Speaking of impressive the title also has an extensive codex despite it being just an appetiser. The foundation of its world is solid and intriguing, so much so that it’ll be one of the biggest reasons as to you will be wanting to see the end product come into fruition. That’s because much of the terminology and information vaguely presented in the game suggests of underlining happenings and foreboding events that its full release will almost undoubtedly return to and expand upon.
When romance and psychological horror comes together in a perfect match like it does here, with a female main character to boot, From Madness with Love is the kind of dating sim I wish would grace us much more often than it currently does. For £14.29 I cannot recommend this game enough.
In closing, both games could not be any more different to one another really, and it will depend on what you are looking for to determine which will be more worthwhile to experience for yourself. But for my money, Charade Maniacs strikes me as a game that has potential but feels distractingly and disappointingly unfinished with the two routes I have currently experienced, while Jack Jeanne’s overall polish outshines it as well as its depth being apparent from just a single playthrough.
In closing, both games could not be any more different to one another really, and it will depend on what you are looking for to determine which will be more worthwhile to experience for yourself. But for my money, Charade Maniacs strikes me as a game that has potential but feels distractingly and disappointingly unfinished with the two routes I have currently experienced, while Jack Jeanne’s overall polish outshines it as well as its depth being apparent from just a single playthrough.
To put it bluntly, I found Lover Pretend a meandering bore. Considering the many difficulties behind the scenes and the way it changed hands in terms of writers numerous times, it’s perhaps not a surprise that the story turned out as poor as it did, and equally no surprise that the title as a whole is not exactly a resounding success.
Death Stranding is one of the grandest, most optimistic adventures to be had in modern gaming. With its exploration of grief, loss, connection and resilience in the face of absolute adversity, the way the title effortlessly presents hope prevailing and the kindness of humanity continuing to exist even at the end of the world is beyond beautiful. Alongside gorgeous scenery, a stunning soundtrack accompanying your journey and even hot springs to be found along the way, Death Stranding is a sight worth seeing and losing yourself in. Maybe it’s just me, but it really is as wholesome and cosy as it is meaningful and well-intentioned.
All in all, this makes Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling a tame but approachable and welcoming first experience for gamers who are new to the psychological genre. It’s well worth checking out, regardless of your prior experience in said genre, for two main reasons: its core messaging is a friendly reminder that we should take better care of ourselves, and the developers deserve all the support and praise that they can get with this, their first commercial release.
For such a spectacular, story rich experience for both the horror fan and detective pundit, the very cheap asking price for this experience makes this an easy one to recommend.
Saint Maker’s design, themes and especially characters make it well worth a shot. It will certainly surprise you one way or another!
I should say thanks to Fire Emblem Engage for gifting us with the Four Hounds though – they are easily my favourite part of the game.
While the majority of these features are ultimately rather unnecessary, it adds some pleasant downtime after all the nightmarish sights and descriptions you’ll find yourself interacting with. It’s a perfect balancing act that helps us show that some characters are genuinely redeemable — and that some are absolute, legitimate sweethearts — compared to the majority, who are walking red flags. But that just makes any piece of fiction all the more exciting.
With fully realised characters who lead complex lives with some of the most engaging character arcs to come from an indie otome, The Spanish Privateer is truly a riveting time.
Finally, even its ending is as unnecessary as it is lazy. It’s the post-game cutscene from the original game, and it makes even less sense being inserted at the same moment after everything that transpired before it within the new scenario. I can’t fathom how anyone could possibly argue that this DLC is not one of the weakest additional content packages out there and the cheekiest in terms of its asking price. Do yourself a favour and wait for a sale if you absolutely must play it. Please. Lady Dimitrescu is not going anywhere.
At least I can fondly think of this as “the bi otome game” — even if its intriguing setup did deserve so much better.
Pitstop in Purgatory is macabre yet soothing. It’s a wholesome and, at times, wickedly cruel jab to your heart and senses that still manages to feel like a virtual comforter due to its sheer optimism about death — or rather, the celebration of life after death. With lovingly caring and considerate messages, memorable characters you’ll fondly appreciate and care about, and two key mysteries that will keep you interested and committed to solving from beginning to end, Pitstop in Purgatory is a must-play.
Soulstice celebrates the great things about its biggest inspirations while being memorable in its own right. The presence of Sir Donovan as a capable male Chimera fills a void from Claymore, and how the game explores and shows memories reminiscent of the Vestige fragments in Code Vein makes for a nice interlude after countless battle segments and heavy plot reveals.
Cut to the Core deserves to be dissected and scrutinised for your viewing pleasure — or horror, it’s a mix of the two really! It’s absolutely vile, terrifying and unforgettable. And that’s why I love it.
IMMORTALITY has a thought-provoking narrative; it features unassuming but difficult to master gameplay design, and there’s a harrowing truth to discover, plus plenty of additional mysteries to uncover over subsequent playthroughs. It’s an incredible experience, and I urge you to try it for yourself.
I may have some complaints about the game’s overall design choices and gameplay mechanics, but I will certainly give it another playthrough or two and may well change my mind. If that ends up being the case, you’ll all be the first to know, as there’s a ton of potential here. And in the meantime, if you like what you’ve seen and heard so far, you’ll almost certainly find something of worth here — so I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
There are plenty of fun red herrings and even a few well-implemented, infrequent jump scares — it’s certainly not one to forget about any time soon. With two endings for each character — one good, one bad — and a single playthrough taking around seven hours to complete, it’s well worth its asking price.