19 reviews liked by LukeFowler


worth noting that I'm replaying this for the first time in, like, 6 years and experiencing this as the definitive series version on steam deck, so any thoughts relating to experiencing the game beyond story and writing will be saved for that one big log. also gonna be spoiling!!

but man, despite remembering every single beat of this I'm kinda taken aback by how good it holds up. characterisation is insanely good; Lee, Larry, Carley, Kenny, Lily, all feel like such strong, deep characters already -- all performed incredibly well and carry a lot of weight. I like just about everybody anyways, but there's some genuinely impressive stuff between these guys.
the decision to deal with a suicidal woman does feel like it has a real emotional impact to it -- one of the dialogue options being "God bless you"? it's just sad. really easy to empathise with Lee and his family situation too, I dunno, that kinda thing just has gravity now that I'm not a dumb teenager.

it's still a little labourious, I do dislike how anti-streamlined this is to get through for someone replaying it, with the pre-pharmacy stuff really feeling like an introductory running on a tad too long, but it's definitely worth it overall. excited to see how I find the rest of season one now.

Brings a novel innovation to the third-person shooter paradigm: an aiming reticule that tells you where the bullets will not go

for all the walking simulator criticisms it has I think it does a really excellent job of A: creating an immersive atmosphere and very interesting location to explore and B: has GREAT voice acting; some of the best I've heard in the medium in making everything feel super believable. I understand why it's got a mixed response going into it and for some of the content within the game but I ultimately vibe with everything really well. gorgeous locations to explore and a very surprising story that ticks lots of my personal boxes, no way I wasn't gonna love this.

the writers should let layton have a gun all the time. it's ok, he's earned it, and because of that it's time to give him the right to bear arms

I will stand by the fact that I think Plants vs. Zombies is the last unique idea for a video game ever. No one has done anything like it since.

they added more mechanics and that was a mistake. also tragically came out at exactly the moment i stopped commuting due to Endless Lockdown so i still haven't completed it. i probably will tho.

pending more writing, I'll say this:
It's not a good game, but it is a great game.

Easily the best one in the series due being able to make your own games. Also I didn't know what D.I.Y. meant as a kid so I thought it was meant to be "Wario Ware DIE" but spelt in a way to get past the censors, which is a very Wario thing to do.

To this day I still pronounce D.I.Y. as die because of that misconception.