QUARTER BREAKDOWN
MAY
The Month of Short Indies
ABZÛ
Good game if you want to relax after a long day at work. Bad game if you to stay awake. The game can be a bit too relaxing at time. I don't recommend playing it on a comfortable couch. It will put you to sleep.
It's a spectacular game to look at as it's presentation is one of the best I've encountered in an indie.
"Everyone loves to fly, and flying underwater is even better than flying in air because there are things around you."- Graham Hawkes
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
| 🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Gorgeous art style and presentation. • Simple controls. • Touching story. |
• Not too complex in terms of gameplay. • Can get boring after some time. |
| 🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
|---|---|---|
| No issues encountered. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 75+ |
| 🌌 Content & Replay Value | This game is a great short experience that can be beaten and/or completed in no longer than 5 hours. There's little replay value. Once beaten, you can repeat sections of the world to get all collectibles. |
| 💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes, but on a discount. |
| 🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Great experience for Steam Deck. Ran very well. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
ABZU delivers a visually stunning underwater experience with vibrant environments and fluid animations. The sound design enhances relaxation, even without voice acting. The story is interesting, letting you explore marine life as a scuba diver. It's a short, easy game with minimal threats, perfect for a relaxing adventure. Overall, it captivates with its breathtaking visuals and tranquil atmosphere. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
ABZU is a swimming simulator that focuses mainly on the journey of exploration and self-interpretation of the world around you. Exploration is done area by area, with its own type of fish and animals, some having appearances later in the game.
😄 Fun:
It's great to play and relax, but can't recommend playing when tired. It can put you to sleep.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Gorgeous game, with an impressive presentation. The vibrant and enchanting underwater environments create a mesmerizing and immersive experience. From the fluid movement of marine life to the breathtaking play of light and shadow, the game offers stunning moments that truly evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
Sound design is exceptional and significantly enhances player relaxation without the use of voice.
📖 Story & Writing:
Despite not having an incredible story, it's still an interesting one. You play as a scuba diver who tries to explore marine life and the underwater world.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Very short game to beat or complete. Not difficult at all. There's barely any threats and dying is not an option.
⭕️Verdict:
ABZU offers a visually stunning and immersive underwater experience, with vibrant environments and fluid animations that evoke a sense of wonder. The exceptional sound design enhances the player's relaxation, despite the absence of voice acting. While the story is not groundbreaking, it provides an interesting narrative as you explore marine life as a scuba diver. The game is very short and easy, with minimal threats, making it a perfect choice for a relaxing, awe-inspiring adventure. Overall, it excels in delivering a mesmerizing journey that captivates through its breathtaking visuals and tranquil atmosphere.
FINDING PARADISE
Had a splendid time returning to this beautiful point-and-click adventure game. Old characters making a return and for the first time the game really made me shed a tear.
It has a spending new soundtrack that you'll weep like a baby.
"I think all our memories, and everything in it... can be nothing but the fiction we tell ourselves." - Dr. Watts
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
| 🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Touching story. • The return of 2 beloved characters from To The Moon. • Interesting plot twist. • Allows customization of characters. • Great soundtrack. |
• No ultrawide support. • Not much of an improvement over the original game in terms of gameplay. |
| 🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
|---|---|---|
| No bugs or issues encountered during the game. |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: High FPS: 75+ |
| 🌌 Content & Replay Value | This installment is longer than To the Moon from my personal experience, but not by much. No replay value. It's once and done. |
| 💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. Considering the length, I'd recommend buying it on a discount. |
| 🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | Played this entirely on the Steam Deck. Great experience! |
🧾 Verdict: Excellent |
Finding Paradise is a visual novel and walking simulator that continues the story of the two beloved characters, Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene. In a new setting, they try to help a dying patient fulfill his wishes, similar to the previous game. The game hits the plot points well and delivers a compelling and touching story just as good as the first game. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Finding Paradise is a walking simulator with some easy puzzle elements. Your involvement isn't complicated for the most part, so you will mainly experience the dialogues and interactions between characters.
😄 Fun:
I really enjoyed the story. It was just as fun as the first game.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Not many improvements were made in the visual aspects of the game. There are more moments where animation shines and is improved, but other than that, it's very similar in style to the first game.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
This time around, I find the music a lot more impactful, especially at the end. The introduction of the song was a fine touch and really touching.
No voice acting, although I wish there was.
