Recent reviews by Raye Skylark

Note: A very wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is an adventure, cozy, mystery, point-and-click game developed and published by Happy Broccoli Games. It is the sequel to Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, and I posted a review of it here. However, it isn't necessary to have played the first game before diving into this one. Once again, you're the Duck Detective, and this time, the detective's roommate, Freddy, is taking him on a glamping trip to a supposedly haunted campsite. However, this vacation takes a turn for the worse when a child goes missing, stories of a dead spirit at an abandoned sanatorium are abound, and what's up with Freddy suddenly having a girlfriend? Once again, it's up to the Duck Detective to unravel all these mysteries and solve the case.

As for the gameplay, it consists of point-and-click elements along with interviewing suspects and making de-duck-tions (basically, filling in the blanks of sentences). There's a varied soundtrack along with full-on English voice acting. Steam/in-game achievements are present, too, and they count towards a user's global total.


After having played The Secret Salami, I've been hungry for more, especially since I felt that the first game ended way too soon. Thankfully, Happy Broccoli Games has released The Ghost of Glamping, and because of a very awesome friend, I had a chance to play this latest game and give my thoughts. ^^

The story starts off with the Duck Detective feeling depressed over issues with his ex-wife, and yes, he's still addicted to bread. lol However, his roommate, Freddy (whom I recognized from The Secret Salami), has the perfect distraction for him - glamping trip. The Duck Detective (whom I'll call Eugene at this point since that's his actual name and it's shorter XD) is feeling bored until one of the campers' cabins is vandalized. Of course, Eugene is happy to jump on the case and figure out what's going on, and then other cases pop up. I like how the story progresses here. It starts off a bit slow, but then it ramps up, especially after a crime occurs. Although this game is a sequel, it doesn't go over any events from the first game, so it's perfect as a standalone game, and you won't get confused as you follow the story events. (Still, I'd recommend playing The Secret Salami since it's a very fun game.) In addition, I like how short cutscenes would appear after Eugene has solved vital de-duck-tions, putting all the puzzle pieces together. As for the ending, obviously, I won't reveal major spoilers, but let's just say that I'm very excited for a third game in the series. After all, we can't be left on that crazy cliffhanger. :o

In regards to the gameplay, it's just as much fun as it was in the first game. There aren't any new gameplay mechanics, but the current ones work in my opinion. The point-and-click elements are fun, and I really liked working out the de-duck-tions, filling in the missing words and ultimately figuring out the culprits and their motivations. You can choose to turn hints on or off to set your difficulty. (For review purposes, I chose to turn off hints.) All Steam achievements unlocked for me without any problems although a couple can be missable unless you follow a guide or watch a playthrough of this game. There are a few instances where Eugene can make decisions, and I really enjoyed the ending in which Eugene can choose whom he thinks should be sent to jail.

As for the art, it retains the same style from the first game. The colors feel bright and colorful, and the sprites have this cutout aesthetic that reminds me of certain RPGs. The backgrounds are done really well, and here's just one of many that you'll find in the game:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491955748

Regarding the music, the tracks are great to listen to. They give off that mystery vibe, perfect for being in the shoes of a detective as Eugene is waddling about, interviewing suspects and finding evidence. Most (if not all) of the tracks are the same as from the first game, but they fit well with the game. Also, English voice acting is present, just like in the first game. The voice actor for Eugene, especially, is perfect, and I like that voice acting is a feature since it brings the characters to life.


Would I recommend Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping? If you enjoy detective mystery point-and-click games, especially enjoyed The Secret Salami, and/or want to get all those Steam achievements, then this is totally worth checking out. The Ghost of Glamping is a worthy sequel, and I enjoyed every minute of this game. For the asking price, it might be a bit on the short side, as it took me around 2.5 hours to complete the game and get all the achievements. You can wait for a sale, and it's in a couple of Steam bundles. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Breathless Winds is a LGBTQ+, fantasy visual novel developed and published by ForeverFuture Games. You take on the role of Dorman, a closeted transgender woman who has recently recovered from a sailing accident that had left her almost dead as she went on a futile search for her missing (presumed dead now) parents. As Dorman tries to settle back into normal life, she struggles with her past identity since her parents wanted her to be more of a man despite that Dorman has always felt more like a woman. In addition, her parents always wanted her to follow in their footsteps of being a sailor even though that has never been Dorman's passion. At the same time, a calamity is happening on Two Elk Island, Dorman's home, and the problem is exacerbated by the presence of unwanted foreign visitors. Can Dorman stop this impending disaster, all while discovering her true identity and finding love?

As for the gameplay, lots of choices are presented throughout the story. Dorman can go on one of four romance routes: Gallardia (Dorman's childhood friend and fellow sailor), Lantana (Dorman's childhood bully who has since turned over a new leaf and is now a healer), Valerian (the prince of Castle Island who seeks a cure for his ailing father), or Rue (the resident witch with mysterious powers and a mysterious past). Regardless of which route Dorman goes on, the ending will always be good, with choices only impacting dialogue slightly. There are several CGs and a varied music track as well as Steam achievements. However, achievements won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "profile features limited".


