Recent reviews by Markiesje

Note: verdict, pro/con list and practical info can be found at the bottom of this review


With Max: The curse of brotherhood, the developers from Press Play bring us a new 2d puzzle-platformer, which seems to be an all-around improvement of their previous game named Max and the magic marker. In this title, we play as Max once again - on a mission to save our annoying little brother Felix, whom we 'accidently' sent away through a portal. Said portal leads to a magical and dangerous place ruled by the fearsome Lord Mustacho; an old, bitter man who wishes to revitalise himself with a young spirit. Armed with a (magical) marker only, the grand adventure to save Felix from Mustacho begins!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1099528235

Upon arriving the magical lands that we sent our brother to, we receive strange powers for our - at first - seemingly useless marker. Those powers are granted by the wise old lady, who is portrayed as Mustacho's opponent. This new improved marker allows for the creation and destruction of various objects, such as dirt pillars, branches, vines ... which play an essential role in the game's puzzle-platforming sequences. Want to reach the top of a hill? How about you draw a dirt pillar to raise yourself all the way up. How to reach the other side of the tree? Why, just draw yourself a vine and swing across!

Max stays relatively fresh throughout as new mechanics are regularly introduced and each new chapter grants your marker with new powers, depending on the environment you find yourself in - or so it seemed. It must not have been a coincidence that within the forest, I reveived the power to draw branches and vines, whereas in the wetlands, I was able to create water streams to help me navigate through the levels.


I found the gameplay to be overall fun and exciting. It starts out pretty simple and basic, but in the later chapters you'll have to actively combine certain objects to complete the various puzzles that the game has in store. There are also certain 'escape' scenes to deal with, as in: run away from different threats against time. Most of the puzzles never get really challenging, but that didn't seem to bother me as they were always fun to do and solve. Some of them are quite creative too, which made for an enjoyable experience. Who says games need to be difficult in order to be fun?

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1101412967
The real 'difficulty' comes in another form than puzzle solving, and that is dealing with the somewhat ... clunky controls. More often than not - when I entered a new level -, I could figure out what to do pretty quickly. When I actually wanted to execute my solution, I would regularly fail because of how weird the controls can be from time to time. Jumping/climbing is not always as accurate, and let's not even talk about the amount of times I fell to my death whilst swinging on vines - missing my destination by mere millimeters.

Onto the game's length and replay ability: The game consists of 7 chapters in total and lasts for about 6 to 7 hours, which I found to be just about right. Some additional hours could be acquired by hunting down all of the game's collectibles, which consist of destroying evil eyes and collecting secrets. The great thing is that you don't have to replay the whole game while looking for all achievements, as seperate chapters can easily be accessed in the main menu. Sadly, collecting all eyes & secrets doesn't really hold any significance within the story - it is merely a reason to catch 'em all. However, what good is a platformer without any sort of secrets to track down, right?


If one thing became clear whilst playing Max, it is how child friendly this game truly is. From the story to the gameplay to the cutscenes, this game strikes me as something that could easily be enjoyed by the whole family. Right from the start - when I loaded up the game for the first time - until the end, I was filled with a somewhat nostalgic feeling, probably because of the charming music, the entertaining cinematics and the loveable cartoony look of the game. In a certain way, it kind of resembles games and cartoons I used to play/watch as a kid. If you're still not convinced, well, the game's antagonist is called Lord Mustacho ... LORD MUSTACHO!

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1099527974
I do recommend this game, but please keep in mind that it is not a perfect game by any means. While the music is very charming and cute, it is rather simplistic and not all that memorable. Secondly, the game's got a sweet look, but don't expect AAA visuals. And lastly (and I mentioned this in the section above), the controls can be a bit odd/stubborn sometimes and can therefore make the game a little bit tedious/irritating at times. In the end, the game feels like an avarage title. Not amazingly good, but not bad either. Just good, but still definitely worth playing in my book.


Verdict: - yes, if: you can look past its flaws | Definitely recommended on sale (=$2.50)

• Genre (tags): 2d puzzle-platformer
  
• Average length: 6 hrs
  
• Developer: Press Play
  
• Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
  
• Release date: 21st May 2014
  
• Platform: pc, Xbox 360, Xbox One

This review may or may not be a little vague as to not spoil too much content


Have you ever dreamed of leaving behind your boring day to day life and traveling to a distant island full of cute ponies instead? A magical place where you can embrace nature in company of these lovely creatures? Well, then this game is definitely not for you!

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Wa1t, whAt_is G0iNg 0n?!
==================

As you load up the game for the first time, you are greeted with a cutesy tune and a bright & colorful main menu - probably not quite sure what to expect. You briefly check out the options and then click start . . . And then you get to another 'main menu' and you're most likely a little bit confused as to what's happening. Worry not, for this is only the beginning. In this game, just as its title, nothing is truly what it seems. It leaves you with a constant "wtf, what's going on now?" feeling throughout your 'journey'. Right when you think you just figured out what the game's all about, it hits you with another surprise - time and time again.

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You cl1Ck, y0u hAcK, you_juMp anD y0u sh00t
=================================

So what does one do in this game? Hold on; let me just clarify this really quick: no, you are not on a spectacular island AND no, you are NOT going to befriend lovely ponies. Sorry about that little lie, but it's nothing compared to what you'll go through in this weird ass game. Instead, you'll be ... clicking things. A little bit of puzzle solving here and there. Heck, you'll even get the chance of HACKING! How great is that?! Besides the puzzles/hacking, you'll occasionaly have to play 'levels' where you jump over obstacles and kill enemies. Seriously, how weird is this game

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A 0ne-t1me eXper1enCe, bUt_n0t_rEally
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I look at Pony Island as a kind of one-time experience; as soon as you finish it once, you won't really have nearly as much fun as the second time through. However, if you're the kind of person who's eager enough to find all the secrets and discover new things, you'll still have a good time the second time through.