📖 Story & Writing:
Great story overall. You start off looking after a dying patient who has a wish to change his memory and asks for the help of the Sigmund Corporation, where Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene work.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Slightly longer than "To The Moon," but not by a long stretch. Difficulty-wise, it is just as easy as the previous games. Easy completion, to say the least, where you get 100% just by beating the story.
⭕️Verdict:
Finding Paradise delivers a compelling narrative that resonates well with fans of the series. While not introducing significant visual improvements, the game maintains its familiar style and charm. The enhanced music adds depth to emotional moments, although the absence of voice acting may leave some longing for more immersive dialogue delivery. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game offers a fulfilling experience with its engaging story, easy gameplay mechanics, and touching character interactions. Overall, Finding Paradise stands as a worthy successor to its predecessor, providing players with another memorable journey through the heartfelt storytelling of Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene.
THE ROOM TWO
Despite being an excellent puzzle game, this one didn't click as much as the first one did for me. The puzzles seemed more obvious and more easy to identify with a lot more to move back and forth.
If you're a fan of such games, I still recommend it, but don't play them back to back as the complexity of the puzzles can be somewhat daunting when you compare them side by side.
"Everyone loves to fly, and flying underwater is even better than flying in air because there are things around you."- Graham Hawkes
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
| 🟩 Pros | 🟥 Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Beautifully crafted puzzles, despite
being more simple this time around. • Visual improvements on animations. • Now you're required to solve different puzzles around the room. • Great for single-sitting playthrough. |
• Felt a little too easy compared to the original. |
| 🟨 Bugs & Issues | 🔧 Specs | ⚙️ Settings & FPS |
|---|---|---|
| No bugs, no issues. Works great! |
• CPU: i7-12700K • RAM: 32GB DDR4 • GPU: 3080 10GB • SD: SSD • RES: 1440p |
Settings: Ultra FPS: 60 |
| 🌌 Content & Replay Value | Completion can be obtained in no more than 2-3 hours. It's a short game. Replay Value isn't there. Once you know the puzzles, you're more likely to ruin the fun. |
| 💵 Is it worth buying? | Yes. I'd get it on a discount, or bundled with the rest. |
| 🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility | The game requires a lot the use of mouse. So, I avoided playing this game there. |
🧾 Verdict: Decent |
Despite loving the first game so much and finding the puzzles really good, the second one felt a bit too easy for my liking. Even my wife decided to abandon being next to me. That says a lot because I expected a similar challenge as I got from the first game. |
In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Like the previous game, this is a puzzle game. This time around, the puzzles are distributed across a room and require memorizing and careful thinking. It's not as complicated, probably to not confuse the player, but overall, it keeps the same elements as the previous game: find missing objects, open secret doors or contraptions, and discover new elements that unlock other things. Simple and straightforward.
😄 Fun:
Not as fun as the first one, I can say that. Maybe the familiarity of puzzles or the simplicity of them really killed the fun for me. I do recommend playing games like this with a large gap between them to not feel so repetitive and boring.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
Visually, I think the game looks amazing. There are some improvements in animations, visuals, and the overall theme. This time around, the spooky theme seems to be more present, which was a fine touch.
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
Great sound effects. Still no voice-acting or dialogues, except through writing and letters.
📖 Story & Writing:
Like the first game, it holds a story within the setting, the letters you receive, and the puzzles you unlock. Not remarkable, in my opinion.
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
Great for one-sitting gameplay. It's short and much easier than the first game. I don't know why, but it could be due to the decision the devs made to not confuse you as you navigate around the room and identify puzzles.
⭕️Verdict:
The Room Two offers a captivating and immersive puzzle experience that builds upon the success of its predecessor. With its intricate puzzles, atmospheric setting, and compelling narrative, the game keeps players engaged for the most part, but not as much as the first game. While some may find certain puzzles challenging, the overall experience is rewarding, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players unravel the mysteries within each intricately designed room. With its polished visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics, The Room Two stands as a worthy sequel that delivers an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
Games Completed this Month
-
ABZÛ
-
Finding Paradise
-
The Room Two
Love your write-ups <3
Thank you very much! 🥰
Oh a whole month of games I’ve played. Well I did the the room 1 but close enough. Good job on the completions
Felt quite good, despite playing short ones. I did play some other games or started during last month, but will add them in June.