SPAAACE

Against the Storm absolutely crushed the blending of challenging city builder and engaging roguelite. A naive reader might guess that these two genres might clash because of one's attachment to your settlement, but it's entirely the opposite: it is innately refreshing to regularly get a "clean slate" feeling and the satisfaction from having "solved" the settlement (think of it more like scenarios/levels) Also, to be put face-to-face with tough do-or-die situations during the storm is just plain fun. A rock-solid theme and satisfying meta progression ties this game together expertly.

I would highly recommend this title. The gameplay only gets better and better with the challenges you uncover and set for yourself.

I do find that some settlements (levels, if you will) drag on just a bit too much, and there's a tiny feeling of a mid-game slump; I attribute this mostly to my play style though. At some point, you'll absolutely want to look up some gameplay tips; however, I find relying on a wiki is not something I need to do to enjoy ATS.

This game matches its mascot: short and lovable. It's checked off many boxes on the horror game must-haves already, and I'd recommend it for the first-time/occasional horror genre audience. The pacing manages the player's stress levels very gracefully. This brief look into the Park ends on a very memorable high note.

I enjoyed most facets of this game; however, it certainly still feels unfinished with regards to the environment. There were a few areas that still felt a bit too empty for what I'd call done. I noticed at least three instances of z-fighting in three separate places, which does feel quite unprofessional. (Challenge: try to find the building with windows on the outside but not the inside) Finally, the game felt just a tad too dark overall in places that mattered. Slightly more light in particular scenes/areas could help a lot.

All things considered.... like everyone else, I want more Rambley and more Indigo Park. That concludes my Rambley Review!

Helldivers 2 does not disappoint: the gameplay and theme/tone are spot-on. I'm filled with pride to be fighting along my dumbass friends for Super Earth! It's great how they've created a system which makes me care about height/verticality so much (going prone, crouching, standing and moving, attaining high ground, etc). While a good amount of the game is completing objectives, calling strategems, and very satisfying bug and bot killing, I find myself continually engaged in applying tactical decisions. You don't need to have great gunplay mechanics to be a Helldiver!

The game's visuals are stunning, almost to a fault: visibility seems to play a significant role in its gameplay for some planets. I wouldn't recommend this title if you would consider yourself squeamish, scare easily, or find yourself prone to nightmares. Anyone with any amount of combat PTSD should stay away! Scenarios you can find yourself in can be genuinely stressful at times; this can be enjoyable or sometimes overwhelming. Friendly fire can also be a source of stress. For DRG players, I find this game to be about "twice" that of DRG - take that for what you will.

Also, if you dive off a cliff, you are required to yell "FOR SUPER EARTH" in the discord call :)

Hades is a masterpiece and a testament to excellent game design. Everything from the controls, gameplay, difficulty curve/control, narrative, pacing, music, particles, replay-ability is nearly perfect. Meta-progression is satisfying through and through. Hades is a must-play in my opinion, and you are missing out on a true work of art by taking a pass. Avoid spoilers for and emotionally invest in the characters of Hades, as it is nothing short of a wonderful experience that you won't regret. On-boarding and tutorials of features are smooth as silk and highly thematic, allowing both casuals/non-gamers and hardcore players to enjoy this title.

I struggled to find any parts of this game that I had issue with, to little avail. Browsing my boons during an escape attempt is a little awkward at first because of the diamond grid arrangement. Sometimes I'd end a play session after unlocking stuff in the House of Hades, and forget to move to another rooms for the auto-save to kick in, so I'd return with that stuff yet unlocked. The song selection interface seems to have gamepad navigation issues (e.g. I was unable to select Orpheus' Lament while it was only one unlocked). Beyond these hyper nitpicks, there's not much else I'd change about Hades.

Also, you can pet the dog.

Timberborn is delightfully calming, yet challenging! You won't chew through this game fast! ;) Map editor and fine tuning of difficulty ensures that all kinds of players will enjoy this game. Both the included maps and community made ones will keep you wanting to start new settlements and build bigger, better beaver colonies.

The tutorial could use some work, as it is fairly slow and only covers the essentials for survival. You will want to start another world after completing it!! Although this is a game about beavers, and it seems like this should be obvious, the tutorial really should directly mention that beavers can swim and build things that manipulate bodies of water.

I played this for at least an hour at a party last night. I had a blast and when I got the hang of it I was kicking (mounting?) ass! Spectators were having a fantastic time. Definitely worth the five bucks - it's a hilarious game with quite a bit of skill involved too.

I give the ♥♥♥♥ physics a solid 5/7, too.