Nazo_KG
This game is a cute little entertaining attempt at showing what anxiety is like, and how dealing with it can be difficult, as well as how trying to fight it with the wrong ways can lead you down the wrong paths.
Someone else here said in the reviews that the way the anxiety monster is portrayed, you can tell the creator behind this game has been dealing with anxiety for a long time; I felt that, too.
It's a long, arduous trek of going back and forth with your issues in your head, trying to reason with it and work it out. The anxiety wolf and the human felt connected, synonymous. You, as the player, getting to play as the anxiety instead of the person affected by anxiety was a cool idea too.
But Adventures with Anxiety, as charming as it is, doesn't properly show just how frustrating, agonising and scary living with something like this can be.
And at times, it feels almost patronising in its dialogue, which kind of pains me to say given how you can tell the creator tried their best with this game to make something small but full of personality.
But despite all this, I can forgive it.
If it sets out be a small experimental project about anxiety, then that's all it can be, and maybe doesn't have to be anything more.
Someone else here said in the reviews that the way the anxiety monster is portrayed, you can tell the creator behind this game has been dealing with anxiety for a long time; I felt that, too.
It's a long, arduous trek of going back and forth with your issues in your head, trying to reason with it and work it out. The anxiety wolf and the human felt connected, synonymous. You, as the player, getting to play as the anxiety instead of the person affected by anxiety was a cool idea too.
But Adventures with Anxiety, as charming as it is, doesn't properly show just how frustrating, agonising and scary living with something like this can be.
And at times, it feels almost patronising in its dialogue, which kind of pains me to say given how you can tell the creator tried their best with this game to make something small but full of personality.
But despite all this, I can forgive it.
If it sets out be a small experimental project about anxiety, then that's all it can be, and maybe doesn't have to be anything more.
2024
Now that they "released" the game (again), I can certifiably say that reading the imploding Steam forums for MVS is far more fun than actually playing it.
It's fine, but like many said, it gets repetitive quickly, although it does have Steam Workshop and stage editor, so there's that. Fun 30 or so minutes with friends or siblings otherwise.
2006
I ended a guy typing the word "meth" in a children's video game
2020
It's funny, melancholic, ironic and trashy at the same time.
And for some reason, I can't bring myself to hate it even though it's a low-quality rage platformer with funny quips and not much more.
And for some reason, I can't bring myself to hate it even though it's a low-quality rage platformer with funny quips and not much more.
2022
When your homie doesn't have Age of Empires so you pull this up.
On a serious note, it's decent and I like that military can do more than just fight.
It needs more QoL improvements and polish but since the game is in early access, I can't rag on it too much.
The devs are also planning a campaign mode which is cool.
Could turn out to be a really neat little game in the future!
On a serious note, it's decent and I like that military can do more than just fight.
It needs more QoL improvements and polish but since the game is in early access, I can't rag on it too much.
The devs are also planning a campaign mode which is cool.
Could turn out to be a really neat little game in the future!
Skyrim is so far from perfect...
It's so damn flawed, and I'd be the first person to step up and admit to all its faults.
The main quest is outshined by several smaller side quests in the game in terms of intrigue and writing, some of them being ones that the game doesn't even bother pointing you towards (Frostflow Lighthouse, for example).
Not to mention, for every quest that is genuinely interesting or subversive, there is at least 3 fetch quests or something of similar calibre.
The game is stripped bare of interesting RPG mechanics that were present in the previous Elder Scrolls. So in turn, you have a very streamlined game that is relatively headache-free to play, but at times is also braindead.
The combat suffers immensely due to this, even with the cool skill tree concept.
The devs ultimately took away a lot of depth that was in Oblivion and Morrowind.
There is a lot of dungeons/caves/etc, but a lot of them are same-y, except when they're intended for a quest.
The loot gathering seems neat at first, but at some point you start to question it. Second guess yourself, why you're collecting all this junk. What is the point of it? It's just stats, higher number = good. Even with enchantments. Eventually, the reason ended up being to sell off all this stuff to make more money. Money that ends up feeling superfluous.
But damn it....I would be lying if I said Skyrim doesn't have a special place in my heart.
Why, you ask?
Well, as conflicted as I may be about its problems, I can't help but feel like it nails exploration, atmosphere and personality in such a way, that I haven't been able to find a game that even comes close to replicating this feeling.
Skyrim feels like a second home to me.
