Recent reviews by Boreder

I forgot to write a review for this game because I intended to do one when I finished it. But I got stuck at the final boss and got busy with life.

In any case, I think this game is great - the soundtrack is dope, the art and atmosphere is really unique and haunting, and the gameplay is pretty fun too. You have to be quite creative at times to get through certain levels, and once you get to a point where your Daughters feel strong, it can be very rewarding.

I spent a lot of time trying over and over again to create the perfect Daughter with as much traits as possible, to the point where it felt like a cool experiment or trying to curate a Pokemon with great IVs and EVs.


I don't know, I got really attached to this game at one point, and it became a source of relaxation during a certain period in my life (even with how challenging it gets). It's got a killer art direction and I think that adds to how memorable it is.

Call of the Sea is a nice little adventure, with really great visuals, music, environments, and a neat story. The puzzles are pretty good as well, with them ranging from being simple obstacles to real head-scratchers. Sometimes the directions can be a bit unclear, which caused confusion on my part and had me having to think for long periods of time before progressing (though you can always use a walkthrough like I did for one puzzle).

But really, I'd like to reiterate how beautiful the environments were, with each area offering some new vistas and locations that you can explore. With the cute artstyle and instrumental music, it often feels like a Disneyland adventure ride.

I have mixed feelings about this game, but it's well-made enough to earn a positive recommendation since there is no option for a neutral review.

It's a good horror game no doubt, the graphics are great and they do well in placing you in what feels like realistic forest environments. Of course, this adds to the scare factor, as a lot of the horror comes from the tense atmosphere of navigating the eerie and low-lighted Black Hills Forest. Anyone with Xylophobia would definitely find this game terrifying and would do well to avoid it. Or maybe they'd want to play it even more. You do you.

The game is also as much a story about psychological trauma and terror as it is about actual horror, exploring the depths of PTSD and the consequences of your actions (which include pushing away those around you). Expect a lot of hallucinations and trippy sections regarding these mental issues faced by the protagonist.

The gameplay is also pretty interesting and unique at times, with some creative mechanics dealing with the video recorder we find early in the game. Some parts of the game become very scary as a result of it.

Unfortunately my ambivalence stems from the final act of the game but I won't delve into that. It's hard to explain but part of how I evaluate every media I experience is whether or not I feel like I appreciate the amount of time I have used for it, and whether I have received value for having consumed it. I'm not sure if I can say that for this game, but I definitely appreciate what the developers were going for. It is by no means a bad game, as the horror and gameplay aspects are very solid. So if you want it just for those, then it won't be a bad pick.

Overall I felt like it was a 6.5/10 for me.

I was never particularly fond of point-and-click games, even considering that I have played some in the past. However, Whisper of a Machine's premise interested me enough to get it (that and the fact that I wanted a simple game with a nice story). It did not disappoint. What starts as a simple detective case eventually unfolds to greater schemes at large, and you'll discover these when you play the game. Some of the puzzles that need to be completed are really confusing and vague, but being able to solve them feels gratifying. There's also the option of searching up walkthroughs for certain parts that you really can't figure out.

Now for a review of the thematic discussions touched on by the narrative and story. If you want to play the game completely blind, you need not read further.

In a genre that has an extreme variety of stories, the sci-fi title Whispers of a Machine manages to still find a unique angle with which to explore its themes. The story takes place somewhere in the future, in a post-war, anti-AI world. This in itself was already interesting in that the plot transpires in a setting where AI had once been ubiquitous but is now all but forbidden. Thus, most of the narrative themes revolve around this idea of whether an AI singularity would bring more harm than good to humanity.

The Conduit is a group introduced in the game of members who zealously wish to bring AI back into the world. More than that, they wish to achieve a singularity and believe that this superintelligence will save the world.

The game repeatedly likens their ideology to the concept of creating a child that surpasses them, or to create a God that lives on after them. Moreover, it posits the argument that humans that are diametrically opposed to the idea of an AI singularity are simply afraid of that which becomes greater than them. If people were to let go of this fear, the world could potentially improve in unprecedented ways, or it could be disastrous for mankind. It is an unknown venture, but one that some argue to be worth it regardless of what happens.

