ebern
2022
This review contains spoilers
This was unlike any other game I have played before! I normally gravitate towards cute/quirky games that are lighthearted and fun above all else. I felt like this game gave me a platform to play a different type of game that is more aligned with the stereotypical themes of popular modern adult games, but without all of the shooting and killing that always turns me off.
I feel like this game is super important and pivotal in demonstrating that to be well-made and well received a game doesn't need to be centered around intense action/shooting/or combat. Stray is exciting and fresh! I feel like right now we are in this age where everything is a remake, a reboot, a sequel, or inspired by something else. It was refreshing to play something that is a standalone idea.
I felt nervous as the story went on that I would be faced with a large boss fight at the end, but I was pleasantly surprised that the final sequence was just a cat being a cat!
I feel like this game is super important and pivotal in demonstrating that to be well-made and well received a game doesn't need to be centered around intense action/shooting/or combat. Stray is exciting and fresh! I feel like right now we are in this age where everything is a remake, a reboot, a sequel, or inspired by something else. It was refreshing to play something that is a standalone idea.
I felt nervous as the story went on that I would be faced with a large boss fight at the end, but I was pleasantly surprised that the final sequence was just a cat being a cat!
2023
One of my favorite games is Garden Story and I found myself interested in this game because of the resemblance to each other. What can I say? I love a cute little nonbinary lead that wants to be a warrior and keep their friends safe.
This game was super cozy and relaxing. The theming and music felt really well done and exciting. My biggest complaint is that some of the adventuring felt a little monotonous and repetitive, resulting in me not wanting to explore much unless I had to go somewhere for a quest. That being said, I do feel like there were some really cool artistic and heartfelt moments made... even with the simplicity of the gameplay. I loved the relationship building between the characters. Two moments I felt really wowed by the art direction were definitely during Chorus' dream scape and during the final boss fight. It was so cool!
This was a nice, short game that made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
I haven't done the epilogue yet.
This game was super cozy and relaxing. The theming and music felt really well done and exciting. My biggest complaint is that some of the adventuring felt a little monotonous and repetitive, resulting in me not wanting to explore much unless I had to go somewhere for a quest. That being said, I do feel like there were some really cool artistic and heartfelt moments made... even with the simplicity of the gameplay. I loved the relationship building between the characters. Two moments I felt really wowed by the art direction were definitely during Chorus' dream scape and during the final boss fight. It was so cool!
This was a nice, short game that made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
I haven't done the epilogue yet.
2023
WOW!
First, I am so so sorry Oatchi that I did not like your character design when I first saw a photo. That was so wrong of me! You're perfect <3
I love the Pikmin franchise. This game feels like a love letter to games 1-3. I feel like they took everything good from the previous games, and really listened and changed the features that people weren't as into. I cannot express how fun it is to play this game. I even had fun navigating through the menus... its just so satisfying and cute and wonderful.
I am a little ways into the post game and am loving the callbacks to Pikmin 1. Am also just so happy to have more areas to explore!
If I had any complaint... I do wish that we had the opportunity/need to utilize the White and Pink Pikmin more. They felt a bit forgotten at times!
My top two favs are definitely the Blue and Ice Pikmin. They are the cutest to me, and also feel like have the best abilities to play with.
First, I am so so sorry Oatchi that I did not like your character design when I first saw a photo. That was so wrong of me! You're perfect <3
I love the Pikmin franchise. This game feels like a love letter to games 1-3. I feel like they took everything good from the previous games, and really listened and changed the features that people weren't as into. I cannot express how fun it is to play this game. I even had fun navigating through the menus... its just so satisfying and cute and wonderful.
I am a little ways into the post game and am loving the callbacks to Pikmin 1. Am also just so happy to have more areas to explore!
If I had any complaint... I do wish that we had the opportunity/need to utilize the White and Pink Pikmin more. They felt a bit forgotten at times!
My top two favs are definitely the Blue and Ice Pikmin. They are the cutest to me, and also feel like have the best abilities to play with.
2020
This game has been really monumental to me because it has opened up a new genre of games into my backlog that I did not even know I was interested in. Gaming is a hobby that I have only gotten into seriously in the past few years or so, and I am constantly learning about what interests/engages me. Honestly before discovering Coffee Talk, I don't think I even knew this sort of game existed. I have been a long-time lover and supporter of Lofi Girl, as a channel that was a place of calm for me through my four years of college...Now I am finding that same vibe in a quirky visual novel! So fun.
