Tag Archives: narrative

video game reviews

Fine Work: Act I Review – A Unique Rhythm Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Fine Work: Act I for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Fine Work: Act I

Fine Work is a beautiful and unique game that combines an imaginative world and all the cozy vibes to create a story you will never forget. Players get to enjoy the breath taking visuals while they weave dreams in a relaxing rhythm game. Fine work is out now on Steam, with a free demo you can try at your discretion.

Hook

You are a shaper, a person who can weave sendshapes: artifacts made from someone’s memories. You have opened your new shop, and already the clients that walk through your door bring with them stories you will never forget. Sit down with your clients, listen to their tales, and weave the sendshapes of their dreams. This is a game where your choices matter, so make sure you choose wisely (or according to your personality). Each play through promises to be different. Can you collect all the endings?

Gameplay

There are two parts to Fine Work: the story and the rhythm game. The story is a creative piece of fantasy that creates its own dialect. I appreciate that there is a glossary to define the vernacular that is easily accessible. There is no voice acting, so expect to read a lot. Along the way, the game will offer dialogue choices that affect the course of the game. Players can chose a personality trait at the beginning of the game, like being insightful. Occasionally, the game will offer the player suggestions on what choice to make based on this trait. These choices do affect the outcome of each encounter, and the game’s ending. This gives the game a good amount of replay ability.

After an interview with a client, players get to play a rhythm game where they weave together the sendshape. The game works like most rhythm games, but I would argue that this is a more relaxed entry to the genre. The game is hard if you are like me and don’t have rhythm, but a lot more manageable at the same time. If you don’t want to sit through the story, you can chose to only play through the songs from the start menu.

Review

Fine Work: Act 1 isn’t a bad game. The game has an imaginative world that is unique and deep. The story is just as imaginative, and I appreciate how it plays with language. The gameplay is solid, with the cozy vibes that you might need after a stressful day of work. The only real problem I have with this game is that I don’t think I’m the target audience. While the story and gameplay are solid, the game never really clicked for me. I think if you like this quirky style of fantasy and appreciate the pretty explosion of art, the game is worth a playthrough. Otherwise, you might want to wait for a sale. Let me explain

Aesthetics

There is no denying that Fine Work has some fantastic art. I must commend the artist for creating such a surreal and alien world that is both vibrant and mysterious. I was first drawn to the game by how beautiful all of the imagery, and I was continually amazed by how inventive the world got with each page. When it came to the rhythm game, I enjoyed the minimistic start of each song that quickly turned into a vibrant explosion of the different dreams. The artists did fine work in creating a game that looks and feels like a dream, and catered the music to elevate the experience. Not that I was able to focus much on the visuals when I was trying desperately to keep time.

Gameplay

As far as rhythm games go, the game is fine. I do appreciate the more casual and relaxing approach to the genre, while still offering a challenge with its different mechanics. I don’t have any rhythm and found it challenging enough, but not frustrating like I do with other games in the genre. I also appreciate that I can just play the rhythm game without having to sit through the dialogue. Sometimes I just want to sit back and weave some artifacts. The real problem I have with this game is that I rather be playing Aaero2. The rhythm mechanics are more engaging, and the music is better. Fine Work isn’t a bad rhythm game, but it really depends on what mood your in when you’re booting up your rhythm game. Do you want to chill and watch something pretty? Or do you want mash buttons and get high scores?

Story

The story is where the game kind of loses me. I might just be getting old. Don’t get me wrong, the story is fine. The game has fun and memorable characters and a creative world, but it takes too long to get its traction. This might be my adhd talking, but by the time things started to get rolling I was already checked out. This isn’t a fault with the story. The pacing is fine. My issue is that the quirks that give this game all of its charm didn’t vibe with me. I think Fine Work is worth exploring if you like quirky fiction based on that mirrors the modern trends.

I also find it hard to like this game when Afterlove EP has a better slice of life story, and Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is more imaginative.

Conclusion

Honestly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, I think I am too old for this one. The reason I didn’t like the game is because it just isn’t for me. That doesn’t make it a bad game. Feelings aside, Fine Work: Act I does a few interesting things that I commend the devs for. I respect the successful attempt at creating a unique and deep world. I also appreciate how they weave their narrative. Blending both the visual novel and the rhythm game is masterfully done, and worth at least trying the demo. If you are the target audience and think the story is interesting, you will love this game. If not, you probably won’t finish it. I urge you to check out the demo and do a proper vibe check before spending any money.