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A m1n1mal1st's fAvoUrite_stylE
======================

As far as sound and design are concerned, the game is rather minimalistic, which is usually something you eitherhate or love. There is a constant gloomy track humming in your ear and during some parts of the game, you'll also get to hear an actual 'song'. Contrary to the main menu, the game is mostly presented in a black-white style. Combined with the obscure track, it settles down to a somewhat ... dark atmosphere. Also, dirty arcade screen is dirty


Games like this remind me exactly why I love (indie) gaming so much. Just like in films and books, there are so many interesting stories to be experienced and the creative things that one person can produce are just incredible. Though, this game may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like creative, mysterious and intriguing games with some puzzle elements, just do yourself a flavour and get this $5 treat!

OVERVIEW
*Genre (tags): indie, puzzle
*Avg length: ~ 2 hours
*Developer: Daniel Mullins
*Publisher: Daniel Mullins Games
*Release date: January 4th 2016
*Platform: pc

PROS & CONS
+ An interesting experience
+ Stays fresh throughout
+ Fun puzzles/hacking
+- A little bit on the short side

"Do you like hurting other people?"


*Genre: Action, top-down shooter, indie
*Average length: ~6 hours
*Developer: Dennaton Games
*Publisher: Devolver Digital
*Release date: October 23rd 2012
*Platform: pc, ps3, ps4, vita

<<< General features | pros & cons>>>

+ Simple, yet addictive concept
+ Many creative ways to success
+ Unlockable masks
+ Very rewarding and fun
+ Amazing soundtrack
+ - Frustration almost guaranteed
- ?


<<<Story introduction>>>

Miami, 1989: meet 'Jacket', a guy living alone in his apartment whom gets various strange calls, each of which basically demand him to go to certain places and then assassinate everyone present. In order to anonymously execute these tasks, he wears animal shaped masks, the first of which he received in a package supposedly containing cookies. Following the phone caller's orders for a while, Jacket's reality eventually begins to fade, as he sees talking corpses and the like. Will he be able to keep acting out the incoming phone calls, or give into insanity as he keeps slaughtering countless people?

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

The game's idea is very simple: you drive to various places, choose one of the many (unlockable) masks and get ready for a killing spree. How you tackle each mission is entirely up to you: do you want to use a big shotgun and blast 3 people to pieces simultaneously? Or would you rather use a little, yet very sharp knife - killing everyone before they see you as you sneak around? Or do you not care about any of that and just want to use raw power as you punch everyone in the face? It's all possible in this gory, action packed murder simulator!

By completing missions and acquiring certain scores, you'll unlock more masks which modify your game in various small ways (e.g. start with a knife, more ammo etc). As levels get harder, it is not a bad idea to strategically pick a mask that'll greatly increase your chances of conquering each mission without too much trouble. Or, one could also act out the opposite - picking a mask that'll greatly increase the challenge of an already fairly difficult game.

Yes, you did read that correctly: the game is difficult. But luckily not unfair. More so, this game is the perfect example that any challenge can be overcome by trial and error. You may fail the first 50 times, but once you figure out that one mission which seemed near impossible, you'll most likely be able to finish it way more quickly and creatively next time.

As difficult as the game can be, it is just as rewarding (if not more) and fun, due to the many creative ways with which you can slaughter your enemies. It is also guaranteed to pump your body full of adrenaline, as this game is not really a relaxing one (well, that depends. For some, killing countless people may feel relaxing. You filthy sadist).

If we look at the amount of replayability there is available, don't worry: there's a lot! To start, try getting an A+ score on all chapters. This alone will greatly increase your hours spent, as it gets more and more difficult to get this highest score in the later chapters. This game is also an amazing game for people who like speedrunning, as you get a higher score for completing a chapter more quickly. Lastly, and I said this already, there are so many creative ways in which you can complete a chapter, that you can just keep on playing and still have a very different experience compared to your first playthrough.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound>>>

As far as the controls go; they are rather minimalistic and really easy to get used to. Running around is done with your familiar wasd, whereas shooting/picking up/dropping/throwing weapons is done with the mouse. Luckily, there is also a quick-restart button (the r key), which is going to become your best friend throughout this adventure.

As this is an indie game, ofcourse the art style has to be unique, right? Lots of flashy colouring and effects to suit the crazy atmosphere of the game. Combined with the highly addictive soundtrack, you'll feel like you're on drugs 24/7 (you won't believe how cheap this drug is aswell, let alone on a -75% sale!)

Mentioning the soundtrack ... Believe me when I say it is amazing. Especially Hydrogen gets me in that zone where I turn into a ruthless serial killer and laugh my ass off while chopping everyone's faces to pieces. This soundtrack, the art style and fast-paced gameplay go really well together and make for an incredibly fun overall experience.

<<<The verdict>>>

Look no further: everyone's favourite murder simulator is here! Therefore, recommended to everyone who is not afraid to partake in a journey full of trial and error, many creative ways to kill enemies and engaging in a crazy, over the top storyline! And most importantly ... the soundtrack is just too good to pass up!

