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Ratings by shanethewolf

Viewfinder


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 16, 2024 | edit | delete


Best puzzle game since Superliminal


Let’s get my one and only criticism of this game out of the way. The narrative is boring and feels tacked on.

However, the gameplay is so absorbing, addictive and innovative, it had me hooked. I didn’t care why I was solving the puzzles or where it would take me, I just found myself getting a thrill every time I completed a level.

Admittedly, I’m not great at most puzzle games - puzzles that require specific solutions. Yet, I always find myself tuned into these first person visual/lateral style puzzles. I flew through this game, yet every time I solved a level I was left smiling and feeling really proud of myself.

The fact is, this game is a work of genius. Such a brilliant concept and so perfectly executed. I’m desperately hoping there will be a sequel one day or a similar style game from the same developers.


Read the review »

Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

The Isle Tide Hotel


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 14, 2023 | edit | delete

Lucy Dreaming


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 8, 2023 | edit | delete

Eastshade


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Sep 8, 2023 | edit | delete


Boring, sickly sweet, but very funny if you don't take it seriously


Do you like action? How about humour? How about drama? Horror? Suspense? Challenge? Deep fleshed out characters?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this game is not for you. Do you like church? Do you like cutting grass with scissors? Do you like opening your mouth and letting saliva dribble out onto the pavement? Yes? Then this is your game!

This game sure is boring, but maybe I’m being overly harsh and this is clearly a game for those who crave a safe space and I’m not judging that. To its credit, it has some gorgeous environments and an alluring atmosphere. Decent voice acting too. And on a technical level the game is very proficient. I would even say, if you play it ironically you might even find some comedy value. I’d highly recommend the video by “Let’s Game it Out” for that reason alone.


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Time Played: Under 1 hour
Difficulty: Very Easy

Layers of Fear: Your Fears Will Return


Stars - 30

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 29, 2023 | edit | delete


Stunning visuals and atmosphere, but lacking elsewhere


I really enjoyed the original Layers of Fear and was excited to get my hands on this new version. The visuals were stunning back then and they’re even more impressive now, with some incredible displays of creativity and imagination.

Each room is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, they appear rather fleeting and disposable as you pass through them. And there in lies the problem with this game. It feels like you’re constantly rushing through to the next section without much contemplation.

The thin and cliched narrative is thrown at you in audio and text snippets, which feels rather lazy and didn’t engage me at all.

There’s not much in the way of playability either. It really is more of a walking simulator and behind the fascade of these breath-taking visuals, is a shallow experience.

The frustrating part is that these visuals and this engine could have been used for so much more, and would have greatly benefitted from some puzzle elements or a strong narrative.

Admittedly, I didn’t play far into the actor chapters of the game. I assume they’re based on Layers of Fear 2, which didn’t hold my interest.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Bramble: The Mountain King


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 4, 2023 | edit | delete

Star Trek: Resurgence


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jun 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Planet of Lana


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 28, 2023 | edit | delete


A fun game that gets repetitive


Straight off the bat, Planet of Lana drew me in with its engaging intro sequence, stirring me up and firing me up for the journey ahead.

The game itself is fun, well designed and does a great job of incorporating puzzles and obstacles that provide a challenge, though never to the point of frustration.

The environment is beautiful, yet manages to create a sense of vastness and helplessness.

However, you may notice that I’ve written environment and not environments. This is because you’ll spend most of your time in the same setting. And that’s the downside of this game. It feels like running in circles, encountering the same sights, battling the same enemies, and solving similar puzzles. It gets stagnant after a while and I soon found myself getting bored.

That’s not to say everyone will feel the same, but the thought of exploring new environments and seeing new things is what motivates me to progress through a game. That was lacking here.

Planet of Lana is a good game to play in short increments, but I found it to be a bit of a drag when playing for any prolonged period.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (2023)


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 18, 2023 | edit | delete

Safe Place, The


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 30, 2023 | edit | delete


Decent, yet very short and flawed


There are a lot of positives to say about The Safe Place. The opening is quite gripping, luring me into the plot immediately. The voice acting is good and the dialogue is fairly concise and stays on topic. I felt invested in the plot and the characters from start to finish.

One of the standout features for me was the game’s adherence to the classic point-and-click formula, complete with puzzle-solving and object combinations. It truly felt like I was playing a game, rather than passively following a story, which is a rarity in many modern adventure games.

The background graphics are well designed and do a great job of creating a cold and melancholic atmosphere that left me eager to explore every avenue of the in-game world.

However, the game isn’t without its flaws…

While the in-game graphics impressed me, the stiff and awkward character animations detracted from my overall experience. The characters often faded into new poses rather than being fully animated, revealing the limitations of a low-budget development.

Even more disappointing were the cutscene stills, which suffered from a glaring drop in quality compared to the in-game visuals. To be blunt, they’re atrocious. Considering the ease with which AI could generate these screens, I was baffled that they remained in the final release.