I used to play this so much in my teen years, that you could take a screenshot of a random patch of grass and I'd be able to point to the map and give you an estimate where that is based solely on the colour of the grass.
The environments in Skyrim can be honestly breath-taking. it inspired the artist in me in so many ways, and fed me with the hunger to pursue honing my skills as a landscape artist.
Being lost in the frigid, harsh tundra or the serene verdant forests and just wandering around, taking in the sights while Jeremy Soule's magnificent soundtrack accompanies you, is an almost meditative experience.
Everyone complains about the fast travel, but what they don't tell you is that if you don't use the fast travel, the map is built in such a way that when you're travelling from your own point A to point B, you are most likely gonna find a new quest or something interesting on your way there. I think this is one thing that might be done better in this game; the points of interest and well-decorated environments are more densely packed in Skyrim compared to when I played Oblivion, at least.
Skyrim, for better or for worse, was my first Elder Scrolls game. And through the books in the game, as well as other pieces of information, dialogue and characters, I was introduced to the fantastic world-building that TES encompasses. It genuinely captivated me, and made me want to play the other entries in the series, see what they had to offer.
On many of my dark days, I saw this game as an escape into another world, and temporary relief from the stress and sadness of real life. I grew up in a violently dysfunctional home, and having something like this to run away from all of that, I'm really thankful for it years later.
It's easy to get immersed and whittle away hours while exploring even today.
After all this time, I didn't even have the heart to restart with a new character when I moved to playing on PS4 after my save on my PS3 started to corrupt (my play time was in the hundreds and a bug occured with the saves pretty much).
My barbarian Nord fella Frederick will probably stay with me forever.
I find it hard to defend the game in technical aspects; Yes, it's buggy. Yes, it's shallow in plot and combat. Yes, I wish there were more voice actors and distinct character animations and models.
But, there's nothing wrong with enjoying something even if it's flawed, as long as you recognise the flaws.
For me, there's something magical about this game that a lot of people would definitely disagree with me on.
In my heart, it's a 4+ star game. In objective terms, I should probably give it 3 and a half at best.
But you know...Maybe sometimes, it's about what you can see in it what others can't.
It's so damn flawed, and I'd be the first person to step up and admit to all its faults.
The main quest is outshined by several smaller side quests in the game in terms of intrigue and writing, some of them being ones that the game doesn't even bother pointing you towards (Frostflow Lighthouse, for example).
Not to mention, for every quest that is genuinely interesting or subversive, there is at least 3 fetch quests or something of similar calibre.
The game is stripped bare of interesting RPG mechanics that were present in the previous Elder Scrolls. So in turn, you have a very streamlined game that is relatively headache-free to play, but at times is also braindead.
The combat suffers immensely due to this, even with the cool skill tree concept.
The devs ultimately took away a lot of depth that was in Oblivion and Morrowind.
There is a lot of dungeons/caves/etc, but a lot of them are same-y, except when they're intended for a quest.
The loot gathering seems neat at first, but at some point you start to question it. Second guess yourself, why you're collecting all this junk. What is the point of it? It's just stats, higher number = good. Even with enchantments. Eventually, the reason ended up being to sell off all this stuff to make more money. Money that ends up feeling superfluous.
But damn it....I would be lying if I said Skyrim doesn't have a special place in my heart.
Why, you ask?
Well, as conflicted as I may be about its problems, I can't help but feel like it nails exploration, atmosphere and personality in such a way, that I haven't been able to find a game that even comes close to replicating this feeling.
Skyrim feels like a second home to me.
I used to play this so much in my teen years, that you could take a screenshot of a random patch of grass and I'd be able to point to the map and give you an estimate where that is based solely on the colour of the grass.
The environments in Skyrim can be honestly breath-taking. it inspired the artist in me in so many ways, and fed me with the hunger to pursue honing my skills as a landscape artist.
Being lost in the frigid, harsh tundra or the serene verdant forests and just wandering around, taking in the sights while Jeremy Soule's magnificent soundtrack accompanies you, is an almost meditative experience.
Everyone complains about the fast travel, but what they don't tell you is that if you don't use the fast travel, the map is built in such a way that when you're travelling from your own point A to point B, you are most likely gonna find a new quest or something interesting on your way there. I think this is one thing that might be done better in this game; the points of interest and well-decorated environments are more densely packed in Skyrim compared to when I played Oblivion, at least.
