August, 2023

27

Lovely presentation, just very cute in general. Not really for me, though.

24

Finished

So charming. Lots of cute little flourishes and I had a great time with the combat.

One minor detail that stuck out to me: The LOD has this painterly filter that (I imagine) obfuscates what would otherwise be low quality geometry. It fits perfectly with the art style, and it's just really clever.

Finished

Started / Finished

Finished

Really so much potential for something deeper, a more involved simulation. A few rough edges and kinda uninspired level design also keeps it from being especially satisfying to explore.

I still enjoyed my time with it, but damn, I can vividly imagine a seriously great game here. I also confess to hoping there was anything at all to uncover, even another minor mechanic, and that hope propelled me through the different regions.

So there's a tinge of lingering disappointment.

Finished

22

Started

Finished

Not a big fan of the writing, the voiced dialogue specifically. Don't regret playing it.

Started / Finished

Cute. I don't think I'll spend the time required to finish it, but it's definitely neat.

Started

Incredibly charming.

Started

Nice presentation, fun enough to start. I have zero interest in continuing after getting my first relic. I think I need something pulling me through games like these. Feels like an empty meal, nothing to chew on.

Still controls well, but jesus this fucking writing.

21

Changed my mind. And then I changed it back. There's really nothing like it. But I don't think I have the patience to actually succeed in terms of its very specific goals.

I wish it was more freeform.
Spent the last ten minutes after shutting the game down thinking about why this doesn't work for me when something like Inside very much does.

The puzzles? Maybe. Inside's in media res thing was also compelling, though Planet of Lana doesn't spend too much time before its inciting incident.

Man, I don't know. I guess there's not just 1 line between "this is alright" and "damn, alright". It's multiple lines, and identifying the threshold is murky at best.

20

Started

Game's structure is not that appealing to me. It's alright otherwise, tense and mechanically engaging, just like the first one.

Started

19

Level design is immediately sensible. Clearly see experienced hands here. It's just not great to look at. I've played so many maps that take an immense risk with the visual presentation of Quake and I honestly can't go back.
Interesting, but not quite for me. Visual novels have an unfortunately high bar to clear for me to get engaged.

13

gotta be getting close to the end. i wish these games were allowed to be shorter. make a giant island, you gotta fill it with a lot of shit, to an extent i get that, but consider this: less

sunk cost is getting me a little on this one, unfortunately. still enjoying the game, just not as much as i could be
Fine? Maybe not so much into golf as I used to be. Or it's the game. Hard to say.

01

Started

Finished

I had fun! Writing didn't hook me, though it wasn't uninteresting. Which is mostly why I've decided to stop after one ending. Maybe I'll come back someday, explore the stuff I missed. But maybe not.

Started / Finished

July, 2023

30

been chipping away, but got a good 5 hours in this last session. getting close to the end. still very fun