Breathless Winds caught my interest early on, especially after reading the store page description. As far as I'm aware, there aren't many visual novels out there with a transgender main character, so I was curious to read such a story. The developers were very kind to send over a review key, so that I could have a chance to play the game and give my thoughts. ^^

The beginning starts off a bit on the slow side, with Dorman having recently awakened from what is called Melancholy, a state of depression. It is assumed that Dorman's Melancholy is due to her parents' death, and part of it is. However, now that they're gone, Dorman is struggling to break free from the identity that her parents placed on her, of being a man and a sailor. I like how the writer developed Dorman's character. It feels very realistic, as Dorman has fears and struggles. It's a sensitive topic, and the writer did a wonderful job of approaching the topic with care. As for the routes, I enjoyed all of them. Each romance option has their own fair share of troubles and backstory, such as Gallardia, who wants to be a better sailor and has romantic feelings towards Dorman but doesn't pursue them due to thinking of Dorman as a man. Of course, I enjoyed some routes more than others. My personal favorites would have to be Valerian's and Rue's routes. (For anyone who's curious, I'd recommend this route order: Gallardia -> Lantana -> Valerian -> Rue.) I liked their stories the most, but I also like how it's revealed that both Valerian and Rue are transgender.

Getting back to the main story plot, I liked that it revolves around Two Elk Island being in danger due to the presence of foreign poachers killing spirits. Dorman is the key to preventing Two Elk Island from sinking in the ocean although the answer is only completely revealed in Rue's route (another reason to save her route for last). Breathless Winds has both a main story and romance, which isn't always easy to find a balance between the two with romance visual novels. Also, I like how only good endings appear, regardless of the choices made. Sometimes, bad endings can really hurt the heart, and I like that everything gets resolved and that all loose ends are tied (for the most part). However, I will say that it's only in Valerian's route that Castle Island can be saved, so it made me sad that it can never be saved in the other routes.

As for the writing, the pacing is well done. The story consists of a prologue, five chapters, and an epilogue. There's a good balance between the exciting moments and the slower-paced, emotional ones. I only noticed a couple of typos, so major kudos to the proofreader for wonderful work. ^^ With the gameplay, I didn't encounter any technical problems, and I was able to unlock all the achievements. A couple of them can be quite tricky to obtain, though, so you may need to look up info or do some trial-and-error with choices to get them.

In regards to the art, it is gorgeous. I love this hand-drawn, painted style that shows that it was done with care. The drawings can appear blurry at times, but personally, I like this style that's reminiscent of those from well-known artists. It makes it unique, and here are some beautiful CGs from early on in the story:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491377508

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491378052

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3491378213

I only wish that a CG gallery had been present, so I could view all of the unlocked CGs at any time.

With the music, the tracks are lovely to listen to. They vary from the sweeter, emotional moments to the more action, battle-packed scenes. The music volume can be on the quieter side, though, so depending on individual computers, you may need to adjust the volume in the game's settings as necessary. No voice acting is present, but it's not necessary to enjoy the story and get to know the various characters.


Would I recommend Breathless Winds? If you enjoy fantasy visual novels and want to read one that has sweet romance, an engaging main plot, and approaches the topic of being transgender in a thoughtful, caring way, this is definitely worth considering. Breathless Winds is a visual novel that will make you feel good and lets you know that it's more than ok to be yourself, as the people who truly care about you will support you. For the asking price, it's worth getting, especially if you go through all the routes and get all of the achievements.

Finally, I'd like to thank ForeverFuture Games for the review key. This was such a wonderful visual novel to read, and it truly deserves more attention. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: This review is based on the demo version. An early access key was kindly provided by Chorus Worldwide. ^^



Coffee Talk Tokyo is a coffee brewing simulation visual novel developed by Chorus Worldwide and Toge Productions and published by Chorus Worldwide. It is the third installment in the Coffee Talk series. While the previous games took place in Seattle, this latest game takes us to Tokyo. Although you take on the role of a coffee barista, it's definitely a different one from the Seattle shop. However, the story is familiar. You run a coffee shop in Tokyo along with your assistant Vin, who has their own tragic backstory. Various coffee patrons enter your shop and order drinks, ranging from coffee to tea and so forth. As this is a demo, it ends after the first day.

In regards to the gameplay, it's very similar to the previous games. You take customers' orders and brew them according to their specified preferences. If they want anything additional, such as latte art, the tools are provided in order to do so. There are a few lo-fi music tracks and pixelated art that's become quite a familiarity in the series. Even though no Steam achievements are present in this demo, the full version may very well have them.


For those who have been following my curator for a long while now (the link will be provided at the end of this review), it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm a fan of the Coffee Talk series. Thus, when I heard about Coffee Talk Tokyo, I couldn't help getting excited over a new game and happy that the series is getting continued. ^^

The story has a fresh new take, mainly that it takes place in Tokyo, where both humans and yokai reside. Although the location is different, the story premise is the same. I like that we get to continue being the anonymous barista who welcomes their patrons into their shop, fulfills their drink orders, and listens to their problems. In this demo, a couple of the patrons' problems are revealed. While one is in a creative music rut, another is actually an amnesiac ghost who probably has some unresolved issues. By correctly figuring out what drinks the patrons want, perhaps we can help them solve their problems.

