Spidercide98
2022
I was somewhat satisfied with the initial release of Super Kiwi 64. It was a neat little collection of vibesy levels with a really tight, fun 3d moveset that made you wanna just fly around for hours. I end up pretty satisfied with a game as long as you have a speedy and robust movement system in it, despite it being short and me feeling a lack of context/story to where I was.
However, with the recent Doomsday update I find myself a lot more contented with it, the context of the cutscenes and additional story really make it pop. The nonsensical new levels, though just a couple and a boss level, really add a fun comic plot that I ended up really just having fun with. It's King Melon's Robot Clone and he's going to destroy the universe just cause! When's the last time you could enjoy a silly little plotline like that?
With the spice of the added cutscenes/dialogue/voices, it pushes the game that much more for me to being a really enjoyable little experience. It's only 3 dollars but in it you'll find a really tight platformer that gives you some neat levels to explore and collect stuff, and with a lot of charm of a solo dev just making a fun little romp with their characters.
However, with the recent Doomsday update I find myself a lot more contented with it, the context of the cutscenes and additional story really make it pop. The nonsensical new levels, though just a couple and a boss level, really add a fun comic plot that I ended up really just having fun with. It's King Melon's Robot Clone and he's going to destroy the universe just cause! When's the last time you could enjoy a silly little plotline like that?
With the spice of the added cutscenes/dialogue/voices, it pushes the game that much more for me to being a really enjoyable little experience. It's only 3 dollars but in it you'll find a really tight platformer that gives you some neat levels to explore and collect stuff, and with a lot of charm of a solo dev just making a fun little romp with their characters.
1998
Don't go into this thinking it'll be some cerebral meditation on what it means to be struggling with mental illness or anything like that, it's not that kinda game. Also if you're playing the gog version play it through scummvm to take out the nasty cursor smearing and improve the performance some.
That being said, for what it is it's a neat story to piece together as you play along, with some really interesting locations and scenarios you're brought to. It gets pretty campy, and the plot can be pretty easy to piece together early on, but it's got a nice heart to it I can't help but admire. The game just has that weird experimental vibe I love from this era of adventure games, pushing the envelope on the subjects it depicts, whilst not being just a sludgefest of "what edgy thing can we cram in here?" cough HARVESTER cough
It's got a nice amount of thought put into the design, the characters, and keeps you pretty engaged throughout (mostly, except for the part before the finale anyhow).
It's also one of the better late 90s point and clicks about signposting and no moon-logic, and a lot of the puzzles being simple yet engaging. You will have to pixel hunt for some items though, and there are the matching game puzzles that are lackluster, as well as one puzzle that was real tedious.
Overall though I was surprised with how streamlined this game's design was compared to contemporary/earlier point and clicks. That and its intriguing story; far out scenarios and characters, as well as a likeable dork protag all make for a game worth seeing through at the very least.
That being said, for what it is it's a neat story to piece together as you play along, with some really interesting locations and scenarios you're brought to. It gets pretty campy, and the plot can be pretty easy to piece together early on, but it's got a nice heart to it I can't help but admire. The game just has that weird experimental vibe I love from this era of adventure games, pushing the envelope on the subjects it depicts, whilst not being just a sludgefest of "what edgy thing can we cram in here?" cough HARVESTER cough
It's got a nice amount of thought put into the design, the characters, and keeps you pretty engaged throughout (mostly, except for the part before the finale anyhow).
It's also one of the better late 90s point and clicks about signposting and no moon-logic, and a lot of the puzzles being simple yet engaging. You will have to pixel hunt for some items though, and there are the matching game puzzles that are lackluster, as well as one puzzle that was real tedious.
Overall though I was surprised with how streamlined this game's design was compared to contemporary/earlier point and clicks. That and its intriguing story; far out scenarios and characters, as well as a likeable dork protag all make for a game worth seeing through at the very least.
2023
A really emotionally investing horror-adventure narrative that makes me question why more games don't have characters as gripping as this one?! It delivers a fantastic unfolding mystery at the bottom of this oceanic research station that's made even better with this cast of husband, wife, and endearing creepy robot bear that all are dealing with the grief of losing a child.
