Recent reviews by Bumblebugbee3

So I played the Shadowrun games slightly out of order yet that did not hamper my enjoyment of Shadowrun Returns. For those unfamiliar with this series Shadowrun started out as a tabletop RPG and has seamlessly made the transition into a computer RPG series thanks to the team at Harebrained Schemes. These are very much story-driven games featuring a brilliant tactical combat system to support the gameplay. I loved Shadowrun Dragonfall when I played through it close to five years ago and I finally got the chance to play the Returns, the first game in the series. As someone who likes to play lots of different games it is always a challenge to commit myself to a lengthy RPG. That said I find the Shadowrun universe such a interesting setting and I'm so glad I had the chance to revisit it.

Shadowrun Returns starts when you get a video message on your computer from someone you used go running with. See shadow runners are freelancers who get paid to do other peoples dirty work. Turns out your friend Sam has met his end and he is offering you a reward if you can find out who killed him. If working for a dead man isn't interesting enough you start to unravel much bigger plots at play. You'll start by investigating the local bar where Sam used to spend much of his time at. Conveniently this bar happens to be a great place to pick up some jobs and the supplies need to go along with them. Eventually you meet one of Sam's relatives and find out they have ties to the Universal Brotherhood, a religious organization which, after some investigating, appears to have some nasty secrets going on behind the scenes.


You'll spend an equal amount of time or more in battle as you will reading the massive script that makes up the storyline. Shadowrun Returns is a tactical strategy game where you'll find your team and the opposing forces on a large grid often compose of multiple rooms and scattered furniture. You and your opponents takes turns and on your turn each of your characters usually have two actions they can take. Whether you move, attack, or use an ability these each will take one action point. When you go to attack an enemy you see a percentage of the chance that you'll land a hit on them. This percentage has many factors that go into it such as the distance between you and your foe, your proficiency level with your weapon, and whether your opponent is out in the open or behind cover.

Only your main character will you need to level up stats for as all your other companions you'll just hire from the local network of available shadow runners. There are some major skills such as Quickness, Strength, Intelligence, and Willpower. Each of these skills has subcategories which can only be leveled up to as far as you have leveled the overlapping skill. This means it will probably be best to focus on two or three areas to specialize in rather than attempt to be a jack of all trades. There are different archetypes that specialize in close quarters combat, magic abilities, decking (hacking), summoning spirits, and rigging drones. Having a team that compliments your own skills and gives you flexibility in combat is key to surviving the rather unforgiving scenarios throughout the game.

I've always enjoy tactical RPGs from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance to Banner Saga and I can confidently say that the Shadowrun series can easily stand with the greats. What is most unique about Shadowrun is the incredible universe the games are set in which combines cyberpunk and fantasy in a wholly-believable modern setting. Even aside from the deep and fascinating storytelling is a equally complex but manageable combat system and character progression. As you barely get through one fight to another each new upgrade you receive feels like a godsend and will provide just the edge you need to survive your next encounter. There is a lot of reading to get through to enjoy the storyline but if you don't mind that and wish to sink your teeth into a deeply rewarding tactical RPG look no farther than Shadowrun Returns.

I was quite intrigued when I first saw a trailer for Where The Bees Make Honey. I've really enjoyed other isometric puzzle games like Captain Toad and Monument Valley. So when the Kickstarter was launched to help fund the game I threw in enough for a digital copy of the game. I really didn't know what to expect or maybe I should say I thought it might be a fairly traditional puzzle game. Now that I've played through this game I can definitely say that this is actually quite a different kind of experience. More of an experimental narrative driven experience this game plays out more like an abstract short story. Made on a tight budget there isn't a whole lot to offer but it was interesting for sure.

The game starts out with the young woman named Sunny stuck working over time at a very ordinary office building. Apparently she works at a call center and is quite frustrated by how dehumanizing her job is. Her boss asks her to pick up some items when the power goes out. Once the lights come back it is almost like you are transported to a different world. You start to take a trip down memory lane reliving some of the moments that defined your childhood. These aren't however traditional flashbacks; instead they seem like warped versions of the events. For example when you are out trick or treating you need to avoid zombies and killer pumpkins. Reflecting on all these events will help Sunny determine what kind of world she wants to make for herself.

