2013
Amazing game! Based on the Fables comic book series by Bill Willingham. The player plays as Bigby Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf) who is the Sheriff of "Fabletown." A town inhabited by characters and creatures from popular fairy tales. The game is a detective game in nature. You as Bigby Wolf are tasked to solve a murder that's told in a dark and at times brutally violent way. This game is not for kids. Don't let the idea that there are fairy tale characters in this game fool you. The story telling is excellent and is elevated by the excellent voice acting. With The Wolf Among US 2 announced I'd definitely recommend playing this game before its sequel comes out in 2023.
Played on Xbox Series X.
Played on Xbox Series X.
2022
A Memoir Blue
Developed by: Cloisters Interactive ( @cloisters_i )
Published by: Annapurna Interactive ( @A_i )
A Memoir Blue is an interactive “point and click” adventure game. The game centres around a woman Miriam, her childhood and relationship with her mother. The story isn’t complex but it’s done well. It’s an emotional story that examines that trauma that can be done to a child when their parent isn’t necessarily “there” for them in moments where they expect them to be there. It’s a game that examines the way we perceive events of our past as kids in the moment and reconcile those moments with information we learn as we grow up and become adults ourself. This game won’t be for everyone but it was a worthwhile experience for me. The gameplay consists of the player clicking around the screen and interacting with objects in order to progress to the next scene. Playtime for completionist will be roughly an hour. I’d recommend picking this game up on a sale to fans of the “point and click” genre.
Played on: Xbox Series X
Review score: 3/5
Developed by: Cloisters Interactive ( @cloisters_i )
Published by: Annapurna Interactive ( @A_i )
A Memoir Blue is an interactive “point and click” adventure game. The game centres around a woman Miriam, her childhood and relationship with her mother. The story isn’t complex but it’s done well. It’s an emotional story that examines that trauma that can be done to a child when their parent isn’t necessarily “there” for them in moments where they expect them to be there. It’s a game that examines the way we perceive events of our past as kids in the moment and reconcile those moments with information we learn as we grow up and become adults ourself. This game won’t be for everyone but it was a worthwhile experience for me. The gameplay consists of the player clicking around the screen and interacting with objects in order to progress to the next scene. Playtime for completionist will be roughly an hour. I’d recommend picking this game up on a sale to fans of the “point and click” genre.
Played on: Xbox Series X
Review score: 3/5
2016
The Witness is a puzzle game that was inspired by Myst (imo.) The premise of the game is simple. You, the player start on an island and you don't know why you're there or who you are. The island is "open world" in nature and it is up to the player to decide where he or she wants to go. The player progresses through the game by solving puzzles that are based on the player interacting with grids of various sizes found throughout different areas of the island. Once the player solves all of the puzzles in a particular area of the island they will be able to active a "laser" that will let them know that area is complete. It is up to the player to figure out the mechanics of each puzzle.
The Witness is game that's tutorial free. I'm sure for some players the lack of tutorials will be a problem but for me it was refreshing. Too many games in modern times don't respect the players time or intelligence and force upon them tutorials and this game is definitely not one of them.
The game depending on the players patience will be frustrating at times but I feel like if you're a fan of puzzle games you'll already know that and appreciate the risk/reward in playing a game of this nature. The player while exploring the island will also discover audio logs. The audio logs aren't highlighted, and they don't stick out. It'll be up to the player to find them by thoroughly exploring the island and being aware of their surroundings.
The Witness definitely challenged me, it tested my patience, but at the end of the day it left me feeling extremely satisfied. I played The Witness on Xbox Series X. If you're a fan of puzzle games I would definitely recommend this game to you if you haven't played it by now. I let this game pass me by for years and I regret it. If you've like me and have wanted to play this game for years and still haven't stop putting it off and do it. It's a game you can play at our own pace. It's the perfect type of game to play in spurts. You won't regret it.
The Witness is game that's tutorial free. I'm sure for some players the lack of tutorials will be a problem but for me it was refreshing. Too many games in modern times don't respect the players time or intelligence and force upon them tutorials and this game is definitely not one of them.
The game depending on the players patience will be frustrating at times but I feel like if you're a fan of puzzle games you'll already know that and appreciate the risk/reward in playing a game of this nature. The player while exploring the island will also discover audio logs. The audio logs aren't highlighted, and they don't stick out. It'll be up to the player to find them by thoroughly exploring the island and being aware of their surroundings.
