isthatluke
2019
Nearly put this down but the cute art style and undemanding play saw me through. It's all a bit... pointless? But it was a nice enough way to pass a few hours. Short even by my standards (love a short game) but harmless and some funny moments.
More of the same, but just like the patrons of this coffee joint, I'll keep coming back for more. Cosy, sweet, with an underlying affection for its characters. I'll have a green tea with lemon and ginger, Mr Barista sir!
2020
I didn't clear the islands of rust and probably missed some secrets due to the repetitive nature of mopping up butttt once I got into the groove of this, I enjoyed it. Warm, funny, relaxing, sensual and often gorgeous to look at/listen to. Would play a sequel or return to this world, for sure.
2023
First of all, YES to more unique stories repping the creative teams' cultures and not compromising the details in order to fit a tidy commercial box. 'Tchia' is an absolute success in that regard - the music, the environments, the mythology, the food, all a celebration of New Caledonian culture. That said, this had pacing issues for me that sometimes got in the way of its abundant charms. Lots of trophies, treasures and side quests to clean up, but feels very superfluous to the completed main story.
2023
Not a 100% (didn't even realise there were story stamps until the devil levels) but may return to sweep up. Really enjoyed this, cute and charming and don't care that it's short - I've played bloated games that aren't even half as engaging as this. Also one of my only ever mobile game experiences and I was impressed. Been wanting to download on Switch for a while, but realised it was available via Netflix and took the plunge. Encore!
2022
Loved this. Left the hornet race trials undone but otherwise 100%-ed it. Charming, compulsive and just a cute antidote to January tbh. More please.
2022
Between this and 'Genesis Noir', clearly I'm a sucker for a jazzy game. Found this frustrating at first but once I'd got a handle on it, it was a lovely experience that was perfectly formed and didn't outstay its welcome. The sentiment behind it was heartfelt and avoided being mawkish. A mini gem and a song from the heart.
Sucker for these games but this one's change in gear from supernatural horror to 'Saw'-like serial killer vibe didn't land entirely. Still intermittently fun though (and gruesome), plus I like that the DP team are mixing it up from game to game. Bonus points for a Jessie Buckley starring role. Bring on S2!
2018
Creepy-cute puzzle game with a gothic steampunk storybook aesthetic that was giving me American McGee 'Alice'. So, in short, right down my twisted alley. A little frustrating and buggy at times, though, but worth a few hours of playtime this Halloween.
2021
I love horror movies but really struggle with horror games, as I just find them so intense. Maybe blame playing 'Silent Hill' at much too young an age for that... So, I went into 'The Medium' with some trepidation but reviews that it wasn't too scary helped ease me in. I still found the scenes with the monster a little bit overwhelming but the length, the pace and the atmosphere helped me to enjoy this rather than want to throw the controller in terror and bury the game 500 miles away from my house, where it can't hurt me ('Resident Evil: Biohazard' I'm looking at you). So yeah, maybe not a hit with everyone but I enjoyed this as someone who LOVES horror but struggles with games where you only have two bullets and something unstoppable is just around the corner. I'd play a sequel.
The nightmarish fairytale intersection of 'Little Nightmares', 'Limbo' and 'Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons'. Nearly docked half a star because of clunky controls and bugs that killed me just as much as some of the bosses, but the creature design and uncompromising darkness are more than enough to make up for any shortcomings. Don't play it with kids!
2022
An oddity, but one that's cute and creepy with it. A perfectly enjoyable few hours to get lost in during spooky season.
2022
Gahhh! Killed pretty much every single counsellor (one-handed Dylan survived) but I still enjoyed. Don't know if I'll be in as much of a hurry to go back and save the teens like I did with 'Until Dawn' but this was schlocky fun and, like its predecessor and 'The Dark Pictures' series, the admiration for horror really shines through. Play it this Halloween!
2022
The episodic format was more of a novelty back when 'Alan Wake', 'Life is Strange' and Telltale first played on boxset culture. So it may be capital-D Done but I enjoyed this for what it was. The art style was sometimes eye-catching, sometimes distracting, but the family drama and performances cut through. Not loving the cliffhanger ending though, I'd play a sequel but if we don't get one then the lack of closure would make me wanna deduct a star.
2022
Cute, original, a world that you want to explore beyond the initial pass. Perhaps a little short, but it's perfectly compact and I could just chill with the kitty all day long. Sequel, please.