Gaming teaches us that every failure is a stepping stone to success. Vasharal’s profile
ABOUT ME
My primary motivation for playing games lies in their narratives. However, I'm not averse to engaging with recommended titles or those renowned for exceptional gameplay. Once I'm captivated by a game, I channel my energy towards achieving a complete 100% in terms of Achievements.
This often leads me to invest more time than the average player in meticulously uncovering every conceivable hidden element, which encompasses pursuing side quests and addressing any remaining achievements, all before concluding the game by completing the main campaign. I hold no reservations about dedicating double the usual duration to a game if it resonates with me.
Unless a game's main emphasis isn't on its campaign and the campaign itself is uninteresting, I tend to avoid replaying games once I've completed the initial storyline.
I enjoy delving into games spanning various genres, including Strategy, RPG, Action-Adventure, Adventure, Shooters, Simulation, and even sports simulations. When it comes to game series, I tend to steer clear of sequels if I'm aware of the existence of a prequel or the initial installment in the franchise. I'm intrigued by a game's origins and its progression, making me open to experiencing titles from a decade or two ago.
Other links:
TalePlayPlaying Appreciated
Play a game you won on SteamGifts
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
NOVEMBER
The Month of Try out New Things
Like October, this has been a big month for trying out new games from my backlog of games and actually tackling them one by one.
This whole thing took me to an interesting conclusion, which I shared on my YouTube channel. I'd like to apologize in advance for the massive block of games.
A very strange, albeit fascinating game. I initially discovered it through memes, and after trying it, I can definitely say it was a unique and pleasant experience.
Extremly Short Completion
Terrible "game". You basically waste 10 minutes of your life trying this game out. I don't recommend it. Idk why I had it in my library, but now it's done. It's slow, ugly and weird. Don't recommend it.
Extremly Short Completion
Outstanding narrative performance. Exciting game. I initially tried it in VR, then completed it over Steam Deck. Tempted to try the DLCs and complete those as well. Really found the visual novel, despite minimal interaction fascinating.
Extremly Short Completion
This game has great humor and a unique way to test your patience and curiosity. I loved it every minute. If you love Stanley's Parable, this is one of the closest you can get in a short form.
Extremly Short Completion
I liked this game. The humor and creativity is left to explore and do what you want but to be fair, it didn't sit well with me entirely. I quickly got bored after trying a few stuff in the modes and worlds created.
Extremly Short Completion
I liked this game. The humor and creativity is left to explore and do what you want but to be fair, it didn't sit well with me entirely. I quickly got bored after trying a few stuff in the modes and worlds created.
Extremly Short Completion
Armor of Heroes is a retro-style tank battle game for up to four players, featuring chaotic multiplayer modes and destructible environments. This game reminds me so much of Battle City from Sega Genesis.
Really enjoyable puzzle game. After completing it, I'm more than certain I'd love to play the sequel, so I wishlisted it.
Extremly Short Completion
Pretty smart puzzle game. Thinking outside the box is the ideal this to do when it comes to this game. Not too complicated puzzles, but some do require a bit of thinking. Humor and satire comments are present in this game.
Extremly Short Completion
Hard to recommend or not recommend this game. It's a work of art, but it's a boring walking simulator if you seek gameplay out of it, seek elsewhere. I'd say, put your headphones on and experience this game blindly. It's fascinating as it is.
Like Hook, this is a small, pleasant to-look-at puzzle game. It will test your thinking quite a bit, but I found it a lot easier than Hook or other puzzle games I've played lately.
Very Short Completion
By no means a perfect game, but I really liked the experience. I think a lot of work has been put in this game by the two developers that made this. I wish there was more to it than just combat. The story was interesting.
Very Short Completion
A strange, but unique adventure game. The developers did not hold back at making each moment unique and difficult to explain. You get to experience all sort of gameplay moments.
Extremly Short Completion
It really doesn't offer anything unique except an interesting story that can have 2 endings depending on the decisions you make. One playthrough was enough for me to not want to see the other side. Not a bad game, but mediocre at best.
Extremly Short Completion
The gameplay is boring, the art style is horrendous and the overall experience is something I don't recommend. Avoid this game as it's not offering anything of value. I had to push myself to complete it.
Extremly Short Completion
After playing the first game and not liking it for the comedic childish style of narrative, I'm here to say that this game has grown on me ever since. Either I'm getting soft or the humor got better. I actually liked this more than I expected.
Extremly Short Completion
Very strange game. Seemed interesting, but really is the type of games that likes to waste your time and doesn't give you any indication what you must do until you figure things out on yourself. The ending was abrupt and strangely delivered.
Extremly Short Completion
The game, if you wanna call it that was strange. I spoiled myself the codes with the guide because the game doesn't tell you anything and expects you to figure out. Easiest completion of my life.
Great puzzle game. On the easier side as well. Really liked the art style for this game. Managed to fully figure it out without the need of guides, which is always a great thing.
Extremly Short Completion
A simple, but hilarious VR game made by Valve. I believe it might be one of the very first prototypes. It was great being in the world of Aperture. Dialogues were great. Had to tweak my Meta Quest 3 to make some features work.
Extremly Short Completion
Simple, yet relaxing building game. If you are stressed over a long day of work, boot this game up. Spend a few minutes to create something. It's very therapeutic.
Very Short Completion
This game took me by surprise. I didn't expect it to like it much because of the art style. I was wrong. It's a simple, yet effective adventure games based on experimenting and choices.
Very Short Completion
Not a bad puzzle game, but the NPC kept yapping on and on and on. Yes, you can turn it off, but I wish it was by default less talkative. The game didn't age that well, but it was overall alright. Initially I played the 3rd game.
Extremly Short Completion
A simple puzzle platformer. It's unique in it's setting, but isn't really that interesting. It was an okay experience for what it had to offer. Nothing new to be honest.
Extremly Short Completion
A fun VR experience. I really enjoyed the slingshot section of the mini-games. Others are fun, but really aren't that well-polished or much to do.
Very Short Completion
Lovely puzzle game that I have been putting off for years. Glad I got to it. Initially I had in mind to play the sequel because it was in my Extremely Short Completion, but I thought they are tied up, so I started with this game.
Very Short Completion
A strange one at best. Although I have played Serious Sam in the past, the classics, I have honestly enjoyed this game for what it was. It's not a complicated completion. Going on a grind to 100% doesn't require each level 3 bombs.
Very Short Completion
Pretty good game considering it was so short and free. It left me thinking a follow up will be after this, but it seems not. Still, not a bad shoot'em up.
Very Short Completion
The story and the puzzles were a lot more interesting in my opinion. Not as hard as the first game, but definitely I enjoyed the story a lot more. Highly recommend this series. I love the way they tap into smart puzzles.
Extremly Short Completion
Visually this game was abysmal. The story wasn't that great, but at least was pretty mature and different than anything else. Multiple secrets can be missed without a walkthrough. Luckily it was not a long game.