The gameplay is quite varied from puzzles to light exploration. One minute you'll be running around as an animal the next you'll looking for your bike parts in the snow. These sections are narrated as you play which help to provide you with details of each of these memories. In between the scenes that reflect back on your past are the isometric puzzles. The puzzles are different from other games as not only does rotating the camera let you see from different angles but each time you rotate certain pieces will move as well. The handful of puzzles in the game are interesting if not a bit on the easy side. Oddly enough the puzzles seem out of place as they don't seem to serve any purpose to the story-line.

This honestly feels like a very cheap indie game and looking back at its budget helps explain a lot. I'm not saying that it is a bad experience just quite short and rough around the edges. It only takes an hour to finish the game which does feel a bit short for a ten dollar game. In that sense it almost feels like and interactive movie quickly leading you from one scene to the next. There isn't any collectables so there is little to no reason to replay expect to see alternative scene at the very end. I can only recommend this to someone who really enjoys abstract artsy games. That said, I thought it was a pleasant enough experience that for better and worse definitely caught me off guard.

Cosmic Express combines trains, space, and aliens to create a delightful puzzling experience. Each Alien has somewhere they need to go but there this only so much space to lay down railroad tracks. It is your job to figure out how to utilize the space given to you to accomplish this task. It is a relatively simple concept but as you progress you'll be introduced to a few new gimmicks that will challenge you to think in new ways. As someone who has always enjoyed a good puzzle game I had wonderful playing through Cosmic Express, even when it occasionally got quite difficult. It may be a simple little indie game but there are many layers that feed into this game's success.

The goal of each level of Cosmic Express is simply to deliver all the aliens to their prospective destinations. Your train always starts on one side of the planet and usually must exit at one specific location. It is up to you find a way to lay down railroad tracks that can pick and drop off all the aliens in a way that will allow the train to exit to the next stage. Some stages will actually have two exits which provide unique opportunities for the player to discover multiple solutions, each of which will open up a different stage. These split path levels, combined with occasional shortcuts to different clusters, help give you options in case you get stuck on a stage that at first appears too challenging.

Each different cluster of planets in this game introduces a new twist on the gameplay that adds unique challenges. For example your trains start with just one car attached but eventually you'll have up to three seats available. Then there are things like black holes and crossed tracks which let your trains pass through in all four directions. You better watch out for smelly aliens because once they ride on a train no one will dare ride in that same seat. Each of these clusters has about 12 levels which slowly teach you these concepts until you master each one. There are several clusters to play through which make for great variety but also helps make sure each new idea gets it's own spotlight.

These colorful planets and the aliens that inhabit them do a lot for Cosmic Express. This game could have easily been a drab game about laying pipes instead this is a great example of how a little creativity goes a long way. Watching the train go around to deliver aliens is not only useful for testing paths but its fun to watch and the sound effects are a satisfying treat. There is music in the background but it is easy to tune out because it is so chill. The calming music goes a long way to help you keep your cool as you get stuck on the more difficult puzzles for an extended period of time.

I totally adored this clever puzzle and was surprised to see just how much it hooked me right in. The level layouts are incredibly clever and I love the theme of delivering aliens via a train. Each new element is added in a way that is easy to understand and very gradually becomes more challenging stage by stage. I'm proud to say I got through all but the very last cluster (which I was too burnt out to even attempt) without looking up any walkthroughs. That said some of these stages where incredibly challenging and took well over a half hour to solve. Clocking in about 12 hours, even without trying the bonus stages, I can easily recommend to anyone who enjoys puzzles.

Hotline Miami first stormed onto the indie game scene in 2012 with it's killer soundtrack and brutal gameplay. I played it several years a go on Steam and just recently finished another playthrough on the PS4. As someone who doesn't play many action oriented games anymore I wasn't sure if I'd still be able to hold my own. Although things can get really intense the beauty of Hotline Miami lies in how both quick retries and a variety of tactics help make progression very much achievable. Whether you just want to rock out to the exciting soundtrack or take on whole gangs by yourself there is a lot of fun to be had with Hotline Miami.

