dwarftopia
2020
I respect the fuck out of vanripper for making a game specifically tailored towards generating art of demon girls in suits and succeeding spectacularly.
Fun fact, this game's music was provided by a guy who used to make furry porn flash games. The more you know!
Fun fact, this game's music was provided by a guy who used to make furry porn flash games. The more you know!
2013
A simple concept executed perfectly.
The frantic pace of the gameplay perfectly complements the mercilessly realistic setting: you strive to do your job as an immigration officer efficiently because it truly feels like your life and your family's depend on it, and you hold my breath every time you let someone through in fear of a dreaded citation.
Papers, Please's world is bleak for everyone, and you're constantly reminded of that through some unique characters the game throws your way every so often, who each struggle to get by just as you do. They also serve to remind you that you aren't just dealing with some nameless NPCs; all of your actions and decisions as an immigration officer affect other people's lives, and you're given complete freedom on what to do with them. Help someone out illegally out of compassion, detain people or not for the slightest irregularity, collaborate with a secret group aiming to weaken the country's regime, etc.
Even from a purely presentation standpoint this game is incredible, the pixel art is beautiful and very detailed, the interface is clean and heavily promotes finding your own way to manage it, the sprites are all memorable. The fact that there are a grand total of two music tracks in the whole game and all you hear most of the time are just the diegetic sounds of people in line, documents being shuffled around and your own character's tensed breathing just further adds to the incredible atmosphere.
By the way there are 20 endings in total which all depend on your choices, by beating the game once I've only barely scratched the surface of how it can be played.
Papers, Please is fucking brilliant. Glory to Arstotzka.
Score: 10
The frantic pace of the gameplay perfectly complements the mercilessly realistic setting: you strive to do your job as an immigration officer efficiently because it truly feels like your life and your family's depend on it, and you hold my breath every time you let someone through in fear of a dreaded citation.
Papers, Please's world is bleak for everyone, and you're constantly reminded of that through some unique characters the game throws your way every so often, who each struggle to get by just as you do. They also serve to remind you that you aren't just dealing with some nameless NPCs; all of your actions and decisions as an immigration officer affect other people's lives, and you're given complete freedom on what to do with them. Help someone out illegally out of compassion, detain people or not for the slightest irregularity, collaborate with a secret group aiming to weaken the country's regime, etc.
Even from a purely presentation standpoint this game is incredible, the pixel art is beautiful and very detailed, the interface is clean and heavily promotes finding your own way to manage it, the sprites are all memorable. The fact that there are a grand total of two music tracks in the whole game and all you hear most of the time are just the diegetic sounds of people in line, documents being shuffled around and your own character's tensed breathing just further adds to the incredible atmosphere.
By the way there are 20 endings in total which all depend on your choices, by beating the game once I've only barely scratched the surface of how it can be played.
Papers, Please is fucking brilliant. Glory to Arstotzka.
Score: 10
Is the game good per se? Ehh not really.
Do I love it to death for being a beloved childhood memory? Fuck yeah.
the show clears btw
Do I love it to death for being a beloved childhood memory? Fuck yeah.
the show clears btw
2016
Sometimes I remember this game exists and promptly proceed to spent the following 7 days playing nothing but this game. Legitimately fun.
(minor spoilers ahead)
This game is great in every way, but my review isn't really about that.
I played this game at a time in my life where I was struggling heavily with motivation in my studies. I was feeling lost, as if I was just "going through the motions" from high school to university, and I was afraid that I would end up in a career that didn't make me happy.
Seeing Jill speak about having gone through the same feelings as me made me feel... understood, less alone. It was as if someone gave me a warm hug and told me "I know how you feel". It was the most cathartic thing I could have asked for.
This is my comfort game. It's soothing, it's relaxing, and it's also just a really damn good game on top.
Whenever those same fears arise again, whenever I need a respite from the world around me, I know that I can always walk into VA-11 HALL-A and feel like I'm home.
Score: 10 e lode
This game is great in every way, but my review isn't really about that.
