Although this is a spoiler-free review of Moon Knight Episode 4 all images used have been taken from the episode.
Tipping over the halfway point Moon Knight Episode 4 delivers some creepy tomb raiding followed by psychological twists that weren’t expected but are welcome to see. Hot on the trails of Hawke’s villainous Harrow in search of Amet’s tomb Marc/Steven (Isaac) and Layla (Calamawy) find their destination in the desert of Egypt.
Things get very Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider from this point as most of the episode is spent creeping around the dark tomb trying to work out where the burial chamber is. Finally, Steven gets to shine here, and we see him come into his own, still afraid but for the first time very competent with his knowledge of Ancient Egypt. Marc has a few moments to shine in this part of the episode and Isaac continues to deliver a fantastic dual performance playing them both. What’s exceptional is that at no point in this episode does he hide behind the superhero persona. It’s refreshing to see a powerless superhero still be super.
Calamawy is standout in her performance. At this point, her character is one of the best ‘superhero sidekicks’ Marvel has ever given us. In fact, calling her a sidekick is a total disservice. The character has brains and an ability to kick ass. The moments where she saves the moment are wonderfully refreshing. The relationship between her and Steven/Marc starts to crack in this episode which is painful to see. I’m sure will be resolved and out in the open before the series end. Harrow is an untrustworthy narrator after all.
The creep factor is really on display in this episode with some disturbing imagery and discoveries within the tomb. Unfortunately, this is never really explained as to why it’s going on, and I hope this thread is concluded. Simply having ‘creepy/horror’ elements is a total disservice to an otherwise great episode.
Conclusion
Moon Knight Episode 4 continues to deliver high-quality visuals. The sets and the soundtrack are fantastic and I cannot fault the cinematography of this episode. The skill of the director and all involved really comes to light in the last act of the episode. Without going into spoiler territory, this section of the episode jars you mentally from what you’ve been watching previously. It makes you question everything. It’s well filmed, well-acted, and brilliantly unsettling. Ripped straight from the comics with a few teases on what’s to come, Moon Knight Episode 4 ended on a high. Waiting a week for the next episode is a killer!
Picking the right headphones or earbuds is a challenging task. There are many price points, technical aspects, and styles to choose from. Do you go for over the ear, wired earphones, or wireless earbuds? Whatever you choose, they have to be quality and within budget. Therefore, this is where the Tranya T10 Pro earbuds come into play. They are robust, affordable, and have excellent audio quality. What’s more, they are great for gaming, are certified IPX7 waterproof, and allow for Fast Type-C and wireless charging.
I know what you’re thinking. I just listed off a load of jargon and you have no idea of what I mean. If this is the case, I’ll break it down in simple terms for you. Effectively, the Tranya T10 Pro earbuds are versatile, easy to charge, and simple to use, all while delivering excellent quality audio.
Will you choose the pink earbuds?
What’s in the box of the Tranya T10 Pro earbuds?
The packaging is well built, stylish, and brilliant white. It has a simple but effective design and is emblazoned with the company logo and key selling points. I’m a bit of an eco fiend, so I appreciated the 99% recyclable packaging.
The Tranya T10 Pro earbuds. These are stylish and are finished with a matt black effect. The earbuds are contained in a wireless charging case.
Spare silicone tips. We are all unique and therefore, what fits me won’t fit you. Luckily, there is a selection of tips to ensure the earbuds are comfortable and secure.
USB-C charging cable. A short rubberised standard USB cable to charge the case.
User manual and sticker. A straightforward and small user manual explains the fundamentals.
A simple user manual.The simple but effective packaging.A USB-C fast charging cable.The full package.The Tranya T10 earbuds.
Technical aspects.
Earbuds battery
50mAh
Charging case battery
480mAh
Playtime
Up to 8 hours
Standby time
120 hours
Charging
Wireless charging and Type-C
Input
5V+/-0.25V
Charging time
Less than 2 hours
Bluetooth version
5.1
Bluetooth range
10 Metres
Driver type
Graphene-coated Dynamic
Bluetooth profiles
A2DP/HFP/HSP/AVRCP
Audio Codec
SBC
Microphone
4-Microphone system
I recently reviewed the Tranya T20 earbuds and the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air and both were fantastic. My benchmark is the ROCCAT earbuds, so I was interested to see how these compete.
Thanks to the 12mm Graphene Driver, the audio has a great depth of range and excellent bass. This is helped further by the Bass Boost mode that is activated from the left earbud. The deep and rich sounds were a pleasure to listen to while creating an immersive experience. What’s more, the low latency game mode and 5.1 Bluetooth system make the Tranya T10 earbuds the perfect gaming accessory. The charging case allows for 32 hours of sound and can be recharged using a wireless pad (sold separately) or the fast charge USB-C cable. Both methods are convenient and ensure you are rarely without juice.
With 4 microphones incorporated into the design, you experience crystal clear calls and excellent party chat when gaming. I had low expectations for the microphone capabilities, but I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike some of its peers, these earbuds have full controls on each device. This was an excellent choice as it makes it more user-friendly. Finally, the IPX7 waterproof certification ensures that you can comfortably use the earbuds on the move in all weather.
A whopping battery life.
Are the Tranya T10 earbuds worth it?
With many devices on the market, you may be feeling confused. However, I found the Tranya T10 earbuds to be great value for money and easy to use. They are jam-packed with features, come in a range of 6 colours, and have a fantastic battery life. What’s more, they have multiple audio settings, 5.1 Bluetooth, and can be charged wirelessly. Connecting them to your Android or iOS device is a cinch as well. Within moments, I had the earbuds connected, and I didn’t look back.
I adore an accessory that has multiple uses. Luckily, these earbuds are great for music, fantastic for gaming, perfect for phone calls, and wonderful when exercising. The waterproof rating ensures you can be confident when sweating and have no fears in the rain. On top of this, the 12mm Graphene Drivers deliver exceptional audio quality. If you want an affordable and well-built set of earbuds, then look no further. I like them and I recommend you to buy them here! An Amazon link for the product can be found here!
Summary.
The Tranya T10 earbuds are an amazing audio accessory. They will appeal to many markets because of their multi-faceted approach. Sadly, they don’t quite reach the heights of the ROCCAT earbuds, but they are priced accordingly. If you invest, you surely won’t be disappointed in both the audio and build quality.
(More information on Tranya products can be found here!)
Happy’s Humble Burger Farm isn’t as humble or endearing as it might sound in the title. It has plenty of parts that might get to be a little tough to chew! In all honesty, it really may not be a game that is for everyone, but the ones that can tolerate a bit more gruesome and demanding gameplay will find this game to be entertaining. You must have a strong stomach to tolerate the grotesque combination of blood and food in the same game. At times, it can be a little unsettling and unsightly for those with sensitive stomachs and who fear what may be lurking in the dark.