As this was my first time playing this game, I definitely got stuck on a couple of orders, and it was funny to witness the customers' reactions. However, I like that it isn't quite so easy to figure out the correct orders, which makes the game challenging. (With that said, I'm guessing that someone will eventually come up with a guide for drink orders. XD) I had no issues adjusting the game screen to windowed mode, and I didn't run into any technical problems. If I had to bring up any negatives, it's that we can only play one day into the game. lol

Regarding the art, the game retains that beautiful pixelated style, which I adore. The sprites and backgrounds are drawn and colored well, and the art really gives off the atmosphere that you're in a small, cozy coffee shop in Tokyo.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3488529446

With the music, the tracks are all new, but they still have that warm familiarity from the previous games, giving off that perfect mood of relaxing in a coffee shop. You can sit back, give customers their orders, and listen to their problems while these lovely lo-fi tracks play in the background.


After having played the demo, I'm looking forward more than ever to the full version. This was just a little teaser, but I can't wait for more of the game to come out. Regardless of how long it takes, I know that the wait will be worth it. Especially if you're a fan of the Coffee Talk series, you should give this demo a try, so you can see what to look forward to.

Finally, I'd like to give a big thank you to Chorus Worldwide for providing an early access key to the demo. It was such a treat to get a glimpse of this game, and I definitely can't wait for more. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Kabuto Park is a cozy, cute, relaxing game in which you find and capture various insects around Kabuto Park and have them battle against other insects. It is developed by Doot and Zakku and published by Doot Tiny Games. You take on the role of Hana, a little girl spending the month of August in Kabuto Park. After a brief introduction in which Midori welcomes Hana to the park, Hana is free to explore the park. The story ends at the end of August when the final battle to crown the winner of the Summer Beetle Battles takes place.

The gameplay itself consists of two major parts. First, there's a insect collecting aspect. Even though Kabuto Park has four areas where Hana can find bugs, she only has access to Sunny Farm at first. Each area lists how many common, uncommon, and rare insects can be found, and you can even find shiny insects. :D To collect an insect, there's a horizontal scroll bar in which the mouse cursor moves from left to right and back quickly. In order to successfully capture an insect, you have to click in the area that's green. Light blue allows Hana to get closer to the insect, while the red area means that Hana misses out on getting the insect. This scrolling mini-game's difficulty can be adjusted in the game's settings to make it easier or more difficult. (I chose the default settings for review purposes.) You can view captured bugs in the collections area, and you can even put them in a terrarium.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3488462904

To access other areas, you'll need money to purchase items in the shop. Other shop items include an option to upgrade Hana's magnifying glass to make it easier to find more bugs and an option to purchase a bugtopia book, which can help Hana find rarer insects.

Now, how do you earn money? This is where the fun part comes into play. You can use captured insects to battle against other insects. The battles are basically the equivalent of sumo battles. You have a ring in which one team (which can include up to three insects) has to push the other team out of the ring. Various insects have strength, defense, and energy stats. The first two stats are pretty self-explanatory, and as for energy stats, each individual insect has three energy cards that have effects, like temporary strength boosts and smaller knockback. Battles consist of a push phase in which your team has the chance to push the other team out of the ring and a hold phase in which your team has to be defensive against the other team trying to push it out. When you win a battle, you'll earn money and candies. Candies can be used to level up your insects and improve their stats.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3488463011

As I mentioned earlier, the game ends at the month of August, but you can continue to play after the ending credits, so it's kind of like endless mode but on a more difficult setting with the battles. There are plenty of Steam achievements although at the time of this review, they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


It's great to go back and play a cozy game on occasion, and Kabuto Park, in particular, caught my interest due to its lovely art style and fun gameplay description. Thanks to the wonderful people over at Doot Tiny Games, I got a review copy to try out this game and give my thoughts. ^^

First, I found the story to be very sweet. It makes me miss those days when you could be a kid and just enjoy a relaxing summer with friends and have fun. I admit that I never engaged in bug collecting, though, but now I can, thanks to Kabuto Park. XD Anyway, I enjoyed the story from beginning to end, and even though the ending is slightly bittersweet, there is endless mode, so it never really ends.

Of course, it's the gameplay that's the main focus. Insect collecting is so much fun. I liked the capturing aspect and found it quite doable. (Then again, I have pretty good reflexes.) You can adjust the difficulty if you find the mini-game either too easy or difficult, which is good for those who either want a more challenging or relaxed experience. Finding all of the insects in an area is doable, and it doesn't take too long to find even rare insects. With shiny insects, that can take time, especially if you're looking to obtain that achievement for finding five shiny insects.

I have to admit, though, that it's the insect battling that I really loved. Having your insect team go head-to-head against other insect teams can be fun and challenging. Although I found most of the battles to be doable, only the final two battles were a challenge, so I had to reform my teams, taking care to look at stats and level up if necessary. It feels really good to use the insects that I got to win battles. As for achievements, I was able to obtain all of them. They may take a bit of time, but they're quite doable to 100% complete.

With the art, it has this beautiful, cute style that feels perfect for this cozy game. It gives off that feeling of being a child, enjoying a relaxing summer. The backgrounds and sprites are drawn and colored well, and I can just gaze at the art for as long as I wish. ^^

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3488462777

As for the music, the tracks are lovely to listen to. They have this fun, light-hearted tone, perfect as you're searching for those elusive insects. With the battles, the tracks take on a slightly more serious, fight-to-win tone but perfect for getting you in that competitive mood. No voice acting is present, but it's totally not necessary in order to enjoy this game.


