polsdestrella
This is the first year that I actually stick to playing "Halloween themed" games during October. This is not really hard for me, as usually Mystery/Horror games are my favorite genre, and I also adore cute little games featuring monsters, zombies, ghosts, and other similar adorable (and not so adorable) creatures.
I didn't finish as many games as I'd have liked to finish, but I've played a decent amount of hours and I actually managed to keep Tropico 6 away from my screen for a whole month... and that got replaced by the huge amount of hours I spent playing Graveyard Keeper, all being said.
October general stats:
All reviews are free of spoilers
THE SUPPER
I discovered this cute indie (and free!) little game thanks to EvilblackSheep, and I'm glad she told me about it. I say "cute", but let's not forget that this is a cartoon gore game, so the word "cute" is very relative in this context (for me, all pixel art tends to be labelled as cute, so I'm not the most objective).
In the game, you're the owner of a tavern, in which different sort of monsters come to ask you to prepare them the "special" dishes they request. The game is about going around the different scenes, and finding the ingredients necessary to be able to create the dish. It's a point and click, not hard, but not too obvious either (actually I got stuck at one point and had to check what to do next), and for being a free game, it's really creative and fun to play. Plus, it's one of those games that provides a pretty satisfying end, leaving you with the feeling that you experienced something both sad and horrific, and you totally enjoyed it.
It's rich when it comes to characters, fun, creative, satisfying, and short enough to kill an empty hour in between your daily duties. There's no reason not to play this game!
Aprox. gameplay time:40 minutes.
The best: The pixel art
The worse: The feeling of emptyness when you're done with it (even if that would be part of "the best", maybe). But really, I can't think of anything negative, so just play it!
Rating: 5/5 stars
MONSTER PROM 2: MONSTER CAMP
This is a super great continuation to the first game, Monster Prom - but even funnier, wittier and sexier. The game mechanics are pretty similar than in the first one, but this time instead of trying to find a date to the prom, you're trying to hook up with one of the other monsters of the camp.
The game gives you the chance to choose between three different lenghts of gameplay: 30 minutes , 60 minutes or 90 minutes (in the first one they were only giving you the first two possibilities), and you can still pick between beating the game by yourself, or going the multiplayer way. I went multiplayer, and we choose the 90 minutes version, to have a "full game experience". That's the only time I've played the game so far, so my review is based on those 90 minutes.
The dialogues are super fun, with a lot of actual references to a bunch of pop culture elements, and they get very deep into the different storylines, merging both old familiar faces with very fun and interesting new characters. Actually, they get so deep into the storylines and dialogues, that you even wonder how you ended up in such awkward nonsense... and still enjoy every second of its brilliantly, absurd craziness. They also introduce the concept of potions (which is the equivalent of what in the first game would be the object shop), with the thrill that each potion has a different effect on you, and for what we saw, they can be pretty extreme and unexpected. Compared to the first one, it can be a lot more complicated to guess the right answer, but that is something I consider positive, as it adds to the thrill (and sexiness) of the game.
You can totally sense the love they put into it by how well developed the characters are (even the NPCs), how fresh (and pervy) the jokes feel, and how the graphics embrace the storylines in such a sweet and fun way. It worths the money it costs (and all the waiting it took before it was ready).
Aprox. gameplay time:2 h.
The best:The dark humor and the witty characters
The worse:As a Polly fan, it made me sad that she's not a character in the game (even if they announced that future games will be centered on her).
Rating: 5/5 stars
HIGURASHI WHEN THEY CRY HOU - CH. 8 MATSURIBAYASHI (And final!)
Some months ago, when I reviewed chapter 7, I stated how I am a worshiper of the whole series and not a bad word would scape my mouth about anything related with Higurashi. Again, the final chapter is not an exception, yet this is the first time I'm giving the game 4 stars instead of 5.
It's not that I didn't like the chapter (I loved it, 4 starts is still a good rating), but I somehow found myself missing the clever writing, and the plot twists that make you wonder what comes next. In part, it's obvious that once you start, you see where the story is going, but the way it's writen makes the chapter feel repetitive in some points. This is something I wouldn't really mind, I love the series so much that I'd have put 5 starts to it despite of it, if it wasn't because at some point the mood of the VN gets killed when you're forced to play some sort of mini game within the story, that has nothing of "mini", because ends up being VERY long and time consuming, with very little answers provided throuhg it, and very little value added to the general story, so it ends up being a mood killer, somehow.
I don't want to go further because I don't want to give spoilers, so basically I'm just going to say that I give it 4 starrs because it's not the destination of the story that matters, but the whole journey... but definitely this is not the best chapter of the series, in my opinion.Obviously, if you loved the whole series like I did, you're going to like this one. But if this had been chapter 1 instead of chapter 8, I probably wouldb't have been interested in reading chapter 2.
Aprox. gameplay time of the DCL: 14 h.
The best: The conclusion to the whole journey, and the feeling of sweet nostalgia you get when you reach the end.
The worse: The "mini (maxi) game" introduced within the VN, a huge mood killer
Rating: 4/5 stars
LUCID DREAM
Another free horror game I played this month, and again, a very pleasant surprise.