It's like watching a Disney movie, but now you get to play through it instead


*Genre (tags): 2d platformer, action, atmospheric
*Avg length: ~8 hours
*Developer: Moon Studios
*Publisher: Microsoft Studios
*Release date: March 11th 2015 (original), April 27th 2016 (definitive)
*Platform: pc, Xbox 360, Xbox One

<<<Pros & cons>>>

+ Excellent gameplay
+ Purchasable abilities (level up system)
+ Regular introduction of new skills and game mechanics
+ lots of exploration and secrets
+ Great atmosphere
+ Difficulties available (definitive edition)
+ Backtracking made easier (definitive edition)
+ Very tight controls
+ Visually stunning
+ Fitting soundtrack to glue everything together
+ Leaderboards
- Keys/buttons can (currently) only be rebound externally


Ah, another Metroidvania title. You know, the type of game where you do a lot of jumping and fighting, unlock abilities and explore a vast (and often coherent) map full of adventure and secrets. Ori and the Blind Forest is, besides being well executed gameplay-wise, not just simply a copy of other titles within the genre. Due to its mind-blowing visuals, amazing soundtrack and great narrative, it offers an experience not easily forgotten. It is most likely one of the most memorable 2d platformers you'll be playing through in recent years (to come).

<<<Story>>>

On that fateful night ... Following a fierce storm, Ori, a cute little creature connected to the Spirit Tree in the forest of Nibel, is separated from its roots (...). Naru, another strange creature, finds her and cares for her as if it were her own child. They are happy together and mostly pass their days playing, eating and relaxing. Unfortunately, happy stories (as we all know) are bound to end. As the Spirit Tree desperately calls out to Ori, without success, all living beings slowly start to wither and decay. Naru and Ori have a lot of difficulty to survive themselves, so the Spirit Tree shines its light on Ori one last time: this is her chance to aid the mighty Tree and restore the balance in the forest.

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

Ori is an exciting action-platformer that has excellent gameplay: from (wall)jumping, to combat to unlocking new skills and more; the game sure knows how to hit those sweet spots. Whilst playing, you'll also 'level up' regularly, which essentially allows you to spend points in the ability tree. There are 3 branches within this 'tree' that focus on certain/different aspects of the game: the offensive branch, the survival branch and the exploration branch. Whichever abilities you pick highly depend on how you want to play the game. They are not at all mandatory to be able to finish the game, however they certainly do enhance an already great experience and make life that little easier. Not only that, it also gives a sense of progression and rewards you for killing enemies instead of just skipping them.

Besides the purchasable abilities, the game also regularly offers new skills. You know, the ones that you use to explore areas that you couldn't reach yet or to do things that you couldn't do before. These skills range from the simple double jump, to reverting enemy projectiles and others. There are a total of 11 to unlock, which is honestly more than expected. You'll need those skills though, as the game also regularly throws new mechanics your way. This keeps the overall experience fresh throughout the whole adventure: once you seem to have mastered one skill, the game is eager to teach you a new one, which secures a great pacing of 'freshness'.

The main campaign is 'only' about 8 hours long (depending on how fast you are), but luckily there is some replayability to be found. One can gain some extra playable hours by exploring all of Nibel and looking for every possible secret. In the definitive edition, backtracking is also made easier by being able to teleport using spirit wells, which is another great new feature. When you are done with the main game, have everything at 100%, but still want to keep playing, you could try and take on the ultimate challenge: the so called 'one life mode', which allows you to test your skills and will track how far you've gotten via leaderbords (not recommended for the easily frustrated).

The game is extremely fun to play through, and that is because it does something really well. And that 'something' is the following: its ability to combine gameplay, visuals, soundtrack and narrative in such a way that is just exceptional. You might even forget what exactly you are playing through now and then as this is not just your average action-platformer. It is a game that'll suck you up and will have you going until the very end: a true atmospheric masterpiece.

As Ori is a very cute game in both its narrative and visual style, don't be fooled: it is still a Metroidvania title and has some (very) challenging sequences in store, like having to escape an area under time pressure for example. However, something that has changed since the original edition, is that there are difficulties (easy, normal, hard, one life) available now. This is a great upgrade, as it allows for a bigger audience. Whether you're looking for a relaxing atmospheric experience or a super challenging platformer (or both); Ori has it for you.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound>>>

Let's get it over with right away: do yourself a favour and use a controller! Whilst the earlier parts of the game are very doable with m/kb, if you keep using them in the later parts of the game, you'll probably get very frustrated. And this is just not the game that you want ruined by your own frustration. That being said, controls are extremely smooth and responsive. Executing even the tiniest of actions - doing a little bunny hop on vertical walls - is very accurate.

Visually, the game is delicious 2d eye candy, with a very detailed back- and foreground. Between all the action and adventure, you'll most likely take a little 'break' here and there to enjoy the absolutely stunning environments. Each new environment will surprise you time after time. Many eyegasms will be had. Furthermore, the animations are fluid, detailed and - honestly - even near perfect. Walking through some grass, jumping around, sliding ... Nothing feels weird or clunky. Everything is top notch!

To top it all of, there is the wonderful soundtrack that shoots the atmosphere to unlimited heights. It sounds as it has been taken directly from a Disney movie. It is so unbelievably good that it'll take you on an emotional rollercoaster if you let it. It is the kind that will bring you to tears years after playing this gem; a true 'nostalgia pill' if you will.

<<<The verdict>>>

Ori is an amazing game that offers just that little extra to stand out between other action-platformers. It is almost a 'crime' not to play it or at least give it a go. Especially with the added difficulties in the definitive edition (alongside with some other useful added features), there is no reason to pass it up anymore. It is a game that has mastered the art of delivering an unforgettable atmospheric experience combined with some exciting action/platforming. In short: a true gem for nearly everyone!