The dialogue was decent enough, but I felt limited by the lack of choices and interaction when conversing with characters. I would have appreciated greater response options, even if they led to the same outcome.

The most frustrating aspect of this game is the absence of a manual save function, preventing me from enjoying quick gaming sessions. I had to complete an entire section for the game to save my progress.

Lastly, I was disappointed by the game’s short length, and the tacked-on ending left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Despite its shortcomings, The Safe Place showcased the potential of its developers to create a truly exceptional point-and-click experience in the near future. While this may not be the game to steal the spotlight, it left me eager to see what comes next.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Anthology of Fear


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 20, 2023 | edit | delete

Thimbleweed Park


Stars - 50

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 2, 2023 | edit | delete


One of the all time greats


I’ve heard Thimbleweed Park described like discovering an unopened and unplayed Lucasarts game and I couldn’t agree more. It instantly whisked me back to the 90s with gorgeous and atmospheric pixel art and a catchy soundtrack that had me feeling like a teenager playing on my Amiga.

The plot is intriguing and intricate, with lots of unexpected twists and branches, and some genuinely great comedy. There aren’t many point and click adventure games that can pull off such complex and engaging levels of writing.

Unlike most modern day point and click adventures, Thimbleweed Park doesn’t fall back on reams of exposition and waffling dialogue. It puts the focus on the puzzles, which makes this game particularly fun to play. The puzzles are challenging without being frustrating and ultimately very satisfying to solve.

As much as I enjoyed Return to Monkey Island, I don’t consider it on the same level as Monkey Island 1 or 2, Sam and Max or Day of the Tentacle. Thimbleweed Park, on the other hand, is definitely up there: a timeless classic and a masterclass in the art point and click gaming.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Sanitarium


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 2, 2023 | edit | delete

Dark Seed


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 2, 2023 | edit | delete

Dreams in the Witch House


Stars - 30

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 2, 2023 | edit | delete


Some real positives but too drawn out and repetitive.


Dreams inside the Witch House totally appealed to me with its classic pixel art style and subtly eerie atmosphere.

While I usually dislike RPG elements in point and click adventures, they were kept quite simple here and added an extra layer to the game, helping me feel immersed in the protagonist’s new life as a student. At least in the beginning. However, as the game went on, these features became repetitive, laborious and tedious, taking me back to the same places, through the same animations and dialogue over and over again.

What makes it worse is that the story takes too long to unfold and the game begins to languish. What’s more, I found the big events rather anti-climactic, cheapened by cliches and tentacled monsters.

There are some satisfying and logical puzzles to solve and I enjoyed them, but some of those can get repetitive or just too academic for my enjoyment.

Dreams inside the Witch House had a lot of promise, but for me the initial novelty wore off after a few hours of play and I lost all interest in seeing it through to its conclusion.

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of H.G Lovecraft and the Cthulu series, nor a fan of RPGs, so I’m not the ideal audience for this game. Fans of the genre stand to appreciate it a lot more.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Hard

Galador: The Prince and the Coward


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Perfect Tides


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Intruder in Antiquonia


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Jennifer Wilde: Unlikely Revolutionaries


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Children of Silentown


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Wayward Strand


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Lost in Play


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

Sunday Gold


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 27, 2023 | edit | delete

SEASON: A letter to the future


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 25, 2023 | edit | delete


About as entertaining as housework


I’m not saying I need every game I play to be full of action and violence, but there seems to be a trend of bland and sterile games right now and this is a typical example of that.

I don’t know if it’s related to “safe space” culture or if modern audiences are too timid to handle any drama, but I seriously don’t see any appeal to this game and the many games like it.

I can see how the stylised graphics could appeal to some people, though I find them rather grotesque and garish. These are not environments I cared to explore.

Maybe I’m out of touch and getting old, but I’d rather just do housework or walk around my neighbourhood than play a game like this for any length of time.


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Time Played: Under 1 hour
Difficulty: Very Easy

Ten Dates


Stars - 5

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 16, 2023 | edit | delete


Like an amateur improv sketch


I don’t have anything positive to say about this. My first criticism is that the voice was out of sync with the video. When you’re designing an FMV game then that should be the one thing you must get right. Real sloppy!

Secondly the whole thing is overacted and the characters are cartoony parodies in their performance, while some are just plain obnoxious. It’s just silly and reminds me of those cringe-inducing improv performances held in community centres.

Most frustrating of all is the lack of choice. If a character is rude then wouldn’t it make sense to allow the player to retaliate or at least stand up for him or herself? It annoyed me how Ryan blamed himself for not getting any dates, claiming he mustn’t be their type, when he should have cast them aside in an instant.

And then it just ends abruptly. It turns out it’s five dates per character. I don’t know if I was supposed to give different options to open up more of the game, but I had zero interest in any of the date options. So when the credits rolled I felt cheated and ripped off.