Extremly Short Completion
Not the most interesting tower defense I've played. It's visually outdated and very boring. It doesn't feel like there's a lot of effort put into making the game too balanced. Look elsewhere if you want a good tower dense.
Extremly Short Completion
Liked the art style for this game. The beginning of the game is well-paced puzzle game, but the boss fights are ridiculously tough and switch from a slow puzzle to a rhythm game that is extremely punishing. You will not be prepared for this.
Extremly Short Completion
A fun horror game. Not something I'd likely say. The time travel elements made things interesting. I really feel this game took inspiration from IT from some reason. Be warned, has some jumpscares that got me.
Extremly Short Completion
Found the game fairly frustrating. Still, not entirely easy to complete. Had a few here and there that I had to struggle with. It also expects you to grind for some achievements, so it's fairly boring as a shoot'em up.
Extremly Short Completion
After playing and enjoying Pilgrims I decided to try more games from the same developer. I liked it, but it doesn't offer a complex gameplay or a well-thought-out story. It's interesting.
Extremly Short Completion
Despite the visuals, this game got me by surprise. It has some hilarious humor, with well thought out dialogues, decisions that lead to different outcomes and overall a strange, but interesting story. I liked it.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
OCTOBER
The Month of Short Burst Fire
Big month for small game completion. I have been on a roll and successfully beaten my yearly completion challenge and actually doubled it. It's crazy!
Moving forward, November and December might look just as full as October was. Very happy with my success, but man this submissions take a lot of work.
Very Short Completion
Rough game on the edges. The physics control, although looking hilarious and fun, causes a lot of frustration. I am playing this in short bursts as the more time I spend on it, the more exhausted I feel.
Very Short Completion
Not the worst or best co-op. Nobody is playing this. HLTB misled me to think this was 2 hours less to complete. Very grindy and took me more than that. Luckily bots help with that.
Very Long Completion
Although I never played the original, I can fully understand why people love this game. It's such an enjoyable game to play in quick sessions. Although you do need to grind a lot to get good and overcome bosses.
Very Long Completion
Great to have a return back to Yakuza. First thing I noticed is how little it feels that it has changed in terms of graphics and overall feel over Yakuza 0. It almost feels like Yakuza 0 actually did come first in development over this one.
Extremly Short Completion
This game got recommended to me by a friend. Mentioned that the story is good. I got to the conclusion that the game didn't offer any kind of gameplay to justify liking this game and the story was not that touching.
Extremly Short Completion
Because of TREE and this game I decided to go on a completion spree and complete as many very short games as possible. This game had gameplay, but it was not as enjoyable and rather simplistic.
Extremly Short Completion
Poorly executed game. Very bland and with a story that wouldn't appeal to anybody. Aside from decent graphics, it had nothing to offer.
Extremly Short Completion
Confusing and weird story with horrible writing. The cast of characters were absolutely abysmal and not likable at all.
Extremly Short Completion
Aside from Zup! S and Zup! 9 all the other Zup's have been completed. It was one of the largest series I've ever done, but was worth it. Some puzzles were quite challenging.
Extremly Short Completion
Like Zup! series, I went straight to this one and daily completed at least one. I really liked it. The puzzles were complex. Great achievements and felt rewarding completing this series.
Very Short Completion
I didn't expect much form this game, but to be fair, I really enjoyed the dialogue and the character. After completing this game, I really felt the need to play the sequel. Which luckily I have, but will do in the near future.
Extremly Short Completion
Despite its simplicity and lack of full-screen support, this game was pretty fun. Did it in a few sessions, but was able to complete it in a short time.
Extremly Short Completion
Despite its simplicity and lack of full-screen support, this game was pretty fun. Did it in a few sessions, but was able to complete it in a short time.
Extremly Short Completion
Bare-bone experience. Not too difficult on a mouse and keyboard, but challenging on the Steam Deck.
Extremly Short Completion
Thought it's gonna be an interesting game with some twisted story. It turned out to be a incomplete and strange one.
Extremly Short Completion
This game has a pleasant art style and a rather interesting world. I wish it was more complex and the scope of the game a lot bigger.
Extremly Short Completion
As a Tony Hawk fan, this game was pretty fun to play. Not too complex, but had some difficult achievements to get and took me a few good minutes to pull it off.
Extremly Short Completion
This game reminded me so much of the classic shoot'em up I used to play as a kid, Space Invaders. It was rather difficult during boss fights, but acceptable during other levels.
Extremly Short Completion
Was probably the first of its kind I've ever played. I believe I tried other Hidden Objects, but had more detective stuff in nature, this was rather simplistic, but fascinating.
Extremly Short Completion
I found this game rather fascinating. I didn't like the gameplay as much, but the story or conversation was rather interesting.
LET'S CLOSE THE YEAR IN STYLE
I'll beat my way through completion if I have to.
To top off the last months of the year, I've decided to continue one of my new favorite franchises of all time: Yakuza.
Getting to revisit well-known places, characters, and similar gameplay mechanics feels like the perfect comfort food.
I do hope to have enough time to complete this, as the last time I played Yakuza 0, it took me almost six months to finish. I don't want to make the same mistake and extend this game, so I started a few days early in hopes of seeing it through to the end in three months.
My second largest game is Rogue Legacy 2. I don't think I'll be able to complete both of them, but we shall see.
I also want to relax with Dave the Diver at the end of the year.
I've got some other relaxing titles up my sleeve that are focused around tables.
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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2024
Unfinished | Beaten | Completed | Backlog+ | Library+ | Wishlisted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 1 | 63 | ⇑ 27 | ⇑ 93 | ⇓ 922 |
Achievements | Games Completed | Average Completion Rate |
---|---|---|
⇑ 21,073 | 257 | 71% |
Yearly Challenge - Completed Games (93/30)
Completed this Quarter: 61BEST SINGLEPLAYER THIS QUARTER
MOST EXCITING ADDITION
BEST MULTIPLAYER THIS QUARTER
WISH I PLAYED SOONER
TRIAL/DEMO
-
TREE
-
TimeTekker
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PLANETS OF WAR
-
Devil's Kiss
-
Zup!
-
Zup! 2
-
Zup! 3
-
Zup! 4
-
Zup! 5
-
Zup! 6
-
Zup! 7
-
Zup! 8
-
Zup! F
-
Zup! X
-
Zup! XS
-
Zup! Z
-
Zup! Zero
-
Zup! Zero 2
-
qop
-
Coffee Talk
-
qop 2
-
qop 3
-
qop 4
-
UpBoll
-
Pixplode
-
Death in the Water
-
Over The Phone
-
Mandagon
-
The Ramp
-
Bubble People
-
Table Manners
-
Dollar Dash
-
Press Any Button
-
KIDS
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The Graveyard
-
Dagon
-
THE CORRIDOR.
-
Hook
-
The Looker
-
Sunlight
-
klocki
-
Knight's Path: The Tournament
-
stikir
-
The Change Architect
-
Necronomistore
-
Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard
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FATALE
-
The USB Stick Found in the Grass
-
Zenge
-
Pilgrims
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Crazy Machines 1.5 Inventors Training Camp
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Ellisar
-
Monument Valley
-
Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack!