I love all of the characters, and the fantasy beings that they represent. I also appreciate how they wove in social commentary without being too dark or in your face about it. Felt like they stayed on tone with the cozy-vibe, while also being grounded, realistic, and meaningful.
I love the art direction, I love the simplicity of the gameplay, and I LOVE how it made me feel to play!
If I had any gripes to mention... I do wish it was longer! I also unlocked the, I guess you could call it, secret ending... but I did have to look at a guide. I think I may have liked a little more specific instructions/an easier way to unlock new parts of the story without having to skip through tons of dialogue. I also wish there were more opportunities to make drinks so that I could unlock every special drink in story mode rather than doing it at the end!
As far as the post game goes, while there isn't a ton to do, I did love being able to scroll through the official art (including early renderings of characters) as well as comic strips. These additions, along with the daily newspaper, made the small scope of the coffee shop really feel like it was a part of a much larger world.
All in all - beautiful art direction, and a beautiful story. I wish I lived in the Coffee Talk world! Will be starting Episode 2 shortly.
I love all of the characters, and the fantasy beings that they represent. I also appreciate how they wove in social commentary without being too dark or in your face about it. Felt like they stayed on tone with the cozy-vibe, while also being grounded, realistic, and meaningful.
I love the art direction, I love the simplicity of the gameplay, and I LOVE how it made me feel to play!
If I had any gripes to mention... I do wish it was longer! I also unlocked the, I guess you could call it, secret ending... but I did have to look at a guide. I think I may have liked a little more specific instructions/an easier way to unlock new parts of the story without having to skip through tons of dialogue. I also wish there were more opportunities to make drinks so that I could unlock every special drink in story mode rather than doing it at the end!
As far as the post game goes, while there isn't a ton to do, I did love being able to scroll through the official art (including early renderings of characters) as well as comic strips. These additions, along with the daily newspaper, made the small scope of the coffee shop really feel like it was a part of a much larger world.
All in all - beautiful art direction, and a beautiful story. I wish I lived in the Coffee Talk world! Will be starting Episode 2 shortly.
2019
This solidifies itself as my favorite game of all time because it is the game that launched me into gaming as an adult hobby in the fall of 2021. At the time, my partner and I were long-distance and alternating free weekends at each other's places. Hi Zach :)
Zach is and has been a big fan of playing games and I, having been interested myself but unsure of where to start, begun to show more interest in sharing this hobby. Of course, we started by playing Mario Kart/Mario Party together, before graduating to Overcooked and It Takes Two. I also spent time watching him play Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley and seeing the joy/excitement/relaxation these titles brought him, I wanted to find that for myself too!
At the time, he was also working long days on most weekends... so I often had time to fill during the days I visited. One weekend, he downloaded Superliminal for me to try out while he was gone. I felt so special that he thought of me and set up this cozy day for me. I LOVED it. I played it in one sitting and then immediately started a replay with the overlayed commentary.
This is less of a review and more of a retelling to as why this game is so meaningful for ME, but seriously, it is so good. You should go play it.
A note - as someone that experiences motion sickness while playing first person perspective, I also appreciated being able to alter the FOV and go at my own pace. That is so important.
Zach is and has been a big fan of playing games and I, having been interested myself but unsure of where to start, begun to show more interest in sharing this hobby. Of course, we started by playing Mario Kart/Mario Party together, before graduating to Overcooked and It Takes Two. I also spent time watching him play Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley and seeing the joy/excitement/relaxation these titles brought him, I wanted to find that for myself too!
At the time, he was also working long days on most weekends... so I often had time to fill during the days I visited. One weekend, he downloaded Superliminal for me to try out while he was gone. I felt so special that he thought of me and set up this cozy day for me. I LOVED it. I played it in one sitting and then immediately started a replay with the overlayed commentary.
This is less of a review and more of a retelling to as why this game is so meaningful for ME, but seriously, it is so good. You should go play it.
A note - as someone that experiences motion sickness while playing first person perspective, I also appreciated being able to alter the FOV and go at my own pace. That is so important.