Pentiment is a slow and methodical title that encourages patience and a lot of thinking. The dialogue throughout the game is stellar and serves a long and intriguing plot that chronicles the period of 25 years. The game has an astounding attention to detail with its gorgeous art style, combined with exceptional UI and a cast of interesting and wonderful characters and Pentiment is a game that will be played repeatedly in the years to come.
Swordship is a fun and interesting arcade title that flips the genre on its head. Its high intensity dodge ‘em and puzzle-style action creates a fun gameplay loop. The addition of upgrades and difficulty changes adds to the title’s replayability and while the game is somewhat difficult and lacking in accessibility features, the game still manages to be an exceptional example of arcade-like brilliance.
Knights of Honour II: Sovereign is a difficult but rewarding game. A sequel nearly 20 years in the making that creates an intricate gameplay loop, improved with well-made interconnected systems all well tied together with fantastic UI and great sound design to create a full and unique RTS experience.
Children of Silentown is a fantastic game that conjures imagery of a Tim Burton-esque world. The gorgeous visuals combined with the slow and methodical gameplay create a tight gameplay loop. These facets, interweaved with the fascinating narrative lead to a full experience. Though the slow pace and difficult puzzles may hold some players back, the title rewards players for persistence with an entertaining and intriguing title.
Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale is a good game. While the combat can be frustrating and difficult to deal with at times, it can still be rewarding and the methodical process does reward ingenuitive and tactical thinking. The controls are a bit clunky which can spoil the experience, but the strong audio and the general atmosphere of the game are so well crafted that you will feel hours drift by as you sail the seas.
SpellForce: Conquest of Eo is a superbly average game. The combat is standard turn-based at best and, in some cases, can borderline be painful and tedious. The narrative has some interesting moments, and the unique RPG aspects make the game far more engaging, especially in those non-combat moments. It's a game that does not reinvent anything, and in fact, the biggest sin of this title is the sin of 'safety'.
The Pale Beyond is a fantastic game. From the intense and methodical gameplay, stunning art style, and fantastic characters. Everything about this game is meticulous and shows in every aspect of the title. The gameplay can become repetitive, especially during longer playing sessions, but the depth of the characters and the marvelous atmosphere that this title manages to conjure seems to grip you as you attempt to survive the horrifying cold of the arctic.
Mato Anomalies can be described as a game with a lack of focus. While the ideas for an excellent game are there, and the art style is superb, it is unfortunately submerged beneath the cavalcade of unfinished ideas and a confusing plot. Mato Anomalies does not know where its focus lies, and because of this, every aspect of the game suffers.