Heal: Console Edition is a point and click, puzzle adventure which made its original release on PC (Steam) in April 2020. It comes from Jesse Makkonen, the developer of the Distraint series. The port onto consoles is by Ratalaika Games. For fans of Makkonen, does this offering live up to the standard of his previous releases? There’s only one way to find out, read this Rapid Review!
You play with two characters in Lair of the Clockwork God: Ben and Dan. They each have different capabilities which you utilise to complete different parts of each level. Ben can interact with objects, talk to characters and craft items. He also has an inventory where he can store things that you pick up along the way. Ben can’t jump though, so he is reliant on Dan moving objects or standing on pressure pads when he needs to go up or downhill (unless there’s a gradual gradient).
Ghost Sweeper is a cute little title from 7 Raven Studios packed with a variety of puzzle-style levels to challenge both your quick-thinking and strategy planning skills. I’m a fan of games with any kind of puzzle element but I hesitated before deciding to give Ghost Sweeper a go because I thought it might get a bit repetitive, how wrong I was!
When it comes to choosing games to play, I do have a bit of a leaning towards more melancholy themed titles. I’m also a fan of story heavy games so it’s not hard to see why Ghost on the Shore piqued my interest. For me, narrative games which allow you to explore the environment can be a palate cleanser between mentally or emotionally demanding titles. Of course, without a doubt, these types of games do also have the power to hit you in the feels. Additionally, I find them great for those times when I don’t have the energy to invest in a combat heavy game but still want the plot and environment immersion.
I had my eye on Trek to Yomi as soon as I saw it was coming to Xbox Game Pass. The trailer completely sold it to me, a black and white voyage fighting as a samurai in what appears to be feudal Japan. This was an adventure in which I felt compelled to partake. Read my Rapid Review below to find out if it lived up to expectations.
Nioh 2 arrived on PlayStation 4 in March 2020 and on Playstation 5 and PC, titled Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition, in February this year. The PC and PlayStation 5 versions include DLC packs released for the original PlayStation 4 version. Its events take place both before and after those in the original Nioh game, released on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2017. I let my passion for Japanese culture guide me in picking up this game to review. I have not played Nioh and therefore had no insight into backstory or game mechanics before beginning my playthrough. Was this a blessing in disguise? Or did this turn into a nightmare? Read my Rapid Review below to find out.
Metamorphosis is a game based on the world created by Franz Kafka in his novella The Metamorphosis or Die Verwandlung in the original German. It sees you take on this quirky universe from an insect’s point of view. Are you curious to find out what it’s like to have a pint-sized view of the world? Then read on…
When the Past was Around conveys a whirlwind of emotions through its combination of award-winning violin music and hand-drawn art. It’s a compelling journey into the thoughts of Eda, the main character, as she processes a devastating personal loss. There’s no doubt that I found this game to be a delight, but is it the game for you? Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.
DISTRAINT 2 is an interactive, visual novel, horror game that deals with some deep issues. I don’t want to give too much away about the story in this review because part of the beauty of this game is riding the highs and lows of the plot. However, I feel it would be remiss of me to write any more about it without first giving a content warning: this game’s events centre on a suicide attempt and past trauma.
I first heard about Röki in July 2021 when a fellow Rapid Reviewer recommended it to me. I had just finished (and adored) reviewing Omno, and was looking for something to fill the void it had left. Alas, my backlog was enormous. So, after wistfully eyeing up Röki in the Steam store, it fell to the back of my mind. Fast forward to October. When I realised that there was an opportunity to review the title for Rapid Reviews, I jumped in feet first without a backward glance. Was I right to throw caution to the wind, or was I about to pay for my reckless spontaneity? Keep reading my Rapid Review to find out.
I watched the trailer for Omno with that thrill rising inside me that only a well-put-together taster can inspire. I knew that I had to see what this title was all about. Were those tempting images gameplay, or simply a montage of cutscenes put there to whet my appetite? Read my Rapid Review below to find out answers to this question, and more.
After finishing my play-though of Manifold Garden, I’ve been left with a strange mix of elation and melancholy; a longing for just one more of those beautifully crafted, wonderfully challenging and intensely peaceful levels. Yes, it’s fair to say that I loved playing this game. Everything about Manifold Garden is right up my street; it has a unique concept, a compelling soundtrack and it’s full of intriguing puzzles and impressive visuals. It fills your mind with the experience it creates so that it’s easy to lose yourself in the game without feeling time pass. All of this combined is my equivalent of gaming catnip.