Despite an engrossing visual style and an immediately intriguing hook, Signalis doesn't measure up to its opening moments. Playing too close to the survival horror greats that inspired it, the warts of bizarre key collecting and micro managing inventory are preserved here despite the genre largely moving on.

The final act is a slog, and in the end you're rewarded with an ending based upon gameplay factors you weren't even aware of without checking a wiki. I'm sure others will enjoy this endearing throwback to older horror titles, but the execution felt a bit too copy/paste for my liking.

A solid fusion of the chore simulation genre and jump scare horror. While the actual mortuary work itself is unchanging, the constant threat of other concerns keeps that part of the game loop feeling fresh. Eventually though, as with most chore sims, the work becomes stale. I guess there is nothing quite like your first cadaver.

While I was, quite honestly, shocked at how much story was tucked away into the corners of this game, the main thrust of a shift at River Fields is identical from night to night. I would have loved to see some alteration to the formula on subsequent shifts, but other than digging into story bits or experiencing new hauntings, Rebecca's new nightlife is static.

In updates, the developer has talked openly about their wish to update, expand, and grow the game. I enjoyed my brief time in The Mortuary Assistant, and will return when there is more to uncover.

An interesting adventure game, driven mainly by dialogue, and with just enough of an RPG infusion to give the illusion of character customization.

The use of historical figures creates some easy buy in, limiting the sense of being out of your depth as you are forced into a tight political battleground. Trading barbs with Napoleon and George Washington adds some weight to nearly all of the critical scenes in the game.

I'd have been happier with the game if I hadn't felt compelled to comb every inch of every chapter out of fear that I'd miss some crucial detail. The end result is, more often than not, running all over the map through empty hallways with nothing to show for your exploration.

Overall a solid little story, with an pretty good array of puzzles and some snappy writing, held back by uneven pacing.

I think that Devotion is a brilliant game. A horror title that is scary without feeling like a cheap carnival ride, thought provoking without sounding like a lecture, and upsetting without being regrettable. While I feel that games like this don't land as well if you aren't behind the controls, the basic effect would still be pretty powerful if you simply watch a playthrough. It is frustrating that an experience of this quality is so unknown among horror fans, and my hope is that my playthrough and this blog entry will convince at least one other person to seek it out.

Full essay here: https://www.guilded.gg/backlog/blog/Chris-Vs-Blog/Fatherly-Phantasmagoria

Play it. Play it in whatever way lines up with your gameplay style. Aggressive action combat game, ruthless shrouded killer, or unseen ghost that kills only VIP targets, all avenues are available to those that bear the Mark. I think that Dishonored is, somehow, still undervalued despite its reputation as a standout game. Few games will give you such a delightful mix of world building and innovative game mechanics, which even after follow-ups and copycats manages to feel original and hyper polished. I don’t know that I have ever wanted to be better at a game than I do with Dishonored and, if we’re being real, that’s probably endorsement enough.

“Man that bumbles his way through every game craves mastery of ten year old game.” - I may as well have just written that sentence and not bothered with the rest of the write up.

Full essay here: https://www.guilded.gg/backlog/blog/Chris-Vs-Blog/Im-a-Disgrace-to-Dishonored