LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
All that being said, Merrily Perilly is probably the most fun I’ve had playing (and watching a game being played) in a long time. It’s silly, funny, colorful, and a real puzzle game. With the exception of the one dialogue option, the whole game is an absolute joy to play.
If you like your simple arcade-style games and fancy one that’s not going to break the bank, then Arkan: The Dog Adventurer is a nice distraction for a few gaming sessions. You know the drill with a coffee game. Grab a nice drink, relax and attempt to save the realm by flinging balls at enemies. Not a bad way to spend a night in.
32 Secs is one of the better mobile to Nintendo Switch ports but some elements feel like they could use more polish. Controls feel a little stiff and the upgrade system just doesn’t feel as effective as it should. Still, it is probably one of the best motorbike style games I have played on the Nintendo Switch that doesn’t include the usual chap with a moustache.
Cube Blast Match is a nice take on the 3-match genre. While Match-3 games are not my favourite style of games I do like the ones that try to do something different from the norm. Cube Blast Match is one such game. While it won’t blow your socks off for having overly inventive gameplay, it is a fun little game to pick up and play.
This game isn’t for everyone. I can see several of my friends really loving this title with its deep connections and choices that deeply matter to how the rest of the game plays out. There are a lot of unique and interesting ideas here, and the game is beautifully put together. While this game might not be for me, it is an amazing visual novel for those who really dig that sort of thing. It’s hard to state just how polished and pleasant the presentation of this unique title is. For what it is, Best Day Ever couldn’t be a better put together game. So if you can’t get enough of relationship simulations, visual novels, and games where choice matters, this game is certainly for you.
Lost Ember has lovely visuals, simple gameplay mechanics and a heartfelt story. The calm and peaceful vibe of the gameplay is perfect for players looking for a laid-back game to play. It is not overly long, coming in at around five hours. If you like games with a strong narrative, animals and a little exploring the environment then Lost Ember might certainly be worth a look.
Ender Lilies Quietus of the Knights is one of those games where, usually, this level of high difficulty would put me off and I would just walk away due to frustration. But I didn’t, some bosses took me multiple attempts to complete and yes I had to take breaks, but I kept getting drawn back to fight the darkness. Maybe it was the delightful piano score, the light vs dark story arc or the smooth control system but I just couldn’t help being drawn back in. I’ll admit I was not very good at the game but this is a rare occasion where despite my hardships I have nothing but praise for this title. Not for everyone, but as the game seems to hint at in the darkest of depths there is always light. At least that’s what I took from it.
Dabado Puzzles is a challenging, beautiful puzzle game filled with difficult levels and amazing artwork. The surreal paintings coupled with the music, the organic puzzle pieces, and the massive amount of love and effort obviously put into it make it a wonderful thing to behold. The difficulty level is not for everyone, however, and many would be deterred by not only the RNG and lack of proper tutorial, but also having to play the same levels over and over again. That being said, it’s a must-have for those who love to conquer a big puzzle challenge and come out on top after many, many failures.
Crazy Jump, just like its name, is a very basic platformer. While I had some fun with it I didn’t feel at all compelled to get all 3 stars on every level. PC is a good place for new developers to start to hone their craft but it’s unlikely Crazy Jump is going to turn heads. The graphics are too plain and the gameplay lacks anything unique. If Crazy Jump was the only platformer you ever played in the 1980s you might think it’s pretty awesome but today it’s just another platformer in a sea of so many others. I guess it is pretty cheap though.
Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag is one of the best games I have played this year. On the surface, it gives the impression of a typical action platformer. But with its unique Celtic design, tight controls, memorable soundtrack and awesome characters this is a game that just gets everything right. Clan O’Conall was a wonderful experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to buy a book on Celtic folklore and listen to absurd amounts of Celtic violin music. For now, the game is only available on PC but let’s hope it finds its way to other systems very soon.
Minute of Islands is a decent adventure game. Visually it is good to look at, minus the gorier scenes, which I could have done without. The gameplay, while good, gets a little repetitive going in a loop off: travel to an island, activate the purifier, find the giant, activate the giant. If you’re a fan of the aesthetics and enjoy relaxed gameplay then Minute of Islands could be just what you are looking for.