I never imagined to throw faeces at enemies as a method of obliteration


*Genre: aRPG, hack & slash
*Avg length: ~25 hours (1 playthrough on normal)
*Developer: Crate Entertainment
*Publisher: Crate Entertainment
*Release date: February 25th 2016
*Platform: pc

<<<Pros and cons>>>

+ Indepth (but not overly complex) character building
+ Ability to (partially) respec
+ Exploration is greatly rewarded
+ 3 difficulties to play through
+ Faction system
+ Appropriate atmosphere
+ Multiplayer available
+ Multiple little features to make life easier
+ Insanely replayable
+ Aesthetically, the game is gorgeous, but
- Graphics seem a little outdated in certain places
- The soundtrack is good, however repetitive at times


It is almost a miracle. After about 6 years of development, Crate Entertainment's Grim Dawn has finally been released. A game that had been in early access on Steam for so long due to the developers experiencing some personal difficulties. Not only that, they also greatly expanded on the game's original content due to fantastic support by fans along the way. The result is a superb aRPG that is currently among the very best. Having owned and closely followed the game for about 2 years, looking at the (finally) complete game is a pure joy. Hold on tight aRPG lovers, because you're in for a most wonderful ride with this one.

<<<Story>>>

Enter Cairn, a dark and mysterious world that was once a great empire, but now on the brink of extinction. At fault are the overly curious arcanists who brought Aetherials into their world. These spiritual beings seek to use humans as hosts and consequently turn them into powerful, yet abhorrent creatures. If that wasn't already enough, survivors also have to battle the Chthonians: they have the malicious intent of offering as much blood as they can to their almighty god. You, the player, awaken at the worst time possible: a grim dawn. For a little while, you yourself were possessed by an aetherial and thus have no memory of your former life. This possession almost cost you your life. However, those aetherial remains dwelling inside your body seem to grant you odd, yet useful powers ...

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

Grim Dawn is an aRPG like there are quite a few others in the genre: Torchlight, Diablo, Van Helsing, Path of Exile, Victor Vran, Titan Quest ... While each game differs and has its uniqueness, they all have the same core gameplay: run around, kill monsters, find loot. And all of that in an isometric perspective. Even though a bit repetitive in gameplay (which is no problem if you're a fan of the genre), they have great replay value, mostly due to their theorycrafting: how to create and finetune the 'perfect' build(s). In trying to do so comes a lot of experimentation and farming, which can take quite long.

Unlike certain other aRPG's, Grim Dawn does not force you into a specific class. Mages don't necessarily have to wield wands and warriors don't have to wear heavy armour and shields. Every character has access to all gear. However, you are required to invest in specific attributes in order to wear different equipment. Another feature that is quite welcome, which was present in Titan Quest also, is how the game lets you combine any of the 6 available masteries to create your personalized class (= 2 masteries combined). A first mastery can be chosen at level 2 and the second at level 10. There are so many skills that one can choose to build around, that even within the same mastery, there is a lot of room for variety. This allows for an insane amount of experimentation and theorycrafting, which is sometimes even more fun than actually playing the game!

One day, Crate decided that character customization wasn't deep enough already, so they released the devotion system. What is this system exactly? It is basically another (yet smaller) layer of customization where players have a total of 50 points to invest in certain passives (e.g. +10% piercing dmg, +20% elemental resistances etc) or actives that enhance your main skills. Those actives can be bound to certain skills and will proc under various circumstances (e.g. 100% to occur when critically hitting). Devotion points can be acquired by restoring old shrines that are spread throughout the whole world and between the 3 difficulties (normal -> elite -> ultimate).

Seeing the amount of customization, being able to (partially) respec is a relief. Reallocating is done by visiting the spirit guide in one of the major cities and can be done at any given time, granted you have the currency for it. It starts out pretty cheap, but can get extremely expensive for those who experiment endlessly. Both skill and devotion points can be reallocated; mastery and attribute points can not. This allows for decent experimentation, but also reminds you to choose carefully when needed.

Cairn is a place full of mystery and secrets and is not afraid to reward players who feel like exploring everything. Exploration is rewarded by various things: one-time chests containing extra rare loot, hidden devotion shrines and notes. More loot is always good to have (this is an aRPG after all), devotion shrines keep your character's customization up to date and lore notes inform you of the story - which was better than expected - of Cairn.

Besides the deep character customization and satisfying exploration, Grim Dawn offers other features that may interest you. The first thing that comes to mind is the 'fast travel' system. Your character can use rift portals anywhere, anytime (except in certain challenging rogue-like dungeons), which sets the game at a good pace. Don't worry about picking everything up, as you can sell it right away by teleporting back and forth. Another feature that is a nice 'extra' is the faction system: by killing certain enemies and completing certain quests, you gain reputation. This reputation allows you to buy certain goods and complete certain objectives. A last feature that is definitely more than welcome is the ability to play with up to 3 other people. There are no dedicated servers though, since the game is more single player focused. But the fact that it is there, is what counts.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound>>>

Like many other aRPG's, actions are mostly executed via the mouse: killing enemies, opening doors, speaking to npc's ... everything's done with the mouse, with the exception of using your skills. They are activated by pressing the corresponding keys. All keys are rebindable if desired.

Graphically, the game seemed a little outdated in certain places, however, it is not too bothersome. Aesthetically on the other hand, the game is very well made and really brings that atmosphere of eeriness and desperation to life. Most animations are ok.

The soundtrack was enjoyable to listen to for the first x amount of hours and certainly added to the atmosphere. However, certain tracks get replayed over and over again in way too many areas. A little bit more variation certainly wouldn't harm the game. Tracks that are most excellent are the boss tracks. They sound exciting and make the fights more epic.

<<<The verdict>>>

Grim Dawn is one of the finest aRPG's I have played in the last couple of years - if not my favourite of all time. Victor Vran seems a little too simplistic, whereas Path of Exile can be overly complex. This game brings the best of two worlds together: being indepth enough without being overly complex. Therefore it is recommended to all aRPG lovers for 100%, but even regular rpg/hack & slash fans might enjoy this one, if just for 1 playthrough.

