Recent reviews by Klinisk

REANIMAL: Eye candy without the bite

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🎮 Gameplay: ( 5 / 10 )
Reanimal leans heavily into atmosphere over mechanics. For players who love visually stunning games this is absolutely right up your alley. The environments are beautifully crafted, packed with moody lighting and eerie set pieces that are clearly meant to be the focal point of the game. If your idea of a good time is exploring haunting landscapes and letting the world tell the story, you’ll likely appreciate what’s here. However, for those who want deeper or more engaging gameplay systems, things feel pretty lacking. Most of your time is spent either walking or running from one location to the next. The puzzles are far too straightforward and requires no more than a quick glance around the room to solve. There’s little sense of challenge or clever design, and as a result, they feel more like brief interruptions than meaningful gameplay moments. The boss sections is also disappointingly uninspired. Instead of ramping up tension or introducing interesting mechanics, it comes across as lazy and predictable which is a disappointing payoff from what should be a climactic encounter. To make matters worse, the price feels way too steep for what amounts to roughly four hours of playtime. With no replay value and shallow mechanics it’s hard to justify the cost unless you’re specifically looking for a short, visually impressive co-op game to play with your friend or significant other.

📘 Story: ( 5 / 10 )
Reanimal clearly aims for a dark, symbolic narrative told through atmosphere and fragmented moments rather than direct exposition. On paper, that approach fits the tone perfectly. Each section of the game is designed in a really cool and distinct way, with striking imagery and creative environmental themes that hint at something deeper going on beneath the surface.The problem is that the story itself feels confusing and not particularly well put together. Events seem loosely connected, character motivations are vague, and important details are either too subtle or missing entirely. Instead of gradually piecing together a compelling mystery, it often feels like you’re just moving from one abstract scenario to another without a clear throughline. While the visual design of each chapter is imaginative and memorable, the way the story is presented makes it hard to get invested. There’s a difference between mysterious and muddled, and unfortunately this leans more toward the latter. By the end, it’s difficult to feel emotionally attached to what’s happening because the narrative never fully comes together in a satisfying or coherent way.

📺 Visuals: ( 9.2 / 10 )
Reanimal absolutely shines when it comes to its visuals, this is without a doubt the game’s main selling point, and it’s done stunningly well. Every environment feels amazing well thought out, with detailed textures, striking lighting, and a strong, cohesive art direction that immediately pulls you in. The atmosphere is thick and oppressive in all the right ways, and the visual representation of the world gives the game a distinct, creepy identity. In many ways, it achieves something that other games in the same genre have been striving for years to capture, that perfect blend of beauty and unease. The set pieces are imaginative and purely visually the game is simply breathtaking. There are multiple moments that genuinely stand out simply because of how they look. That being said, while it’s visually stunning, the horror aspect itself could have been handled better. The imagery is disturbing and eerie, but it doesn’t always translate into genuine tension or fear. The game looks horrifying, but it doesn’t consistently feel horrifying. With stronger pacing and more effective scares, it could have elevated the incredible visual design into something truly unforgettable.

🎧 Sound: ( 8 / 10 )
The sound design in Reanimal is genuinely impressive and fits the game perfectly. From the unsettling ambient noises to the subtle environmental details, the audio consistently reinforces the creepy atmosphere and tension the game aims to create. Background effects blend perfectly with the world, making the playthrough feel immersive. The soundtrack complements the experience nicely, knowing when to stay restrained and when to swell to heighten key moments. It supports the emotional tone and pacing effectively, adding weight to both quiet and intense sequences. That said, It doesn’t reinvent horror audio or introduce especially innovative techniques—it simply executes its vision very well. Overall, it’s a strong and cohesive audio package that enhances the game significantly.

🏍 Performance: ( 8 / 10 )
Reanimal runs very well, at least on high-end hardware. I played it on a GTX 5090 paired with a 9800X3D processor and didn’t experience any crashes, stutters, or technical hiccups during my time with it. FPS was high even in the more visually dense sections of the game. Load times were smooth, transitions between areas felt seamless, and overall the technical side of the experience was polished. For a visually ambitious game, it’s nice to see that it performs as good as it looks.