Lucid Dream is an interesting and spooky point and click game, in which you're a girl trapped in a dream (or is not a dream?), with a mystery to solve. The game and the scenarios are both pretty simple, yet it also includes some (pretty simple) puzzle solving dynamics that make it very decent for a free game. The scenarios are a bit creepy and the music is very atmospheric and helps you get into the mood of the game, but don't expect any jumpscares because those are always pretty predictable. The visuals are very decent
Overall, the game has a "scape room" feeling, in which you have to find clues to advance and figure out what is going on. The backstory is kind of weak, but the game is fun for what it is, and it worth your time.
Aprox. gameplay time: 1 h.
The best: The atmospheric feeling of it
The worse: It doesn't allow you to save at any point! Once you start, you have to finish it in one go
Rating: 4/5 stars
NIGHTMARES FROM THE DEEP 2: THE SIREN'S CALL
Second part of Nightmare's From the Deep series of Artifex Mundi, and compared to the first one, I enjoyed the pace of the story in this one. Not that I didn't like the first, but I found this one less tedious and more agile on the storytelling.
I like to play Artifex Mundi games because they're very pleasant visually, there's always so many details, and I enjoy trying to spot all the hidden collectibles in them. The hidden object games are filled with details, and the puzzles are never too complicated, which makes them entertaining for somebody like me, who I tend to get frustrated a lot. It's one of those games that I like to play because it's a good time killer, it entertains, and it relaxes me. Plus, there's something with the sounds on those games that is svery relaxing, too, a bit like ASMR (call me weird).
Nothing new compared to the old Artifex Mundi games, but really, sometimes I'm just not up for surprises, and if somerthing works I guess is not necessary to change it. Except, they keep going with that sort of annoying dynamic that you cannot get all the achivements in one go (you can solve the hidden object games on themselves, or play a mahjong game instead, and there's achivements for each), but it's not a game I play to get a 100% achivemens rate, in any case (that, and the fact that it has zero replaying interest). But that's something I already knew before getting into the game. I knew what to expect, and Artifex Mundi provided.
Aprox. gameplay: 4.5 h.
The best: The detail in the graphics, and its vibrant colors
The worse: Being forced to reply the game if you want a 100% completion rate
Rating: 4/5 stars
Monthly Stats #3: October 2020
This is the first year that I actually stick to playing "Halloween themed" games during October. This is not really hard for me, as usually Mystery/Horror games are my favorite genre, and I also adore cute little games featuring monsters, zombies, ghosts, and other similar adorable (and not so adorable) creatures.
I didn't finish as many games as I'd have liked to finish, but I've played a decent amount of hours and I actually managed to keep Tropico 6 away from my screen for a whole month... and that got replaced by the huge amount of hours I spent playing Graveyard Keeper, all being said.
October general stats:
Played  |
Finished  |
Completed  |
Added  |
Achievements  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 62 |
| Finished | Status | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|
| |
Completed |  |
|
Beaten | |
|
Beaten (13/14 achievements) | |
|
Completed (7/7 achievements) | |
|
Beaten (23/29 achievements) | |
I discovered this cute indie (and free!) little game thanks to EvilblackSheep, and I'm glad she told me about it. I say "cute", but let's not forget that this is a cartoon gore game, so the word "cute" is very relative in this context (for me, all pixel art tends to be labelled as cute, so I'm not the most objective).
In the game, you're the owner of a tavern, in which different sort of monsters come to ask you to prepare them the "special" dishes they request. The game is about going around the different scenes, and finding the ingredients necessary to be able to create the dish. It's a point and click, not hard, but not too obvious either (actually I got stuck at one point and had to check what to do next), and for being a free game, it's really creative and fun to play. Plus, it's one of those games that provides a pretty satisfying end, leaving you with the feeling that you experienced something both sad and horrific, and you totally enjoyed it.
It's rich when it comes to characters, fun, creative, satisfying, and short enough to kill an empty hour in between your daily duties. There's no reason not to play this game!
Aprox. gameplay time:40 minutes.
The best: The pixel art
The worse: The feeling of emptyness when you're done with it (even if that would be part of "the best", maybe). But really, I can't think of anything negative, so just play it!
Rating: 5/5 stars
This is a super great continuation to the first game, Monster Prom - but even funnier, wittier and sexier. The game mechanics are pretty similar than in the first one, but this time instead of trying to find a date to the prom, you're trying to hook up with one of the other monsters of the camp.
The game gives you the chance to choose between three different lenghts of gameplay: 30 minutes , 60 minutes or 90 minutes (in the first one they were only giving you the first two possibilities), and you can still pick between beating the game by yourself, or going the multiplayer way. I went multiplayer, and we choose the 90 minutes version, to have a "full game experience". That's the only time I've played the game so far, so my review is based on those 90 minutes.