To be honest, I’m not a big fan of gruesome or eerie-style games. Probably would explain the words I used on describing what this game is like, and maybe slightly warn others before trying it for themselves. It always freaked me out and normally ends up disgusting me to the point of never wanting to play the game again. Especially, cause you never know or want to know what may be coming up around the corner. However, I gave this game a try and force myself to play no matter what the game may demand of me.
Graphics
If dark and grim, sim-style cooking games are your thing, then you’ll really love how well this game captures that exact atmospheric setting throughout. It’s something you will look at and really get that spooky fear as you move through each portion of the game. In short, the graphics work perfectly with the gameplay, giving that achieved feeling the creators wanted you to get with Happy’s Humble Burger Farm.
Additionally, the game’s 3D visual appearance reminds me of games I’ve played during the Playstation One or early PS2 era. The colors in this game are very much on the darker side, even with the ability to see throughout, it’s still a bit darker than I would like. Consider playing a game in a black room with objects you can use or people you can speak to, only being lit up to see. However, there are locations with the lights being present and on, but many rooms and locations still seem to be a bit dim. Yet, you can still make out everything you are doing and looking for, which is a good thing.
So there really isn’t anything to complain about. All of the graphics go well with the outlook and what the game wants the players to incur as they move forward. Especially as it looks like a Resident Evil backdrop that collides with a burger sim, a restaurant-style game. On top of that, the food being served and the appearance of customers and objects all look creepy as well.
Music and Sounds
The sounds in the background really play an excellent role in this spooky spine-chilling game. It’s a little low, but when you can hear what is going on it does make for all those scary feelings you get from a horror flick. The people even sound strange in the game, like a Charlie Brown, as they don’t speak but just some noises come out and empty silence with just sound effects of other objects in the room that you enter, makes it scary as well. I do want to mention when playing, even at the highest volume you may need to make sure to be in a quiet room or area to hear the sounds that repeat in the background as they are quite low.
Final Thoughts
To be honest, I can’t say that this is a game I’d play often, it’s actually making me rethink ever having a burger or trying anything else in a cheap or strange fast food or mysterious restaurant. I may be an uneasy individual when it comes to gruesome images or scary scenes, and not as tough to withstand horror games as this one. So I tried my best to rate it on the quality and not the emotions and feelings I have just by what it appears to look or sound like.
Therefore, the game to me may appear too dark to see the surroundings and a little hard to hear the sounds in the background, but for a horrifying cooking game, it is quite tolerated. Especially, if it’s those searching for a gloomy sim game. I feel the controls were something that took time to get used to, something that is becoming quite normal for most games. I did enjoy the access to continuously cooking mode without the main story mode.
However, I think the appearance still isn’t somewhat appealing to me. I feel the graphics could have been a little better, like smoother, and maybe make the surroundings a bit more visible. Another thing that I couldn’t enjoy was the accuracy when cooking or giving the food to the customers. It’s got to be on point when it comes to tossing the food onto the stovetop or picking up the food to make the order. It’s really realistic, but just the entire recalling of controls and being nearby an object may take time to get the hang of it.
Thus, this game isn’t too bad but has a few flaws especially loading up. It’s challenging when you continue to move forward and have to serve so many more customers. Just like a regular tycoon or sim-style game, it’s very demanding and in a way neverending. However, I don’t think this is the type of game for myself. Even if it’s well done on covering the horror aspects and business running routine, it’s just too dark and strange for me.
Clowns are petrifying, horrible, and should never be considered funny. There is a reason they are the protagonists in many horror films, and that’s because they are evil! Subsequently, anything involving clowns usually has me running a mile. However, ironically, here I am reviewing the “cutesy” game, Ayo the Clown.
Developed by Cloud M1 and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a side-scrolling platform title. It’s fantastically colourful, whimsical in nature, and has many levels filled with odd enemies, traps, and collectables. What’s more, it has enormous bosses, it looks great, and its mechanics are smooth and well-thought-out.
Ayo the Clown tells a familiar tale.
I don’t mind a rehashed story. After all, originality is hard to come by these days. Consequently, the plot of Ayo the Clown will feel familiar. There is a love interest, a missing dog, and a sense of danger. Moreover, everything is lost unless a hero steps forward.
So, no new ground has broken here, but let’s not be put off. Ayo’s best friend is Bo. He is a four-legged beast that is as loyal as they come. Therefore, when he goes missing, Ayo knows something is amiss! He must venture beyond his cosy circus and explore a world full of danger. He has plenty of potential but must learn new skills as he goes. Subsequently, he is one clown that must overcome every obstacle while saving his dog and the world.
Use your balloon to soar through the sky.
A healthy blend of old and new.
I enjoy retro gaming, but I cherish the times when the mould is broken. Luckily, Ayo the Clown does just this with its hearty blend of old and new mechanics. Each moderately sized stage is loaded with traps, enemies, secrets, and more. You must complete tasks such as finding chocolate or rescuing balloons to unlock new skills. Now, none of these quests is challenging, but they add a rewarding element to the gameplay.
You’ll learn to soar through the sky, jump, slide, attack, use tanks and helicopters, and more. Each new skill opens up paths that would otherwise remain locked. It was fantastic to expand each stage while searching for every collectable. However, unlike Metroidvania games, Ayo the Clown funnels you to a definitive finale. I loved this, as you were free to explore without the worry of becoming lost.
An excellent learning curve.
I love challenging platform games such as Super Meat Boy and OkunoKA Madness. Yet, sometimes I want a simple life. Luckily, the gentle learning curve and drip-fed mechanics prevent this from becoming overwhelming. On top of this, there are well-explained tutorials to ensure you never go wrong.
Don’t let this simplicity fool you, though, as Ayo the Clown is challenging. You’ll fall to your death, become impaled on spikes, or be slaughtered by monsters. However, this matters not, as there are many checkpoints to be used. Consequently, death is a mere inconvenience in this moderately challenging title.
Jump in and destroy everything.
Ayo the Clown is an excellent-looking indie title.
I was amazed by how great Ayo the Clown looks and performs. It is one of the best-looking indie titles that I’ve played in a long time. Both its gameplay and cinematic are striking, interesting, and colourful. Furthermore, it captures the tongue-in-cheek nature of the plot perfectly. Alongside this, I adored the interesting and varied stage design. Each world has a unique look with different mechanics. Whether you are climbing vines, smashing walls, or hitting weird switches, it was fantastic.
Each gameplay element is complemented by the excellent audio. The whimsical soundtrack has folksy undertones and was fun to listen to. What’s more, the excellent narration delivers a fairytale-like story. I adored the amazing cutscenes because of Ayo’s many mishaps.
Darn you robot boss.
Plenty to do, but easy to play.
