April 2020
Nailed it, I know. Thank you. Moving on.
Thanks to the Challenge Me this month to help expand my backlog assassinations.
Description:
Dating VN with mechs. What could have been great was squandered with the typical poor writing/visuals of Dharker Studios.
Synopsis:
You are a new student at a mech combat school where wars are decided through a mech competition amongst countries. You find out that you have an unusual talent for syncing with your mech and assigned three female co-pilots that you must choose to train and interact with to assist in your battles.
Review:
My immediate issue with this game was the formatting of the template and words. The font and background for the words displayed looked as if they were meant to give the feeling of a grade school rather than a privileged and high-end combat school it sets itself out to be. The key to success in this game is finding out the personality type of each of your copilots, so that when you take that person into battle, you know what actions to take. Instead of slowly learning what kind of person each girl is and taking the time to know them, you are immediately told which on likes to get up close, which one likes to be tactics, and which one likes to decide as they go. This removes any sort of real development between you and the other characters. The one plus that this did have, albeit minor, is that the fights got more interesting as you met new ones. However, in the end it wasn’t much or enough to really make this a particularly great or good game.
Recommendation:
Not particularly
Lewd?
Yes, potential lewdie nudie scenes available, though mostly nudie with some lewdie text. 😉
Challenge Me #4
A series I was also tempted to take on, but never took the time. A dark cybernetic future where you play JC Denton a cybernetic secret agent of sorts working to take on those who would terrorize the government. It’s not as black and white as conspiracies arise and these terrorists believe the government is responsible for the shortage of treatment for this illness. What is right, what is wrong? This is for you to decide as you must also make the decision on stealthy or action approach, lethal or non-lethal, and what upgrades and augmentations to assist you in your actions.
Generally, I enjoyed the game. It felt much like System Shock and appealed to my interest in this sort of cyber futuristic setting. Unfortunately, it has not aged all that well. It’s overly dark settings, plain scenery, and general lack of directions made it easy to get lost in this semi open environment. A particular dislike of the game was the general uselessness of tranquilizers as it was a over time effect rather than immediate, regardless of where it hit the enemy. This made stealth much more annoying. Certain augments/abilities could only be gained if you found the correct item. This potentially means you could go a whole game without a certain ability because you missed the specific item rather than letting you get points to distribute as such. The story was pretty decent despite these issues and each choice in the end had enough weight to consider what action JC should take.
Recommend?
Yes with a grain of salt. As mentioned, it is an older game and it shows. However, it’s gameplay and overall is good enough to suggest to those who enjoy the theme and willing to overcome an older game.
Lewd?
No, through you can hire a working girl… just don’t’ forget the soy.
A sequel to the original and instead of following a specific ending to the first it sort of combines all of them and puts it into the plot and setting of this. Instead of following JC, you are some sort of augmented trainee who is now put into service after an attack at your academy. You now face dilemmas between the World Health Organization and a radical church meant to free humans from bionic enhancements… among other factions living in this society.
I would easily say this was the worst installation in the series. On the up note, augments/abilities can use generally any upgrade item (aside from black market canisters) and your only real limit is your choice. You do however run into many of these and quickly find yourself with very little reason to do side quests that offer them as their value quickly drops. The combat is decent enough, and direction is generally clear.
On the worse note, this game is just generally a mess. This game spawned during a very awkward plastic-like time for gaming. It’s overall graphics were not good, permanently changes screen resolution without returning it to your preferred setting, and would mini crash you to the desktop on it’s very frequent loading screens (You would know this if you are a friend on Steam, as you would get a notification I was playing the game during my loading screens.). It also removes the ability to upgrade skills (hacking, lockpicking, etc.) which oversimplified the game a little bit and loses some of its interest. It does keep the multiple ending aspect of the series, but the choices that lead to those endings were all pretty terrible as were the endings themselves.
Recommend?
Absolutely not?
Lewd? Not even once.
I had previously beaten this game a while back, but spent just about the same time it took to beat the game added to complete it. At first look it seemed to be more lenient in it’s completion standards compared to it’s previous installment. This quickly changed when going into the gacha game known as figure battles that nearly require a fully upgraded meta team and on top of that a side quest that requires you to do nearly 90 replays in order to fully finish it. Still, it is done, dusted, and forever completed.
Challenge Me #2
A visually beautiful puzzle game that gives you perception and movement as your tools in order to solve these obstacles. It provides a relaxing setting with generally enjoyable challenges. I’m not too much of a fan of the narration your character does throughout the game.
Recommendation?
Yes, Short, Sweet, Challenging.
Lewd? Lewd is just a perspective, one that is not seen here. After all what does a god need with lewds.
