LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Buried beneath all of the issues I had with Deadliest Catch: The Game is actually something potentially good. It’s probably not helped that this title was released on multiple platforms at launch, and it’s likely this was a tiny development team just doing the best they could. It just doesn’t feel ready for release, at least on Switch. With all of the issues ironed out, I would see this being a pretty good crab fishing game that would likely please its fan base and those just looking for another busybody title to pass the time till you need to go to your real job. But as it stands, it’s not something I can recommend, but I really enjoyed looking up the show online.
Viewfinder is one of the most unique puzzle games out there right now. It feels like a Myst or a The Witness with its deep lore and beautifully-rendered world. It feels hopeful and lovely. It messes with your head like Echochrome. It feels gorgeous and real. The characters are charming, unique, and special. The puzzles are challenging and well done. Each set of levels is distinct; each plays with the favourite kind of puzzles of the scientist that lived in it. The whole thing feels lived in, worked in, and loved. Overall, I cannot be happier with Viewfinder than I am. This game is a complete experience and one that I was very sad to see end. I am absolutely blown away by the game’s physics, how polished it is, and how well everything works together. In all honesty, I don’t think two thumbs up is enough.
Overall, Maze Of Realities: Reflection Of Light is great. There is an okay story, beautiful backgrounds, and passible humanoid animations. The all-important puzzles are well done, fun to complete, and players can choose their difficulty when playing through. There are some incredibly silly things in the story because of the animation style, but nothing outside of what to expect with these types of hidden item puzzle games. If you’re here for anything else but the puzzles, you will be disappointed. That being said, the puzzles more than make up for everything else. As I said at the beginning of the review for Maze Of Realities: Reflection Of Light if you like this sort of game already, you’ll love this one too. It’s a fun puzzle game with a lot of pretty backgrounds. And that’s all I want from one of the hidden item adventures.
Nowadays, we are used to the grand adventures of Ryza and company, and you can’t escape the fact that Atelier Marie is a more basic game. It focuses less on battles and exploration, and there might come a point in those five years of gameplay when you really miss new things to explore or items to make. What makes this game worth playing? Managing time and money, setting your Fairies to work as efficiently as possible and working with friends. It’s the events that add colour to the storyline and will keep you engaged to meet as many of the criteria as you can. Gust did a great job bringing us the Atelier Marie Remake. It gives new life to a 26-year-old title, bringing a new kind of gameplay to the table for gamers used to the later Atelier games.
CucumbeRunner’s biggest strengths are its simplicity, super responsive controls, and speedy game flow. I can safely recommend this to younger folks looking for a casual, tricky platformer, but not too punishing. If you seek something more fleshed out, I would advise looking elsewhere. Overall, decent attempt with enough pull to make me finish the game!
I’m always pleased to see any retro game get a second chance at life on modern systems. Since Gimmick! Special Edition really didn’t get much attention this is a great opportunity to hop on a retro gem. Gimmicks approach to 2D platforming feels fresh and different even all these years later. Its only barrier to entry is its tough difficulty which will not play well with some. Far from a gimmick, this is a gem well worth playing.
I guess if you are looking for the definitive TAD experience, the Switch version of the game is it. While I admire the developers for having another crack at the whip with this one since they clearly love the source material. I also commend them because you don’t see a lot of films converted to games outside the mobile realm. Despite some great attention to the graphics and source material, the game just feels okay. Platforming is awkward, and the stealth is irritating. The puzzle sections are probably the best part, but they feel underused. For the rather high price of entry, this is a hard one to recommend to general gaming audiences. TAD fans… yes, but everyone else watches the films first, and if you like them before, maybe give it a go.
As I’ve already mentioned, Noob – the Factionless took ages to grow on me. Even now, as I write this and think back to the gameplay, while I enjoyed some aspects of the gameplay, other aspects, such as the combat and conversation between the characters, felt like a slog through deep mud. Maybe that’s because I never liked MMOs as a way to play games. Overall the game does a decent job of paying homage to the JRPG classics of old. I would expect that you will like the game if you are a fan of the Noob web series, which I’ve never heard of. I like it, but there are better and more engrossing RPGs on the eShop that outshine this one.