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Gun Devil
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Monument Valley 2
-
Watch Me Jump
-
Defence to death
-
Helltaker
-
Drones, The Human Condition
-
Samorost 1
-
Space Bear
-
Fallout Shelter
</li>
COMPLETED
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
SEPTEMBER
The Month of Large Completions
Although I did not touch new games this month, I certainly crushed two massive games this month. Specifically Forza Horizon 4 that took me a good 200 hours to complete. Quite happy with my progress this time around.
That being said, I get to now move to the next and last quarter this month where I will tackle some interesting games I'm looking forward to play and complete by the end of the year.
Played: 201.7 hours | Achievements: 178/178
Very Long Completion
Very happy with this completion. I did find eventually the perfect car for me to complete the most difficult drift zones, the Hoonigan Ford Mustang. Excellent drift car. I kinda miss playing the game now that it's done.
Played: 46.8 hours | Achievements: 39/39
Medium Completion
Had a great time in the game. Really enjoyed the story. It was a bit tedious on the backtracking part where I had to revisit planets over and over again to get every chest, secret and other collectibles. Other than that, great time!
Played: 324.4 hours | Achievements: 152/152
Very Long Completion
Made a lot of progress this month going through the New Testament. Completed it and practically "beaten" the story. I'm left with some Catholic bible chapters which I had to revisit in the Old Testament. Glad to have completed it this month.
Very Short Completion
Rough game on the edges. The physics control, although looking hilarious and fun, causes a lot of frustration. I am playing this in short bursts as the more time I spend on it, the more exhausted I feel.
Very Long Completion
Great to have a return back to Yakuza. First thing I noticed is how little it feels that it has changed in terms of graphics and overall feel over Yakuza 0. It almost feels like Yakuza 0 actually did come first in development over this one.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
AUGUST
The Month of Galactic Trials, Classic Smiles, and Holy Miles
Did not make the biggest waves in progress, but I sure was busy playing games. Started a few that I'm really happy to share have impressed me, like Jedi Fallen Order. It was a good month overall, but I wish I would have completed more games. Been working hard on several large games that are listed below.
Gotta give credit to Lengray for inspiring me to consider changing my quarter breakdown as it was too long and possibly annoying to scroll through. I hope it's okay to take the frame layout and use it for future monthly breakdowns.
Played: 24 hours | Achievements: 25/25
Short Completion
Never played the original, but when I won this game via Steamgifts, I instantly knew I was in for a treat. I wasn't wrong. It was a game with a lot of charm and great both on the Steam Deck and on PC.
Medium Completion
First time playing a Star Wars game in a very long time. The cinematics and visuals were stunning, and I liked that the game didn’t require playing on the hardest difficulty for completion.
Very Long Completion
Although, I'm far from being done with this, I'm enjoying and slowly trimming down bit by bit. The Trivia are really difficult to get unless you study the Bible well or use guides.
Very Long Completion
Very happy with this completion. I did find eventually the perfect car for me to complete the most difficult drift zones, the Hoonigan Ford Mustang. Excellent drift car. I kinda miss playing the game now that it's done.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
JULY
The Month of the Weird, the Gloom and the Vroom-Vroom
TANDEM: A TALE OF SHADOWS
July I suddenly joined Play Or Pay Event as I've been absent from it for over 6 months now. With that, I have been given quite an interesting list of games to play. From which Tandem is from. It's an interesting puzzle game that really has some interesting charm in it.
That being said, it was an easy and fast game to complete with some challenging puzzles, but not too difficult.
“To cast a shadow is to create a place where light cannot reach, and in that darkness lies the power to reshape the world..” - Haruki Murakami
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Creative light and shadow puzzle mechanics. • Visually stunning, dark Victorian aesthetic. • Challenging puzzles with satisfying solutions. | • Repetitive objectives. • Flat voice acting and weak story. • Occasional visual bugs, especially in cinematics. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
Encountered minor stuttering during cinematics and a few visual glitches. These didn’t ruin the experience but did break immersion occasionally. | • CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SSD: NVMe SSD • RES: 1440p | Settings: High FPS: 60-75 |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game can be completed in around 8-9 hours. It’s a focused experience, but the repetition limits its replay value. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, if you enjoy puzzle-platformers with creative mechanics. Consider waiting for a sale if the story is a priority for you. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Runs well on the Steam Deck with no significant performance drops or control issues. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a creative puzzle-platformer with visually captivating design and solid mechanics. However, its repetitive structure and weak story hold it back from greatness. It’s still worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows offers a unique dual-perspective puzzle experience. Emma’s top-down world and Fenton’s 2D side-scrolling environment are intertwined, with light and shadow being the key to progressing. The mechanics are well-implemented, but the puzzles can become repetitive as the objectives remain largely the same across levels. The game’s world design is imaginative, with each region bringing something visually new and interesting.
🏆 Completion:
Not a difficult game to complete, but it does have several achievements that can be missed each level, but with a guide, you can easily find and get to the ones you missed.
Hours to fully complete the game: 8
Achievements: 24/24
Playthroughs: 1
Difficulty: 3/10
Steam Hunter Points: ✪ 4,063
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Visually, the game excels with its dark Victorian atmosphere. The environments are rich with detail, and the animations are generally smooth, though some minor bugs detract from the overall experience. Cutscenes have stutter both on Steam Deck and PC. The art style fits the eerie, fairy-tale vibe perfectly, enhancing the game’s mood.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The sound design is atmospheric, with subtle music and well-crafted sound effects that deepen the immersion. Unfortunately, the voice acting falls flat. Emma’s lines lack emotion and feel stilted, making it hard to connect with the story.
📖 Story & Writing:
The narrative is one of the game’s weaker aspects. While the premise is intriguing, the delivery is lacking. The story doesn’t build much tension, and the voice acting does little to elevate it. The plot feels like an afterthought, serving more as a backdrop for the puzzles.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game offers 5-8 hours of content, with some challenging puzzles toward the end. The difficulty is balanced, offering a satisfying progression curve. However, once you’ve seen the core mechanics, the novelty wears off quickly, reducing the replayability.
⭕️ Verdict:
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows delivers a unique puzzle experience with inventive mechanics and a strong atmosphere. However, its repetitive gameplay, lackluster story, and stutter bugs prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a good pick for fans of puzzle-platformers, but might be better enjoyed during a sale.
THE HEX
The second game I managed to pick right after was this strange be-it-all kinda game that really took me by surprise with it's story. To be honest, I found it hard to believe not enough people talk about this game.
Yes, artistically it doesn't look much, but all the other aspects are stellar!