Ayo the Clown crams in a lot of different mechanics. Subsequently, you may worry that it’ll be complicated. Luckily, though, this isn’t the case. Each ability is brilliantly explained and easy to understand. Furthermore, the action never feels rushed, so this helps the learning curve. Alongside the excellent layout, were responsive buttons that helped further still. In short, this is a user-friendly title that’s excellent for all gamers.
With plenty of collectables, abilities to learn and upgrade, levels to finish, quests to do, and bosses to fight, this is jam-packed. I was impressed with the depth of gameplay and the various bosses you must defeat. Consequently, I never tired of trying each level. This is a game that oozes both longevity and replay value as you’ll play it for hours on end.
Ayo the Clown is an excellent platform title.
The platform genre is saturated. Therefore, you need something special if you want to stand out. I think Ayo the Clown does just that, as it’s an excellent title. Its story is fun, the environments are interesting and vivid; the gameplay is challenging but fair, and it has plenty of collectables. It ticks all the boxes and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you rescue Bo and get the girl? Jump, slide and shoot your way through every level to become the hero you are destined to be.
I love listening to music while out and about. Consequently, getting the right headphones is essential. There is nothing worse than tinny sound, missed tones, or crackling lyrics. What’s more, I’m greedy as I want my accessories to be multi-faceted. I don’t want hassle, and I don’t want wires. So, where does that leave me? Wireless earbuds, that’s where! Subsequently, when the Tranya T20 earbuds fell on my desk, I got straight to work.
These small and sleek earbuds offer a truly wireless experience. Furthermore, they are a Jack of all trades and work well in many scenarios. Thanks to their IPX7 waterproof rating, they repel sweat and don’t struggle in the rain. Alongside this are 4 microphones that pick up every word you say. Moreover, it has fast Type-C charging, bass boost, and a low latency game mode. Now, the quality is good, but they don’t stand out from the crowd. However, you get a lot of bang for your buck and for $69.99 they are affordable.
What’s in the box of the Tranya T20 earbuds?
The accessory is presented in a compact but striking white box. Its sturdy design protects it in transit and is emblazoned with the company logo and key selling points. Thankfully, it’s 99% recyclable, and that’s great for the environment.
The Tranya T20 earbuds. These small but sturdy earbuds have a black, glossy finish and have no logo or distinctive markings. Furthermore, they come in a charging case that offers no wireless charging facility. However, it has a whopping 500mAh capacity to keep you going.
Spare silicone tips. They say less is more, but this isn’t true of the Tranya T20 earbuds. They come with a crazy amount of tips for ears of all shapes and sizes.
USB-C charging cable. You’ll receive a small rubberised standard USB-C cable.
User manual and 1 sticker. The straightforward guide is no-nonsense and matter-of-factly explains the fundamentals.
The full package.A handy user manual and company sticker.A USB-C fast charging cable.How many spare ear tips do you need?The compact but stylish T20 packagingSmall but well designed.
Technical aspects.
Earbuds battery
50mAh
Charging case battery
500mAh
Playtime
Up to 8 hours
Standby Time
120 hours
Charging
Type-C
Input
5V+/-0.25V
Charging time
under 2 hours
Bluetooth version
5.1
Bluetooth range
10 metres or 33 feet
Driver Type
Graphene-coated Dynamic
Bluetooth profiles
A2DP/HFP/HSP/AVRCP
Audio codec
AAC/SBC
Microphone
4-microphone system
I’ve recently reviewed the excellent ROCCAT Syn Buds Air, and these are my benchmark for excellence. However, these earbuds do well to compete. The Tranya T20 earbuds use a 6mm high-intensity magnetic driver to deliver a generous range of tones and pitch. Alongside this, the bass boost generates an uncomfortable and artificial depth. Consequently, I rarely used this option, as it tends to distort the sound. It wasn’t terrible. I simply prefer a more natural bass sound.
The 4 microphone system ensures that every phone call is crystal clear. Accordingly, I had no complaints when using them in party chat or when speaking to friends. I experienced nicely balanced audio when music or sound effects were playing. Finally, the IPX7 waterproof rating ensures these earbuds are perfect for outdoor use. I experimented with them in the rain while running, and they never faltered.
That’s a lot of features for the price.
Are the Tranya T20 earbuds worth the investment?
I was pleasantly surprised by the audio and build quality of the Tranya T20 earbuds. What’s more, they contain some high-end tech which is great for the price. Alongside this, they are comfortable to wear, easy to use, simple to connect and have a great 40-hour battery life at full charge.
Thankfully, the earbuds are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. To connect to either OS is easy, so you’ll be up and running immediately. Moreover, you can switch between twin or single-mode with ease. Consequently, you can enjoy your music solo or with another.
If you are on the lookout for an all-around accessory that is inexpensive and truly wireless, then look no further. I liked everything about them, except the bass boost. However, this mode isn’t required. Therefore, I recommend that you buy them here. The Amazon link for the Tranya T20 earbuds can be found here!
Summary.
The Tranya T20 earbuds are a nice and inexpensive audio device that ticks many boxes. They have their limitations but they are fantastic for the price. With plenty of features and fast Type-C charging, you won’t be disappointed with the end product.
(More information on Tranya products can be found here!)
Have you ever wanted to work in a café or maybe you already have? How about would you ever like to run a café not just for humans but for cats too? Then Cat Café Manager is a game that will please you as it allows you to partake in the role of a manager running a café for cats and the friendly people in the village, Caterwaul Way.
However, this job isn’t going to be super easy as it may appear. There are some problems that may come our way as time goes on. Yet our grandmother wouldn’t have left this land to build a café, for us to take over if she didn’t think we couldn’t run it. So as long as we hire reliable workers to help us, buy plenty of brilliant items to bring comfort and interest to the restaurant, learn new recipes to serve the guests and the cats that visit, and lastly keep an eye on everything going on in the café and in the village, well then the game will be a piece of cake!
Graphics and Sound
The visual aspect comes off as a 2D-style game with a soft color palette and cartoonish style design. It’s absolutely great on the eyes, not too bright or too plain. Plus, after watching the screen for hours working on the task and chores required to be attended to during the game, the scenery and style of the entire game’s design are very relaxing and easier to look at for a long amount of time. Even the characters all have a cute and adorable appearance to them, with their own unique and quirky mannerisms. This includes the cute kitties that will be roaming the land and the café.
Now for the music that plays, it’s a lively tune. During the game it’s a mix of cheerful and comforting, that feels like a perfect background sound for this game. The music doesn’t really have a different tempo or change in the song or tune playing. It’s a song that plays and stays constant throughout. The same goes for the actions and sound effects made by the characters, cats, and many other things in the game. It’s very simply done and not too complicated in the sound department.