Skyrim, for better or for worse, was my first Elder Scrolls game. And through the books in the game, as well as other pieces of information, dialogue and characters, I was introduced to the fantastic world-building that TES encompasses. It genuinely captivated me, and made me want to play the other entries in the series, see what they had to offer.
On many of my dark days, I saw this game as an escape into another world, and temporary relief from the stress and sadness of real life. I grew up in a violently dysfunctional home, and having something like this to run away from all of that, I'm really thankful for it years later.
It's easy to get immersed and whittle away hours while exploring even today.
After all this time, I didn't even have the heart to restart with a new character when I moved to playing on PS4 after my save on my PS3 started to corrupt (my play time was in the hundreds and a bug occured with the saves pretty much).
My barbarian Nord fella Frederick will probably stay with me forever.
I find it hard to defend the game in technical aspects; Yes, it's buggy. Yes, it's shallow in plot and combat. Yes, I wish there were more voice actors and distinct character animations and models.
But, there's nothing wrong with enjoying something even if it's flawed, as long as you recognise the flaws.
For me, there's something magical about this game that a lot of people would definitely disagree with me on.
In my heart, it's a 4+ star game. In objective terms, I should probably give it 3 and a half at best.
But you know...Maybe sometimes, it's about what you can see in it what others can't.
Somehow has more bullshit and rubberbanding than Mariokart 8, also feels like they copy pasted the previous game and slapped a new coat of paint on it.
2017
This sequel improves upon the original in leaps and bounds; the controls feel less stiff, the main digging mechanic is more fleshed out + more mobility options and fun gameplay additions. The moment to moment gameplay is super addicting, and the map is huge.
My one big gripe in the last game with it having linear progression has been fixed here with a well-realised menu where the options do really affect your actual gameplay and allow you to play the game in more ways than one.
I think it does such a great job of accommodating players who are both new to this genre as well as veterans.
The presentation is simply gorgeous, too. The last game was by no means ugly, but the art style here bounds off the screen and brings the environment characters to life with vibrant colours and meticulous polygonal cel-shading.
The soundtrack by El Huervo completes the picture with atmospheric, meandering melodies, reminiscent of the sprawling labyrinths you create underground.
The story is nothing amazing imo, but it does continue where the first game left off and has a satisfactory ending.
The only part where I think Steamworld Dig 2 really undermines (ha) itself is with the final boss, and that is something that the former game also had trouble with. It's mostly underwhelming, that's all.
Anyways, apart from that, Steamworld Dig 2 is an amazing game, and great example of the metroidvania genre.
Like one of the other reviewers here said, I'm genuinely impressed by just how much the developers were able to improve upon their game's formula and make something genuinely fun and exciting.
Really hope they make a Steamworld Dig 3 someday.
My one big gripe in the last game with it having linear progression has been fixed here with a well-realised menu where the options do really affect your actual gameplay and allow you to play the game in more ways than one.
I think it does such a great job of accommodating players who are both new to this genre as well as veterans.
The presentation is simply gorgeous, too. The last game was by no means ugly, but the art style here bounds off the screen and brings the environment characters to life with vibrant colours and meticulous polygonal cel-shading.
The soundtrack by El Huervo completes the picture with atmospheric, meandering melodies, reminiscent of the sprawling labyrinths you create underground.
The story is nothing amazing imo, but it does continue where the first game left off and has a satisfactory ending.
The only part where I think Steamworld Dig 2 really undermines (ha) itself is with the final boss, and that is something that the former game also had trouble with. It's mostly underwhelming, that's all.
Anyways, apart from that, Steamworld Dig 2 is an amazing game, and great example of the metroidvania genre.
Like one of the other reviewers here said, I'm genuinely impressed by just how much the developers were able to improve upon their game's formula and make something genuinely fun and exciting.
Really hope they make a Steamworld Dig 3 someday.
From now on, I'm gonna be calling every QTE ever a Jackanism
2004
Twinsanity, when you really look at it, is an unfortunate mishap of exerted ambition that didn't reach its true height.
It's an unfinished game, but what is there, as well as the unearthed cut content, gives you a taste of what could've potentially been; The scaffolding inspires that sense of mystery that makes your imagination run rampantly wild of what could've been in the cards for this game.
And I think partly, that is why I can't help but be fascinated by it.
The more open level design reminiscent of Jak and Daxter, the environments, the tongue-in-cheek writing followed with lively voice acting and the incredible soundtrack by Spiralmouth. The building blocks are all there, and I think given the proper time and effort, could've been a fun and standout Crash game.