The Past Within was a lovely surprise. I’m not the biggest fan of point-and-click games these days, but by adding a co-op spin and playing with two great fellow gamers, I found myself hooked on the experience. This is exactly what I love about indie developers. While they certainly lack the budget, it’s here where we see innovation in gaming. The Past Within is well worth purchasing, even if you must buy an extra copy for a friend to experience. While the experience is short, it will likely stay in your gaming memories for many years to come
While Reverie: Sweet as Edition doesn’t reinvent the genre formula. The child-like innocence to its design is what sets it apart and makes it something well worth playing through if you’re looking for an adventure that won’t push you too much in terms of challenge. It feels like a title where the developers made the video game equivalent of you pretending to play Zelda as a child if you can get your head around that description. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t seem to get much exposure due to a small marketing budget, so hopefully, this review will at least make more people aware of its presence. If you’re looking for a great Summer holiday game with moderate challenge and a feel-good experience, then be sure to pick this one up on PC or any other available platform.
City Limits has similarities to Islanders, only on a much smaller scale. It’s a game to chill out with. It is not particularly long or complex, so playing it in short bursts with a cup of coffee makes it an ideal time killer.
It is easy to fall in love with the hand-drawn art style of Some Distant Memory, its narrative, and its characters. The story ends on an emotional, hopeful note that opens the door for sequels or DLCs. In my opinion, this is a game worth experiencing and will leave an impression long after completion.
Sergeant Squidley: Space Cop is a game I can recommend to anyone who likes visual novels or detective games. Whilst not a long game, about 3 hours of playtime, many in-game options offer replayability. Not to mention a likeable cast of characters with plenty of charm. Pick up Sergeant Squidley: Space Cop here on Steam.
Overall, I liked Kingdom: Eighties, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Kingdom: Two Crowns. Kingdom Eighties feels like an experimental entry that tries new things and mostly succeeds without diverging too far from the core formula. If you are new to the series, this is a great place to start and then if it sticks definitely pick up Two Crowns. If you’re a series fan and don’t mind the solo experience, this is another addictive entry to keep you busy for a few game nights. Probably the only reason not to jump on is if you are all about the co-op. While I respect its absence, I still wish it was included. Still, if you need a short Summer project, Kingdom: Eighties is not a bad way to deal with those warm evenings.
Hidden Cats in New York is an excellent addition to the Hidden Cats games. It offered me a relaxing and fun distraction from everyday life for a few hours. I can only wait in anticipation for the next game in the series.
Everdream Valley is not flawless. There are some bugs, as is usual in this large game, where every little detail counts. But developer Mooneater is showing their commitment to the project by picking up the reported bugs and remedying them. That’s not to say that the bugs (aside from the ones that belong in the game) are plentiful; the only major one I encountered is that on Switch, you can’t move structures (yet). What I love far outweighs these things; I’m enjoying my time on my farm immensely. Plenty of different crops, fruit, animals and things to explore. The addition of the night visions, when you inhabit an animal’s mind, may seem like a strange thing to add, but it works. It gives Everdream Valley just a little extra!
Crime O’Clock is a well-put-together game that held my attention right until the last clue was found and the case solved. I liked having Eve’s help, and I loved the humour. Additionally, being a detective is incredibly satisfying when you solve a case, and all clues and the ticks fall into place to reveal the culprit. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a detective, and for players who like using their deduction skills, Crime O’Clock has crimes aplenty to solve.
Some people complained about Fall of Porcupine being uneven tonally. I don’t feel like that. The game looks light-hearted, but the topic is a resident caring for patients in a derelict hospital. For what it’s worth, I think that the tonal switches were handled beautifully. There is warmth, fairness, and humanity in the relationship between the characters, and for that alone, I recommend Fall of Porcupine.
I like Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2, but I can’t recommend it yet based on the bugs and glitches. The game has been in Early Access on PC, so I wonder if some problems have just transferred over to the Switch. I do hope all its issues get ironed out because bugs and glitches aside, this is an addictive experience once you get your head around all the mechanics. An experience that will clearly keep you busy for months and possibly longer to enjoy in small or long bursts. It’s clearly a good fit for the Switch, but it’s just not there yet. I’ll look to update this review once the bugs are ironed out. For now, keep it wish-listed.
Little Friends: Puppy Island is a delightfully cute game to play. It wouldn’t be a game I would rush out to buy it as it doesn’t offer any challenge, and I’m so much older than the demographic the game is aimed at. However, I can still see its appeal for players who like looking after virtual puppies, and the game is suitable for all ages.