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video game reviews

Kusan: City of Wolves had me sweating, in the best possible way

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Kusan: City of Wolves to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my hones review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Kusan City of Wolves

Kusan: City of Wolves is a a fast-paced, gritty shoot ’em up out now on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. The game features beautiful hand drawn comic book style art, a dark engaging story, and mechanics that will keep you at the edge of your seat. I wasn’t ready for what I was getting into, no was I good enough, but what a ride it was! Make sure you get your first hit of the action with the free Steam demo. This game is dark, violent, and with a lot of blood and gore. This is your content warning.

Hook

The city of Kusan is rotting. The streets run with blood, corruption makes up its core, and violence is the only truth that exists. Many former soldier flock to the city in search for work as another goon for hire. Jin is one of these goons, but his latest job might prove too difficult even for him. A girl with immense and uncontrollable power has been kidnapped by a gang who plans to change things for the worse. It is up to Jin to use his mastery of weapons, combats, and other upgrades he finds along the way to take down his enemies and save the girl. But in a city where any mistake can be your last, it won’t be so easy. Do you have what it takes to tame this city of wolves, or will you be just another meaningless blood splatter?

Gameplay

Kusan is a game where you will die a lot. This top down game not only tests a gamer’s reflexes, but their ability to memorize maps and enemy actions. All enemies have predictable movements and attack patters that are clearly telegraphed. Players will use Jins attacks (punch, knife, or gun) to take them out. As the player progresses through the story, they earn cash to upgrade Jin with new skills and abilities. The upgrade system is a limited inventory space where you will need to get a little creative with your placement if you want a truly powerful build. For a little added challenge, you are scored after every encounter for those who enjoy setting records. If you like high energy games where everything goes brr, you might want to have Kusan: City of Wolves in your library.

Review

Kusan: City of wolves is a beautifully explosion of action, noir, and everything I need in a game right now. I may not be good at the game, but that did not stop me from trying as hard as I did. As I get older, games like these stop being fun because my reflexes have dulled with age. They usually either destroy my hands or leave me frustrated, and that my friends is a skill issue. I didn’t get any hand pain because I was using my Redragon Artemis Pro, but my wife did not appreciate the intense button mashing ASMR I put her through. I would have played through the pain anyway because I needed to play through the story.

Kusan is a beautiful game with some of the coolest art I’ve seen in modern gaming. The game also has a fantastic story that will keep you invested, I just wish I had it as a comic. Sucking at this game really slowed me down and I wanted to know everything. Most importantly, the gameplay is incredibly addicting, especially for those adrenaline junkies out there that don’t want to leave the house to get that heart rate up.

Aesthetic

Comic book fans will appreciate both the art style and narrative style. I love the vibrant use of color, and the amount of detail that went into the world building and character design. The contrast between the detailed comic panels and the retro feel of the pixel world you fight through come together spectacularly. If that isn’t enough to grab you, the fantastic soundtrack to get you in the perfect mood for carnage will. This is a fantastic looking game that needs to be appreciate for its art and aesthetic, but the story is what you should be after.

Story

I have always been a huge fan of noir style narratives. Games like Duck Detective and Loco Motive have a special place in my hard drive. Although this isn’t really a detective game (or nowhere as silly), the game perfectly captures what I loved about those dark gritty stories I used to watch in black and white. The story is as action-packed as the gameplay, with a cool hero to get behind and an adventure I will never forget. The only complaint I have with the story is that it took me too long to get through it. Again, this is is a skill issue. If you are looking for a game with a strong enough narrative that will earn it a couple of playthroughs, pick up Kusan: City of Wolves.

Gameplay

I will preface this by saying that I am probably the worst player this game has seen. As awful as I am at this game, I still love this game. Players will appreciate the fast-paced combat as they make their way through one of the most memorable cities I’ve played through this year. They will appreciate the skill required to clear each room and earn high score. Combat is extremely tight with very little room for errors, and the performance makes it the perfect action-packed adventure you didn’t know you needed. I love the feeling of finally being able to clear a room I kept dying. Loved it even more when it was a boss fight.

The upgrade system isn’t anything unique, but it is one that it is well implemented. I know I probably ended with the wrong build, but it was a build that got me through the story so I have no complaints. There are guides out there with the right answer, but it is always fun to figure it out on your own. I am a huge fan of inventory management games, so the upgrade system was a nice treat when I needed a break from losing.