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🏆 Overall: ( 7 / 10 )
Reanimal is a game that excels in presentation but falls short in almost everything else. Its visuals and atmosphere are undeniably impressive and easily the highlight of the experience. If you’re someone who values mood, environmental design, and being able to explore a creepy world with a friend or significant other above all else, there’s definitely something here for you. However, the shallow gameplay, overly straightforward puzzles, confusing story presentation, and uninspired boss sections will be a deal breaker for some, especially at its current price point for roughly four hours of playtime. While it’s technically polished and visually striking, it lacks the depth and engagement needed to leave a lasting impact.

High On Life 2: A Worthy Sequel

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🎮 Gameplay: ( 8.5 / 10 )
High On Life 2 doubles down on what made the first game fun while tightening the mechanics. The gunplay feels smoother and more responsive, with better enemy variety and more creative boss encounters. Movement has clearly been refined and the addition of the skateboard makes traversal feels faster and more fluid. The talking weapons remain the core hook, but this time they feel more integrated into combat strategy instead of just being comedic sidekicks. Combat arenas are more dynamic, with verticality and environmental hazards playing a bigger role. That said, some encounters can still feel a bit repetitive in longer sessions. There is also alot of things you can unlock with both outfits, skateboard skins and upgrades that make the weapons more fun to use.

📘 Story: ( 8 / 10 )
If you played the first High on Life, you already know the sequel isn’t aiming for subtlety. The story kicks off with a premise that feels deceptively simple, but quickly spirals into increasingly absurd territory. What I appreciated most is how self-aware the writing is without feeling lazy. The sequel leans harder into its interdimensional chaos, throwing you into bizarre alien politics, morally questionable side deals, and long-winded arguments with your own weapons that somehow become plot-relevant. It’s not deep or emotional, but it’s consistently entertaining. If you’re here for absurd sci-fi comedy and unpredictable moments, the story absolutely delivers.

📺 Visuals: ( 8.4 / 10 )
High On Life 2 absolutely commits to its wild sci-fi identity, and it shows in every frame. The art direction is bold, colorful, and unapologetically weird. Alien environments pop with exaggerated shapes, neon lighting, and grotesque creature designs that perfectly match the game’s chaotic tone. Character models are expressive, especially the talking weapons and key NPCs who add a lot of personality during dialogue. Environments are layered with small details — background animations, strange signage, and bizarre alien tech that make each location visually interesting.

🌆 Worldbuilding: ( 7.2 / 10 )
great job of making its universe feel alive. Each area is packed with personality, weird side interactions, background conversations, and optional activities that make exploration worthwhile. There are a lot of cool things you can do in the different locations — from stumbling into strange side quests to discovering hidden bits of environmental storytelling that add flavor to the galaxy. It genuinely feels lived in, like things are happening whether you’re involved or not. However, the scale can feel limited. While the individual areas are detailed and memorable, the game is restricted to a relatively small selection of places. Once you’ve fully explored each hub, the world can start to feel smaller than it initially seemed. You can’t help but wish there were a few more planets or larger zones to expand that sense of adventure. Overall, it’s a vibrant and immersive setting — just one that occasionally feels a bit more compact than its ideas deserve.

🎧 Sound: ( 9 / 10 )
Voice acting is once again front and center. The performances carry much of the experience, and the cast delivers high-energy, chaotic dialogue that fits the tone perfectly. The soundtrack supports the sci-fi atmosphere well, especially during boss fights and exploration segments. Sound design during combat is punchy and satisfying, giving weapons real weight. Only thing missing is Justin Roilands amazing performance.

🏍 Performance: ( 7 / 10 )
Performance is mostly stable with solid frame rates on my high end hardware with frame generation 2x enabled. Getting around 180-270fps on (5090 / 9800X3D).Load times are good and crashes are only occasional. There are minor bugs like clipping through objects, animation glitches and AI hiccups, but nothing game-ending if you are on high end hardware. If you are on low to mid tier specs i would wait for patches though.

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🏆 Overall: ( 8 / 10 )
feels like a confident step forward rather than just “more of the same.” It improves on the gunplay, refines the pacing, and livens up the universe in meaningful ways while keeping the chaotic humor that defines the series. The combat is tighter, the worlds feel more alive, and the presentation is stronger across the board. That being said, it’s not without flaws. The limited number of locations can make the galaxy feel smaller than it should, and some encounters or jokes can drag on longer than necessary but overall there really aint that much to complain about. It doesn’t completely reinvent the formula, but it polishes it in the right places.

