Chobby
2005
The occasional dry or frustrating level can't really hold back the appeal of this glorious game, which is probably my favourite in the katamari series. One of the most unusual and distinctive soundtracks of all time, against the chaotic and whimsical katamari game. Goes bigger than its predecessor, woth some great set pieces and expansive levels to play in.
Contains lots of additional collectibles and goals for completionists too.
Contains lots of additional collectibles and goals for completionists too.
2002
Time has been fairly kind to generation 3. While at the time it felt like more of the same, just bigger and prettier - it now feels like a pleasantly polished Pokémon adventure with its gameplay still very rooted in the series origins.
Lots of distractions in farming ash for flutes, Pokémon beauty contests, pokeblocks, secret hideouts. Not all to my tastes, but they make the world feel distinct and more alive.
My taste here might be clouded by a sweet-spot in my nostalgia, but if anything I've grown fonder of this generation as years go by.
Lots of distractions in farming ash for flutes, Pokémon beauty contests, pokeblocks, secret hideouts. Not all to my tastes, but they make the world feel distinct and more alive.
My taste here might be clouded by a sweet-spot in my nostalgia, but if anything I've grown fonder of this generation as years go by.
2019
I wish I loved this game. It's unique, charming and funny. Unfortunately, it's also very slow and becomes boring to play quite quickly. The puzzles are simplistic, though sometimes fun to resolve.
2015
Mini metro is a simple and utterly enthralling game. An excellent soundtrack that's highly responsive to the in game events underpins an addictive puzzle/management game of trying to maximise the number of passengers a line carries without ever overburdening a single stop.
The game feels especially cohesive with this visual/gameplay tie.
The game feels especially cohesive with this visual/gameplay tie.
2003
Gregory Horror Show is a survival horror with an exceptionally unique aesthetic. Based on a bunch of Japanese shorts, I believe this is the best part of the whole Gregory Horror franchise.
Your time in Gregory house is spent observing the residents, chronicling their schedules and looking to exploit moments of weakness in order to steal their (presumably additional) souls.
The residents are charismatic and beautiful and the blocky style translates perfectly to the ps2.
The only lesser part of this game is an unfortunate board game style minigame, where you can fall victim to unforgiving randomness. Other frustration can come from not knowing what to do. On the whole, however, the game is successful in pointing you in the right direction and minimising this.
A real gem in my opinion and one I've revisited many times over the years.
Your time in Gregory house is spent observing the residents, chronicling their schedules and looking to exploit moments of weakness in order to steal their (presumably additional) souls.
The residents are charismatic and beautiful and the blocky style translates perfectly to the ps2.
The only lesser part of this game is an unfortunate board game style minigame, where you can fall victim to unforgiving randomness. Other frustration can come from not knowing what to do. On the whole, however, the game is successful in pointing you in the right direction and minimising this.
A real gem in my opinion and one I've revisited many times over the years.
1994
A perfectly acceptable game for single player, but an absolute gem for multiplayer. The Vs mode is absolutely compelling - the Dr mario music is also just absolutely nuts: the glitchy repetition of the dog barking for the Dr mario soundtrack is something else.
2017
A perfectly pleasant game to play through. Very short, occasionally mildly frustrating. Elevated by some cute concepts and designs and fun boss fights.
2001
Mister mosquito is a complete outsider when it comes to ratings.
It's a little clunky and sometimes the execution is very unfocussed. However it has charm in abundance - the voice acting is utterly unique, and while far from objectively good, has remained in my brain for years since playing it. The presentation of the cutscenes is also unbelievably basic and unusual - adopting this quite static close up of the families faces. The fact this game has a story at all is already somewhat telling - it's a strange hybrid of arcade title feel with a more linear narrative.
The presentation of the game sometimes feels a little bland and flat - but these contradictions lend a very surreal feel to the mosquito title that is somehow wholly appropriate. Moving from a quite basic representation of a mosquito irritating a family into family members busting out anime-style special moves in order to take you down.
Grinding up extra stats is very tedious and unfulfilling. The final levels are too difficult. There's a lot to be said about this games shortcomings.