Conclusion

I don’t know what I can say that playing the demo won’t tell you. Kusan: City of Wolves is a fantastic game that deserves all of the attention. The game has everything you need from a dark action-packed story to the violent fast-paced combat the body craves. If you don’t have this game in your library already, what are you doing with your life?

You can pick up Kusan: City of Wolves on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. If you enjoy these fast paced combat noir inspired games, check out Mouse P.I. for Hire. It is a bit of different genre, but with all that noir goodness you’ve been missing. Or check out Mullet Jack for a more retro approach with even faster combat.

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video game reviews

Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality Review: A Cheesy Dating Sim

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality?

Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality is a dating sim FMV out now on Steam. The game deals with some adult themes, so viewer discretion is advised.

Hook

You are a promising diciple of the Crane sect, destined for immortality. But the path to immortality won’t be easy. You are surrounded by beautiful women and enough temptation to lead you astray. Can you stay focused, master your teqnique and ascend to the heavens, or will temptation keep you on this mortal plane? You will need to play to find out.

Gameplay

The game plays like interactive fiction. Players watch through different scenes and are presented with choices that affect the ending. Take the time to learn about your favorite girl, gain her favor, and maybe even become a god along the way. The game does let players redo choices, go back to completed chapters, and skip through watched scenes. This makes collecting different endings easy. One thing to note, skipping around changes the path of the story and can potentially remove favor you’ve earned with the girls. Make sure are choosing the correct path for the ending you want and not just completing nodes.

Review

Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality is a fun little story with a solid cast of actors and solid production. Now I don’t speak the language, but it seems fine to me. Now this isn’t my favorite FMV, but I had fun playing through the story. The story itself is very cheesy and isn’t going to be for everyone. If you enjoy those cheese harem animes, you’ll have fun with this game. Just note that there is no real gameplay loop aside from a few quicktime events, you are essentially just collecting girlfriends.

Disclaimer

This FMV is not going to be for everyone. There is a good amount of fan service that goes into this game. There is no nudity or explicit scenes (at least from what I was able to unlock), but the jokes and suggestive situations are not subtle. If you find sexual innuendos offensive, this is your content warning.

Gameplay

Aside from a few inconsequencial quicktime events, the gameplay loop is just sitting back and watching the different scenes. This is more of an interactive fiction game where you collect girls and try to unlock all the endings. I do like that you can go back at anytime during your journey to change your choices and affect the ending you get. This makes collecting all the endings easy, as long as you remember to stay on the correct path. I spent five hours unlocking a few of the endings before I lost interest. You’ll get your money’s worth if you find the girls attractive and appreciate the humor.

Performance

Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality works well for the most part. There were scenes that would freeze, but continue to play. The subtitles and audio still plays, but the video would freeze. It was only an issue once where I failed the quicktime event, but I was able to go back and complete it without issue. This bug never made me miss any important information, but I was always able to go back to replay the few seconds lost in this way. Unfortunately, the game does not launch on the Steam Deck for those who prefer the convenience of playing on the console.

Story

The story isn’t going to be for everyone. The game is full of innuendos that are not subtle. A lot of the main plot points revolve around these jokes. While I enjoyed the story for how cheesy and silly it gets about getting the girl, not everyone else is. The meta story is about the main character trying to achieve immortality to fulfill his destiny, but a lot of that plot takes a back seat to the romance. At the end of the day, you are playing a game where you are collecting scenes with cute girls.

Conclusion

I love FMVs, and Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality did little to sway my love away from the genre. I love watching cheesy bad movies, and felt the story was a lot of fun. While it may not be a ground breaking FMV or my favorite while we’re at it, I enjoyed every minute of it. I have a soft spot for cheesy harem stories, and this scratches that itch. If you enjoy the genre, the game will earn its paycheck, but if you’re looking for something more serious, you are better off looking elsewhere.

You can pick up Ladies, Don’t Tempt My Immortality on Steam. If you are looking for other cheesy fun dating sim FMVs, check out Love Too Easily and The Fame Game.

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video game reviews

Planet of Lana II Review: A Stunning Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Planet of Lana II?

Planet of Lana is the most beautiful and creative puzzle game you’ll ever get to play. You can pick up Planet of Lana II on Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and Switch.

Hook

Mew technology spreads across the world, bringing with it much needed innovation but also greed. Tension between the tribes grows as the race for power and dominance shifts into the public agenda. This shift in idealogy thrusts Lana and Mui into another unforgettable adventure. Follow Lana and her companion as they make their way across a beautiful alien planet in search of secrets long forgotten. What will their adventure uncover? Can they bring the world together in the name of progress?

