I can't help thinking this is a kind of low effort Report when I should be dedicating them to a single, proper review. Beyond tackling three free games that you yourself can play right now and finish in under an hour each, I also binged on some anime by checking out a much acclaimed show I never got around. You could say it's “Isekai done right” from before the entire genre departed into distilled mediocrity. Kept it short this time around, though.
Metamorphos ( PC (Steam) – Action – 2021 ) + TRAILER
Not to be that guy who excuses something for what it is due to external reasons, but considering Metamorphos is a student project it happens to be rather decent. You can see the team is wearing their inspirations on a sleeve for this one and someone really liked Souls games.
Setting we've dealt is one of Arabian fantasy of sorts. Meaning lots of sand and ancient ruins to trudge through with an ambiguous “restore the Oasis” objective ahead of us. Not that such a thing factors heavily into a ~30 minute game, but it's reassuring to have some context. It mainly comes from obelisks bearing inscribed notes.
These are in turn conveniently situated near aforementioned oasis which serve as your save point/restore health and respawn enemies dispensers. Due to linear level layout you're always glad to see one and I wasn't held back by their absence so I'd say they're well placed throughout. Enemies clad in purple, smart color choice to contrast with orange and yellow backdrops, come in few varieties from your basic footman to scorpion-man, but your character sadly lacks many tools to engage them with. RPG elements usually included in these Souls-like types of games are absent in Metamorphos meaning you'll be relying on your quick and slow attacks as well as magical dodge seeing as blocking is out of the equation. I found these served me well and getting caught in geometry was what did me in more than ambushes, though. Just remember – that cliff you think you can roll down to for some secret treasure? There's no inventory system.
Some expected lack of polish and bite-sized package notwithstanding I was pleasantly surprised. That final boss can hold a TED talk on the power of magnets and overly tuned attack range, though. Keep in mind what you're getting into and embrace some jank.
Souls of the Wind ( PC (Steam) – Adventure, Puzzle – 2021 ) + TRAILER
Souls of the Wind is fundamentally not a bad game, but this review comes from a game breaking bug experienced towards the end after which I couldn't in good conscience recommend the game to others even though it may not be something you'll experience for yourself. Which is a shame because this is quite a pleasant platformer/puzzle that, with some tighter QA, could've netted a good hour or two of play time.
We step into the shoes of the latest Guardian of Four Winds who, appropriately enough, embarks on a quest to piece together just what is going on at four temples and why are Spirits failing at their job so the corruption has begun to seep out. Not only within temples, but also into the village you hail from aided by your trusty ethereal companion. Girl has quite the task ahead of her.
This village is your central hub you head out into four separate zones thematically fitting their geographic description. I did find it neat you actually get to talk with select villagers who will divulge some lore tidbits about the world. Most of the communication is one-sided with your cheeky companion, though. So what's the game like? A 3D adventure platformer with greater focus on puzzles. And I do use that word generously from what I've seen because it mainly comes down using powers you gradually unlock to manipulate the world and progress. You use gust of wind to rotate some blocks around so they can propel massive fans which activate rotating platforms, stuff like that. If I had any issues they came from levels not conveying their intent clearly enough. For example, I didn't immediately figure out that putting together a corridor through poisonous mist came secondary to getting a hold of the crystals placed out of sight I'd need to carry THROUGH said corridor. Moment-to-moment gameplay itself could've also benefited from improved aiming accuracy when it comes to using your powers and navigating timed platforms. I used a gamepad, though.
To Hell With It ( PC (Steam) – Action – 2021 ) + TRAILER
There is something to be said about spectacle fighters and how they may require sufficient enough budget to pull off that finely tuned responsiveness.. which may not [entirely] apply here since To Hell With It is more of general action game. I have some negatives to bring up, but for a first effort it is more than commendable.
Premise is about as ridiculous as they come – chilling in the middle of the night Aella sees her cat Purrsephone get dragged into hell through a smartphone screen. Wasting no time she chases right after and so begins a humorous, short-lived adventure in Hell. Turns out they need someone to clear up situations in three instances before head of HR will see Aella and explain what exactly happened to her cat. As you can surmise tone is entirely self-aware and on the level with oddly warm color palette making Hell rather inviting looking.
Speaking of which this is an action game, but I wonder if inclusion of token “climb up these clearly marked sections” was even necessary. Structure we're working with is a tried and true one where you progress through a level, enter an area and can't leave until you clear all enemies. And by “clear” I mean dispatch with extreme prejudice. You have your sword with light/heavy attacks, of which the latter isn't nowhere near SLOW to cramp your style, along with two equippable abilities you unlock from cards and some items I basically never used. Think healing potion, AoE damage, etc. Key issue with the game I brought up earlier is how cumbersome it feels. Attacks seem to lack that OOMPF behind them and even moving around looks like ice skating at times. Not a crippling problem, just something to get used to.
Clocking in at just over an hour this is a bite-sized game that does not overstay its welcome. Hell, I almost wanted more to improve my newly gained abilities further. Not that you'll break a sweat on normal playthrough.
The Twelve Kingdoms ( Fantasy – 2002 – 45 episodes ) + TRAILER
I'll spare you the usual wall of text, but holy crap did watching The Twelve Kingdoms again make me realize just how much anime has changed.
Slowly watching over the course of two months may have added to it somewhat. I especially liked how it focuses on introspection and self-reflection with problems getting solved as, surprise surprise, characters actually change and act upon that despite difficult situations at first glance. Cynical part of me kept imagining just how differently Youko's entire journey would be handled in a modern show. She'd probably ass pull some magical power to demolish the entire established order of things because it would be a simplistic "correct thing to do" or something. Effect itself isn't necessarily solely the result of having 45 episodes and focusing primarily on the protagonist, either. Hell, The Twelve Kingdoms even pulls off three parallel stories in its longest arc with two brand new characters who still end up undergoing their own meaningful developments.
If there's a flaw to the show it's the way it sometimes can't decide whether it wants to be about Youko's ascent to position of Queen and status thereof in this fantasy world heavily based on East Asian aesthetics with accompanying celestial bureaucracy to go along where the Heavens seemingly choose rulers of the eponymous kingdoms through their own agents OR have her be shoehorned into entire arcs and act merely as the common element while we're told tangential backstories. If not for setting building value one could almost argue two arcs could've been excised entirely let alone the unnecessary recaps. It is amusing that few standalone episodes were my favorites because they kinda cover what happens between big story arcs. Sadly, I can't comment whether anime is faithful to original novels or not, and you can also say it may be too long for its own good, bur journey here is a lot more important than the final destination you can tell will be reached. I wanted to see a lot more because the show ends just as Youko comes into her own... and is then followed up by recollections of a supporting character.
I’ve got to say that I haven’t heard of either of those games. Metamorphos looks pretty decent for a student project though. Impressive. Also it seems to try bringing some variety in the settings, not the same old same old orcs and elves. To Hell With It’s premise sounds funny…well it’s not that far out, my smart phone may not suck in cats but it definitely sucks in a lot of time if you’re not careful :D
I don’t watch anime, so I can’t comment on the show. Sounds interesting though!
I stumbled upon them via exploration queue. Probably one of the few times that thing’s been helpful. To Hell With it was probably my most pleasant discovery and if animations were a bit tightened it would be even better.