But on the whole, I'm just so glad it exists that I cant help but have a lot of love for this title. A triumph of forced experimentation and a win for weirdness.
It's a little clunky and sometimes the execution is very unfocussed. However it has charm in abundance - the voice acting is utterly unique, and while far from objectively good, has remained in my brain for years since playing it. The presentation of the cutscenes is also unbelievably basic and unusual - adopting this quite static close up of the families faces. The fact this game has a story at all is already somewhat telling - it's a strange hybrid of arcade title feel with a more linear narrative.
The presentation of the game sometimes feels a little bland and flat - but these contradictions lend a very surreal feel to the mosquito title that is somehow wholly appropriate. Moving from a quite basic representation of a mosquito irritating a family into family members busting out anime-style special moves in order to take you down.
Grinding up extra stats is very tedious and unfulfilling. The final levels are too difficult. There's a lot to be said about this games shortcomings.
But on the whole, I'm just so glad it exists that I cant help but have a lot of love for this title. A triumph of forced experimentation and a win for weirdness.
What would otherwise be a fairly run of the mill port is elevated by an absolutely glorious multiplayer experience. The chaotic energy is almost unlike anything else I can think of.
Sly raccoon is an utter joy to play.
I remember booting it up and becoming absolutely enthralled - powering through the majority of the game in a single sitting and nearly losing a whole day to it.
Charming graphics, some good humour and a satisfying challenge curve. The series would later become less of a spiritual successor to the crash bandicoot games and open up into a more 3d action/adventure platform feel (fortunately something that it also did excellently). If you happened to love level based platforming and have somehow missed this one, though, it's a fantastic mix of nostalgia and growth of the formula.
I remember booting it up and becoming absolutely enthralled - powering through the majority of the game in a single sitting and nearly losing a whole day to it.
Charming graphics, some good humour and a satisfying challenge curve. The series would later become less of a spiritual successor to the crash bandicoot games and open up into a more 3d action/adventure platform feel (fortunately something that it also did excellently). If you happened to love level based platforming and have somehow missed this one, though, it's a fantastic mix of nostalgia and growth of the formula.
Grundy enemies and occasionally uninteresting platforming aren't enough to prevent the gorgeous and fascinating world of American McGee's Alice from shining.
A joy to marvel at - in some ways maybe still unsurpassed to this day.
A joy to marvel at - in some ways maybe still unsurpassed to this day.
A somewhat essential DLC unfortunately makes the player repeat moments of the ending of the main game, making it intermittently feel compelling and climactic and also like a bit of a slog to get through.
The additional fights following the main ending are exceptionally difficult and, while I love that the game allows you to challenge yourself this much, were simply too much for me to complete.
Not sure if remind also added in the customisability into the main game - but I always thought it did and this is a great addition (bye bye attraction gimmick!)
The additional fights following the main ending are exceptionally difficult and, while I love that the game allows you to challenge yourself this much, were simply too much for me to complete.
Not sure if remind also added in the customisability into the main game - but I always thought it did and this is a great addition (bye bye attraction gimmick!)
2017
Great looking game with fantastic writing and characters.
Unfortunately the overall direction of the plot (and particularly the ending) felt hugely anti-climactic to me - but it still doesn't detract from the joy that is the rest of the game.
Unfortunately the overall direction of the plot (and particularly the ending) felt hugely anti-climactic to me - but it still doesn't detract from the joy that is the rest of the game.
2016
When it works, the witness is gloriously rewarding. When it doesn't: it's bloated, frustrating and dull.
I can see why this is divisive - but it's hard not to admire the design that's gone into this.
I can see why this is divisive - but it's hard not to admire the design that's gone into this.
Bendy is more appealing than it is fun. Some solid character design and aesthetic carries a bland game. The episodic structure - when presented as a whole game - has pacing issues and feels formulaic. It also suffers from a particularly dry chapter 3.
That said, I did enjoy and connect with this game quite a bit. It's short length is on its side.
That said, I did enjoy and connect with this game quite a bit. It's short length is on its side.