning.
This had the potential to be their best game to date, but due to the direction they chose to take it at the very end, it all fell apart. It’s crazy to think just how much five minutes can kill the whole experience.
Iris.Fall might not break any new ground in terms of gameplay, but what it brings to the table it does well. There are some pacing issues due to severe difficulty spikes with a couple of its puzzles, but for the most part it delivers an enjoyable (albeit short) experience.
Teratopia‘s biggest flaw is that it doesn’t know what kind of game it wanted to be. It has beyond basic controls, but it’s too hard for children to play. It looks like an adorable kid’s game and has lots of silly humor, but then there are random moments of adult level jokes and references. I’m honestly not sure who this game is meant for. Let’s just save us all some trouble and say it’s not enjoyable for anyone.
For a game that was clearly inspired by Star Fox, I was saddened to find that it was devoid of the charm that made those games so great.
I feel like I was completely duped by its misleading trailer. The concept does have potential, but they didn’t go dark enough or weird enough with it. The story never gets terribly interesting and it leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. It’s also incredibly short.
The combat is uninspired and tedious, as is the music. The time mechanic is a great idea and adds a level of strategy to the game, but it’s poorly explained and results in a lot of wasted time trying to figure things out. If you’re a fan of 80’s and 90’s action/adventure RPGs, especially the Quest for Glory games, then maybe give it a try if it’s on sale.
I was pleasantly surprised by Dry Drowning. The setting was interesting, the choices mattered, and the story was compelling enough to make me want to see it through to the end. While not all of the socio-political story elements were original, there were still plenty of mysteries and twists that kept me captivated.