Would I recommend Kabuto Park? If you're looking for a fun, cozy game in which you can be a child, collect insects, and use them to win battles, this will scratch that itch. Also, if you want pretty obtainable Steam achievements, this is a good choice. For the asking price of $5 usd, it's absolutely worth picking up. I finished the main story in around 4 hours, but I ended up spending way more time afterwards, mainly to get those shiny insects. XD

Finally, I'd like to take the time to thank Doot Tiny Games for the review copy. I never knew that insect collecting could be so much fun, and it helps that there's a battling aspect. I'd love to go back to this game again at some point to find more shinies. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



100 hidden Cats: Ninja is a cozy, cute, hidden object game developed and published by Sons of Welder. This time, your objective is to find a set number of ninja cats (yes, that's right XD) and weapons in a feudal Japanese village. There's just one scene, but like the other games by this developer, it has the usual mechanics. You use the left mouse button to click on a cat or weapon, and you can zoom in and out of the scene with the mouse wheel. Counters for cats and weapons are shown on top of the game screen, and if you get stuck finding a cat, you can use the hint function (in the form of a magnifying glass) to show you where that cat is hiding. The hint function needs a little time to recharge after you use it, but you can use it an infinite number of times. However, it won't indicate any missing weapons. Steam achievements are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


It feels good to go back to these cat-themed hidden object games, and I must admit that I almost missed out on this game's release. Thankfully, a friend informed me about this game, and another friend sent me a copy. As I wanted to try it out right away, here we are. XD

These cats have been pretty much everywhere, but I never thought that they'd be in feudal Japan and disguised as ninjas. :o Anyway, the gameplay is simple but fun, as expected from games by this developer. The cats are pretty easy to find, especially with the use of the zoom and hint functions. Weapons are fairly easy to find, too, although slightly more difficult since you can't use the hint function to find missing weapons. Since there's only one difficulty level, the game can feel almost too easy for those who are familiar with HOGs. I don't personally consider it to be a negative since it can feel relaxing to play a HOG that's on the easy side. At any rate, all Steam achievements unlocked for me without any problems, and I didn't encounter any technical issues. A major criticism I'd make is that you can only play in full-screen mode since it would be nice to have the option to play in windowed mode as well.

With the art, the style is lovely, with it being hand-drawn and all. The background and sprites are drawn well, and I like how the cats would be colored in a sweet orange after finding them.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3488484630

As for the music, only a couple of tracks are present, one in the main menu screen and the other in the game's background. Still, the tracks give off that vibe that you're in feudal Japan and are perfect as you're looking for all those ninja kitties and those dangerous weapons. I like how a cute meowing effect would go off after I found a cat, which has probably become a common feature in these cat-themed games by now.


Would I recommend 100 hidden Cats: Ninja? If you're looking for a short and easy but fun, cat-themed hidden object game and/or you want easily obtainable Steam achievements, it's worth taking a look. For the asking price, it's pretty affordable for the amount of gameplay. It took me a little over five minutes to find all of the cats and weapons and earn all the achievements, but gameplay time may vary slightly for others. If you're a fan of games by Sons of Welder especially, this is another fun game. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Anicon - Animal Complex - Sheep's Path is an otome, comedical, anime-style visual novel with simulation elements developed and produced by Zeiva Inc. It is the second game in the series, with its predecessor being Cat's Path. However, you don't need to have played Cat's Path before jumping into this game. You take on the role of Clena, your normal, everyday girl who's a bit on the clumsy side. After a mishap at the circus she's visiting, she gets roped in by the ringmaster and talked into romancing and eventually, marrying one of her sons. As the game's title states, Clena chooses to go for the sheep although he's actually a human named Dai who turns into a sheep. All of the brothers are able to shapeshift into various animals. Even though Clena is willing to go through with this challenge, it certainly isn't going to be easy, as Dai has problems with not knowing what drives him or just doing what others want. Can Clena help Dai and win his heart? :o

With the gameplay, there are a few choices present, and depending on which ones you make, you'll end up getting the normal, good, or special ending. The game takes place over the span of a year from June to May. In every month, Clena has cleaning duties, but she can choose to engage in other activities, such as talking to the ringmaster or the brothers or going to the market. However, there is a limit to how many activities Clena can do, so she's restricted to five. With cleaning, Clena can sometimes find coins, which are used to go shopping. Plenty of CGs and a varied soundtrack are present. Even though no Steam achievements are present, there are in-game achievements and Steam trading cards as well as some fun bonus content, such as wallpapers and side stories.


I played Cat's Path way back and loved it a lot. (I even wrote up a review of it, but it's restricted to friends only since it was a long time ago. XD) Even though I've had Sheep's Path in my library for quite a while, I kept forgetting to get around to this game, due to real life things. However, feeling in the mood to play older games (which tend to be overlooked or forgotten), I decided to finally get around to Sheep's Path. ^^

Since it had been quite a long while, I decided to play the prologue to reacquaint myself with the story before delving into Sheep's (a.k.a. Dai's) route. The story is light-hearted and full of comedical moments, absolutely perfect when you're in the mood for some cheering up. Clena is such a funny MC, as she gets herself in awkward moments and sometimes, only makes things worse. However, you can tell that she has a good heart and truly wants to help Dai. With Dai, he has quite a different personality from the previous romance option, Cat (a.k.a. Kad). Dai is obedient but his insecurity comes from not knowing what makes him happy. He finds it easier to do what others tell him rather than engage in self-discovery. Thankfully, Clena is there to help and encourages him with words and acts of care. Over time, it's revealed exactly the root of Dai's insecurity, and it's quite understandable, considering that he's carried such a burden for so long. Compared to Cat's Path, I feel like Sheep's Path is more fleshed out, so definitely an improvement. The growing romance between the two is very sweet and cute, and I enjoyed all the endings. Of course, the good ending is the best one, as it unlocks the epilogue. The special ending is quite hilarious, though, as it ends the game early and if you're familiar with Zeiva's works, there's a certain mascot that appears. XD

