Deoster
2023
Probably the best Doom wad I've ever played. Every new area or development was totally unexpected and half of them made me absolutely flip my shit. PLAY IT NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY AND DON'T SPOIL YOURSELF!
What can I say about Disco Elysium that hasn't already been said? I remember being a kid playing the first Knights of the Old Republic Game (playing with cheats because I found the combat tedious) and thinking, "Man, I really love talking to Carth about stuff, I wish there could be a whole game of that." Well lo and behold Disco Elysium is pretty much that game.
Disco Elysium is much, much, more than just a "talking simulator", but even that simple descriptor is enough to make me love it, and your initial reaction to it may determine how much you'll like this game. It's definitely not for everyone. It's not for every mood either, you can't just hop in on a whim and play for a few minutes to unwind, this is a game you have to focus on.
And oh boy is there a lot to focus on. The story, the characters, the art, the world, the plot, the mystery, the cryptids, the communism, and so on, and so on. So much love and passion has been poured into every centimeter of this work of art, and experiencing it is stupefying. It's one of those games that is intensely inspiring, in this case to such an extent that it become intimidating.
It would take a more skilled writer than I to convey the emotional impact this game has on you. Because I am not that skilled of a writer, and because there are many other more skilled individuals who have already written, fan-arted, and video-essayed, at length about it, I will simply close with this:
Please, please, please, give this game a shot. It may very well change your life.
Disco Elysium is much, much, more than just a "talking simulator", but even that simple descriptor is enough to make me love it, and your initial reaction to it may determine how much you'll like this game. It's definitely not for everyone. It's not for every mood either, you can't just hop in on a whim and play for a few minutes to unwind, this is a game you have to focus on.
And oh boy is there a lot to focus on. The story, the characters, the art, the world, the plot, the mystery, the cryptids, the communism, and so on, and so on. So much love and passion has been poured into every centimeter of this work of art, and experiencing it is stupefying. It's one of those games that is intensely inspiring, in this case to such an extent that it become intimidating.
It would take a more skilled writer than I to convey the emotional impact this game has on you. Because I am not that skilled of a writer, and because there are many other more skilled individuals who have already written, fan-arted, and video-essayed, at length about it, I will simply close with this:
Please, please, please, give this game a shot. It may very well change your life.
2022
Champion of Venus is an absurd, ridiculous, over-the-top porn game, and honestly, it's not that bad. The story and characters are pretty basic, but it's good fun that revels in it's own absurdity. I also loved the rats.
The art ranges in quality, from pretty good to somewhat lacking, and the actual fetishes here get a bit goofy, to the point that unless you're specifically into it (which for most of these I'm not) it can get kind of gross (the impaling stuff specifically is... yeah). But if you're interested in the genre and willing to look past those elements (or have already embraced them, in which case good for you) for some charming and at times decently funny dumb action (in both senses of the word) then give it a go.
The art ranges in quality, from pretty good to somewhat lacking, and the actual fetishes here get a bit goofy, to the point that unless you're specifically into it (which for most of these I'm not) it can get kind of gross (the impaling stuff specifically is... yeah). But if you're interested in the genre and willing to look past those elements (or have already embraced them, in which case good for you) for some charming and at times decently funny dumb action (in both senses of the word) then give it a go.
To preface, I won't say that I am above this type of game, but in this specific instance a friend gifted me this as a joke. The art is decent but nothing past that, and the gameplay is incredibly tedious. Maybe I just don't like "matching" games but I found it incredibly annoying to the point I will never consider picking this up again.
2016
The only reason this isn't a 10 is because MU isn't out yet. LISA: The Pointless is life-changing and magnificent. That's all that can be said (not really, but I'm too lazy to do a proper review right now).
1996
MegaRace 2 is a fun little game I found out about from my dad. It's pretty basic gameplay-wise, but from the music to the sound design to the levels to especially the FMV cutscenes, it's got a lot of personality!
I played the absolute shit out of this as a kid, but I can't remember that much about it now. From what I can remember I had a pretty great time so it deserves three stars.
2013
It's almost impossible to separate developer Zoë Quinn from the legacy of Gamergate, but if I am being completely honest I know very little about the specific details of Gamergate and am more aware of it as an abstract cultural event rather than something concrete. For this reason I'm not really going to comment on any of the cultural stuff surrounding the game, and just focus on it as an experience I had about 10 years too late.
It's pretty good! The game is pretty much akin to a visual novel with very few visuals, so basically its entire value hinges on its writing, which is "pretty good!"
It's nothing mind-blowing or life-changing, but the experiences written about and the way they're described effectively gets across the tone that the game tries to convey. I can't speak with authority on the actual issue of depression, but I found some parts of this game pretty touching and relatable. Play it if you want :)
It's pretty good! The game is pretty much akin to a visual novel with very few visuals, so basically its entire value hinges on its writing, which is "pretty good!"
It's nothing mind-blowing or life-changing, but the experiences written about and the way they're described effectively gets across the tone that the game tries to convey. I can't speak with authority on the actual issue of depression, but I found some parts of this game pretty touching and relatable. Play it if you want :)
2017
A Normal Lost Phone is a very nice, pleasant little experience that does a good job telling its story using its basic yet very natural-feeling interface. It's a pretty simple story — it's quite predictable at times and certainly isn't groundbreaking — but it gets across what it wants to decently enough to be a positive and unique experience.