Here's a hot take: maybe game reviews don't always have to be hyper-critical.
What a way to start a blog, no? But genuinely, I do feel like many reviewers/sites focus a little too much on the negative bits of a game, or refuse to give games high scores just for the sake of it. I'm here for you gamers who simply want to enjoy, and let people enjoy things. In a world that's been pretty negative lately, a little positivity doesn't hurt đ
Anyway hi, I'm Gabi! I love love playing video games, and love sharing my gaming experiences with people. I buy and play a LOT of indie games, mostly wholesome ones, and want to talk about them + give them the recognition they deserve.
This blog is named the way it is because I have a tendency to be kind or optimistic about the games I play â if I had fun, then it's a good game, simple as that. Though I know every game has its flaws, I'm here to talk about what made me happy, and what could make you happy too! Also, I like stars đ
đŤ A few questions to get to know me and what I plan to do here đŤ
âWhat kind of games do I play?
I prefer wholesome games, particularly point-and-clicks, logic puzzles, RPGs, and farm sims. I'm not afraid to step outside of this, however, and would love to try suggestions people give me!
âDoes this mean every review I give will be positive?
Not necessarily. Everyone has their own tastes, including me, so while there may be games I don't fully vibe with, I recognize that some of you might like those kind of things, and will definitely try to get that through in my writing.
âWhy am I doing this?
I originally just wanted a way to jot down my experiences with the numerous games I play, then I realized if I could get people to appreciate these games too, so much better! â¨
âWhat games am I currently playing?
As of writing this, I'm in the middle of playing Fossil Corner and TOEM. Maybe one of them will be the subject of my first review! đ
ANYWAY-
That's all I have for now, and I hope you guys like what I'll do! If this all sounds like a great idea to you, a like and reblog would mean the absolute world to me ⨠Talk to you all soon!
Check out these images that we gathered! đ With a bunch of biomes to explore, ready your baskets, axes, and pickaxes as you harvest these resources, to feed your goblins or to build them a spacious lair. đ§şđŞâ
"Scottside" is a non-linear visual novel in the thriller genre. A small provincial town may seem quite dull. However, everything changes when you find a strange object in the forest.
Cassette Beasts is a creature-collecting game by Bytten Studio! Record monsters on tapes, become a Ranger, and find the way off of New Wirral in this amazing adventure!
Spoilers below the cut!!
So I had a plan to write this review before I even finished the game. It was just that good. But! I managed to hold off until I at least finished the main game. Next goal: 100% and DLC! And also buying the OST when I have the chance.
Now, I'm not putting this off until the middle of the review: every musical track in this game is a certified banger. I absolutely loved the music of the game. As one person put it (while I was looking for the OST), I just didn't get tired of the music. And that's a pretty big win for a game where you have so, so many encounters and only a handful of tracks to play.
The way they implement the music is also impressive because it's narratively important. The lyrics work their way in when a fusion happens and during big story battles. The town theme's music plays when you're indoors. Plus the lyrics just feel right with its tones and atmosphere. Also the difference between the few main battle themes is just enough for one to feel more tense/exciting than the others. Just an overall great thing they have going on with the audio.
Okay with that out of the way!
Cassette Beasts is a solid game, actually pretty high tier.
Mechanically, I've seen people compare it to Pokemon. I feel like it's like a mix of Pokemon and Persona. You can record the monsters, remaster (evolve) them at five stars, with some having having special evolution requirements. Monsters can show up as bootlegs, where they're a type other than its base type, which is just like shiny hunting but more (cause there's like 12 types). And I've already killed a plastic bootleg by accident...
The moves (stickers) are mix and match, mostly according to typing. I'm pretty into it cause I love giving my party members all sorts of type coverage. I haven't particularly gone into finding weird strategies yet other than AP Refund, but I can see some cool ones thanks to needing to battle all 12 Ranger Captains.
And then you can fuse! Which I thought was interesting, and it adds an ace to go to when you're in a pinch. But you fusing means that wild monsters (and other rangers) can fuse too. Those provide some fun challenges and opportunities to find bootlegs, plus progression in post-game.
Did I mention that this game is also like a Metroidvania? Capturing certain monsters gives up to 6 overworld movement abilities and I think that's pretty neat. All of them have their uses and none of them are niche, which is a win.
The story was pretty interesting! Dropping in onto a mysterious island and trying to find a way back home is nice and simple and all the detail added around it make it engaging. The Archangels are wildly uncomfortable which I didn't expect and I loved it. Despite loving it, it still did come out of nowhere but greatly forgiven because it was right at the start (and not some random turn in the middle).
The pacing was a bit off for me though because I got like 5 out of 8 song pieces before I even defeated 4 captains or even met all the partner characters. I also don't know how relationship progress works other than fight things and rest. Thinking about it now, there's probably a reason why there a speedrun timer in that you don't have to play through all the content (8/9 archangels, no captains?), I guess.