The atmosphere and worldbuilding in this game is done on point. Because of the cheap price of this game you cant expect it to be a top tier shooter which is def aint. Movement is choppy some times and there are some irritating mechanicns like riding the boat in the final chapter, not sure how this even could get implemented this poorly. Overall though if you enjoy a cool story game with some ok puzzles for a cheap price its worth playing.

No

Still Wakes the Deep: An Atmospheric story of Suspense and Mystery

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Currently playing through the game. I will update with a full review once iv played through the entire game. The game so far has a really good and unique atmosphere, Visuals seems Good, and the voice acting and story is up to par, gameplay wise its a little lacking for those who aint a fan of walking simulators, but the game seems great so far. Even though the game performs good for me (recommended hardware), some people that have the minimum hardware requierments might experience some stutters and not optimal performance. Here are some tips i found to make the game perform and look a little better for those who want to have a better experience.

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( Remember, These values might beed to be changed depending on your current setup )

- Using Nvidia Deep-Learning LSS at balanced Gives the best performance compared to quality imo.
- Open nvidia control panel and set sharpening to 0.35 - 0.65 based on preferance
- Sound option = breathing volume to either 25% or 30%
- Play the game in fullscreen instead of borderless
- Setting shadows and Geometry Lower helps with lagg and stutters.
- Reducing the lighting option from epic to high is a 20 fps boost.
- Vertical Sync and film grain should be turned Off
- Game Has ministutters from time to time, no matter what you do (atleast for me)
- If you have recommended hardware i would recommend to play with everything on high and
texture quality at epic, if you still have stutters put shadows to medium. This is what has
looked the best to me while still keeping a decent performance.
- I wish the game had a built inn option for contrast. If you have a built in option
for contrast on your monitor, try adjusting it for better finetuning.
- You can also set the FOV slider to 105 without much loss in FPS. Any higher i wouldnt
Recommend.
-Game also lacks Raytracing options for those who thinks thats important.
-Ctrl + alt + delete -> Details -> Still wakes the Deep -> right click -> Set affinity, and uncheck
one of your CPUS for Windows usage helps a little with stutters.

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Having played the first hellblade, which is genre defining in its immersion and emotional expression i have high hopes for this game. I will give my Initial impression after starting this game and update this review to a full review after i complete the game. My takes so far are:

- The performance is not as good as the first game in terms of fps, it’s to be expected being an U5 game. And to be honest it seems like one of the better U5 games performance wise yet, The visuals are absolutely stunning, like in the first game but only better. Hellblade has always been a master of sound, storytelling, world building and last but not least, emotional expression. Sauna’s sacrifice 2 takes this to the next level. I will say that the lack of ray tracing is somewhat disappointing, but the visuals are still extremely good, however, one could ponder how godlike the visuals would look with that feature included.
- The emotional expressions, sound track, and narration have been elevated on another level, which also is to be expected when taking the leap from U4 to U5.
- The gameplay and combat problems lacking in hellblade 1 still seem persistent in this follow up
- DLSS seems to perform better than AMD FSR 3.0 Both FOR FPS and quality at the moment.
- Playing the game at 1080p or 1440p will see you have around 60 fps with high settings, with a 2070 - 3090 graphics card.
- If you plan to play it at 4k, i would wait for patches.

Short take so far: The implementation of U5 elevates this game in the areas it truly shines, Emotional expression, storytelling, worldbuilding and sound, are all categories which seem improved beyond belief. It looks gorgeous so far, the only thing im dissapointed at is the lack of a raytracing option.

Cuphead: Retro Delight and Boss Blitz Bonanza

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🎮 Gameplay: ( 9.5 / 10 )
Cuphead is a thrilling boss fighting simulator that demands precision and quick reflexes. The game's primary focus is on intense boss battles, each with unique patterns and mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh and challenging. Each boss has different phases with different mechanics, the start order of these phases are randomized each time you start a boss fight, which makes it more challenging than learning only one pattern. The Run and gun levels offer a nice change of pace, and gives the players coins that can be used to buy various items and upgrades. Expect a steep difficulty curve that will test your patience and skill, but likewise is also equally rewarding.

