Recent reviews by DigForRedstone

Now this...

This is special. A whodunnit with [SPOILERS] and [REDACTED]. Not my usual fare. but bought on the recommendation of several well know Youtubers and reviewers.

Not yet complete, but has me hooked so far.

I've been following this since it was first featured on Rock Paper Shotgun's Flare Path back in August 2017, and bought it on itch.io a couple of weeks before it first appeared on Steam. Whilst not as pretty as its competitors, it is technically superior in almost every way. The big visual difference is the physics modelling of the suspension, with each individual component having been simulated, giving the vehicles a realistic sway when moving. Just as important is the modelling of the drive train: by building the simulator from the ground up, the author has been able to model the intricacies of first generation DMUs superbly, with the units featuring characteristics that their real-lifer counterparts where know for (such as creeping forward when the brakes were released and the engine idling in gear). The addition of a useful but unobtrusive tutorial is a bonus.

Sound wise, the units have a proper, throaty sound to them, with sampled high and low horn tones that a joy compared against other simulators. The two included routes (plus a demo route) are fictitious, but supply a varied and interesting range of services. Of note is the dynamic timetabling, wherein AI services can run late, causing knock-on delays to other services, meaning that the same service is never exactly the same twice.

That this has been developed mostly by one person is impressive. That they have already set out a road map for future development and appear to be delivering on it is doubly so. Even in its' current state, I believe that this simulator is worth the asking price, if you have any interest in train simulators or first generation British DMUs. Certainly worth your time, money and support.

Ground Control to Major Jeb...

Hard to master, but once you understand the basics, you will lose whole afternoons to this. Every milestone, be it your first successful launch, figuring out orbital rendezvous, or touching down on a moon, feels like an accomplishment. Even after almost 1500 hours of play is still discover new ways to do things, little tricks to make it easier. Failing that, install it into a new folder (Easily done, just rename the current game folder and download through Steam again), and pit yourself against the myriad of mods out there. Squad (the developers) keep updating the core game (even after the announcement of a sequel), and the addition of the Making History and Breaking ground expansions give a new creative flair to the experience.

Ignore the negative comments made about Mr. Fish, this is pure videogame gold. Classic platforming action with a twist (Yes, a bad pun, I know), and some down-right obtuse puzzles make this a rare gem indeed. Something everyone should expereince.

Haunting...haunted...the story of loss told through a deserted Hebridean island and the disembodied voice of another. Whether this is a “game” or not will be argued for a long time; as a piece of narrative however, Dear Esther stands tall. It's stunning landscapes have been completely re-worked for this stand-alone release, and it shows: the wild, wind-blown slopes of the island now teem with flora swaying in the wind, the caves are jaw-droppingly beautiful. If you enjoyed the original HL2 mod, then you will love this; if you want more from your interactive entertainment than simply shooting many men until they stop, then this is well worth a look. It may be short, but it is an obvious labour of love, and stunningly, breathtakingly gorgeous...it may even manage to touch something in your jaded soul.

One of those games you always promised yourself you'd play one of these days instead of another round of Halo or CoD. The graphics have not aged terribly well, but a compellimg plot, quirkey character and level design and several unique gameplay ideas make this a deserving addition to your library!