plantfather
2011
this game is my house. i live here. all the caves using the same map is a feature, not a bug.
in all seriousness, i think this game has one of the best story arcs out of any game i've ever played. it's a poignant drama about one rag-tag group of outsiders in one horrible, amazing city, and how they all affect each other. it's got some clumsy aspects, and they clearly ran out of time for some things, but overall it feels good to play, looks good for its time, and conveys its story spectacularly.
in all seriousness, i think this game has one of the best story arcs out of any game i've ever played. it's a poignant drama about one rag-tag group of outsiders in one horrible, amazing city, and how they all affect each other. it's got some clumsy aspects, and they clearly ran out of time for some things, but overall it feels good to play, looks good for its time, and conveys its story spectacularly.
2019
technically a polished game, with a nice running theme about job anxiety within capitalism, but that's the nicest i can really say about it.
i truly hate to say it, but it's...cringe. the writing, dialogue especially, is just so bland and twee, and the jokes never land. the art is not exactly bad, but i find it off-putting. it seems like the devs thought they could ride the wave of "wholesome queer western vn with a schtick" without putting anything interesting into it. droves of cheerful, monocultural queer people with very palatable problems is not the representation i personally am looking for.
my complaints are entirely subjective, and i know a lot of people love this game, but i think it's kinda basic at best and cynical at worst.
i truly hate to say it, but it's...cringe. the writing, dialogue especially, is just so bland and twee, and the jokes never land. the art is not exactly bad, but i find it off-putting. it seems like the devs thought they could ride the wave of "wholesome queer western vn with a schtick" without putting anything interesting into it. droves of cheerful, monocultural queer people with very palatable problems is not the representation i personally am looking for.
my complaints are entirely subjective, and i know a lot of people love this game, but i think it's kinda basic at best and cynical at worst.
2017
who doesn't like communist space jam?
pyre is such an interesting story, funny and tragic and hopeful at the same time. i've heard people say they wish it had more detailed world-building, but i think what's implied is stronger than straight information would be.
the music, the writing, the ui and the art are all the supergiant team's best work imo. the combat's tricky, but i think it's pretty rewarding once you get used to it.
overall a lovely and cathartic experience.
pyre is such an interesting story, funny and tragic and hopeful at the same time. i've heard people say they wish it had more detailed world-building, but i think what's implied is stronger than straight information would be.
the music, the writing, the ui and the art are all the supergiant team's best work imo. the combat's tricky, but i think it's pretty rewarding once you get used to it.
overall a lovely and cathartic experience.
2018
wandersong seems incredibly simple and wholesome upfront, and though it never entirely loses that, it gets rly interesting. it subverts gameplay and narrative expectations in clever ways without seeming above it all. it feels great, looks great, sounds GREAT, and leaves your brain and heart satisfied.
2011
i love playing it and have nostalgia for it, but it's misogynist, transphobic garbage.
bad stuff out of the way first: it's a little glitchy. the combat's a little weird. there's some typos.
anyway: this is one of my favorite games of all time. the writing is insanely good. the characters are lovable/interesting. the art is gorgeous. the music SLAPS.
if you want a half game/half book experience with bizarro vibes that keeps you solidly between joy and horror at all times, you should pick up a house of many doors.
anyway: this is one of my favorite games of all time. the writing is insanely good. the characters are lovable/interesting. the art is gorgeous. the music SLAPS.
if you want a half game/half book experience with bizarro vibes that keeps you solidly between joy and horror at all times, you should pick up a house of many doors.
2020
i love this vn. it's not super deep, but the art and worldbuilding are top-notch. more fleshpunk romance please!
2017
a perfect game. i've played it 3 times, and cried each time. fullbright packs so much love and detail into such a short experience, it's impossible to play it and not feel incredibly attached to the tacoma station crew.
2018
i love this game. it's so fun and stylish and tragic. it takes advantage of the medium exceptionally. the story is mostly pretty simple, but really packs a punch.
i really, really wish it didn't make that one super obvious mistake that everyone hates.
i really, really wish it didn't make that one super obvious mistake that everyone hates.
this game rules, too bad they didn't make any other games in this setting.
2021
this game has an incredible amount of style, and pretty decent substance. the gameplay and music are phenomenal, and the art and humor are very charming.
i will say that, for a game that is so explicitly inspired by undertale, it lacks some of the heart. the story's a lot bleaker and less well-rounded. however, i've only gotten one of the several endings, so maybe it goes in some more interesting directions? either way, it's still totally worth a look!
i will say that, for a game that is so explicitly inspired by undertale, it lacks some of the heart. the story's a lot bleaker and less well-rounded. however, i've only gotten one of the several endings, so maybe it goes in some more interesting directions? either way, it's still totally worth a look!
2019
a sweet and melancholy game, that's gorgeous to look at. it's a very calming experience. if you like night in the woods, or just like games about people's lives, i highly recommend it.
i have one single problem with it: every day is divided into many sections, and the side scrolling map is huge. every section of the day there is a chance that something will be happening anywhere on the map. however, not much actually Does happen, just enough to make a completionist like me waste a bunch of time running around. other than this, it's brilliant.
i have one single problem with it: every day is divided into many sections, and the side scrolling map is huge. every section of the day there is a chance that something will be happening anywhere on the map. however, not much actually Does happen, just enough to make a completionist like me waste a bunch of time running around. other than this, it's brilliant.
2020
i don't think anything in any game feels as good as jumping around in paradise killer.
this game's dripping with wacky, campy style in every capacity, and every bit of it is so fun. it's kind of liberating playing a game where you're clearly one of the bad guys, but the story isn't at all about criticizing that, it's just about having fun with your weird, evil tasks. fully recommend.
this game's dripping with wacky, campy style in every capacity, and every bit of it is so fun. it's kind of liberating playing a game where you're clearly one of the bad guys, but the story isn't at all about criticizing that, it's just about having fun with your weird, evil tasks. fully recommend.
this game is like. solidly okay. it's a pretty normie point & click detective story, with kinda likable characters, kinda engaging mysteries, and jokes that occasionally made me laugh. good music and decent art. also, i think it's well meaning, but sort of racially insensitive. all in all, i just don't think they took full advantage of a premise that seems like an easy slam dunk.
2015
i think "wow, cool robot" is apt descriptor for my experience with this game, because despite it being about a capitalist dystopian hellhole, it makes me feel at home. i'm a huge sucker for isometric rpgs, cool home bases, and rag-tag found family party dynamics. i just love being in the world of srhk, and suggest everyone check it out.
big caveat: the dlc expansion is GARBO. totally sucks. it has some fun moments, but it flushes the story of the main game down the toilet, and the combat encounters are Awful. if you rly like the main game, maybe check out the dlc like, a month after playing when the high's worn off.
big caveat: the dlc expansion is GARBO. totally sucks. it has some fun moments, but it flushes the story of the main game down the toilet, and the combat encounters are Awful. if you rly like the main game, maybe check out the dlc like, a month after playing when the high's worn off.