There is one thing I’d like to mention about the graphics when everything is in action. The game was fine as it started, a bit slow loading to play the game each time, but nothing too bad. However, when I finally got further into the game I noticed that issues began to show, such as the game began to slow down in different parts and the selector object or popup images weren’t showing up. For one example, when I tried to pet a stray cat, the selector wouldn’t appear and I didn’t know what cat I was choosing. I believe it’s due to things happening at the same time, and it occurs a few days later in the game as more visitors enter.
Final Thoughts
Cat Café Manager is a wonderful game with such a cute visual appearance and is easy for anyone young or old to enjoy. There were a few things that stood out, which for me stood to be slightly negative. The first is the limitation in moving the character from facing one way or controlling a camera to view the area a bit better from the back to front sides of objects and the building. Don’t get me wrong, you are able to move in all directions with no problems, but the view is always facing forward and just feels a bit odd, and hard to clean areas that can’t be seen.
On top of that, when you pet the cat, it’s like petting the floor or air sometimes. It’s hard to get the cat accurately at times and ends up looking like the cat is enjoying the kind petting, but also that you petting the air. Another feature I felt was tricky to get used to is the controls to select where or what you want to do in the menu option. It takes some time to get a hang of it or to accurately select the option you want. Lastly, I didn’t mind the few days of getting rated a D for the service as we aren’t able to do much till we obtain and meet new people who come into the café. There is no other way to get past this as it’s gonna take time till we obtain money for objects to buy, new material to use for building, and meet the new guests to provide us with these items. Therefore, the game is always going to start by giving out daily D ratings, either that or I’m just not getting a hang of the game?
Nevertheless, these issues don’t really destroy the enjoyment of the game. Most can be small potatoes compared to other problems many larger games normally have. So I don’t doubt the joy in the game and its entertainment value, as it still is playable and works as it should. Plus, after playing it for a while the gist of how to do things get easier to use.
Finally, there is so much to achieve and learn as days go on in this game. Much to be done and very easy to do. The game is filled with unique characters to meet and befriend, as well as cats that you will get to pet, feed, and befriend also. It’s a game that any cat lover or gamer who enjoys an easy and simpler tycoon, simulated, and the sandbox-style game would love to play.
Jessika begins with you as a detective and Jessika has committed suicide, but her father contacts you and wants to find out why she did it. So, it starts as an interesting concept with potential. Although it just ends up being about shock factor and plotlines that are quite bad. The story tackles heavy themes like abuse and racism. Yet it never compelled me to care more or try to relate to the story. The actress for Jessika was quite good giving a believable performance.
How we figure out the story is through videos Jessika has left behind. We put in keywords and videos around those keywords will appear. However, it doesn’t feel like a detective game with such a simple premise. Not only that but some of the keywords are quite awkward to find especially at first as you’re just guessing. You do this all from a desk looking at a laptop, which would have been better if the screen acted as yours but the frame of the laptop is still there.
You will get messages from co-workers and random emails as you’re figuring out what happened to Jessika. It often breaks the pacing and kills the tension that was building up when a co-worker tells you how great their ramen is while you try to figure out a suicide case.
Jessika telling her story
After finding the videos, it’s painfully boring most of the time listening to Jessika. A lot of her stories are uninteresting and then some are very radical, which I can only assume is for a shock factor. The translation is pretty bad for it as well. Randomly words will be misspelled and the subtitles tend to be ahead of Jessika’s voice. It just comes across lazy particularly with a game so story focused.
Jessika was a disappointing attempt at an interesting concept with poor plot lines, translations being messy, and getting messages that just ruin the pacing of the story. Overall Jessika is a poor game that really could have done something decent with a better story or dialogue.
Colony/civilization simulations always tend to be a little bit dire, don’t they? Disease around one corner, death around the next – in what can often be as much a stress-filled crapshoot as it can a satisfying skill-based challenge.
Approaching the stage from the opposite perspective is Before We Leave, a colony-building sim that provides a deep resource-based system of its own, but with a disarming and laid-back atmosphere that makes for an appetizable and very pleasant experience.
The visuals are soft and vibrant, and a calming soundtrack with an ambient guitar track carries you along like a leaf in the wind as hours pass without you realizing.
An indepth tutorial helps this along as you are taken through the very typical resource management gameplay loop step-by-step, explaining the detailed interfaces at a friendly pace, conveying the task easily and making the game seem very approachable.
As is standard for colony-sims technologies unlock as you farm and refine resources, which allows you to create new buildings and vehicles to facilitate more of the same, and with the ability to slow or stop time completely, you can do this without the threat of running out of resources due to slow decision making. That’s essentially the long and short of the entire game, and while that might not seem like a lot, there are plenty of things to create and ways to monitor your progress within this mechanic, which – at least initially – gives the impression of endless possibilities in your explorable solar system.
It might not look like much in a screenshot, but exploring in a seafaring ship makes want to put a parrot on my shoulder and wear eye patches.
When you eventually do reach another planet, however, you might start to wonder what the end game looks like, and well – there really isn’t one. In a sense, colonizing one planet and you’ve colonized them all as there are no social or combative elements in the game or any threat of failure, which means that your job is to spread your populace like a pollution-producing virus across planets in much the same way each time, the only difference being the availability of resources on each one.
Establish trade routes to ship resources to continents lacking resources.
Despite scorching the earth and creating an inevitable smog that San Francisco and Beijing might be jealous of, the tranquility of the game partly lies in the fact that there is almost nothing that can upset the status quo – other than a space whale – as you and you alone are in control of your fate. There are no competing factions or civilizations that you need to placate or interact with and death due to poor living conditions is non-existent.
So safe is your carefree populace that their mood can only be affected by being near a polluted area or by not being provided with enough luxury items – not even taking away their homes and all their food just for giggles turns their smiles upside down.
Sadly, they barely also interact with the world around them and are almost completely unaware of each other in a social sense. Left-wing and right-wing political views would be as unfamiliar to them as a hospital, as children are somehow amusingly created en-masse at schools, assuming you have created enough housing for them.
It’s a shame that you can’t influence the population once wheeled of the factory line, as without it, your linear progress rarely differs playthrough to playthrough. Your populace’s names and even their emotional state is shown, but with wooden peg-like avatars and very basic behavior you often forget that they are even human.
Alma may or may not have been part of my ‘Can I kill my own population?’ pet project, but she was smiling all the same.
Their lack of human-like characteristics is relatively minor in the larger scheme of things and won’t likely bother you when you’re uncovering new continents with the game’s great visualization of a 3D hex tiles being put together piece-by-piece like a puzzle on-screen as you sail around the world, nor will it bore as you completely change the landscape and design great-looking settlements, but there is a bit of an empty feeling that creeps in when its open-endedness – of expanding solely for expanding’s sake – becomes apparent.
