Recent reviews by Level Joy

I was incredibly excited as I followed this game, but wanted to be cautiously optimistic as hype can kill a first playthrough.

Having just finished 'Stray', I already look forward to my next playthrough. The different locations are colourful, lively and reflect the story you're a part of. I think the devs made some great decisions with their characters and the world in which they live.

Yes, the protagonist is cute, and I often see this displayed as a selling point. While an effective way to draw people in, there is more purpose to the character being a cat. It makes sense in the story and the mechanics are centered around being a small, agile creature. This wasn't simply done for the appeal of 'playing as a cat' but a deliberate choice to have the player experience this adventure from the perspective of an orange fuzzball.

It has been a while since I felt so immersed in a world. Not only is it beautiful, it presents the player with a variety of mechanics which don't overstay their welcome. It is a relatively short game (my first playthrough in which I took my time to explore, lasted about 7 hours). This keeps the experience contained and streamlined.

Full disclosure: I received a key to make a video of this game from the developers. There were no restrictions, requests or guidlines on how I had to play/review it.

Orbox C is a challenging, colourful and unique brain cracker that will keep you active for over 200 levels. New elements are introduced constantly, requiring the player to renew their strategy. The atmosphere this game tries to create is complimented by the music that would otherwise function perfectly well as a relax/homework mix. Orbox C is terribly addictive and I hope it will someday allow for costum levels made by players to make it even more durable.

https://youtu.be/dV0KaZ9B56c

A fast-paced arcade-type shooter in a new jacket. This game is as hard as it is addictive and due to the huge amount of stages, it is sure to keep you busy for a while... or sure to make you rage-quit.

Despite its simplistic style, the game is colourful and the levels are diverse. Out of all of the 'retro-games' that are currently floating around the indie-game community, this is definitely one that got the atmosphere right.

If you are suffering from epilepsy, you might want to approach with caution! (I am not knowledgeable enough to say whether or not this game's visuals could possibly trigger an attack, but just to be sure)

The long dark is a challenging survival game that will keep you on your toes. One moment you can be doing fine but the next you might be balancing on the verge of death.

In order to survive on the short term, you must traverse the icy landscapes and gather supplies that others left behind because they managed to escape the unforgiving climate…. or never had the chance to. If you plan on surviving on the long term, you can’t rely on these resources as they are bound to run out soon. You’ll have to craft, hunt and use your wits.

A strong feeling of isolation is created with the subtle use of music and sound. This game won’t hold your hand, there’s no contact with anyone, and every other living thing in the outdoors is likely a threat. For now I haven’t found a way to actually survive, your character is doomed from the start to succumb to the elements. Perhaps this will be added to the game later but on its own; it’s an interesting challenge.

One thing that’s not completely BALANCED about the game is how fast you run out of resources, the food can be somewhat explained due to the cold but tools break very quickly as well. Another thing I ran into (and heard other players about) is the fact that you are bound to run out of things to find on the different maps after playing for a few hours. Personally, I suspect the somewhat linear structure of the environments will serve a purpose in the upcoming ‘story mode’.

These are a few flaws in the current design, but keep in mind that this is not the finished product. I have high expectations of the end result due to the frequency of the updates and the beauty of the environments.

I made a 'spotlight' type video on this game, please let me know if you (the developers) have any objections :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUi1qfsFlPE

‘The vanishing of Ethan Carter’ is an example as to why video games are art.

‘The Vanishing of Ethan Carter’ has one of the most vibrant, beautiful and mysterious worlds that I have seen in recent games. It gives you little to no advice on what to do, leaving the new player to wander aimlessly in an open world. So take your time to explore. This game doesn’t play around when it tells you it won’t be holding your hand.

This game combines the ‘walking simulator’ experience with engaging and challenging gameplay. It also combines different types of challenges, surprising the player. though I must say the difficulty seemed to decrease nearing its climax, allowing more of a ‘flow’ in the storyline but at times it was simply a bit too easy compared to the rest of the game. It definitely focuses more on the story than gameplay.

The music in this game is absolutely stunning and a huge contribution to the atmosphere. It’s a present element but not overpowering, inviting the player to enjoy the equally enchanting scenery.

The redux version saves more frequently and eliminates a few aspectes of the game that were considered ‘immersion breaking’ (trying to be spoiler free).

Video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRlmz_qaMD0