Souls Like Strings

Beautiful but flawed

Why

• Stunningly detailed pixel art
• Hints of background lore are tantalizing
• Bosses make you think rather than git gud

Why Not

• The gameplay just isn't fun
• Never really felt challenged, I was just progressing
• Some unnecessary friction

Impressions

There's plenty of evidence Owlboy took even longer than Silksong to make. The absurdly detailed pixel art, clever enemy interactions with the environment and intruiging world building show the incredible care the devs obviously put into it over 9 years. Unfortunately the tiresome gameplay, unnecessary friction and inconsistent plot are likely also...

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.

I can certainly see why ~8 year old Brett liked this

Lyra Belacqua is a tenacious young lady who, despite her cautious daemon and noble birth, just wants to be a kid. Over the course of this first entry in the trilogy she lives out the dream of every child with an overactive imagination. From finding out her decidedly not-dead parents are famous, interesting people to befriending an armored polar bear and rescuing hundred of her peers from an evil research station, Lyra's bucket list is probably done at the tender age...

Unfinished, but doesn't need to be

Why

• Unique art direction looks amazing
• Bosses especially have cool designs, and some have interesting mechanics
• Cool lil' easter eggs to find in each level

Why Not

• Enemy placement is a bit Dark-Souls-2-like at times

Impressions

I took one look at the screenshots and knew I was playing this one, the sketched aesthetic of the bosses really appeals to me. The rest of the game's art didn't disappoint either; the small cast of enemies each have interesting designs and the background art matches the overall aesthetic while providing...

A Major swanSong

Why

• Feels like an alternate version of the main game
• Major Song is a badass in her own, completely different way
• Arguably more complex & difficult than the base game

Why Not

• Lacks the strong story which made the main game so special
• Set in a factory, so no stunningly detailed backgrounds to admire

Impressions

I was fortunate enough to play Sanabi after the DLC released, so I got to go straight from getting my ass kicked by Major Song to kicking ass as her. It's pretty shocking how differently...

Together We Will Go by J. Michael Straczynski.

Not sure how to feel about this one

On one hand, 12 strangers getting on a bus for a cross-country roadtrip ending in their collective suicide by driving into the ocean is a pretty compelling setup. On the other, the same things which make it compelling also make it very difficult to pull off. I'm not an author, so I'm not sure how a book like this should be written, but IMO this isn't it.

The overall structure is there I think; you have a varied group of people...