Six One Indie's Reviews
With their vibrant and approachable take on the genre, Aggro Crab has crafted an incredible soulslike that satisfies both genre veterans and welcomes newcomers with open claws.
Sucker for Love: Date to Die For isn’t exactly what the average player will expect when picking it up. It’s genuinely creepy at times which is great for horror fans, but doesn’t actually feature that much dating (or any dating to be honest) for something that claims to be a dating sim. Still, it’s fun, absolutely reminiscent of 90’s anime, and definitely has replay value for those who like collecting all the endings in visual novels. Now go kiss that goat mommy!
Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom excels at being a retro-inspired throwback while also being it’s absolute own, original creation. While it shares a lot in common with well loved games, both its gameplay and style are inherently its own. The varied worlds and characters coupled with the surprising mystery box of a score created an unbelievable fever dream of a game while still feeling like something that could have been made decades ago. While the brutal difficulty may deter many players, what Panik Arcade has achieved with Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom is no small feat.
Pacific Drive is definitely not for the casual player. Gameplay can be very unforgiving but the more you uncover, the easier it becomes. For the player that sticks with it, it will soon become impossible to put down. From the extensive amount of vehicle customization options to the massive and unique open world, Pacific Drive is an experience players won't want to miss out on.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a great sequel that fans of the first will be super excited about. Its characters are hilarious and charming, making for a great time from start to finish. While the simplistic gameplay can get pretty repetitive at times, it’s a fantastic roguelite that doesn’t overstay its welcome and is brilliantly ridiculous.
Asya’s story is inspired by the diaries of real children affected by the war and that is why we, as people whose parents, grandparents and great grandparents have lived through it too, should continue to tell stories like this. No matter how painful they may be and no matter how long ago it was. And putting those stories into a format like Torn Away, one that forces the player to experience each and every excruciating or playful moment, is truly amazing. It gives us a close up look and reminds us of just how lucky we are to be here today. Play it - you won’t regret it.
Goodbye Volcano High is a fantastic narrative that provides themes and stories that are relatable to players of all ages and experiences. The team at KO_OP balances the wonderful teenage angst with meaningful storytelling, fantastic music, and animation that few can match. Goodbye Volcano High forced me to look within and see how I approached scenarios as a know-it-all 18 year old versus how I would respond some 10+ years later. This six hour adventure is required playing for those that appreciate a powerful coming of age story that is presented in a new and unique way.
Thronefall is an engaging tower defense game that rewards maximizing your strategy through precision and base-building mechanics.
Frank and Drake's artistic prowess shines to the extent that I was left wanting more. Its puzzles are very organic, for better or worse, yet it's the game's intertwined narrative that carries the experience.
Fall of Porcupine tells an authentic and honest narrative. It’s an experience that will simultaneously keep you laughing while ensuring the tissues are for a somber moment.
Smushi Come Home is an adorable, comical, and emotionally gripping game that is the perfect icing on the mushroom cake.
Return is a tight, engaging, and stunningly beautiful 2D Souls-like that will capture your attention immediately.
Wishfully Studio's debut title, Planet of Lana, shows immense promise with its hand-painted art style that pops off the screen at any given moment, musical tracks that imbue the somber yet adventurous nature akin to both Star Wars and Marvel, and puzzles that feel well catered and simple for players of all kinds. While Planet of Lana's art and ambiance are arguably unmatched, its solid suspenseful enemy encounters and clever puzzles lack a certain special factor that would make this journey reach the heights it potentially could have. Nonetheless, Planet of Lana is an adventure worth your time, filled with elements reminiscent of folks like Playdead, Ghibli, and Team Ico elements.
Tchia is a beautiful game that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The beautiful score, art style, and characters were distinct and memorable throughout my time with the game. Though there are numerous repetition actions throughout the game, the other mechanics pushed me forward to see the conclusion of Tchia’s story. If you’re given the chance, go enjoy everything Tchia has to offer.
As a whole, Brok the InvestiGator is a must-play title for those who find themselves drawn toward compelling characters, points, clicks, or clever criminal investigations. While COWCAT succeeds in making the first Punch & Click, it’s clear that the game’s point-and-click nature and Investigations took priority over the game’s brawling combat, and nonsensical segments bring it down just a bit. Yet, Brok the InvestiGator’s one-two punch of a colorful aesthetic mixed with bleak themes outshines the bad, with the true champion coming in the form of Brok and Graff’s relationship at the end of the day.
Dead Cells is already a masterful game with precision gameplay, visuals, and music, but Return to Castlevania not only highlights these fantastic features but elevates everything with the addition of the Castlevania franchise. The 6-8 hour quest is an absolute delight from start to finish, and just like the original Dead Cells, the loop is drawing me back in for one more vampiric-infested run…
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree has a lot of positive aspects. The game's hand-drawn art style jumps off the screen. Its cinematic cutscenes are only improved with compelling characters and enthralling musical tracks. The gameplay offers several options for players of many genres with varying levels of success and fun but lacks a balance between them. I wanted more combat sections, better-utilized systems, and reworked puzzles. So, as a whole, I was left wanting more, but that extends beyond just this title. I want more of what Wildboy Studios has to offer. Count me in if future projects include this level of writing and attempts at fun concepts. ATONE may not have stuck the landing, but it landed nonetheless.
Leaving your hometown can be a difficult and scary decision. Fear of the unknown terrain, people, and challenges can force a hefty emotional toll. Layer this with premonitions of the end of the world as you know it, and it almost sounds too insurmountable. SEASON: A letter to the future, beautifully encapsulates this sense of doom while also pushing the player to see the beauty when closing a chapter in someone’s story.
Usually, the New Year starts off with a quiet introduction to new games. Gamers typically enjoy their holiday gifts from the previous year and cozy up to some new hardware all while sipping some delicious hot chocolate. 2023 is a bit different though. Super Rare Originals and Cuddle Monster Games are hitting the ground running with their captivating, thrilling, and fun roguelike title, Lone Ruin.
In the same way that films like Nope and La La Land are about films, We Are OFK feels like it’s about creating music, or perhaps more broadly but also more accurately: how painful and hard it is to create art with people you love, including yourself. And I played and replayed We Are OFK about a dozen times from its release to this chilly day. It wasn’t intentional for me to have such a long time with the game but it was ultimately for the better, I think. Life kept interrupting not only my review but my memories of We Are OFK.