The modern gaming landscape has made me extremely cynical. 'Triple-A' titles are churned out by publishers in production-line style fashion, by overworked and underpaid developers who are given impossible deadlines, resulting in releases that are too early, buggy, and of course, filled to the brim with microtransactions, lootboxes and season passes, only to line the pockets of the publisher's major shareholders.

But indie games give me hope. Smaller projects built by a passionate team who are invested in the game they are making, because they love making games, and are looking to impress their audience, not their shareholders.

Assault Android Cactus is a passion project, and it very clearly shows. The visuals, audio and performance are all impeccable. The gameplay is tight, focussed and responsive, and a clear follower of Bushnell's Law - easy to learn, hard to master. And it is a complete experience - no paywalls, microtransactions, lootboxes or other crap. It is pure gaming heaven. My only criticism - no online multiplayer.

It is extremely refreshing to experience a game that is completed to such a high level of polish, by a team of 3 developers in Brisbane, Australia. Witch Beam have since gone on to make the critically acclaimed Unpacking, and it is clear they are truly passionate about the games they make.

Assault Android Cactus is a true diamond in the rough, and I would highly encourage you to pick it up.

There is a descriptive saying that goes 'as wide as an ocean but as deep as a puddle'. I feel that this description resonates with the modern RPG genre of videogames, especially with the more 'AAA' experiences....

'Our game world is 16 times larger than the last one'
'Every person you can see has their own story and day/night cycle'
'See that mountain, you can go there!'

Modern RPGs inflate their sense of scale and interactivity, especially in their marketing, but, more often than not, ultimately provide a shallow experience that can be tiring to slug through and unexciting to interact with.

Disco Elysium is the polar opposite. It is as wide as a puddle but as deep as an ocean. It takes place across a city block - something incredibly small by today's game standards - but has so much depth and interactivity it feels like a truly living world. The game's unique skill/attribute system allows you to truly play the role you choose - from a gone-clean no-nonsense genius detective, to a gay racist fascist communist hobocop who punches children and antagonises his detective partner (I am not kidding) - all while the voices in your head whisper to you and egg you on...

"This person needs to respect your authority... assert yourself!"
"Sire, perhaps this is all a ruse, perhaps HE is the murderer?"
"Oh man, you could reaaaaaaaally use a cigarette right now"

Disco Elysium is one of - if not THE - best RPGs I have ever experienced. It is a must buy and a must play.
An incredible role playing experience, made for adults and worth your time.