Overall the game is utterly bland. It’s not funny, cute, dramatic or remotely interesting.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable and outrageously funny FMV dating game you’d be better off with the Super Seducer series (particularly the second one).


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Time Played: Under 1 hour
Difficulty: Very Easy

NORCO


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jan 4, 2023 | edit | delete


A slideshow with text


Norco is a visually appealing game with some great music and an immersive atmosphere, but ultimately it’s barely more than a slideshow with text.

I found it quite immersive to begin with and decided to push through the reams of text, but the absence of vocals and limited animation left me feeling quite flat.

It’s difficult to tell if and to what degree the player choices affect the outcome of the game and while the story starts out quite intriguing, it gets more convoluted and less interesting as it drags on.

I found myself sitting there, mindlessly clicking the mouse button, desperately craving some interaction. And yet the minigames are so utterly basic and tedious I just wanted to get them out of the way.

As nice as the visuals and music are, I think I’d rather just sit back and read a book.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Unusual Findings


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 1, 2022 | edit | delete


Beautiful, nostalgic, but not much fun


Unusual Findings looks like my perfect game, rich with nostalgia, 80s pop culture references, gorgeous pixel graphics, an absorbing atmosphere and a fun plot.

The voice acting really helps the characters feel alive and relatable and the music does a wonderful job of capturing the sentiment of the era, although I would recommend turning down the volume a few notches.

Unfortunately, the more I progressed, the less I enjoyed the game. It comes down to one factor: too many illogical puzzles. There are some that are logical, like sharp objects being used to cut something, distracting someone to steal from them or sneak past them, and they are very enjoyable and offer a sense of satisfaction. But then there are so many that come down to trial and error and even after figuring them out, they make no sense.

I found myself trying to use my entire inventory on various hotspots, just hoping they’d work, despite seeing no rational reason for doing so.

One of the more frustrating aspects is that you might try a solution or combination of objects and nothing happens, so you move on. Then after a specific line of dialogue with a character the previous solution now works. But why would I try it again when I’m told it doesn’t work?

While I did see the game to the end, wanting to revel in the atmosphere and beautiful environments, and see how the plot unfolded, I kept hitting dead ends and needed to check walkthroughs. In such cases there was no “aah” moment. More like “what?” or “why?” 

This is not a specific attack on this game as I’ve encountered many point and click adventures that have way more random and frustrating puzzles, but overall it’s the only negative I have about this game.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Very Hard

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 6, 2022 | edit | delete


Excessive dialogue and minimal game play


Being a big fan of Wadjet Eye Games, pixel art and horror fiction, I had big hopes for this game. Unfortunately it ended up being one of the more tedious point and click experiences I’ve had for some time.

The graphics, atmosphere and set up are all pretty good and it’s easy to navigate. What really lets this down is the excessive dialogue. You will spend majority of this game just clicking on dialogue trees and listening to people rambling on and on about things that aren’t particularly relevant.

This seems to be quite a common failing in a number of point and click adventures that make the “player” feel like they’re reading a book rather than playing a game. I found myself itching to solve puzzles and progress ahead, growing more and more frustrated.

Another let down is that the horror elements are more funny than scary. I found myself chuckling at some of the more intense moments.

Overall, it wasn’t fun to play nor gripping enough to warrant the vast reams of dialog and exposition.

 


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Return to Monkey Island


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Sep 21, 2022 | edit | delete


Unappealing visuals don't stop this being a fun sequel


I’ll start by saying that I was very sceptical of this game. After seeing the trailers and getting a good look at the new art style I was absolutely gutted. It looks so rushed and half-hearted, like a webtoon or mobile game. It was enough to put me off playing.

However, having seen all the positive reviews I decided to at least give the game a try. Granted, the visuals were as bad as I expected, lacking depth and atmosphere and when I saw Guybrush for the first time my heart sank. What an abomination!

Returning to Melee Island should have been a misty-eyed nostalgic experience, but the art style left me feeling nothing. Well, maybe a little melancholic seeing yet another fond childhood memory butchered. I guess this is the reason I oppose the art style so much.

Initially I turned off the game and decided not to proceed until my friend suggested I try downscaling the resolution and adding a CRT effect using Reshade. This was a real game changer!! I don’t know why it helped so much but it made everything so much more appealing and made it look more like a classic 90s adventure game and somewhat reminiscent of Day of the Tentacle.

I can now say that I’m very glad I decided to proceed with this game. Graphics aside, everything feels exactly like a classic Monkey Island game. The music, the writing, the puzzles and the humour is everything I hoped it would be. I laughed out loud many times and quite literally spat my drink out at one point.

My biggest regret is that I started playing this game with the mind of a critic, but when I eventually accepted it for what it was and let go of my judgements I became deeply immersed and ended up loving every bit of it.