"My ammoconda don't want none unless you got guns, hun!"


*Genre: rogue-lite, bullet hell, difficult
*Avg length: ∞
*Developer: Dodge Roll
*Publisher: Devolver Digital
*Release date: April 5th 2016
*Platform: pc, ps4

<<<Pros and cons>>>

+ A ton of replayability
+ Intense & satisfying combat
+ Great challenge
+ Creative guns (also puns. Puns everywhere!)
+ Tight controls
+ Looks fantastic
+ Neat soundtrack
+ Secrets!!
- Drops (especially ammo) are a little bit too scarce [apparently this has been (somewhat) fixed as of May 6th 2016]


After being occupied with The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for a long time, I was looking forward to getting involved in this new rogue-like/rogue-lite. I was hoping for it to be something that could blend elements like randomness, fair challenges, fun and replayability into an enjoyable game. Before release, Enter the Gungeon had been getting a lot of hype, and was it deserved? Is this the ultimate rogue-lite meets bullet hell we have been waiting for? Let's find out!

<<<Story>>>

On a distant planet in a highly secured fortress lies a legendary gun ... A gun that can kill the past! Four characters travel to this planet and enter said fortress. Their aim (...) is to kill their regretful past and change it for the better. This story is very simplistic, which is often the case with rogue-likes. It is mainly there to fill a certain emptyness. However, it does motivate to keep gungeoning and hopefully complete a full run to experience the characters' past.

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

Upon entering the hub ("The Breach"), one can choose between 4 main characters to play as: the marine, the convict, the pilot or the hunter. Each of them start out with different weapons and passive/active items allowing for a slightly different playstyle. They mainly differentiate the beginnings of each run, as all of those items could possibly be acquired while gungeoning.

Once descending the gungeon, players will be shooting, flipping tables and dodge rolling their way to the boss of each floor/chamber. The combat is satisfying due to being smooth and thrilling, yet very challenging. The difficulty of enemies and bosses feels just about right, though it takes time and practice to overcome them (at first). There is a lot of room for growth in skill, which in itself can be very satisfying. Besides shooting (and dodge rolling and flipping tables), there is also looting, doing 'business' with shopkeepers, rescuing trapped inhabitants and secrets ... Lots of secrets!

Boss rooms are a real treat for bullet hell fans. Each has their own unique attack pattern and is pretty overwhelming at first. Especially when first playing the game, the difference between the difficulty of the chambers/floors and the boss can be a bit much. Luckily, as with any bullet hell, this problem can be overcome by learning and memorizing the attack pattern and/or being lucky with guns. Speaking about guns ...

As this game is called "Enter the Gungeon", one would think to discover and use a lot of guns. While this is partially the case, I did find the overall drops for guns and consumables to be a bit low. More than not, I seem to be using useless guns or my starter gun so that I can spare my good gun for the boss fight/difficult rooms. Usually, once I reach floor/chamber 4, most of my weapons seem to be completely empty and I'm bound to use my starter gun again. As certain people may argument, yes "it is possible to beat the whole game with the starter gun", but is it fun? Not really. Maybe I'm just unlucky.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound>>>

It is not weird for a game like this to have forum threads full of "Which is better/easier: controller or mouse & keyboard?" as it may or may not help you to the finish line. For the most part, whichever you use, depends on personal preference. Controller gives you (semi) auto-aim, whereas mouse & keyboards lets you aim more freely with the crosshair. The most important thing is that they are both reliable ways to win the game as controls are very tight. If you die, it is your fault.

Visually, the game looks gorgeous with its pixel art style. Each floor also has a unique look, which keeps the experience varied and fresh. Also impressive are the animations: dodge rolling, shooting, gun effects ... are all so well done and responsive. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the room shake with certain weapons effects, explosions etc whilst fighting waves of enemies.

The OST is - in my honest opinion - the cherry on top of a most delicious cake. Whilst not every track may be stunning, I do find them being stuck in my head once in a while. So even though the full soundtrack may be not as memorable as some others (e.g. The Binding of Isaac, Super Meatboy or Crypt of the Necrodancer), it is still a very well made piece of music overall.

<<<The verdict>>>

This is certainly not a game for everyone, but I do strongly recommend it to all rogue-lite and/or bullet hell fans and people that like really hard/challenging games. Just keep in mind that this game relies heavily on personal skill rather than an extreme amount of (possible) drops and synergies (though they are certainly present). If you do, you'll be having heaps of fun with smooth and thrilling gameplay, tight controls and a good soundtrack. Get ready to Enter the Gungeon!

"If you are the voices in your head, then who is listening to them?"


* Genre: indie, adventure, psychological horror
* Avg length: ~5 hours
* Developer: Harvester Games
* Publisher: Screen 7
* Release date: 15th February 2016
* Platform: PC

<<<Pros & cons>>>

+ Interesting story!
+ Gorgeous looking
+ Fitting soundtrack
+ An atmosphere not easily forgotten
+ Open for interpretation
+ Includes the original Downfall!
(+ Same universe as TCL!)
- Weird changes in volume
- Monotonous or bad quality voice acting


After I finished playing The Cat Lady (TCL) last year, I was eagerly looking for more games that carried on the same style. I came across Downfall, a game released in 2009 and created by the same guys. I played it a little bit - never finished it though - and was definitely intrigued by it. When I found out that the developers were working on a remake, I felt like the happiest person alive. A 'new' game that would show why The Cat Lady got the attention it deserved. The biggest question is now ofcourse: was the remake of R. Michalski's first game what we hoped for, or was it perhaps a downfall too?

