When I first stepped into Gardener: Plant Creator, I was excited to dive into a world of growing plants but as I played, that excitement quickly faded.
TRAILER: Gardener: Plant Creator
Gardener: Plant Creator is a game where you grow plants… but not really. It’s actually a menu where you click and things pop up on screen. There is no challenge, no game, nothing. Just a screen with a piece of land where you can place parts of a flower by clicking an option in a menu.
Gardener: insult of a concept
You can’t do anything fun with your plants, like taste the fruit or have them battle each other. You also can’t turn them into monsters or have romantic conversations with them. It’s all just watching them grow, which gets boring fast.
The entire gameplay of Gardener: Plant Creator is just clicking through a list of flower parts and setting their sizes, the game will then show you said plant on top of some rendered landscape designed to look as good as your graphics processor will allow.
You click a part and it shows up on the screen. There is no gameplay interaction, no real task. Just push a button and the thing is there.
When the game begins you have only a handful of things you can put together. To get more you must enter the crystal menu and click on one of the unlimited crystals. Each crystal will be given a random item from the game. That is all. No story, no further gameplay, just this… empty garden.
While the graphics and music are pleasant, they simply aren’t enough to compensate for the dearth of activities within the game. Additionally, the requirement to play daily to unlock new content feels less like an enjoyable experience and more akin to a tedious obligation.
Okay… Now what?
Well, that is all I could have said about this disappointing game. It’s disheartening to see potential squandered in such a way. But rather than dwell on the negative, let’s take a moment for a little rant to lighten the day. Sometimes, expressing frustration can be cathartic, even if it’s just about a game.
I cannot get why any developer would spend time, effort and money to make something not worth showing to anyone else. I disagree with believing there was any real love behind the creation of Gardener: Plant Creator. It just feels too thrown together at the last minute to me.
This should have been a simulator or something magical but instead, it feels like an image creator to occupy babies with a short attention span.
And don’t hit me with the ‘it is free’ nonsense. The fact that it’s free doesn’t excuse any of its shortcomings; quality should never be sacrificed, especially when there are examples of superior games crafted by developers at single-day game jams.
My stance is final!
If the position of this article went over your head, let me make it clear. Gardener: Plant Creator isn’t very good. It doesn’t have much to offer and it’s not very fun. If you want something relaxing to play, there are lots of other games you can try. I thought this game would be fun, but it’s not. I wanted to enjoy taking care of plants, but I didn’t. Instead, I’m disappointed and I want to tell everyone how bad it is. I went into this game hoping to get my hands dirty in the garden and am leaving with a frown and a desire to write a scathing review.
Gardener: Plant Creator doesn’t live up to its promise. It’s not worth playing if you’re looking for something enjoyable.
Normally, I find it bad form to compare one game to another. It’s like describing Van Gogh’s sunflowers by saying ‘Well, you know Monet’s lillies…’. Still, my hands are a little tied here. Hero’s Hour isn’t just like Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It’s cut out holes in the box art and is wearing it as a mask. Normally, I’d strike it down for something like that but Heroes 3 is something of a trigger for me. It’s one of those cornerstone games that formed my childhood.
That does mean that Hero’s Hour has some awfully big shoes to fill. We’ve reviewed it before around these parts, but it’s just made its way onto the Switch. This, on paper, seems like a brilliant move. One of the main features of games like this is hotseat. Being able to physically toss the console to the other player makes life easier. At least when compared to constantly getting up and down from the computer chair. Still, it’s a rather clunky Switch port, but thankfully that doesn’t dampen the game’s best parts.
The Hour and The Hero
Let me start by recapping some of Hero’s Hour‘s main points. It’s a strategy game through and through, being largely turn-based outside of the combat. In the overworld, it’s all about gathering resources and building your army. There’s quite a dizzying array of factions to choose from, each with their own skills. The undead can raise skeletons, for instance. Beastmasters have the ability to summon dragons, which I enjoyed immensely. The overworld is one big arms race against the AI and is quite good fun. City-building is as basic as its major inspiration, but watching a tiny hamlet grow to a metropolis is a nice feeling.
I’m less warm about the combat. To be fair, Heroes 3‘s combat felt like playing chess against someone who kept rolling a dice to decide whether you could actually take their pieces. So maybe a change was necessary. This feels a little too much in the other direction. You field your units and they handle the fighting for you, so a lot of battles just involved me folding my arms and waiting. Casting spells adds some interaction though, and I do like that you can only field a set number of units at a time. I eventually learned to send out some chaff first to break up the enemy ranks, then launch the heavy hitters. Still, it feels a little hands-off for me.
Switching Things Up
Hero’s Hour‘s transition from PC to Switch brings a lot of promise, especially in the local mutliplayer department. I will applaud any game that puts in local multiplayer, and it’s a natural fit both for the genre and the console. What’s more, a title like this works well on the go. It’s something you can play a few rounds of on the bus. The fairly simple graphics suit the smaller screen of the Switch too. The art’s not too bad, by the way. Little on the minimalist side, but the variety of creature designs is frankly nuts.
There are difficulties with the Switch though. For one, it commits the cardinal sin of just mapping mouse movement to the analog sticks. So moving the cursor over to a button feels laborious. Strangely, it doesn’t incorporate the touch screen controls on the Switch, which feels like an odd misstep. Particularly when directing troops in battle. Would have been the perfect opportunity to make me feel like I’m at the war table. It also had frequent frame rate drops, which was a little disappointing. Optimisation seems a little rough in general. If you’re playing a game with many AI players, for instance, you might want to bring a packed lunch while they take their turns.
Hero’s Hour – An Odd Fit For Switch
Thinking over this review, I feel like there is an ideal place for Hero’s Hour: mobile. The relatively minimalist graphics and hands-off combat would work really well in that format. Not to mention, the increased portability would allow the hotseat to shine. It would certainly be a more attractive prospect than a million games of UNO on a long train ride. The port to the Switch is a good step, but feels a little fumbled. Changing things to another console requires more than just tying the mouse to the analog sticks and calling it a day.
As a result, I can’t really recommend the Switch as your first choice. It’s a game worth playing, regardless. After all, Ubisoft has no time for anything that it can’t force open-world mechanics into, so Heroes has long since been hung, drawn and quartered. I admire any developer that can look at that and decide they want to do something about it. Hero’s Hour is a solid attempt to carry on that legacy but, for now, it’s probably worth playing it on PC.
Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters is an open world adventure game set in a sci-fi world. It’s actually a port of a game called Star Control II that was originally released in 1992. The team behind this port are Pistol Shrimp, who are the developers and the publisher. The release date of this port was February 19th 2024.
When looking into Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters, I was intrigued to see how well the game stood the test of time. However, upon playing, I was let down quite a bit. There are a few ways it still remains a solid game but the ways it doesn’t really hurt the experience. If you where a fan of the game back then then I can see you being excited for this but anyone else not really.
Exploring The Many Planets
Screenshot of the starmap
Most of your time with this game will be exploring the vast open world of the game. This exploration accounts for about 90% of the game and can get a bit boring, so I would recommend taking breaks. It is cool though how each small dot you see on the map is somewhere you can go to, it’s that full.
The controls for exploring are in tank control style. I really personally dislike this style of controlling but on top of this the ship can go really fast making it hard to land on a planet. There where several times I had to spend some time trying just to land on a planet. This is even more frustrating knowing that there is a time limit the game puts on you. Most people will not complete the game in one run due to this pressuring timer. For me, this timer goes against what the game wants you to do…. spend time exploring.
When exploring, you can land on planets and salvage materials from them as well as encounter other lifeforms. Materials are important to collect as they give you currency to use for fuel and ship upgrades. Speaking of which, you can upgrade and add many things to your ship to allow you to have an easier time while exploring. It’s essential you do this if you want to get far. While, the encounters with other lifeforms provide you with vital information, which you will need to make note of in order to get through the game.
Exploring is what this game is all about and there is a lot to explore, but sadly you feel rushed and need to put up with the controls.
PRIORITY OVERRIDE
Screenshot of an encounter, showing dialogue options.
The other main part to this game is it’s combat, though realistically, this accounts for about 10% of the game. Sometimes, when you explore the open world of the game, other lifeforms can attack you. Though, other times, battles can happen through specific story moments. The random encounters seemingly give you a chance to try and be friendly with the other lifeform, though I only tried to do this once and a battle ended up happening anyway. So, I am unsure if you can actually avoid battle.
While in combat it’s your job to come out on top and be the last ship standing. Before entering the combat arena you get to choose which ship to deploy into battle, from the ones you have collected. Each ship plays differently so choose well. Once you chose a ship, you are then able to start the encounter. The tank controls really hurt the combat for me as it’s quite hard to manoeuvre around and shoot well. There is an auto combat mode, though this takes away any fun you could of had with combat away and basically makes the game just about exploring. I put up with the controls for most battles, as I still wanted some variety in gameplay.
I do want to make note that this game does feature online pvp but I didn’t get to test it out myself. As well as, this there is a mode that lets you test out different ships in a series of battles against an AI opponent. I found this to be a useful tool to get the hang of different ships and figure out strategies to fight them.
There are some neat ideas here but combat is hurt by the controls and makes it not very enjoyable.
Colorful Planets, Colorful Characters
Screenshot of one of the funny lines I came across in the early game.
The writing for this game is pretty good. The characters have tons of personality and feel really well made. I also really like the dialogue choices you get when talking with them, some of choices have great humour. There are also choices that do influence what happens in the story, so it’s important to choose well. This allows you to have quite a different experience on multiple playthroughs and to have a more personalised experience in general.
The narrative as a whole is quite interesting and made me want to know more. It doesn’t feel overpowering with information but it has enough substance to it to get your invested. The main goal of the game stays the same the whole way through, but what you find out between that is intriguing. I do wish there was more narrative as a whole though, since what is here is quite good.
The writing helps get you through the game for sure, I particularly like characters of the game.
Superb Sci-fi Style
Screenshot of one of the images in the opening sequence of the game.
The presentation for this game is another good aspect to it. The animation and artwork were absolutely stellar for the time and still hold up well. All the characters look particularly full of life and I love the 3d effect to them. You can tell a lot of hard work is in this area of the game for sure.
I want to also shout out the soundtrack here. It’s really good. It fits the vibe of the game really well and is full of jamming tracks. I can see myself listening to some of these tracks even outside the game. The tracks that aren’t as jamming still fit the theme really well. The hyperspace theme is my go to track, can listen to it on repeat.
Conclusion
Screenshot of a successful encounter, with the enemy ship blowing up
Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters is a game definitely of it’s era, showing the very origins of open world games. It would have been nice to see some changes for this version to modernise it, but it is a very faithful port and that’s what the aim was from what I gather. I respect this, but it makes me sad knowing I could have enjoyed this game more if they hadn’t been so faithful. I feel this is a great nostalgia trip for anyone who played the original game though. It is probably like this as these people were in mind first and foremost.
The game is free so you can always give it a try yourself and see what you think. If you would like to do that you can go here.
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami is a roguelike dungeon crawler game developed by FuRyu. It is based on the anime Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs. Unfortunately, this game fails to deliver engaging gameplay, a story, or anything engaging outside of fan service moments.
Another Anime, Another World
Yuuna and the gang find a mysterious box calling out to them. Suddenly, all the characters are warped into the Dreamy Miniature Garden. Yuuna wakes up and has to find her friends. She runs into a talking stone, which she calls Mr. Droppy, who explains about the world and the creatures inside it. Yuuna must go through various dungeons to retrieve her friends and find a way to solve the mysteries of the Dreamy Miniature Garden. Clearing dungeons retrieves more characters and unlocks side stories to flesh out the characters further.
You load into randomly generated dungeons, and as you move through the dungeons, enemies move as well. The characters and enemies take turns hitting each other. You repeat this process until someone is dead. You can pick up armor, weapons, items, and special power-ups as you progress through the dungeon. If you die, you lose your items, but you can find them again by re-entering the dungeon and heading to the same floor to pick them up. As you unlock more characters, they can join you on your adventures. Unfortunately, having a second character with you makes the game almost too easy. There are options to go in alone if you are looking for a challenge.
There is the hub world in between the dungeons. You have access to a shop where you can buy items and unlockables with the currency you collect. The other part of the game is the bathhouse. It is a mini-game where your characters can bathe while spirits attempt to disrupt them. You have a mini spirit that pushes the spirits away so the characters can enjoy their bath peacefully. The longer the bath goes, the more you can level up these characters and unlock new powers to use in the dungeons. While leveling up your characters is a bonus, this mode is a button-mashing fiesta.