I expected the puzzles to be dumbed down (as many things are these days) but they too were faithful to the original games, reasonably challenging without being frustrating. At first I resented having a hint book available, but it turned out to be very useful on a couple of occasions and so much better than browsing a walkthrough and risking spoilers.

Though I missed the original interface at first, what they’ve done here works so much better, giving us a full view of the screen and cutting out a load of verb commands that would only impede progress.

It’s always a pleasure to hear the classic MI themes, though a bit disappointing that Michael Land didn’t give us a new score for this game or at least more varied background music. That didn’t affect my enjoyment, however.

Without adding any spoilers, I will say that the game left me feeling unsatisfied and melancholic. Unlike Monkey Island 1 to 3, which I have played many times over, I doubt I will ever come back and play this game again unless they make a remastered version with graphics more in line with Monkey Island 2 (or the MI2 enhanced edition).


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Batman: The Telltale Series


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Aug 30, 2022 | edit | delete

South of the Circle


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Aug 30, 2022 | edit | delete

As Dusk Falls


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 22, 2022 | edit | delete

Detroit: Become Human


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 8, 2022 | edit | delete

Quarry, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 8, 2022 | edit | delete


Amazing retro horror experience, despite some flaws


I’ll come right out of the gate and say I loved The Quarry. It is oozing with atmosphere and was a great nostalgia trip for the 80s horror fan in me.

Yes, it’s a bit silly, many of the characters are obnoxious and the writing and dialogue is plain ridiculous in places, but that’s what makes it authentic and is all part of its charm. At least to some of us, though I can understand how this could be interpreted more negatively by newcomers to the genre.

On the downside, there were a number of characters I disliked so much I willingly killed off or allowed to die, which defeats the purpose of a survival horror game I guess. But then I had fun doing it and leaves me with a good reason to go back and play again.

I should also point out that this is not really a game. There aren’t any puzzles to solve, no action sequences to play through and very little interaction overall. It’s more of an interactive movie and the role of the “player” is reduced to quicktime events and occasional dialogue or decision choices.

This makes it difficult to compare to other adventure titles, like comparing a movie to a game. But as an overall experience, I loved every minute of my 8 hour play time.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Born Punk


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jun 25, 2022 | edit | delete

Voodoo Detective


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 28, 2022 | edit | delete


Repetitive dialog on top of repetitive dialoge


This game looked like it had a lot of potential and I was very excited to get my hands on it. The visuals aren’t anything special, but they’re good enough and I was keen to explore the environments. No complaints about the voice acting and what puzzles I solved were quite satisfying.

Where this game falls apart (at least for me) is in its never ending and repetitive dialogue. I spent the first hour asking the same questions to various characters only to get pretty much the same answers. It really drags on and on and feels like I’m not actually playing a game. Rather I’m just clicking through the dialogue.

What’s more the main plot doesn’t seem all that interesting. First play I refused the case, hoping something more engaging would come along. Unfortunately the game just ends prematurely.

I gave it a few hours, but it was such a chore to play I decided to bail.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, The


Stars - 5

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 16, 2022 | edit | delete

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 9, 2022 | edit | delete


Great visuals, fun puzzles, cliched plot and characters.


My first impressions were good with all the ingredients of a classic point and click adventure. Impressive visuals and environments, logical puzzles, interesting premise.

Unfortunately it soon devolves into a series of cliches and long-winded dialogue about artefacts, history, politics. It’s basically a Dan Brown novel, and I could never get to the end of those without rooting for a spontaneous apocalypse.

The protagonist and her lapdog, Joris, are bog standard, cut and paste characters, going through the motions. They’re pleasant and inoffensive, which is why I find them so boring and lacking any depth.

My disappointment in this game is likely a matter of taste and a result of my aversion to this tired old genre of historical conspiracy fiction. But at least it was done with style and I enjoyed the puzzle solving.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Pants Quest


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 31, 2022 | edit | delete

Syberia: The World Before


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 30, 2022 | edit | delete


Beautiful visuals but so excruciatingly tedious


Kate Walker has always been one of the dullest characters in the history of adventure gaming, but there was something alluring about the original Syberia games. They had a tendency to drag on and the puzzles weren’t particularly satisfying, but the environments were mesmerising and there was a real sense of vastness, adventure and wonder.

The World Before has really stepped up the production values. The graphics and environment designs are absolutely stunning and begging to be explored.

Unfortunately I found this new version of Kate even more bland than those before. Her first scenes depict her as a gay, emo stereotype, but that is short lived and was just a different kind of boring. Then moments later she’s back to her old self. Talking of old, she now has the voice of a pensioner. She is voiced by the same actress as the previous games, but from what I understand she tried to give her more of a gravelly voice to reflect the hardship she endured. This may have been more fitting had the character appeared more haggard, but it’s very odd hearing this voice from such a spritely and youthful Kate Walker.