Gameplay

Planet of Lana is a side scrolling puzzle adventure game with a beautiful landscape to explore and a solid story to follow. Players take control of Lana and her companions and use their various abilities to solve some very creative puzzles. Mui, for example, can interact with the different parts of the world. It can use its powers to shut down old technology, take control of local wildlife, or help Lana push buttons she can’t get to. The puzzles in this game scale, getting harder and more complex the deeper a player gets into the story. The story is told in an alien language, but it doesn’t need subtitles or context to tell the beautiful adventure you are going are about to embark on.

Review

I absolutely love Planet of Lana, and this sequel is the perfect continuation. I can tell the devs have learned and made improvements to the original (not that the original needed much improvement). If you are looking to sit back and enjoy a cozy puzzle game with a great story, check out Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf.

Artwork

Planet of Lana is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. I still remember the feeling of amazement I felt the first time I played the original demo. Years later, this world continues to amaze. I love everything about the art style from the creepy creature design to the breath taking scenery. I recommend you play this game just so you can appreciate how beautiful the art in each biome and level is.

Soundtrack

Planet of Lana has one of the best sound tracks in gaming, and the sequel gets even better. The music score give the adventure its epic feel, but it also creates a lot of the tension. There are moments I was at the edge of my seat because of how intense the music was even if the monsters or solutions weren’t that challenging. If you’re looking for some solid study music, check out the OST for the first game:

Story

Planet of Lana 2 is a stand alone adventure. The game does a good job at catching players up on the events of the first game, and players who start with the sequel will not feel lost. I highly recommend you play the games in order because the story is fantastic. Planet of Lana II is just as good at telling a powerful narrative as the first game, if not better. The game uses a fake language to allow its art and actions, and it is extremely successful in achieving its goal. If you have six to eight hours to spend on unraveling the story of Planet of Lana, spend them.

Gameplay

Planet of Lana is one of my favorite puzzle games. The puzzles in this game are all very creative that offer enough of a challenge to keep players engage. Some of the game does feel clunky and there is some weird stuttering here and there, but nothing that I would consider a deal breaker. That said, Planet of Lana II does feel like an improvement on the first game, although the first game is pretty fantastic on its own. The puzzles feel more creative, and the mechanics feel tighter. Best of all, the game is Steam Deck compatible!

Conclusion

Planet of Lana II continues to prove why this series should be a staple in all puzzle game libraries. It features a beautiful world with a fantastic sound track to set the mood. If you are looking for a fantastic example of good story telling and a whimsical world full of fun puzzles, go get Planet of Lana. Planet of Lana continues to be my favorite game, and I will fight anyone who tries to tell me otherwise.

You can pick up Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf on on Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and Switch

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video game reviews

Exploring the Whimsical Worlds of Freeride

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Freeride to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Freeride?

Freeride is a unique personality test disguised as a narrative game out now on Steam.

Hook

You have been recruited to be a conductor on a spirit train. You are responsible for the smooth transportation of lost spirits, but the universe has a habit of making things difficult. The universe is full of choas, and it is up to you to navigate that chaos and keep the trian on schedule. Explore strange and surreal worlds as you fight monsters, help out spirits, or just let things be. The choice is yours, and your choices matter.

Exploration

The game will give player quest hooks, but players have the freedom to do what they want during each act of the game. There are no quest markers or meta quests, but rather a small sandbox for players to explore and uncover the many unlockable secrets. Freeride gives players the freedom to explore the game in a way that fits their playstyle while encouraging them to replay the game to collect to full story.

Choices

Choices in Freeride matter. What a player chooses to do in an act, affects outcomes, events, and quests for the rest of the game. Beating Freeride once doesn’t take long, but you are going to want to play the game to learn more about its wonderful world and great cast of characters.

Combat

While not the central part of the gameplay loop, Freeride does have combat. Players collect items throughout their adventure to throw them at enemies through the game’s unique slingshot mechanic. To throw an item, players click to aim, pull back the mouse to charge the attack, and let go to send the item flying. It is a different kind of combat, but combat can be cheesed or avoided. The game’s main focus is the story.

Review

I urge every one who picks up this game to keep with it past the initial shock. Freeride is a unique game that isn’t afraid to break traditional conventions to form its identity. This isn’t going to vibe with everyone at first, but the story and art more than make up for some of the more deal breaking awkwardness. Freeride is a cool game with an interesting story and a refreshing addition to my rotation. It is worth checking out at least once.