Easy Steamy
When I think of dungeon crawlers, I think of how I will navigate the dungeons efficiently. What items do I need to pick up to survive? I stopped asking questions because I did not have to think in this game. If I got low enough on health, I would level up and restore all my health. The only difficult part of this game is entering ghost zones, which are large rooms with many enemies. These rooms felt like an RNG fiesta because of bad spawns. However, most of the time, I took a companion with me, and I was able to clear the room eventually with little strategy to clear these rooms. Its core gameplay is mind-numbingly easy, which makes for a boring experience.
The other thing that this video game offers is that it is very horny. The bathhouse mini-game is the prime example, with just enough censorship mist to keep this game from being rated AO. The characters make suggestive moans when they get hit by enemies. Armor sets you get in this game are old gym clothes, school outfits, and maid costumes. There is also the power-up, where you can level up faster in exchange for the character’s clothes to rip apart over time. The game knows what it is and does not shy away from it.
Trouble in Paradise?
You can look at Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami in two ways. The game is either a bad dungeon crawler or a horny anime game. It’s a game that offers little in story or gameplay, and it just feels like fan service for fans of the show. Unless you are a fan of the show and want more Yuuna content, or you want a video game with a lewder tone, this is not a game worth checking out.
The Invincible attempts to create a niche, retro sci-fi experience that is all wrapped up in a modern bow. This bizarre blend of ideas reflects the core influences. However, I’m not entirely convinced that everything fits. This mismatched design isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there were plenty of loopholes that sadly never get filled. As such, you have to make a whole host of assumptions about what is happening and why.
This calm adventure title was developed by Starward Industries and published by 11 Bit Studios. Moreover, there isn’t an ounce of combat in sight. As such, the gameplay unfolds at a pleasant pace. Additionally, there is a glorious sense of hands-on action as bizarre objects and weird tools are free to be examined. The focus of The Invincible centres around the protagonist’s exploration and her discoveries.
Memory loss and The Invincible go hand-in-hand.
Amnesia and its convenient mysteries aren’t exactly fresh or revolutionary. Yet, it works perfectly as the sense of mystery and unknown complements the bizarre landscape. Alongside this, with no knowledge of her previous actions, the hero is forced to explore with no preconceived ideas. This blank page ensures that you genuinely feel that you are part of the experience. What’s more, every observation and discovery is eye-opening and interesting to see.
A space race has 2 rival factions at each other’s throats. Subsequently, there is a sense of urgency when it comes to completing every task. This undermining plot leads the crew of the Dragonfly to their untimely downfall. As the debris of your escape pod lays strewn on the desert floor, the protagonist wakes to a wonderful orange hue. Regis III is now Dr Yasna’s home. Accordingly, she must piece together the gaps and continue her research if she wishes to solve the mystery.
Is this just a walking simulator?
The Invincible has an awe-inspiring setting that is just beautiful to explore. However, the slow and arduous pace pushes us towards walking simulator territory. Now, this isn’t a bad thing per se, but it wasn’t what I expected. Thankfully, the gruelling nature of the task at hand is represented brilliantly. The hero is exhausted in seconds and climbing rocks or dropping off of ledges will make you wince.
This exploration ordeal may annoy you. After all, other adventure titles make light of minor inclines and stamina and athleticism are at superhuman levels. Yet, Dr Yasna isn’t a hero, nor is she spectacularly strong. This protagonist focuses on research, observation, and the power of words. This unusual and unique perspective adds drama to a strange sci-fi endeavour.
Puzzles and loneliness.
If walking across a desert landscape wasn’t enough, there are some wonderful puzzles to complete. The tactile nature of each unusual item begs to be touched. With dials to twist, levers to set, and other tasks to tackle, this was reminiscent of Call of the Sea. As you encounter each problem, more of the backstory and the protagonist’s plight become clearer. Accordingly, the slow unfolding revelations allow you to absorb and digest an otherwise alien world.
Though the sense of emptiness may be jarring, I loved the openness and the callous loneliness. The heroine fills the void with her intense scientific knowledge and her desire to learn. Consequently, though there are swathes of nothingness, it wasn’t uncomfortable or boring to experience.
The Invincible looks amazing.
Classic sci-fi is an awe-inspiring genre that is filled with wonderment and glorious imagery. Thankfully, The Invincible captures this essence in every aspect of its visuals. The glorious landscapes and rich colour palette are hard to ignore. Additionally, though you may struggle with some navigation elements, the world is fun to explore. The sense of openness and the varied backdrops are simply breathtaking.
The amazing landscapes are paired with an exceptional soundtrack. The dramatic music adds danger and energy to every low point. Alongside this, the acting is fantastic, and each character plays their part perfectly. Though the sci-fi sound effects were somewhat outlandish, I enjoyed the madness and the shrill noises.
Occasionally clumsy to play.
The navigation issues prevent The Invincible from truly excelling. Furthermore, a lack of defined paths only muddies the water further. Yet, once you overcome these problems, you experience a well-considered button layout that works well.
The developers have incorporated branching storylines and a variety of unique endings. However, I wasn’t convinced that this reflected the core influences. Additionally, the alternative finales were a little weak and this made me question the replay value and longevity.
The Invincible is a mixed bag.
I desperately wanted to enjoy The Invincible more than I did. Unfortunately, it never grabbed me the way I expected. Yes, it is beautiful, and the audio was fantastic. Furthermore, I adore the protagonist and her plight. However, its gameplay is distinctly mixed and this was unfortunate. Yet, despite my disappointment, it is unique and unusual, and I recommend giving it a chance by buying it here! Can you piece together the mystery? Explore your surroundings, solve the puzzles, and discover a strange alien world.
The GC5 gaming chair from FlexiSpot is ideal if you work from home or love to game for hours. Its sturdy build quality, ergonomic design, and multi-point adjustment ensure that you are comfortable at all times. Alongside this, it is currently £100 off RRP (at time of publication). Therefore, this striking chair is affordable and great for marathon work/gaming sessions.
Gaming is as much about looks as it is substance. Accordingly, you want every aspect of your workstation to pop. Thankfully, the sharp mech-inspired lines deliver a futuristic edge. Additionally, each key support can be adjusted with ease. As such, you’ll feel like you are in Heaven as you game to your heart’s content.
What’s in the box of the GC5 gaming chair?
The packaging is enormous. Moreover, it is robust and heavy. Consequently, it is advised that 2 people move the box.
The GC5 gaming chair comes in many parts. Subsequently, you’ll need plenty of room to construct this product.
Screws and an Allen key are provided.
