Recent reviews by PYROMANT|C

Beyond Contact is a game that rewards coming back to every so often. There were numerous times where I’d achieved something and thought that was enough, only to come back around the next day to keep on doing more. It’s all too easy to go out to gather resources for that “one thing” only to spend an hour exploring whilst you fill up every available slot in your inventory. That being said there’s definitely room for improvement here, mostly focused around quality of life improvements like the addition of a compendium/guide book, extended tutorials (for those of us who want them) and perhaps a slight reduction in the grind needed to achieve certain things. As someone who forays into this genre by exception and not rule I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Beyond Contact, even if I think it still has room to grow.

Rating: 7.5/10

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2023/05/08/beyond-contact-salvation-through-science/

Before Your Eyes was the emotional sucker punch I needed. The game's opening beats will trick veteran walking simulator connoisseurs into thinking this is just another run of the mill title, but give it just enough time (shorter than most movies these days) and you'll be treated to a story that will take you on a feels trip you won't soon forget. I've played my share of games with quirky mechanics and it's not often that I find one that is both inventive and in service of the narrative it's portraying. Really there's not much more I can say, you just need to give this game the time it needs to reveal itself to you and when you do, I think you'll be all the better for it.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2021/04/20/before-your-eyes-the-life-not-lived/

Elementium is the kind of game I expect to see on /r/Indie where the developer doesn't seem to understand why it isn't selling. The fact of the matter is that this game barely qualifies as such, playing like an early alpha rather than a game you're paying full price for. These are the kinds of titles that Early Access is designed to help, the ones where the developer has an idea they want to explore but hasn't got a clue about how to make it fun.

Further the extreme lack of polish on nearly all elements makes me think that this game didn't see any external play testing at all as there's no way any of these issues made it past even the most forgiving of family members. I tried to keep an open mind when I was playing Elementium, figuring that there had to be a point somewhere along the lines where it started to really come into its own. That time never came and here I am, 4 hours in the hole without much to show for it. Honestly Ignite Studios, if you're reading this, email me: therefinedgeek@gmail.com, you sound like you need the help.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2018/02/18/elementium-what-you-find-in-the-depths-of-steams-new-releases/

The Red Strings club was a great game to open up my 2018 list to. Deconstructeam has evidently gone through a lot of growth over the last couple years, bringing everything that was good from Gods Will Be Watching and leaving everything else behind. At a technical level the game isn't anything to write home about, feeling like a very traditional pixel art adventure game, but the overall experience feels well above par. This is most likely due to the strong narrative, one that manages to intrigue and provoke a lot of thought whilst, strangely, failing to drive a heavy emotional impact. If you had asked me after I played Gods Will Be Watching would I look forward to the next game from this developer I would've told you no but now, having played The Red Strings Club, I'm very keen to see where Deconstructeam goes from here.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2018/01/29/the-red-strings-club-freedom-to-feel/

Shardlight is a true homage to the adventure games of old, both in terms of graphics and style. The pixelart is wonderfully done, eschewing any modern flairs and staying true to its roots. The game plays as you would expect it to with no embellishments or enhancements on the old school formula. The story, whilst not the most captivating for this writer, is expertly told owing to the no-frills attitude that permeates throughout the game. Overall Sharlight is a solid adventure game that’s sure to delight fans of the genre and those who just love post-apocalyptic stories.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2016/03/11/shardlight-of-haves-and-have-nots/

The Witness is an absolutely beautifully crafted game, both from an aesthetic point of view and the novel craftsmanship of its puzzles. It’s amazing to see how such a simple idea, drawing a line from one point to another, can be given such mechanical complexity. Taking that one step further and including the very world itself as part of the mechanics is an inspired achievement, one that blew me away when I finally figured it out. However the repetitive nature of the puzzles, coupled with the lack of narrative to drive you forward through those puzzles, makes it hard to keep coming back after a while. The Witness is most certainly a testament to Jonathan Blow’s dedication to perfection in all things he sets out to create however it falls short of acquiring the “must play” status that his seminal title did. Overall I believe The Witness is certainly worth playing, just maybe not to its ultimate conclusion.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2016/02/05/the-witness-the-world-is-but-a-puzzle-for-you-to-solve/

That Dragon, Cancer is an extremely personal journey of one family’s battle against cancer and the challenges that it brings. As a game it is simple, favouring minimal looks and mechanics over anything else that might distract from the story. It most certainly achieves its vision of being a memorial to Joel’s life, capturing his personality and the effect he had the people he interacted with. The telling of that story though can be somewhat muddled and, if you’re not the praying type, may rub you the wrong way towards the end. Still if you or someone you know is facing the same challenges as this game describes then it’s definitely worth playing, if just to know that you’re not alone in your struggles

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2016/02/01/that-dragon-cancer-a-memorial/

Linea is a challenging reaction based game that’s sure to delight fans of the genre. The core game is fast paced with minimal downtime, ensuring that you’re not doing much else but bashing your head against the game’s primary challenge. The minimal visual aesthetic is great to look at but also a punishing part of the core game, making it that much more difficult to visually distinguish everything on screen. Whilst it might not be my usual cup of tea I was surprised I played it for as long as I did, especially when I started craving after a few achievements.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2016/01/15/linea-hesitation-will-be-your-end/

Hocus is a great puzzler, one that benefits greatly from the developer’s commitment to the game and the community that has cropped up around it. The minimalistic stylings are a perfect fit for this kind of game, focusing you directly on the challenge at hand. The puzzles themselves are no trifle either and are sure to provide a challenge for even the most non-linear thinkers among us. If you’re looking for another time killer for your phone or just enjoy a good non-Euclidean styled puzzler then Hocus is definitely a title you should check out.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2016/01/08/hocus-you-cant-trust-your-eyes/

Just Cause 3 is pretty much what you’d expect it to be: a destruction sandbox and little else. The combat and destructible world, whilst not exactly inspired, does the job it was set to do. The world is large and expansive however it starts to feel repetitive very quickly given the lack of variety. It is unfortunately a bug and glitch ridden affair, something that is only made worse by the lacklustre story. Had Just Cause 3 come with multiplayer by default I may have been more forgiving as with all things B-grade they’re far better when enjoyed with a few beers with your mates. However Avalanche have left that task up to the modders once again, forgoing an opportunity to capitalize on the frenzy that they had created. Just Cause 3 might be worth the asking price for some, but for others it might be worth waiting until it goes on sale.

Read my full review here: https://www.therefinedgeek.com.au/index.php/2015/12/21/just-cause-3-another-day-for-rico-rodriguez/