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Kingdom Shell

Solid with a smattering of spectacular

Why

Detailed pixel art which improves in creativity as the game progresses
Some very unique/mechanically stimulating boss fights
Plenty of secrets, some creatively hidden/hinted at

Why Not

Instakill lava
Only one type of map marker
Story is kinda just there

Impressions

Kingdom Shell starts off as bog standard as a Metroidvania can be, albeit with very detailed pixel art. You have some basic melee and ranged enemies to beat up, ability gates to bounce off and secrets to discover. This persists even after the first boss, where...

Nubby's Number Factory

Number go up in its purest form

Why

Great second screen game
Very committed to its excellent blobby aesthetic
You can have runs so broken that it doesn't matter where you launch the ball
Probably not something you can sink hundreds of hours into

Why Not

Probably not something you can sink hundreds of hours into
(Seemingly) not that much strategic depth

Impressions

I put in about 2 hours of shifts at Nubby's Number Factory while watching League, and it did its job of filling in gaps in the action brilliantly. I like...

Lost Ruins

But why schoolgirls?

Why

Extremely varied approaches to combat, almost immersive sim-like
Detailed, dynamically lit pixel art
Clearly a lot of care and attention to detail

Why Not

You will feel the need to google 'how to hide games from my Steam friends'
Seriously, the devs are just too goddamn horny

Impressions

Lost Ruins has a lot of interesting ideas, from realistic interactions between the elements and various aspects of the environment to survival-horror like item scarcity and lack of healing at checkpoints. The combat is just solid gameplay-wise but really shines in...

Braid

I'm starting to think I just don't like puzzle games

Why

Beautiful painting-inspired art style
Constantly introducing new wrinkles
A lot of puzzles have very clever/creative solutions

Why Not

Some frustration from platforming, even with rewinds
You don't like puzzle games, not matter how many great ones you play

Impressions

Braid is clearly a great game and I can see why its one of the classics of the genre, but I just can't make myself finish it. My brain-rotted millennial attention span has me reaching for hints or even a guide after ~5...

Titanium Court

Don't talk to me or my dragon son ever again

Why

Unique, charming and funny in clever ways
Fantastic aesthetic and soundtrack
Never stops surprising you with how many layers a match 3 + visual novel can have

Why Not

You need a lot of action to enjoy a game

Impressions

Titanium Court is a weird hybrid of visual novel and match three game, but never has 'more than the sum of its parts' been more appropriate. I was pulled in right away by its unique premise and style; then kept around by...