As if Kate wasn’t already bland enough, we get to the plot. It turns out her entire reason for this epic adventure is to find a woman she saw in a painting who vaguely looks like her. It really seems like such a pointless whim and not worth the effort she goes to. I can’t help thinking Kate needs to get her priorities straight and get a hobby or a job.

From this point on I just found myself rolling my eyes, sighing and urging the dialogue along. There are extra side-quests you can do, but I didn’t want to drag it out any longer than I needed to.

I continued playing this game only to see the new environments. While they are spectacular and well worth exploring, I found the game an excruciatingly tedious and frustrating experience.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Blackwell Legacy, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 12, 2022 | edit | delete

Blackwell Unbound


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 12, 2022 | edit | delete

Blackwell Convergence, The


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 12, 2022 | edit | delete

Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 3, 2022 | edit | delete

Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 12, 2022 | edit | delete

Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jan 7, 2022 | edit | delete


Gripping, suspenseful and unpredictable take on the Hitchcock classic


I’ve always been a big fan of the Telltale interactive movie style of game and this seems to pick up where they left off, with sophisticated storytelling and character development.

The game has more than a few bugs and glitches and the mouth movements seem quite odd. I can also say that the gameplay is minimal, with little in the way of puzzle solving or challenge.

However, I soon found myself so deeply immersed in the plot that none of it mattered. I just couldn’t put it down. Rather than a mere modern take on the original movie, the writers have used it as inspiration and taken their own direction. It’s like discovering a completely new Hitchcock movie. They did such a great job of capturing the atmosphere and the writing style, with all its unpredictable twists and turns.

I realise this isn’t going to be to everyone’s tastes. If you like the interactive movie style of Telltale Games or the Life is Strange series and you’re willing to overlook some poor production values, it’s definitely worth giving a go, if only for the story and atmosphere.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Life Is Strange: True Colors


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Dec 22, 2021 | edit | delete


Beautiful but so boring


I’m a big fan of the previous Life is Strange titles, all of which felt like a proverbial emotional rollercoaster. I felt a genuine bond with the characters as I navigated them through many exciting experiences and unimaginable trauma.

True Colors tried too hard to be sentimental and moving and as a result it just ends up cheesy and cliched. A big part of the game is running fetch quests or running in circles. It takes such a long time before any kind of conflict and plot to develop and when it does it’s quite bland and predictable.

In my opinion, this is by far the weakest of the series and as stunning as the environments are, the writing, characters or gameplay didn’t engage me at all.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Critters for Sale


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 6, 2021 | edit | delete

Maquette


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Sep 6, 2021 | edit | delete

Lake


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Sep 2, 2021 | edit | delete


Nothing happens


I was lured in by the beautiful environments. They’ve done a good job creating that remote country town atmosphere. Despite some bugs and the simplicity of the engine, it’s perfectly functional.

However, if you’re expecting any kind of fun, engaging story or challenge…or actual point to the game, you’re going to be disappointed.

To be blunt, it’s so tedious! You go round delivering mail and listening to people rambling on about nothing of significance. This is exactly the kind of thing I try to avoid in real life.

I tried to spice things up a little by crashing the van or looking to provoke people with my dialog choices, but it’s clear this “game” wants you to be a model citizen and doesn’t want any drama.

I played for a while thinking there might be some kind of twist or I might stumble on some mystery to solve, or for the slightest hint of tension, but no, nothing of the kind.

The sad part is that it’s such a waste of potential. It could have developed into something engaging, like Firewatch, for example. Or it could have allowed a little freedom for mischief. But the developers clearly have any aversion to fun.


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Time Played: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Last Stop


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jul 24, 2021 | edit | delete


Not much of a game, but quite intriguing


Last Stop isn’t much of a game and it’s not much of an interactive movie either. The dialog options are usually just different ways of conveying the same thing and have no consequences or bearing on the plot. While you get to control the characters, it’s just a means of getting them to the destination, with invisible barriers stopping you from going off course.

There are 3 playable characters in the game, each with their own story arcs. They could best be described as anti-heroes. One is bit of a loser who is so pathetic it’s hard to muster any sympathy for him. While neither of the remaining characters are villains they are extremely dislikeable characters. That said, that turns out to be a real positive and it creates intrigue.

I give it a low score for its lack of interaction, but if you’re at a loose end it might be worth a few hours of your time.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Backbone


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jun 19, 2021 | edit | delete


Style over Substance


I was very excited to get my hands on this having seen early previews and screenshots. It really is one of the most visually stunning games I’ve seen, combining detailed pixel art with parallax scrolling and modern lighting. Every screen is a work of art and the environments feel so alive.

My first disappointment was finding it had no voice acting and the lacklustre sound effects and music fail to complement the immersive visual atmosphere.

My second and biggest disappointment was the gameplay. This is not your classic point and click adventure. It requires barely any thinking or puzzle solving and feels like you’re just going through the motions, going from one place to another, running through dialog options until it opens the next section.