I liked the references to all sorts of topics throughout the story and I think it's pretty interesting for the characters to be from different timelines. It makes it easy to explain weird inconsistencies.
Funny thing I did by accident for end game's story: I switched out Meredith's Regensea with an Aeroboros cause I wanted her starter in my party. And boy did that choice bite back later lol.
Graphics are also solid. The 3D world with 2D sprites reminds me of Octopath Traveller. I appreciate the non-pixel portrait art for the characters, but I would've liked it either way. The designs of the monsters and the characters are all great! Honestly, I should take some notes from them since even if there's 15+ characters, they still all have very specific designs and personalities to match.
The detail in the world is great too, like the light reflecting off the puddle or the fog that rolls in and the rain. So like weather in general.
Also, as a note just for me, I liked the fonts and font effects that they used. Very cool.
Cassette Beasts is a quality creature-collecting game! If you need another Pokemon/Digimon/Persona, here's a game for you. Or if you just want a cool turn-based RPG with cool music, that's cool too.
This Bed We Made Review: Unveil Secrets in New Mystery Game
Uncover secrets in This Bed We Made. Engaging gameplay, rich characters, and dark sides of the 1950s era. A must-play for mystery lovers!
This Bed We Made, developed by Lowbirth Games, invites players into a world set against the backdrop of a 1950s hotel. As the protagonist, a diligent maid named Sophie, youâll navigate a day filled with cleaning rooms, solving puzzles, and making pivotal decisions that shape the fate of ten individuals. In this honest review, Iâll delve into the gameplay, character depth, and technical aspects ofâŚ
Authorâs note: My first review! Though Iâd gotten this game a few months ago on my birthday (hehe), I thought itâd be a fun game to start this blog with because, well, the name, and also itâs not as popular as I feel it should be! Enjoy :)Â
Birth is a game about, quite literally, making a friend. In this point-and-click/puzzle game, you look for spare organs and bones to assemble this friend by solving puzzles and exploring a gorgeous hand-drawn macabre world. I donât use the word âmacabreâ lightly â nearly every scene contains hints of decay like bones, severed body parts, running insects and rotting corpses. They are admittedly some of the loveliest depictions Iâve seen of those concepts, but if thatâs really not for you, this game may not be as great an experience.
There are a variety of settings in this little city, from bookstores and bakeries, museums and restaurants, to the individual rooms in apartment complexes. Thereâs a beautiful irony to be had, that a place painted with death could be bursting with such life. Madison Karrh, Birthâs developer, seems to have put a lot of love into each scene, giving the NPCs and rooms their own bits of charm and personality. Itâs really the little details that make the game a joy to play. â¨
Onto the gameplay itself! As a puzzle-lover myself, I didnât find the puzzles very difficult, though sometimes I was a bit confused on what I was supposed to be solving in the first place. For the most part though, they were very calming to go through. Interacting with objects in the world was easy as well, since they would move as you hover your mouse over them. Unfortunately, as with many games of this genre, it lacks replayability, since the entire game has just one solution.
There isnât much I can say about Birthâs story, because there isnât really one. Thereâs just the main premise (building a friend), and the journey towards it. But thatâs okay! Like I said, the joy really comes from immersing yourself in the world, even if only for a couple of hours.
That being said, Birth is kind of a short game. I was able to 100% it in less than 2 hours, which, sadly, has led a lot of people to refund it after beating it. The game is a tad pricey ($10.99 on Steam) for its length, so if youâre running a little low on funds, Iâd suggest waiting for it to go on sale. Or, if you want to keep scratching the itch Birth gives, Madisonâs other games are either very cheap or free, and have the same type of gameplay and eerie humor! Iâll link them as well below. đ
Though simple in story and theory, Birth is undoubtedly a piece of art. It shows us the beauty in the process of life and death⌠and perhaps life again? Its morbid yet quaint style definitely sets it apart from other wholesome games, but Iâd definitely consider it one regardless. Iâm now excited for any other games Madison will put out, and hope she keeps them this wonderfully unique each time. đŤ
Overall, 4 stars out of 5! ââââ
Buy Birth on Steam here!
Check out Madison Karrhâs other games here!
If you have any questions/suggestions for me, please let me know! My asks are always open â¨
The depth and variety of puzzle is good to see, with extra replayability allowing certain puzzles to shine. While the game is great, there arenât a lot of accessibility options such as a colour-blind mode or arachnophobia filter. However, the nature of the game is still easily approachable with beautifully stylised art and music bringing great pleasure. A Little to the Left is pure wholesome and cozy fun.
this is absolutely one of my favorite cozy puzzle games, and a little reminder that they're coming out with special Halloween-themed puzzles this Oct 27-32! đ
