davidmarallag
2020
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
9/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - One can see the meticulous detail put into building this game’s voxel cyberpunk dystopia. Neon blue everywhere, and reminiscent of Blade Runner and the very obvious Cyberpunk 2077.
Gameplay: 3 - Driving around to see the world is fun, just make sure to progress far enough to get vehicle upgrades that’ll make you more appreciative of doing so. Running around, however, isn’t as much. I think the ability to switch between first person, third person, and a side scroller perspective is great, but it also made it feel like I was running oddly when I was in third person mode. It didn’t help that navigating on foot felt like purposely made to be a chore, with convoluted paths which otherwise could have easily been a quick trip. Taking in the sights does make up for it, though.
Audio: 3 - Not much by way of soundtrack; the few that were there did complement your futuristic adventures. Voiceover was admirable, save for a few characters that sounded like they didn’t know they were recording dialogues, especially your character, who felt flat for a good amount of time in the beginning, but in my opinion, redeemed herself for the majority of the story.
Replay Value: 2.5 - Side quests had a lot of potential, but I’m delighted that there was a bit of variety. Making a decision to progress forward didn’t really have heavy implications, but it does add some replay value.
Story: 3 - The main plot felt disjointed. The themes and ideas were there, but it just didn’t seem to click together towards the end, which was quite unfortunate since there were the expected existential and philosophical questions inherent to science fiction that demanded more exploration. The missions that progress the story all felt like their own side quests.
Overall: 3.2 - It truly did feel like the sky high ambitions were there, but the execution was not as punk as was hoped for.
9/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - One can see the meticulous detail put into building this game’s voxel cyberpunk dystopia. Neon blue everywhere, and reminiscent of Blade Runner and the very obvious Cyberpunk 2077.
Gameplay: 3 - Driving around to see the world is fun, just make sure to progress far enough to get vehicle upgrades that’ll make you more appreciative of doing so. Running around, however, isn’t as much. I think the ability to switch between first person, third person, and a side scroller perspective is great, but it also made it feel like I was running oddly when I was in third person mode. It didn’t help that navigating on foot felt like purposely made to be a chore, with convoluted paths which otherwise could have easily been a quick trip. Taking in the sights does make up for it, though.
Audio: 3 - Not much by way of soundtrack; the few that were there did complement your futuristic adventures. Voiceover was admirable, save for a few characters that sounded like they didn’t know they were recording dialogues, especially your character, who felt flat for a good amount of time in the beginning, but in my opinion, redeemed herself for the majority of the story.
Replay Value: 2.5 - Side quests had a lot of potential, but I’m delighted that there was a bit of variety. Making a decision to progress forward didn’t really have heavy implications, but it does add some replay value.
Story: 3 - The main plot felt disjointed. The themes and ideas were there, but it just didn’t seem to click together towards the end, which was quite unfortunate since there were the expected existential and philosophical questions inherent to science fiction that demanded more exploration. The missions that progress the story all felt like their own side quests.
Overall: 3.2 - It truly did feel like the sky high ambitions were there, but the execution was not as punk as was hoped for.
2021
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
8/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - Colors everywhere! A mesmerizing side scroller that is filled to the brim with wonder. At certain points, it does get a bit garish, as if a hundred party poppers were blasting like cannons into your face.
Gameplay: 2.5 - It’s highly story-driven, so the legwork is really just you moving the story forward. I can see how it can be boring and repetitive for some, especially when it feels too much having to press one button to make the environment come alive. Even the rhythm aspect is a bit lacking; it’s quite nice for the first few times, but it feels like there could have been more to it since that’s the direction the game clearly wants to head with its main theme.
Audio: 3.5 - Similarly, shredding on your guitar is such a joy while the background reacts to it, but you’ll quickly hear it become too familiar as you progress. The accompanying score does a great job of complementing it, though.
Replay Value: 2 - There’s really not much to go back to except for cleaning up any missed achievements. I’m giving it a 2 because I do think that the worlds that the game presented deserve a second pass.
Story: 5 - It’s all over the place in the best way possible. From the humor to its main themes of identity and music, the game is a delightful romp through the psychedelically-induced visions of the wilderness that is rock and roll, and how that serves as the fulcrum which your protagonist finds itself in.