With no consequences behind your actions, Backbone doesn’t play like an interactive movie, nor does it play like a game. It’s just barely more than a walking simulator.

It’s such a shame to see so much effort and talent going into the graphics and environments, and so little care going into the game play, story or sound.

As awed as I was by the visuals I found myself getting very bored. At times the plot showed some potential, but the lack of choice or consequences left it feeling flat.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark, The


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on May 6, 2021 | edit | delete


A fun game but too basic to be in a top tier


The first thing I’ll say about this game is that from a production point of view it’s extremely basic. There’s barely any animation, no voice acting and the pixels are very chunky.

While it still manages to create an immersive atmosphere, the game feels lifeless. And though the dialogue can often be quite funny, the lack of animation or detail robs the characters of expression or personality. 

That said, I enjoyed this game and it’s a worthy sequel to its predecessor. I like the way it’s broken into cases and is easy to pick up for an hour or two. I love the variation of environments too, preventing it from ever getting stale and giving the player an incentive to complete each case.

It’s far from a classic point and click adventure, but at such a low price it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Paradigm


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 24, 2021 | edit | delete

Dream Machine, The


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 22, 2021 | edit | delete


A great start, but loses steam along the way


The Dream Machine captured my interest instantly with its eerie mood, soft ominous music, unique visual style and enjoyable puzzles. The first chapter was gripping from start to finish with each puzzle luring me deeper into the storyline, with intriguing twists and turns.

By the end of the chapter, I was left eager to see what happens next.

Chapter 2 gets off to a good start with cool puzzles and continues the gripping storyline. However, it feels more padded out with surplus dialogue. Given that the game has no voice acting, it can feel like a chore clicking your way through all the text. But still, the game is pretty enjoyable and, once again, left me longing for chapter 3.

Chapter 3 is where is all goes wrong as it branches away from the main storyline into a subplot. The puzzles are pretty banal, involving fetching items or running errands for characters before they share information with you. You do this so that you can complete another errand for another character. And this isn’t the worst of it. You will spend most of this chapter reading dialogue. There are so many insufferable and pointless conversations to click through. Barely any of it has any bearing on the main plot.

It’s a shame to see a promising game taking such a negative turn, but completing chapter 3 felt like work rather than a game. It was bad enough to put me off the following chapters. I may never know how the saga ends, but I no longer care.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Walking Dead, The


Stars - 50

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 22, 2021 | edit | delete


Gripping and emotional one at that! One hell of a ride.


I’ll admit, I didn’t get a good impression starting out. I’ve never liked that cell shaded graphics style and while it evolved into something beautiful in later games, the first of the series looked quite tacky.

Next thing to put me off was the fact that this really isn’t much of a game. It’s more like an interactive movie where you choose your dialogue and press the right button at the right time. Most point and click adventures give you various items and you have to combine, use or examine the right one in the right context to solve puzzles and therein lies the challenge. Walking Dead, however, tells you what item to use where. It even shows you where to click…not that you can’t figure this out for yourself. This takes away any challenge and minimises the playable experience.

I couldn’t understand why it was getting so many positive reviews. I figured I must be missing something, so I persisted. The visual style that I initially hated started to grow on me a little. Although far from impressive, the graphics give the game character. Instead of perceiving this game as serious and cinematic, I accepted it as an animated comic book.

As for the playability, I stand by my original judgement. Walking Dead offers very little gameplay or challenge and solving puzzles doesn’t require any thought. However, this time round, I decided to accept it for what it is and embrace the interactive movie experience.

Within an hour, I found myself completely hooked! The storytelling is outstanding and does a great job of capturing the tension and despair of classic zombie movies. The characters are great too, very well acted and evolve in a natural way. I actually started to feel a bond with some of the characters and while I’ll often act like a complete lunatic when given any freedom in video games, there were characters in this game I really felt for and whose friendship I wanted to cultivate.

What I actually found was that my own personality and morality started to reflect in the game and my decisions came from the heart. At times this can be very challenging and can leave you feeling real emotional turmoil.

This is where Walking Dead really shines. Unlike most adventure games that give you a list of lines to say, and actions that lead you along a set path, your choices will often have consequences and can even determine whether some characters live or die.

Although this isn’t new to gaming, I have never seen it done this well. So while the game lacks traditional gameplay and challenges, it gives you a completely different dimension of interaction, one based on emotional attachment or resentment, morality, spur of the moment decisions and, in some scenarios, even fear.

Unlike most zombie fiction that’s all about blood, guts and mass killing of zombies, Walking Dead is handled in such a mature and thoughtful way. As much as I hate to admit it, there were a few times I started welling up with tears.


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Time Played: Over 20 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Jolly Rover


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 22, 2021 | edit | delete


Monkey Island wannabe that's surprisingly fun and witty


There is no doubt that Jolly Rover took inspiration from the classic Monkey Island series, but what looks like a low budget rip off at first glance, turns out to be a very immersive and witty adventure game that comes into its own.