The story in Hotline is purposely a bit obscure and mysterious. It appears as if you are a gun for hire who receives his jobs through telephone calls. The phone calls are coded with obscure instructions but always give you a location to head out to. Usually once you get there you just need to kill everyone at the location but some stages throw in a little curveball. After you finish a mission you go to a select number of locations such as a pizza joint or a movie rental place to collect your reward. Things start to go sideways when you start to see new faces and even a couple corpses at the said locations. Shortly after things get quite personal and you'll have to fight your way up to the top of this criminal syndicate to get your revenge.

Hotline Miami is a blazing fast top-down, beat 'em up, shooter where melee weapons are just as important as guns. It only takes one hit to go down and from there you'll have to restart the level. You can't just take your time and sneak around; it is crucial to charge in and quickly take down your foes. Each different scenario requires you to adapt your strategies based on the layout of the building, number of enemies, and weapons available to you. See it may seem easiest to just shoot down your foes but the sound of the blast will alert all near by enemies. Key tactics to staying alive is to knock down enemies by kicking a door into them or by throwing your weapons at them. Once they go down you need to finish them off or they'll be back as deadly as ever.

It would a tragedy to talk about Hotline Miami and not dive into the incredible atmosphere the developers brought to this game. The vibrant colors pulsate right out of the screen and add a thrilling sense of urgency to each stage. The different masks you find all look quite rad and are quite a contrast to the choppy style of the unmasked faces featured throughout the game. Matching the exciting visuals is a wonderfully curated soundtrack featuring a number of very catchy electronic tunes. Expect names like Jasper Bryne and M|O|O|N to start being regulars on your streaming platform of choice as there are many real bangers featured throughout this game.

Hotline Miami at this point almost feels like the quintessential indie game. It was a staple hit from the now giant Devolver Digital thanks to it's thrilling gameplay and pulsating soundtrack. Not enough good things can be said about the originality of this game's playlist and how much exposure this game gave the talented musicians featured throughout. It is important to note that this is not a rhythm game based on its music but instead a bombastic beat 'em up that is simply fueled through these catchy tunes. I definitely think this is a game all gamers should experience whether that is getting hands on, or via watching a funny Youtuber, or by checking out a talented speed-runner.

It is incredible how much One Finger Death Punch 2 can do with such a simple concept. Even as a stick man, taking on hordes of enemies with mere kung-fu is exhilarating. The simply drawn characters could fool you into thinking this game lacks depth but with easily over 15 hours of varied content you'd be wrong. Anything this game may lack in character design it makes up for with its explosive combat. This game gets incredibly fast but as you train your eyes and unlock powerful skills you'll start to feel like a god. Hopefully, I've convinced you to stick around long enough to see just how much this clever game has to offer.

In each round your character is smack in the middle of the stage while the enemies approach from the sides of the screen. You have a certain reach limit on both sides and once a target gets in range you can attack them simply by pushing left or right. Now if that seems too easy then this is where enemy variation starts to come in. While many enemies can be dispatched with a single punch some enemies require multiple hits and may even jump from one side to the other. Then you have brawlers and bosses which require you to rapidly string together a sequence of hits to defeat. Also some enemies will shoot things at you requiring you to not only dodge the projectiles but watch to see what affects the may have based on their color.

While taking on large groups of enemies at an ever increasing speed is thrilling where this game really shines is in how it varies the stages. Some levels may have you using a power weapon like a light saber or chainsaw for the entire battle. Other stages either require that you don't miss a single punch or decrease your reach drastically. Additionally you'll find levels that have ever present threats in the background requiring you to constantly be watchful of where you position yourself. You'll find all these kinds of stages and more in a delightful story mode that takes a good 12 hours for full completion. Once you've completed the story mode there is many other challenges that bring with them several more hours of entertainment.

Now the action may be frantic but you have a couple tricks up your sleeve to give you the upper hand. As you dispatch enemies with weapons you may have the opportunity to in turn pick them up for yourself. Having a sword, staff, or club in your hands gives you a nice boost to your range. Now if you get hold hands on a bow, pistol, or sniper rifle you can start taking out targets no matter their distance. In addition to pick ups as you progress through the story you'll obtain skill points which really spice things up. There are several skills that can take out several enemies at once such as laser eyes, earthquakes, and fire storms. Others just make your life easier by slowing down time or shielding you. All the skills trigger randomly with the frequency based on how my points you've invested.

