Tunic
- I’ve sank about 16 hours into this game over the last two days. Make of that what you will. (Sheesh, the game may as well be my job with me putting in 8 hour days. It’s not that I haven’t been enjoying myself; I have. I just know I can get a bit absorbed in a game if it grabs me the “right” way.)
- On its face, the game presents as a souls-like with “Legend of Zelda” flavor. You play as a small fox in a green tunic with a dodge roll and a stamina bar, after all. The game slowly reveals its third genre over time, however: puzzler. The game offers very little by way of hand holding. Instead, the player is expected to figure out all the game’s mechanics through trial and error or by decoding the game’s manual (which is found in the game world). Plenty has already been said about Tunic‘s puzzles. For my part, I found they were generally based more on careful observation than deductive reasoning. This isn’t a bad thing, of course, but it’s definitely a different flavor of puzzle than a game like Hexcells.
- I ended up using the accessibility options to beat the final boss. It wasn’t because I couldn’t; I’m sure with enough time and training I could. Instead, it was because I was ready to be done. All I can say is: wow, that would’ve been really gnarly without a bit of help.
Blood: Fresh Supply
- I’m not sure where I got this game; I’m assuming I got it in a Humble Bundle or Steam sale since I don’t remember ever explicitly seeking it out.
- In some ways, I found it interesting. The weapon selection is pretty cool, including everything from a flair gun to dual shotguns.
- On the other hand, the humor wasn’t really my cup of tea. Irreverent and edgy with a sprinkle of “watching the world burn,” stopped appealing to me a few decades ago. Also, while it isn’t fair to judge the game by modern standards, I am well within my right to not be into “pixel hunting” and wall hugging to find every secret a level has to offer. Perhaps folks with nostalgia for the game would feel different, but I’m not really into that kind of FPS any more.
- Ultimately, I put about 2.5 hours in and I don’t see myself going back.
Dusk
- As near as I can tell, this game inspired by games like Blood. On one hand, I enjoyed it more. The POV character wasn’t as abrasive, for example. On the other hand, I can’t say the game really grabbed me, either.
- It’s weird; I’ve loved some “boomer shooters” like Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal. This one just didn’t really do it for me in the same way, though. While I don’t have an immediate explanation at hand for why I prefer Doom, I have some guesses. Doom’s music is more memorable, for example, and the glory kills are a nice perk. Beyond that, my memory suggests that Doom has better weapon variety. It also has a story, threadbare though it may be.
- I probably could grow to love Dusk in time. I’m just not sure I want to dump in the hours required to hit that point.
1-Screen Platformer & 1-Screen Platformer: Prologue
- I was able to breeze through both of these games in about an hour, total. This isn’t a bad thing, but I think it’s important to mention to set expectations.
- I can appreciate the various play modes offered by the different characters; to the developer’s credit, they each play quite differently.
- The games feel appropriately priced; the former is $3 (without discount) and the latter is free. I certainly won’t complain about a free game!
- “1-Screen” gave me strong 1001 Spikes vibes, while “Prologue” had much more of a sci-fi aesthetic.
Aspire: Ina’s Tale
- I picked this one up because “How Long To Beat” says it can be finished in about 3 hours. I put it down after 1 because I didn’t find it particularly engaging. The graphical and auditory design are both fine, but I never found the game play either challenging or novel enough to stick with. I’m giving this one a solid: “MEH.”
Infernax
- I put almost 24 hours into this game! Wowzers.
- As I said on Twitter, I’d summarize this game as follows: “If Simon’s Quest” and “The Adventures of Link” had a gory baby with multiple endings based on one’s “morality.” (I put morality in quotes because it’s occasionally not obvious which choice is a “good” or “evil” one. This wouldn’t be a problem, if the the most extreme endings required complete adherents to one side or the other.)
- I love all the extra features packed into the game: multiple endings, bonus characters (by entering a different name for your character), cheat codes, and more. It’s no surprise at all that I sunk so much time into the game.
- I should say that this game expects you to play it on IT’S terms. If you come at it like Symphony of the Night, you will be crushed (also, disappointed).
- Lastly, being able to blow through the game wielding a machine gun was really, really cathartic. It’s impressive the game still worked, even when the player is given such a powerful item.
Dead Estate
- On one hand, I enjoyed the camp on offer (e.g. the intro cut-scenes, the reuse and remix of “shop owner” sprites, the fact that you are chased by an impossibly buff, unfathomably angry hamster if you stay on a level too longer, etc.
- On the other hand, I found the isometric viewpoint of the game somewhat difficult to adjust to. I missed attacks more often than I expected to as a result. This is probably more of ME problem than the game’s problem, but it does mean I’m less likely to pick up the game again.
Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk …
- I may have only spent about 30 minutes on this one, but I also only paid about a dollar so I can’t complain.
- Despite its more minimal approach, the game still managed to be a bit unsettling though its graphics (and blurred / pixelated art), its storytelling, and its subject matter (mental health, abuse, etc).
- I would definitely call this game an “acquired taste.” For the price and time investment required, though, I’d say it’s worth sampling at least.
Olija
- It’s a perfectly serviceable 2D action platformer. It didn’t blow me away, but I had more than enough fun with it to justify its purchase price (doubly so if the game is on sale).
Will You Snail?
- As a fan of 2D precision platformers, you’d think this game would be my cup of tea. With that said, I found myself getting much more enjoyment out of messing with the “AI” at the center of the game than the platforming itself. Perhaps I’m just a bit burnt out on this kind of game? At this point, the nicest thing I can say is that I don’t dismiss coming back to this one out of hand.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
- I put so much time into this one that I unlocked all of the achievements save one: beating the final “impossible lair” without any assistance. In short, I think that the lair earns the “impossible moniker.” Like with Tunic, I’m sure I could’ve ground out a victory, but I chose to spend my time elsewhere in pretty short order.
- Generally speaking, the game was a pleasant, brightly colored romp. I can’t say the game blew my mind (even if the various “challenge modes,” from feathers to alternate levels), but it was good enough at the fundamentals so I didn’t mind. Moreover, these “challenge modes” were generally a welcome increase in difficulty.
- With that said, the “twist ending” was pretty uninspired. The best it got out of me was a shrug.
- Ultimately, I have no intention of returning to this one, especially with how thoroughly I beat it. I did enjoy my time though, so I’d call this one money well spent.
Golf Club Nostalgia
- Like Aspire, I wasn’t wowed by this one. Sure, lampooning the folly of so-called great men is fun, but the core game play loop just didn’t suck me in. I’m not especially bothered since I got this game in a Humble Bundle purchase, but I doubt I’ll go back to it.
Final Thoughts
I’ve sure been on a 2D action platformer kick, huh? Honestly, I don’t have any grand conclusion other than that its been freeing to not force myself to complete games I’m not loving. I have more than enough games in my Steam library to be choosy, after all.