When I say the character dynamics are strong I MEAN it, the dialogue between these 3 is great and informs their characters and takes you through their arcs to see how this traumatizing story under the sea leaves them. And that's to say nothing of the EXCELLENT horror visuals, all the interactable 3D setpieces are marvelously gory and unpleasant. They really toy with some creative visuals and different ways to see the human body mutilated. I will say however the CG cutscenes were a bit hard to watch because of how dark and confusing the choreography/cinematography looks, it's hard to tell what's happening half the time and most of the death scenes in the game suffer from being weirdly shot and vague.
All in all, it's a really great point and click that doesn't fall into the mistakes others make, it's pretty easy to grasp and fun to figure out, and it's got such a great narrative it's my narrative game of the year for sure. You owe it to yourself to play through it and get attached to these lovably flawed characters in the torment nexus.
When I say the character dynamics are strong I MEAN it, the dialogue between these 3 is great and informs their characters and takes you through their arcs to see how this traumatizing story under the sea leaves them. And that's to say nothing of the EXCELLENT horror visuals, all the interactable 3D setpieces are marvelously gory and unpleasant. They really toy with some creative visuals and different ways to see the human body mutilated. I will say however the CG cutscenes were a bit hard to watch because of how dark and confusing the choreography/cinematography looks, it's hard to tell what's happening half the time and most of the death scenes in the game suffer from being weirdly shot and vague.
All in all, it's a really great point and click that doesn't fall into the mistakes others make, it's pretty easy to grasp and fun to figure out, and it's got such a great narrative it's my narrative game of the year for sure. You owe it to yourself to play through it and get attached to these lovably flawed characters in the torment nexus.
This review contains spoilers
What I'll say here will sound counter-intuitive and somewhat inflammatory, but I genuinely believe in what I'll be saying so strap in.
I've attempted to play this game countless times on, let's say not original hardware, and throughout all those attempts I never made a dent past the second level. It is a grueling, tedious slog that sends you back on your way like a Chaplin-esque pratfall at your expense. You as Jekyll, attempting to make your way to your wedding and fighting the Hyde inside you, must face the many MANY obstacles ahead. Whether they be the work of demons silently influencing the townsfolk or natural mishaps and provocations that'll send Jekyll over the edge to Hyde. You are challenged to keep Jekyll calm amidst this constant chaos lest he turn to Hyde and either regain his composure or die right where he began.
As I've said, it is grueling, it is tedious, and I haven't even seen far into the game myself. However I can't help but be captivated by anti-game meta narrative at play, intended or not it gives me the kind of feeling that might drive people who play Pathologic to keep going with that game. You have to succeed as Jekyll, resist temptation of falling back as Hyde and being overwhelmed by your demons and triumph non-violently, turning the other cheek to all the vitriol the game itself throws at you. It's a Sisyphean task, and isn't that enticing in of itself? I don't have to beat it to appreciate that built into the very gameplay is a greek tragedy that instills the horror of the original story into the meta narrative, that instills it within the player. Maybe I'm a masochist, but I'll pop this game in every now and then just to enjoy the atmosphere of it all, the beautiful daytime stroll belying the bubbling anxiety and dread of becoming the monster again and undoing the progress you've so carefully maintained.
And I do have to compliment the atmosphere, the artistry of the game. The music has this victorian gothic kind of flavor that sets the mood for the game perfectly, and the pixel art just as well. The palette chosen and the black outlined style pixel art make for a kind of pulpy horror feel that is just great, especially in the Hyde section under the moonlight and with everything in ruins and facing ugly odd demons. It's the NES sure, and it's primitive, but I think they made the most with the limitations and it makes for a good horror mood. Add to that the limited story that, without dialogue presents itself clearly and the stakes understood through its' gameplay. I really appreciate the effort put into making a good and bad ending, however limited, that feels true to the story and doesn't just give a saccharine happy end. The boss fight at the end, which in the Japanese version when the boss dies has a silhouette of the main demon impaled on the Church's cross, and that's a pretty damn awesome conclusion, as well as the ambiguity of the wedding scene where the monster in Jekyll still lives... It's just real neat little story details! And while nes RPGs and games like Ninja Gaiden have more fleshed out stories, the implied story in this game plus the gameplay further nailing down the themes makes it special in my eyes.