Follow the step-by-step guide to build this.
Putting it together.
The GC5 gaming chair is a heavy beast. However, thankfully, this is a project that can be tackled alone. Thanks to the simple instructions and the well-constructed parts, this goes together with ease. If you are used to DIY and you have a methodical mindset, you will not struggle. Yet if you lack this skill, you’ll tackle this in around 20 minutes.
Though I didn’t struggle, I can imagine the armrests could cause some frustration. The long screws can be fiddly to handle and the supplied Allen key occasionally catches the hardened plastic. This is a minor complaint and an issue that shouldn’t detract from the usability and straightforward building stage.
Technical aspects.
This piece of furniture is surprisingly technical. With many moving parts, it can be confusing to get things right. Whether you are adjusting the armrests, headrest, back support, or seat height, there is a switch or button to complete the task. This multipoint adjustment takes a little getting used to, but once your chair is set, you’ll love every second.
Build quality.
The GC5 gaming chair delivers a sturdy and reassuring back panel and plush seat. Moreover, the large base is robust and well-balanced. On top of this, the wheels are hardy and move well on both hardened and carpeted flooring. I was impressed with the smooth leaver action and the strong holding points.
However, the armrests are lightweight and this was somewhat disconcerting. I’d have preferred a sturdier and less flexible approach. Yet, this wasn’t to be, and maybe it’s a development point for the future.
What impressed me, though, was the futuristic design and the breathable material. Additionally, the white-stitched logo looks great, and the brushed silver and grey fabric blend really pops. The clean mech-inspiration is ideal for your gaming rig. Accordingly, this chair will be a hit with many sci-fi-loving gamers.
Is the GC5 gaming chair worth it?
Getting the right chair for your workstation can be tough. Thankfully, FlexiSpot has a great choice of office furniture. Moreover, you can enjoy incredible savings at FlexiSpot.co.uk*1. For example, a referral system allows you to earn 3% cashback on your friends’ first order. Alternatively, the first 10 orders containing chairs completed and paid for after 11:00 AM BST 29/04/2024 will earn 100% cashback*2. Additionally, you can purchase the E8 desk for £299.99, saving £140 or theE7 desk for £269.99, saving £150.
If you want a gaming chair that stands out from the crowd, look no further. This sci-fi-themed chair is comfortable, attractive, and great for smaller workstations. On top of this, its ergonomic design is perfect for aching bodies. As such, I love it and I recommend buying it here!
(More information on FlexiSpot can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! FlexiSpot provided a sample for this review!)
Loretta takes you on a weird and wonderful journey. Furthermore, the strange writing is oddly captivating and empathising with a vindictive and mentally unhinged protagonist is an uncomfortable experience. Yet, it is this creepy and sinister plot that makes this a tough game to put down. From the opening moment, you are drawn to the lead character’s plight and somehow hope that things go her way.
This story-driven adventure was developed by Yakov Butuzoff and published by DANGEN Entertainment. Moreover, it has point-and-click elements and much of the gameplay just exists. Accordingly, it has a distinctly linear edge even though there are branching storylines and multiple endings. The multiple-choice answers and strange tasks may not make sense at first. Additionally, the idea of taking someone’s life may be disconcerting. Yet, the hero takes this in her stride and murder and destruction surround her throughout.
Loretta will make you squirm and frown.
The idea that a housewife can cause so much despair worries me. However, this is exactly what happens in Loretta. This once-glamorous woman has been dragged away from her New York City lifestyle. Her husband, Walter, is a writer. He wants inspiration for his next book, and he can only find that when they move to the country. Yet, this causes their relationship to fracture and both Loretta and Walter grow cold and apart. Furthermore, Walter can’t help but cheat on his wife. Therefore, a deep sense of depression and desperation takes hold as the protagonist tries to get her life back.
This cold story will resonate with many gamers. But I can’t imagine many people would go to the lengths that the hero is willing to experience. With dark thoughts swirling in her head, she lacks a logical mindset. Consequently, she is reactive to many situations and this causes a path of death and destruction to be left in her wake. However, you have the power to stop these things from happening.
Slow gameplay.
Though the plot gives off high-energy and dramatic vibes, the action plays out at an incredibly slow pace. Every interaction is supported by bucket-loads of dialogue. This element of the game had a visual novel feeling to it that may put some gamers off. I, however, enjoyed delving into the lore of each character and the varied subplots.
Completing each task at hand wasn’t challenging. Effectively, you had to explore an array of small spaces whilst interacting with every usable object. If successful, you will complete a puzzle or move the dialogue onto its next segment. If you fail, you simply explore some more and the solution will quickly jump out at you. Now, this may seem like a complaint, but it isn’t. I liked the deliberate slow nature of the plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting and era-specific writing.
You may be offended.
Loretta does a great job of highlighting the dialect and vocabulary of the era. Though this may offend some, I was impressed by the lack of censorship. Furthermore, I believe that the past should be celebrated even if it is wrong by modern standards. Thankfully, this is the mindset of the developer and I believe that the game benefits because of this honest approach.
Alongside this, the uncomfortable mental health issues were not swerved. As the hero’s mental health declines, the imagery, dialogue, and tasks take a strange turn. Subsequently, you feel like you are being led down a rabbit hole. This bizarre funnelled gameplay was slightly disconcerting. However, as new characters were introduced and the story evolved, you simply rolled with the punches and waited out the madness.
Loretta takes inspiration from film noir.
Film noir isn’t utilised enough. This dated genre creates some spectacular and dramatic encounters. Furthermore, it allows you to use your imagination to fill in moments of nothingness. Thankfully, Loretta takes inspiration from this genre. The sense of desperation and loss is enhanced by the sinister art style. Additionally, the small environments and unnaturally creepy characters complement the grisly nature of the plot.
The audio follows suit with its minor-toned soundtrack. Furthermore, the daunting ambient sounds join a host of traditional OTT horror noises. The slash of a knife and the bludgeoning noise of a blunt object will make you cringe. Moreover, the cold screams of fearful victims will stick in your mind. Accordingly, though this is uncomfortable to look at and to listen to, it is bloody brilliant to experience.
Simple controls.
With point-and-click mechanics at its core, Loretta was always going to be simple to control. Additionally, an easy-to-read UI and slow gameplay keep you on top of things. Though there isn’t a tutorial, much of the action is straightforward. However, the dialogue should have been highlighted better as it was tough to see which option was selected.
