Recent reviews by johnny.killstring

A good evolution of the puzzle quest formula. I apparently like it ok :)

I really, really just wanted to play a cover-based third-person shooter. I thought anything would do.

I was very, very wrong.

This game is trying wayyyyyyy too hard. Not at gameplay, where they didn't try hard *enough*, no. But they were really going for something gritty and dark. Which, ok, cool!

I do not feel that they succeeded. And the gameplay is quite bland.

Basically, this gives me nothing that reinstalling Sleeping Dogs wouldn't, save shame. And I have enough of that as it is.

Kickstarter backer, if that matters.

So, the voice acting is cringe-worthy. The graphical execution is meh, but they nailed the Anima Look from an aesthetic point of view. Combat is brisk and fun, kind of DMC-Lite.

And it *feels* like Anima: Beyond Fantasy to me. Which was all I wanted. YMMV

(EDIT)

It reminds me of Nier, with its weirdness, talking book companion and shifting camera angle. I consider that to be extraordinarily high praise - that game was criminally underrated.

It's a playable self-insert fanfic. And it's *glorious.*

Played it a bunch offline, and about 3 times through on Xbox 360.

I have newer games that don't have the bugs, plot holes, occasionally silly writing, hardly-smooth cover system or uninspiring graphics of Alpha Protocol. Games I have spent good money on.

♥♥♥♥ it. Installing this and playing again. Just a delightful game.

So, on one hand, you have a cute little RPG Maker-style RPG. Friends team up to defeat evil wizard, nothing you haven't seen before.

On the other hand, I'm actually starting to learn a foreign language this way.

Everything I hoped it'd be.

Better than I hoped, and I freely admit I was expecting too much.

Very much like a European Fable brought to life.

By which I mean it is Daaaarrrrrrrrk.

The power and beauty of this game was, for me, really undermined by something that felt frankly crass and lazy just before the emotional climax of the game. I was supposed to be dealing with some pretty intense stuff, but I was frankly still kind of grumpy, so the emotional impact was dulled for me.

Really disappointing, for what was an otherwise remarkable game. I recommend you play it! You might not have the same reaction that I did, in which case the game is just filled with majesty, wonder, horror and beauty.

Watch the trailer.

If it makes you wince, or bores you, skip this game. If it makes you grin stupidly, buy it.

I grinned. And have continued to do so in my playtime.

It's like Cave Story, but as a turn-based bullet hell RPG with bad jokes, Corgis, and a fly-ass dating sim minigame.

Thus far, I have laughed, sniffled, and gotten cross while losing a boss fight. Got more cross while winning one. It's very quirky, and quite delightful, though I do feel like it's aimed at a younger demographic than me.

That doesn't make it bad. It makes me old. *Those are different things*.

(Edit: It remains beautiful and wonderful, but the design on the final encounters is enough to make me wish I'd never ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bought the game.)