"This place... it’s a graveyard of ideas, where abandoned concepts rot away in the dark." - The Hex
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Genre-blending mechanics that keep gameplay fresh. • Dark, engaging narrative with deep meta-commentary. • Intriguing and well-written characters. • Atmosphere that ranges from eerie to intense. |
• Some mechanics can feel unpolished. • Lack of voice acting, which could enhance character depth. • Visuals, while fitting, aren’t consistently standout. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
The only bugs I encountered were the ones intended to crash your game and get an achievement out of it. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: RTX 3080 10GB • Storage: SSD • Resolution: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 60+ Stable |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game’s unique narrative and genre-blending make a single playthrough memorable. Limited replay value, but discovering all secrets and story nuances could push you for a second run. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, especially if you enjoy narrative-driven games with experimental gameplay. Worth full price for fans of Daniel Mullins’ work. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Runs smoothly with consistent performance. The pixelated and hand-drawn visuals suit the Deck’s screen size well. |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
The Hex is a genre-blending, narrative-driven indie gem that offers a mind-bending story and creative gameplay. It excels in delivering a unique experience despite some visual roughness and the absence of voice acting. A must-play for fans of experimental indie titles and meta-commentary in games. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
The Hex stands out by offering a different genre for each of its six main characters. From platforming to turn-based RPGs, each gameplay style is a reflection of the character’s backstory, tying narrative and mechanics closely together. The constant shift in playstyles can be jarring but also keeps the experience fresh and unpredictable. Exploring the tavern itself, where you learn about the dark pasts of these characters, ties all the genres into a cohesive, intriguing story. The gameplay can be rough around the edges, but that’s part of the game’s charm as it plays with expectations.
🏆 Completion:
The Hex isn’t a particularly difficult game to complete, but it does have some missable achievements tied to specific events and secrets in each section. Some will close your game and others will require you to replay chapters if you've missed them. However, with a guide, you can easily track down the ones you might miss on your first playthrough.
Hours to fully complete the game: 17.5
Achievements: 28/28
Playthroughs: 1
Difficulty: 4/10
Steam Hunter Points: ✪ 5,156
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
While The Hex is mostly pixelated and hand-drawn, the visual style effectively sets the tone. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and fits the game’s dark themes. The visuals shift with each genre change, providing variety. While they may not be stunning in every moment, they serve the story well and enhance the overall eerie vibe.
🔊 Sound & Atmosphere:
The sound design is excellent at setting the mood—whether it’s light-hearted and quirky during platforming or unsettling during the more intense moments. However, the lack of voice acting is a noticeable drawback given how rich and complex the characters are. You do get by the end of the game a little bit of voice acting done by Daniel himself, but that's about it. Despite this, the ambient sounds and background music do a good job of immersing you in the world.
📖 Story & Writing:
The narrative is where The Hex truly shines. The game’s story is a clever critique of game design and the industry, told through the tragic lives of six flawed characters. Each character’s backstory is gradually revealed, exposing dark, twisted elements that add depth to the game’s meta-commentary. The writing is sharp, humorous, and deeply unsettling at times, which makes it hard to forget long after you’ve completed the game.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game takes about 17.5 hours to complete, depending on how much you explore and engage with each character’s story. Difficulty varies with each genre segment, but it’s generally accessible while still offering some challenging moments. The hardest part is often adapting to each new gameplay style quickly.
⭕️ Verdict:
The Hex is an exceptional narrative-driven game with innovative genre-blending mechanics and rich storytelling. It’s not without flaws—some gameplay sections feel rough, and the lack of voice acting limits the emotional impact. However, the unique concept, compelling characters, and engaging story make it a must-play for those who love indie games that push the boundaries of conventional design. If you’re a fan of Pony Island or enjoy games with meta-commentary and experimental styles, this is one to pick up—preferably during a sale if you’re unsure.
FORZA HORIZON 4
After hearing that another racing game is getting delisted, that being Forza, I decided to hop on it and start my journey on completing it. It's a long game, but I set my priority straight and focus on what's first important, weekly tasks that were required. I have to say, that the first time I picked it up, the game felt extremely overwhelming in the amount of content.
For some, this is great, but when you don't understand anything and feel pressured by time, this becomes a burden. Luckily I figured out my phasing and eventually got to the bottom of it and figured out what I must do.
Games Completed this Month
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
On a Race to Complete this Quarter.
And we're off with a new quarter in which we find out that Forza Horizon 4 is getting delisted and with it the possibility to get 100% completion, so guess what's going to happen? Yep. I'll have to play it forcefully to not miss my chance on this amazing game. Although it can be played offline afterwards, some achievements are locked based on some events that can only be obtained in a short time.
I hate to say this, but if it keeps going like this, we're going to have every year 1-2 games that get delisted that have such game models aka games of service where even if you paid a little or got it for free you'll still feel ripped off. Where's the game preservation we keep getting promised by Xbox?
Oh well, that's all my rant for today and for this quarter. Time to get those achievements and mark this incredible game off my backlog once and for all.
Because of this sudden change, I've had to create and edit a few things in this quarter and going forward. Pausing games for whatever reason to refocus on what's important or imminent. I can always get back to the games I've not finished. Oh and, reduce the scheduled games because I might as well put myself in a grave because of so many stuff to do.
JULY - SEPTEMBER 2024
Unfinished | Beaten | Completed | Backlog+ | Library+ | Wishlisted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 6 | 4 | ⇑ 33 | ⇑ 94 | ⇑ 948 |
Achievements | Games Completed | Average Completion Rate |
---|---|---|
⇑ 499 | 174 | 62% |
Challenge - Completed Games (22/30)
Completed this Quarter: 6BEST SINGLEPLAYER THIS QUARTER
MOST EXCITING ADDITION
BEST MULTIPLAYER THIS QUARTER
WISH I PLAYED SOONER
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Stormgate
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Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Tin Soldier
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Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mummy’s
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Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Case of the Mystified
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Capcom Fighting Collection
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Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
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Escape Academy
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We Were Here Forever
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Escape Simulator
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QUARTER BREAKDOWN
JUNE
The Month of I can't Believe I Completed this
MELVOR IDLE
I have to admit, this game was by far not on my schedule of completion any time soon, but after spending so much time in it, I finally hit completion on this game. It was an incredible journey and I am not sure if I'd be willing to pick the DLC's and continue form there.
For now, I'm left with Cookie Clicker, another Idle game waiting to be completed, but that's a game for December.