The aforementioned soundtrack is one of my favourite video game soundtracks ever made. Spiralmouth hit it out of the park with Twinsanity's OST, which is composed of acapella performances only for most if not all tracks. It is truly unique, especially for a video game ost, and really elevates the settings/scenarios to a whole new level.
The Evil Twins track is probably my favourite, such a goddamn cool piece of music.
Would be happy to see a remake one day that puts all the missing pieces together and completes this title.
Twinsanity, although far from perfect, feels so earnest and brimming with potential...it's hard not to feel like it deserves a second chance.
It's an unfinished game, but what is there, as well as the unearthed cut content, gives you a taste of what could've potentially been; The scaffolding inspires that sense of mystery that makes your imagination run rampantly wild of what could've been in the cards for this game.
And I think partly, that is why I can't help but be fascinated by it.
The more open level design reminiscent of Jak and Daxter, the environments, the tongue-in-cheek writing followed with lively voice acting and the incredible soundtrack by Spiralmouth. The building blocks are all there, and I think given the proper time and effort, could've been a fun and standout Crash game.
The aforementioned soundtrack is one of my favourite video game soundtracks ever made. Spiralmouth hit it out of the park with Twinsanity's OST, which is composed of acapella performances only for most if not all tracks. It is truly unique, especially for a video game ost, and really elevates the settings/scenarios to a whole new level.
The Evil Twins track is probably my favourite, such a goddamn cool piece of music.
Would be happy to see a remake one day that puts all the missing pieces together and completes this title.
Twinsanity, although far from perfect, feels so earnest and brimming with potential...it's hard not to feel like it deserves a second chance.
2015
As unassuming as it seemed to me at first, Yakuza 0 quickly grew on me so much, that it made me mad at myself for not playing it sooner.
The story in this game is on another level entirely, and I enjoyed it so much that I was ravenous and giddy every time I finished a session, and couldn't wait to start the next.
The serious moments and the stupidly funny ones are balanced by the main story keeping a weighty hold on the tone at almost all times, while reserving the lighthearted, ridiculous stories for the side quests, which at times are just so damn stupid but with a lick of humour.
This game distinctly recognises when it needs to keep a poker face, whilst acknowledging its stupendously over-the-top nature at the right intervals. Even the more out of pocket quests never manage to feel out of place or tonedeaf.
The combat is fun, although sometimes it can feel button-mashy if you don't really experiment with combos or upgrade your skill tree that much. It's undeniable, however, that it will never not be funny to grab a bike or vending machine off the side of the road and beat the living daylights out of someone with it (can you tell my favourite is Beast style?).
I struggle to really quantify everything I want to say about this game, because there is SO MUCH to it. The amount of minigames available, things to do and see, and the atmosphere + scope of Yakuza 0 is staggering. It's a 50-ish hour game if you're just doing the story, but you could easily sink over 100 if you want to see everything it has to offer.
The real estate and cabaret side quests feel a bit dragged out, but this is a nitpick and doesn't affect the game overall.
The two protagonists are both so incredibly charismatic and full of personality, it's hard not to become attached to them as you follow their own struggles that, at first glance, seem disconnected.
I loved the dichotomy of Kiryu's image being an intimidating, stoic muscled brute - until the game shows you he's also somewhat shy and reserved, and a kind, gentle soul despite also being able to kick ass when trouble brews.
Majima is none the worse, his embodiment of a wildcard is nothing short of awesome. He's more light on his feet compared to Kiryu's playstyle, which I kinda preferred. His introduction scene in this title is also jaw-droppingly good.
He's such a goofy character that can snap around to being viciously brutal at the drop of a hat, I love it. He's a lot of fun to play as, and to follow along with.
Looking past the protagonists, all the other characters are fantastic too, including the substory characters and the villains.
I loved Nishiki in particular, his interactions with Kiryu and the relationship between the two of them is wholesome, they're real bros.
Another favourite of mine was Kuze, an absolute beast of a man with boundless tenacity.
The soundtrack is rich in quality, quantity, variety and zest!
I'm inclined to say it's one of the best soundtracks I've come across in recent years.
Even the minigames have hype themes for no reason (I'm looking at you, 'Red Radical Rage', 'Beyond the Speed', 'Money Makes Money', 'Trouble Shooting Star' and 'Interplanetary Spark'!!!).