The Witness definitely challenged me, it tested my patience, but at the end of the day it left me feeling extremely satisfied. I played The Witness on Xbox Series X. If you're a fan of puzzle games I would definitely recommend this game to you if you haven't played it by now. I let this game pass me by for years and I regret it. If you've like me and have wanted to play this game for years and still haven't stop putting it off and do it. It's a game you can play at our own pace. It's the perfect type of game to play in spurts. You won't regret it.
Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a part of the Zero Escape: The Nonary Games collection. It's another visual novel published by Spike Chunsoft and predates the Danganronpa series.
In Zero Escape: 999 the player controls Junpei, a college kid who is knocked unconscious, kidnapped and wakes up on a ship. The point of the game is to complete "escape room" puzzles and progress through the story uncovering the mystery surrounding why you were kidnapped, who your kidnapper is and why you are taking part in "The Nonary Game." The least you know the better so l'm going to leave it there and move on.
I enjoyed my time overall with 999. The narrative kept me hooked and the puzzles weren't complex to the point where I felt like I was banging my head against the wall or that I wasn't making progress.
My frustration with Zero Escape was "unlocking" new paths in the story. Personally it felt as though as I was doing everything "right" yet new paths weren't unlocking. I felt "forced" to restart my game from scratch, deleting my save completely multiple times to experience a new branch in the story. This resulted in me having to replay certain story lines multiple times as a completionist. Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a game that I would highly recommend to fans of visual novels and escape room/puzzle games.
Pros:
The narrative
Escape room level design
Flowcharts that guide the player through the story
and finding new endings
Cons:
Progressing through the story felt "buggy." Unclear
if I was getting stuck due to bugs or not completing
things correctly or in the right order.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
In Zero Escape: 999 the player controls Junpei, a college kid who is knocked unconscious, kidnapped and wakes up on a ship. The point of the game is to complete "escape room" puzzles and progress through the story uncovering the mystery surrounding why you were kidnapped, who your kidnapper is and why you are taking part in "The Nonary Game." The least you know the better so l'm going to leave it there and move on.
I enjoyed my time overall with 999. The narrative kept me hooked and the puzzles weren't complex to the point where I felt like I was banging my head against the wall or that I wasn't making progress.
My frustration with Zero Escape was "unlocking" new paths in the story. Personally it felt as though as I was doing everything "right" yet new paths weren't unlocking. I felt "forced" to restart my game from scratch, deleting my save completely multiple times to experience a new branch in the story. This resulted in me having to replay certain story lines multiple times as a completionist. Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a game that I would highly recommend to fans of visual novels and escape room/puzzle games.
Pros:
The narrative
Escape room level design
Flowcharts that guide the player through the story
and finding new endings
Cons:
Progressing through the story felt "buggy." Unclear
if I was getting stuck due to bugs or not completing
things correctly or in the right order.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
2022
Infernax is awesome! Infernax is an 8-bit action adventure Metroidvania game. In Infernax the player controls Alcedor, a knight returning home to a land plagued by the undead and unholy magic. Infernax is all about the gameplay. While playing Infernax the player will travel across a decent size map completing side quests for various townspeople while also completing various "dungeons" that will challenge the them in unique ways in order to gain access to the "final" dungeon to complete there main quest. Throughout there play-through the player will comes across "shrines" that serve as save points and double up as a location to upgrade their character. The player is able to upgrade their health, mana (magic) and strength. Infernax isn't a long game by any means but the player will find themselves coming back for more in order to experience all of the endings and "secrets" hidden across world.
Infernax is a game that is carried by its tight gameplay, pixel art, and killer soundtrack. Infernax is great homage to old school 8-bit games like Castlevania. A game definitely worth playing, especially if you're a Xbox Gamepass subscriber.
Pros:
The pixel art
The soundtrack
Unique dungeons and enemies
Cons:
Game length (if you're not coming back for the
multiple endings)
The platforming (the timing can sometimes feel
unfair)
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
Infernax is a game that is carried by its tight gameplay, pixel art, and killer soundtrack. Infernax is great homage to old school 8-bit games like Castlevania. A game definitely worth playing, especially if you're a Xbox Gamepass subscriber.
Pros:
The pixel art
The soundtrack
Unique dungeons and enemies
Cons:
Game length (if you're not coming back for the
multiple endings)
The platforming (the timing can sometimes feel
unfair)
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
2019
Persona 5 Royal
Developed by: P-Studio
Published by: Atlus USA (@Atlus_West)
For years I’ve heard about how great the Persona games are and despite owning multiple consoles and handhelds I never dove in and played one until now. Persona 5 Royal on the Xbox Series X is an incredibly well put together game.