A true Idle RPG story
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Offers a large variety of crafting and gathering • Simple to use and non-distractive • Pleasant interface • Works well through cloud save both on mobile and desktop • For an idle game it's rather addictive |
• None I could find |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs |
---|---|
☑️ Never had any. 🔲 Freezing, Hanging or Crashing. 🔲 Graphics Glitch. 🔲 Gameplay Defect. 🔲 In-game Purchase. 🔲 Audio Problem. 🔲 Text Problem. 🔲 Save Glitch. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 1060 6GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Content & Replay Value | Melvor Idle is an Idle RPG game that was created by the same developers who created Runescape. It's a casual, relaxing and surprisingly enjoyable experience that is going to keep you up for hours. At this time of this review, I can say that I've got over 150+ hours of gameplay my time spent on my phone isn't recorded on Steam, but without a doubt, this game will probably be one of the top performers when it comes to hours spent. |
Is it worth buying? | Yes. Although it comes at a price I'd normally not pay for a mobile or idle game, after considering a couple of times and trying it out, I got to the conclusion that it's worth it. I've spent well enough time to justify my spending idling and non-idling. I recommend getting this game directly through Steam as you can find it at a better price than on your mobile device and link your mobile with it afterwards. |
Verdict: Very Good |
For an idle game this has been enjoyable to say the least and probably by far one of the best Idle games I've played or let's say idled in a while. |
Melvor Idle is a feature-rich, idle/incremental game combining a distinctly familiar feel with a fresh gameplay experience. With over 20+ skills that you can craft/idle this game will keep you busy. In the game you also have a combat system, that is rather simple. All you have to do is equip a sword, bow or staff and fight your way through monsters.
⚔ Gameplay:
Rate: ★★★★☆
Melvor Idle has a rather simple, yet effective crafting and combat mechanic. Pick the profession or work you wish to do and see what the requirements are, and let the game just run. It's very simple and maybe sounds rather boring, but I am telling you, there's something about this game that makes it so much fun.
You can build your own way and there's no pressure whatsoever.
😄 Fun:
Rate: ★★★★☆
Although I can't say Idling is fun, it's something about this game that makes every moment spent interesting. I have had my moments of "AHA" with it when I figured out what I am supposed to do.
🏞 Visuals:
Rate: ★★★☆☆
Has a pleasant interface, but could do with some work on some areas. If you like minimalistic interface this game will satisfy that need.
I would personally like a fantasy art style but that would beat the whole UI and require adjustments.
🔊 Sound:
Rate: N/A
This game has no sound, so you can play or run it anywhere without having silly noises disrupt you. I like that.
📖 Story:
Rate: N/A
This is a Sandbox Idle game, so you make your own story however you like. It has no campaign, but a simple tutorial to follow.
🧵 Length:
🔲 Short
🔲 Average
🔲 Long
☑️ Unlimited
This is an idle game, so I don't think it has an end-goal, or at least I hope it doesn't. What I can tell you is that you're required to max out all your crafting and profession to level 99, which takes a while. Maybe then you can consider putting it down and if you wish start all over, but I don't see the point.
🧩 Difficulty:
☑️ Easy
☑️ Normal
☑️ Hard
🔲 Brutally Hard
🔲 Impossible
This game is rather easy to play. The only reason why it has so many difficulties is because of the combat. You have to get yourself a lot of money to support yourself with food in combat automatically, which you'll buy from the store. Until that happens it will be difficult to consider idle combating easy. You constantly have to keep an eye for your character so it won't die. If you die, you lose an item, which isn't much of a big deal.
⭕Conclusion:
Melvor is an excellent Idle game, that encapsulates the RPG very well. If you're looking for a nice and complex game, for your Steam and mobile, look no further.
This game is easy to follow up and playing it is as easy as pie.
GHOST OF TSUSHIMA: DIRECTOR'S CUT
After completing the base game and the DLC for this game on PS4 I am very very happy to get my hands once more on PC. It's by far one of my favorite PS "exclusive" games. Revisiting the world made me appreciate and love this game even more.
Although I put all my effort to complete it, the Multiplayer section is the most tedious section of the game, forcing you to grind it. So, I'm left to leave it in June as Beaten for now, but working on getting it completed.
"We must fight with honor Jin!" - Lord Shimura / "Honor died on the beach!"- Jin Sakai
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Unique and fun samurai combat. • Beautiful world, with outstanding visuals. • Great representation of Japan and its history. • Interesting characters and story. • Good exploration without holding your hand. • Good port, with fairly good keyboard and mouse controls. • Added multiplayer with cross-play is a fine touch. | • Noticed some bugs here and there related to settings. • Enforcing PSN accounts on players to play Legends. Limiting access to so many countries. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
Sometimes stutter problems occur during playthrough if I alt-tab a lot. Required to restart game to make the game run smoothly. | • CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p | Settings: High - Ultra FPS: 70-75 |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | A lengthy and expansive open-world game with lots of stuff to visit, interact with, and explore. It offers a New Game + mode, and the game can be completed in 60-120 hours, depending on each playstyle. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. Unless you have this game bought on the PS4/PS5, I'd say this game is well worth the money it asks. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Set FPS to 30 and Graphics to Low/Medium this game can run quite well on the Steam Deck. |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
Ghost of Tsushima immediately became my favorite open-world game from Sony. It does so many things right and can go toe to toe with my favorite franchise where you play as an assassin. In fact, I really think it succeeds where that franchise didn't in recent years. It's a gorgeous-looking game and runs, for the most part, as I expected on PC. I think picking this game will not disappoint you. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world action-adventure game where you play as a samurai trying to redeem his land from Mongol invaders. You are given a diversified range of combat styles, from swordplay capable of countering enemies to bows, grappling hooks, and stealth elements. Progression in the story and helping out the people of the land provide you with cosmetics and gear to upgrade your stats for weapons and armor.
Exploration is done seamlessly by the use of the wind, which slowly guides you to points of interest that you can visually see from afar, like burning villages, tall buildings, and other landmarks. The world can be traversed by horse or on foot, and later on by teleporting to points of interest.
😄 Fun:
This game has been the only PlayStation game I 100% completed without having to look at tutorials or guides. I was just drawn into it. After four years of waiting, the game feels and plays just as fun as I remember it.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
This game is a visual artistic treat. It offers so much detail in the world that it's impossible not to take a few steps back and capture some screenshots. The visual aesthetics of the game aim to take as much as possible a fictional yet realistic approach to feudal Japan. From the clothing to the buildings to the landscapes, it is, in my opinion, a success.
The game offers a vast range of filters to modify your experience and enjoy the game however you like.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
One of the most relaxing open-world games to explore, for the simple fact that the music is not intrusive, is representative of the world it is in, and enhances immersion. Sound effects are great and match the style perfectly.
Voice acting is excellently choreographed. Although I like to play this game in Japanese with subtitles on, I believe the voice acting in English is just as good.
📖 Story & Writing:
The main plot of the game focuses on Jin Sakai, a fallen samurai in battle who is trying to defend his land and country from the Mongol invasion. Your journey is mainly straightforward as you transform into the character known as the Ghost, and your gameplay actions have little influence over how the story ends.
The writing is well done, with a great representation of the period and characters from that period. Each decision Jin makes leads more and more to a satisfying ending.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
It's a lengthy game. It can take a minimum of 25 hours to beat the game and up to 120 hours to complete it at the most relaxed pace possible.
The game can be difficult, especially in the very beginning as you learn how to counter, dodge, and position yourself. Lethal difficulty makes for a more realistic and fun experience where not only the aggression of the enemy increases, but also the lethality. On the other hand, you deal more damage to balance things out. It's a great balance of risk and reward.
