caleb
A wild new genre appeared!
Groundbreaking storytelling. A then-new standard in 3D platforming. Charming as hell in its presentation.
Also the combat sucks hardcore and you will repeat the exact same sequence of moves about 5,000 times before you even hit the halfway mark. Sours the whole experience, if I’m being honest.
Also the combat sucks hardcore and you will repeat the exact same sequence of moves about 5,000 times before you even hit the halfway mark. Sours the whole experience, if I’m being honest.
2021
A shallow, slow, repetitive, and largely RNG-driven grind. It's a strangely addictive grind, for a while—largely carried by the throwback DOS-era aesthetic and the hints of an interesting story. But eventually you realize how much the game rewards cautious, conservative, and fundamentally boring odds-based play over experimentation or strategy, and at that point the grind really starts to grind on you. I would only recommend it as something to occupy about 10% of your brain while watching TV or half-listening to a pointless conference call.
1999
Pushed the limits of the little handheld’s technology on multiple fronts. A minor forgotten classic of exploratory platformers.
I’d say Ori and the Blind Forest owes a debt to this game if I thought anyone but my 10-year-old self actually played it.
I’d say Ori and the Blind Forest owes a debt to this game if I thought anyone but my 10-year-old self actually played it.
1992
Shout-outs to the all the 90s kids leaving their Mega Drive on over night to finish this goddamn game the next morning.
2017
The Mary Poppins of roguelite action platformers: practically perfect in every way.
“Arthas, what are you doing, my son?”
“Succeeding you, Father.”
The best RTS campaign every put to computer, packed in with a map editor so good it launched who even knows how many new genres.
“Succeeding you, Father.”
The best RTS campaign every put to computer, packed in with a map editor so good it launched who even knows how many new genres.
2018
A beautiful, probably flawless little game that made me realize I just don’t love puzzle platformers all that much.
2016
SUPER. HOT.
SUPER. HOT.
SUPER. HOT.
SUPER. HOT.
SUPER. HOT.
A richly detailed and fascinating world whose exploration is marred by a lot more horrendously dated and tedious combat than I'd remembered.
Reading, looking at, and listening to this game are all wonderful experiences. Unfortunately the worst part about Planescape: Torment is playing it.
Reading, looking at, and listening to this game are all wonderful experiences. Unfortunately the worst part about Planescape: Torment is playing it.
1990
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo. DOO.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo dubba-da, dubba-da, dubba-da, DUB...
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo dubba-da, dubba-da, dubba-da, DUB...
1990
You haven’t lived until you and your siblings have beaten this thing three times over Thanksgiving break.
lol this game is never coming out, who are we kidding
Ocarina of Time felt like pure magic, once upon a time. If you squint your eyes real hard and play just the first three or four dungeons, it still kinda does.
(Definitely don’t play on an actual N64 though. The game runs like ass. Treat yourself with some good emulation hardware instead.)
(Definitely don’t play on an actual N64 though. The game runs like ass. Treat yourself with some good emulation hardware instead.)
Rad music and sound design, nifty combat and item systems, and overall one of the most successful utilizations I've seen of the DS's unique hardware. It's a shame the protagonist is such a damp rag of nothing for such a long time. The game expects you to put up with its least likable character and his grating dialogue for hours and hours before he starts to grow the hell up.