LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
I’ve had an entertaining time reviewing Potion Party, the game was interesting enough for my non-gaming partner to be drawn into it to want to try and play it. Though it is a relatively short game, with a group of friends you would have a great time playing it. The controls system is accessible to any age group, making Potion Party available for the younger members of the family to be able to join in.
So I hovered between giving the “Not Sure” and “I Like It” rating. I like MMS2 just enough to want to try other Kairosoft games, to see if they’ve done better with the simulation formula elsewhere. I like it just enough to think, “I bet I could do a better job on a second playthrough!” But no, I don’t like it enough to sit through it again, even if Fast mode eliminated the eternity of screens and waiting and dragging shops around (though the touchscreen function performs wonderfully for this final task). Maybe the thing about Kairosoft games is that you’re expected to play one and move on to the next? In the end, bearing in mind MMS2’s roots as a mobile game for casual gamers, I guess it’s okay. Just okay.
My Universe – Cooking Star Restaurant is a decent simulation game for the age range the game is aimed at. I enjoyed my time with the game even if the mini-games ended up being rather repetitive. I think young children would have a lot of fun and get quite a bit of enjoyment with My Universe – Cooking Star Restaurant. It would be a great game to introduce a young child to the simulation genre as there isn’t anything difficult or challenging about the game!
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD may not be the most original boomerang in the 3D platform genre, but this is a very good HD remaster. The performance of the game is solid in handheld and TV modes and I actually found myself quite enjoying what this game had to offer. It’s not without issues and feels very much like the first entry in a game series but if you’re curious and enjoy your collector type 3D platformers Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD is well worth sinking some time into. Insert shrimp on BBQ joke here.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the definitive Overcooked experience. The new campaign, graphical tweaks, online cross-play and accessibility features are most welcome. But they may not be enough to justify a double-dip if you’ve already heavily invested in the previous two games. One suggestion is you could get this and give away your other Overcooked games to a friend or someone that needs cheering up. But it’s up to you. Being that person I was a bit disappointed by this title due to the games performance issues on Switch and the graphical and sound glitches I encountered here and there. This just doesn’t seem to be the celebration of the series it should be. If you have somehow never played the Overcooked series before and have some friends or family to play with this feels like an essential purchase. Let’s hope this is not the last we see of the series.
How to Win will most likely have a divided audience which may be what the developers intended. Some people will play this and enjoy the experimentation attempted here. However, some will probably find this experience uncomfortable and difficult to take in with the subject matters on display. Overall, it wasn’t for me but I respect the developers trying something different. If you Want to Win you don’t need to play this game. If you took the time out of your busy schedule to read this review consider yourself the Ultimate Winner! There is a free demo available on Steam if you want to try it before you buy. The developers are also planning a season 2 where you can give suggestions and decide what happens next.
Pixelot is okay on PC but the portable platform feels much more suited to this title (it’s also cheaper there too). There’s fun to be had if you’re looking for a simple RPG to enjoy in small bursts. To its credit, this will run on practically any PC or laptop, even my rubbish one which I’m honestly surprised still works. There is plenty of room for improvement but Pixelot on PC is a decent first attempt at an RPG from a new developer.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page wouldn’t be a game for all gamers as it doesn’t pose any challenges in terms of gameplay. This is a game you would play to enjoy its story and absorb it. It would also be suitable for a parent to play with their children who are around the same age or slightly younger than Izzy herself. Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a sweet and heartwarming story. As you journey with Izzy and Grace, it is full of rich emotions which will leave you thinking about the game long after you have finished it.
Magic Twins casts its spell of witty charm and addictive fun co-op gameplay creating an explosion of entertainment and fond memories. Highly recommended if you have someone else to play with, not so much if you play alone. Bring on Colormageddon I say.
Unfortunately, the difficulty and not grasping it fully means I probably won’t be touching this game again. However, I’m sure there are people that will get it and will enjoy it, I’m just not one of them.
Lost Lands 2: The Four Horsemen is a typical point and click, hidden object game. Nothing much different in this game to all the other many games of the same genre that are already out there. If point and click, hidden object games are your jam, then you will find what you are looking for in Lost Lands 2: The Four Horsemen.
This is the first Kairosoft simulation game I’ve played, and I had a lot of fun with it. Since I haven’t played any other games in the catalogue I can’t say if this is one of the best out of the many games they have released. However, Wild Park Manager is an enjoyable little simulation game to pass a few hours of playtime with.