There are alternative scenarios that extend the game’s replay value that instills some urgency to achieve certain goals in certain timeframes, but it unfortunately still lacks the social or combative systems that would make this game more than just a surface-level simulation with tremendous ambiance.
Despite Before We Leave removing almost all threats of failure and most gameplay variety, its wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and highly accessible gameplay are still a cut above the rest, making this colony-sim a worthwhile spin for those who want to play god from their armchair, but without any of the stress.
Survival is mankind’s strongest instinct. Yet, when you are facing an all-powerful foe, all hope is bound to be lost. Consequently, you’ll turn to your family for support as you try to overcome the heinous obstacles in your path. Submerged: Hidden Depths captures this solitude and despair in its melancholy, but peaceful story.
Developed and published by Uppercut Games, this is a relaxing but sombre adventure title. It is the sequel to Submerged the award-winning game. Subsequently, it has strong foundations that evolve in this instalment. A word of warning, however, this won’t be for everyone because of its lack of combat and slow pace. Yet, if you love moody music, playful cutscenes, and simple puzzles, then this is definitely for you.
Submerged: Hidden Depths has a simple story.
A gift is supposed to be a wonderful and heartfelt thing. Therefore, you wouldn’t expect one to turn you into an outsider. This is what happens to Miku and Taku, the sibling protagonists in this tale. Miku was gifted a special power that causes flowers to grow from her arm. People are scared of this gift and banish the pair from their homes. However, they shouldn’t have acted so rashly. This ability overcomes the black roots that are threatening mankind. Consequently, the pair must work together to find seeds to destroy the plants and save the world.
This is about the crux of the story. Once the opening scenes play out, there isn’t much acknowledgement of its existence. Yet, this wasn’t a bad thing as the action focuses heavily on the siblings and the situation. I adored the bond between the pair and the jovial moments they shared. Their relationship juxtaposes the melancholy world you explore, and it was a bittersweet experience.
Much of the action is a blend of Kevin Costner’sWaterworld and the game The Falconeer. I make these comparisons because there are distinct elements of despair, destruction, and loss. Alongside this, there is a large and sparse world to explore, with undertones of fear and isolation. In short, it’s not a laugh a minute, but it is endearing and you’ll adore the lead characters.
Destroy the seed and remove the memories.
No combat, no violence, just exploration!
Adventure games rarely ignore combat mechanics. However, Submerged: Hidden Depths does just that. The developers have created an ultra-relaxing title that has no fighting or violence at its core. This may confuse or disappoint some, but I found it to be refreshing and brave. Moreover, this ensured the other key elements took centre stage.
At the heart of the gameplay is exploration. You sail a decrepit vessel between islands, lookouts, relics, and more. It is an essential tool that allows you to search ruins and progress the story.
Alongside the vast ocean is a ridiculous amount of collectables to find. There are ship pieces to alter your boat’s appearance, flowers to collect, animals to tag, and diary entries to find. These snippets of information were wonderful as they drip-fed the lore of the land. This was an excellent idea, as it added some much-needed depth.
One of the many stunning creatures you’ll find.
Puzzles and seeds.
The aforementioned black roots can only be overcome with Miku’s gift and by collecting enormous seeds. I admit it was a bizarre idea that I never understood. What’s more, it was rarely challenging to achieve. Consequently, I spent my time wondering if the action would ever become harder.
This lack of a challenge sadly leeches into the puzzling moments, and this was frustrating. I could accept the lack of combat and the other simple elements. However, I expected the puzzles to test me. At best, you’re searching for any collectables or hidden paths. At worse, the answer is given to you on a plate. I get the relaxed vibe, but I think it went a little too far.
Submerged: Hidden Depths looks nice, but it has issues.
As you begin your journey, the vivid colours and azure ocean are noticeable. They stand out like a sore thumb amongst the destruction before you. What’s more, there is a vast emptiness that’s haunting, yet alluring. All these elements combine to add to the sombre and melancholy atmosphere. On top of this, there is a fascinating blend of landmarks to visit and islands/buildings to explore. Subsequently, you won’t tire of exploring this dank world.
However, it’s not perfect! There are many visual glitches in both the cinematic and the open gameplay. Alongside this, it’s hard to identify steps and ledges and this makes it tough to navigate tight spaces. Unfortunately, this impacts the gameplay, and I wished it was better polished.
The graphics were problematic at times, but the audio was perfect. Its sombre tones set the mood while highlighting the protagonist’s plight. With a lack of spoken dialogue, I was amazed by how emotive it was. The use of tone and pitch brilliantly deliver poignant moments and I adored it.
Slide your way across the map.
Easy to understand controls.
A simple game needs simple controls, right? Absolutely it does and thankfully Submerged: Hidden Depths is as straightforward as you can hope for. With an excellent UI, highlighted button commands, and basic instructions, you will not struggle to master this.
The story lasts between 4 to 5 hours with another 3 or so are needed to mop up the loose ends. Furthermore, there is a ridiculous amount of collectables to find and a reasonably large world to explore. Consequently, there is some longevity and replay value.
Submerged: Hidden Depths is relaxing but lacks challenge.
I was desperate for Submerged: Hidden Depths to jump to the next level. Sadly, though, it rigidly sticks to its guns, and that was frustrating. Yes, it’s relaxing and rewarding when you collect every seed. However, I wanted more. It’s a great game, but it wasn’t for me, sadly. All things considered though, I recommend you to buy it here! Will the siblings save the world or is the damage already done? Sail the ocean, find the seeds, and destroy the black roots.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. However, it’s also an all-consuming power that will control every aspect of your being. Consequently, you must be strong-willed, disciplined, and willing to see your plans through. Winter Ember focuses on this dark emotion in its cruel and melancholy plot.
Developed by Skymachine Studios and published by Blowfish Studios, this is an isometric stealth game. It’s set in a seedy and sinister Victorian world and relies heavily on dark shades and moody music. What’s more, it utilises crafting and RPG elements as well as an expansive landscape to explore. I found it to be unnecessarily cruel at times, as well as being disjointed and perhaps a little too adventurous with its core mechanics. In short, it doesn’t get everything right, but it’ll appeal to many gamers, nonetheless.
Winter Ember tells a familiar tale.
Wanting to seek revenge for wrongdoings against your family has been done a million times before. Yet, if it’s done well, we can overlook the well-trodden story. I admit I admired Winter Ember and its rich plot and sinister world. At first glance, it was captivating, and I found the sombre mood to be endearing. However, this does somewhat wear off as the game lingers on.
You control Arthur Artorias, the only surviving member of a powerful and rich aristocratic family. After the dust settled and the crimes were “forgotten”, Arther started to piece together his plan. Subsequently, he trained to become a thief and an assassin! His new skills allow him to discover the truth and right the wrongs of the past. As I said, it’s not the most inventive of tales. Yet, it works well with the setting while providing some much-needed depth to the gameplay.