In Persona 5 the player controls a troubled teenager “Joker” shortly after being falsely accused and found guilty for a crime he didn’t commit.
The premise of the game is that via a “supernatural” ability Joker and his friends have the ability to enter the psyche of individuals and change their warped personalities.
Persona 5 explores a lot. Grief, stress, emotional and physical abuse, and more. Heavy issues are tackled but the game always remains fun to play and engaging. There are plenty of light hearted moments mixed in to give the player a break from the heaviness.
Persona 5 is a jrpg. My first run to get the “true ending” took me roughly 140 hours and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The soundtrack, visuals, and art design are brilliantly executed and the game runs smooth at 4k/60FPS.
If you have Xbox Gamepass and are a fan of jrpgs this is a must play game.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 5/5
Developed by: P-Studio
Published by: Atlus USA (@Atlus_West)
For years I’ve heard about how great the Persona games are and despite owning multiple consoles and handhelds I never dove in and played one until now. Persona 5 Royal on the Xbox Series X is an incredibly well put together game.
In Persona 5 the player controls a troubled teenager “Joker” shortly after being falsely accused and found guilty for a crime he didn’t commit.
The premise of the game is that via a “supernatural” ability Joker and his friends have the ability to enter the psyche of individuals and change their warped personalities.
Persona 5 explores a lot. Grief, stress, emotional and physical abuse, and more. Heavy issues are tackled but the game always remains fun to play and engaging. There are plenty of light hearted moments mixed in to give the player a break from the heaviness.
Persona 5 is a jrpg. My first run to get the “true ending” took me roughly 140 hours and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The soundtrack, visuals, and art design are brilliantly executed and the game runs smooth at 4k/60FPS.
If you have Xbox Gamepass and are a fan of jrpgs this is a must play game.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 5/5
2022
Somerville
Developed & Published by: Jumpship ( @jumpshipstudio )
Somerville is a fantastic immersive adventure game that’s brought down by its clunky controls and for completionist multiple endings. The art design, sound design and music in the game are top notch and the puzzles while somewhat challenging aren’t frustrating and they don’t contain “moon logic” to figure out. The environmental story telling is top notch. Somerville is a game that takes place during an alien invasion. It has the vibes of “War of the Worlds” and leans on sci-fi tropes but overall it executes well on what it's trying to accomplish. Personally speaking, I enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere of Somerville. I enjoyed my time with Somerville overall but I’m not sure if I’d recommend this game to anyone that doesn’t have Xbox Game Pass. The game took me roughly 2-2.5 hours to complete. As a completionist playing portions of games over and over again to experience different endings has become tired. It’s a lazy way of prolonging someones time playing a game. I understand it’s completely optional but as a completionist it’s not something I can avoid.
Pros:
The art design
The sound design
Environmental sound design
The atmosphere and narrative experience
Cons:
Multiple endings
Controls
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 3.5/5
Developed & Published by: Jumpship ( @jumpshipstudio )
Somerville is a fantastic immersive adventure game that’s brought down by its clunky controls and for completionist multiple endings. The art design, sound design and music in the game are top notch and the puzzles while somewhat challenging aren’t frustrating and they don’t contain “moon logic” to figure out. The environmental story telling is top notch. Somerville is a game that takes place during an alien invasion. It has the vibes of “War of the Worlds” and leans on sci-fi tropes but overall it executes well on what it's trying to accomplish. Personally speaking, I enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere of Somerville. I enjoyed my time with Somerville overall but I’m not sure if I’d recommend this game to anyone that doesn’t have Xbox Game Pass. The game took me roughly 2-2.5 hours to complete. As a completionist playing portions of games over and over again to experience different endings has become tired. It’s a lazy way of prolonging someones time playing a game. I understand it’s completely optional but as a completionist it’s not something I can avoid.
Pros:
The art design
The sound design
Environmental sound design
The atmosphere and narrative experience
Cons:
Multiple endings
Controls
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 3.5/5
2021
Rayland
Developed/Published by: Naoka Games
Rayland is a fantastic but simple puzzle game! The puzzles are difficult but not impossible to solve. The controls can be a bit finicky but they don’t take away from the overall experience. The game consists of 42 levels that can be completed pretty quickly depending on the players skill level.