All this to say, I'll probably never beat this game in my lifetime, and there's a lot unfair about it that could be done better. Could this game having a dodge roll for Jekyll make it so much better? I think so, as a further nonviolent approach, but maybe that clashes with the whole idea of Jekyll "keeping his composure". All in all, I think this game does something really cool with its sparse horror narrative, its chilling atmosphere and art, and anxiety inducing gameplay that comes together to make a game that is a futile effort that you can appreciate. This could've been just a Castlevania type throw potions to kill enemies as Jekyll and save the princess type game par for the course, and a lot of people wanted that out of it I think. But I really DO appreciate it as this kinda anti-game where you have to beat it as a composed non-violent Jekyll, perhaps stumbling as Hyde along the way, but still just moving forward against all the frustration and odds with a brisk walk through the English countryside.
TL;DR : This but unironically https://youtu.be/EjXn5qiM8Zw?t=903
I've attempted to play this game countless times on, let's say not original hardware, and throughout all those attempts I never made a dent past the second level. It is a grueling, tedious slog that sends you back on your way like a Chaplin-esque pratfall at your expense. You as Jekyll, attempting to make your way to your wedding and fighting the Hyde inside you, must face the many MANY obstacles ahead. Whether they be the work of demons silently influencing the townsfolk or natural mishaps and provocations that'll send Jekyll over the edge to Hyde. You are challenged to keep Jekyll calm amidst this constant chaos lest he turn to Hyde and either regain his composure or die right where he began.
As I've said, it is grueling, it is tedious, and I haven't even seen far into the game myself. However I can't help but be captivated by anti-game meta narrative at play, intended or not it gives me the kind of feeling that might drive people who play Pathologic to keep going with that game. You have to succeed as Jekyll, resist temptation of falling back as Hyde and being overwhelmed by your demons and triumph non-violently, turning the other cheek to all the vitriol the game itself throws at you. It's a Sisyphean task, and isn't that enticing in of itself? I don't have to beat it to appreciate that built into the very gameplay is a greek tragedy that instills the horror of the original story into the meta narrative, that instills it within the player. Maybe I'm a masochist, but I'll pop this game in every now and then just to enjoy the atmosphere of it all, the beautiful daytime stroll belying the bubbling anxiety and dread of becoming the monster again and undoing the progress you've so carefully maintained.
And I do have to compliment the atmosphere, the artistry of the game. The music has this victorian gothic kind of flavor that sets the mood for the game perfectly, and the pixel art just as well. The palette chosen and the black outlined style pixel art make for a kind of pulpy horror feel that is just great, especially in the Hyde section under the moonlight and with everything in ruins and facing ugly odd demons. It's the NES sure, and it's primitive, but I think they made the most with the limitations and it makes for a good horror mood. Add to that the limited story that, without dialogue presents itself clearly and the stakes understood through its' gameplay. I really appreciate the effort put into making a good and bad ending, however limited, that feels true to the story and doesn't just give a saccharine happy end. The boss fight at the end, which in the Japanese version when the boss dies has a silhouette of the main demon impaled on the Church's cross, and that's a pretty damn awesome conclusion, as well as the ambiguity of the wedding scene where the monster in Jekyll still lives... It's just real neat little story details! And while nes RPGs and games like Ninja Gaiden have more fleshed out stories, the implied story in this game plus the gameplay further nailing down the themes makes it special in my eyes.