⭕️Verdict:
Ghost of Tsushima is an excellent game that offers a richly detailed and immersive open-world experience. From its breathtaking visuals and non-intrusive music to its well-crafted story and engaging combat mechanics, the game excels in every aspect. Whether you are exploring the vast landscapes, enjoying the meticulously designed period elements, or navigating the challenging yet rewarding combat system, the game consistently delivers. Its ability to captivate players without the need for external guides speaks volumes about its intuitive design. Overall, Ghost of Tsushima stands out as a top-tier PlayStation title that is well worth your time.
A STORY ABOUT MY UNCLE
I was very excited to try this game out despite the fact that many reported that the game is a hit or miss. I am sad to say that I resonate with a lot of people giving this game a negative review. I do not recommend it sadly. The story and gameplay didn't do it for me.
Despite all that, I'm glad I tried it out. This was a win from the Non-Official Steamgifts Magazine, so expect to hear a detailed review on this if you love to read their magazines.
"You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong." - Sue Fitzmaurice
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Unique grappling mechanics. • Heartwarming narrative with a touching conclusion. • Engaging, non-violent gameplay. • Fairly smooth first-person platforming experience. |
• Some platforming sections can be frustrating. • Relatively short game length. • Limited replay value. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
I encountered a bug where the character occasionally clips through platforms, causing unintended falls. This mainly happens in certain high-complexity areas. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High - Ultra FPS: 60-75 |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | A short but sweet experience with a somewhat memorable story. The game can be completed in 4-6 hours, and while it doesn’t have extensive replay value, the journey itself is interesting. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | No, unless you enjoy narrative-driven platformers. Do get it on a discount if you wanna experience it. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | The game runs well on the Steam Deck. |
🧾 Verdict: Mediocre |
A Story About My Uncle is a unique and interesting first-person platformer game. Its unique grappling mechanics, interesting world, and soft-touching narrative create a fairly okay experience. Despite its short length and occasional frustrating sections, it might be a great pick for those that are fans of indie games and narrative adventures. I do wish it offered more world varieties. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
A Story About My Uncle is a first-person platformer with a strong focus on exploration and movement. You play as a young boy searching for his missing uncle in a fantastical world filled with floating islands and mysterious creatures. The core gameplay revolves around a grappling hook mechanic that allows you to swing through the environment with ease. The controls are tight and somewhat responsive, making the platforming feel fluid and satisfying if you understand what you're doing.
The world is designed with exploration in mind, offering multiple paths and secrets to discover. The visual design is intriguing, with each area feeling fantastic and out of this world. While the platforming can be challenging at times, it can be rewarding when you master the mechanics and navigate through difficult sections.
😄 Fun:
The game is was somewhat frustrating at times, but can be fun for those who enjoy movement-based gameplay. The feeling of swinging through the air and chaining together jumps is entertaining at first but can easily lose its charm due to lack of complexity.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
The game is not visually impressive, despite having vibrant colors and imaginative environments. Each level is interestingly crafted. The art style perfectly complements the fantastical setting.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The sound design is fairly good, with a soothing and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the sense of adventure. The voice acting is more on the amateur side, and possibly the least enjoyable part of the game, but I like that the game was fully voiced.
📖 Story & Writing:
The narrative is one of the game's weakest points. It follows the journey of a boy searching for his uncle in a magical world, uncovering secrets, and learning about his uncle's past along the way. The writing is heartfelt and touching, but the end does fall short and kinda all the sudden.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete. However, it does take more to reach completion and master the game's mechanics. The difficulty is well-balanced, being able to play and beat it without much of a challenge, but can become brutally challenging when striving to complete the game. There are some tricky platforming sections, but they are manageable with practice and patience.
⭕️Verdict:
A Story About My Uncle is a unique first-person platformer with imaginative world-building and a heartfelt narrative. While the grappling mechanics are innovative and fun, the game is hampered by its short length and occasional frustrating sections. The visual presentation is decent, but not exceptional, and the voice acting leaves much to be desired. The story, though touching, doesn't quite deliver a strong ending. Overall, it offers an okay experience for fans of narrative-driven platformers, but it may not be worth a full-price purchase. Consider picking it up during a sale if you're interested in its unique mechanics and heartfelt story.
Games Completed this Month
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
MAY
The Month of Short Indies
ABZÛ
Good game if you want to relax after a long day at work. Bad game if you to stay awake. The game can be a bit too relaxing at time. I don't recommend playing it on a comfortable couch. It will put you to sleep.
It's a spectacular game to look at as it's presentation is one of the best I've encountered in an indie.
"Everyone loves to fly, and flying underwater is even better than flying in air because there are things around you."- Graham Hawkes
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Gorgeous art style and presentation. • Simple controls. • Touching story. |
• Not too complex in terms of gameplay. • Can get boring after some time. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
No issues encountered. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 75+ |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | This game is a great short experience that can be beaten and/or completed in no longer than 5 hours. There's little replay value. Once beaten, you can repeat sections of the world to get all collectibles. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, but on a discount. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Great experience for Steam Deck. Ran very well. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
ABZU delivers a visually stunning underwater experience with vibrant environments and fluid animations. The sound design enhances relaxation, even without voice acting. The story is interesting, letting you explore marine life as a scuba diver. It's a short, easy game with minimal threats, perfect for a relaxing adventure. Overall, it captivates with its breathtaking visuals and tranquil atmosphere. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
ABZU is a swimming simulator that focuses mainly on the journey of exploration and self-interpretation of the world around you. Exploration is done area by area, with its own type of fish and animals, some having appearances later in the game.
😄 Fun:
It's great to play and relax, but can't recommend playing when tired. It can put you to sleep.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Gorgeous game, with an impressive presentation. The vibrant and enchanting underwater environments create a mesmerizing and immersive experience. From the fluid movement of marine life to the breathtaking play of light and shadow, the game offers stunning moments that truly evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
Sound design is exceptional and significantly enhances player relaxation without the use of voice.
📖 Story & Writing:
Despite not having an incredible story, it's still an interesting one. You play as a scuba diver who tries to explore marine life and the underwater world.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Very short game to beat or complete. Not difficult at all. There's barely any threats and dying is not an option.
⭕️Verdict:
ABZU offers a visually stunning and immersive underwater experience, with vibrant environments and fluid animations that evoke a sense of wonder. The exceptional sound design enhances the player's relaxation, despite the absence of voice acting. While the story is not groundbreaking, it provides an interesting narrative as you explore marine life as a scuba diver. The game is very short and easy, with minimal threats, making it a perfect choice for a relaxing, awe-inspiring adventure. Overall, it excels in delivering a mesmerizing journey that captivates through its breathtaking visuals and tranquil atmosphere.
FINDING PARADISE
Had a splendid time returning to this beautiful point-and-click adventure game. Old characters making a return and for the first time the game really made me shed a tear.
It has a spending new soundtrack that you'll weep like a baby.