Challenge Me #1
I took quite a prolonged break from the base game, but was dragged back into thanks to the Challenge Me challenge this month. The extra plus side to this particular one is that you do only have the one map so this game doesn’t end up feeling like the job it can be if you play enough of it. It does have the same task as the original, cleanup a bloody mess, but adds new challenges to face such as disposing of the ever-problematic dynamite. A great change of pace to my usual games.
Recommendation?
Yeah, though must be able to stand blood and all sorts of dismembered limbs.
Lewd?
Santa baby, the only thing coming down that chimney tonight is viscera.
Challenge Me #5
Rhythm based roguelike that requires both practice and groove to feel the rhythm of the game and your enemies. Despite my greater regret, I’m not very good at rhythm games and thus took some time for me to get good enough to actually beat it. Still, very enjoyable with a neat little story. I really enjoyed the fact that you do get to unlock more characters that jam to their own beat, something I would like to see in more games today. It also has a great soundtrack, which is often a very make or break for games of this caliber.
Recommend?
Very much yes.
Lewd?
You get your fair share of bones and beats, but nothing in the sheets. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (That means no).
Puzzles! And a lot of them. Had to define what “beating” this game meant as completing a pack of puzzles, but in a game with thousands of achievements will certainly take time to complete. Floating pieces on the side of the board to pick from so they don’t become stagnant, a tray to organize pieces better, and various tools that provide general quality of life. This includes all variations of Pixel Puzzles games to buy, and if you already own a variation it should be automatically updated into the Ultimate game itself. With it being digital, you also do not worry about taking your masterpiece apart and cleaning up either.
Recommend?
Like puzzles, then this is the game for you.
Lewd?
You may be putting two perfect pieces together, but nothing that leads to lewds or nudes.
A highly anticipated remake as I had my fair share of issues with the original (mostly the final fight). Though it was a little bit shorter than I would have liked, I still absolutely loved the gameplay and new designs of all the characters. Nemesis was just as aggressive and scary this time around as his pursuit was just as vicious as his last. The new dodge ability, although a bit strong, required great timing and knowledge of your enemies. Even in later runs I still didn’t have it down perfectly, but was useful against the larger horde of enemies and the ever dangerous Nemesis himself. Again, I wish there was more content, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay that was there and think it was well worth the price. Further emphasis were put onto characters as Carlos gets a more consistent in interesting role as well as his own ability opposed to Jill’s dodge mechanic (a solid right hook 😉)
Recommendation?
Absolutely, a more focused and modernized version of a RE classic should be great for both new and old fans. Though there was some cut content, so for those who loved the original may find issues with that. I wasn’t so hung up, personally.
Lewd? Nope.
Proof that Resident Evil Multiplayer games in the age where multiplayer is so much more prominent always fail. In what could have been just another installment of RE: Outbreak (a survival multiplayer game that held various scenarios, but released in a time when multiplayer gameplay wasn’t so viable) series was turned into a poorly made 4 v 1 game that only wishes it could be Dead by Daylight. You either pick Mastermind or Survivor to play in each match and goes through up to three rounds. Each round must complete objectives (first: puzzle pieces, second: security override, thirds bio research destruction and escape) while the mastermind uses a deck of spawns to delay and efficiently kill the survivors. It is purely time based, any damage or death loses the survivors time, while killing enemies and completing objectives granting time. Survivors can respawn. The Survivors have a base set of skills and inventory space to loadout at shops. Masterminds have decks of spawns as well as unique summons to them (various bio weapons unique to them).
The greater issue to this game is the inequality of the game. Survivors have a huge advantage as the mastermind cannot customize their deck until having leveled up considerably, furthermore you have to level up a mastermind to unlock the next, so for the first x hours you will be stuck with Annette Birkins with a default deck before you can get the next. You’ll have to play many more hours before you even have a chance to provide a challenge to even base survivors. With all these issues you can figure that the game is relatively dead despite their promise to continually update it with new characters and maps.
Recommendation?
Not a chance. Really a waste of what could have been when they could have used the time to improve R3make or even introduce another Outbreak game. Guess it shows another reason they ended up including it “free” with R3make.
Lewd?
Nope.
Challenge Me #3
Certainly in the same vein of the rest of the serious at it continues to grow exponentially sillier or more chaotic. I definitely appreciated it’s relative shortness as it can get quite stale, particularly noticing it when I was attempting to complete it. I wouldn’t go as far to say it was my favorite of the series, but definitely an enjoyable ride… plus you get to play as Gat.
Recommendation?
Yes. Saints Row craziness in a fun bite sized adventure.
Lewd?
Not a chance in hell.
A Rogue-like Dungeon Crawler that draws much inspiration from older Legend of Zelda games amongst the rest. This game was recommended by a friend and at first I enjoyed the Zelda like adventure. However, the realization of the rogue-like aspects eventually diluted its potential and felt like another run of the mill game. Had it been more of a scripted and beginning to end game rather than just a continuously reincarnating character, it might have had more significance and impact.
Recommend?