📘 Story: ( 6.8 / 10 )
The story of Cuphead is simple yet charming. You play as Cuphead and his brother Mugman, who must repay their debt to the Devil by collecting the souls of runaway debtors. The narrative is minimalistic but fits perfectly with the game's old-school cartoon aesthetic, providing just enough motivation after wiping 50 times after each grueling yet rewarding encounter.

📺 Visuals: ( 9.1 / 10 )
Cuphead's visuals are one of its standout features. The game boasts a meticulously crafted 1930s cartoon art style, complete with hand-drawn animations and watercolor backgrounds. Every character and environment is bursting with personality and detail, making each frame a visual delight. This unique art style sets Cuphead apart from any other 2d platformers on the market.

🎧 Sound: ( 8.7 / 10 )
The sound design in Cuphead is top-notch. The soundtrack features a collection of jazz and big band music that perfectly complements the game's retro aesthetic. Sound effects are crisp and impactful. The voice acting, though minimal, adds a touch of authenticity to the characters.

🏍 Engine: ( 9.3 / 10 )
Cuphead runs smoothly on its custom engine, designed to faithfully replicate the feel of classic animation. The game performs well on a variety of systems. The controls are responsive and the animations are smooth, which is crucial for a game that demands such precision.

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🏆 Overall: ( 8.7 / 10 )
Cuphead is a masterpiece for those who appreciate challenging gameplay. Its difficulty may be off-putting for the average gamer, but the satisfaction of overcoming its tough battles is immensely rewarding. With its unique and well-crafted art style, excellent sound design, and polished mechanics, Cuphead is a must-play for fans that like challenging gameplay.

Indika: A Sureal, witty and genre defining narrative experience.
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🎮 Gameplay: ( 6.95 / 10 )
Indika takes the "walking simulator" genre and gives it a jolt of existential caffeine. The gameplay still follows the basics of a walking simulator but Indika adds a depth of layer with its switches to 2d and its occasional minigames and puzzles. This method gives players a minibreak from constantly walking, which I would say is rather refreshing. The puzzles are not hard, but challenging enough to make the player not lose focus, while the minigames often are timing based. What they did right here, is having the right balance of difficulty, not make anything seem tedious.

📘 Story: ( 8.9 / 10 )
The story is a philosophical deep dive wrapped in layers of humor, sarcasm, and some good old-fashioned trolling. It's like a therapy session with a snarky therapist who sometimes questions your choices and makes you laugh at the absurdity of it all. Themes of religion, self-worth, and reflection over what’s good and bad are explored with a unique twist, making you ponder your existence while trying to decipher the surreal world you are currently bound to. The characters are both unique and well crafted, it does not give you the sense of like heroes or generalized characters, they seem both surreal and real, in some sense they are comical. But If you were in their shoes, in this time period, the reflection of how they act is, funny, sad and in a sense real to the situation they are currently in.

🌆 Worldbuilding: ( 8.9 / 10 )
The world of Indika is a surrealist's dream (or nightmare). Imagine walking through a Salvador Dalí painting while having a conversation with Douglas Adams. The game uses proportions to its advantage by making smaller objects much larger, giving the world a sense of surrealism while still having familiar elements in the right proportion. They also take geometry to the extreme, and have things at really sharp angles, extreme heights, or really big and broad objects. Indika really nails the fact that they have created their own surreal world, even though it’s based in a realistic timeline. The way sound, visuals and characters are portrayed, helps this game create a really unique world that further help establish its own true identity, amidst a dozen other titles that fail to do the same.

📺 Visuals: ( 8.1 / 10 )
Visually, Indika does pretty good, it could be compared to the game “the invincible” but it falls a little bit short. The art style is bold and unconventional, it does a good job at complementing the game's twisted atmosphere. The graphical design melds together elements of dreamlike fantasy and gruff reality, creating a visual experience that keeps you engaged. The attention to detail could be improved. The same thing could be said about facial animations and expressions in general. Even though this game has 80% of its game in 3d, implementing a certain percentage of 2d, elevates the game overall feel, and the visuals are overall pretty good.

