Recent reviews by Sparky

Simple, but fun. Reminds me of old-school online games.

It may seem crude and barebones by today's standards, but this game was made with love. Love for an odd chapter in video game history, a time of ambition shaped by limitation. And the time not long after that, where such oddities took on a new life in internet counterculture.

But most importantly, it's fun. The game nails that CD-ROM look and feel with wacky characters and a rockin' soundtrack.

Several times over, this game will make you wonder what you're looking at. But even when you've seen it all and the shock value has worn off, you're still left with some of the most solid rogue-lite gameplay around.

It's alright, if you know what you're doing.

A spooky and immersive atmosphere from start to finish, and an artistic blend of story intertwined with gameplay. As early as the title screen, this game has an air of mystery, one that is best experienced first-hand. Though it does still have replay value since there are subtle details that are more meaningful in hindsight.

My favorite aspect might be the graphics, the way they deliberately obscure the visuals with low resolution and inky shadows. Kind of unsettling in the same way early point and click games like Myst and The 7th Guest were. Likewise, the lack of HUD elements barring a pause menu and the cursor really adds to the immersion. All your choices and information are literally laid out on a table in front of you, with audiovisual cues telling you what you can interact with. My only gripe is the aforementioned graphics make it hard to see some of your options, but it's not a major issue.

Simply put, if you like mysteries, puzzles and strategic deckbuilders, I highly recommend this one.

Pros:
New things to find in space.
Cons:
New ways to die in space.

This game is very much about the journey, rather than the destination. Solving mysteries, overcoming fears, and roasting marshmallows, all accompanied by an emotion-packed soundtrack and atmosphere. It's so satisfying to figure out how everything works and connects to other things. The less you know going in, the better.

RIP Alec Holowka
I think I respect this game's themes more than its own creators.

This game is a real heart-to-heart: Heart of the Spire vs. Heart of the Cards.

Don't get me wrong, I love this game (my play time says it all), but as of July 2018, I can't recommend it to anyone who's just recently discovered it, since by then they'll no longer be selling what I consider the best games they've ported. Sure, Stern's got plenty of fun tables past and present, and Gottlieb's EM tables are pretty good too, but the Williams/Bally pinball machines are some of the most imaginative and well-designed I've ever played. Gottlieb's DMD tables pale in comparison, that's for sure. Hopefully when the WMS license expires, some other company will pick it up, but unless you're specifically looking for Gottlieb and Stern tables or have $300 to buy all the season packs before they're gone, I cannot recommmend this game to new players.