<<<Story>>>

Meet Joe and Ivy Davis, a couple that has been struggling with their marriage for a long time due to Ivy's eating disorder. In order to try and save it, they decide to go on a trip to "Quiet Haven Hotel". Things don't really go as Joe had hoped, but as stubborn as he is, tries to keep fighting for Ivy. After all, he is supposed to love her .... Right?

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

Just like in TCL, the gameplay exists out of two major elements: progressing the story via dialogue and exploring the area to do various puzzles and actions. Being a character driven game, there is quite a lot of dialogue to be found, but luckily, the conversations never felt uninteresting. I was also quite surprised with the amount of different replies that you can give. You can behave like the sweet and understanding husband, or like one that is totally fed up with the whole situation. Furthermore, if the game's madness wasn't already enough for you, there's also that spoon of humour that they threw into the mix - it's rather amusing.

Being not a big puzzle solver myself, I was pleased to see that this game focused a little bit more on story progression. The puzzles that were present, never felt too difficult or frustrating. In fact, most of them are pretty straight forward. All in all, they are really fun to solve/do. Lastly, both of those elements (dialogue + puzzles) alternated often enough to keep the game fun and fluent: I never felt like either of them went on for too long or became tedious.

Personally, I am someone who plays through heavily story-based games (mostly) only once, but for those who so desire: there are multiple endings! So try to forget all about this game and maybe replay it within a couple of months. Or, if you just want to try out all the different dialogue options/hunt down the achievements, you can do that. Just make sure to save often enough or make use of the quick-save option.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound

The controls are very minimalistic: wandering around is done by the arrow keys. Inventory usage? Yep, you guessed it: arrow keys! All confirmation is done by pressing enter. Lastly, want to skip some dialogue during your second playthrough? The space key is your friend. The controls worked like they should, however ... 1 tiny little thing bugged me throughout my playthrough: at certain parts of the game, you have many items at the same time. Instead of having to press the right arrow key multiple times to get to the furthest item, it would've been useful if I could've just pressed the left arrow key to get to it.

As the original Downfall was a little bit more colourful, this game presents itself in a 2d black-white style, with some sporadic colouring to be found. I like to think that the usage of black-white or colours reflect the characters' state of mind/certain events, but that is merely my personal interpretation. Whatever the developers tried to express, there is no doubt that it adds to the (creepy) atmosphere of the game. I also have to say that they did an exceptional job on the looks of the game. TCL already looked pretty good, but this game looks just gorgeous. Just about every area has been created with a lot of detail and care.

Along with the beautiful art comes the amazing soundtrack. I found the OST to be equally as good as the one in TCL. There was a lot of variety to be heard - from slow and creepy piano sounds to loud and heavy guitar riffs - that nailed setting the tone/atmosphere for the whole game. As it should be clear now, this is a game that makes you feel uncomfortable with almost everything that happens. Despite this feeling of unease, you just want to keep playing and discover how the story will unfold. These guys may not make bestselling games, but they are masters at setting an atmosphere so creepy, even at times when nothing's really happening: it's all in our head.

My biggest point of critique (regarding the sound section) concerns the voice acting (VA), especially during the prologue: as a prologue is meant to peek the player's first interest, I was rather disappointed. The VA during the rest of the game was ok though. A last point of critique goes to the different volume levels: there were certain scenes were one character was almost shouting in my ear, whilst the other was pretty much mumbling. Also, it seems like not every VA had a good quality mic, which is a shame. All in all, ok voice acting, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

<<<The verdict>>>

I am glad to conclude that this game was not a 'downfall' at all. People who enjoyed TCL will not only play through a new story that they'll get to love, but are also in for quite a surprise later in the game! Fans of (psychological) horror are also in for quite a ride, but may miss some references: I definitely recommend playing TCL aswell. Even if you don't like horror, you still may want to give this game a try. I'm not a real fan of horror myself - on the contrary - I try to stay away from it as much as possible. Yet, I found a special joy and satisfaction in playing such a stylistic game that dares to embrace such confrontational subjects.

WARNING: this game may let you experience every possible emotion.


- Genre(s): difficult, indie, soundtrack
- Platform(s): Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, BlackBerry
- Developer(s): Terry Cavanagh
- Publisher(s): Terry Cavanagh
- Release date(s): 2012 (iOS, Windows, OS X) until 2013 (Android, BlackBerry 10, GNU/Linux)

"Game over. Begin. Game over. Begin. Game over. Begin ..." is something that you will hear very often once you decide to give this challenging, fast paced game a spin (no pun intented). A game that can be beaten in just 6 minutes, but that'll most likeley take atleast a couple of hours instead. If you think you won't feel the urge to throw your computer out the window after spinning around mathematical shapes for hours and hours - whilst listening to amazing music - read on. Or better said: begin!

A closer look

You take on the role of a little triangle and have to avoid getting hit by shapes that close in on you at high (and increasing) speed. You do this by moving your triangle to the right or left - very simple indeed - which is quite difficult (at first). That is just about it as far as gameplay goes and may seem to get boring quickly, but that is luckily not the case. There is just something about moving around different patterns and objects at high speed while headbanging to the amazing music.

Controlling the triangle is easy: you either use the mouse, arrow keys or a controller. The controls are also very tight, so if you lose, you can only blame it on yourself. You should then either practice more or you could try to switch between kb/m & controller to see with which you truly shine.

As I mentioned above, completing the game could take as little as 6 minutes - 1 minute per stage. Naturally it'll take much longer, as your brain doesn't know how to react to this game (yet). That makes it highly replayable since learning these patterns is not something you can do right away. It's all about that muscle memory. Each stage has different patterns that occur somewhat randomly, however, after playing for a while you'll be able to react quickly and appropriately to (almost) any given situation.

