NeutronRock
2012
It's alright. Home does a decent job of being atmospheric and telling a simple story, and isn't a bad way to enjoy the hour or so it takes to play. But compared to other games that match that description there isn't much special here.
1999
Bright, colourful and a lot of fun. Child me absolutely loved this game. I remember how huge the tiny, linear levels felt at the time and how much tension there was when faced with the killer ant enemies.
Never finished Bugdom though, could never get past the giant stomping feet.
Never finished Bugdom though, could never get past the giant stomping feet.
1998
Dinosaur with a machine gun.. or nuclear weapon. What's not to like?
2021
Scarf is an okay game, and that's unfortunately about as much as I can say. It doesn't quite nail it's emotional story elements, the worlds are nice but not spectacular, and the puzzle platforming is a little generic - and to boot there are minor visual and gameplay issues that just scream a lack of polish. Not a bad game, but there are definitely better options in the genre.
2010
A classic of the late 2000s / early 2010s era of experimental indie flash games. A short, 10 minute experience of choices and consequences that feels far more real than its limited scope and simple graphics would suggest.
2020
An interesting tactical, permadeath dungeon crawl with the feel of a Slay the Spire-esque deckbuilder but a totally new take on the mechanics. Ring of Pain is all about upgrading your character attributes and bonus abilities, and then fighting through tactical, semi-deterministic paths of enemies, loot, and dangers.
It's got quick but clever tactics in the gameplay, and engaging longer term planning in your items and equipment - though perhaps lacks the spice of similar titles without huge focus on powerful synergies and builds. Not the best in class, but a solid entry with a wonderful design and theme.
It's got quick but clever tactics in the gameplay, and engaging longer term planning in your items and equipment - though perhaps lacks the spice of similar titles without huge focus on powerful synergies and builds. Not the best in class, but a solid entry with a wonderful design and theme.
2022
Pretty weird, but pretty cool. A big, near-empty brutalist world in which you must find a train ticket.. and just wander and see whatever you like along the way. Babbdi's strength is it's vast yet detailed setting and it's crushingly heavy atmosphere. Not one to play if you're looking for a proper "game", but very cool as an experience for an hour.
Getting out of The Shire was an insanely difficult challenge as a child. The LotR third person action titles improved massively with each game up to Return of the King, and Fellowship is unfortunately only truly fun thanks to nostalgia or a love for the source material.
2020
A really accomplished work of interactive fiction. I'll stay away from calling South of the Circle a "game", because in a lot of ways it isn't one at all - even interactive fiction feels like the wrong term, because what South of the Circle is really is a playable movie. This game tells a story of a climate research scientist stranded in Antarctica in the height of the cold war, exploring the desolate snow to find help for him and his injured pilot - but as this story unfolds you also play/watch/click through earlier memories of your character's time in Academia at Cambridge University and relationship with a Scottish woman called Clara.
Each story has something of interest, one has suspense and intrigue and the earlier memories are a more human affair - and through both are the underlying currents of Cold War tensions. The best aspect by far however are the voice performances which are genuinely fantastic for a video game.
As for the "gameplay", you input very little into South of the Circle. Dialogue options are QTE-esque button prompts, often with a choice of tone and occasionally an actual choice of substance, and between the conversations you might have to navigate forward or to objects of interest in small rooms... and as far as interaction goes that is it. I played SotC-wait, that acronym is taken. I played South of the Circle holding the controller only in one hand for 95% of the game because it just wasn't necessary to use both siders of the controller at the same time. So, be warned, if you're looki9ng for a game this is not it - but if you want a 3hr interactive experience in an emotional and tense cold war drama, then that's a very niche desire but this is exactly it.
Each story has something of interest, one has suspense and intrigue and the earlier memories are a more human affair - and through both are the underlying currents of Cold War tensions. The best aspect by far however are the voice performances which are genuinely fantastic for a video game.
As for the "gameplay", you input very little into South of the Circle. Dialogue options are QTE-esque button prompts, often with a choice of tone and occasionally an actual choice of substance, and between the conversations you might have to navigate forward or to objects of interest in small rooms... and as far as interaction goes that is it. I played SotC-wait, that acronym is taken. I played South of the Circle holding the controller only in one hand for 95% of the game because it just wasn't necessary to use both siders of the controller at the same time. So, be warned, if you're looki9ng for a game this is not it - but if you want a 3hr interactive experience in an emotional and tense cold war drama, then that's a very niche desire but this is exactly it.
2022
Superb game. Brilliantly moody and atmospheric with an unusual but engaging puzzle of identifying fictional plants by studying a brief, and strange, horticultural encyclopedia. This game will have you feeling like both a wily detective and an expert in magical flora as a mysterious plotline develops around you.
2004
Still awkward, clunky, and tedious at times like many of these games are - but kept that wonderful visual charm from the original title that made you want to keep exploring.
2021
A "movement-simulator", I'm not sure if this type of game has a specific genre yet - but the core puzzle of Heavenly Bodies is figuring out how best to move individual limbs to push, pull, and swim your way around a 2D spaceship and carry out relatively intricate tasks. The fun of Heavenly Bodies is in the neat constant failure, and the utterly whimsical reality of the events on screen. It's fun on its own, but is excellent as a co-operative title.
2003
Would happily get killed by Lu Bu again. Great game, such good fun to just slash down enemies - excellent local co-op mode too.
Improved on the original's weakest areas, but didn't maintain any of the surreal charm that made me want to play this sequel in the first place. The improvements to the combat mechanics (which felt out of place in the original) aren't close to enough to make up for the significantly less interesting mood throughout.
2022
Not without its flaws, but a stunning game to look at with a fantastic atmosphere. The range of enemies is excellent and there are some great set pieces to stumble across, but also a handful of locations that felt like a chore to enter because of how aggressive and damaging some enemy attacks were. Elden Ring can at times swing into frustration more than fun - thankfully, the positives are enough to keep going despite the occasional annoyances.