hellerphant
2018
Came to this a few years after release, and while I find the combat a little average, the narrative is far better than any game in the AAA space right now. Absolutely loved the ending, and now I cannot wait to play the next chapter.
Was such a surprise to me, someone who doesn't typically enjoy puzzle games, or the typical Japanese exposition dumps. But the characters are incredibly charming, and the mystery really did hook me, and managed to throw me almost at every turn. I really hope more people check out this cult classic, because it has earned a spot as one of my favorite games in recent memory.
2023
A fun game that was not hooking me at all story wise, but really had me dialed in with the combat. Nice to play a non-roguelike action game. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend to everyone, but I think it FEELS really good.
2022
Citizen Sleeper is an incredible slice of life adventure that has stuck with me ever since I started playing that first hour. It is rare for a game to create such a sense of tension and emotion for me, but my life on the Eye was well and truly a treasure. I cannot wait for the sequel!
2022
I was so into the mood and vibe of Signalis, but it's truly odd choices in the final act, and the annoying inventory really bumped it down for me. I would be so keen to see what this team does next however.
2012
I always wanted to play this back in the day, and finally got around to it in 2023. The game that got me into tactics. It seriously still holds up so well, and I think it is still one of the better tactics games out there, despite the ridiculous percentage-shot misses at times.
2022
A simple game about wandering in the dark. Interesting to play a game where one of your senses is truly gone. It has a VIBE. A very weird and strange vibe. I liked it. But honestly it wasn’t really hitting super hard for me until the end. Intriguing. Glad I played it, but not a favorite.
2016
I started my Yakuza journey with 0, then played Like A Dragon and fell in love with both of those games. Going back to Kiwami was a bit rough, but all the building blocks of this franchise I have fallen for were here. I skipped a lot of the side content, and just pushed the main path. Glad I played it, but it doesn't hold a candle to the others I have played in the series.
2023
The final face off with Kale was just a lot of fun, and really cemented Hi-Fi Rush as one of the most enjoyable, fun pieces of media that I have consumed in quite some time. Heart warming, and filled with charm, despite some criticisms around the platforming and lack of rhythm integrations, this really was a surprise hit. I want a sequel. I want an anime. I want more of THIS. I am actually sad that the game is over.
2021
I wanted to like Eastward a lot more than I did. The story, setting, and characters were really interesting, and the architecture design and art were stellar. But the combat, oh that combat really sucked, and was never any fun. The game also just went on far too long, and the ending really didn't pay off the hours of frustration that went into playing the game.
2023
DREDGE is an unnerving tale on the high seas, filled with light Lovecraftian themes that really made for a fun adventure. A relaxing, unsettling adventure. I am excited to see what this team releases next.
I absolutely adored this game. I am fairly new to strategy, but the bombastic nature of the 40K universe mixed in with the Company of Heroes gameplay, sprinkled in with hero unit abilities makes this game really shine as something way ahead of its time, and still relevant years later. Loved it!
It's a pretty bad port, but as my first time playing Homeworld at all, I absolutely loved it! Completed the first game in 15.2 hours, and throwing it on my backlog for now to return to Homeworld 2 later this year.
2022
The game has so much unique art and a super original feel, but the controversy and the standard Rick and Morty humor matched with some pretty bland gameplay hold it back. I hope this team makes something that looks like this, but is their own in the future because it is incredibly striking.
2023
El Paso Elsewhere is more than just a love letter to the original Max Payne games, it manages to carve out its own diverse lore, that feels wholly unique. The writing is incredible, from the opening cutscene, right until the emotional crescendo at the final moments. The gameplay itself is a little flawed, and there are some levels here that do feel a like a little filler, but the story alone was more than enough to carry me through those parts that were lacking. If you like noir adventures, and want to explore the dynamics of a mentally abusive breakup, this is definitely worth checking out ASAP.