I really can't say enough good things about One Finger Death Punch 2. This game takes a very simple concept of attacking with two buttons and expands into a incredibly satisfying 15+ hours experience. The variation between stage types, in addition to new enemies encounters, means you shouldn't ever feel like you're stuck in a grind. To me the fun came from the story mode and while the other modes seem interesting I think I'd rather use that time to start another game in my backlog. I really hope I've convinced to give this game a shot as I can't imagine anyone not having a blast with this title.

Modern Metroidvanias are one of my favorite indie-game genres. Hollow Knight and Axiom Verge were both fantastic with both their clever gameplay and unique visuals. Ori and the Blind Forest is yet another wonderful platformer filled with countless exploration opportunities. If the solid gameplay wasn't enough Ori spins one of the most delightful tales seen in this genre to date. This touching and emotional tale combined with it's exciting gameplay makes Ori an the Blind a delightful title everyone should check out.

You play as Ori, a tree spirit that has wondered away from heart of the woods. A large friendly creature named Naru takes Ori in and they become close friends. After the heart of the woods is attacked by the giant owl the forest starts to lose it's light. This has a serious impact on Naru and Ori is forced venture out to try and restore the forest. Ori quickly finds a spirit guide whom helps explain where you must go and what you must do to bring the light back to the woods. With the owl on watch and dark creatures on the prowl it won't be an easy journey.
When you start the game Ori can't do much besides jump and send out a short range homing attack. However, as you explore your surroundings Ori's capabilities continue to grow and expand via a skill tree. The skill tree branches off into three different paths; one focused on offensive capabilities, another focused on exploration, and a third focused on expanding Ori's abilities. You gain some experience from defeating enemies but as you wonder around you'll find experience orbs that give much more substantial boosts. Additionally, you'll find orbs that permanently raise Ori's max health and spirit energy. You'll need spirit energy to use special abilities and create your own checkpoints.

This a gorgeous game with an equally enchanting score as the backdrop. You won't see many solid lines as both colors and shapes have a wispy texture that naturally blend into the environment. The music has quite a dark tone to match the generally sad nature of the narrative. Even with the melancholy nature of the story the piano shines through and still sounds beautiful. I don't want you to think that the whole game the down and gloomy, there are some high points and you'll find many flashbacks that unlock more of the history of the main cast.

I've been excited to play this game yet I was still taken back by just how good it was. The story sucks you in immediately while the gameplay keeps you hooked. The fact that all your attacks are homing is incredibly clever and unique yet doesn't feel unbalanced. Speaking of, the difficulty curve is very smooth; this game offers a bit of a challenge but never feels insurmountable. Just make a habit early of setting checkpoints or you may find yourself slapping your head as you have to rerun sections. A casual play-through will take about six hours while a completionist run-through will be closer to eight. Let there be no doubt, there is clearly enough highly-refined content that anyone who picks up this masterpiece will feel like they've got there money's worth.

The first Evoland is one of the most charming RPGs I've ever played. In this first game you literally had to find and unlock every feature of the game; from sound, to color, and a story. No doubt it was kind of quirky but it was also a lot of fun. Having milked that concept for all it was worth it was then a little hard to imagine just what the sequel would have to offer. Surprising Evoland 2 actually offers a much deeper and more engaging story-line while still splashing in gameplay from several classic genres. The length of a play-through combined with the variety of different mechanics makes this one incredible experience.

People are getting ready to celebrate the anniversary of the humans' victory in the war against demons. You soon find a small group demons are concocting a plot of revenge and it is up to you to stop them. However, a wrench is thrown in your plan when you accidentally get teleported through time. In each era you'll get to recruit new party members and explore familiar areas with a new perspective. Traveling between different eras you can see first hand the effects your actions in the past have on the present. The real question is can you make things better by altering the past or will all these actions have dire consequences.