I could keep gushing about this game...honestly, if you haven't played it, you're missing out.
Looking forward to playing Kiwami and onwards..!
The story in this game is on another level entirely, and I enjoyed it so much that I was ravenous and giddy every time I finished a session, and couldn't wait to start the next.
The serious moments and the stupidly funny ones are balanced by the main story keeping a weighty hold on the tone at almost all times, while reserving the lighthearted, ridiculous stories for the side quests, which at times are just so damn stupid but with a lick of humour.
This game distinctly recognises when it needs to keep a poker face, whilst acknowledging its stupendously over-the-top nature at the right intervals. Even the more out of pocket quests never manage to feel out of place or tonedeaf.
The combat is fun, although sometimes it can feel button-mashy if you don't really experiment with combos or upgrade your skill tree that much. It's undeniable, however, that it will never not be funny to grab a bike or vending machine off the side of the road and beat the living daylights out of someone with it (can you tell my favourite is Beast style?).
I struggle to really quantify everything I want to say about this game, because there is SO MUCH to it. The amount of minigames available, things to do and see, and the atmosphere + scope of Yakuza 0 is staggering. It's a 50-ish hour game if you're just doing the story, but you could easily sink over 100 if you want to see everything it has to offer.
The real estate and cabaret side quests feel a bit dragged out, but this is a nitpick and doesn't affect the game overall.
The two protagonists are both so incredibly charismatic and full of personality, it's hard not to become attached to them as you follow their own struggles that, at first glance, seem disconnected.
I loved the dichotomy of Kiryu's image being an intimidating, stoic muscled brute - until the game shows you he's also somewhat shy and reserved, and a kind, gentle soul despite also being able to kick ass when trouble brews.
Majima is none the worse, his embodiment of a wildcard is nothing short of awesome. He's more light on his feet compared to Kiryu's playstyle, which I kinda preferred. His introduction scene in this title is also jaw-droppingly good.
He's such a goofy character that can snap around to being viciously brutal at the drop of a hat, I love it. He's a lot of fun to play as, and to follow along with.
Looking past the protagonists, all the other characters are fantastic too, including the substory characters and the villains.
I loved Nishiki in particular, his interactions with Kiryu and the relationship between the two of them is wholesome, they're real bros.
Another favourite of mine was Kuze, an absolute beast of a man with boundless tenacity.
The soundtrack is rich in quality, quantity, variety and zest!
I'm inclined to say it's one of the best soundtracks I've come across in recent years.
Even the minigames have hype themes for no reason (I'm looking at you, 'Red Radical Rage', 'Beyond the Speed', 'Money Makes Money', 'Trouble Shooting Star' and 'Interplanetary Spark'!!!).
I could keep gushing about this game...honestly, if you haven't played it, you're missing out.
Looking forward to playing Kiwami and onwards..!
Honestly all in all, this feels like the original game elevated to its best form. It looks and sounds great and feels great to play.
And now with the modern release, it's easier than ever to play the grandfather of RTS games with other people.
The only complaint I have with it is the excessive DLC and constantly pushing it in your face. Reminds me a bit of Paradox's practices.
But if you look past that, this is probably AOE II at its best.
And now with the modern release, it's easier than ever to play the grandfather of RTS games with other people.
The only complaint I have with it is the excessive DLC and constantly pushing it in your face. Reminds me a bit of Paradox's practices.
But if you look past that, this is probably AOE II at its best.
2017
Captain Backwater really is the perfect name for this game, this looks and plays like a forgotten PC game from the 90s but for some reason this was released in 2017.
It works, but that's the best thing I can say about it. The Bejeweled minigame in Plants vs Zombies was more entertaining than this.
It works, but that's the best thing I can say about it. The Bejeweled minigame in Plants vs Zombies was more entertaining than this.
2024
Liveleak influencer simulator, pretty much.
Similar to Lethal Company in concept but now you film your teammates getting ripped a new one by the monsters and get famous online.
It's fine, but there isn't that much content in the game which is sort of reflected in the price.
Fun with friends but public lobbies are plagued by hackers and technical issues in general, so keep that in mind.
Similar to Lethal Company in concept but now you film your teammates getting ripped a new one by the monsters and get famous online.
It's fine, but there isn't that much content in the game which is sort of reflected in the price.
Fun with friends but public lobbies are plagued by hackers and technical issues in general, so keep that in mind.