Squidlit is meant to be a hardware-accurate throwback to Gameboy platformers, as it proudly claims on its Steam page the list of limitations it works within. As a simplistic mascot platformer, Kirby's Adventure feels like its main inspiration. You can move left or right, press up to interact with NPC's, and double jump. The second … Continue reading squidlit →

Timespinner is an indie Metroidvania released by Chucklefish Games. That's about 80% of what you need to know. The main hook is your ability to temporarily freeze time. Its primary function is using frozen enemies (or projectiles) as platforms to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Beyond that there isn't much to do. Stopping time can come … Continue reading timespinner →

Ever Oasis came out in summer 2017 to relatively little fanfare. I think it was featured in a few Nintendo Direct videos but they seemed focused more on promoting the Switch (understandably). Still, as a new IP with little promotion and a release on the rapidly aging 3DS, it seems like a death march to … Continue reading ever oasis →

Somewhat ironically, Squaresoft’s first major release of the new millennium was meant as a retrospective of its early days. Final Fantasy IX eschews the futuristic setting and grimness of the previous two installments for a straightforward medieval setting with an ostensibly whimsical tone. Released near the end of the PlayStation’s life cycle (and three months … Continue reading final fantasy ix →

Star Fox: Assault is a baffling game. It came out in 2005 as the first proper Star Fox since 1997's Star Fox 64. Rareware released Star Fox Adventures in 2002 but from my understanding that was their own adventure IP reskinned as a Star Fox game - there's no way it would be worth playing. … Continue reading star fox: assault →

After playing Westerado I found out it's an enhanced version of a free flash game on Adult Swim's website. This makes sense, as much of it felt like something you would play in your browser to waste some time at work. It's fairly ambitious as a flash game, all things considered, but game as a … Continue reading westerado: double barreled →

The Persona series is a rare case of a spin-off that came to eclipse its mother franchise. They’re incredibly modern games – Shin Megami Tensei tends to stand by tradition; adding modest twists to its core mechanics each iteration. Persona takes the signifiers of an SMT game but reimagines them with Jungian motifs and a … Continue reading persona 2: eternal punishment →