Graphically, this game is nothing special, but it does have an interesting art style (like most indie games). There are a lot of different colors to be found in each stage that change and vary. The shapes are also straightforward (as they should be) and don't tend to be vague. Something that may keep people away from playing though: The combination of bright/changing colors and the fast rotations may cause headaches.

The best feature of this game - for sure - is its amazing soundtrack composed by Chipzel, who makes 8-bit music for different games. Were it not for these amazing tunes, I would've never had the courage to keep playing and eventually finish the game. Some say playing the game without sound may let you focus more. Honestly though, you really won't get the 'true' Super Hexagon feeling and experience without the music.

I wouldn't describe this game as being a 'pure fun' one per se, but it sure gets your blood pumping. Besides the adrenaline rush, there is also a high sense of satisfaction when you finally beat that one stage. Or even more so when you beat the whole game: I felt ecstatic when I witnessed the end, which is a really weird, yet unique ending to a game. I never knew that a 'silly, little' game like this could make me feel so emotional after completing it, but it sure did. Even now, I like to come back to the game regularly to try and increase my highscore or just to enjoy the soundtrack some more.

Pros and cons

+ Simple, yet fun concept
+ Addictive & satisfying
+ Amazing soundtrack
+ Sweet pricetag

+- May cause headaches (though that is personal)
- /

Final verdict

For this low price, I definitely recommend it for everyone to try. You may be surprised at how good you are at this game. And even if you aren't: practice is key! People who love difficult games on the other hand, will probably enter heaven. With that being said: begi- GAME OVER.

I always liked carrots. Until I played Ziggurat that is.


* Genre (tags): Rogue-lite, FPS, action, magic
* Avg length: ∞ (or ~1 hour for a run)
* Developer: Milkstone Studios
* Publisher: Milkstone studios
* Release Date: October 2014 (pc), 2015 (consoles)
* Platform: pc, ps4, Xbox One

<<<Pros and cons>>>

+ Overall fun and thrilling experience
+ Lots of replayability
+ Neat soundtrack
+ Appealing art style
+ Save & quit in the middle of a run
+ Great price!
+/- It can be somewhat 'unfair' at times (though that is part of the genre)
- Platforming is rather tedious


You are a wizard apprentice who has been studying magic for many years. Finally, you are able and ready to participate in 'the Ziggurat', a test in which you prove your worth to the Daedolon brothers: they form the most powerful wizard guild that rules and protects the lands. Your goal is to become a part of this guild - to be a Deadolon brother - but that is far from easy. Very few manage to get out of the dangerous fortress alive; only the strongest will make it - usually not without physical and mental wounds.

<<<Gameplay, fun factor and replayability>>>

You enter a vast dungeon constructed of many floors to succeed the test of becoming a powerful wizard. You automatically possess a wand at the start and will be given a new random weapon each floor. There is also a level-up system that allows you to choose between various perks (cards) to improve/change the way you play. You will definitely need those weapons and perks: along the way, you'll come face to face with many enemies, challenges and other kinds of hazards. The majority of the time, you'll find yourself slaying waves of enemies (minions) though, but the different types of rooms make sure to keep things a little fresh: challenge rooms, rooms with lore scrolls, treasure rooms, secret rooms ... each of which will test your skill and knowledge.

I have played Ziggurat for about 20 hours so far and I've had (and still having) so much fun with it! The fast pacing of the game certainly has to do with it: being able to run/jump around and shoot enemies down with various spells, staves and bombs to cause destruction - yet so simple - is really satisfying. Besides the combat part, there is also a (limited) sense of exploration. Finding secret rooms is fun and rewarding. Especially lore rooms are a nice treat: they give you experience, but also give you some backstory and (indirect) hints.

The game is not only fun, but also offers a ton of replayability for those who so desire. I have played a good amount of rogue-likes/rogue-lites before and I'm actually quite suprised by the amount of variety there is in the game: 17 chacracters, more than 150 different perks (cards) and a ton of weapons and enemy types. Rooms can even have modifiers to them (e.g. "more drops", "enemies are tougher" etc). No run is basically the same. For those who are really feeling it, there is also an 'endless mode' besides the normal mode (= easy, normal, hard). It is the perfect challenge/fun run for people who want to go through an extremely long (and hopefully powerful) run with their favourite character(s). Seeing that I have already played 20 hours, but only completed 5 characters on normal mode, I imagine I still have a lot of thrilling and satisfying hours to come with this indie gem.

With all that being said, let's not neglect the fact that it is a pretty difficult game. This is not a bad thing per se, but casual players may be rather turned off. Even on easy mode the game will still offer plenty of challenges. As it is a rogue-lite game, most game elements (weapons, enemies ...) are procedurally generated, which means that you can get really unlucky at certain times. Even when you feel like you have a good amount of health, decent weapons and perks, you can get screwed when you enter a room that is really difficult to tackle with your current setup. This can suddenly end your run that seemed to be going so well, which can be extremely frustrating. To summarize it; this is a game that will never let you relax fully and will keep you on your toes throughout the whole run.

<<<Controls, graphics and sound>>>

The controls are easy to get used to and are very smooth. Movement is simple and feels appropriate: you either walk or sprint and you can turn around quickly, which is really useful in a game where danger can be found in every corner. Aiming and shooting the weapons is pretty accurate, but may take you some time to get used to. A minor point of frustration comes from the 'platforming' parts: I find it pretty tough to estimate where my character will land. This is not so much of a problem when big platforms are available, but having to jump from and onto small objects can be really tricky. It is definitely not game breaking though and will not ruin the fun for the most part.