He never felt a thing.
Wonderful stealth mechanics.
Unsurprisingly, the stealth mechanics in this stealthy title are incredible. There is something truly fascinating about hiding in the shadows and pouncing on your foes. Fortunately, Winter Ember captures this essence perfectly within its gameplay. Each area you visit has items that you can hide behind or within. Whether it’s a chest to dive into, reeds to crouch behind, or crates to stand on top of, it has it all. Furthermore, you can extinguish flames to enhance the shadowy world that is essential to your success.
This lowlight setting is supported perfectly by the clever use of line-of-sight mechanics. Therefore, most of the landscape is hidden behind a “fog of war”. Consequently, the map will only reveal itself when your line of sight is clear. Thankfully, this also applies to your opponents, so if you can’t see them, they can’t see you. I adored this deadly game of cat and mouse as it brought out the inner assassin in me. However, the slow and steady approach won’t be for everyone! Winter Ember requires an awful lot of planning and patience and the occasionally snail-like pace can be unbearable.
This being said, if you like a slower and methodical title, then this will be perfect for you. You’ll enjoy searching manor houses, peeking through locks, peering through windows, and clambering over rafters. All in all, it creates an absorbing and sneaky game that demands a calm and well-thought-out approach.
Use your skills to overcome their defence.
From sublime to disappointing!
Games rarely divide my opinion as much as Winter Ember has. When it got everything right, it was phenomenal. Unfortunately, though, it got too many elements wrong. First, there is the badly synced cinematic that also juxtaposes the Victorian setting. This was stylish to look at, but it simply didn’t work with the grimy world that’s been created. It reeked of a lack of direction and watered-down the end product. Second, the RPG elements were poorly implemented. New abilities and character improvements were actioned with skill points. These collectables were found in locked areas and were awarded for success in quests. However, the style of the game ensures that there is little benefit as you improve each of the 70 skills. It was a shame as the potential is plain to see! Somehow, the execution of these ideas wasn’t seen through and it undermines the action significantly.
Though I found these areas to be lacklustre, the crafting and theft elements were great. As you wander the streets, you’ll gather resources and steal valuable items. These can then be used to make an array of arrows and to earn you considerable sums of cash. I loved the selection of ammo on offer as each executes a unique task. Whether it was to take down an opponent, melt ice, extinguish fire, activate switches, and more, they add to the complex and puzzling moments. Cash, on the other hand, is used to bribe people, buy favour, and purchase items from the black market. I found this to be balanced, fair, and an excellent way to ensure you kept searching for goods in every room you entered.
Winter Ember was confusing to navigate.
I expected that Winter Ember would be dark and gloomy as well as atmospheric. However, what I didn’t expect was it to be a pain in the arse to navigate. Consequently, exploring each of the claustrophobic hideouts, houses, and city streets was frustrating as hell. Hindered massively by its isometric viewpoint and grainy imagery, it’s a real turnoff. What’s more, the map is appalling and identifying ways to progress is challenging. I believe the developers had good intentions with their simple UI, but it backfired horribly. Subsequently, a bit more direction would have helped to overcome the many graphical issues.
It’s not all doom and gloom, as the audio is fantastic. There is a real sense of danger and grit within each of the songs. Alongside the atmospheric music were the realistic sound effects. I adored the swish of the sword, the twang of the bow, and the clunk of locks being picked. There is also an array of soundbites that add a human element to each of your foes.
Don’t let the snow stand in your way.
Strange controls.
I love when a developer focuses on a simple control setup. However, if it’s too basic, it causes confusion and frustration. Winter Ember falls into this trap as it overlays several commands onto the same button. Accordingly, you’ll make irreversible mistakes. Whether you try to roll, but fall from a great height instead, or fail to stealth kill someone, it has a significant impact on the gameplay. What’s more, the buttons weren’t as responsive as I’d have liked. Sadly, this causes more issues, as your foes will spot you and kill you. I expected much better and sadly, this didn’t deliver.
Thanks to its slow and methodical approach, this oozes longevity. But your patience will be tested to the limit as you’ll die repeatedly. This shouldn’t be a problem, but checkpoints are sparsely located and losing all progress will make you scream. I admit that I played this sporadically as the constant fear of death reduced the enjoyment considerably.
Winter Ember has potential.
There was such potential for this to be phenomenal, but it fell short. Yes, the stealth elements, audio, and longevity are fantastic, but everything else is lacklustre. Consequently, I spent more time groaning than I did having fun, and that’s not good. Winter Ember left a bitter taste in my mouth as I expected so much more. Sadly, I don’t recommend you to buy it at this time. However, more information can be found here! Will you put your new training to the test? You should, as revenge is on the cards if you are patient enough.
Mobile gaming is big business. Now, I’m not talking about Nintendo Switch, as that is a whole different beast. No, I’m discussing the likes of xCloud from Microsoft and Google Stadia. The latter sadly didn’t take off, but xCloud is massive! Subsequently, where there is demand, new products come to the fore. Recently we have seen a meteoric rise in gaming clips, for example, the MOGA 2.0 gaming clip. Alongside this, you’ll see a full range of third-party Bluetooth controllers. Yet, I’m not here to discuss these either. Instead, I want to look at the GameSir X2 Lightning device.
iOS users were bitterly disappointed when Microsoft focused its soft launch of xCloud on Android devices. However, a subsequent full rollout in specific countries allows Apple users to enjoy the benefits of this streaming service. Therefore, these consumers are going to want and deserve the best gaming experience and the biggest bang for their buck. Consequently, this is where the GameSir X2 Lightning device comes into play. It’s lightweight, easy to set up and good to look at. So, let’s wait no longer and see what’s on offer.
Stylish and simple design.
What’s in the box of the GameSir X2 Lightning device?
The accessory comes in a flimsy and lightweight cardboard box. It is bright and simple to look at. Furthermore, it has all the key selling points and is emblazoned with the company logo. Thankfully, it is easily recyclable and I applaud the manufacturers for their efforts.
GameSir travel case. This basic but attractive, tough case is black and burnt orange and will easily protect the contents. It’s stylish, well made, and lightweight.
The GameSir X2 Lightning device. It is nestled within the protective case and is secured by elastic cords. It’s robust, bright, and easy to use.
Accessories box. This holds the instruction manual, spare analogue stick covers, and several stickers. Like the outer packaging, the box is red and is also recyclable.
The clean and simple packagingA handy carry case.Safely stored away.GameSir X2 Lightning.The accessory box.This is what you get in the box.
Technical aspects.
The GameSir X2 Lightning is compatible with an iOS device that uses a lightning charging port. What’s more, it will comfortably house any phone between 100mm and 173mm in length. Therefore, many Apple devices are suitable for this accessory.