Subnautica is a challenging and gorgeous game. I love finding new creatures, and they even change with the in-game “seasons”. Frankly, I can’t see how this game could possibly get boring since I am enjoying myself so much, and because I have a lot of story and environment left to discover, I have decided to do a short series of articles as I continue playing through this title. Look for upcoming “Summer in Subnautica” articles if you want to follow my underwater journey!
In general, I quite liked Skellboy Refractured. It has its fair share of niggles from flimsy combat and difficulty finding the next quest. But with each fault, I often found a fair few things to laugh at. If a game can make you smile despite its faults I see that as a success. A funny adventure worth trying alone or with a friend or loved one.
Beasts of Maravilla Island is an entertaining romp through a magical island. Taking photos of the wildlife is fun. It is a game that any age group from the youngest to the oldest would enjoy playing, though for now I would advise playing the game on PC. At least until the kinks are ironed out of the Nintendo Switch version of Maravilla Island. This is also reflected in my score which would have been I Like It A Lot, had the game performed better on my Switch.
Scampr to me feels like someone’s portfolio project to help them get a job in the game industry. If that is the case they certainly deserve that job. Scampr has a lot of good ideas in it. But it doesn’t fully form into a complete experience. More just feeling like a proof of concept for possibly something better later. But with rough performance issues and generally little content, this won’t be for everyone. For its ridiculously cheap price, it’s certainly tempting to have a go but there’s not a lot of game here, just a very peculiar squirrel walking simulator.
It took me at least the first ten levels of Piczle Cells to get my head around how the game works. Then along came the levels with walls and obstacles and I was lost again. Having the ability to rewind your moves cuts down the frustration that a wrong move may cause. It also stopped me from doing damage to my Switch. Piczle Cells offers puzzlers an enjoyable and challenging goopy experience.
Among roguelike deck builders, Griftlands is an ambitious one. But it actually pulls off those ambitions. The gameplay is unique, combining a two-deck system with a relationship system. Visuals, sound, and controls get one thumbs-up, while the writing gets two thumbs. Even run-of-the-mill conversations have a spark of wit, or at least a dash of snark. More importantly, it’s fun to play (though there’s lots of terminology to digest at first) and enough reason to replay on a higher difficulty if you love a good challenge. At $19.99, this is seriously a steal.
Mythic Ocean has some interesting things to say about the societies we can build and the ways in which we interact with each other. Unfortunately, I found the journey to those conversations to be unnecessarily drawn out at times by touchy controls and characters I couldn’t find easily. I also found myself a bit bored by some of the random sea creature interactions, even though most of them are clever and quirky. Despite the issues I had with some of the controls and settings, and the excessive wandering I had to do on occasion, Mythic Ocean has a lot going for it storywise and I really got into helping the gods through their dilemmas and influencing the creation of a new world. My first world didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, so this game has me hooked for at least one more playthrough, but there will probably be more. A demo is currently available in the Nintendo eShop, so try it out for yourself!
Bear’s Restaurant is a game about loss, regrets, redemption and death. But it’s also about the power of love that will conquer it all. This is no relaxing and laid back story, but one that will make you sad. It will stay with you for a long time, particularly because of the beautiful ending. If you like story-driven games and aren’t afraid to explore deeper feelings, then give Bear’s Restaurant a try. It’s available on mobile where you can try the first part for free, unlocking the rest and the sequel story, The Nihility, being a paywall. The Nintendo Switch version has everything included! It feels strange to measure how much you like such a sad story, but the way the developer manages to bring such a deep story in a relatively simple way is pretty amazing.
Out of Line is a beautiful hand-drawn adventure. The game may be short but I see this being very appealing to busy gamers who don’t have a lot of time on their hands and want to see a game to its conclusion. The formula here may be familiar but with a unique art style, enjoyable puzzles and well-crafted gameplay Out of Line is an experience well worth your time.