Jolly Rover doesn’t try to reinvent the genre or break any new ground, but the result is a classic style point and click adventure, just like those from the good ole days. Unlike many modern adventures, players are not overwhelmed with endless dialogue and exposition, and what dialogue there is tends to be relevant and/or funny.

The graphics are nicely painted (though a bit too crisp and clean perhaps) and there are plenty of varied environments to explore.

The puzzles vary from easy to challenging, but there is a tip system in place for those who get stuck. It can be a bit too tempting to use this on regular occasions, even though it is generally unimposing. Many of the puzzles are fun to solve.

Although it may appear a little on the short side, players get their money’s worth.

On the whole, Jolly Rover is a fun adventure game for fans of the genre.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Black Mirror II


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 22, 2021 | edit | delete


Cliched characters that grate on my nerves


As a fan of the old Point and Click genre, I really wanted to like this game. First impressions were really good. The environment graphics are very well painted and the town of Bidderford has an appealing quaintness. There are some effective weather changes, which alter the mood of the game and create a very immersive atmosphere. Personally, I couldn’t wait to explore.

Unfortunately, within an hour you have seen everything there is to see of Biddeford. No new areas open up to the player and existing areas are very limited. One simply jumps from one area of significance to the next, leaving no room to explore or take in the surroundings. As a result, we don’t get the sense of a living and functioning town, but rather just a few limited sets.

The plot has its strengths and is quite intriguing at times..or at least it has the potential to be. There are some mysterious events going on and some sinister characters that you’re eager to investigate, including the protagonist’s sleazy boss. Unfortunately, the game focuses more on some cliched romance plot between Darren (the protagonist) and some random girl he happened to pass in the street one day. He runs round after her like a lovesick lapdog, while his mother lies dying in hospital and people’s lives are being ruined. It’s at this point Darren started to grate on my nerves.

One of the biggest failings of this game is the sheer obnoxiousness of the protagonist. Apart from sounding like Butthead, he is disrespectful, immature and downright pathetic, and I found myself wishing bad things to happen to him. He shows no emotion and no personality and is a very shallow and underdeveloped character.

Another annoying aspect of this game is that many significant events are brushed over. You spend the first part of the game running back and forth, gathering evidence to prove the innocence of the aforementioned girl and when it’s all complete and you’re getting ready to present your evidence, hear what the police have to say and so on, the game just cuts to “later that evening” when Darren and the random girl are having a chat.

However, while the game does it’s best to avoid plots or exposition that might actually interest the player and make for an entertaining story, it makes sure you are given information about every little triviality and insignificant item in the game. You can’t just click on a drawer and expect to open it….first you must hear what kind of wood the drawer is made of and how old it looks. Another example is when you click on the shower and get some longwinded monologue about Darren’s breakfast. All this unnecessary dialogue just drags the game out and makes for a very tedious experience. What’s more, you end up learning the life history of supporting characters who don’t even play a part in the game’s plot.

The puzzles themselves are quite engaging and often logical. It’s fulfilling to see them come together, which is, of course, a big appeal of such games. Unfortunately, playing the game just feels like a long chore and is very frustrating.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Paradise Lost


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 21, 2021 | edit | delete

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 18, 2021 | edit | delete

Sarawak


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 18, 2021 | edit | delete

Sol 705


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 18, 2021 | edit | delete

Inspector Waffles


Stars - 30

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 18, 2021 | edit | delete

NUTS


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Apr 18, 2021 | edit | delete

Little Nightmares II


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Mar 7, 2021 | edit | delete

Tell Me Why


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 15, 2021 | edit | delete

Medium, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Feb 11, 2021 | edit | delete


Next best thing to a new generation Silent Hill


There have been a lot of Silent Hill wannabes released the past decade or so, but none have really captured that same mystery and atmosphere. The Medium, however, looks, feels and plays like a modern day Silent Hill game.

It’s not just the fact they have an original score by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill’s original composer). There are clear similarities in visual style and storytelling, as well as the dark world concept.

Tip: If you want to really capture the Silent Hill vibe, PC users can install Reshade and add in some film grain and chromatic aberration.

I’ve referred to Silent Hill in every paragraph so far, but in saying it’s the next best thing I’m doing it an injustice. It’s an incredible experience in its own right!

Granted, it’s a slow burner. The gameplay is fairly basic with minimal action. The plot is very complex too and quite difficult to grasp fully on the first play through. To fully appreciate it requires the player to invest some time reading notes and listening to recordings. I get it’s not everyone’s idea of fun and seems a bit of a cop out in some ways, but once I started piecing it all together and making sense of it I was left wide-eyed and had more than a few chills.

The visuals are very taxing, even for high end PCs, but they are stunning. And not just from a technical perspective. The environments are both horrific and mesmerising, while the characters vary from sympathetic to downright twisted.