Thanks to its hard-wired approach, latency is a thing of the past. Unlike its Bluetooth peers, you won’t experience lag or connectivity issues, and this was phenomenal. Alongside the plug and play functionality, is the ability to charge your device through the additional lightning port. This was an excellent decision from the manufacturer as you need not worry about your battery life.
The button layout is as important as potential latency issues. Luckily, the GameSir X2 Lightning excels here as well. The smaller than normal buttons are comfortable to use, easy to locate and feel nice against your thumbs. What’s more, the bumpers are perfectly placed and the L3 and R3 analogue inputs work well.
Which service will you use it for?
Is the GameSir X2 Lightning device worth it?
If mobile gaming is your thing, then I’m sure you’ve done extensive research. You’ve already identified the simplicity of the MOGA 2.0 gaming clip, or the brilliance of the Razer Kishi. Yes, there are other devices available, but these are the most popular alternatives out there. However, the MOGA clip is inexpensive, but it requires a separate controller, and that’s just clumsy. The Razer Kishi, on the other hand, is excellent but expensive. So, where does that leave us? The GameSir X2 Lightning, that’s where!
It is inexpensive, well built, comfortable to use, and allows you to charge your device. Furthermore, it has a handy carry case, is lightweight and it will take a beating thanks to its robust design. On top of this, it has a spring-loaded clip that comfortably adjusts to house an array of iOS devices.
The simplicity of its design and the sleek buttons make it a great option for mobile gaming. I adore its clean look and no-nonsense style. Moreover, its plug and play functionality is user-friendly. Subsequently, it can be mastered by the biggest of technophobes. It’s a fantastic bit of kit and I recommend you to buy it here! Improve your gaming experience with this mobile, low latency and inexpensive controller.
Summary.
The GameSir X2 Lightning device stands out from its peers because of its design and price point. It’s easy to set up, comfortable to use, and robust. It’s an excellent and affordable alternative to the Razer Kishi and a wonderful accessory for Apple gaming fanatics.
(More information of GameSir products can be found here!)
In the small town of Antumbria, Spain in 1997, Iria, our protagonist, finds an old videotape from her father. An acclaimed director of horror films who, as it turns out, had disappeared years ago. She watches the tape, discovering a message from the missing man. This leads her down a rabbit hole to find out what happened to him, and eventually what dark secrets her town and family share.
After watching the tape and experiencing somewhat of a quick and unwitting interdimensional trip, (I struggle to describe what else it could be) Iria finds herself in a deserted hospital. But things are not quite right. Why is she alone in this place? Why are benches and chairs floating in the air? And why is a monster made out of film reels stalking her?
Before you land up in the hospital, a quick perusal of Iria’s home reveals that her father’s passion for horror had passed down to her. Her room is filled with books, magazines, and films in the genre. Tape: Unveil the Memories is packed with references to and spoofs of classic horrors, Like Caroline’s Baby (Rosemary’s Baby) and The Gleaming (The Shining). These references carry over to this pocket dimension, along with some of her father’s work. His screenplays, storyboards, and film equipment are strewn about the place, making this a nexus for both father and daughter.
The mystery of her missing father went a lot deeper than I was expecting. Taking some drastic and dark turns that really threw me for a loop. I enjoyed the way the story was told. Through notes, storyboards, and correspondence that when viewed alone made little sense, but all came together to form a tale interweaving Iria’s memories and her father’s secrets.
Use Your Time Wisely
This place she finds herself in is constantly guiding her towards the truth of her father’s disappearance. At times, it even seems like her father is actually the one guiding her. As you explore you come across more tapes, these begin to change from one-sided messages to more of a dialogue. Her father even answers her directly through certain recordings. Doors open as she finds certain items, and the layout of areas changes to lead her to the next piece of the puzzle.
However, her hand isn’t held the entire way through. This place completely ignores the rules that govern time and space. Your first clue, of course, is the levitating furniture. Often your path is blocked because of this, or secrets are hidden behind puzzles that require you to disobey the laws of time and space yourself.
Your tool to accomplish that feat is an old video camera that once belonged to Iria’s father. It may have just been a regular old camera in the real world, but here, it holds some very interesting power. It can freeze and move certain objects forward and backwards through time. It’s a cool mechanic that initially sounds like it can lead to some trippy and innovative gameplay moments.
However, there were many puzzles that never really lived up to that promise. These were often disappointingly simple and straightforward. Rewind a couple of things to unblock a doorway, or piece together a broken item of interest. As the game progresses the puzzles get slightly more interesting, but not enough of them really went that extra mile. Luckily those few that did, made for some creative moments. Such as one puzzle that had you fast-forward a falling vanity table in order to get the mirror to ground level. This enabled you to then crawl through to the other side, into the same room, but with slight differences.
You Again?
Although the puzzles do make up a good chunk of gameplay, there’s also a fair amount of slow and monotonous sneaking around. I mentioned earlier, that as you explore this fever dream a hulking mass of a creature pops out of walls and slowly patrols rooms to provide a bit of danger to your quest. You’ll then need to use cover and avoid red beams of light from its three lens-like eyes to go about your business.
This creature matches the straightforward feeling of the weaker puzzles. It will essentially walk back and forth slowly, making it laughably easy to avoid it. As a consequence, whatever sense of fear you may have had at first quickly disappears. There’s not enough variety in this portion of gameplay and the beast showed up a little too often. At a certain point, you feel more inconvenienced than anything else.
As you fall deeper into the mystery, what started as a hospital quickly begins to take another form. Holes in hospital walls and floors with film burned edges start to let wallpaper and carpets bleed through, as Iria’s memories begin to overlap. Reality in this place begins to crumble more and more as your own bearings and sense of direction start to become muddled. These make for some interesting visual moments, and combined with the time-bending camera begin to take on an Inception-like style. The visuals, while not initially striking definitely had some stand-out moments. Especially towards the end when everything just goes bananas.
Tape: Unveil the Memories is a game with an interesting idea, but unfortunately just falls a bit short. While the narrative and drip-fed creative puzzles kept me going, it became somewhat of a chore by the end. With some more variety in gameplay, and additional complex puzzles, this could definitely have been a big winner for me. While I wanted to love it, I just couldn’t quite get there.
Are you ready for a new puzzle game that will keep your mind working harder to figure out problems of the past to prevent disasters in the future? As we play as the little hero, a toy-sized robot who must travel back in time to repair everything that may be problematic that will require a bit of planning to get from one location. Hopefully to repair the issue and have the future come out bright and disaster-free for our creator.
