Qualbert.com's Reviews
Living the Dream is a conflicting offering from Nintendo that teeters between downright charming and utterly repetitive. Most players will likely find themselves amused at its absurd dialogue and distinctly Japanese humour, which is easily one of the series’ greatest strengths. But once you begin to hear the same lines repeated over and over, their novelty wears off quickly. For a life simulation game to have so little variety in its content means you’re unlikely to return to your island after the first couple of weeks. So enjoy its ridiculous fun for a short time, not a long time.
REPLACED may not break the mould of what it standard within the cyberpunk sub-genre of sci-fi games but it does offer an entertaining story from start to finish with fun combat, stunning visual design and music. Was it the seven year long wait? Maybe not but it’s still a superb debut from Sad Cat Studios and I wish them the best in their next project. Definitely worth scanning through this one as it’s a keeper that shouldn’t be at all…replaced.
Updating to or buying Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park is not a particularly hard sell. Anyone who loves a bit of a Mario adventure or wants to revisit Mario Wonder will have a blast and enjoy the new content and visual updates. Having all the new content from Rosalina to the multiplayer addons is really neat and helps breathe new life into Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Ride 6 is a solid motorbike game that replicates the sensation of piloting a two-wheeled rocket at 150 miles per hour with a solid simulation model that constantly pushed me to improve my lines. But the shader compilation stutters, and high system requirements do put a damper on the experience for PC owners. Not to mention, a lot of new content is being shelled off as DLC, which is a kind of disingenuous.
Despite its simple premise and straight forward level design, Pragmata contains a lot more depth than at first glance. The journey of Hugh and Diana isn’t an overly long one but it’s jam packed with quality from all the best types of games. If you’re looking for your next solo experience to sink your teeth into, then this is one you’ll be over the moon that you found.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is an excruciating disappointment that won’t satisfy fans or appeal to newcomers. There could be a good game within the prequel setting but what we got isn’t even close to that. Even if you could excuse the confusing story with it’s baffling choice to retcon certain plot points, it still doesn’t make up for the terrible gameplay, horrendous level design and bizarre presentation choices.
MOUSE P.I. For Hire is a rare case of a game with insanely-lofty ambitions that manages to live up to the hype. For Fumi Games to knock it out of the park from their inaugural title is miraculous. But I couldn’t get enough of my time in Mouseburg, giving the villains what-for and deducing a crime the old-fashioned way. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Jack Pepper.
ShantyTown is a compelling small scale building experience that captures the charm of diorama creation without the real world constraints. It’s perfect for a cosy afternoon to mill away a couple of hours away but it isn’t exactly ground breaking. Which in the noise of everyday life, might be exactly what you are looking for.
Gecko Gods is a pleasant experience from start to finish that offers a chill yet adventurous vibe that will appeal to many, especially for it’s beautiful presentation. While the short playtime, the lack of substance in the puzzles and technical issues may hold it back, it’s a small adventure worth discovering and showcases the variety that Super Rare Games is willing to support within the indie space.
Another interpretation of the roguelike genre is always a pleasant thing, and Minos is definitely a refreshing take. Despite the lack of hand-holding weighing it down at times, Minos still has a solid core gameplay loop that really, really sinks its claws (or horns) into you. Whether you have a clever mind for strategy, an overwhelming dislike for ancient Greek warriors, or just want another taste of that ever-popular roguelike genre, consider descending into the maze that is Minos.
I can’t stress how much this game creeped me out in the first half. If my catchphrase for Cronos was “thanks! I hate it.” My catchphrase for The Occultist was “NOPE! Nuh uh, piss off”. While this is a fantastic start for a burgeoning company, I think it could have been damn near perfect if they could have just stuck the landing.
Samson is in a weird place as far as recommendations go. Is it a buggy, unfocused, tedious mess? Yes. But is it fun? Also yes. If you get a lot of satisfaction out of completing side content, Samson could very well be a good time, should you accept that it’s packed into a glitchy, “every day is the same” experience. Perhaps with some bug fixes and the right price, this is one worth pulling the trigger on.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly: Remake is a great game. It remakes the original in a charming and well considered way, though is not without its own technical flaws. Where the graphics and gameplay are improved the stealth and performance take away resulting in a not quite satisfying level of polish. The choice to rename the series in non-US regions is also a bit of a mis-step for a lot of players who will miss the “Project Zero” name going forwards, but given the end product? We’ll adjust!
That’s another review in the bag, folks. As much as I found the game enjoyable and was even playable for someone who mostly button-mashes, I just found the game to be a pretty standard arena fighter. It doesn’t break the mould but slots in nicely. I can see fans of the anime picking it up for a quick bit of fun, but I can’t see it having much staying power when going up against others in the genre.
Marathon stands as one of the most refined extraction shooters available, but its unforgiving structure and seasonal resets mean it won’t appeal to everyone. For those willing to embrace its high-stakes tension, however, it’s an experience that’s hard to put down.
Screamer mostly succeeds in its mission, combining two very different gameplay styles despite some hiccups along the way. Your mileage may vary, but it’s clear a lot of love and passion went into this game, and I like to see such experimentation rewarded. There is a solid foundation here, and seeing how the plot leaves the door open for a sequel, I would more than welcome a new entry with an additional layer of polish and the kinks ironed out.
Life is Strange: Reunion had me sobbing, laughing, and yelling, on more than one occasion. Having experienced every bit of this franchise, from Don’t Nod to Deck Nine, across eleven years, elevated the catharsis this game brought about. It becomes hard to recommend this instance to newcomers, but it’s a wonderful icing-on-the-cake ending to anyone wondering if the franchise lands on its feet. A decade-plus of wanderlust, angst, and artistry ends in such a satisfying fashion.
If you’ve played any Pokémon game and you enjoy Animal Crossing, you will love Pokopia. Most people will enjoy Pokopia, because as I said, it’s not a bad game. It’s a good game with a few issues preventing it from becoming a great game. Regardless, you’ll have a fun time! It absolutely weaponises people’s nostalgia against them, as I got upset over a boat, and I never played the original two, just the remakes.
In my opinion, this game functions best as an art form. One might argue that all video games are a form of art but some people don’t want art. They want a shoot ’em up, horror fest and that’s okay. Project Songbird will either inspire a strong sense of connection, feel deeply triggering, or come across as boring and disjointed for those who do not form an emotional attachment to its themes, concepts, or the artists behind them.
As much as I liked the game and what it does differently to others like Left 4 Dead, namely the open levels and powers, I still feel like it’s a game that just won’t have the staying power of the classics. It’s slow and clunky at times and it doesn’t have a massive amount of replayability. I hope people will have more fun playing with friends, but for now, I think there are better options to play.