Recent reviews by Walder

I will write a proper review later. For now, if you are wondering if this game is worth getting and playing, I would say it absolutely is.


I wanted to use this as a platform to express some of my grievances with the game, since Rubeki Games seems to be looking for feedback.

Liquids have been one of the biggest sources of annoyment for me, as even so much as your heel grazing over the liquid means you die. This would be fine on it's own, but liquids and platforms that you are supposed to land on have very, very little vertical gap between them which makes navigation really clunky. I would highly advise setting a larger height gap between platforms and liquids.

The penultimate level is dark. Very, very dark. A good bit of the level involves cramming in to little crevices to climb your way up. These said crevices often share the same texture as the rest of the walls surrounding it, and coupled with the immense darkness makes it often very hard to notice them. Getting stuck because you can't even tell what you need to do, where you need to go is very demoralizing. I would suggest playing out with spreading some more light sources around the map and giving the crevices better distinguishable textures.

The final level is a crazy whiplash, where you are suddenly thrust into a very merciless speedrunning section. This level felt more like something you'd get after doing a series of optional challenge levels or something. The experience I've had going through the main game didn't prepare me for that level of viciousness at all. I guess one remedy that could be done is just getting rid of the clots that can block you off, running from the shadow is enough challenge by itself. In general though I would advise just making it easier lol, with making the original version accessible as an optional level perhaps.

From the intro I knew I was going to love this. It's funny, charming and intriguing all at the same time. The amount of polish on this is just insane. Also quick shoutout to the soundtrack, that soundfont is brilliant (I clapped when I heard the clock ticks). This will be a game I'll remember and I'd love to see more of Sawyer's adventures. Cheers and congragulations for making this.

I don't have a whole lot to write, unlike this game that's brimming with words. A really immersive and well crafted game, one definitely worth experiencing.

As the world became more globalized, I feel like general social interaction became more and more shallow. Ironic that so many feel lonelier despite the world being more connected than ever. VA11 HALL-A provides a brief comfort to me in that you get to partake with many interesting people having casual chatter, even as an observer. It's a down to earth experience, where people continue to live their lives no matter how hard it gets or no matter what grand events are unfolding in the background. Great writing, the music and the art nail down a comfy experience. A relatable one too, at times. The opening sequence especially hits me hard. Can also be damn funny and sentimental too. Great game, my only complaint is that I can't play this freaking game without drinking!!!!

A worthy DLC that pretty much doubles the content of the game. While it won't capture the magical experience you've first had playing Rain World, it makes for a fine extension of it. The expansion for the most part revolves around 5 new slugcats (though it also adds a few things for the original characters as well) , with each having their own unique gameplay mechanics, areas and overall world changes. The slugcats are really fun to play as, especially Rivulet and Artificer. Their exclusive areas are also very nice, with high quality aesthetics and labyrinthine yet focused design though a few are not that impressive and feel more like weird setpieces. There's also more music, and they are just as good as they were in the original (that means very good!).

I don't normally like to replay games and rather play something new, but playing as each slugcat and their campaigns feels unique enough with not only their new areas and world changes but also how they play to justify it.

I willl say however that things can get exceedingly difficult playing as some of the new characters sometimes, even by Rain World standarts. Some areas will have you get stuck in a not so fun way. I also wish the DLC had a few ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ insane moments like the original game had but it doesnt go too insane here, and if it does it's recycling what was there on the original already. I also hate to say it however the new creatures feel very uninspired and lame. The most prominent one is just a weird amalgamation of 2 creatures that existed in the base game. The rest are either variations of existing creatures, or creatures that feel like setpieces that just kinda stand around not doing a whole lot. If there is anything Downpour fails at, it's the creatures.

Still what's good is some really good stuff and all in all it's very much worth a buy if you enjoyed the original and craved for more, though it is a shame that Downpour does not have regional pricing compared to the base game.