The dialogues are super fun, with a lot of actual references to a bunch of pop culture elements, and they get very deep into the different storylines, merging both old familiar faces with very fun and interesting new characters. Actually, they get so deep into the storylines and dialogues, that you even wonder how you ended up in such awkward nonsense... and still enjoy every second of its brilliantly, absurd craziness. They also introduce the concept of potions (which is the equivalent of what in the first game would be the object shop), with the thrill that each potion has a different effect on you, and for what we saw, they can be pretty extreme and unexpected. Compared to the first one, it can be a lot more complicated to guess the right answer, but that is something I consider positive, as it adds to the thrill (and sexiness) of the game.
You can totally sense the love they put into it by how well developed the characters are (even the NPCs), how fresh (and pervy) the jokes feel, and how the graphics embrace the storylines in such a sweet and fun way. It worths the money it costs (and all the waiting it took before it was ready).
Aprox. gameplay time:2 h.
The best:The dark humor and the witty characters
The worse:As a Polly fan, it made me sad that she's not a character in the game (even if they announced that future games will be centered on her).
Rating: 5/5 stars
Some months ago, when I reviewed chapter 7, I stated how I am a worshiper of the whole series and not a bad word would scape my mouth about anything related with Higurashi. Again, the final chapter is not an exception, yet this is the first time I'm giving the game 4 stars instead of 5.
It's not that I didn't like the chapter (I loved it, 4 starts is still a good rating), but I somehow found myself missing the clever writing, and the plot twists that make you wonder what comes next. In part, it's obvious that once you start, you see where the story is going, but the way it's writen makes the chapter feel repetitive in some points. This is something I wouldn't really mind, I love the series so much that I'd have put 5 starts to it despite of it, if it wasn't because at some point the mood of the VN gets killed when you're forced to play some sort of mini game within the story, that has nothing of "mini", because ends up being VERY long and time consuming, with very little answers provided throuhg it, and very little value added to the general story, so it ends up being a mood killer, somehow.
I don't want to go further because I don't want to give spoilers, so basically I'm just going to say that I give it 4 starrs because it's not the destination of the story that matters, but the whole journey... but definitely this is not the best chapter of the series, in my opinion.Obviously, if you loved the whole series like I did, you're going to like this one. But if this had been chapter 1 instead of chapter 8, I probably wouldb't have been interested in reading chapter 2.
Aprox. gameplay time of the DCL: 14 h.
The best: The conclusion to the whole journey, and the feeling of sweet nostalgia you get when you reach the end.
The worse: The "mini (maxi) game" introduced within the VN, a huge mood killer
Rating: 4/5 stars
Another free horror game I played this month, and again, a very pleasant surprise.
Lucid Dream is an interesting and spooky point and click game, in which you're a girl trapped in a dream (or is not a dream?), with a mystery to solve. The game and the scenarios are both pretty simple, yet it also includes some (pretty simple) puzzle solving dynamics that make it very decent for a free game. The scenarios are a bit creepy and the music is very atmospheric and helps you get into the mood of the game, but don't expect any jumpscares because those are always pretty predictable. The visuals are very decent
Overall, the game has a "scape room" feeling, in which you have to find clues to advance and figure out what is going on. The backstory is kind of weak, but the game is fun for what it is, and it worth your time.
Aprox. gameplay time: 1 h.
The best: The atmospheric feeling of it
The worse: It doesn't allow you to save at any point! Once you start, you have to finish it in one go
Rating: 4/5 stars
Second part of Nightmare's From the Deep series of Artifex Mundi, and compared to the first one, I enjoyed the pace of the story in this one. Not that I didn't like the first, but I found this one less tedious and more agile on the storytelling.
I like to play Artifex Mundi games because they're very pleasant visually, there's always so many details, and I enjoy trying to spot all the hidden collectibles in them. The hidden object games are filled with details, and the puzzles are never too complicated, which makes them entertaining for somebody like me, who I tend to get frustrated a lot. It's one of those games that I like to play because it's a good time killer, it entertains, and it relaxes me. Plus, there's something with the sounds on those games that is svery relaxing, too, a bit like ASMR (call me weird).
Nothing new compared to the old Artifex Mundi games, but really, sometimes I'm just not up for surprises, and if somerthing works I guess is not necessary to change it. Except, they keep going with that sort of annoying dynamic that you cannot get all the achivements in one go (you can solve the hidden object games on themselves, or play a mahjong game instead, and there's achivements for each), but it's not a game I play to get a 100% achivemens rate, in any case (that, and the fact that it has zero replaying interest). But that's something I already knew before getting into the game. I knew what to expect, and Artifex Mundi provided.
Aprox. gameplay: 4.5 h.
The best: The detail in the graphics, and its vibrant colors
The worse: Being forced to reply the game if you want a 100% completion rate
Rating: 4/5 stars
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We need to play more Monster Camp!
Congrats for staying away from Tropico this whole month, those time sinkers always take a huge toll on the backlog fight. I also haven’t activated my key for it yet, your post just made me remember about it.
Also, I see your screenshot there, having moved the merchant to the far away japanese house and then acting all surprised when I asked where the fuck he was and why he had move so far away… I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE
YES! I noticed that on the screen shot, also!!!! And then I forgot to tell you. I’m horrible with those things, I click like crazy and then I mess up everything dies I swear I wasn’t trying to kidnap him!
And YES, we need to play more Monster Camp!
“forgot” RIGHT.