It’s decent enough, but not particularly special. I can’t really recommend it, but not enough to say it’s bad.
Lewd?
Plunge your swords, but no lewds.
A weird Point and Click adventure that follows a fairly fantasy adventure in a world based from a book. You are a prisoner of Carthage sentenced to die, until you escape and set to seek revenge and freedom from the capital city. As most Point and Click adventures I have played so far, the solutions to various puzzles and progressions can be unclear or down right bizarre. Unfortunately, I ran into a problem with travel on a map where after selecting the destination it would not progress. Occasionally Alt+Tab would make it move a small amount, but was inconsistent at best. As I could not progress with no solution in sight, this somewhat charming game had to be dropped.
Recommend?
Not in this state.
Lewd? Skimpy clothing, but nothing more.
Steam R18 Mentions
Cockwork Industries: Complete
I felt this was too lewd to actually generate a panel to even link this game and feared it might even break some rules set by BLAEO. It was more lewd than your typical VN, and suppose you might even get that form the main title. The main character wins a Willy Wonka like adventure with a company that focuses its effort on enhancing sexual adventures. To very little surprise you get your own escapade in this game in a very cheesy story line. The characters have their own personalities and routes that have not much more depth than the clothing they where. Generally decent.
Non-Steam Games
2
41Certainly a long anticipated game for many including me, despite only having actually beaten the original somewhat recently. FF7 is beautiful! In terms of graphics it truly is a marvel. Since it only sets in Midgar (in the original that was only about an hour or two of the gameplay) a lot of the story gets fleshed out. I was particularly happy to see members of Avalanche actually have some character story and development to them, but I wasn’t always pleased with all of the voice acting (only Wedge really).
Getting to re meet Aeris/Aerith, Tifa, Barrett, and everybody else again felt so fresh and amazing. Lack of surprise encounters means you don’t have to deal with excess battles you don’t want to fight, and the action jrpg aspects mixed with some ATB aspects flowed well. The game does have a slightly more serious tone, but still keeps quite a lot of the silly charm the original had.
My greater issue with this game is the robot hand section did not need to be fleshed out above all things. Merely an annoyance that last too long. As well, the addition of these a new plot device was introduced. Whispers, which was sort of talked about in the original. They seek to correct any changes they attempt to do. It sort of feels like a cop out, to make the viewers believe they are changing the story, but actually not. SPOILERS: As well in the end, it gives the sense that there will be major changes down the road, but it’s hard to say at this time. Either way, it gives a sense of unease. Not a major issue here, but Sephiroth is just about every where in this game instead of making an eventual dramatic entry. The plus side to this is You actually get to fight Sephiroth for the first time in FF7 (human form). Still, they are getting a tad bit over excited and teasing us a little too much.
All in all, I loved this game and can’t wait for the announcement of the next episode. Though I do have some concerns how they will handle a more open world, I will put my hopes into the future of FF7 Remake.
Recommend?
So much yes.
Lewd?
I mean drag Cloud is cute along with Aerith and Tifa, but nothing too lewd… unless they chop it off. 😉
There was a bit of a rollercoaster ride with this game. I love the premise of being a member of Organization XIII #13 Roxas (which Organization #13 is probably my favorite part/group/plot) of the series. Working for the bad guys and finding out what kind of nobody you really are. As opposed to the rest of the series, the inventory/skill system is once again revamped to panel management where you are essentially playing tetris to fit everything you can. As well, the story is now mission based where you complete various objectives per mission. This was a bit off setting, but not so bad until you get an excess of the ever so terrible investigation missions. These missions involved you looking for small differences or unique pixels in the worlds you visit in order to determine the situation there. Unfortunately, it can be hard to figure out what exactly needs to be investigated and the end results of your investigation can be minimal and slow paced. Past those the combat is still solid and the boss fights are rather enjoyable. Story wise, getting to see Roxas, Axel, and Xion enjoy ice cream on the ledge of a tower created quite an enamoring set of halcyon days to follow.
Recommend?
Yes to fan favorites of the series, but nothing to go out of your way for.
Lewd?
Nope, got it memorized?
Nice assassination this month!
I keep hearing good things about FF7. I never have played the original but I always wanted to because I love it’s battle system. Now this one is gone and I’m also very sceptic about the episodes. But reviews like yours make me want to buy this game nevertheless uù
Also, KH Days was my first one and it made me a fan to the series! Imo the saddest game of the KH series. Glad you enjoyed it despite it flaws.
Thanks! ^_^
I certainly recommend FF7 remake through and through. Endearing and great characters, great story, and fun combat. I hope you get the chance to play it!
I am an avid fan of the KH series, so it’s pretty hard for me not to enjoy each installment. I will have to agree it is certainly the saddest as well most forlorn and melancholic of the series. The more surprising bit is that it didn’t need some great opposing force to illustrate this them and story, but the enemies and questions we face within.