Briefly going over the writing, the pacing is fine, as the game takes place over the course of a year. I didn't notice any typos or grammatical errors, so it's very polished. As for the simulation parts of the game, such as cleaning, shopping, etc., I had no issues with it. Then again, I've played quite a few of Zeiva's games in the past, so it might be a different experience for those who are unfamiliar with her games. Compared to Cat's Path, I feel like there's more active engagement since Clena can use the money she finds to go shopping. Shopping can be very useful for a certain event. Even though there are no Steam achievements, there are in-game achievements, and I had fun getting all of them. A couple can be challenging, especially without the use of a guide. Even though some may find it a negative that there are no Steam achievements, I don't necessarily think that it is. It's nice to play games that have no such achievements, so you can just play them without the stress of finding any. However, I can understand if others find them fun, so it's a matter of perspective. At any rate, the added content, like side stories, wallpapers, etc., more than make up for the lack of Steam achievements in my opinion.

With the art, it's very cute and lovely to gaze at. The colors feel soft, and the sprites and backgrounds are drawn well. Of course, the CGs are done especially well, and here are a few of my favorites:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486650503

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486650848

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486650985

(I should note that I was only able to take screenshots in full-screen mode, despite that the game can be played in full-screen or windowed mode. I believe it's because Steam overlay can't be enabled for Adobe Flash games, but I could be incorrect about that.)

In regards to the music, there's quite a nice variety of tracks. They range from the lighter, happier mood to the more somber, serious one. Although the story is mostly light-hearted in nature, there are moments where it takes a slightly more serious tone, so it's good that tracks which reflect that mood are present. No voice acting is present, but it's not necessary, as it's fun to imagine the voices of the various characters.


Would I recommend Anicon - Animal Complex - Sheep's Path? If you're looking for a cute, sweet otome with plenty of comedy (but never over-the-top) with beautiful art and music and you don't mind the lack of Steam achievements, it's worth checking out. For the asking price, it may be a bit pricey for the amount of gameplay time. One playthrough will typically take around 3 hours, depending on reading speed. You can wait for a sale, and it's in a couple of Steam bundles.

Also, I just want to briefly say that I hope that Zeiva is ok. It has been a long while since her last game release, and I've always enjoyed her games. Also, I admit that there is a certain upcoming game that I'm hoping is still being worked on, as it really caught my interest. ^^

The Introverted Gamer and Otome Rakuen team up to give readers highly detailed, thorough reviews of hot romance games.

The Life and Times of Daniel Vastberaden is a story-driven, point-and-click game with mini-puzzles developed and published by Master Suite. In all of the chapters (except for the epilogue), you take on the role of Daniel, narrating notable events from his life, such as the early moments with his wife and daughter, as well as his family and philosophical thoughts. It's based on the fictional biography under the same title, written by Bernadette Brooks. I won't reveal a lot about the story since it would definitely fall under spoiler territory, but it ends with Daniel's death, along with an epilogue by his daughter. Also, the story is quite emotional, with plenty of tragedy and a bit of horror.

As for the gameplay, it mainly consists of point-and-click elements in which you have to explore various rooms and pick up items. The items are needed to complete various mini-puzzles, which can vary from reassembling picture puzzles to making potions. There are a total of eight chapters, along with an epilogue. Steam achievements are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "profile features limited".


On occasion, I enjoy games that have a good story and point-and-click elements along with puzzles, which The Life and Times of Daniel Vastberaden delivers. The story intrigued me from the start, and upon reading the first page of each chapter, I'd get drawn into Daniel's world. I only wish that there was more to the narrative part of the story beyond the first page, but if you click on a couple of right arrow buttons on the page, you'll either be taken into the gameplay aspect of the chapter or skip to the narrative part of the next chapter. As I enjoy reading a lot, it would have been nice to have been able to read more pages of the chapter. However, the story is captivating, with plenty of tragedy. Daniel definitely had his fair share of troubles, all eventually leading to his death. Although there isn't a lot of romance, a bit is hinted in which Daniel and his wife's ex-lover are in a yaoi relationship.

Regarding the gameplay, I didn't run into bugs with a lot of chapters. However, a few bugs are present, particularly with chapter four. It turns out that if you don't do certain steps in order, you'll get locked out of completing the chapter, which is a bit annoying. Of course, there are solutions to get around this, but hopefully, the developer will get to fixing them. Also, no save function is present. Normally, I'd find this to be a problem, but each chapter is short and can be completed in less than one sitting, so saving isn't really necessary. You can play a chapter, take a break from the game, and then get back to it afterwards. It's probably best to play the chapters in chronological order, but you can choose to play them out of order. All Steam achievements unlocked for me. Most achievements are tied to completing chapters, but a particular one is tied to doing so without Daniel losing his head, so the chapter in question would probably need to be played twice. Also, I should note that even though you can toggle between full-screen and windowed mode, the latter has awfully small dimensions, so having the option for bigger ones would have been nice.