The game is furthermore pleasant to look at: you can definitely see that the developers created the art style with a lot of care. The vast dungeon - even though most of the rooms look fairly similar - has a nice and appealing look to it. It looks cartoony, yet dark at the same time and that really gives it the magical touch it needs. Also, the different floors have their unique look, torches are hanging all over the place, there are statues standing around - all of these elements bring the dungeon to life and set you in the perfect mood for a dungeon crawling experience.

As far as the soundtrack goes, there is nothing to complain. It is good. Not super duper amazingly good, but still really well done. It fits perfectly in a dungeon crawling game and helps setting the atmosphere. After all these hours, I have not grown tired of it yet, which is good. Certain games make me want to turn off their soundtrack because it really gets too repetitive - this game doesn't do that at all. I feel the music is mandatory to enjoy the 'full Ziggurat experience.'

<<<The verdict>>>

Certainly recommended, especially for people who like a fairly challenging rogue-lite game full of fast paced magical combat. Casual gamers may not really find their business here, but if they are looking for an entrance into the rogue-lite/rogue-like genre, easy mode is a good way to start.

Lay-out overhaul & minor content changes: May 10th 2016

You see, poop is an extremely valuable resource ...


I caught a first glimpse of this game when one of my steam friends posted a link about it on the activity feed. I checked the game out briefly, but quickly went back to other stuff as it did not really peek my interest. The game seemed a little bit weird to me (as in: it looks boring and stupid) and I was about sure I wouldn't enjoy it. About a week later, I saw one of my favourite youtubers play it and decided to eventually give it a watch. The video was over before I knew it and I clicked on the next one. And the next. After a while it was clear to me: I want this game! NOW! There was just something about it that I can't really describe, but it drew me in. And a lot of other people got drawn in too. It's like a disease being spread, the only difference being that it's a good disease. I admit I've been a little bit too quick in my (wrongful) judging of this game, and will therefore give it a (fair) second chance in this review.

You play as Beatrix LeBeau who decides to leave earth and set out for the Far, Far Range; a magical and adorable planet filled with slimes! Your goal? Finding slimes to Suck up their plorts (aka slime poop) with your VAC to ... sell them! Yes, correct. Plorts come in many forms and are used for various things on earth; mainly food and products (eww!). You sell these plorts on the plort market to earn some cash, which can then be spend on upgrades (for either yourself or the ranch). When slimes are fed, they'll leave one of these treasures behind for you, or two even if you are lucky. As of now, there are 3 main categories of food: fruits, veggies and meat. Each category has different types of food for you to find and feed to your slimes. If you so desire, you can also plant your own food - you'll run out less slowly (and it's fun too!). Believe me, your slimey friends will be thankful if you do. It is especially useful to plant your friends' favourite food; they'll love you for that and will definitely return the favour via plorts! I hope it is now clear that plorts are extremely valuable and so is your task as slime rancher.

The gameplay, however a bit unoriginal (find slimes --> feed slimes --> get plorts --> get money --> get upgrades etc) is very satisfying. Finding new slimes is always exciting, especially since you can create mixed breeds that are more efficient for money making (and they are just so adorable too!). The game thus encourages you to explore the planet on your 'quest' to find more and different slimes, find food and start your own farms ... and getting upgrades will make all of that easier. Be careful though, not everything is peaceful on the Far, Far Range. Under certain circumstances, a Tarr slime will come out and devour all the slimes in the vicinity - even you! So be cautious and take good care of your 'pets'!

The 'thing' that makes Slime Rancher so much fun for me, is the fact that there is so much freedom as to how you play. You can approach this game in a very casual way, and just go on an adventure, enjoying the different and beautiful areas with their inhabitant slimes (I could see this game used for therapy so to speak). The total opposite would be finding the most profitable slimes, combining them, putting them in a corral and making a lot of money - a dream for people who want to create a very efficient farm (or ranch rather). Or you could go inbetween and do a little of both: enjoy the slimes in their natural surroundings, but take a few home to take care of because they're so darn cute! The game is also suited for all ages, which is great. I'm pretty sure both young and old will find a certain joy playing this game and I love it for that. I could totally see a grandfather and his grandchild play this game together having a lot of fun.

The game in its current state is already super fun and stable, with minimal bugs. I estimate about 5-10 hours of content. There is still a lot of content waiting to be added, like more slimes, more types of food, more areas ... more everything! I also hope that they will add different 'modes' besides the "do-whatever-you-want" experience. I think it would make for much more replayability, which is what I'm looking for in the long run. I want to be able to play this cute game for a long time, without it getting tedious, hence my idea for different modes. (Ofcourse, this list is totally personal, and I will still love this game if it keeps up development like this - whether there be different modes or not). I'm thinking about:

• A story mode: right now there is a little bit of background in the form of mail that you receive, but I think playing through a real story would be pretty amazing. Maybe one where you have to save the slimes from evil or something? I don't know, maybe I'm just babbling nonsense, but I think some kind of story would make things even more interesting.
  
• Challenge mode: Think about having to complete certain objectives in a certain amount of days. That way, players would have to make smart use of the day-night cycle.
  
• Sandbox mode: The current mode (aka do what you want)

Pros and Cons

+ Unique concept
+ Relaxing and/or challenging
+ Nice, soothing soundtrack
+ Satisfying gameplay
+ Excellent tutorial
+ Gorgeous looking world
+ Cuteness overload!

+- (this is temporary): lack of content
+- (this is temporary): some may find it a little bit too expensive in its current state
- The gameplay is not very innovative (as in: get slimes -> get money -> get upgrades -- repeat)

The Verdict

I definitely recommend this game, but please keep in mind that it is still early access. Not all the content is in the game yet, and weird stuff (buggs) may happen. If you don't mind that, by all means, please support the devs. Otherwise, just wait a couple of months for the game to be a little bit more polished.

I will revisit this review when the game is fully released, as to edit it accordingly