The entire game has plenty of obstacle-style puzzles to accomplish, keeping players busy gaming for hours. Even as cute and small as we may appear, we still are quite mighty and are provided with plenty of awesome weapons and tools to use. Everything must be done accurately or the consequences maybe not be all that great. Even as we get to listen to some 90s music, our main goal is to be a hero and prevent the future disaster that our creator had us travel back in time to fix. So the only question that would be fitting is to ask is if you have what it takes to prevent future disasters in this game, Time Loader?
Graphics
The visual appearance of the game is rather nice! Each location has a beautifully built background of a normal size home. It also is filled with regular-sized items and objects, when traveling to the 90s there will be actual items like a classic Nintendo Gameboy, floppy disc-taking computers, an actual floppy disc, and a few more flashback items of the 90s. As the little robot, we appear similar to a toy in a room of large objects. The entire scene is correctly designed and provides a clear view of that effect. The game makes it quite easy to know which object or location may be accessible and useful during the game.
One aspect of the graphics, which I really adored is that the game didn’t skimp on the timing and realistic effects of the robot or any of the items brought to life. The most fantastic feeling occurs when you use the analog stick to move the robot. The wheels rolling on any surface during the game and the robot’s single-arm raising and being used to grab an object feels amazing! Just as if the player is the actual small robot in the game!
Plus, adding in those realistic visual effects, makes the entire movement and action being done or created while moving the robot feel so real. Especially how difficult it is to actually grab an object and use the controls to throw or do certain actions. I don’t know if I’m unhappy with the difficulty, as it feels a bit real and gets easier to figure out over time. There is one other issue and it’s the loading time. The game takes a bit of time to load from one section to the next. Even if it’s a bit slow, the new tasks during the game popup pretty well and it doesn’t seem to hinder any flaws.
Sound
The music is mediocre for a flashback to the 90s. It’s got a slight upbeat tune which can be an excellent sound to this slightly-adventurous puzzling game. However, the music is so weak in the volume department. Since I do like to listen to something with a bit more rhythm and beat when playing a puzzle game or any game, to be honest. Unfortunately, this game doesn’t provide such loud background music even having the music turned up as high as possible.
There are plenty of obstacles that occur in the same home throughout the game which is easy to hear a bit more of the music, but in other parts of the game it’s very low and light. I just think that it needs a small tweaking in the volume range to be a bit louder. This would make the game so much better if the music was as loud as the robotics voice. I’m glad I can say that the speech in the game is plenty helpful and able to be heard, but the music is even very light on the highest setting.
Final Thoughts
So are you looking to bring an original game, starring a robot as the little hero and tasks that need to be figured out to your daily gaming agenda? Well, this is one that will do just that! Providing such an assortment of obstacles that require planning and perfect timing to get you to move on to the next. It’s not super easy or too hard, maybe the only difficult portion is getting a hang of the robot’s control on the Nintendo Switch Lite. However, getting a handle on the controls and engaging in the challenging part is what makes this game quite amazing and entertaining!
Plus, for the outstanding puzzles that a small robot must be used to solve, it won’t be like any other game. I think that’s a bit part of why I love this game as well as it really puts the brain to work. Regardless, this is a wonderful game, with plenty of puzzles and beautiful background scenes and objects to marvel at while playing.
Puzzle games are wonderfully relaxing yet taxing for your mind. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be brilliantly simple or overwhelmingly difficult. Furthermore, they can test each part of your mind with the array of problems on offer. No matter which puzzle style you like, you won’t find anything more adorable than Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats.
Developed by YAW Studios and published by QUByte Interactive, this is a minimalist picture puzzle title. It isn’t a game that’ll test your mathematical prowess, nor will it demand hours of logical thinking. No, instead, you’ll tweak the spatial part of your brain as you reconstruct every image before you.
Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats is rewarding.
I haven’t played such a relaxing game in a long time. Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats is a gloriously simple puzzle title. Its casual approach and minimalist style capture your attention from the start. Furthermore, its beautiful imagery makes it attractive for younger players as well. Consequently, my children were fascinated as we adjusted the puzzle to discover each secret picture.
The game comprises 2 distinct categories and these are cat pictures and an array of other animals. Both options contain 20 puzzles with 2 difficulty settings. The first playthrough asks you to twist each section of the picture to create the foreground of the image. The second attempt, on the other hand, is tougher and more unusual as the background contains more details. However, neither of them is too challenging, yet I found completing each puzzle to be a rewarding experience.
So many dreamy images.
Helpful hints.
Though many of the problems lacked challenge, you’ll still need the occasional helping hand. Luckily, the developers are generous as there is a helpful hint system that points you in the right direction. This was an essential tool for any younger players and it will be invaluable to them. Unfortunately, many of the pictures rely on minor details and 100% accuracy to complete them. Therefore, with many strange shapes to look at, it was easy to overlook the discrepancies. Fortunately, though, the hint system allows inexperienced gamers to get on with it with minimal risk.
The relaxing nature of Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats is its unique selling point. Accordingly, I applaud the developers for their understated mechanics and easy-to-understand puzzles. However, I yearned for so much more and consequently wished there was a challenging option to push older gamers. Yes, I loved what I experienced, yet I wanted more! I was desperate for it to evolve past the rudimentary twisting of squares and matching of lines. Sadly, that never happened. However, perhaps additional and tougher content will be added to address this later.
Monochromatic simplicity at its best.
Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats is gorgeous.
A game rarely makes me stop and admire what I’m looking at. Normally, I enjoy what I observe, but I don’t see the beauty. However, Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats slaps you in the face with its Anime cat imagery and stunning depiction of nature. The game wonderfully blends minimalist monochromatic outlines with vivid and striking pictures. Consequently, the reward for solving each problem was a bright and elegant image that make all the effort worthwhile.
The desire to create a calm and relaxing environment is enhanced thanks to the chilled out audio. The calm music ensures you never feel rushed, and this was wonderful. What’s more, there are no sound effects to distract you from the task at hand.
Kitty tea party time.
Great user-friendly controls.
A simple concept needs a straightforward control setup. Fortunately, Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats has just that. You’ll quickly understand the fundamentals and you’ll have it mastered in no time. This was particularly great for younger gamers, as they can enjoy it with minimal assistance or supervision.
I loved everything about it except its lack of replay value. Once you have completed every puzzle and seen every image, there is no reason to return. It was a shame there were no further game modes or challenges to tackle. I believe the developers could have included a speedrun or limited moves option to increase the difficulty. Had this been included, it would have increased longevity exceptionally.
Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats is simple but wonderful.
Games don’t always require a complex and in-depth story to be great. This is proven in Hidden Shapes: Animals + Lovely Cats as it’s simple but wonderful at the same time. I adored its minimalist approach, basic controls, and calming audio. What’s more, it’s brilliant for all the family and that’s a massive positive. Consequently, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you twist the images and piece together each picture? Join the lines and unveil the secrets in front of you.
