Cloud Gardens is a casual, laid-back, puzzle-solving experience. That being said, it’s not the type of game that you will want to play for hours on end, but it’s entertaining in short spurts. It offers over one hundred levels, which sounds impressive, but bear in mind that many of the assets are constantly reused, making levels feel tedious after a while. This makes it ideal for a system like the Switch, where you can pick it up and play here and there on-the-go.
This War of Mine: Final Cut makes players think about aspects beyond simply winning or fighting for “glory”. It asks us to think about the real cost of war. When battles are fought, it is the civilians who suffer most; innocent casualties caught in the crossfire. The main point of This War of Mine: Final Cut is when the horrors of war are upon them, even good people can turn into monsters out of desperation.
What I’ve come to realize it that Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is something special… in shorts bursts. It’s the perfect game to pick up and play a few levels of before setting it down to go about your business. Brief play sessions will keep you engaged, whereas long blocks will start to wear on you.
While it wasn’t the sequel I was hoping for, it does still have its own intriguing narrative. It does get off to a slow start, but things pick up once you hit the second act and gets really compelling in the third act. You don’t necessarily have had to have played the other entries before starting Impostor Factory, but you will certainly get a lot more out of the experience if you are familiar with them first.
Honestly, despite its flaws, I still enjoyed my time with Cris Tales. There are seeds of a fantastic game in here, but sadly none of them were able to fully blossom. I would really love to see a sequel where they expand upon what they’ve built already, because the idea of defeating your enemies using time magic along with other spells is wonderful. It lends itself to a lot of creative battles if explored in more depth.
I enjoyed my time with Black Book, but it’s definitely held back by some of its shortcomings. This isn’t necessarily due to lack of skill from the developers, but more an issue with such a small budget. However, I think they would have benefited from a different art style, perhaps like the one found in their other game, The Mooseman.
I’ll admit that I was disappointed at first because it wasn’t the type of game I was expecting from the trailer. Then once I came to terms with what it actually offered, I was able to change my mindset and settle in for the ride. The easygoing nature of the game, along with exploring its beautiful environments, became a mellow, cathartic experience.
People who like casual games and dark, immature humor might enjoy this, but Freakpocalypse was truly designed with the fans in mind. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a complete game, but rather the first installment in a trilogy. That being said, it will still take you several hours to complete, especially if you take your time exploring and speaking to everyone. While it’s not a challenging game by any means, the absurdist humor is enough to make it enjoyable the whole way through.
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.
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.
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.
At the end of the day, Telling Lies is good concept that stumbles a bit in its execution. It would have worked better if there was an actual mystery to solve like in Her Story. Instead of piecing together an elaborate puzzle, we’re left sifting through the drama of a few people.
A Fold Apart is an enjoyable time, but I feel like it’s promoted in a slightly deceiving way. It’s not a cutesie upbeat game about two people missing each other. In fact, it’s a serious look into the hardships of being in a long distance relationship and how quickly things can go wrong when you can’t express yourself properly.
All in all, I really did enjoy my time with Obduction, even if there were a few issues that hampered the experience. It’s beautiful, fascinating, and creative. Although, the second half definitely slows down a lot due to huge backtracking sections and long loading times.
INDIKA might have been hit and miss with some of its gameplay elements and had some pacing issues, but one thing is certain: it’s definitely a game that swung for the fences and took a lot of risks. It’s weird and bizarre in all the best ways. It’s a game that hooks you right from the start and will hold your attention until the credits roll. I can’t say it’s a happy experience, but it’s one with a very clear vision and strong message, controversial as it might be. INDIKA is one of those rare games that takes you completely by surprise and sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is a fine game, and one I recommend playing. What disappoints me most is just how little was done to this version to set itself apart from the original. The gameplay remains untouched, other than a completely clunky and bizarre co-op mode. The main changes were an enhanced soundtrack and graphics, but the large majority of the game is exactly the same as it was before.
The characters are charming and the views of space and Mars are remarkable in VR. My biggest complaint is that it’s quite short, taking only about an hour and a half to beat. Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway was so much fun that I wanted more! For anyone looking for a delightful, family-friendly adventure, Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway is a cracking good time!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Venba, even more than I was anticipating. I expected a laid-back cooking sim, but what I got was a deeply moving narrative about generational struggles with immigration and creating a home for yourself in an unfamiliar land. Solving the puzzles of the missing steps in each recipe is surprisingly fun as well. Even though it’s a short experience, taking only about two hours to complete, it still a journey worth taking.
Even though Syberia: The World Before was so different than the other entries in the franchise in some ways, it was also a return to form in others. The puzzles might not be as bizarre or outside the box as other games, but they also felt more natural to the story. Similarly, the other entries had more whimsical and fantastical elements to them, whereas this game is far more grounded in reality. Although, considering the laughably audacious directions Syberia 3 ventured into, I would definitely count this as a big plus.
I really enjoyed my time with A Boy and His Blob. I definitely understand now why this adorable little game won the hearts of so many. It might not being the most challenging game on the market, but it’s still a lot of fun. The levels are all very brief, which makes it an ideal game for the Switch. It’s the perfect game to pick up and play on-the-go.