It’s been a long time since I’ve played a game with fixed cameras, so it felt quite jarring at first. I soon got used to it though and began to realise what a great design decision it was, allowing for a cinematic feel and heightened tension. On the other hand, the split-screen concept just didn’t work for me. I get the reason behind it and it could be effective at times, but I found it broke my immersion in the game and could have done with being used a lot less frequently.

The dialogue and acting is mostly outstanding, although the protagonist is little more than a generic strong female lead and one of the least interesting characters in the game. There are some moments when she says things that just seem really out of context and silly (like naming her bolt cutters), but it’s a small criticism.

Overall, I was blown away by this game, though I can see how many people would find it too slow paced and even downright boring. It’s the kind of game that needs to be appreciated as an experience rather than a challenge.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Twin Mirror


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Jan 9, 2021 | edit | delete


I just wanted to abandon the plot and leave town


Being a big fan of the Life is Strange series I was very excited for this game. It managed to capture my interest early on, but as it went on I found myself disengaging from the plot and the characters.

I realised, I actually disliked all but two of the characters I was meant to be helping. I was hoping the in game choices would allow me to turn against them. In particular, I wanted to ruin the life of Anna who had ditched me for my best friend, but instead I was forced to comfort her and run her errands like a pathetic lap dog.

I cared so little about the town and everyone there I would have gladly got in my car, returned home and ended the game early if it had been an option.

What’s more, there’s a glaring mystery that’s never explained. You’re constantly having conversations with your twin, who appears as an apparition and usually offers redundant advice. You also have some kind of mind palace (or whatever they call it), but none of these superpowers are ever explained. It’s like the developers threw it into the game to try and make it less mundane, despite having the opposite effect.

Personally, I like the graphic style and the environments are very atmospheric, but the character models appear quite odd, even creepy…especially when they start talking. 

While the writing was the greatest strength of Life is Strange, it’s the most abysmal aspect of Twin Mirror.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Girl of Glass: A Summer Bird's Tale, The


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Dec 22, 2020 | edit | delete


Unrealised potential


The mesmerising art, atmosphere and the potential of an engaging story lured me into this game. However, the narration and dialogue are presented in a very jarring way, like a constant interruption to the gameplay rather than flowing alongside it.

Worst of all, in my opinion, is the decision to have turn based combat. It does nothing to further the plot or character development and is not at all fun or engaging. It’s like a compulsory mini-game, when I just wanted to continue the main quest.

What’s most disappointing is that this could have been a very engaging game had developers opted for a traditional point and click formula rather than trying to mix genres, integrating elements of an RPG and interactive storybook.

Considering how much dialogue there is, it would have been nice to have more voice acting too and could have made the game flow more naturally.


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Time Played: 2-5 hours
Difficulty: Very Easy

Paradise Killer


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Dec 6, 2020 | edit | delete


Mishmash of ideas and intolerably boring


It feels like the developers were at odds on what this game was meant to be. I can see there were some good ideas amid this mishmash and I do like the music and style. But I found all the reading and aimless wandering to be an intolerable chore.

I tried to persist, hoping my laborious efforts would pay off, but it was too draining and had to give up.


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Time Played: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Carto


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Dec 2, 2020 | edit | delete

Unavowed


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 29, 2020 | edit | delete

Dead Secret


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 29, 2020 | edit | delete

Superliminal


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 29, 2020 | edit | delete

Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 29, 2020 | edit | delete

Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 27, 2020 | edit | delete

Plague Tale: Innocence, A


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Nov 27, 2020 | edit | delete


Stunning visuals and an engrossing game


I played this on a whim with low expectations, but was blown away. The visuals are some of the best I’ve ever seen in a game, with such an immersive atmosphere. The story and characters are very engaging and the game itself is a joy to play, with various upgrades along the way, keeping gameplay fresh and providing new strategies for dealing with enemies and puzzles.

The game benefitted from being quite grounded and believable for the most part, but let itself down by getting over the top and ridiculous by the end. But that is my only criticism of this beautiful adventure.


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Time Played: 5-10 hours
Difficulty: Just Right

Gray Matter


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 27, 2020 | edit | delete

Embracelet


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 24, 2020 | edit | delete

Grim Fandango Remastered


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Day of the Tentacle


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge - Special Edition


Stars - 50

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Portal 2


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, The


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers


Stars - 35

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Heavy Rain


Stars - 50

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Full Throttle


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Curse of Monkey Island, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Syberia II


Stars - 30

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Indigo Prophecy


Stars - 45

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Book of Unwritten Tales, The


Stars - 40

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories


Stars - 10

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Black Mirror, The


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Dig, The


Stars - 15

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don't Dry


Stars - 25

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Trüberbrook


Stars - 20

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

Walking Dead: The Final Season, The


Stars - 50

Rating by shanethewolf posted on Oct 23, 2020 | edit | delete

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