I played this game at a time in my life where I was struggling heavily with motivation in my studies. I was feeling lost, as if I was just "going through the motions" from high school to university, and I was afraid that I would end up in a career that didn't make me happy.
Seeing Jill speak about having gone through the same feelings as me made me feel... understood, less alone. It was as if someone gave me a warm hug and told me "I know how you feel". It was the most cathartic thing I could have asked for.
This is my comfort game. It's soothing, it's relaxing, and it's also just a really damn good game on top.
Whenever those same fears arise again, whenever I need a respite from the world around me, I know that I can always walk into VA-11 HALL-A and feel like I'm home.
Score: 10 e lode
I often wonder what kind of long-term psychological effects resulted from me playing this game while depressed at age 14
2007
There isn't actually much to talk about with this game.
Puzzles are okay, GLaDOS isn't snarky enough, and I am so glad I don't get motion sickness.
Score: 7+
Puzzles are okay, GLaDOS isn't snarky enough, and I am so glad I don't get motion sickness.
Score: 7+
Marianne Fire Emblem
On one hand: better gameplay than the first game, an excuse plot so unapologetically stupid that it's hilarious, some great new additions to the cast, no Momo.
On the other hand: worse art style (imo), some weird pairings/dynamics, some not so great additions to the cast, you cannot bang Kyu.
On both hands: Porn. Lots of it. Pretty good too.
I bought this game on release day. I regret nothing.
Score: 8
On the other hand: worse art style (imo), some weird pairings/dynamics, some not so great additions to the cast, you cannot bang Kyu.
On both hands: Porn. Lots of it. Pretty good too.
I bought this game on release day. I regret nothing.
Score: 8
2017
The main character is a bassist and there's a bass playing minigame that's all I care about
2018
It's short and it's an April Fools joke but it's more VA-11 HALL-A content so it gets every pass possible.
Also this.
Score: 8-
Also this.
Score: 8-
2020
Draws very heavy inspiration from VA-11 HALL-A but considering how much I love that game it's not really a bad thing.
Streaming the entirety of this game to my friends and voicing every single character myself was truly an experience.
Score: 9-
Streaming the entirety of this game to my friends and voicing every single character myself was truly an experience.
Score: 9-
2009
A year and a half of my life that I will never get back
2017
This game is fucking great and it's a shame that it often gets overlooked when talking about Supergiant.
The sports-inspired gameplay was a bit jarring at first but it's very fun when you get the hang of it. The visuals and music are absolutely stellar but that's to be expected from Supergiant and Darren Korb. The cast is extremely solid and I love the non-linear way in which the story progresses and changes with the choices you make.
Supergiant once again prove themselves to be among the best indie developers around.
Score: 10
The sports-inspired gameplay was a bit jarring at first but it's very fun when you get the hang of it. The visuals and music are absolutely stellar but that's to be expected from Supergiant and Darren Korb. The cast is extremely solid and I love the non-linear way in which the story progresses and changes with the choices you make.
Supergiant once again prove themselves to be among the best indie developers around.
Score: 10
DDLC itself remains a great game even nowadays but Dan Salvato really hit the ball out of the park with the bonus content.
In a perfect world where the MC didn't exist, the Literature Club would have just been a group of four friends that support each other through their own individual struggles. The added side stories in this expanded version of the game give us just that, and good lord if it isn't some of the most wholesome shit I have ever seen.
The first two side stories alone almost made me cry and are worth the price tag by themselves. The remaining five just melted my heart completely. The rest of the bonus content is nice too.
Score: 10-
P.S.: being a Sayori fan is both a blessing and a curse.
In a perfect world where the MC didn't exist, the Literature Club would have just been a group of four friends that support each other through their own individual struggles. The added side stories in this expanded version of the game give us just that, and good lord if it isn't some of the most wholesome shit I have ever seen.
The first two side stories alone almost made me cry and are worth the price tag by themselves. The remaining five just melted my heart completely. The rest of the bonus content is nice too.
Score: 10-
P.S.: being a Sayori fan is both a blessing and a curse.