Without the Sarcasm
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Burly Men at Sea is a minimalistic adventure game that is heavy on charm and whimsy. My only real complaint is that I wish that it was a bit deeper and less repetitive. The mobile version’s pricetag and portability make it the one to grab.
Star Vikings is an engaging and challenging turn-based strategy game. Unfortunately, the random elements and the seemingly required grind make it far less casual and more frustrating than it really wants to be.
Inklings is a downright beautiful game, and it’s a joy to just watch it in motion. It’s downright challenging to master, however, and often relies on careful precision in order to survive.
Nefarious is the good kind of bad in a lot of ways. It’s an enjoyable, throwback, satirical adventure that lampoons a lot of the silly things we take for granted in video games. A lack of variety and some sharp edges leave it just a few evil cackles shy of world domination.
Automata Empire is as chaotic as it is hypnotic. The strategy focus and the simple mechanics make it easy to learn but difficult to master. That simplicity and randomness cut both ways, though, yielding a few frustrating moments.
Loot Rascals is a quirky, unique roguelike that manages to simplify the genre without taking away the strategic bits that make roguelikes so much fun. My only major issue with it is that it lacks the level of variety that is really required for maximum replayability.
The core concept of Has-Been Heroes is excellent. I love the theory behind the combat, and I love the exploration. In practice, though, Has-Been Heroes is confusing and fiddly in ways that make it frustrating to play, rather than challenging.
Beat Cop has its fun moments – patrolling the streets and meeting ticket quotas might not sound entertaining, but there’s a certain zen to it. However, Beat Cop is full of missteps, from its odd, juvenile/racist tone to the plethora of bugs that plague it.
If you were a fan of Knights of Pen and Paper, picking up Galaxy of Pen and Paper is definitely worth it. Galaxy an upgrade to Knights in almost every way. Likewise, if you’re a fan of space sci-fi or old-school RPGs, Galaxy of Pen and Paper will treat you right. There are a couple of areas for improvement, but overall Galaxy is a ton of fun on PC or mobile!
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a masterpiece of hardcore stealth gaming. You’re constantly outnumbered and outgunned by enemies that react rather convincingly to your presence. It takes full mastery of the wide array of tools at your disposal to turn the tides. Success takes patience and cunning, but the reward is immensely satisfying.
Sundered maintains Thunder Lotus’ commitment to extraordinary art and detail – a commitment that few games, indie or otherwise, are able to match. Sundered manages to almost seamlessly meld two completely incompatible genres into a satisfying exploration experience. Grindy combat against overwhelming odds keeps it from being a “perfect” game.
MOTHERGUNSHIP is another unique take on the first person shooter, and at first glance it seems to take the central strengths of Tower of Guns to a new level. The gunplay is still as solid as ever, and having overarching RPG elements makes the disparate missions feel more like a cohesive game. However, MOTHERGUNSHIP feels more like an Early Access title than a fully finished game. Some bits feel like a step backwards from Tower of Guns, while many elements seem like they need more time and refinement to really gel.