Blitzed through a few more games and have some short reviews to offer!
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Hound of Ricsige
When playing this, I found that the premise really pulled me in. I was under the impression that the protag was a normal office worker before it suddenly changed to knights and combat. I played through a few times trying to find a way to get the main character to go after Seth and find the connection that he’s been missing with his fellow knights and superiors. But the protagonist is in a deep self-deprecating hole and it will take a catalyst before they see that they are worthy of love. Close connections come from reaching out, being vulnerable, and letting people know that you need their support or time every once in a while, after all. I liked the presentation and the use of visual twine to get the protag’s fading mental strength as time passes.
idle phone simulator
Cute and short game with soft graphics, low-stakes storyline, and a fun somewhat-sentient phone companion. I think this was a relaxing look into a human-adjacent’s morning routine though it’s anything but routine. With quick internet quips, dissolving buttery cookies, and fashion that fits the era too well, I found that it was a nice peek into a life that was not mine.
Interview Interview
An existential dream-romp exploring the nature of living through the lens of an interview. I liked the music, visuals, and the achievements. And I came in wanting to have fun but I found it hard to choose anything but the professional answers. It must be all those interviews I’ve been through pouring out of me haha. I thought this was a fun game and the style kept me engaged throughout. Overall, it’s nice to get existential and appreciate where I am in the moment before moving onto the next thing on the agenda. Maybe we are all just a lizard’s dream on a warm rock.
Succor
Calm and sad. I experienced the life of a broken chef whose parents left them in very different ways. The piano in the background was beautiful and melancholy. When it came to helping the protag, I enjoyed being able to improve their mood and eventually help them achieve succor by reclaiming an old recipe. The game featured beautiful art, an intriguing storyline, cool mechanics, and overall, it was a wonderful story to piece together and experience.
We Stole a Ship to Run a Scam
A bite-sized fun, RPGMaker game! I played through a few times to explore all of the different options I could choose and places that I could visit. On my first playthrough, I ended pretending I was a merchant, visiting the museum, and helping set the islanders free. The art and mini animations were a joy to experience and I could tell that a lot of work went into making that aspect shine. The story was short but that made it perfect for replayability because there are many ways to get to the last 3 endings choices. This really makes each turn feel special and ends up revealing something new about an islander you previously didn’t get to meet. Fun game!