Each puzzle in Rayland requires the player to redirect laser beams using mirrors to light up lamps on a map. As the player progress there will be various obstacles put in place to challenge the player such as walls or tunnels.
I’d definitely recommend Rayland to fans of puzzle games. Pick it up on sale!
Played on: Purchased Xbox Series X
Review score: 4/5
Developed/Published by: Naoka Games
Rayland is a fantastic but simple puzzle game! The puzzles are difficult but not impossible to solve. The controls can be a bit finicky but they don’t take away from the overall experience. The game consists of 42 levels that can be completed pretty quickly depending on the players skill level.
Each puzzle in Rayland requires the player to redirect laser beams using mirrors to light up lamps on a map. As the player progress there will be various obstacles put in place to challenge the player such as walls or tunnels.
I’d definitely recommend Rayland to fans of puzzle games. Pick it up on sale!
Played on: Purchased Xbox Series X
Review score: 4/5
2022
Beacon Pines (@BeaconPines)
Developed by: Hiding Spot (@hidingspotgames)
Published by: Hiding Spot, Fellow Traveller (@FellowTravellr)
Beacon Pines is awesome! Beacon Pines is a point and click adventure game with fantastic voice acting, a great soundtrack and unbelievable art. While Beacon Pines on first glance might appear to be a “childish” or “PG” game, it’s definitely much more than that. Beacon Pines tackles some heavy topics and is much darker than it seems.
The premise of Beacon Pines is that the player controls Luka, a teenager who lives in Beacon Pines with his grandmother, after his fathers death and mom’s disappearance. Luka has a best friend named Rolo that he likes to go on adventures with and when they’re not out adventuring spend time together in a treehouse in the woods reading comic books and planning more adventures.
The gameplay in Beacon Pines isn’t complex. The player controlling Luka travels throughout Beacon Pines interacting with objects, and other people living in the town and the narrative unfolds. While doing this the player will pick up “charms” which are key words that will allow them to replay certain scenarios of the story and go down a different path. The different story paths are unique enough that they are worth experiencing, and will help the player piece together the bigger over arching narrative of the game.
Beacon Pines is worth experiencing, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass.
Pros:
The art style
The narrative
The voice acting
Cons:
If you're not a fan of point and click adventure games this isn't a game for you.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 5/5
Developed by: Hiding Spot (@hidingspotgames)
Published by: Hiding Spot, Fellow Traveller (@FellowTravellr)
Beacon Pines is awesome! Beacon Pines is a point and click adventure game with fantastic voice acting, a great soundtrack and unbelievable art. While Beacon Pines on first glance might appear to be a “childish” or “PG” game, it’s definitely much more than that. Beacon Pines tackles some heavy topics and is much darker than it seems.
The premise of Beacon Pines is that the player controls Luka, a teenager who lives in Beacon Pines with his grandmother, after his fathers death and mom’s disappearance. Luka has a best friend named Rolo that he likes to go on adventures with and when they’re not out adventuring spend time together in a treehouse in the woods reading comic books and planning more adventures.
The gameplay in Beacon Pines isn’t complex. The player controlling Luka travels throughout Beacon Pines interacting with objects, and other people living in the town and the narrative unfolds. While doing this the player will pick up “charms” which are key words that will allow them to replay certain scenarios of the story and go down a different path. The different story paths are unique enough that they are worth experiencing, and will help the player piece together the bigger over arching narrative of the game.
Beacon Pines is worth experiencing, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass.
Pros:
The art style
The narrative
The voice acting
Cons:
If you're not a fan of point and click adventure games this isn't a game for you.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 5/5
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
Developed by: Square Enix
Published by: Square Enix
Man, what’s there to say about this game? I just finished my first play-through since the 90s when I was a kid and it still holds up.
The remastered version contains enhanced character models and some QOL gameplay modifiers that can also be found in the FF7 remaster. The modifiers are 3x speed, no encounters, and max health in battles.
The gameplay is the biggest source of controversy when it comes to Final Fantasy 8. People seem to either love it or hate it. While you're able to level up your characters in Final Fantasy 8 like other Final Fantasy games or RPGs this game is designed to encourage the player to NOT level up. The game wants the player to strengthen their party members by mastering the junction and Guardian Forces (GF) ability system.
