The charm and sheer enjoyability were enough to compensate for the shortcomings, to an extent, and at least hold my interest until the end. Considering that it took me upwards of 20 hours to complete and the procedural generation grants it some replayability, I’d say it’s pretty reasonably priced at $21.99. It also has the option of local co-op, which I didn’t personally try out but I can easily see how that would be enjoyable. One of my first thoughts, before I realized it was an option, was actually how great multiplayer would be. So, although it may not deliver on story and the lack of difficulty leaves something to be desired, I’d still recommend Children of Morta to anyone looking for an endearing indie that they can enjoy with a friend.
Ultimately, although the story falls somewhat flat, I am Setsuna is probably worth a playthrough if you’re feeling nostalgic for Chrono Trigger or other classic JRPGs of yore. It delivers on all its promises in the strictest sense, without actually delving any deeper or providing much other than a glorified reproduction of the games it is based on; I enjoyed it, sure, but couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed at the end. The game is undeniably fun and moderately absorbing but doesn’t bring anything new to the table, leading us to wonder (not for the first time) if an outright remaster of Chrono Trigger wouldn’t have been a better use of Square Enix’s resources.
A Plague Tale: Innocence is a poignant tale about the resilience of the human spirit, the bond between a brother and sister, and how people are united in the face of tragedy. It is shockingly grim but also incredibly moving, and worth a playthrough for the story alone. If narrative-heavy games are your thing, you should definitely check this one out. If you’re hoping for a challenging and fast-paced action game, however, you may be disappointed.
Halo 5‘s story was rather straightforward, but never boring thanks to the updated gameplay; in addition, the characters were far better developed in this campaign. Each character, far from being an anonymous suit of armor, has a personality and backstory that adds to the game. Guardians does assume that you know the lore and backstory of the universe, though, so familiarize yourself if you haven’t already. It also ended on an enormous cliffhanger, leaving the way wide open for a Halo 6. After this installment, I’m very interested to see what 343 has in store next.
All things considered, The Guest is worth the price for an evening or two of intense mental stimulation. Each puzzle is unique and well-crafted, with several that are challenging enough for even the most experienced puzzle-solvers.
In the end, Frostpunk feels like a breath of fresh air (albeit a chilly one) in a genre that’s now super competitive. Despite its few missteps like the inability to find specific buildings and the fact that it’s a bit too short, it’s a memorable experience that does a great job blending two genres together, being both a highly functional city builder and a survival game that actually requires you to care about your civilization. 11-bit’s attention to detail is outstanding, which not only shows through the game’s beautiful art style but also in how it handles every member of your civilization. And, the fact that it makes you have internal ethical conflict is the added wrinkle in gameplay that helps make it a wholly unique experience that shouldn’t be missed.
I hate to dismiss a game as “too difficult”, but RIVE is incredibly demanding without offering any incentive for enduring the frustration. I recognize that for some gamers, the satisfaction of beating such a game is incentive enough, and those people will undoubtedly find enjoyment in this game. Personally, a challenge is not enough to keep me interested, and RIVE fell flat in just about every other respect. While it was fun for a while and the dialogue was occasionally amusing, the lack of depth meant it got old quickly.
Simply put, The Flame in the Flood is a stunning river journey with highly satisfying survival elements that casual fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy. Hardcore fans might find it a little on the easy side, but it’s an enjoyable experience nonetheless, with rewarding game mechanics that almost negate the lack of story and monotony of the environment. It’s the kind of game that sucks you in immediately and is completely addictive for a short while but then grows old fairly quickly. However, it’s also the type of game you’ll probably get the urge to pick up from time to time to see if you can surpass your previous survival record, so that alone makes it worthwhile.