Overall: 3.5 - Artful in its own small, unique way.
8/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - Colors everywhere! A mesmerizing side scroller that is filled to the brim with wonder. At certain points, it does get a bit garish, as if a hundred party poppers were blasting like cannons into your face.
Gameplay: 2.5 - It’s highly story-driven, so the legwork is really just you moving the story forward. I can see how it can be boring and repetitive for some, especially when it feels too much having to press one button to make the environment come alive. Even the rhythm aspect is a bit lacking; it’s quite nice for the first few times, but it feels like there could have been more to it since that’s the direction the game clearly wants to head with its main theme.
Audio: 3.5 - Similarly, shredding on your guitar is such a joy while the background reacts to it, but you’ll quickly hear it become too familiar as you progress. The accompanying score does a great job of complementing it, though.
Replay Value: 2 - There’s really not much to go back to except for cleaning up any missed achievements. I’m giving it a 2 because I do think that the worlds that the game presented deserve a second pass.
Story: 5 - It’s all over the place in the best way possible. From the humor to its main themes of identity and music, the game is a delightful romp through the psychedelically-induced visions of the wilderness that is rock and roll, and how that serves as the fulcrum which your protagonist finds itself in.
Overall: 3.5 - Artful in its own small, unique way.
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
7/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - Whimsical yet grounded in reality, I love the diversity of styles that the game provides, tying in with its similarly varied gameplay.
Gameplay: 4.5 - Enjoyable! This, the graphics, and the story, are a tag team trio set to win championships.
Audio: 5 - Great voiceover, made more wonderful by the audio that heightens the overall experience.
Replay Value: 3.5 - I was invested, and only after completion did I realize there were some parts that you could totally miss. Each Finch family member’s story has its relatively linear path, however, so if you went through it, there’s a great chance you’ve seen most of that member’s story.
Story: 5 - Beautifully tragic. The story was also instrumental to the replay value rating, as there are so much to glean from the world, and backtracking won’t feel like a chore for the adventurous. It’s also great for those who love open-ended interpretations of story elements.
Overall: 4.5 - Leave nothing to remain of Edith Finch
7/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - Whimsical yet grounded in reality, I love the diversity of styles that the game provides, tying in with its similarly varied gameplay.
Gameplay: 4.5 - Enjoyable! This, the graphics, and the story, are a tag team trio set to win championships.
Audio: 5 - Great voiceover, made more wonderful by the audio that heightens the overall experience.
Replay Value: 3.5 - I was invested, and only after completion did I realize there were some parts that you could totally miss. Each Finch family member’s story has its relatively linear path, however, so if you went through it, there’s a great chance you’ve seen most of that member’s story.
Story: 5 - Beautifully tragic. The story was also instrumental to the replay value rating, as there are so much to glean from the world, and backtracking won’t feel like a chore for the adventurous. It’s also great for those who love open-ended interpretations of story elements.
Overall: 4.5 - Leave nothing to remain of Edith Finch
2020
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
6/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - The tragic beauty of a cyberpunk dystopia is glaringly unmistakable, but I absolutely loved the subtle shifts in environments as you moved through the world (subtle because it can be easy to miss it, since, you know, you’re running around pretty fast, or focusing on not dying).
Gameplay: 4.5 - Entertainingly challenging, which I’m lucky to say since I thrive on these types of pacing, but I know how it can be extremely difficult. Nonetheless, I had immense amounts of fun with how you progress through the levels, and the game provides a decent amount of ability-tinkering and pathfinding to get to where you need to be the way you wish to. Major points for the train level.
Audio: 5 - FREAKING ACE. EDM is the glove in this game’s hand. Though I was a bit miffed about the architect’s voiceover (even Mara sounded better; heck, even the protagonist did), the music more than compensated for that. Watch out for the little humorous side comments the enemies leave just before you slice them to bits.
Replay Value: 5 - This is a speedrunner’s wet dream (half of the word is in the game title!). Endless ways to try to get from point A to Z and everything else in between, plus added ways to challenge yourself (wish there were more Kill Runs!) and gain some bragging rights (mostly to yourself, in my case). This is not to mention the other kind of replay value, which is getting to the end after copious amounts of dying.
