Recent reviews by Frank Horrigan

Can't play online with my friend thanks to Microsoft's wonderful login problems.
Thanks, Microsoft!

Take a dose of The Stanley Parable and mix it with existential dread, sprinkle in a bit of Disco Elysium for good measure, and bake it all on a charmingly low budget and you get Slay the Princess. This is indie at its most out-there. Stunningly beautiful in its ugliness and deeper than the sum of its parts. What a game to book-end my 2023.

A classic, through and through. The progression system within this game is truly honed by over a decade of love and care. Each and every playthrough brings something new, whether that be a run-defining pick-up or simple knowledge gained. That said, the massive scope of this game can be daunting to new players, and tunneling through wikipedia articles is as necessary as tunneling is in-game. This game does not hold its punches, and going underprepared is where it punishes most often. Not everyone will take to this, of course. But if you are willing to be patient and learn, Terraria will easily be one of the most rewarding gaming experiences on the market.

Like Stardew Valley but boring.

One of the best boomer shooters I've played. It's short and sweet. The premise is very much the essence of the 90's and early 00's, embracing even the worst of those times. Yet you can't help but revel in the nostalgia that's very clear between the lines. For a game so ready to bask in that teenage angst and Linkin Park hue, there's a sense of pain here that the game will give off but never confirm or address. It's an interesting balance you don't see pulled off that often. One moment, you're blasting glass at flying skull jesters while Zane is throwing incredibly edgy one-liners. The music is on full blast with record scratches and all. Then the action dies, and so too does the music as it levels to a depressing ambiance. All that's left is a Boise that no longer exists.

I was looking forward to co-op with a friend. The game was fun, until we realized that a bug prevented him from seeing important dialogue, which ruined the entire point of the game. Do not waste your money on this. I got it on sale for 8 dollars and still feel ripped off.

The sheer definition of a game that should be bought on sale at the bare minimum. This game is abysmally short. I'm talking around 2 hours or less. Those two hours definitely do not equate to 25 dollars. If you're bored though, it might be worth it on sale. The gimmick of the game is commendable, at the very least. I do feel like nothing incredibly substantial was done with it though. The game offers paltry meta commentary to back the short two hour main game, but it really comes off as pretentious more than intriguing. Oh well.

Although I haven't gone too deep into it, this port of Thrillville: Off the Rails is excellent. I played the PS2 version a long time ago when I was a kid, and returning to it is an immediate blast.
This game has aged well, surprisingly enough. As a matter of fact, it really feels like a 2000's time capsule in a way. I really like that about it.
All in all, this game is really worth it, especially if you were a fan of the original.

At the risk of getting flamed, I do not understand how this game has so much praise. I played this game for thirteen minutes. It took literally thirteen minutes before I decided to request a refund. In those thirteen minutes, I had to hold down the w key for about 3 or 4 minutes straight so I could walk a dog. I want to reiterate: You walk a dog for 3 to 4 minutes straight and nothing else happens. It is a slog. I quickly realized that the sound wasn't working. Restarting the game fixed it. But guess what? I had to sit through the dog walking sequence. Again.
Okay. Cool. I'm in a sewer now. I can forgive the terrible first impression.
But nah, I get to some sledge hammer and after spending like 5 minutes trying to figure out how to use it, I decided this game wasn't worth my time.

I was really looking forward to playing the "creepiest game ever made" as many have suggested. A game "similar to Silent Hill." Oh well.

Get this if you liked Enemy Unknown.