Apples
5 reviews liked by Apples
Ico
2001
Kind of a perfect game to come back to after a long kind of absence from the medium. It was so easy to find myself getting lost in the atmosphere of Ico. Even when I would personally get frustrated while playing I was to compose myself right away because everything else just felt so serene. Some of my favorite moments in the game were just jumping around and climbing the castle. With detailed sound design and beautiful visual direction to pair alongside each other.
However what I think what ultimately makes Ico so incredible is its narrative. Its interesting to play this after playing Shadow of the Colossus a while ago because I feel as though their stories are sort of different takes on a central theme. That being the "boy tries to save girl" found in a lot of video games and just stories in general. In Shadow of the Colossus Mono is already under her deep sleep and needs Wander to revive her. Resulting in a journey that he embarks on alone to save her. Whereas here in Ico Yorda is apart of our journey every step of the way. We have to fend off the shadow creatures in order to protect her. Even if these two aren't able to understand each other the simple gesture of holding onto each other is something far more powerful. Ico the boy who was destined to be scarified and Yorda the girl who was destined to be possessed by her evil mother. Coming together like that? How could I not tear up by the end?
However what I think what ultimately makes Ico so incredible is its narrative. Its interesting to play this after playing Shadow of the Colossus a while ago because I feel as though their stories are sort of different takes on a central theme. That being the "boy tries to save girl" found in a lot of video games and just stories in general. In Shadow of the Colossus Mono is already under her deep sleep and needs Wander to revive her. Resulting in a journey that he embarks on alone to save her. Whereas here in Ico Yorda is apart of our journey every step of the way. We have to fend off the shadow creatures in order to protect her. Even if these two aren't able to understand each other the simple gesture of holding onto each other is something far more powerful. Ico the boy who was destined to be scarified and Yorda the girl who was destined to be possessed by her evil mother. Coming together like that? How could I not tear up by the end?
lloyd, elie, tio, randy, kea, noel, wazy, rixia, fran, mireille my beloveds
Cave Story
2004
Still a quintessential indie platformer!
It took me a while to get around to beating this. This playthrough was my third time attempting to clear the game, as both of my previous goes at it got interrupted by PC issues, years ago... and it was so, so worth it to have another try at it.
The platforming feels tight, the level design is great and intuitive, the world is charming, the soundtrack hits hard, and the bosses are super fun; this game's got pretty much everything you could want in a platformer.
The final section needed to achieve a good ending is a huge step up in difficulty from anything else in the game, though. While I was okay with it, I could see it being daunting or frustrating for some. It was a lot of fun to learn and master the game's final level, and that last hit on the final phase of the final boss gauntlet was as satisfying as beating a game can get :)
It took me a while to get around to beating this. This playthrough was my third time attempting to clear the game, as both of my previous goes at it got interrupted by PC issues, years ago... and it was so, so worth it to have another try at it.
The platforming feels tight, the level design is great and intuitive, the world is charming, the soundtrack hits hard, and the bosses are super fun; this game's got pretty much everything you could want in a platformer.
The final section needed to achieve a good ending is a huge step up in difficulty from anything else in the game, though. While I was okay with it, I could see it being daunting or frustrating for some. It was a lot of fun to learn and master the game's final level, and that last hit on the final phase of the final boss gauntlet was as satisfying as beating a game can get :)
Drakengard
2003
fun game 👍
NieR: Automata
2017
Even when it doesn't all come across tactfully, clearly, or even well. This game holds a lot of feelings and that alone is worth something.
I didn't like this game as much as other drakeniers but that's only because sucks in a more modern way than the others. I don't fault them for it how could I.
I didn't like this game as much as other drakeniers but that's only because sucks in a more modern way than the others. I don't fault them for it how could I.
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