Another game in the sub-genre of walking simulators set in space wherein you investigate what happened to the previous crew, but this one is actually very engaging, much like Fullbright's originator of the walking sim genre - Gone Home. Much like Gone Home, I love this game. There's really nothing much to say, you explore a space station and piece together what happened to the crew and it's all wonderfully told and voice acted and engrossing. Solid little game and I look forward to the next Fullbright experience greatly.

Beton Brutal's focus on precision platforming results in a tough, tense experience that should very well resemble drinking Dayquil for the flavor to anyone not looking to speedrun it. I disagree with that notion. If you have the patience for it, Beton will reward your curiosity. The timer in the corner and set-dressing of all attempts as runs are both illusions. You can take as long as you want to complete this, and there's no shame in that. There's an enthrallingly visceral joy in finally understanding how the game wants to proceed. Sometimes, it comes to you naturally, and sometimes, the game can work like a bit of a puzzle box focused on climbing. I still haven't reached the top of the tower yet, I keep falling. But I feel content with that because it's been a lot of fun so far.

I totally understand that this won't be to everyone's taste. But I've been having a blast with it.

This is the tale of one little bard travelling the world and singing to solve puzzles. And it is the best game I have ever played. The world is dripping with charm, filled with cute and interesting characters, hilarious and wholesome writing, packed with fun twists and turns for the story, and your only way to affect the world is by singing.

The singing mechanics are very cleverly implemented - each note corresponds to a colour and wherever you see the colour you can usually interact with that part of the world by singing that note. This results in a beautiful and excellently scored array of puzzles, interactions, and of course musical sections that never fail to delight.

This is a game brimming with atmosphere, the work that went into all the music is phenomenal, the innovative ideas behind the various challenges and how everything fits together is impressive, and the story had me in tears both of joy and sadness from beginning to end. One of my very few 5/5 games not because it's flawless, but because I feel that what it gets right it does so well that I'm compelled to overlook its flaws. It really just strikes a chord with me.

Shit writing. Like, actually ass. Apparently I'm "manipulative" for:
- telling one character I didn't drink (a "I only drink occasionally" option was NOT available in the conversation with them) and telling another that, sure enough, I only drink occasionally - why was that not an option in the other convo???? But it was in this one??? Wha.... why?????
- giving my honest opinions about the music the characters sent me, and basically just having diverse music tastes... I guess???
- telling one character that I could see myself MAYBE wanting to settle down and start a family one day way in the future, E V E N T U A L L Y, and telling another that I don't see myself settling down IMMEDIATELY RIGHT after college (I personally don't see how these two things necessarily contradict each other, since most ppl at least within my own age group wouldn't want to start a family RIGHT after secondary education let alone tertiary, but that usually means something along the lines of "i wanna see what life throws at me. if i do settle down, it'll be when I am good and ready" rather than a hard "never". but go off sis)

If I wanted to get yelled at, gaslit and accused of being "manipulative" for things that make zero logical sense to a sane person, I could just hit up my ex that I haven't spoken to in two years. I don't need to be lectured by pixels that wouldn't know what the concept of nuance or competent writing was if it hit them over the head with a brick.

The Immaculate Drag pulls you right into the melancholy of walking through a night city street with a hazy goal and a chance to meet like-minded souls. Most of them are out in the streets to take a breather, much like yourself, and next morning every encounter with them might seem like a distant dream, disconnected from a blazing sun of reality. Sometimes it's a reminder that you're not alone in your worries and painful memories, and sometimes it's a whole new perspective given as a casual remark from a total stranger that you're bound to never meet again. Same as this very night when you're out in the streets to move at your own pace towards the dawn is to never repeat again. Existing only here and now, flowing between every step and inevitably taking you closer to your next immaculate drag that might as well be the last.

I can't help but feel it was heavily inspired by El invierno en Lisboa (Winter In Lisbon) written by Antonio Muñoz Molina. It has the distinct smoky, jazzy, desperate love story vibe that dominates both the book and the game.