Though it wasn’t always clear to see how the story diverged, there are plenty of subplots and branching moments. This ensures that there are multiple endings to enjoy, and you can manipulate Loretta’s fate. This creates a sense of replay value and longevity. I’m not sure how many times I can stomach the madness, but returning to experience some unique moments is worth every uncomfortable encounter.
Loretta takes you down a dark path.
I’m not always a fan of dark and depressing media. The world is hard enough without relaxing to more of the same. Yet, Loretta tells an interesting and captivating story. Furthermore, I loved the sinister choices and the excellent story. Alongside this, it has a cruel and grim aesthetic that is fantastic to look at. Consequently, I love this and I recommend buying it here! Would you kill another human to reclaim your life? Make your choices, live with the consequences, and escape your bland existence.
Looking for a retro, Diablo-like, adventure game? You may want to check out Crackshell’s Hammerwatch 2. This game is a pixelated, action, roleplaying game designed with a top down perspective. You’ll go on a journey completing quests, exploring dungeons, and defeating powerful bosses, all while progressing the story, should you so choose. However, it has a few problems in terms of its visuals, gameplay, and performance.
Pixel Power
If you’re a fan of pixel art, you won’t be disappointed with Hammerwatch 2’s visuals. Everything from the menus to the effects is crafted with some quite commendable pixel artistry. I have to admit, the overall presentation really pulled me into the world. What I liked most was how the caves and dungeons felt so dark and gloomy. Rays of light would cast down from the cracks in the ceiling. Creatures lurked in the shadows. The sound of rushing water would fill the air. All of this and more worked to make these places feel alive.
On another note, one neat little feature that you’ll find in the display settings is the ability to turn on an effect that makes the screen curve like that of old CRT televisions. It feels a bit jarring to have this on while playing on a modern television, but this may be something you can utilize if you’ve got some older hardware.
Not all of it is perfect though. For instance, when you get to the surface, the lighting can be a bit too bright depending on the time of day. Luckily, the game features some settings to adjust the contrast and gamma levels to your liking. I appreciated being able to control this, but I found myself going back and forth between brighter and darker settings whenever it was dark or sunny out.
Another area that is a bit rough when it comes to the visuals is the game’s map. There is no minimap that shows your local location, so you have to rely on the map in your journal. For a game that delivers a strong visual presentation, I was surprised to see that the map was lacking in this area.
What the map does right is that it features the names of various towns and locations that you can go to, and it even shows the roads that lead to them. However, that is all you get. There is no icon that shows your location, nor are there any quest markers to guide you. Also, you can’t place down your own markers or stamps to keep track of where things are. Furthermore, the map itself looks very bland. There could have been a bit more detail added to make the map look more like that of a cartographer’s map.
Aside from that, Hammerwatch 2 still achieves some captivating visuals that enhances your exploration and combat encounters.
Creating the Hero
Hammerwatch 2’s gameplay feels great, at least when it isn’t frustrating.
Upon starting a new game, you’ll be given a handful of options to customize your character. To name a few, these involve picking a class, choosing a voice, and coloring your armor. I was excited to see that Hammerwatch 2 features five classes to pick from. These are the Wizard, Paladin, Rogue, Warlock, and Ranger.
On my first playthrough, I chose the Wizard. The class boasted a decent array of abilities that allowed me to pass through enemies, give myself magic armor, and launch fireballs at my foes.
However, I had way more fun with the Paladin class on my second playthrough. The Paladin comes equipped much like your standard fighter class, but it still utilizes some magic abilities. My favorite of these abilities has to be the hammer throw. This helps in combat when you are dealing with large groups of enemies. Once you throw it, the hammer will bounce from enemy to enemy, dealing huge amounts of damage. Plus, it makes you feel a lot like Thor.
I won’t spoil the other classes, but they all feel great to use, especially when you get them to a higher level and unlock more abilities.
Also, you can invite your friends over if you want to do some co-op in Hammerwatch 2. It definitely adds to the gameplay experience when you all join up to take on a boss together. In a recent update, you and your friends can each export your respective character saves so that way you can still use your characters in your own worlds.
Fighting and Fetching
The combat and skill system in Hammerwatch 2 is where it shines the most. Combat is punchy and satisfying, and the enemies provide a great challenge, even on the normal difficulty level. The same goes for the game’s various bosses. They are all designed in a unique way akin to what theme they are. This makes them feel a lot like Dark Souls bosses with their unique abilities and combat techniques.
Defeating certain enemies or bosses will net you with experience and some possible new gear. The gear won’t change the look of your character sprite, but they will provide you with some significant bonuses and attributes that apply to your own attributes and skills.
Speaking of skills, every time you level up, you are given a few skill and attribute points, which you can save or spend depending on what kind of build you are going for. Although, you can’t really change much since your chosen class establishes the path for leveling up.
Where the game starts to fall short is when you are tasked with completing certain quests.
On my first playthrough, I managed to clear out the first major dungeon on the starting island. However, I had to go back because I didn’t accept two vital quests that I needed to finish in order to progress to the next area. What made this harder was the fact that enemies respawn very rapidly, both in dungeons and on the surface. It also doesn’t help that there aren’t any markers or visuals that show you where to go, or at least what area you need to be in.
This makes the fetch quests extremely hard, especially when you come to a point where you have to break open certain crates to get the item. These crates don’t look any different than other ones, so when I discovered this the first time, I tediously went around the whole map breaking everything to see if any of the items were in them.
Platform Performance
Another area that significantly hinders Hammerwatch 2 is in its performance. Keep in mind, many of these issues will largely depend on which platform you own the game on. For me, I played on both the recent PS4 release, and the older PS5 version.
On PS4, the game suffers from stuttering, freezing, and a lower framerate. This made the game a real struggle to play, especially since I have sensitive eyes. During a majority of my combat encounters and exploration, the game would suddenly start to stutter. This caused a lot of my deaths in the game, and is what kept pushing me to play the PS5 version instead. The stuttering got so bad at times, I had to step away from playing to rest my eyes.
On PS5, the game runs much better. There is consistent framerate, no freezing, and no stuttering whatsoever.
In the end, Hammerwatch 2 has a lot going for it. There’s numerous quests, engaging combat, and beautiful visuals to encapsulate it all. The various problems with certain small aspects of the game, coupled with the major performance issues are what muddles the experience.
The Hungry Lamb is a story about desperation and the sheer lengths people will go to when their lives are at stake. A tale of loss, a tale of fury, a tale of spiraling madness, and yet also one of love. The Hungry Lamb will take you to some dark places indeed, and with all this misery, could there truly be a light at the end of the tunnel?