As for the art, I like that it has this hand-drawn style, and it gives off that feeling that you're in the late 19th century. The colors are chosen well, and I really like the art style when the beginning of a chapter is shown, the drawings only being in black and white to complement the narrative writing.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485621428

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485621575

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485621679

Before I forget, I should give a trigger warning, so I'll put the following in spoiler text. There are depictions of death, Daniel's beheading, and blood.

With the music, I enjoyed listening to the tracks that are present. They are all instrumental, have a great variety, and make you feel like you're in the 19th century. The occasional sound effects add a great touch. Even though no voice acting is present, I think it's not necessary for there to be any.


Would I recommend The Life and Times of Daniel Vastberaden? If you're looking for a short point-and-click game with mini puzzles and a story that is tragic and has slight horror and/or you want to obtain fairly easy Steam achievements, it's worth taking a look. The game has a low asking price although the average gameplay time is on the short side. It took me over an hour to complete all of the chapters and get all of the achievements. To be fair, though, I did consult a Steam user guide (which is totally excellent, so it's worth checking out if you get this game), so if you play completely blind, it may take longer. Still, you can wait for a sale.

Finally, I'd like to give a special thanks to the developer, Master Suite, for the review key. It was quite the journey to follow Daniel's story. It definitely deserves more recognition, as it's a fun point-and-click game all around. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Welcome to Primrose Lake 4 is a time management game developed by SQRT3 and published by Next Game. As the name states, it is the fourth game in the Primrose Lake series. (For my review of the previous game, please click here.) Although it isn't totally necessary to have played the previous games in the series, it's probably a good idea to do so or at least, read reviews of them to get caught up on the story. It's now winter in Primrose Lake, and Jessica, Jenny, and the other townspeople have had time to adjust to events since the previous game. Even though a certain criminal is still on the loose, the people are vigilant and try their best to move on. Jessica has inherited the old Carlyle mansion and is busy with renovating it as well as getting reacquainted with Charles, her estranged dad. Meanwhile, Jenny is doing her best to get settled in Primrose Lake, wanting to make it her home and wishing to marry her fiance, Matthew. However, plenty of problems and drama arrive, aside from the escaped criminal. :o Persimmon, the owner of the hotel, wants to open a ski resort, and a lot of the townspeople believe that can only spell trouble, what with the possibility of drunk tourists and all. Then, a few townspeople hold secrets of their own, which all get unraveled, so yup, a lot is going on here.

As for the gameplay, there are a total of 60 story levels along with 30 side mission levels. Also, there are a few extra mini-game levels, and most of them are short hidden object scenes. You can choose from among the usual three difficulty levels: easy, normal, or hard. (For review purposes, I chose to play on normal mode.) In the story and side mission levels, you have to serve all the customers with their orders as well as find a hidden raccoon (easter egg) and complete the additional task. Depending on how quickly you can do so, you'll earn up to 5 diamonds per level. Diamonds can be used to purchase items in the attic in the Carlyle mansion, purely for cosmetic purposes.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485170670

Of course, plenty of Steam achievements/in-game trophies are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


Despite the occasional gameplay issues I had with the previous game (which I hope the devs will get around to fixing, if they haven't been fixed already), I continue to enjoy this series, so wanting to destress and get my TM fix, I went ahead and played this fourth installment. XD

The story is enjoyable as always although there's definitely way more drama this time. It makes sense, though, considering the events that occur. It's great to see the cast of characters again, and Jessica makes more of a presence this time. However, Jenny gets as much time in the game and certain other citizens get the spotlight. For example, one of them is hiding a possibly criminal past, and the sheriff has her suspicions. Now, I'll pause here to say that even though I like most of the characters and the story, I really didn't like the sheriff this time. It bothered me how gung-ho she went after someone, and I mean, has she never heard of double jeopardy? A person can't be tried for the same crime twice, especially if it's a high profile one. I get that the writers probably wanted to go for drama on this aspect, but I feel like they should have done a bit of legal research in regards to the issue I highlighted. Then there's the issue of Persimmon and her ski resort, which has the older townspeople on edge, as they enjoy their quiet life. It certainly doesn't help that Frank, Persimmon's assistant, is very shady and will stop at nothing to help Persimmon, even resorting to unethical means. As for the criminal on the loose, that is probably the main story focus, and well, let's just say that the game ends on a major cliffhanger. I'll definitely be motivated to play the final installment on the sooner side. :o

However, it's probably the gameplay that a lot of people are wondering. Unlike the previous game, I didn't encounter any technical issues. I was able to complete all of the tasks and earn the maximum number of diamonds as well as obtain all Steam achievements. Also, I enjoyed the addition of hidden object scenes. I believe this is the first Primrose Lake game to have them, and it's a refreshing addition. You definitely won't have trouble finding all of the requested items. If there's a complaint I have, though, it's that a few achievements, like replaying levels and losing customers, can be very grindy. If you're familiar with TMs, you probably won't have trouble getting the maximum score on levels or lose customers. While it wasn't too much of an issue getting the achievements for losing customers, replaying levels is very time-consuming.