Whispers of a Machine also touches a bit on the counter-ideology to what could be the cyberculture of the future; when the world becomes overrun with AI, technology, and hedonism arising from complacency, it is likely that traditionalists will rise to meet this change. After all, any sort of change major is bound to be met with strong pushback with ideals of what was perceived as good in the past.
It was better before

In the game this was represented by one of the most traditionalist organizations you can think of: a religious church. An apt contrast to AI zealots.


The story also touches more on themes of observer bias on the perception of reality, the subjectivity of meaning, and self-preservation.

Takes a little of reading in between the lines, but all in all, this is a simple self-contained story that bears some very interesting ideas.

Amnesia: Rebirth. What a trip. Where to begin?

Like SOMA, I went into this game mostly blind outside of a teaser trailer and knowledge of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, having played it a long time ago. I've been anticipating this game for a long, long time, and I've been a long fan of the developers so my expectations were high. All I can say is, this game definitely met them. I believe this game should be played without comparison to the other games, besides connecting the story to the first Amnesia, of course.

The beginning is even slower than SOMA's as you're greeted with a lot of exposition and have to make your way through a few levels before reaching any truly scary part. I was fine with this, because I play these games mainly for the story and the immersion. Now while playing, I have been demotivated to continue due to many factors, including a busy schedule, fear, and learning of a mixed reception about the game. I've seen people saying negative things about this game and many have ill feelings toward it. That's all understandable as people have their own opinions, but I urge you to try the game for yourself first without listening to others if you're interested, because I've seen a lot of people comment on the game without ever even touching it. Some major negative comments which I found dumb were also about saying that there are too many annoying flashbacks. The flashbacks were an interesting part of the game and served to further your understanding of what happened so I don't really know why it's an issue.

I got the motivation to continue and was glad for it. The story might not seem as compelling as Dark Descent at first, due to the relatively simple motives of the main character. Over time you grow immersed into the perspective of the main character and learn that some stories are best told with the perspective of the human mind at the forefront, as the totality of the human condition stems from that. With a story like SOMA, you try to grasp an understanding of empathy with humanity departed from humans. With Amnesia: Rebirth, you are inundated with being painfully human and all the woeful throes entailed with it. Once you play, you'll understand what I mean.

Amnesia:Rebirth has some beautifully detailed environments and you can see the great deal of thought and detail the developers put into them. Separate parts of the game can feel VERY different, and the changing locations gave me whiplash sometimes trying to think back on what I went through. For me, I find that to be a plus. So if you're ever not feeling a certain location, it's sure to change. That alone I feel suffices to make the game interesting enough to play. But it also has more. I found that reading all the notes and background lore through the different found objects was very compelling and I was always eager to find out more. Knowing the lore of the first game makes the revelations all the more mind-blowing.

As for whether or not its scarier than Amnesia: The Dark Descent, that's debatable. I will say this though, this game has one horror sequence that I found to be the most terrifying out of all Amnesia or Frictional Games. I played that part at midnight and it still gives me residual trauma. I think I'd give Amnesia: TDD the edge in frightening atmosphere, but this game is definitely scary. It's definitely scarier than Amnesia: AMFP and SOMA. However, like I said, the horror isn't the focus of my experience and I prefer to pay attention to the story. Some might say The Dark Descent had a more compelling story because it was more mysterious and felt that it had more purpose. I'm inclined to agree. But Amnesia:Rebirth is a story that ramps up as you play, and really forces you to try and get into the head of these characters and their experiences. In my opinion, both stories have their strengths. I'd suggest you play both and form your own opinion. Personally, I think the latter had a stronger final act.

What's more, the voice acting was incredible. Props to all the voice actors, because they did a fantastic job and really made their characters feel real. I don't think there is much more to say without spoiling anything. I'm writing this at 2 am in a daze so that the feelings are still fresh.


TL;DR: While it may have its flaws, I recommend not listening to the negative reviews and trying this game for yourself to form your opinion. It's still a gripping narrative that has plenty of horrifying sections. And judge this game by its own merits, not by comparing it to the other games.