In Final Fantasy 8, GFs can learn abilities, such as no random enemy encounters, HP+20%, Speed+20% and so on. These abilities alongside junctioning magic make the players party stronger. Let me explain "junctioning." GFs give the player the ability to “junction” or “add” magic that is extracted from enemies (primarily) onto your party members to raise their stats, their HP, speed, etc. The lower level you are, and the better magic you have junctioned the stronger your party will be. Furthermore, to explain why this game encourages the player to not level up is the fact that enemies level up with your character and party member. They gain more health, more powerful attacks and can be extremely frustrating. Grinding is definitely not encouraged in the traditional sense in Final Fantasy 8. It can take multiple play throughs to fully understand the junction system if you’re playing the game blind and without a guide. It is NOT for everyone.
With that being said Final Fantasy 8 has a fantastic cast of characters, a sometimes crazy, and absurd plot that is filled with great moments of character development and sentimentality. The soundtrack is incredible and I’d say under-rated and under appreciated, and the cut scenes are still impressive to this day when you consider the fact that the original Final Fantasy 8 was a PS1 game.
My biggest frustration while playing Final Fantasy 8 was the controls. Multiple times I found myself traveling in a direction I wasn’t pressing, and in moments where I had to search an environment for an item the sensitivity to where I had to stand to find the item was incredibly annoying. It felt like I had to be pixel perfect and multiple times I just ended up spamming the x button over and over again until I located the item I was looking for.
Overall, this is a quality remaster. Completionist will have an easier time playing Final Fantasy 8 Remastered than they did playing the original back on the PS1. Hours normally spent grinding GF abilities or Triple triad cards will be greatly reduced if the player use the 3x speed feature. Players will also find the no random encounters and max health features useful if they're not playing the game for the challenge and just want to experience the story.
To wrap things up I beg people to give this game a chance. It is a severely under-rated game.
Pros:
The Triple triad card mini game still holds up
QOL improves such as 3x speed
Soundtrack and story
The characters
Cons:
The controls,
The junction system isn’t for everyone
Story (it’s divisive, people either love it or hate it)
Played on: Xbox Series X, purchased digitally via the Xbox store on sale.
Review score: 4/5
Developed by: Square Enix
Published by: Square Enix
Man, what’s there to say about this game? I just finished my first play-through since the 90s when I was a kid and it still holds up.
The remastered version contains enhanced character models and some QOL gameplay modifiers that can also be found in the FF7 remaster. The modifiers are 3x speed, no encounters, and max health in battles.
The gameplay is the biggest source of controversy when it comes to Final Fantasy 8. People seem to either love it or hate it. While you're able to level up your characters in Final Fantasy 8 like other Final Fantasy games or RPGs this game is designed to encourage the player to NOT level up. The game wants the player to strengthen their party members by mastering the junction and Guardian Forces (GF) ability system.
In Final Fantasy 8, GFs can learn abilities, such as no random enemy encounters, HP+20%, Speed+20% and so on. These abilities alongside junctioning magic make the players party stronger. Let me explain "junctioning." GFs give the player the ability to “junction” or “add” magic that is extracted from enemies (primarily) onto your party members to raise their stats, their HP, speed, etc. The lower level you are, and the better magic you have junctioned the stronger your party will be. Furthermore, to explain why this game encourages the player to not level up is the fact that enemies level up with your character and party member. They gain more health, more powerful attacks and can be extremely frustrating. Grinding is definitely not encouraged in the traditional sense in Final Fantasy 8. It can take multiple play throughs to fully understand the junction system if you’re playing the game blind and without a guide. It is NOT for everyone.
With that being said Final Fantasy 8 has a fantastic cast of characters, a sometimes crazy, and absurd plot that is filled with great moments of character development and sentimentality. The soundtrack is incredible and I’d say under-rated and under appreciated, and the cut scenes are still impressive to this day when you consider the fact that the original Final Fantasy 8 was a PS1 game.
My biggest frustration while playing Final Fantasy 8 was the controls. Multiple times I found myself traveling in a direction I wasn’t pressing, and in moments where I had to search an environment for an item the sensitivity to where I had to stand to find the item was incredibly annoying. It felt like I had to be pixel perfect and multiple times I just ended up spamming the x button over and over again until I located the item I was looking for.
Overall, this is a quality remaster. Completionist will have an easier time playing Final Fantasy 8 Remastered than they did playing the original back on the PS1. Hours normally spent grinding GF abilities or Triple triad cards will be greatly reduced if the player use the 3x speed feature. Players will also find the no random encounters and max health features useful if they're not playing the game for the challenge and just want to experience the story.