As for the art, it retains that colorful, cartoony style that is very familiar. The sprites are the same, and while most of the locations are the same, there are a couple of new ones, such as the Carlyle mansion and the doctor's office. Locations, such as Persimmon's hotel and the boat rental place, are closed. I like that this art style is still around, as it makes the game feel very familiar, like you're returning to an old friend. ^^

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3485170733

Also, the usual opening and ending cutscenes are present, which gets you immersed in the game and maybe, you have to find out what happens next. XD

Regarding the music, the tracks are pretty much the same. I believe that a couple of new tracks are present since the Carlyle mansion and the doctor's office are new locations. At any rate, they fit well with the atmosphere of the game, making you feel like you're in a remote town in the Rocky Mountains.


Would I recommend Welcome to Primrose Lake 4? If you enjoy time management games, you're especially into the Primrose Lake series, and/or you want to get plenty of Steam achievements, then I think it's worth taking a look. For the asking price, it's a fair deal, considering that I got all of the achievements and 100% completed the game in a little over 12 hours. Also, there are no gameplay issues, so you can just enjoy the game. Of course, you can choose to wait for a sale, and I'm very excited to get around to playing (and reviewing) the final game in the series. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders is a murder mystery visual novel with puzzle elements developed and published by coly Inc. It is based on the mystery novel, The Honjin Murders, by Seishi Yokomizo. However, you don't need to read or be familiar with this novel before delving into this game. (I wasn't even aware that this visual novel is based on an actual novel until after the fact. XD) You take on the role of Kosuke Kindaichi, a famous detective, who is called upon by a friend, Ginzo Kubo, who happens to run his own detective agency. Ginzo has alarming news for Kosuke, though. Katsuko, Ginzo's niece, and Kenzo, Katsuko's husband who is the head of the wealthy Ichiyanagi family, are found murdered in the family's nearby annexe. The circumstances surrounding their deaths have baffled family members and local police. It's your classic locked room mystery, and with witnesses claiming to have seen a three-fingered man days before the couple's murder, Kindaichi has his hands full with trying to solve this case. :o

As for the gameplay, it's quite unique for a visual novel. Although there is the usual reading of lines and whatnot, you get access to a flowchart, like this one:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3482296952

There is a tutorial that explains how to make sense of the clues that you're given, but it boils down to this. The words in blue indicate clues that lead to more information while the words in purple indicate that you don't have enough clues yet to unravel more information. Names in orange indicate that you can change the speaker. Occasionally, you'll be asked questions that require you to recall certain events in the correct order or to find evidence in speakers' statements to back up hypotheses. The main gameplay consists of putting events in the correct order and with the correct speaker. There are two endings: alternate (a more romanticized) and true. Although most of the story plays out in a linear fashion, one of two statements that answer a question will lead to one ending or the other. To get the true ending, just make sure that all of the speakers are at 100% event completion towards the end of the game. There are some CGs as well as a couple of FMV cutscenes. A varied soundtrack is present as well as sound effects and a bit of voice acting (mainly in the form of screaming). Also, a couple of Steam achievements are available (for both endings), and they count towards a user's global total.


Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders caught my attention right away since murder mystery is one of my all-time favorite genres. (I'm a fan of works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. XD) Anyway, I knew that I wanted to get around to this game as soon as I could, and thanks to the wonderful people over at coly Inc., I had a chance to try it out and give my thoughts. ^^

The story pulled me in right away. Immediately, we're put in the shoes of Kindaichi, and he briefly explains how he met Ginzo back when they were in the US. However, it doesn't take too long before Kindaichi is thrust into the scene of the crime. As I mentioned earlier, it's quite baffling since it's a locked room murder, and they can be difficult to figure out, albeit not impossible. There's a good balance between the story and characters. I enjoyed following Kindaichi and getting to know the other characters, most of whom have ties with the victims, as well as learning some deep family drama. For example, it turns out that the family matriarch and cousin were against the marriage even though Kenzo pushed through with what he wanted and got his way. As for the characters, there's a nice variety of personalities. For instance, Ryuji, the second oldest, is a doctor and is probably the most normal out of the family, although in regards to the story, he wasn't able to make it in time for the wedding. I won't go into too much more detail with the story since I want to focus on other aspects, but with the endings, I enjoyed reading both of them. However, I will say that I have conflicted feelings in regards to the true ending, but that's probably because of cultural values and the time period that this story was set. (Also, a bit of a heads up for cat fans, but unfortunately, there is a death although no animal abuse. Still, I thought it was fair to give a warning.)

Briefly going over the writing, it is translated from Japanese to English. Since the original novel did have an English translation, I assume that this translation was used for this visual novel. It's very well done, and I didn't feel like there were any awkward phrasings and such. Of course, it can be difficult for translations to be perfect, especially with the use of Japanese honorifics and whatnot, but the English translation is very understandable, and the pacing of the writing is good.

As for the gameplay, I really enjoyed piecing the events back in order. I haven't encountered many visual novels that have this gameplay aspect, so it was great to think things through and all. Of course, if you are familiar with the original novel, this aspect may be considered easier. However, if you haven't read the novel but may be interested in trying out this game, I suggest holding off on reading the novel until afterwards. There were complaints about the slow text speed and the lack of options to make the text go faster, but the devs have since added the option to speed up text, which helps a lot. I was able to obtain both endings and achievements although I'll admit that it took me a bit of time to get that other ending. :o

With the art, it has quite a unique style that makes you feel like you're in Japan in the early 20th century, before World War II. Such wonderful care was taken with the sprites and backgrounds, and there were several great CGs. I only wish that I could have been able to show them off, but no CG gallery is present.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3482296834

Also, I liked the use of FMV cutscenes, which were mostly confined to recreating how the murders happened, depending on which ending you get. I found that it adds a bit of life to the story, and of course, the art depicts that whole theme of Japanese horror quite well. It probably goes without saying, but just in case, there are depictions of blood and violence and sensitive topics.