"I think all our memories, and everything in it... can be nothing but the fiction we tell ourselves." - Dr. Watts
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Touching story. • The return of 2 beloved characters from To The Moon. • Interesting plot twist. • Allows customization of characters. • Great soundtrack. |
• No ultrawide support. • Not much of an improvement over the original game in terms of gameplay. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
No bugs or issues encountered during the game. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 75+ |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | This installment is longer than To the Moon from my personal experience, but not by much. No replay value. It's once and done. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. Considering the length, I'd recommend buying it on a discount. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Played this entirely on the Steam Deck. Great experience! |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
Finding Paradise is a visual novel and walking simulator that continues the story of the two beloved characters, Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene. In a new setting, they try to help a dying patient fulfill his wishes, similar to the previous game. The game hits the plot points well and delivers a compelling and touching story just as good as the first game. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Finding Paradise is a walking simulator with some easy puzzle elements. Your involvement isn't complicated for the most part, so you will mainly experience the dialogues and interactions between characters.
😄 Fun:
I really enjoyed the story. It was just as fun as the first game.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Not many improvements were made in the visual aspects of the game. There are more moments where animation shines and is improved, but other than that, it's very similar in style to the first game.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
This time around, I find the music a lot more impactful, especially at the end. The introduction of the song was a fine touch and really touching.
No voice acting, although I wish there was.
📖 Story & Writing:
Great story overall. You start off looking after a dying patient who has a wish to change his memory and asks for the help of the Sigmund Corporation, where Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene work.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Slightly longer than "To The Moon," but not by a long stretch. Difficulty-wise, it is just as easy as the previous games. Easy completion, to say the least, where you get 100% just by beating the story.
⭕️Verdict:
Finding Paradise delivers a compelling narrative that resonates well with fans of the series. While not introducing significant visual improvements, the game maintains its familiar style and charm. The enhanced music adds depth to emotional moments, although the absence of voice acting may leave some longing for more immersive dialogue delivery. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game offers a fulfilling experience with its engaging story, easy gameplay mechanics, and touching character interactions. Overall, Finding Paradise stands as a worthy successor to its predecessor, providing players with another memorable journey through the heartfelt storytelling of Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene.
THE ROOM TWO
Despite being an excellent puzzle game, this one didn't click as much as the first one did for me. The puzzles seemed more obvious and more easy to identify with a lot more to move back and forth.
If you're a fan of such games, I still recommend it, but don't play them back to back as the complexity of the puzzles can be somewhat daunting when you compare them side by side.
"Everyone loves to fly, and flying underwater is even better than flying in air because there are things around you."- Graham Hawkes
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Beautifully crafted puzzles, despite
being more simple this time around. • Visual improvements on animations. • Now you're required to solve different puzzles around the room. • Great for single-sitting playthrough. |
• Felt a little too easy compared to the original. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
No bugs, no issues. Works great! |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: Ultra FPS: 60 |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | Completion can be obtained in no more than 2-3 hours. It's a short game. Replay Value isn't there. Once you know the puzzles, you're more likely to ruin the fun. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. I'd get it on a discount, or bundled with the rest. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | The game requires a lot the use of mouse. So, I avoided playing this game there. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
Despite loving the first game so much and finding the puzzles really good, the second one felt a bit too easy for my liking. Even my wife decided to abandon being next to me. That says a lot because I expected a similar challenge as I got from the first game. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Like the previous game, this is a puzzle game. This time around, the puzzles are distributed across a room and require memorizing and careful thinking. It's not as complicated, probably to not confuse the player, but overall, it keeps the same elements as the previous game: find missing objects, open secret doors or contraptions, and discover new elements that unlock other things. Simple and straightforward.
😄 Fun:
Not as fun as the first one, I can say that. Maybe the familiarity of puzzles or the simplicity of them really killed the fun for me. I do recommend playing games like this with a large gap between them to not feel so repetitive and boring.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Visually, I think the game looks amazing. There are some improvements in animations, visuals, and the overall theme. This time around, the spooky theme seems to be more present, which was a fine touch.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
Great sound effects. Still no voice-acting or dialogues, except through writing and letters.
📖 Story & Writing:
Like the first game, it holds a story within the setting, the letters you receive, and the puzzles you unlock. Not remarkable, in my opinion.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Great for one-sitting gameplay. It's short and much easier than the first game. I don't know why, but it could be due to the decision the devs made to not confuse you as you navigate around the room and identify puzzles.
⭕️Verdict:
The Room Two offers a captivating and immersive puzzle experience that builds upon the success of its predecessor. With its intricate puzzles, atmospheric setting, and compelling narrative, the game keeps players engaged for the most part, but not as much as the first game. While some may find certain puzzles challenging, the overall experience is rewarding, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players unravel the mysteries within each intricately designed room. With its polished visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics, The Room Two stands as a worthy sequel that delivers an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
Games Completed this Month
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
APRIL
The Month of Layed Back Completion
DRAGON'S DOGMA 2
I managed to complete this game after being on it almost daily. I loved every minute of it and if it wasn't so short, I would have played more. The time spent includes mastering every single class, doing every side quest and exploring the entire map. Getting the best gear and just maxing out my pawn and hero.
Now I'm left to return to the original and analyze it as in-depth as I did the second one. That being said, I highly recommend this game.
"But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them." - Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• Vibrant, realistic, and believable fantastic world. • Combat is different yet refined and fun. • More challenging than the first game but well worth exploring. • Exploration is done freely, deliberate, and interesting. • Quests are primarily scarce from what I could see, but well-designed and interesting. • Amazing character customizations. One of the best, in fact. • Classes are revamped and offer different skills that combine well with other classes. • Great sound design. • Pawn system improved. Pawns feel more believable and interesting. • New race introduced adds flavor to the world. |
• Poor optimization visible for the most part in Main Big Cities. • Denuvo restricts Linux users or blocks people from playing this game. • Not uncommon but strange business practices for a single-player game. • Some issues present in the first game can still be found in this game, but most of them are improved. • Sometimes crashes occur. Luckily auto-save brings you back fairly close to the period and time of crash. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
Had some clipping glitches, and several random crashes out of the blue when upgrading the skills of my pawn's character, ALT+TABing and for no reason. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 25-40 (City) 60 (Outside) |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | The game is 4x larger in map than the first one, and for someone who likes exploring the world, you can spend more than 100 hours getting lost in the game. It offers a vibrant and rich experience that is worth revisiting. There's no replay value unless you wish to change your vocation/looks and start again. Although you can do this without encountering issues. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. I think the game is well worth trying despite the performance issues. If you have an RTX 3070+ you can run this game without many issues. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Have not tested. People reported having Denuvo issues, so please don't attempt to try it until Capcom fixes the restrictions on Linux. |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
A big step in the right direction from someone who recently replayed the prequel and jumped into this game. Despite its technological flaws and people speaking nonsense about microtransactions that can all be purchased in-game, this game is a perfect testimony that with care, love, passion, and a lot of dedication, you can pull off an incredible RPG. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Dragon's Dogma is an action-adventure open-world game focused on combat, monster hunting, tactical planning, and intensive, over-the-top difficult combat. Its system focuses on the pawn system, a system used before in the first game where you control, to a certain degree, up to 3 additional pawns that serve as different classes to aid you in combat.