Story: 3 - It’s your typical kill the big baddie (plus some smaller ones; get ready for “Tom”) at the end story, with a thin revolutionary subplot that’s kinda expected of a cyberpunk dystopia and a somewhat inevitable (but eventually) obvious plot twist that could’ve been executed better.
Overall: 4.4 - Personally, this game quenches my longing for something resemblant of Mirror’s Edge. Coincidentally, I’ve also been consuming a good deal of science fiction media, so this game couldn’t have been played by me at a more opportune time. But more than anything, don’t ghost on this rewardingly intense experience of furious hack-and-slash and platforming.
6/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4.5 - The tragic beauty of a cyberpunk dystopia is glaringly unmistakable, but I absolutely loved the subtle shifts in environments as you moved through the world (subtle because it can be easy to miss it, since, you know, you’re running around pretty fast, or focusing on not dying).
Gameplay: 4.5 - Entertainingly challenging, which I’m lucky to say since I thrive on these types of pacing, but I know how it can be extremely difficult. Nonetheless, I had immense amounts of fun with how you progress through the levels, and the game provides a decent amount of ability-tinkering and pathfinding to get to where you need to be the way you wish to. Major points for the train level.
Audio: 5 - FREAKING ACE. EDM is the glove in this game’s hand. Though I was a bit miffed about the architect’s voiceover (even Mara sounded better; heck, even the protagonist did), the music more than compensated for that. Watch out for the little humorous side comments the enemies leave just before you slice them to bits.
Replay Value: 5 - This is a speedrunner’s wet dream (half of the word is in the game title!). Endless ways to try to get from point A to Z and everything else in between, plus added ways to challenge yourself (wish there were more Kill Runs!) and gain some bragging rights (mostly to yourself, in my case). This is not to mention the other kind of replay value, which is getting to the end after copious amounts of dying.
Story: 3 - It’s your typical kill the big baddie (plus some smaller ones; get ready for “Tom”) at the end story, with a thin revolutionary subplot that’s kinda expected of a cyberpunk dystopia and a somewhat inevitable (but eventually) obvious plot twist that could’ve been executed better.
Overall: 4.4 - Personally, this game quenches my longing for something resemblant of Mirror’s Edge. Coincidentally, I’ve also been consuming a good deal of science fiction media, so this game couldn’t have been played by me at a more opportune time. But more than anything, don’t ghost on this rewardingly intense experience of furious hack-and-slash and platforming.
2017
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
5/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - Before anything, having played Deliver Us the Moon not too long before this, there will be some “dregs” from that to this due to its similar nature. That said, I think the game’s small size allowed for more attention to world-building. Of course, while not the most sophisticated graphics, the attention to detail is highly appreciated.
Gameplay: 3.5 - Also another walk-and-interact-in-space type of game, it’s a relatively easy puzzler that relies heavily on replaying recordings of the crew you’re sent to investigate (more on that below).
Audio: 4 - Given its also more narrative approach, I think the game did a good job on utilizing sounds (especially the voiceover) as engagingly as can be to keep you hooked to the story (also more on this below).
Replay Value: 1 - It’s very short, though I applaud the ease with which you can backtrack on any stuff you missed. But that’s the thing, though, is you wouldn’t have missed that much to begin with if you decide to do so. Unless, of course, you’ve willingly ignored quite obvious story elements.
Story: 4 - Very short game means very short story, so don’t expect a novel out of it. However, the investigative nature of it worked really well with the replay mechanics of the game, and I particularly liked how you’re essentially a fly-on-the-wall for the most part that really brought each character to life, all while listening to them and making them even more real since you’re relying on their voices 90% of the time (there are stuff to read, too), each having a uniquely colorful personality (pun intended; if you know, you know). Top-notch storytelling via disembodied voices, and again, owing to its size, the game didn’t waste resources telling you its story with the things you can find and interact within that reveals what you need to know.
Overall: 3.3 - Short is its only shortcoming.
5/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - Before anything, having played Deliver Us the Moon not too long before this, there will be some “dregs” from that to this due to its similar nature. That said, I think the game’s small size allowed for more attention to world-building. Of course, while not the most sophisticated graphics, the attention to detail is highly appreciated.
Gameplay: 3.5 - Also another walk-and-interact-in-space type of game, it’s a relatively easy puzzler that relies heavily on replaying recordings of the crew you’re sent to investigate (more on that below).