In regards to the music, the tracks are beautiful to listen to, with a great variety. They can make you feel anywhere from serene to downright horrified. In addition, the uses of screaming and sword slashing are a good effect to add to the horror atmosphere. It would have been nice if there had been voice acting, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary.


Would I recommend Kindaichi Mystery Series: The Honjin Murders? If you like visual novels and are especially a fan of the murder mystery genre, then I think it's worth taking a look. I had lots of fun putting the clues together and recreating the order of events, eventually leading to the identity of the murderer and the cause. For the asking price, it might be a bit on the steep side, as it'll typically take around 4 hours to complete one playthrough. You can wait for a sale, and it's totally worth getting for the quality of the writing, art, etc.

Finally, I'd like to thank coly Inc. for the review copy. It was a pleasure to read this amazing mystery that left me mindblown, and I'm hoping that the other novels will eventually be adapted into visual novels. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Golden Rails: The heart of the state is a time management game developed and published by Alawar Casual. It is the seventh game in the Golden Rails series. Our duo, Jack and Jill, are traveling by train when it comes to a sudden stop. When the pair investigates the cause, they see that the state is littered with metal clogs along with plenty of pollution and neglect. It's obvious that the current governor has been neglecting the interests of his people. However, fear not. There's an election to vote for the next governor, and although the current governor is confident that he'll win again, Sophia, a newcomer, challenges him. She vows to clean up the state, and Jack and Jill are more than happy to assist her. Can this team win over the people and overthrow the current governor? :o

As for the gameplay, you can choose from among the usual three difficulty levels: easy (relaxed, no timed), normal, or hard. (For review purposes, I chose to play on normal mode.) There are a total of 60 levels, which include both the main and bonus stories, along with 6 levels with mini-games. The 60 levels have the usual objectives, which can vary from arresting bandits to rebuilding the railway. Depending on how quickly you complete all the objectives, you can earn up to 3 stars for each level. Stars can be used to purchase upgrades that can vary from making your workers run faster to collecting more money. With the mini-games, most of them involving matching 3 identical owls while the final one is the usual shooting as many bandits as possible. Of course, there are plenty of Steam achievements/in-game trophies, and they count towards a user's global total.


I continue to enjoy the time management genre a lot, and the games published by Alawar Casual are among my all-time favorites. It probably goes without saying that I definitely wanted to play this latest installment of Golden Rails as soon as I could, and thanks to a very awesome friend, I had the chance to try it out. ^^

The story is fun as always. I like following Jack and Jill as they embark on their latest adventure. Unlike the previous games, this one has a more unique story in that it takes a modern problem and puts a spin on it. Littering and pollution are major problems, and although the people in charge could put in more money and effort to curb them, they choose to neglect these problems and only think about themselves. Thankfully, Sophia won't tolerate the current governor's attitude, and since Jack and Jill feel the same way, they all work together to clean up the state and win over the hearts of the people. I like this feeling of teamwork, and as you might expect, the story ends in a predictable manner (although I don't think that's a bad thing XD).

However, it's probably the gameplay that a lot of people are curious about. I didn't run into any game-breaking bugs. However, I noticed that on the first bonus level, it glitched for me since I completed all of the objectives with 3 stars but the level didn't end. It turns out that if you save repairing the railroad for last, this glitch can happen. Aside from that, I didn't run into any other issues. I was able to earn all of the achievements. However, the achievement for building 120 gardens, flowerbeds, and parks might require replaying certain levels. (For anyone who experiences this, too, replaying level 7 helps a lot.) Earning 3 stars for each level didn't prove to be too much of a problem, especially since there is an in-game guide. Also, there are a couple of new game mechanics that separate this latest installment from the previous ones. For example, you can now pick up scrap metal and melt it to make iron, so it's basically recycling. It definitely helps to save money. Also, cats are now present in the game, and you can provide them with good homes, which helps to increase a town's happiness. ^^

In regards to the art, it retains that colorful, cartoony style that has become a signature of these games by Alawar Casual. The only differences are the additions of sprites for Sophia and the governor as well as a couple of new backgrounds. Also, there's an owl that you can decorate with hats, glasses, etc. As you find hidden owls in each level, you get closer to being able to customize the owl. Of course, it's purely for cosmetic purposes, but it's still fun.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3480742980

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3480743160

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3480743248

As for the music, the tracks are the same as in the previous games. So far as I could tell, there are no new tracks, which is a bit of a shame since new tracks would help to give more variety. Still, the tracks that are present fit well with the theme of being in the US Wild West.


Would I recommend Golden Rails: The heart of the state? If you're looking for a fun time management game and are especially a fan of games by Alawar Casual and even more so, the Golden Rails series, this is worth checking out. The new game mechanics make the game refreshing to play, and I like how the story ends. Hopefully, we'll get to see Jack and Jill on their next adventure. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^