Recent reviews by MjrKuffenbach

Pirates was my childhood gaming love and Sailing Era is the first game that matches and even surpasses that old sweet experience. Vast (well, whole) world full things to do - trading, building fleet and crew, developing ports and above all exploring full of possible discoveries and secrets is wonderous fun. Sewn together by stories of protagonists, recruitable crewmates (with distinct personalities and abilities) or places. World here is a living place full of possibilities of which almost all are fun. Only thing I mostly avoid (and game lets me) is fighting, but mostly because I prefer chiller way to play.

ps. Written originally as comment on RPS article.

Everything and everyone, especially you, in this game is so fragile. It manages to build so much tension in game without any action. Sensation that single bad choice or drop of bad luck can irreversibly destroy something or someone. I constantly felt kinda anxious playing this. But in the end this wasn't the predominant feeling. It was that about everything and everyone trying to survive and live against those ♥♥♥♥♥♥ odds. About making sometimes small, sometimes bigger difference in their chances. Citizen Sleeper tells strong story (stories) about humanity. And it couldn't matter less that, in game, you aren't actually a human. On the contrary. Sci-fi and it's far edges of universe can make great canvases for very close, intimate, humane themes, don't it?

I'm completely defenceless against games like this. With zero budget and tons of passion. Couldn't care less about kinda ugly graphics, cliche (but earnest and in the end serviceable) fantasy story, funny amateurish voiceovers or some QoL imperfections when there's well designed fast paced autochess strategy with so much heart poured into it. Battles are brisk, yet very sensitive to tactics: from party composion (with many possible synergies) to clever positioning. Works like well-oiled machine and is an endless supply of fun. How much devs love their game is apparent in mind boggling attention to details, especially in writing - for example there is 50 possible recruitable companions and each has a backstory, some possible banter when in party with specific other fellas and each has own bloody outro piece of story. Like, how many people will ever read it? Tens? These devs just don't cut any corners, they try hard to do their best for something they love. And I love them for it.

How to make perfect exposition in less than 10 seconds: magical fairy gives ordinary frog ability to think (the worst possible curse as we know). Et voilà, you're golden! That's it! Cute little hand drawn adventure can begin. World opens up, other creatures and puzzles emerge. Nice few hours on the road back to sweet oblivion pass fast, but the smile remains.

Probably everything you might want from old-school rpg, Caves of Lore has aplenty and in high quality. Dungeons, companions, original enemies, great puzzles and secrets, mysteries, quests... I really enjoyed exploring this colourful, yet somehow melancholic and strangely soothing world. It really has its own unique atmosphere. Special kudos for skills and spells applicable both in and outside of battle, it adds a lot to coherence of mechanics.

RPG where chilling with friends is as important as saving the world. Colourful world and it's inhabitants with supernice characters emanating goodness and frienliness (Bob is the sweetest protagonist ever). It's also well written, with natural dialogues, humble yet rich sense of humor and no heavy handed delivery of more serious themes or thoughts. Walthros might be heavily inspired by classics (time travel, alternative dimensions... wink wink), but is way too clever and imaginative to be a mere copy or pastiche. It's great standalone game, one of the best among all the jrpg-likes. It also doesn't bother you with countless random fights and endless dungeons, maintaining healthy flow all time through. Extremely pleasant experience.

Adventure that's not afraid to be mature, serious and grim. And can be all those things very well. Can skilfully mix psychological drama with horror. Can paint a realistic and believable picture of 80' Hollywood as well as dark and thrilling mystery. Can give us protagonist not only with character, but with complicated and evolving one even! I was excited from start to finish. Nightmare Frames belong right next to best of Wadjet Eye stuff.

The way she walks and her social awkwardness were enough reasons I immediately fell for Teacup's big little adventure to organise a tea party for friends. You don't need Big Quest to experience big quest.

This game is mainly about sucking in the atmosphere of community living in the semi-abandoned half-wildrness. Environment here is joy to explore as well as people. They are generated, lacking in proper individuality, often hard to tell apart... but soon you will start to discover that the richness here is in their relationships and dynamics of the whole bunch. Some ask you to deliver letter to friend living on the other side of mountain, some to kick a** of the guy they hold grudge against. Some can get killed by a bear, so you won't be able to give them letter or beating anymore, but it doesn't matter, such is life. And these slices of life you can taste here, among pretty forests and cliffs and meadows and wooden huts and hopping hares.

Refreshing like a good cuppa. It's very short, but it still contains everything it needs. Accurate storytelling and gamedesign minimalism. There's big potential for bigger sequel or whole series. I would order another round right away.