Heidi Hawes
All in all, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning can be great or disappointing depending on your mindset. If you’re looking for a fully remastered and polished up version of this game, then you’re going to feel let down. If you’re simply looking for a new and more accessible way to replay this cult classic, then you’ll probably overlook the imperfections and be happy you can actually play it again.
It’s by no means a perfect game, as it’s rife with bugs, glitches, and graphical issues, but it’s so charming that you won’t care about that before long. It has an engaging story, interesting characters, dynamic environments, and a unique gameplay system with the Seasonal Stones.
The biggest offender is the fact that for a game designed to be played as a multiplayer experience, the multiplayer is absolutely dreadful. There’s no reason for it be as complicated to set up as it is, not to mention the fact that all players don’t progress their story unless they’re the host. This is a Final Fantasy game in name only and does not live up to the fond memories my nostalgia created.
Not only is it one one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever played, but it’s probably the most immersive open world game I’ve ever experienced. This is a rare gem that is not only a piece of art, but also incredibly fun and satisfying to play.
The graphics are a lot more polished than in the demo and there is a really good variety in gameplay mechanics. The jumping and chase sequences can definitely be aggravating, but the charming aesthetic and hilarious banter between the siblings will have you coming back for more.
Its striking art style, logical puzzles, and unique atmosphere prove that Amanita Design can make more than just point-and-click adventures.
Having someone tripping on LSD for an entire game was not the wisest move. Depicting someone in an altered state of reality or suffering from mental health issues can be very tough to pull off without being offensive. That being said, it has been done before.
Röki was one of my most anticipated games of 2020 and it blew me away in every way possible. It might have the look of a living children’s book, but its darker themes proves that this is a fairy tale for grownups. I was already impressed with its premise and art design from the trailer, but I wasn’t expecting just how organic everything felt.
It’s a short game, taking about two to three hours to complete depending on how long it takes you to figure some puzzles out, but it’s well worth your time. I would also recommend playing it all in one sitting as that will make the whole experience more impactful.
This game does an incredible job of blending point-and-click gameplay with adventure, mystery, levity, and puzzles, all within one cohesive package. My only suggestion would be to perhaps wait a bit for some patches to come out to fix the numerous bugs. Other than those, this game has the makings of becoming another cult classic.
I’m thrilled that THQ Nordic decided to revisit the best SpongeBob game out there. Not only does it make it more accessible to a whole new generation, but it gives us long time fans an excuse to explore Bikini Bottom once more. Yes, it does still have its fair share of issues, but SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated is so fun that you really won’t even care.
The concept is outstanding and I wanted to love it, I really did. Aside from the numerous issues I’ve already mentioned, the biggest downfall is that it just didn’t know what kind of game it wanted to be.
As with many small independent games, The Almost Gone walks the line between gaming entertainment and art. The subject matter is far darker than you would think from just looking at the art style, but the message is bound to evoke some deeper emotions for certain players.
As a huge fan of both puzzle games and Harry Potter, I’m definitely a part of their target audience. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how creative and clever the puzzles would be.
I wasn’t expecting Goosebumps Dead of Night to be particularly great, but I had no idea it was going to be this disastrous. The gameplay is beyond basic and uninspired, even for a children’s game. The graphics are all over place and even made me sick at times. It’s like they blew most of their budget on Jack Black, who only agreed to take the part because he was contractually obligated.
Potata: Fairy Flower isn’t a bad game, not by any means. It’s just simply nothing remarkable in any way. You’ve seen this story before in other games, only told better.
I was pleasantly surprised with Skelattack. It’s far from perfect, but it’s still a lot more enjoyable than I would have thought for a game that wasn’t advertised at all before release. There are definitely problems with the hit detection areas and random increases in difficulty, but the charm and tight controls help to combat those issues.
I appreciate the bravery of DREAMFEEL for releasing such a personal game about a topic that not a lot of people understand. I only wish it were delivered in a more captivating way. The symbolism is great, but without any other facets of gameplay or ways in which to deliver the narrative, it loses its potency before too long.
I wanted to like it, I really did, especially since the true premise of the game is pretty original. It could lend itself very well to other games in the future. Unfortunately, its fleeting moments of brilliance are lost within the dregs of tired horror tropes, inconsistency with its rules, uninspired gameplay mechanics, and an unfulfilling ending.
Anyone who is a fan of Monty Python, or sarcastic British humor in general, needs to play it. This game had me cracking up all the way through. It’s a breath of fresh air in an otherwise quagmire of mediocrity that is the current point-and-click scene.