Nottutum
BACKER
2020
Carrion is a refreshing, bite-sized (metroid-vania?), puzzle game where you play a writhing pile of parasitic worms, trying to escape a research facility.
The main aim of the game is consume all in your path; gaining new abilities to access areas that you couldn't before. If you're lucky, there'll be plenty of screaming humans to guzzle on along the way.
There are plenty of interesting hazards and puzzles to wrap your head around along the way - as someone who normally gives up pretty easily and gives a guide; these were all logical, and satisfying to solve.
The map is a perfect size too - not too small and beautifully varied environments, but not too big, which means you can navigate with ease.
Finally, the art style. I'm a huge fan of the pixel art here, I usually find it overdone in indie titles, but the way that they animated the pile of worms, mechs, screaming humans and backgrounds is incredible - gorgeous even in 4k.
An absolute must play for the 3 hours it lasts!
The main aim of the game is consume all in your path; gaining new abilities to access areas that you couldn't before. If you're lucky, there'll be plenty of screaming humans to guzzle on along the way.
There are plenty of interesting hazards and puzzles to wrap your head around along the way - as someone who normally gives up pretty easily and gives a guide; these were all logical, and satisfying to solve.
The map is a perfect size too - not too small and beautifully varied environments, but not too big, which means you can navigate with ease.
Finally, the art style. I'm a huge fan of the pixel art here, I usually find it overdone in indie titles, but the way that they animated the pile of worms, mechs, screaming humans and backgrounds is incredible - gorgeous even in 4k.
An absolute must play for the 3 hours it lasts!
2019
The Touryst is a gorgeous, bite-sized adventure-puzzler. Set on a series of tropical isles, the game requires you to explore the scenery, talk with other holidayers, and tackle a fun to-do list on each land mass.
Interwoven with light mystic intrigue and 'dungeons', the game doesn't find time to get stale. It lasts a whole 3-4 hours and is the perfect "palate cleanser" title.
If you're looking for something simple, fun and beautiful to look at, you can do a lot worse than giving this a try!
(Currently on GamePass at time of writing)
Interwoven with light mystic intrigue and 'dungeons', the game doesn't find time to get stale. It lasts a whole 3-4 hours and is the perfect "palate cleanser" title.
If you're looking for something simple, fun and beautiful to look at, you can do a lot worse than giving this a try!
(Currently on GamePass at time of writing)
I just want to preface the score to say that FFX is one of the best Final Fantasy games in the series and the re-master on the Vita makes it even more of a joy to play in a portable format.
Unfortunately, it also comes bundled with the cringe-fest that is FFX-2, which I just can't force myself to complete, so have had to mark the collection as "Abandoned".
Unfortunately, it also comes bundled with the cringe-fest that is FFX-2, which I just can't force myself to complete, so have had to mark the collection as "Abandoned".
Pretty fun point and click adventure on the DS. The art and music is groovy, the main mechanic is pretty neat & unique and the story is fun the play through.
Sadly never completed it as my DS died - which now I think about it, is quite ironic.
Sadly never completed it as my DS died - which now I think about it, is quite ironic.
I can't even think of the amount of times I started this game and never even came close to finishing. There's something about the amazing world crafted here that you can get so lost doing even the same quests over and over, and still never get bored.
Ultimately, this is a victim of "choice paralysis" for me, I could never quite tackle the amount of quests that I picked up in the process of completing another, without feeling overwhelmed and becoming exhausted.
Shelved as the Ultimate Edition came out, which I then bought on PC as well.
Ultimately, this is a victim of "choice paralysis" for me, I could never quite tackle the amount of quests that I picked up in the process of completing another, without feeling overwhelmed and becoming exhausted.
Shelved as the Ultimate Edition came out, which I then bought on PC as well.
2018
Pretty fun when you play with friends; but as it's pretty much a requirement to do so, is incredibly difficult to fully enjoy as an adult, due to not being able to get a large group together at the same time.