For all my critique I actually walked away from Raiders quite happy. While many game developers who focus on multiplayer still go for the boring tried and tested deathmatch or battle royale boredom that floods the market, Raiders of the Lost Island is trying something new. And despite its flaws, it succeeds in being a fun experience. This is easy to recommend if you’re able to share this ideally with up to four other players, it will certainly make for a good game night. It’s sure to make you laugh and giggle for an hour or two and then possibly make you want to do a pirate jig. I know that’s what I am going to go do now!
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town has all the important elements accounted for. There’s farming with a wide range of different crops and seeds, you can take care of animals, there’s mining and fishing, you can craft items in Makers, there’s a huge town with many people to befriend or romance and it wouldn’t be called Pioneers if there wasn’t a lot to explore too. Plus, a nice little feature is added in the form of the Sprite Village and the various special areas you can visit there. Finally there is some online gameplay added into the mix, though I do feel that could have been fleshed out some more. Overall, a very complete package that will sometimes leave you wishing for more hours in the day, in real life and in the game. There’s so much to do, that Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is not only a farming simulation game but also a management game. The only way to let the farm thrive and have time for all the other activities is to plan ahead and make use of your little factory of Makers and recipes for crafting as best you can. As I love a good farming simulation game and am in my element in management games, it’s not difficult for me to give Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town it’s rating. The game has the right rhythm of keeping you interested by adding more new things at the right time too. I know there are more good games in the genre available on Switch, but in my opinion, this one is ace!
A Day Without Me is a weird game where you stumble around clueless with little idea of what’s happening or has happened. The issue I had with the joy-cons continually disconnecting did not help in the least or lead to an enjoyable gaming experience. At the moment with this being one of the problems with the game I can’t recommend it.
Code: Realize is a classic in the visual novel genre, particularly among titles that have been localized to English. If you haven’t played it yet, you probably will at some point. Unlike the original title, where some of the paths were quite aggravating to me (*cough* Saint Germain *cough*) I found this one to be filled with mostly light-hearted fluff that was a delight to play, mixed with some longer more action-oriented tales. There are a few scenarios I wasn’t crazy about, but overall this title is filled with feel-good romantic silliness that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Once you do get into a pattern of making potions and completing the quests Alchemist Simulator is quite fun. I love the premise of Alchemist Simulator, who doesn’t want to be an Alchemist. However, with controls that feel like they have been lifted straight from a PC game. The tutorial doesn’t prepare the player with enough information on the ins and outs of brewing potions, which is a pity as underneath the faults the gameplay could be interesting. At the moment, the way the game is
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust mixes its two art styles in such a way that it culminates in a highly enjoyable gaming experience. Where some developers continue the endless arms race of best graphics possible. Here they return to the olden days and create something quite profound and memorable. Exploring the 3D landscapes was soothing for the soul, knowing when I did get bored of it there was fun Zelda like dungeons to enjoy after. Anodyne 2 reminded me of the old days of gaming in all the right ways.
Into a Dream is a decent effort for a solo developer’s small debut game. It’s a promising start in terms of dialogue writing, visuals, and music. Apart from a game-breaking bug, I would have given it a higher rating if I had experienced more agency as a player, in terms of really making an impact on Luke Williams. I wouldn’t recommend picking it up for the puzzles, only for the themes, though unfortunately, I don’t think the game made an impact on me theme-wise. But I appreciate that it chose to focus on a working father/husband, a demographic we don’t often hear talking about their inner struggles.
A tale of self-discovery, forgiveness, and all the love, life, memories, and regrets that make us human. A philosophical journey that will have players thinking deeply about their own life and place in the world. This game is an amazing experience wrapped up in a charming artistic style. There is also the hint of a lesson in this game as well; the lesson being that humanity needs to do better. The way we treat our fellow living creatures we share this planet with is, quite usually, not all that great. As the intelligent beings we are, we can – and should – strive to do better. Just as Vivi discovers: perhaps we can’t change everyone, but we can try… and we can most certainly change ourselves. That’s all it takes to make the world a more kind and beautiful place. The game is short and sweet, and you’ll easily be able to finish it in one sitting. However, keep a box of tissues handy, as you’re probably going to need a whole box of them by the end of What Comes After.