To call the protagonist of this story a hero would be a lie without a doubt. His name is Liang, a deadly bandit who preys on the unlucky innocents who travel without protection throughout the backroads and woodlands of Ming Dynasty China. His partner Tongue, entices him into trafficking four children across the country for a dazzling amount of money. As Liang, you will be offered choices on this journey: choices that may save you or lead to your demise, and others that influence the lives of those around you. Pick wisely, lest you meet an untimely fate at the hands of the ones you least expect.
Right from the get-go, you’re drawn into the world with a selection of beautifully drawn backgrounds and well-designed characters. This a terrifying story because we know it’s based on reality, and as such it’s hard not to root for the characters. The only thing that separates us is time. A tranquil music score plays as we’re introduced to the children and their masters. It’s an often haunting melody, that echoes years of history and sadness, and as such, it begins to influence our decisions, making us feel for those who have no autonomy.
But those who lack autonomy, yet are forced to take decisions into their own hands, well those characters are all the more interesting. We’re treated to little flashbacks in the style of painted pieces, where we learn the truth about many characters. These scenes are constantly leading us towards something, something that is crucial to the story, yet we’re always pulled away. These flashbacks add a lot of great characterization while keeping the reader hooked. It’s hard not to be eager for more details.
The Hungry Lamb is full of twists and turns, dramatic events, and difficult decisions, yet there are a couple of problems that continue to plague the experience from start to finish. As a visual novel, arguably the most important thing is the writing. Yes, the music and characters may be great, yet without compelling prose, it’s a hard thing to sell.
From beginning to end, The Hungry Lamb is chock full of spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, missed punctuation and endless line repetition. Add to this sloppy tense issues and you’ve really got a mess on your hands. While there was never anything that I outright couldn’t get the gist of, this kind of lack of attention to detail yanks you from the world and completely breaks any sense of immersion that had been building up.
Of course, this is a translation. I can understand a few mistakes slipping through the cracks, converting Chinese to English is never going to be simple, yet the translation here is pretty egregious. This should honestly be the priority for a visual novel, getting that text right is downright a requirement before releasing a game such as this. So many times I tried to get myself invested in the story, before getting pulled out by weird turns of phrase, or the protagonist talking like he was an angsty 13-year-old teenager. Some sentences read perfectly, with enchanting language that sings and sparks, and then some outright make zero sense. This leads me to think that the team may have used AI to translate this visual novel, leading to all the weird inconsistencies. If you’re going to release a game into multiple languages and have people pay to play it, at least hire a translation team to give it the justice it deserves. Because there’s real promise here, a touching story and characters that make the decisions oh so difficult.
It would be remiss of me to gloss over some of the weirdness here though. There are definitely a lot of strange writing choices in The Hungry Lamb. One could say it’s overly depressing or needlessly violent, though I’m not sure I agree. What I can’t get on board with is the needless pseudo-sexualization of an 11-year-old in the bathhouse scene. While it’s later revealed that Sui is actually 14, that doesn’t change anything at all. If you were to take out this scene, it would change absolutely nothing in the overall story. It adds no depth, very little extra characterization, and serves to make the player feel a bit weird about this whole thing. Yes, I understand it’s set 400 years ago and times were different then, but that feels like a particularly lame excuse to add something so unnecessary. The way Sui is drawn, the way she speaks, and the way the main character makes excuses to be with her, are contrived and cast an ominous cloud over the experience. And no that’s not a part of the story, but a conscious decision made by the creators. Scrap it, and The Hungry Lamb would be all the better for it.
Some things make me want to love this experience: the great addition of a flowchart and numerous savestates so a player can achieve all the endings without wasting time, the inclusion of real historical events, clothes and other little details that help flesh out the world. And yet others bring it down: the same repeated backgrounds being used over and over again, the poorly looping music during tense scenes and the stilted dialogue. In a lot of cases, most of this can be fixed with a bit of polish, but in others, there’s much work to be done.
As a visual novel, it’s serviceable at best. If you can ignore the poor translation, there’s a good story in there somewhere. I enjoyed the endings. Going through the whole game again wasn’t too much of a pain and there’s a relatively satisfying, not too depressing, conclusion. Unfortunately, The Hungry Lamb just makes too many slip-ups on the way. If you’re looking for a polished and thought-provoking piece, this lamb may just be a bit too overcooked.
The White Arctis Nova Pro Series is now available. This fresh colourway with metallic silver speaker plates looks incredible. Moreover, it is jam-packed with SteelSeries’ top-end technology. Accordingly, investing in these headphones is the perfect option for gamers and audiophiles. The spectacular build quality is only beaten by the exceptional audio quality. Therefore, you will not be disappointed when you sit back, relax, and experience some of the most awe-inspiring games or movies you’ve ever heard.
Everything about these headphones is designed to impress. The sleek finish and comfortable material make these the ideal choice for streamers or gamers who love to play for hours on end. Alongside this, the amazing free-to-download software ensures that you can customise the headset to your liking. If this wasn’t enough, you can purchase either an Xbox and PC compatible version or a PlayStation and PC version. Consequently, this versatile product is perfect for console and PC gamers.
The tech spec of the White Arctis Nova Pro Series.
Block the white noise and completely transport to another world like never before with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The advanced 4-mic hybrid system removes outside sounds, while mics inside the earcups balance the audio for optimal clarity. For taking in your surroundings, Transparency Mode is just a button press away. Consequently, you may adjust the levels to suit each situation.
A first in gaming, the Multi-System Connect hub allows for USB switching between multiple devices at the same time. Gamers can seamlessly swap between a PC, PlayStation, Switch, or mobile device with the press of a button, without having to swap cables.
Time is money and multitasking is mandatory. The Nova Pro Wireless offers players simultaneous game & mobile audio, so they play and communicate all ways with Quantum 2.0 Wireless. Gamers can mix two audio connections at the same time. Subsequently, you’ll engage with friends over the phone while gaming on a PC or console. The powerful 2.4GHz wireless is perfect for earning that in-game hot streak while using Bluetooth for calls, Discord, music, or podcasts.
For those marathon gaming sessions, SteelSeries was the first brand to create a multi-battery solution. The Infinity Power System provides unlimited battery life and keeps players in the action with a dual-battery system. Low battery? No problem. With two hot-swappable batteries, gamers can simply reload and keep going for up to 22 hours per battery.
