Recent reviews by Controlsminds

I’ve been a fan of OFF for many years—probably since I was around twelve? And it has always remained my favorite RPG. Being able to support Mortis Ghost by purchasing this remake meant a lot to me, and stepping back into Zone 0 immediately washed me in a wave of nostalgia.

I can’t recommend this game enough. Over the past two decades, it’s left a massive mark on the RPG genre, influencing countless titles. You can even see its fingerprints in Undertale—Toby Fox has acknowledged the inspiration, and fittingly, he’s contributed music to this remake.

That said, I do miss the original soundtrack. Pepper Steak is unforgettable, and I caught myself expecting to hear it during every battle. Instead, the remake swaps it for White Meat by Toby Fox. It’s a great track on its own, but for me, it doesn’t carry the same weight.

Still, the new soundtrack shines in other places. A Glimmer of Fun by James Roach quickly became one of my favorites, and I’d honestly encourage players to experience both OSTs side by side. Each one stands on its own as something special, and while my nostalgia ties me closer to the original, I can’t deny the artistry of the new compositions.

The additional bosses were another highlight. They brought in small but meaningful bits of lore, and I found Psalmanazar, Herodotus, and Cob to be the toughest challenges. I also loved the redesigned Zacharie shop interface. It’s adorable! And the updated pillar art was a lot of fun to collect. On top of that, I actually prefer the combat system in this remake. Maybe it’s because I was too young to fully grasp the mechanics back then, but the original often left me guessing at how abilities worked or how much damage I’d deal. The remake feels much clearer and more refined in comparison.

I want to thank Toby Fox, Morusque, Exaheva, Camellia, Nightmargin, James Roach, Bansheebeat, and Fangamer for helping bring this remake to life. And, of course, I hope Mortis Ghost continues to receive the recognition he deserves for creating such a timeless game.

I’ve always loved OFF, and I’m incredibly grateful to see it return in this new form.

I’ve been thinking about Soma for the past few days—it really left a mark on me. I first heard about the game through a YouTube video and was immediately drawn in by its themes, so I bought it as soon as I could. It took me a while to actually start playing, and by the time I did, I’d forgotten most of what I saw. But now that I’ve finished it, it’s stuck with me in a way few games have.

Soma is a powerful experience. As our technology continues to evolve, its story feels increasingly relevant. The game subtly builds the protagonist’s background, and once you enter the core setting, you're thrown into the same confusion and disorientation that he feels. It’s a clever way of making you connect with his perspective—showing you who he was, and letting that influence how you process the events that unfold.

The choices you make feel significant, regardless of the outcomes. Without knowing what’s ahead, it’s easy to second-guess yourself, which adds a real emotional weight. I especially appreciated the underwater setting—it's eerie, isolating, and underused in horror. It gives the game a haunting, almost dreamlike atmosphere. I played on normal difficulty and enjoyed the stealth mechanics, even if they’re not for everyone. Each enemy has a different behavior pattern, forcing you to think and adapt. Some react to sound, others to movement or eye contact—and the game gives you subtle narrative reasons for those mechanics, which I really liked.

Learning what caused these creatures to exist was fascinating. Their designs are disturbing, but the reasons behind their appearance are even more unsettling. It actually reminded me of Auto from WALL-E—a system following its directive so rigidly that it ends up harming what it was meant to protect. It's a sobering and realistic take on AI oversight.

The main antagonistic force in Soma isn’t evil in a traditional sense. It’s not acting out of malice, yet it still represents a slow, suffocating threat to humanity. Discovering its role and impact over the course of the game was one of the most interesting parts—it walks a fine line between helping and harming, which adds complexity to its presence.

At the heart of the game is a deep exploration of consciousness, identity, and what it means to be human. It blends existential philosophy with psychological horror in a way that feels grounded and genuinely disturbing. For some, the questions it raises aren’t just hypothetical—they reflect real fears tied to advancing technology. The idea that your sense of self—your memories, sensations, and humanity—can be lost or artificially preserved is terrifying. And Soma doesn’t use that fear cheaply—it asks what life is worth when stripped of the things we take for granted, and whether survival at all costs is truly survival.

It’s hard to put into words exactly how this game made me feel. The choices it presented and its ending left a lasting impression on me. It’s the kind of story that stays with you—not because it provides answers, but because it forces you to ask the right questions.

In short: I lob this game…

What initially drew me to this game was the character of Doctor Daniel. The concept behind him intrigued me, and I wanted to learn more — through both the game and the anime adaptation. However, the more I explored, the more uneasy I became. As I noticed repeated red flags, that feeling only intensified. Unfortunately, there's a significant issue with how this game — and especially its community — appears to overlook, or even excuse, problematic depictions of pedophilia.

While the creators never explicitly confirmed a romantic relationship between Rachel and Zach, the story leaves just enough ambiguity to imply one. That alone is troubling, especially considering that Rachel is thirteen and Zach is clearly an adult. Even though the game includes a villain who blatantly disregards age boundaries — Doctor Daniel — the fandom still embraces the idea of Rachel being paired with another adult, as if it’s acceptable or romantic.

If media is going to portray something as serious and harmful as pedophilia, it should be done with clarity: it must be condemned, not normalized or glamorized. I was personally disappointed to see Daniel’s character — who could have remained a disturbing but interesting antagonist with his obsession with eyes — instead take on a predatory fixation on a child. While it does fit his role as a villain, that direction was a letdown for me. I was hoping for more psychological horror rooted in twisted motivations, not an adult character fixated on a young girl in such an overtly disturbing way.

If that were the extent of it, I likely wouldn’t have been as bothered. Characters like Daniel can serve a narrative purpose when handled with care. But what pushed me further was how official materials and community discussions so often romanticize the bond between Rachel and Zach. It shifts the tone from psychological horror into something far more uncomfortable — as though the creators were more interested in depicting a disturbing age-gap dynamic than exploring horror themes in a meaningful way. Rachel’s age has no major impact on the core plot, so it’s hard not to wonder why they chose not to age her up if their goal was to explore a darker relationship.

To be clear, I’m not saying people are wrong for enjoying the plot or characters. I still find the overarching concept of the game interesting. But I do think it’s important to point out — especially for those who may feel the same way I do — that this game contains troubling portrayals that, whether intentional or not, can come across as romanticizing pedophilia. And unfortunately, much of the fandom seems not only to ignore this, but to actively embrace it.

The irony is, anyone who mocks this review is only reinforcing my point. Dismissing or laughing at concerns about depictions of pedophilia — even fictional — just shows how normalized it’s become in parts of the community. And that’s exactly the problem.