Also painfully repetetive, despite the 'sandbox' nature of the gameplay loop.
Also painfully repetetive, despite the 'sandbox' nature of the gameplay loop.
2019
Heads and shoulders above Yakuza 3 - improvements in combat make the random encounters a joy to stomp through; whilst splitting a sprawling story between 4 distinctive characters means that the game never feels stale and the story keeps you engaged.
If you've made it to Yakuza 3, you owe it to yourself to play 4 - I guarantee you'll want to jump straight into 5 afterwards!
If you've made it to Yakuza 3, you owe it to yourself to play 4 - I guarantee you'll want to jump straight into 5 afterwards!
2020
Great story and satisfying fighting mechanics sadly let down by the usual suspects of a live service game. Still immensely fun, just bogged down with needless mechanics.
2019
A solid TPS with an absolutely outstanding atmosphere that oozes mystery. One of the only games where I have searched for any collectables I can to learn more about the world this game crafts.
Only really let down by it's pacing and pretty average shooting mechanics - I only used one weapon and one power through the whole game; whilst viable, it didn't inspire creativity or playfulness with it's mechanics.
Only really let down by it's pacing and pretty average shooting mechanics - I only used one weapon and one power through the whole game; whilst viable, it didn't inspire creativity or playfulness with it's mechanics.
2019
Borderlands is back after a few years with much better gameplay, satisfying weapons and with some extra mechanics and polish that makes it feel like a true sequel.
In saying that, it also brings with it the same annoying writing and long playtime which outstays it's welcome.
I'd say it's that friend who never moved out of your hometown - you grew up, but he didn't, and sure he's fun to hang out with, but you find yourself unable to relate to him anymore.
In saying that, it also brings with it the same annoying writing and long playtime which outstays it's welcome.
I'd say it's that friend who never moved out of your hometown - you grew up, but he didn't, and sure he's fun to hang out with, but you find yourself unable to relate to him anymore.
The unique nemesis system is even better in this title, with the same fun Arkham style combat and a great story set in middle earth.
Unfortunately, it’s let down by repetitive gameplay loops and a final act that outstays it’s welcome.
Worth a play if you can get it cheap, but definitely not worth full price.
Note that the problems caused by micro transactions on launch have been completely removed.
Unfortunately, it’s let down by repetitive gameplay loops and a final act that outstays it’s welcome.
Worth a play if you can get it cheap, but definitely not worth full price.
Note that the problems caused by micro transactions on launch have been completely removed.
2016
Going into this, all I read were ngative reviews that focused purely on the repetitive gameplay loop.
What's actually just benath this veneer is a powerful narrative and story, with fun gunplay, VERY well written characters and amazing set pieces. Yes, there is a repetitive gameplay loop in there too, but the systems that combine to make this loop are satisfying and fun to engage with.
Would heartily reccommend this game - come for the cool atmopshere and setting, shoot some racists and gansters, stay for a compelling story, full of memorable characters and callbacks to the older Mafia titles.
What's actually just benath this veneer is a powerful narrative and story, with fun gunplay, VERY well written characters and amazing set pieces. Yes, there is a repetitive gameplay loop in there too, but the systems that combine to make this loop are satisfying and fun to engage with.
Would heartily reccommend this game - come for the cool atmopshere and setting, shoot some racists and gansters, stay for a compelling story, full of memorable characters and callbacks to the older Mafia titles.
The controls just feel awful, I have no idea why I loved these games as a child!
2019
Really addictive and creative little puzzler that mashes together genres across video games and other media. It keeps you moving from course to course as you never know what’s coming next.
I played it through Apple Arcade and would recommend it, especially if you can get your free trial!
I played it through Apple Arcade and would recommend it, especially if you can get your free trial!
A fantastic and cute way to end a relationship, using really well thought out and creative puzzles, which requires a lot of lateral thinking and the concentrated hate of your 1000 ancestors.