Evoland 2 is primarily played as a Zelda inspired adventure game. This is only the base of the gameplay for Evoland 2 frequently hearkens back to many classic genres. It is difficult to say much without spoiling the joy and surprise each twist offers. Without being to direct expect there are references relating to shooters, fighting, beat-em up, rhythm, and mobile styles of gameplay. Unsurprising of the time period there is also a fair number of side-scrolling sections. The references don't stop at the gameplay; there is probably close to a hundred references to specific characters and assets from popular games and movies.

Evoland 2 starts out fairly linear but opens up about a third of the way through. From that point on you are free to pursue any numbers of objectives while traveling through the different eras at your leisure. There is plenty of reasons you my be motivated to explore. Similar to its predecessor, Evoland 2 also features an excellent collectible card game. This game within a game is very simple to learn but quite fun to master. You can find some cards in chests but most will have to be won in battles. You can also find stars, ore, and goop in chests. Stars are just for the sake of a challenge but the other items can be used for potions and upgrades.

Evoland 2 expands on the first game in about every way imaginable; from the concept of evolution of videogames to the sheer amount of content. With a 100% play-through clocking in at about 24 hours this game is about eight times as long as the first Evoland! Although I was a bit overwhelmed when the game first opened up I really enjoyed almost every minute. The changes in the gameplay from one place to another provides much appreciated shots of variety. No game mode is too complicated that it can't be picked up quickly and never stays around long enough to get tiring. The game does slow down a bit because to the focus on narrative but I did really enjoy the main cast. Evoland 2 is the second game in this clever series that any fan of retro games needs to check out.

Gone Home is a wonderfully innovative, narrative-driven, experience. Dear Ester showed the world that you could make a first-person game that was almost purely story-driven. Gone Home raised the bar and really set the standard for what a great walking-simulator could be. It is a fairly short experience but of such high quality that it may be easiest to compare to what you'd get out of watching a good movie. Unlike in a movie however you get to choose how much you read into the plot and explore your surroundings. There are so many things that factor it why this is such a great game.

You play as Kaitlin Greenbriar and you've just arrived home from a trip to Europe. Not only is no one home to greet you but you've never been in this house before. Your family moved in while you were away and now you want to investigate where everyone is. There are a handful of locked doors so not only are you exploring to try and get the scoop on your family but also gain access to other parts of the house. As you come across clues that relate to you sister Sam you'll actually start to hear her read you pages of her diary. These diary pages are the main narrative that drives the story along.

The gameplay is incredibly immersive. Wondering around this huge house in first-person is incredibly exciting if not at times creepy. You can hear thunder outside and you're never quite certain you're the only one there. As you explore room to room you can pick up and interact with all but the most mundane items. You'll be opening every draw and reading every note trying to decipher what has been happening since you've been gone. You'll eventually find keys and clues that will open up other parts of the house.

It is short but that is because there is no filler. Every moment of this game is magical; whether it is listening to Sam's diary or exploring a new room for clues. With the exception of the ongoing storm Gone Home is fairly quiet however there are cassette tapes and other sources of sound scatter around the house to help mix things up. Your sister may be the center of the story-line but the history and narrative around both your parents is quite fascinating as well. Every member of your family appears to be have struggles and interests just like you'd expect any normal person to have.

Playing through Gone Home for a second time was nearly as satisfying as it was the first time around. The immersion is through the roof. The characters all feel really genuine and the level of interactively is extremely satisfying. The story-line toys with all your emotions and drives you to discover as much as you can. The atmosphere is also great, certainly walking around this giant house by yourself can be a bit creepy. Overall, there is a lot to love with Gone Home. Those who don't mind playing a game driven by narrative rather then action will definitely be in for a treat.

Strider is a great reminded as to why Metroidvania style games will never go out of style. The fact is it is extremely rewarding not only to continuously unlock new abilities but to be able to utilize those abilities to explore previously inaccessible areas. What makes Strider stand out from many of the other games in the genre is how fast-paced and fluid your movements are. Where many of the protagonists in these games use guns Hiryu relies on his sword to cut down his enemies; this forces the player to get up close therefore putting themselves in danger. Although, there are a couple of quirks to address there is a lot of promising features in this title as well.