Audio: 4 - Given its also more narrative approach, I think the game did a good job on utilizing sounds (especially the voiceover) as engagingly as can be to keep you hooked to the story (also more on this below).
Replay Value: 1 - It’s very short, though I applaud the ease with which you can backtrack on any stuff you missed. But that’s the thing, though, is you wouldn’t have missed that much to begin with if you decide to do so. Unless, of course, you’ve willingly ignored quite obvious story elements.
Story: 4 - Very short game means very short story, so don’t expect a novel out of it. However, the investigative nature of it worked really well with the replay mechanics of the game, and I particularly liked how you’re essentially a fly-on-the-wall for the most part that really brought each character to life, all while listening to them and making them even more real since you’re relying on their voices 90% of the time (there are stuff to read, too), each having a uniquely colorful personality (pun intended; if you know, you know). Top-notch storytelling via disembodied voices, and again, owing to its size, the game didn’t waste resources telling you its story with the things you can find and interact within that reveals what you need to know.
Overall: 3.3 - Short is its only shortcoming.
2020
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
4/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 5 - Just beautiful.
Gameplay: 3.5 - A captivating puzzler that truly needs a bit of mental flexing. My only qualm is that it’s a bit slow for my personal pace.
Audio: 4.5 - With environmental sounds as enchanting as the world they bring to life, it’s also such a pleasure listening to the protagonist.
Replay Value: 1- The slow pace that I’ve mentioned made it tedious to clean up missed collectibles, so make sure to soak it all in with one go as much as possible. You can’t skip cutscenes, too.
Story: 5 - Wonderfully tragic, blending mystical elements to provide some captivating magical realism.
Overall: 3.8 - Answer the call.
4/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 5 - Just beautiful.
Gameplay: 3.5 - A captivating puzzler that truly needs a bit of mental flexing. My only qualm is that it’s a bit slow for my personal pace.
Audio: 4.5 - With environmental sounds as enchanting as the world they bring to life, it’s also such a pleasure listening to the protagonist.
Replay Value: 1- The slow pace that I’ve mentioned made it tedious to clean up missed collectibles, so make sure to soak it all in with one go as much as possible. You can’t skip cutscenes, too.
Story: 5 - Wonderfully tragic, blending mystical elements to provide some captivating magical realism.
Overall: 3.8 - Answer the call.
2019
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
3/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - Pretty decent! For such a barren wasteland with the lunar surface, the indoor environments come alive, ironically, despite the desolation that fleshes out the story beautifully.
Gameplay: 4 - The puzzles add a layer of fun to an otherwise mostly-walking-and-interacting-and-finding stuff game. Even then, still engaging, as you also get to float around, walk on lunar gravity, and fiddle around with tools as part of its natural progression (among other things).
Audio: 4 - The choice of utilizing silhouettes to visualize characters meant that sound should compensate, and it did, with good voice acting that really brought out the emotions from the story.
Replay Value: 2 - Unless you’ve been thorough the first time around, there’s really not much to come back to. It’s also a bit of a struggle to go through certain parts of chapters where you have to go as part of your achievement hunting/backtracking. If you like gazing at the environment, however, that’s a valid reason.
Story: 5 - One of the best types of stories is where you can see where it’s heading, but still hits you when it does go there. As highly familiar as the story is in terms of the folly of humanity, having a non-speaking protagonist does wonders.
Overall: 3.8 - It delivered.
3/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - Pretty decent! For such a barren wasteland with the lunar surface, the indoor environments come alive, ironically, despite the desolation that fleshes out the story beautifully.
Gameplay: 4 - The puzzles add a layer of fun to an otherwise mostly-walking-and-interacting-and-finding stuff game. Even then, still engaging, as you also get to float around, walk on lunar gravity, and fiddle around with tools as part of its natural progression (among other things).
Audio: 4 - The choice of utilizing silhouettes to visualize characters meant that sound should compensate, and it did, with good voice acting that really brought out the emotions from the story.
Replay Value: 2 - Unless you’ve been thorough the first time around, there’s really not much to come back to. It’s also a bit of a struggle to go through certain parts of chapters where you have to go as part of your achievement hunting/backtracking. If you like gazing at the environment, however, that’s a valid reason.