Aesthetic

Freeride is a great looking game. I am a huge fan of the artstyle. You have a cast of cool looking characters, and a world full of whimsy that was fun to explore. Some of the areas feel a little too cluttered, but I think this is by design. You need to have items to throw at your enemies. There is also a very solid soundtrack to help you get into the mood for an unforgettable adventure.

Combat

I hate the combat system in this game, and it is the reason I almost gave up on this game. I am glad I didn’t because I love this game, but it is very clunky and annoying. It does click after a while, especially when you realize you can skip a lot of the combat and cheese the important fights. Just stick with it. This game isn’t about the combat.

Story

Freehide has a fun and quirky tone that carries the player through a whimsical spirit world. It has a cast of interesting chartacters, solid world building, and a fantastic pace. I love that my choices affect the story, and love that I have to replay the game to unlock everything. I recomend you play the game without a guide. Let your personality determine the type of story you get. You can look up a guide after, but the game does a good job at reminding you of past choices so you can get a different ending. I only played through the game twice and still need to unlock a bit more. What I did unlock is a fantastic example of storytelling through video games, and the only reason I didn’t quick on this game. I don’t want to get too specific to avoid influencing or spoiling the story, but it is a story you need to at least experience the first playthrough.

Conclusion

Freeride is one of those weird games that comes around once in a while to shake up the meta in the best way. It may make a few odd choices here and there, but they mostly pay off in the end. If you are looking for a fun, unique game that is good at telling its story, go get Freeride. This is one of my favorite games already, and one that I recommend everyone try at least once.

video game reviews

Bye Sweet Carol Review: A Darkly Beautiful Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Bye Sweet Carole to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Bye Sweet Carol?

Bye Sweet Carol is a hand drawn narrative-horror puzzle game that takes players down a long and twisted mystery. It blends fantasy and reality with its Disney inspired art styles to tell a dark and compelling narrative.

The Story

Lana Benton lives in Bunny Hall with a group of other girls as the suffrage movement folds around them in 20th century England. Once a prominent institution where girls learned to be the “ideal” woman, now crumbles and rots with age. Lana and the girls feel the pressure of the oppressive traditions crumbling around them and do their best to get by.

The only light Lana has in her cold and dark life at Bunny Hall is her friendship with Carol. All seems good until the day Carol disappears. Lana suddenly finds herself being torn between two worlds, hers and Corolla, as she tries to find out the truth behind Carol’s disappearance.

Both worlds are full of danger. Although Lana has help, her path won’t be easy. Fight against the encroaching darkness, follow all the clues, and uncover the truth. What really happened to Carol?

Gameplay

Players take control of Lana as they move through the world, looking for clues, and solving puzzles. The game is a 2D side stroller, with the occasional jump scare and quick time event for added tension. As the player progresses through the story, they begin to unlock powers and abilities thanks to their connection to the Kingdom of Corolla. For example, players will get the ability to turn into a rabbit to help them explore the world and solve puzzles. Players can also take control of their allies for additional support. After completing their laundry list of tasks and puzzles, players will be able to find out the truth. If you get stuck, Intoindiegames has a very good guide you can use.

Review

Bye Sweet Carole is one of my favorite games. I love its unique look and feel, and the narrative is fantastic. There are few games that keep it from being perfect, but I was able to overlook them through my playthough. I was fortunate enough to not hit one of the game breaking bugs.

The Art

The art is Bye Sweet Carol‘s biggest draw. I love the classic-style, hand drawn art and the Disney feel. It makes the perfect contrast to the game’s dark story. Behind the cute and wholesome art, is a dark story with a creepy tone that makes it the perfect game for the spooky season. I admire the dev’s ability to make a beautiful Disney-looking game that feels creepy.

The Horror

While I did not have to play this game with all the lights on, it made my heart race. The game has some good jump scares that had me off my seat. The music knows exactly when to change into something more intense to set the mood, and those monsters that chase you are terrifying. There are a good amount of quick time events to player engaged. As someone who is really bad at quick time events, these made the game intense. When the game worked, Bye Sweet Carol is a solid horror game.

Performance

The game runs fine on my Nvidia RTX 3060 and Ryzen 5 5600x. There are a few bugs, and some made the game a little harder, but nothing that was game breaking. At least not for me. I’ve read a few comments that said their game became unplayable, so your mileage may vary. When the story is as good as it is, I am overlook a few bugs to get to the end.