There is not much of a story in Strider, therefore your main goal is to use both you acrobatic and combat skills to get from point A to point B. You merely start with the ability to jump up into air and swing your sword like a mad man. You can also hold the attack button to charge a more powerful blow. As you progress you'll unlock kunai to throw, giving you a much appreciated range attack. You'll continue unlocking skills to improve your maneuverability such as slides and dashes. Also you'll get different upgrades for your sword allowing it to utilize elemental effects such as fire and freezing. Finally, you have robots called options which let you use a powerful ability at the cost of a meter which will slowly keep recharging.

Although, the platforming and exploration make up most of the experience the game does try to keep things interesting. For one thing there are sections that offer increasing difficult combat scenarios with no breaks in-between. The boss fights are the real highlight of Strider. Each boss offers clever patterns you must learn and when you chip away a set amount of their health they will start to mix things up. This really keeps you on your toes because as soon as you feel comfortable with one pattern you'll get a new one you'll have to learn quickly. The Pooh sisters were a very interesting example since as you fight each new sister she will bring in the other sisters you previously defeated for back-up. This results in forcing you to dodge and fight multiple bosses at the same time.

Strider features a surprising large world to progress through. The world map is broken down into a handful of sections. In each section your mini-map will fill in as you explore. You'll also find a handful of rooms that will let you restore you're health as well as save your progress. As you unlock new powers you'll be able to bring your map back up to see which doors you've passed can now be accessed. You'll always have an objective marker to help keep you oriented at least till the endgame when you start backtracking for upgrades and secrets. There are health, energy, and ability enchaining techniques to be found all over the world. Secrets include concept art, story details, and challenge courses.

Without a doubt Strider is an enjoyable, fast-paced, metroidvania. The combat and movement is frantic but as you progress you will start to master it. Exploration is a huge part of these kinds of games and I wish they would have made it a little more accessible. There really isn't any nice system to warp from one zone to another which would have been very useful when tracking down upgrades near the end game. Although you can see the percentage of collectibles you have found in each zone but for some reason you aren't actually able to access each zone's mini-map unless you are in it. These roadblocks seem completely unnecessary and they are pretty much the only thing holding this game back from being another classic. If the small details don't bother you I'm sure you'll have fun with this modern side-scroller.

(Updated review for build 0.9.2)
Tee Time Golf is the spiritual successor to Avatar Golf, one of the more successful games to come out of the Xbox Live indie-game marketplace. This vibrant, arcade-style, golf game plays much to the likes of Hot Shots Golf and Mario Golf. Although the mechanics may be similar to other popular series it definitely has some unique twists, such as a level editor. Releasing on Steam early access the game has already seen a handful of much welcomed updates. Lets examine the content this title is already offering and see if its worth jumping on board at this point.

Tee Time's gameplay is about what you'd expect. In order to hit the ball you need to press the button three times; once to start your shot, again for power, and a third time for accuracy. The meter moves quite faster and getting used to hitting with good accuracy takes lots of practice and a little bit of luck. If you're off much on the accuracy meter it can easy have a bigger impact than even the wind. Additionally if you find yourself in a bunkers or the rough they will impact both your distance and your ability to select particular clubs.

There are a handful of things you can do before you take your shot to aid the outcome. For one thing you can easily add a back-spin or front-spin. Also you can raise the camera up while you aim to get a better view. There is one button you can push to see which way the green slopes. Once you get on the green that same button will help you predict the way your ball will curve based on the slopes. Before you even start a around you can select club sets based on your level. These different club sets raise your power incrementally at the cost of accuracy.

Leveling up awards you money, additional challenges, and access to different cosmetic items. In Tee Time Golf you get to create your own golfer. The options are fairly limited but you do have lots of choices for colors. Challenges are the heart of the single player content allowing you to test your skills against AI of various abilities. Other players, whether AI or real, will play the holes at the same time as you. Not only does this generally speed up the games but once you finish the hole you can watch the other players or fly around the map as you please.

I won't deny there isn't much revolutionary in Tee Time Golf but it is a very solid game. It has everything I'd expect from a good golf game and more. There is even intuitive tools to make your own course if you're feeling creative. The features that have already been added since the game first released has drastically improved the experience. I'm excited to see what will be added down the road. Tee Time Gold even supports VR if you have a headset. No doubt there are a handful a choice golf games on the market but the fair price point definitely makes this one worth looking into