Recent reviews by LovecraftTapes

Finished this last night and, overall, it's a great story and a good game. I like narrative games anyway, like Life Is Strange, etc so this was in my wheelhouse. During Chapter 3, I thought the plot took a few twists that it didn't need to, but I ultimately enjoyed myself.

I picked this up in a Fanatical.com mystery bundle and it was GeForce Now compatible, so why the heck not? Generally, I'm a sucker for these semi-casual/semi-action emotionally-charged "rogue lite" games with a protagonist who is trying to work something out in their brain. The story comes together a piece at a time, and despite having played less than an hour, I can already tell this is going to be a fun experience (perhaps with a few tears along the way). At $25, I'm not sure I would have ever picked this up, but the mystery bundle made this a bargain for me.

I picked this up for under $4, despite mixed reviews, because I don't mind a "walking simulator" at that price. As many other reviewers noted, the rendered environment is gorgeous. The music and general sound atmosphere is, likewise, of very high quality. The narrative borders on horror with shades of Bioshock, yet never fully tipping over that line. It's a compelling mystery though certain elements are easy to guess and the ultimate destination is not entirely satisfying. Player decisions don't *really* matter that much and the mechanics are repetitive, so I might recommend this for very casual players. I finished in 3.5 hours, taking my time, reading every letter discovered and generally spending my time enjoying the experience. At $4, I'd call it money well spent but I would have been disappointed if the price were any higher. I had no technical issues, though I did manage to muck up one side quest (if you can call it that) by accidentally walking into the next chapter area...and there is no going back, once you go through that portal.

Far from being a "cozy" game, what I thought might be an action-packed bloodfest turns out to be a compelling detective story filled with shady characters, Peter Weller(!!!), and a thoughtful approach to what could have been a money-grab copycat of other games. As you lumber around the city, you *feel* like RoboCop and that's the whole enchilada right there: it's cut from the same cloth as the original flick. The mechanics are deceptively simple, with just enough challenge to whet your appetite for any secret areas and side missions you may have missed. Rogue City has become my "zen" chill-out return to simpler times...when a cyborg could point a gun at a violent criminal and dispense justice in the most cartoonish way possible.

I played the better part of this game a few years back, on Xbox 360, but never got a chance to finish it. Since the summer sale has it for under $3 (?!?) I figured I'd try to wrap it up. Wow, what a great game! Yes, it's very, very short but it also makes a big impact with a heartfelt sci-fi story reminiscent of BIOSHOCK and HALF LIFE, among others. The mechanics of running, jumping and swinging are breathtakingly smooth, and the get-under-your-skin vibe of the environments, enemies and story are a delight. Take the plunge, if you haven't already. Well worth the sale price!

No real gamepad/controller support.

This game is a blast and, more importantly, it's easy to learn and quick to get into a match. Sometimes I go through my massive queue of games and wonder what to play next, but then get analysis paralysis. Super Animal Royale breaks that paralytic malaise because I know it'll be a quick session and it'll be a hoot-and-a-half-plus-tax. Meet me by the campfire, I'll be the one dancing.

I just completed Martha Is Dead today, after less than 6 hours of gameplay. I took my sweet time exploring most options (finished 79% though). Overall, it was a disturbing visual novel with very few actual mechanics to make it feel like a video game. That's fine, but for $30 I expected a bit more enjoyment. And once you've completed the story, there's no real reason to delve back in...unless you're a completionist (which I'm not). If you have a weak stomach or get triggered easily by extreme violence and self-harm, steer clear. If you're a horror fan who likes this subgenre, and you can snag it at a deep discount, it's worth a look.

Controller support is weak

During the first few minutes, I thought this looked pretty cool. Then I was disheartened by the Silent Hill/Resident Evil controls and basic puzzle-solving fetch quests. However! As you progress, they mystery deepens and the environments start to creep you out (in a good way). Just 90 minutes in and I'm getting major CONTROL vibes, so I'm hoping it gets even better. So far, I'm enjoying the mood immensely.