Recente recensies door Mase__c

Mariana is a slow-paced underwater exploration game. It looks absolutely beatiful and the simple soundtrack fits the overall atmosphere very well.

While you are exploring your suroundings you can find all sorts of random items. Sometimes I wish the inventory would provide some more slots, because it is quite limited... However, you can trade them in a shop for other items and upgrades which is a nice idea. There is a certain humor in the dialoges and the item descriptions which clicked with me right away. That's a really nice touch. You'll be looting treasure chests and fight off more or less scary sea monsters. 

It's surprising that the game is free. You can definitely see the passion that went into this game.

Citadel Stormer 2 is a retro style action platformer that plays in the future. You play as Cobalt, the only hope for humanity to defeat a rouge AI that took over the world. The plan is to get the creator of the AI access to its physical location (the citadel) to shut it down. For that, access cards are required which you receive for killing bosses. That sounds like a basic story that has been told many times. It’s not bad, but maybe not quite as original.

Where Citadel Stormer really shines are the visuals of the different worlds combined with the variety of weapons and enemies. While platforming remains the focus of the game, combat is an important aspect. For combat you need, weapons and ammunition. The latter is constantly short on supply (it’s a platformer and not a shooter, so it kind of makes sense). What doesn’t make it any easier is the fact that enemies respawn when you die. Meaning that you have to do it all over again, but with less ammunition. That’s maybe where an easier difficulty selection would be nice.

However, I was still surprised how far I got in the end, because I am usually not very good at this kind of games. So, I do consider it fair. If you kill enough robots you’ll get a life back, which is probably what kept me in the race for so long.
You’ll unlock more weapons and abilities such as dash and shield while you progress which keeps the gameplay interesting. At the start of each level, you get a password in case you run out of lives. I personally love that mechanic and it adds to the 90s retro vibe of the game.

Speaking of which, the pixel art looks great, animations are detailed (love the explosions), enemy design and their “unpredictable” movements are infuriatingly good. The music is a repetitive, driving beat that fits the games atmosphere.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with Citadel Stormer and I could really feel the passion that the dev put into this project.

Nice take on a classic platformer. In each stage you have to collect all diamonds to reveal a key. Once you caught the key the exit opens and you’re free to move on. Sounds simple, but there are some caveats which make the game really interesting. In the background there is a timer. Once you run out of time a ghost, which remained idle until then, awakens and chases you. If you play on easy it will just push you and try to prevent you from reaching the next platform. On hard, it will kill you on contact.
There are also boss stages which are a great challenge!

You can collect points through eating fruit and beating stages (extra points if you have some time left on the clock). That’s a nice twist for the Arcade Mode. For the Story Mode it didn’t really make any difference. However, the Story Mode is great, because you don’t loose your progress if you die.

The graphics are cute, the soundtrack nice and the story is okay (an evil poodle?!). Where the game really shines is its level design. The levels are hard, but they feel fair and give a nice feeling of accomplishment once beaten.

Astraea is a tower defense game inspired by Greek mythology. As the star maiden Astraea your mission is to protect a little child from the hordes of monsters that Hera sends after her. You do that by shooting bolts and setting traps to defend her. Power-ups, granted by Zeus at the end of “rounds”, allow you to upgrade those weapons.

The pixel graphics are okay. The characters (Zeus, Astraea and the child) look good. The monsters, however, could use some love as their movements are rather stiff and their looks a bit flat. Dialogues are fully voiced which adds a nice touch.

You can choose from several difficulty levels and additional challenges or handicaps. However, the game is already so hard that you will most likely not need this. The controls are clunky and take quite some time to get used to. Using twin sticks of a controller would make it feel a lot more natural and easier. But at least at this point in time there seems to be no controller support. Turning on autofire in the settings helps a bit and is a nice feature.

The game is still in early access so smaller improvements can be expected. The game has potential.