Story

The story is what kept me playing the game. It is a dark and twisted story with a fantastic hook and a great ending. The story does get a little political as it deals with women suffrage. The message is delivered well without being preachy, but don’t play this game if you’re just going to hate on women. To everyone else, this a cool thematic story that deals with loss, grief, and the empowerment of woman. I love the blend of fantasy as a way to hyperbolize and personify the emotions and situations Lana struggles with. Lana’s grief is so powerful that it causes her to dissociate into the fantasy world of Corolla. The blending of the two worlds is very well done, and builds this powerful narrative of grief.

The Puzzles

Most of the puzzles in this game are fine. They are straight forward, creative, and work to tell the stories. Some of the puzzles felt like chore, like having to walk across a map to grab something you forgot because the game isn’t always clear. You are meant to find everything through clever exploration, but there are elements that don’t show up properly and can be easily missed. You might need look up a few solutions, and do a bit of trouble shooting. I never had to restart the game, but I did have to take a few breaks.

Gameplay Loop

The game itself does feel a little bland. There is a lot of walking, and the NPCs aren’t coded very well. NPCs are either godlike and impossible to defeat, or they are dumb. Bugs in this game makes some of the chase sequences annoying. Sometimes, NPCs would pull me out of hiding even when I had done everything right. Other times, I could just trick the NPCs so easily it was like they didn’t exist. Then there are times when I got caught because the input didn’t register. These issues get more apparent the deeper you get into the game. Since the focus is on the art and the story, I guess I can’t expect too much from the game. Just think of Bye Sweet Carole as interactive fiction you have to work extra to unlock.

Conclusion

Despite the game’s flaws, I still loved Bye Sweet Carole. The game has its unique and interesting flare that tells a very important story. It has a cast of fantastic voice actors and beautifully illustrated cut scenes to tell its well written story. If you want to play a cool looking game with a powerful message and can overlook a few bugs in your walking simulator, go pick up Bye Sweet Carole on Steam.

If you’re looking for another beautiful narrative puzzle game, check out Planet of Lana, or Murder on Space Station 52 if you want something sillier.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Rosewater Review: A Western Visual Novel Experience

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Disclaimer

I received a free copy of Rosewater to review for my blog. While I appreciate the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Rosewater?

Rosewater is a point-and-click visual novel available now on PC via Steam and GOG.

Harley Lager heads west, trying to make her name as a free lance writer. Her pursuit takes her to the sleepy boarder town of Rosewater, but her stay is anything but sleepy. Her first assignment leads her on a tail end of a mystery and possibly, the story that defines her career. Her and her posse must now go on a journey full of gunfights, friends, foes, and hopefully all the fame and riches they need. What will Harley uncover along the way? You are going to have to read to find out.

Review

Rosewater is a fantastic western full of colorful characters, meaningful choices, and challenging puzzles. The game also features a fantastic cast of voice actors that help bring this story to life, and the perfect soundtrack to set the mood. I was a bit uneasy about the graphics and art choice, but it fits the aesthetic perfectly. It gives the game a rustic feel, while still being able to make the game feel cinematic.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the gameplay, but if you like puzzles, this has some good ones. Not all of the puzzles are obvious at first, but they make sense once you figure it out. You might need a guide to get through some of the trickier ones. The gameplay isn’t bad, you just need to be really in the mood to solve puzzles.

What I enjoyed most about the game is that your choices matter and affect the story. Players shape the story, and encounters are determined by previous choices. Players also have control over Harley’s personality. This made it fun to talk to everyone, and it also made me curious about her backstory. Harley is a fantastic protagonist, and the only reason why I stuck around as long as I did.

Rosewater is a solid narrative with fantastic flavor and amazing voice acting. If you enjoy westerns and don’t mind all the puzzles, this game should be in your library. If you’re not a fan of the aesthetic or puzzle games, I would skip it.

You can pick up Rosewater on Steam and GOG for $19.99. There is also a Demo availble.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice – Chapter 1: A Knock at the Door

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From the Author

I’ve finally sat down to start writing a fantasy novel I’ve been kicking around for years. I’ll be posting it every two weeks if time allows, and I’d be very open to feedback. Thank you for reading, I hope you like it!

Chapter 1

Mila and her grandmother live in a corner unit on the 71st floor of the 200-floor Beuna Vista Luxury Apartments. The name is a misnomer, and anyone living in the apartments knows they are not luxurious.

