Hey Poor Player
HomepageHey Poor Player's Reviews
If I were to score Captain Blood based on emotion, I would probably give it top marks based on the dedication shown by the developers and publisher in putting game preservation first to see this storied development cycle through to completion. Looking at this objectively, however, even in comparison to the games that would have been considered its contemporaries had it been released in 2010, Captain Blood is a barebones exercise in frustration that is difficult to recommend. There are faint glimpses at what could have been in the ship combat sections and the breezy narrative, and the short runtime does help mask some of the frustrations that plague the experience, but on the whole, it’s difficult to argue that Captain Blood wouldn’t have been better left in the depths it was salvaged from.
It may take a while for the true depths that Monster Train 2 holds to become apparent, but once you really dig into the minutiae of each deck, the options that present themselves in front of you seem almost limitless, and that’s my impression having only spent a substantial amount of time with two of Shiny Shoe’s fantastic new decks. For fans of the original, or newcomers who didn’t stamp their ticket for the first trip aboard the Monster Train, climb aboard Monster Train 2 right now. And, get comfy as I suspect you won’t be disembarking for a while.
After spending sufficient time with the game, I’m fond of Cooking Companions, even if I don’t feel it reached its fullest potential. It’s a dark, unsettling VN with uncomfortable subject matter, told skillfully and subtly. While the Switch version of the game is occasionally a bit laggy and some functionality doesn’t seem to work properly, I’d still recommend fans of dark stories check the game out, even if it’s on a different console.
As a fan of horror, especially classic examples in the genre, I really loved the attention to detail and world-building in Labyrinth of the Demon King. Unfortunately, the combat in the game is uncompromising and will make life unbearable for the vast majority of gamers. Combined with randomized enemy placement and mind-scratching puzzles, this is a game that will push you to the limit.
I really wanted to give Into the Restless Ruins a rosier review. But I’m a longtime deckbuilder addict, and I call them as I see them. The deckbuilding itself is unique and neat, but it could do more to streamline the placement of cards. That said, the game is far from horrible and should provide a robust experience for those willing to put up with the unsatisfying combat.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a somewhat strange collection. There are six legitimately great games here, and the other two are at least mildly interesting, but they don’t necessarily feel like they’re targeting the same audience and it’s easy to see how a Power Stone fan or a Capcom vs. SNK fan might look at this collection and only see two games that are really for them. The extras here, like artwork and soundtracks, are standard fare, and while they’re not unwelcome, they aren’t going to excite many fans. Despite some strange omissions, however, there’s enough quality here that anyone interested in the genre as a whole and not just one specific title will find plenty to excite them.
Bionic Bay succeeds at being about as pure a platformer as players could ask for. With plenty of challenge, but a wise decision to not make that challenge punishing, this is the sort of game that helps players get better at platformers while having a great time as well. While its atmosphere may not offer the transcendent experience that could have taken Bionic Bay to the next level, any fan of the genre should have a great time with it.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be perfect, but for a first game from the team at Sandfall Interactive, it’s a remarkable achievement that tells a wonderful story while offering incredibly engaging combat and worldbuilding. This is an RPG I won’t soon forget and one that lapsed fans of the genre should absolutely check out.
Oblivion Remastered brings a Bethesda classic into the modern age with great success, while still retaining the core of what we all loved upon first adventuring across Cyrodiil many moons ago. Visually, it’s stunning, and creates a sense of immersion that just wasn’t possible on older hardware, and it speaks to the strength of Bethesda’s original work that all that was needed was a new lick of paint to leave Oblivion Remastered feeling like a wonderfully playable experience that I’ve loved dedicating hours of my life to all over again. The Elder Scrolls VI may be a while away yet, but for now, The Elder Scrolls VI fans rejoice, as you’ve now got a hell of a consolation prize to tide you over for the next few years.
While I did find the game’s balance off at times, and was frustrated by some of the quirks I encountered in the game, I’d still recommend folks check out Knock on the Coffin Lid. It’s clear to me this is a work of passion from a group that loves the genre. If nothing else, it’s a compelling tale with wonderful artwork and solid musical design. Just maybe don’t be afraid to play it on the lowest difficulty, because even on Normal, this deckbuilder will kick your butt.