All this to say, I'll probably never beat this game in my lifetime, and there's a lot unfair about it that could be done better. Could this game having a dodge roll for Jekyll make it so much better? I think so, as a further nonviolent approach, but maybe that clashes with the whole idea of Jekyll "keeping his composure". All in all, I think this game does something really cool with its sparse horror narrative, its chilling atmosphere and art, and anxiety inducing gameplay that comes together to make a game that is a futile effort that you can appreciate. This could've been just a Castlevania type throw potions to kill enemies as Jekyll and save the princess type game par for the course, and a lot of people wanted that out of it I think. But I really DO appreciate it as this kinda anti-game where you have to beat it as a composed non-violent Jekyll, perhaps stumbling as Hyde along the way, but still just moving forward against all the frustration and odds with a brisk walk through the English countryside.
TL;DR : This but unironically https://youtu.be/EjXn5qiM8Zw?t=903
As a big Hulk fan, this is quite possibly the BEST Hulk videogame yet and it stands as its' own game pretty darn well too. It's a character action game that gives you a vast arsenal of awesome moves and abilities that make you feel like an unstoppable behemoth, and you have the entire military as both a constant threat and excellent instruments for your destructiveness, with open world hubs that let you really take in the atmosphere and offers it's own fun with the freedom of playing this man mountain unconstrained.
I will say this game does get frustrating, and I mean real rage inducing, but for my playthrough I feel like that rage was what really got me to keep pushing through and smash up those annoying jets and helicopters. It honestly felt amazing to just let out my own anger by bashing the army men that kept killing my hulk over and over, just brute forcing through the barrage of missles and getting through those fights with sheer force of will was exhillerating. It sounds like a meme, but it really does add to the immersion and make you feel like a hulked out rage machine just wanting to be left alone.
Speaking of being left alone, the story may not be real meaty or fleshed out but its' barebones plotline at the very least hits all the halllmarks of what makes a Hulk story, the persecution and Bruce Banner struggling against the stressors outside and within to find peace. Toss in some good drama with Paul Jenkin's own Devil Hulk, made all the more special on retrospect from reading Immortal Hulk, and you got a story that is kinda threadbare but hits those spots for a Hulk fan that make it worthwhile.
It's not a perfect game, but the thrill and the fun of getting through it is a journey that has the satisfaction of beating rage games, along with the ludonarrative harmony of connecting with the Hulk on a deeper level through gameplay gets me sooo hyped and reminds me what games can really do for somebody. If you're a Hulk fan, and don't mind putting in the time to deal with frustrating enemies and bosses, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
I will say this game does get frustrating, and I mean real rage inducing, but for my playthrough I feel like that rage was what really got me to keep pushing through and smash up those annoying jets and helicopters. It honestly felt amazing to just let out my own anger by bashing the army men that kept killing my hulk over and over, just brute forcing through the barrage of missles and getting through those fights with sheer force of will was exhillerating. It sounds like a meme, but it really does add to the immersion and make you feel like a hulked out rage machine just wanting to be left alone.
Speaking of being left alone, the story may not be real meaty or fleshed out but its' barebones plotline at the very least hits all the halllmarks of what makes a Hulk story, the persecution and Bruce Banner struggling against the stressors outside and within to find peace. Toss in some good drama with Paul Jenkin's own Devil Hulk, made all the more special on retrospect from reading Immortal Hulk, and you got a story that is kinda threadbare but hits those spots for a Hulk fan that make it worthwhile.
It's not a perfect game, but the thrill and the fun of getting through it is a journey that has the satisfaction of beating rage games, along with the ludonarrative harmony of connecting with the Hulk on a deeper level through gameplay gets me sooo hyped and reminds me what games can really do for somebody. If you're a Hulk fan, and don't mind putting in the time to deal with frustrating enemies and bosses, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
2016
It's a neat little web browser novelty kinda thing. I wouldn't describe it as a game necessarily but it really does stick in my mind. Just the way Glimby's wry and funny dialogue flows with every little interaction, thecatamites' writing is always so punchy and fun in how casual it is I can't get enough of it. If you want to explore a quick little entertaining virtual diorama this'll do ya good, if you want something with a little more interactivity or plot thecatamites' other games, like their recent Of The Killer Series, is definitely the way to move from here.