The Buena Vista Luxury Apartments is a large rundown and broken stone and iron tower. Every inch of the building is covered in an unwashable layer of filth, and there exists an ever-present rotting odor that sticks to the skin. Some believe that the building was built intentionally faulty, smell and all. There is also the belief that the blackouts and leaks are planned and the appliances were designed to stay broken. Despite its many faults, it is widely accepted that living at the Buena Vista Luxury Apartments is better than living in the slums on the outskirts of the mega city.

Its residents, crammed as close together as the laws and regulations allow, may spend the rest of their lives not knowing their neighbor, but everyone in Buena Vista knows Doña Guille.

Doña Guille is an 80-year-old small brown woman with soft brown wrinkled skin. She keeps her hair short she dyes a regal shade of red regularly. Although her clothes are never new, they are always clean and well-maintained. She looks like a proper lady of society, and people treat her as such because Doña Guille is the tower’s bruja, their witch doctor.

There isn’t a baby in the building she hadn’t delivered, an illness she hasn’t cured, a fortune she hasn’t read. There isn’t a person in this building who hasn’t made their trek to floor 71 at least once. Whether or not they believe in witchcraft, there isn’t a person in the building who wouldn’t go to her at the first sign of illness.

Doña Guille lives humbly in the one bedroom she shares with her granddaughter. Those who enter find themselves in a room with a small plastic table and a wall of planters surrounding it. The purple light from their lamps spills over strange and exotic-looking herbs. Their sweet and minty scent fills the room and mixes with the strong incense that constantly burns. The scent masks the rotting smells and soothes the soul. The purple glow spills onto the plastic, reflecting off the dulling cardboard of the deck of Tarot cards that sits permanently at its center.

On the opposite wall is a wall of vials and jars filled with strangely colored liquids. Potions in miscolored glass that are constantly cycled. At the end of the room, there is a metal desk shoved against the wall. Spread across it are old broken appliances whose guts spill across every inch of the table. Wires and random parts almost spill onto the floor. There is an impressive collection of salvaged vintage tools that hang neatly across the face of the wall. A spotlight hangs recklessly over the center of the workspace.

Mila sits on a small worn stool behind the lamp light. Her gloved hand turns at a screwdriver. Her brown hair sits in a messy bun. There are splotches of oil and grease across her clothes and dark brown skin. Her almost golden eyes peer through the dirty off-colored goggles as she slowly takes apart the dented metal toaster.

A small wrinkled hand grabs at her shoulder and breaks her concentration. “Tienes habre mija?” Doña Guille asks with a smile.

Mila turns and removes her headphones. A low buzzing leaks into the room, turning into a barely audible rumble. Mila looks down at the old watch wrapped around her wrist. It was almost midnight. Her stomach starts to growl. “I guess I should eat.”

The table was already set. A plat of brown mush sits next to a glass of milk. “I made the oatmeal like you like it,” Doña Guille says as she sits in the empty seat across from Mila. She had eaten her dinner earlier that evening. Mila begins shoveling the oatmeal into her mouth. “Have you been practicing the spells I’ve taught you?”

Mila stops eating. Her eyes dark around the room nervously. “Um..” she begins, searching for an excuse. “Just a bit.”

A glimpse of sorrow seeps into Doña Guille’s eyes. She sighs. “I know its silly, pero es importante. You’re the only one left I can teach the old language.”

Gilt washes over Mila. “I know Ama, pero I’ve been busy with work orders. I’ll find some time, I promise.”

“I’m not going to be here forever you know. You need to take advantage that I’m here.” There was clear nervous urgency in her voice.

Mila puts down her spoon and looks over her old grandmother. At that moment, the wrinkles seemed deeper. There were new dark blotches on her skin and a few white hairs were beginning their defiant peer through all the red. Mila grabs her grandmother’s hand. Her warm soft skin feels good to Mila’s touch. “I’ll start tomorrow, I promise. Besides,” she smiles “I already know the word for fire.”

I knock at the door startling the two women. They stare at each other for a moment. “It must be more work,” Mila says as she gets up from the table.

There is a well-dressed man at the other end of the knock. He wears a new and fitted suit and his hair is slicked back with a product that doesn’t exist in this part of the megacity. His dark brown skin seems to glow even in the dim flashing light of the hallway. “Hola,” the man says as he removes his gloves. “I hear you can tell fortunes.” He smiles, flashing his white teeth.