The difference this time around is the change in the class system, where we see separations between archer and dual-wielding warriors into two separate classes. It's a nice change in my opinion as it doesn't force you to mainly use blades despite preferring an archer class and vice versa.
The combat is intense, a lot more difficult, but feels more realistic. Pawns work together much better this time around, prompting for combo skills, and evolving in experience the further you progress in the world and face different monsters.
Physics play a nice role here and can be utilized better in your advantage. It's a lot harder to dodge incoming attacks from large beasts as the hitbox does feel change and the combos not so predictable.
Exploration is improved this time around greatly. The world is expansive, rich, full of life, with impressive visuals and places to explore, each carrying interesting places to visit.
😄 Fun:
This game is truly something else. It's so much fun and impressive for what it is.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Gorgeous-looking game, with stunning visuals, over-the-top visual effects, and elements that left me surprised at every step. The world is filled with points of interest and attention to detail.
This time around we're introduced with some incredible visuals in cinematics that blend excellently with the game and make things fairly seamless.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The sound effects are great and give a good sense of impact when striking. Voice acting is fairly good, but not impressive in all regards. I feel there's somewhat a mismatch between exhausting breaths and the voice of my character.
Main characters from the story are well-performed. I must remark that the loose language is very well covered by old English expressions, and foul language is well-censored by different expressions that I personally appreciate. The use of old English is interesting in this regard and it's something I don't remember being part of the first game.
📖 Story & Writing:
A step in the right direction. Despite not being heavily focused on the story and more on the experience, this game is a step forward in that area. A lot of the side quests and main quests can be missed or skipped if you truly just wish to see the game to the end. It has 3 potential endings, one being the true and the most interesting endings. The other two, despite one being good, feels somewhat like something is missing.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
It's a very lengthy game to complete, and so was the first game. Since the developers have said this game is 4x larger, you can expect a good 100+ hours to complete it. Difficulty-wise, it is fairly more balanced in a way considering the fact that there's no difficulty picking, and in Dark Arisen Hard mode, getting hit once is fatal; here, you're still challenged, but with careful positioning and patience, you can pull it off better.
⭕️Verdict:
Dragon's Dogma 2 is an impressive game and by far one of the best games I've played in 2024. I'm excited to explore and complete this game and share more if ever I change my views on the game. I only wish it would get the fixes in performance it deserves. Other than that, I'd avoid taking people's complaints on the matters they don't understand because except for Denuvo and microtransactions, the game is a gem.
A SHORT HIKE
After completing Dragon's Dogma 2, I had a few days on my hand before the month ended, so I decided to play something sweet and short. So, I picked this game.
Despite not being perfect, I honestly enjoyed it for what it was.
"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." - Andy Rooney
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
---|---|
• An endearing tale full of charm. • Intuitive controls that are easy to navigate. • Delightful conversations brimming with humor and heartwarming moments. |
• Brief with forgettable characters. • Maze-like layouts that often lead to confusion, would benefit from the addition of a mini-map. • Limited Ultrawide compatibility, requiring cheats to unlock. |
🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
---|---|---|
Smooth flight with no obstacles in sight. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: Ultra FPS: 75+ |
🌌 Content & Replay Value | I'm speaking from the perspective of a completionist. You can complete this game in 3-5 hours at most. You get to meet and help all the characters, and replaying this game adds no value. There's no new game plus or other benefits to starting over. |
💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. But I'd probably go for a discount if I was to buy this game. |
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Perfect game for Steam Deck. It's recommended using a controller, so I can't recommend this game enough. It runs perfectly on it too. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
While I liked the game, I can't say it was the best game I've played so far. It has a wholesome, cute, and humorous story at parts, with easily forgettable characters, but overall, it's a satisfying game to play for some reason. I do think it's perfect for those who like a laid-back experience and just want to play something relaxing in a single sitting. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
A Short Hike is a platformer adventure game where your main objective, reaching the mountain's summit, is presented right from the start. As you embark on your journey, you're equipped with the ability to fly and glide. However, flying initially proves challenging as it doesn't provide much elevation. To overcome this limitation, you must collect golden feathers as rewards from assisting island residents, granting you additional climbing and flying capabilities.
You can gather a maximum of 20 feathers, greatly easing your ascent to the mountain peak. Gameplay centers around exploring the map, interacting with and aiding all the island residents with various tasks.
😄 Fun:
While it's a calming game and has enjoyable moments, I wouldn't say it's the most entertaining experience I've had in quite some time.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
It's a cute and minimalistic game that offers you the possibility to choose between playing with very pixelated graphics or not. I appreciate this feature in video games because I know that some people dislike overly pixelated graphics, so it's a good option to have.
The game can look really nice in some cases, with a calming and warm palette of colors that are pleasing to the eye.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The music is somewhat forgettable, though not unpleasant. Characters speak in gibberish when fast-forwarded, reminiscent of Animal Crossing, which, I must admit, I enjoyed.
📖 Story & Writing:
In the game, you take on the role of Claire, a bird visiting an island from the city. She's on a quest to find cellphone reception, and rumor has it that the only place to get it is at the very top of the island.
Along the way, you meet characters, some know Claire better than others and you create relationships with some of them by helping them.
The game offers a funny, loose way of dialogue, making each casual encounter humorous and wholesome.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Very short and very easy game to beat and complete.
⭕️Verdict:
A Short Hike offers a decent gaming experience with its charming and minimalistic aesthetic, relaxed gameplay, and engaging exploration mechanics. While its music may not be the most memorable and its characters' dialogue may be reminiscent of other titles like Animal Crossing, these elements contribute to its overall appeal. With its mix of relaxation and adventure, A Short Hike proves to be a satisfying and enjoyable experience for those seeking a laid-back gaming session.
Games Completed this Month
3172 | games |
85% | never played |
4% | unfinished |
3% | beaten |
8% | completed |
1% | won't play |
- 🏆 Won on SteamGifts 149
- 🤝 Traded on SteamTrades 172
- 📜 Unfinished 164
- 📃 Backlog 619
- ☀️ Short Game (2-8h) 952
- ⛅ Medium Game (8-15h) 625
- 🌦️ Long Game (15-25h) 352
- 🌧️ Very Long Game (25h+) 333
- 🌪️ Endless 102
- 🎁 Gifted 59
- 📝 Curator 88
- 🎮 TalePlay 31
- 🕹️ PAGYWOSG 40
- 💵 PoP Event List 41
- 🛑 Playing Appreciated 4
- 📰 SG Monthly Magazine 3
- ⌚ Scheduled Jan - Mar 6
- ⌚ Scheduled Apr - Jun 0
- ⌚ Scheduled Jul - Sep 0
- ⌚ Scheduled Oct - Dec 11
- ✅ Completed 2023 34
- ✅ Completed 2024 93
- ➕ Acquired 2024 722