Synthetik is a great, well-polished game. It's definitely one of the most unique roguelites out there and is a cut above in realism compared to most of its kind. Graphics are fantastic, and the gameplay offers satisfying gun mechanics on par with or even better than most modern shooters. More good things about this game include: killer music, amazing sound design, and an overall really cool sci-fi feel. It's also got online co-op and a variety of different classes, so what's not to love?

If you like robots, roguelites, sci-fi, guns (and more guns), and off-the-wall action, this game is for you.

I enjoyed Wizard of Legend a lot more than I thought I would. The game drew me in with it's offer of great pixel art and smooth, stylized combat, and I ended up getting both of those in spades.

The fun of WoL comes from the ability to discover a wide variety of spells and finding out which ones synergize best with each other. Depending on your playstyle, you can choose to do burst damage, focus on area-of-attack spells for crowd control, to combo enemies into perpetual submission, and so on.

Some have complained about the highlighted importance of hitstun combos in this game and how that's a detriment to the gameplay. It is a valid complaint and it can get frustrating to get mobbed to death by the weakest enemies you can encounter when you've racked up a good run. However, I feel that it is rectified enough by the ability to weigh the pros and cons of each spell which can make all of them useful based on how you play. For example, spells that don't combo-hitstun usually do high one-off damage that comes out much quicker, while spells that combo leave you open to a lot of risk either by virtue of having to set it up well, or because you have to get in closer proximity to enemies.

Overall, I feel this is a very solid roguelike/lite that has a charming style and an array of unique spells that can keep you entertained for a while. Unfortunately I suck at games so I'm having trouble completing it.

Hades is fun as hell (pun intended). Mechanically, it's the Supergiant title with the most refined gameplay in terms of responsiveness and fast-paced butt-kicking. I was never a fan of roguelikes/lites simply because the idea of repeating the same thing over and over until you got better didn't really appeal to me. Hades changed that perception.

Of course, this was within my expectations when I got the game. I had no doubt that it was going to be really fun with a lot of unique variations to make each run an interesting experience. What surprised me however, was how much the story/character/writing aspect really shines in this game, There are so many fully-voiced dialogue lines between the characters that are discovered each time you progress (or fail to progress) that it's hard to wrap my head around how the devs managed to pull it off without losing their minds. This is probably the roguelike/lite game with the most heart and soul simply because of all the interactions you're able to have. And it's still in Early Access so I'm eagerly looking forward to the updates they have in store for more additions to the story and gameplay.

Supergiant Games, you did it again.

Bastion is an example of a great classic indie game. It's simple and it's full of heart—and sometimes that's all you need. It's got a simple but amazing story and simple but solid gameplay, and that was more than enough to win me over.

In many ways, Bastion reminds me of a Studio Ghibli film. And I mean that in the best possible way. From it's gorgeous art, post-apocalyptic/war themes, young protagonists, and of course, the tantalizingly imaginative world full of odd creatures and characters.

Even if it may be a little old by now, don't let that steer you away. It's still a wonderful passion project by Supergiant Games that can provide you with hours of fun accompanied by an award-winning soundtrack.

An underrated gem by Supergiant Games. The gameplay isn't the most appealing aspect, I'll admit — it does grow on you and winning each rite does grant its own satisfaction, but as the difficulty increases and the story goes on it can get a little grating because the AI's advantages over you start to become more pronounced.

The gameplay however, isn't what makes Pyre enchanting. It's the characters. While I haven't yet played all of Supergiant's games, I can safely say that the characters here are the most fleshed-out. Each and every one of the colorful cast has their own unique personality traits, quirks, and admirable qualities. The choices you make regarding them are not to be taken lightly as a result. They facilitate the story, and allow for many different outcomes depending on what you decide at each pivotal moment.

I applaud Supergiant Games for creating such a vibrant universe (that I would love to seen an animated series of, but alas), and hope more players can look past its faults to appreciate this finely-woven tale intermittent with fantasy sports matches.