“Ama…” Mila says, still processing the situation. “I think it’s for you.”

video game reviews

Love Too Easily Review: A Cheesy Rom-Com Adventure

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I was sent a free copy of Love Too Easily to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard or the EasySMX X15 controller. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is Love Too Easily?

Love too easily is a Korean Rom Com FMV out now on PC via Steam and GOG.

After a night of drinking, Yeonwoo wakes up with a headache and a vague memory of what happened. As she slowly regains consciousness she kisses someone, but she can’t remember who it is. Snippets of last night’s events slowly trickle in, but not enough for a complete story. She must now go out and piece together last night’s events, and hopefully find the love of her life. What will her investigation uncover?

Gameplay

Love Too Easily is an interactive story told through an FMV. Players watch the story unfold and make choices that affect the outcome. There are quick time events to keep players on the their toes, and multiple endings for added replayability. What makes this game unique are the interactive hand drawn mini games that break up the action in meaningful chunks.

Review

Love Too Easily is a fantastic FMV if you enjoy cheesy rom-coms. I loved every minute of it, but it can be a little much for those wanting a more serious narrative. I don’t understand Korean, but the acting seems solid, and there are enough twists to the story to keep things interesting.

The film production is solid, but there are scenes where you can hear an echo. The echo is a little distracting, but it isn’t unwatchable. There are also some cringy moments, but that comes with the secondhand embarrassment of choosing the wrong person and watching Yeonwoo get into an awkward situation.

This game is Steam Deck compatible, and it is a fantastic port. The subtitles are easy to read and everything looks good at the aspect ratio. This is a great portable game because you can sit back and enjoy the story.

One issue I had with the game was that the menu was in Korean at launch. This is an easy fix, but it does mean there will be some initial setup at launch. Another issue I have with this game is that you can’t skip cut scenes after you beat the game. I should be able to skip through scenes I’ve already played through. After two playthroughs, I didn’t have it in me to try again even though I wanted to get the true ending.

If you like interactive fiction and don’t mind the cheesy rom-com tone, check out Love Too Easily. It is a solid story with decent acting. If you don’t believe me, make sure you check out the demo.

You can pick up Love Too Easily on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $21.99.

video game reviews

Once Alive Review: A Narrative Adventure Worth Playing

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I was sent a free copy of Once Alive to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard or the EasySMX X15 controller. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link during November 29 – December 6 for 30% off your first year!

I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is Once Alive?

After a deadly virus nearly wipes out humanity, the remaining survivors struggle with adapting to the new unforgiving world. Survivors must hunt for limited resources, fend off against increasingly hostile wildlife, and cope with the loneliness of survival. James and his brother lived in isolation until they received a message about a settlement. James is weary of the invitation, but his brother rushes ahead without him, hoping this settlement means a fresh start for humanity.

Play as James as he ventures into the lonely world in search of his brother. What secrets will he uncover in the ruins of the old world? Will he be able to find his brother, or will they become another casualty in this cruel apocalypse?

Gameplay

Once Alive is effectively a first person simulator. As James, players explore the abandoned village of HaustVille, looking for clues about what happened to its citizens. As players explore the village, they collect written notes, sit through memories of past residents, and piece together the strange and ominous narrative. The game does have a few quick time events to keep players on their toes. The game also offers enough bread crumbs to keep players on track. It takes about two hours to complete Once Alive, but you can do it quicker if you don’t explore every nook and cranny like I did.

Review

Once Alive is the most impressive narrative game I’ve played all year, but it does have its issues. The animation in this game can be wonky at times. I noticed a few stutters during some pans and the talking animation looks scary. The writing has a few grammatical issues and a few times where the wrong word is used. There are also bits of exposition that are too on the nose. That said, this game is fantastic, and you should play through it at least once.

While there are issues with the animation at times, you’re mostly walking through a very cool isolated village. The developer does a phenomenal job of building a world worth exploring full of fantastic flavor. While the writing isn’t perfect, I love the attention to detail and general story beats that had me at the edge of my seat. I loved reading some random note in a house and then having it pop up in a natural way later in the story.

Once Alive is a fantastic horror game that effectively uses its world-building to create an ominous atmosphere. It is the sense of isolation and mystery that propels the player through the story, and it is powerful storytelling that makes this a great game. If you’re looking for a good horror game, Once Alive is a short one you need to have in your library. It is an impressive project by a clearly passionate developer that deserves a lot more attention.

You can pick up Once Alive on Steam for $11.99.