Story: 5 - One of the best types of stories is where you can see where it’s heading, but still hits you when it does go there. As highly familiar as the story is in terms of the folly of humanity, having a non-speaking protagonist does wonders.
Overall: 3.8 - It delivered.
2021
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
2/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 3 - Pretty okay for something cartoonish, detailed enough, and the colours pop.
Gameplay: 1 - Tedious, and the ability to “run” is like a slap to the face.
Audio: 1.5 - I appreciate the voice acting and the original (?) soundtrack (which is considerably lacking in terms of options), but anything else doesn’t help the game’s case.
Replay Value: 0.5 - There are three endings as implied by the trophy list. That should have been enough to signal the inclusion of the ability to skip cutscenes. Not only that, there are dialogue options that force you to watch over them again.
Story: 1 - Potentially interesting characters that are disappointingly not fleshed out for a chance to hold this game together even at the slightest bit, but hey, as the main character, they truly are side characters as if in real life: ready to be discarded at a moment’s notice.
Overall: 1.4 - I may not want to go back to this lake.
2/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 3 - Pretty okay for something cartoonish, detailed enough, and the colours pop.
Gameplay: 1 - Tedious, and the ability to “run” is like a slap to the face.
Audio: 1.5 - I appreciate the voice acting and the original (?) soundtrack (which is considerably lacking in terms of options), but anything else doesn’t help the game’s case.
Replay Value: 0.5 - There are three endings as implied by the trophy list. That should have been enough to signal the inclusion of the ability to skip cutscenes. Not only that, there are dialogue options that force you to watch over them again.
Story: 1 - Potentially interesting characters that are disappointingly not fleshed out for a chance to hold this game together even at the slightest bit, but hey, as the main character, they truly are side characters as if in real life: ready to be discarded at a moment’s notice.
Overall: 1.4 - I may not want to go back to this lake.
2021
David’s 30 Platinum Trophies Before Turning 30
1/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - An immersible environment worthy of continued exploration (as the game would also like you to do) filled with characters that can border close to the uncanny valley. But for a developer this size, there should be much appreciation for their commitment towards high-end character graphics.
Gameplay: 3.5 - Running and talking (until you get to a point in the game that introduces a new mechanic, unless you chose a decision very early on that allows you to perform said mechanic in a different way) for the most part, but made interesting by the main plot device.
Audio: 3 - It has what I think Greek and/or Roman antiquity sounds like in all their cliched and pompous glory.
Replay Value: 5 - Though the game presents four main endings, the multiple ways to get there is as curious as it is fun (or frustrating after the nth time trying to figure it out on your own).
Story: 5 - With a philosophical inquiry as its main anchor, branching discussions on choice, morality, religion, and existence (among other things) considerably augment the game’s gameplay and replay value.
Overall: 4.1 - Not too forgettable, in my experience.
1/30
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: As close to perfection as one can get.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Excellence incarnate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Amazing experience.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5: Good game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Fun enough to be worth your time.
⭐️⭐️.5: Missed the mark in a considerable amount of elements.
⭐️⭐️: A trudge towards progress/completion.
⭐️.5: A great deal of regrets playing this.
⭐️: Truly disappointing.
.5: Kudos to anyone with a shred of bother.
The above rating descriptions pertain strictly to the overall rating after taking into consideration the elements below, for which I’ll still employ a five-point rating to get an average afterwards.
Graphics: 4 - An immersible environment worthy of continued exploration (as the game would also like you to do) filled with characters that can border close to the uncanny valley. But for a developer this size, there should be much appreciation for their commitment towards high-end character graphics.
Gameplay: 3.5 - Running and talking (until you get to a point in the game that introduces a new mechanic, unless you chose a decision very early on that allows you to perform said mechanic in a different way) for the most part, but made interesting by the main plot device.
Audio: 3 - It has what I think Greek and/or Roman antiquity sounds like in all their cliched and pompous glory.
Replay Value: 5 - Though the game presents four main endings, the multiple ways to get there is as curious as it is fun (or frustrating after the nth time trying to figure it out on your own).
Story: 5 - With a philosophical inquiry as its main anchor, branching discussions on choice, morality, religion, and existence (among other things) considerably augment the game’s gameplay and replay value.
Overall: 4.1 - Not too forgettable, in my experience.