kimchica — Reviews

Reviews

9.0
CairnA favorite!
Aava’s pain was my pain; her successes my success. While the climbing got a little finicky at times, once you understand what to look for — and the general rhythm of movement — it is maybe the closest I’ve ever felt to actually rock climbing in the game. It’s challenging, and at times I did have to stop and take a beat, but not in a maliciously punishing way. I was hooked from the jump and mainlined this game as much as my schedule would let me.
+Engaging story+Hard to put down+Satisfying gameplay
6.0
UNBEATABLEMixed
I think if I had gone into this game thinking of it less as a rhythm game and more as a narrative one, my expectations would've felt more properly set. While I loved some of its moments, this is a tough one for me to wholeheartedly recommend to everyone since it takes about 5-6 hours to really get into the swing of things. I could pick this game out of a crowd in a heartbeat, though, and while done messily, I think this game is a perfect example of one of it's main themes: making art is usually not a polished experience, and you shouldn't have to do it perfectly for it to mean something.
+Great soundtrack+Stunning graphics
10.0
Big WalkA favorite!
Big Walk trusts players to enjoy one another's company in a way that feels incredibly refreshing. While you can spend your time with friend solving the mysteries that dot this Australia-inspired island, there is also ample time and opportunity to simply be present together. Design details like not having official in-game names for things, or the fact that you need friends to be able to do things like put on a backpack, show that the developers really want players to make the world their own. And (on top of the incredible fun puzzles and communication challenges) make me love it for that.
+Creative concept+Great with friends+Rewarding exploration
8.0
HozyReally enjoyed it
Short and sweet, this game is impeccably polished and perfect for anyone who loves taking time to decorate spaces, especially if you appreciate tactile details. Beanbags have weight when you set them down, fabric folds, and the lighting is sublime. If you don't like to decorate? I would say this is really well done, but probably wouldn't change your mind. My biggest (selfish) hope for this title is that we get someday get additional levels as DLC because I never want to stop getting cute spaces to make pretty.
+Hard to put down+Polished+Satisfying gameplay
9.0
Blue PrinceA favorite!
Absolutely brilliant first section that I think is approachable to everyone. Once credits roll, this becomes more of an experience for puzzle game/note-taking sickos (complimentary). While I go back and forth on the ways randomization works in the game -- and wish there were some quality of life elements to allow more people to enjoy the deeper puzzles and lore -- this is a standout experience.
+Creative concept+Engaging story+Rewarding exploration
9.0
Chicory: A Colorful TaleA favorite!
On it's face, it looks like an adorable title about coloring the world in. And yes, it is. And yes, I loved the coloring. The way they make this artistic endeavor so approachable is SMART: limited color palettes, you can choose to auto-fill areas, stamp shapes offer fun options, etc. But the way that this story approaches the themes of confidence, creativity, comparison, and pressure are beautiful, and I wish I had played this sooner just so I could have been spending more time telling people they should also try this game.
+Creative concept+Engaging story+Great soundtrack
6.0
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium TalesMixed
This game rides on a lot of nostalgia for me -- the time-travel, the weapons/spell wheels, and art all felt like returning an idealized version of games I remember playing as a kid, which is perhaps a blessing and curse. While fun to play in the moment, I don't think this'll be a title that sticks with me long-term like so many of the games they've referenced. The combat is fun, but gets repetitive. The story fine, but it lacked character development to get me truly invested. Even the time-travel, while cool, felt under-developed and utilized. A good, but not great, experience.
+Satisfying combat+Satisfying gameplay+Stunning graphics−Weak story−Repetitive