To wrap things up I beg people to give this game a chance. It is a severely under-rated game.
Pros:
The Triple triad card mini game still holds up
QOL improves such as 3x speed
Soundtrack and story
The characters
Cons:
The controls,
The junction system isn’t for everyone
Story (it’s divisive, people either love it or hate it)
Played on: Xbox Series X, purchased digitally via the Xbox store on sale.
Review score: 4/5
2008
Dead Space (@deadspace)
Developed by: EA Redwood Shores (shut down now)
Published by: Electronic Arts (@EA)
Dead Space is an incredibly atmospheric, gruesome, sci-fi horror adventure game.
The player controls Isaac Clark, an engineer who is sent to fix the communications array on a mining ship known as the USG Ishimura. Things quickly go off the rails and from the moment Isaac boards the Ishimura it’s clear that something has gone terribly wrong. In classic video game story telling Isaac upon boarding the Ishimura is quickly isolated from his team. He encounters the former crew of the Ishimura who are no longer human, but monsters that the called Necromorphs. Isaac is thrown into the battle of his life as he struggles to complete his mission and survive. He improvises weapons from mining equipment and his current environment throughout his journey. Plasma welding guns, buzz saws, flamethrowers etc. Dead Space is a gruesome game. The player can target and dismember enemies bodies piece by piece targeting their legs, their arms, and even their heads. There is no shortage of blood and gore in Dead Space. If you’re squeamish this is NOT the game for you.
The story in Dead Space isn’t told through elaborate cut scenes. It’s told through audio logs and encounters with other characters throughout the Ishimura. This makes Dead Space incredibly immersive in my opinion. The player is constantly in control of Isaac, never truly being taking out of the experience to watch a dramatic, cinematic pre rendered cutscene.
It’s evident that for its time Dead Space was a revolutionary game in terms of its sound design, atmosphere and combat. Playing this game in 2022 I found aspects of the game frustrating. They are multiple times throughout Dead Space where the player is thrown into a situation where they have to do something to free themselves and the controls are definitely frustrating. They don’t really make sense and personally speaking they ruined my immersion of the game at times because I struggled to do what was required causing me to have to replay a portion of the game over and over gain. In a modern game the situation I’m talking about would most likely be a QTE instead. I’m keeping it vague for spoiler reasons! Sorry if you find that frustrating.
Dead Space overall is a great game. It’s unique, it leans into being sci fi horror and it accomplishes what it sets out to do and that’s create an incredibly dark, atmospheric, intense sci fi horror experience for the player. With the remake coming I highly recommend that people either play the original (it’s on Game Pass via EA Play) or buy the remake. Dead Space is one of the best horror games of all time.
Pros:
The narrative/story
The atmosphere
The enemy design
The sound design
Cons:
Out dated gameplay at times
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 4.5/5
Developed by: EA Redwood Shores (shut down now)
Published by: Electronic Arts (@EA)
Dead Space is an incredibly atmospheric, gruesome, sci-fi horror adventure game.
The player controls Isaac Clark, an engineer who is sent to fix the communications array on a mining ship known as the USG Ishimura. Things quickly go off the rails and from the moment Isaac boards the Ishimura it’s clear that something has gone terribly wrong. In classic video game story telling Isaac upon boarding the Ishimura is quickly isolated from his team. He encounters the former crew of the Ishimura who are no longer human, but monsters that the called Necromorphs. Isaac is thrown into the battle of his life as he struggles to complete his mission and survive. He improvises weapons from mining equipment and his current environment throughout his journey. Plasma welding guns, buzz saws, flamethrowers etc. Dead Space is a gruesome game. The player can target and dismember enemies bodies piece by piece targeting their legs, their arms, and even their heads. There is no shortage of blood and gore in Dead Space. If you’re squeamish this is NOT the game for you.
The story in Dead Space isn’t told through elaborate cut scenes. It’s told through audio logs and encounters with other characters throughout the Ishimura. This makes Dead Space incredibly immersive in my opinion. The player is constantly in control of Isaac, never truly being taking out of the experience to watch a dramatic, cinematic pre rendered cutscene.