Bunny Space Odyssey: The Countdown is a beautifully animated hidden object game. Your objective is to find 100 helmets for your bunny astronauts to be able to escape. Sounds simple, but but can be surprisingly tricky as some of the helmets are very well hidden. I didn’t notice any help or hint system, but wasn’t missing it either as I wanted to finish the game on my own.

Clicking some of the items on the screen reveals the “story” which is full of puns. I loved that!

The atmospheric soundtrack perfectly fits the sci-fi scene. There is a timer counting the minutes it takes to find all the helmets. Some achievements are tied to that if you’re up for a challenge.

Overall, a good hidden object game with some nice pixel art.

The Oldest Edda is an interesting retro platformer inspired by Norse mythology. You play as Runar the bucktoothed who died in battle and has been chosen to be resurected in Niflheim, a world between life and death, to be send on a quest for Odin.
The art style and voice acting is a bit goofy and the dev obviously went for the cartoony style.
The biggest strength of the game is the huge variety of levels. Whether you are on a neckbraking course in a minecart, or tipping on mushrooms with reversed controls. That alone made me continue even after dying a hundred times. New mechanics are also introduced throughout the game.
The bosses and the flappy bird inspired level showcase the biggest downside of the game. Its controls. They are clunky and oftentimes not as responsive as I wish they would be. Leading to a ton of frustrating deaths.
Luckily, there is no real punishment for loosing all of your lives. You can just continue.
Overall, I still think The Oldes Edda is a good game to kill a couple of hours. Especially, considering the low price.

You experience the story of Papers Please by doing your job as an immigration inspector at a border checkpoint to the fictional communist country Arstotzka. While on duty you come across some peculiar characters and have to make some tough decisions to ensure you and your family survive.

Glory to Arstotzka!

Released in 1988, Gold Rush is a shining example of classic adventure gaming.
The attention to historical detail is commendable, immersing the player in the hardships and triumphs of those seeking fortune in the 19th century.

The pixel art is charming and the carefully designed landscapes, towns, and characters come together to create an atmosphere that is both captivating and authentic. The soundtrack, though simple, complements the experience beautifully, enhancing the sense of adventure and discovery.

One of the standout features of "Gold Rush" is its emphasis on decision-making and consequences. Choices you make as Jerrod have a ripple effect on the story, making each playthrough feel unique and personal. The non-linear narrative encourages exploration and experimentation, allowing players to uncover different facets of the story with each playthrough.

That being said, the game is difficult. You can die in many unexpected and sudden ways (save often!) and time is of essence. If you haven't completed some steps by a certain time, you won't be able to get back to them. Also, if you have missed an item in the start, you might find yourself unable to proceed during later stages of the game. The text parser adds to the adventure feeling. However, the trial and error can be frustrating, especially since there are timed events.

If you embark on this adventure with the awareness that the game is indeed difficult and is not a modern point and click adventure, you'll discover a virtual gold mine of entertainment. So, grab your virtual pickaxe and dive in – the gold is there for those willing to undertake the challenge.

Lost Oliver is a cute little puzzle game for little money.
It offers 30 stages, in each you play as a mother searching for her lost cub.
The puzzles feel engaging and fun. Not too difficult, but it requires planning your moves ahead.
The sprites will look very familiar if you played the first gen Pokémon games on Gameboy back in the days.
That's a nice nostalgic touch.

DethKarz is an exhilarating combat racing video game that transports players to a futuristic world of high-speed racing and adrenaline-pumping action. The heart of DethKarz lies in its fast-paced and intense racing gameplay. Players can choose from a variety of futuristic cars and race on tracks set in a stunning sci-fi environment.
Different kinds of powerups can be picked up during the race which will either help you win, or make you lose.
The tracks get more challenging throughout the game, while cars get faster. Turning it into a thrilling ride.
The game also features a dynamic soundtrack that adds to the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere. Smooth controls and gameplay making it an immersive experience that will keep players hooked for hours.

I used to own a physical copy of this gem and spent tons of hours on it. Even after all this time it hasn't lost its thrill.