Old Skies isn’t a transformative work for its genre. It does an excellent job of streamlining the genre and keeping the parts that matter while making it easy to enjoy for modern players, but ultimately, what makes it work so well is its fascinating story and intriguing characters. With the notable exception of one chapter, it has a strong sense of momentum that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Fans of the genre absolutely should check out Old Skies.
The more I dug into Amerzone, the less the awkwardness of playing it on a controller bothered me, and the more I was able to focus on the moments of beauty contained within it. That awkwardness never went away, but I find myself torn because while I would have preferred to play this one on PC, I don’t regret playing it, and I think those who don’t have the option to play it with a mouse should still consider this beautiful adventure. Maybe some of those genres that were once considered a mistake on console are worth playing there, but you’re still better off checking them out on a PC if you have the option to do so.
Even with those small missteps, Shotgun Cop Man is an incredibly diverse, creative, and silly adventure that will appeal to any fans of absurd humor or platformers. I’m glad to see DeadToast manage to switch things up in this adventure, and hope they’re able to keep things fresh in the future.
After finishing Moroi, I don’t feel particularly motivated to replay it. The multiple endings might provide additional context or resolutions to its mysteries, but the repetitive combat and uneven pacing don’t encourage another full journey. I’ll probably peek at a wiki out of curiosity to see what other outcomes were possible, much as I’d look up interpretations after a particularly baffling David Lynch film. Moroi ultimately feels like a game too caught up in its own surrealism, sacrificing cohesive storytelling and gameplay depth for visual spectacle and provocative imagery. While it left me intrigued, it also left me wishing the journey had offered more than just style and unanswered questions.
I don’t want to be too negative, because South of Midnight plays fine. I never found myself hating its mechanics. It’s easy to keep playing once you get into a groove, and I always found the story and characters worth the time investment to reach them. There are a few excellent moments scattered across its approximately eight hours, particularly its boss fights. It all comes back to your investment, though. If you can play this game on Game Pass, it feels like an easy decision. There’s plenty here for me to recommend you do just that. If you’re dropping money specifically on this experience, though, it feels like you deserve to expect a little bit more. That some part of actually playing this game feels truly interesting instead of just fine. I very rarely got that during my time with South of Midnight. Still, with a solid enough foundation, I’d love to see the team at Compulsion Games try for a sequel that builds on its strengths and does more to provide a great overall experience.
Look Outside is a wonderfully eerie adventure with some of the most unique scenarios and sights I’ve seen in a horror game in years. While it makes a strong first impression, though, as time went on, I sometimes wondered if I’d be better off just looking outside. However, there are still enough strong moments to make it worth checking out for those who love horror games and RPGs.
Honestly, the only complaint I have after playing Nif Nif is that I wish there were more to do in this charming world. Sure, there’s unlockable content and two playable characters, but the genre is all about immersive replay value. I spent more than a couple of hours playing the game and have unlocked a good chunk of it. I suspect you can unlock everything in less than 10 hours, which is great for those on a schedule, but bad if you want to unwind in this family-friendly world.
Once again, I enjoyed my time with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and would recommend fans of Don’t Nod’s other work give it a try when they get a chance, but know that some of the questions you’ll likely have throughout this story won’t be meaningfully paid off. I’m glad to say that at least the character stories are paid off well in an ending which I found moving and satisfying at times, even as I thought about my other questions, which were largely ignored. That’s what this game does best anyway, and that doesn’t change in Tape 2.
Still, I don’t want to focus too much on the negative. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is already a deep and satisfying fighting game with a ton going for it. I never thought I’d see another Fatal Fury game, and while it hasn’t yet surpassed Mark of the Wolves in my heart, I definitely want to keep coming back for more. I just hope those server issues don’t continue to be an issue.
The very idea of bringing together the minds behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape will be enough to get many fans of this genre in the door. They’ll find that The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is an incredibly ambitious title which may not have some of what they expect in the early going, but will ultimately give them everything they’re looking for and more.