The tech information keeps coming!
Because communication is key in gaming, the new AI-POWERED Noise Cancelling Microphone gives players crystal clear comms. Furthermore, the Sonar Audio Suite silences all the background noise distractions from keyboards, computer fans, and much more. The ClearCast Gen2 mic gives players a true advantage through the same bidirectional microphone design used by Formula 1 crews for crystal clear, natural sound with flawless noise cancellation.
Comfort is key. The ComfortMAX System is designed to accommodate any size or shaped head, offering 4 points of adjustment. The system includes height-adjustable, rotating ear cups, a flexible tension band, pivoting hangers, and a premium PVD-coated steel band that ensures long-term durability.
Total control at the player’s fingertips. The Wireless Base Station acts as a command centre across platforms. Moreover, it features adjustments for EQ, input device, volume, ChatMix, and much more on the fly, while never having to leave the game. The device remembers personal settings and a multi-function OLED display keeps users informed of battery life and other functions. For the ultimate sound experience on console, players can select pre-designed EQ profiles.
To power the Arctis Nova franchise, SteelSeries developed the Sonar Audio Software Suite, the first pro-grade parametric EQ designed for gamers. Specifically designed to turbocharge any headset for gaming and provide a limitless ability to control sound across games, team chat, and the microphone, Sonar allows gamers to adjust every individual frequency and hear the sounds that matter the most.
Where can I buy these headphones?
The White Arctis Nova Pro Series headphones can be purchased from major retailers. However, I’m going to recommend that you buy them directly from SteelSeries. This premium product is available for around $350, and you can select the PlayStation option here or the Xbox version here. Alternatively, more information on SteelSeries can be found here!
The Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller from PowerA is a vibrant beast. I’ve looked at the Xbox alternative and was blown away by its build quality and customisable RGB lighting zones. As such, I couldn’t wait to see if this device was just as impressive. This officially licenced product is well-constructed and amazing to look at. Additionally, it has mappable rear buttons and can be used with any model of Nintendo Switch.
It is comfortable to hold as the textured grips and analogue sticks feel pleasant. Furthermore, the 20-hour battery life will keep you in the game longer. However, if you somehow run out of juice, you needn’t worry. The USB-C cable lets you charge the device whilst you keep on gaming. Additionally, it has accurate motion control that creates an immersive gaming experience. As such, this has an elite edge that will impress the pickiest of gamers.
What’s in the box of the Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller?
The packaging is impressive to look at. The imagery is striking and it highlights every key selling point.
The Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller is great to look at and hold. The RGB lighting complements the black livery and the ergonomic design ensures that you suffer no fatigue during lengthy sessions.
A 3-metre USB-C cable charges the device or can be used to play wired to your Nintendo Switch.
Learn the fundamentals with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
The Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller is an impressive peripheral. Not only does it have a great battery life, but it can be charged as you game. This versatile approach ensures that you needn’t worry about running out of power or buying separate batteries. Alongside this, it is compatible with every model of Nintendo Switch. Thanks to the official licencing, you’ll have no connectivity issues.
Unlike the officialSwitch controller, this device does not support HD rumble, IR camera or Amibo NFC. Now, this may put some people off, but I wasn’t bothered. The lack of a rumble facility was unusual at first, and it somewhat undermines immersive gameplay, but you soon get used to it.
Though it may be missing some key features, the mappable rear buttons make up for the shortcomings. Furthermore, they can be changed on the fly and this is ideal if you flit between games and genres. Accordingly, this controller has an elite edge that will give you an advantage over your peers.
Lumectra lighting.
Though RGB lighting isn’t essential, it is a massive part of modern gaming. Subsequently, when a controller offers this as a key selling point, you expect it to be easy to master and wonderful to look at. Fortunately, the Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller delivers on both of these elements. Like the rear mappable buttons, the lighting can be changed easily. Moreover, the 4 independent lighting zones can be mapped to your tastes. Therefore, this controller can be as vibrant and unique or as dull and stealthy as you like.
Build quality.
Unsurprisingly, this officially licenced product is exceptionally well-built. The textured grips and analogue sticks increase grip and reduce the risk of accidentally dropping your controller. Alongside this, the ergonomic design is pleasant in your hands and the rear mappable buttons are well-positioned. This controller feels and looks like its official counterpart. As such, the button layout is familiar, and the travel distance is responsive and easy to manage.
If you love to capture footage to show off to your mates, then this is the controller for you. The easy-to-access capture button allows you to snap gaming moments to send to your friends. This wasn’t a go-to tool for me, but I liked the versatility and the enhanced usability. Finally, this device has a pleasant weight that is well-balanced. The substantial build quality is reassuring. Subsequently, this can be mishandled (within reason) without concern of breakages or stick drift.
Is the Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller worth it?
The Lumectra Enhanced Wired Nintendo Switch controller adds some much-needed RGB to the Nintendo Switch. Furthermore, the mappable buttons and impressive build quality make this stand out from its peers. If you then consider the fantastic battery life and impressive charging technology, this controller is worth every penny. Accordingly, I love its vibrant RGB and its comfortable ergonomic design. Therefore, I recommend buying it here!
Here we take a closer look at So Bomb DIY Aroma Twist’N Mould Bath Bomb Maker from Canal Toys.
Awaken your senses with the Twist N Mould Bath Bomb Maker! Just mix powder, fragrances and salts together then choose from the 2 shaped moulds, heart and round, to twist’n mould up to 10 scented bath bombs!
Choose your favourite colour of powder, mix & match scents using the aroma guide, then add salt crystals to create your perfect bath bomb that is uniquely yours. Bath bombs are dry and ready in under 1 hour! Keep and enjoy your creations or gift them to someone special.
Features
QUICK & EASY DIY BATH BOMBS: Make up to 10 scented DIY bath bombs using 2 fun twist’n mould devices! Just add water!
TWIST IT UP: Fun and easy to make! 5 colours to mix in different styles, 3 scents and salts to create the aroma mood you want! Make heart and round shaped bath bombs with 6 sensory moods to choose from!
THE PERFECT GIFT: Each pack comes with amazing accessories and contents to create the best bath bombs that you & your friends will love!
Contents
1 Mixing bowl
2 Twist’N Mould devices
5 Bags of baking Soda
5 Bags of citric acid
3 Bags of crystal salt
1 Spoon
3 Bottles of fragrances
1 Sticker sheet
1 Aroma guide
Instruction sheet
The So Bomb DIY Aroma Twist’N Mould Bath Bomb Maker is a lot of fun and will make bath times fun too!