This game is hard to get into. It can be immensely unfair and you will die to random ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ a lot. It will also throw you in this world without any guidance beyond a very unreliable overseer that sometimes points you towards a direction. You wonder if there is any aim or a story at all. But beyond that seemingly impenetrable shell lies a magical game that will evoke a feel that no other game will satiate. It has a beautifully crafted world, with elegant aesthetics and thoughtful level design spread all around. Each area is memorable in it's own right. The creatures that inhabit the said areas are also very fantastic, with them existing in an ecosystem independent from you. Scavengers will travel in groups, lizards will attack other lizards in territorial disputes until a vulture swoops in and drags one of them to it's lair, and all will run at the sight of the horrifying DLL. It really does feel that the world lives by itself with all these unique creatures, independently from you. The game seldom gives you music, but what it does give is bliss on the ears (quick shoutout to Kayava).

A brilliant game overall and I'd really recommend going around at least a few areas. It is a hard game to click with but when it does, it becomes a very special experience.

I do have some complaints about it, however. Dying to random ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥? That's fine, it's a simulated ecosystem and it's not meant to be any more merciful to you than it is to the other creatures. Losing karma and having to increase it to move through areas? Miss me with that ♥♥♥♥. Karma gates suck. It's such a bizarre choice of design to gatekeep players from doing things, especially when the game is so freeform in every other aspect. Can't say I'm a fan of how you have to carry pearls all around the map to get the pieces of story as well. Also deer have terrible AI and make Farm Arrays a terrible chore to go through.

Still, I am willing to put up with all that and other ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ because this game is kino. Play it, try it!

Update: A few days after writing this, the game had it's regional pricing removed and the cost jumped from 31 to a whopping 235 liras. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge ♥♥♥♥ YOU to whoever is responsible for it.

I think this game, along with it's sequel, are one of the pinnacles of video games. The gameplay not only does hold up, but even exceeds many of the newer games out there. The moody atmospheres and environments ranging from corrupt nobles manors to long forgotten ruins low beneath the earth, the great sound design in general and the very intriguing lore, the charisma of the protagonist and the charm of the dialogue all converge into a spectacular experience. It has a bit of jank here but the gameplay's still very tight, and makes great usage of light and the aforementioned sound design. You'll be hiding in dark corners as you keep your ear close to the door to hear which direction that pesky guard is going to. You'll scramble to quickly extinguish a torch or creep through that marble floor hallway before the patrolling guard notice you. The game really does well at putting you in the shoes of a thief. That said, I think the levels start to go downhill after a while due to a sharp decrease in stealth and the game really upping the supernatural, plus some other levels like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Mage Towers or Thieves Guild are just ♥♥♥♥♥. Still, what's good is really really good and I can't recommend this game enough. Even when you are done, people are still making some insanely good custom campaigns and levels, with some matching and even surpassing the quality Looking Glass Studios achieved.

normally i despise horror (not as in i think it's a bad genre, i just can't handle that ♥♥♥♥) but the way this game executes it is really elegant. it's a great game, with a very cool atmosphere and story, do give it a try if it interests you in the slightest bit

Fatum Betula is a game where you run around doing menial tasks so that you can watch a FMV. While the locations have nice visuals and the music is pretty good the quantity is very low and there isn't any events going through them or anything, it's very static. The endings aren't fulfilling either, you don't do anything besides watching stuff, and the ways to reach them for the most part aren't that interesting either ( barring a few) why not have you course through a short segment or something? Would certainly be more interesting and help alleviate the depressing lack of locations and interesting things going within them. There's a good idea here, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

This game is beatiful. From the art to the music and to the little details, you can tell that everything has been crafted with love poured into it.

Beginning the story with an initial bias, I was delighted to see how wonderful the party members are. They are all lovely on their own right, but their interactions with one another just makes it all the more better.

OMORI is certainly an emotional game. There are many remarkable individual moments, be it heartwarming, funny or creepy, and the game manages to balance them all out which makes the heavy moments have all the more impact.

The game also rewards exploring all the little details very nicely, be it with gameplay bonuses or additional story bits and pieces. I enjoyed both "halves" of the story, and the back and forth between them certainly helps with the buildup and pacing.

The gameplay is pretty fun, although I couldn't help but feel the combat became a bit repetitive, barring boss fights. Regardless, it's not a huge deal and I think the overall experience is spectacular. I have seen people state that it's like Mother 3 or Earthbound or whatever, but honestly I feel the game is strong enough to stand tall and have it's own identity.