It’s evident that for its time Dead Space was a revolutionary game in terms of its sound design, atmosphere and combat. Playing this game in 2022 I found aspects of the game frustrating. They are multiple times throughout Dead Space where the player is thrown into a situation where they have to do something to free themselves and the controls are definitely frustrating. They don’t really make sense and personally speaking they ruined my immersion of the game at times because I struggled to do what was required causing me to have to replay a portion of the game over and over gain. In a modern game the situation I’m talking about would most likely be a QTE instead. I’m keeping it vague for spoiler reasons! Sorry if you find that frustrating.
Dead Space overall is a great game. It’s unique, it leans into being sci fi horror and it accomplishes what it sets out to do and that’s create an incredibly dark, atmospheric, intense sci fi horror experience for the player. With the remake coming I highly recommend that people either play the original (it’s on Game Pass via EA Play) or buy the remake. Dead Space is one of the best horror games of all time.
Pros:
The narrative/story
The atmosphere
The enemy design
The sound design
Cons:
Out dated gameplay at times
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 4.5/5
1988
Super Mario Bros 2 is a classic game that has captivated gamers for decades. The game was first released in 1988 and has since become a beloved classic that is still enjoyed by players all around the world. The game is known for its unique level design and gameplay, which set it apart from other games in the Mario franchise.
One of the standout features of Super Mario Bros 2 is its level design. The levels are well-crafted and offer a variety of challenges for players to overcome. Each level is unique, with different obstacles and enemies to face. The levels are also visually appealing, with vibrant colors and detailed backgrounds that add to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Another aspect of the game that stands out is its gameplay. Super Mario Bros 2 is known for its unique gameplay mechanics, which allow players to choose from four different characters, each with their own unique abilities. Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool all have their own strengths and weaknesses, which adds an extra layer of strategy to the game. Players must choose the right character for each level to maximize their chances of success.
The game also features a variety of power-ups and items that players can collect throughout each level. These include mushrooms, which allow the player to grow in size and take an extra hit, and stars, which make the player invincible for a short period of time.
Overall, Super Mario Bros 2 is a fantastic game that stands out from other games in the Mario franchise. The game's unique level design and gameplay mechanics make it a must-play for fans of the series and platformer games in general. With its colorful graphics and catchy soundtrack, Super Mario Bros 2 is a classic game that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by players of all ages.
One of the standout features of Super Mario Bros 2 is its level design. The levels are well-crafted and offer a variety of challenges for players to overcome. Each level is unique, with different obstacles and enemies to face. The levels are also visually appealing, with vibrant colors and detailed backgrounds that add to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Another aspect of the game that stands out is its gameplay. Super Mario Bros 2 is known for its unique gameplay mechanics, which allow players to choose from four different characters, each with their own unique abilities. Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool all have their own strengths and weaknesses, which adds an extra layer of strategy to the game. Players must choose the right character for each level to maximize their chances of success.
The game also features a variety of power-ups and items that players can collect throughout each level. These include mushrooms, which allow the player to grow in size and take an extra hit, and stars, which make the player invincible for a short period of time.
Overall, Super Mario Bros 2 is a fantastic game that stands out from other games in the Mario franchise. The game's unique level design and gameplay mechanics make it a must-play for fans of the series and platformer games in general. With its colorful graphics and catchy soundtrack, Super Mario Bros 2 is a classic game that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by players of all ages.
1988
Super Mario Bros 3 is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time and remains one of the most beloved video games of all time. Released in 1988, it revolutionized the platforming genre and introduced many features and mechanics that are still used in games today.
One of the key strengths of Super Mario Bros 3 is its level design. Each level is expertly crafted to provide a unique challenge, with carefully placed obstacles, enemies, and power-ups that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The levels are designed to be accessible to players of all skill levels, with the earlier levels serving as a gentle introduction to the game mechanics and the later levels providing a much greater challenge.
The variety of levels in Super Mario Bros 3 is also impressive. From the iconic grassy plains of World 1 to the fiery inferno of World 8, each world has its own distinctive style and flavor. The levels within each world are also thematically consistent, with enemies, obstacles, and power-ups that fit the world's theme.
In terms of gameplay, Super Mario Bros 3 is an absolute joy to play. The controls are tight and responsive, allowing players to easily maneuver Mario through even the trickiest of obstacles. The power-ups, such as the iconic Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, provide a satisfying sense of progression and offer new abilities that can be used to overcome previously insurmountable obstacles.
The addition of new power-ups in Super Mario Bros 3, such as the Tanooki Suit and the Hammer Suit, further expanded the game's mechanics and added even more variety to the gameplay. The ability to store power-ups in reserve also gave players more control over their playstyle, allowing them to choose the power-ups they needed for specific challenges.