The So Bomb DIY Aroma Twist’N Mould Bath Bomb Maker from Canal Toys is available now priced around £9.99 and is aimed at ages 6 and up.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Adobe Premiere or iMovie had more of a . . . gamified element to it? Have you ever been sitting there alone tediously editing something and wished you could be playing a video game instead?
Developed by Chanko Studios and published by AMC games, It’s a Wrap may be the experience for you. A mix between puzzles and platforming, It’s a Wrap operates as if players are a mix between a film editor and a director. With its puzzles and plotline, the game certainly adds a more exciting element to the editing process.
This game was released in August of 2023, and can be played on Steam or the Nintendo Switch.
Lights, Camera, Action!
It’s a Wrap ventures back into 1980s Hollywood, where players play as an arrogant yet popular actor named Johnny Rush.
The game features a total of three films you play through. “Ace Avanti and the Very Last Curse,” the first film, is very Indiana Jones-esq. Then there is the sci-fi film “Big Trouble in Space,” and finally “Cold as Hell,” which has classic 80s elements of a gun-slinging protagonist and high-speed car chases. Players must guide Johnny throughout the action sequences of these movies in order to complete the game.
Each set gives a script, providing helpful guidelines on how the sequence of events is supposed to go. If you become stuck on a set, the script can offer some extra hints.
The issue with each action set is that it seems like NOBODY knows how to time the props and stunts correctly. Players are in charge of editing the movie clips around to accurately time when props are supposed to set off, like a rolling boulder or volcanic spew. You drag these clips around and order them precisely. When you believe that you have the clips in the right order, players press the “action” button to begin the scene. Players now control Johnny Rush himself and have to move towards the end of the stage, evading the props and traps. If you fall off the set or get hit by something, players “die” and must try again.
A novel and engaging experience
It’s a Wrap is unique and I have yet to see a game quite like it. It is unfortunately rather short plot-wise, but getting through each scene can be challenging and tedious . . . which will certainly add more hours to your gameplay! Overall, as said, It’s a Wrap feels like a gamified version of Adobe Premiere.
This title features a degree of voice acting, with some full-fledged voice-acted lines and some other Simlish grunting. The dialogue is silly and keeps players engaged at least for a good while, alongside the charming cast of characters.
Chanko Studios has definitely brought something fresh and new to the realm of gaming with the game’s film-editing aesthetic and oscillation between a puzzle game and a 2D platformer. I believe that these ideas can be polished up and expanded upon in the future.
A series of trial and error . . .
While the game is engaging at the start, the levels slowly become more and more challenging . . . and by “challenging,” I mean overly meticulous. This difficulty may excite some players. Otherwise, it could prove to be way too tedious for puzzle enjoyers and too dull for platforming fans.
I myself shifted between amusement and complete frustration. Some sets are not very intuitive and require loads of attempts to get it right. For the platforming segments, most of the levels only require players to hold down the left joystick to go forward. Johnny relies on players’ abilities to time the props in the editing stage, not so much your platforming skills. There are moments where you must shield the actor and time your jumps, but that is about it.
I also wish that there were more new mechanics introduced throughout the game. It’s a Wrap is short, and players pretty much get the idea of the full gameplay at the very beginning. Some of the stunt/prop clips are locked, meaning that players are unable to move them around. Other clips are totally left up to the player’s control. In the second film setting, for example, a new mechanic of looping clips are introduced (where props continuously move). Other than that, there are not too many other creative mechanics.
Final Thoughts
It’s a Wrap is a novel experience that appeals to 1980s movie nostalgia and incorporates the idea of filmmaking into players’ own hands. The concept of this game is appealing, but it is a good thing that It’s a Wrap is so short. After a while, it does become rather aggravating.
This game may be too unforgiving for a puzzle game, and too lackluster for a platformer. Otherwise, It’s a Wrap is full of charm and great ideas, providing a window for inspiration for games in the future.
Sucker for love: Date to die for invites players to embark on a journey through a world where love and terror collide, all within the immersive atmosphere of a hand-drawn, 90’s anime-inspired visual style. As players assume the role of Stardust, they find themselves entwined in a perilous romance amidst a backdrop of mystery and danger, with every step through the hauntingly beautiful house the player will never know what might hide behind each door.
The hand-drawn visuals of Sucker for love: date to die for, immediately draw players into a world teeming with nostalgic charm and immersive detail. From the moonlit corridors to the shadowy corners of the House, each scene is a meticulously crafted work of art that captures the essence of classic animation while adding a modern flair.
Navigating the house in Sucker for love: Date to die for is an experience filled with palpable tension and heart-pounding suspense. As players venture through the dimly lit hallways and explore each room, they are given the option to slowly open each door, allowing them to take a cautious peek into the unknown beyond. This mechanic adds an extra layer of anticipation, as players must steel themselves for the possibility of encountering something sinister on the other side, even if they are back tracking or re-entering a room from a couple minutes ago. Unexpected jump scares lurk around every corner, ready to jolt them from their seats. The sense of unease is relentless, keeping players on edge as they unravel the mysteries hidden within the house’s walls.
The combination of romance and horror in Sucker for love: date to die for creates a thrilling gameplay experience. As players forge relationships with unexpected visitors and out of this world entities, they must also confront the terrifying cult that inhabit the house, adding an extra layer of depth and challenge to the game. Every encounter is a delicate balance between passion and peril. As players navigate the treacherous setting, there are options for multiple endings and each one of them will take them closer to unlocking the final chapter. The idea of having to unlock all endings (even the ones that end with the player dying) is a great way to let the player explore and try out things without fearing the outcome. That in turn can have unexpected advantages during the current playthrough.
In conclusion, Sucker for love: date to die for offers a captivating blend of romance, horror, and nostalgic anime-inspired visuals, providing players with an unforgettable gaming experience. With its immersive storytelling, tense gameplay mechanics, and stunning hand-drawn art style, this game is sure to leave players breathless as they embark on a journey through love’s haunting embrace. Clocking in at a duration of approximately 4 to 5 hours to uncover the true ending, players will find themselves thoroughly engaged in this gripping adventure dating sim. Brace yourself for an adventure like no other, and discover if love truly conquers all in this hauntingly beautiful tale.
Game released on steam 23rd April 2024 and as of writing will set you back $13.59