Overall, Super Mario Bros 3 is a masterpiece of game design. Its level design is superb, offering a diverse range of challenges that are both accessible and engaging. Its gameplay is a joy to experience, with tight controls, satisfying power-ups, and a sense of progression that keeps players coming back for more. It's no wonder that it remains a classic to this day, and a must-play for any fan of platforming games.
One of the key strengths of Super Mario Bros 3 is its level design. Each level is expertly crafted to provide a unique challenge, with carefully placed obstacles, enemies, and power-ups that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The levels are designed to be accessible to players of all skill levels, with the earlier levels serving as a gentle introduction to the game mechanics and the later levels providing a much greater challenge.
The variety of levels in Super Mario Bros 3 is also impressive. From the iconic grassy plains of World 1 to the fiery inferno of World 8, each world has its own distinctive style and flavor. The levels within each world are also thematically consistent, with enemies, obstacles, and power-ups that fit the world's theme.
In terms of gameplay, Super Mario Bros 3 is an absolute joy to play. The controls are tight and responsive, allowing players to easily maneuver Mario through even the trickiest of obstacles. The power-ups, such as the iconic Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, provide a satisfying sense of progression and offer new abilities that can be used to overcome previously insurmountable obstacles.
The addition of new power-ups in Super Mario Bros 3, such as the Tanooki Suit and the Hammer Suit, further expanded the game's mechanics and added even more variety to the gameplay. The ability to store power-ups in reserve also gave players more control over their playstyle, allowing them to choose the power-ups they needed for specific challenges.
Overall, Super Mario Bros 3 is a masterpiece of game design. Its level design is superb, offering a diverse range of challenges that are both accessible and engaging. Its gameplay is a joy to experience, with tight controls, satisfying power-ups, and a sense of progression that keeps players coming back for more. It's no wonder that it remains a classic to this day, and a must-play for any fan of platforming games.
2022
Escape Academy
Developed by: Coin Crew Games (@CoinCrewGames)
Published by: iam8bit and Skybound Games (@iam8bit, @skyboundgames)
In Escape Academy the player has just arrived at Escape Academy, a school that specializes in training students to become Escape Room Masters.
The game consists of a simple narrative designed to push the player forward from escape room to escape room. Each room is unique and presents the player with its own unique puzzles and challenges. There is a sense of urgency as rooms will sometimes have an overarching threat that will “kill” the player if they take too long such as the room flooding, burning down or filling up with poisonous gas. The controls at times can be “clunky” and laggy but they didn’t take away from my overall experience.
I enjoyed my time with Escape Academy but the game overall wasn’t anything special. If you’re a fan of Escape Rooms and puzzles and have GamePass this game is hard to not recommend.
Pros:
The escape rooms - their design, the puzzles and overall presentation
Cons:
The controls
The narrative
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 3/5
Developed by: Coin Crew Games (@CoinCrewGames)
Published by: iam8bit and Skybound Games (@iam8bit, @skyboundgames)
In Escape Academy the player has just arrived at Escape Academy, a school that specializes in training students to become Escape Room Masters.
The game consists of a simple narrative designed to push the player forward from escape room to escape room. Each room is unique and presents the player with its own unique puzzles and challenges. There is a sense of urgency as rooms will sometimes have an overarching threat that will “kill” the player if they take too long such as the room flooding, burning down or filling up with poisonous gas. The controls at times can be “clunky” and laggy but they didn’t take away from my overall experience.
I enjoyed my time with Escape Academy but the game overall wasn’t anything special. If you’re a fan of Escape Rooms and puzzles and have GamePass this game is hard to not recommend.
Pros:
The escape rooms - their design, the puzzles and overall presentation
Cons:
The controls
The narrative
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass
Review score: 3/5
2014
Far Cry 4 was a good follow up to Far Cry 3. Taking place in the Himalayas this time, the player controls Ajay Ghale a man returning to his home country to spread his mother's ashes and fulfil her dying wish. This game builds on everything Far Cry 3 did and does it better, except the story. Far Cry 4 is an incredibly fun game to play brought down by the story. In Far Cry 4 the player find themselves caught up in a rebellion to overthrow the dictator of the region, Pagan Min. Unless you're a fan of Far Cry games or are a fan of open world sandbox games I'd skip this game.