🎧 Sound: ( 10 /10 )
What makes this game truly shine, is for me the sound design. The aim is to throw you off your normal rhythm for this kind of game, it seems almost trollish, which creates an unique and interesting atmosphere. The sound effects sounds nice, crackling wood, wind, sudden chimes and different elements that you don’t expect also helps you be emerged in the game.

Now the best part of the game: The narration. The narrator’s voice is compelling; he is great at putting pressure on different tones to different words, which helps immensely with immersion. The narrator keeps mocking you through the play through with witty remarks and sarcastic comments, but also gives you a change of pace with philosophical questions that make you reflect. It is easy to focus on his words, rather than thinking about the fact that you are playing a walking simulator. Which is what story driven games should be doing. In a sense it reminds me of Hellblade: Senuas sacrifice, only better.

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🏆 Overall Score: ( 8.6 / 10 )
Indika is a refreshing take on the walking simulator genre. It deftly combines surrealism, humor, and philosophical reflections to create a game that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. The game has a really unique feel compared to other walking simulators, with its twisted vibe and cleverly thought out distinct aura. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate a good dose of sarcasm, witty humor, and genre defining narration, will definitely enjoy this gem of a title.

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📖 Notes and tips
- The game is pretty short, playtime is around 2 and a half to 3 and a half hours, so even though this a gem, the price is pretty steep compared to the content you get.
- I also found the audio to be somewhat off balance, and would recommend players to set the environmental volume to 75, while keeping the other values at 100.

The invincible: A Sci-Fi Adventure by Stainslaw lem
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🎮 Gameplay: ( 5 / 10 )
The gameplay in The Invincible is a blend of exploration, and immersive storytelling. As a walking simulator, it prioritizes atmosphere and narrative over traditional mechanics, allowing players to delve deep into the mysterious the world presents. The reason I give the game a 5 here, is even though it’s a walking simulator, there are no tedious tasks, which makes the “walking” not seem tedious. While the pacing may feel slow to some, those who appreciate a more immersive gaming experience will find themselves drawn into its intricacies, wanting to explore the deeper meaning of the mysteries that lie within the game.

📘 Story: ( 9.7 / 10 )
The heart of The Invincible lies in its captivating narrative, which is based on the original book by the legendary Stanisław Lem. Set in a distant future, the story unfolds with a sense of mystery and intrigue that keeps players engaged from start to finish. Players get put with dialogue choices that can lead to one of eleven different endings, which also helps with player engagement and choices actually mattering. With thought-provoking themes and unexpected twists, it's a journey that can linger long after the credits roll, giving players a feeling of wanting more of Stainslaw Lems beautiful crafted universe.

🎧 Sound: ( 9 / 10 )
From the expressive echoes of deserted corridors to the eerie hum of alien machinery, the sound design in The Invincible is masterfully crafted to enhance immersion. This being said, what really makes the sound design in the invincible stand true to its craft, is the voice acting. The narrators / voice actors put heavy emphasis on different words and meanings while portraying a professional sense of realism that keeps you invested in both the story and characters. The choice of background music is also excellent, different themes of music portray different kind of emotions and feelings, which is also almost timed to perfection in regards to the different scenes and scenarios.

🌆 Worldbuilding: ( 9.2 / 10 )
The worldbuilding in The Invincible is both unique and breath taking. From the intricate details of futuristic technology to the enigmatic landscapes of uncharted planets, every aspect of the game's universe feels meticulously realized. Players will find themselves immersed in a world that feels both familiar and alien, with secrets waiting to be uncovered around every corner. The world is Familiar yet surreal. One trick they have used here is giving you something familiar, but then twisting it with something you wouldn’t think of.

📺 Visuals: ( 8.9 / 10 )
Visually stunning, The Invincible boasts spectacular landscapes and familiar yet unique environments that helps bring its sci-fi world to life. From the desolate beauty of abandoned space stations to the awe-inspiring vistas of distant planets, the invincible offers some breathtaking views. I will say that the art style of the game is very unique and crafted in a masterful way. Even though this is true, if you’re a fan of hyper realism, this style might not suit you. Comparing it to Hellblade, Senuas sacrifice, the emotional expression in the characters is lacking, but this is not The invincibles main focus, it rather tries to win on story and worldbuilding, which it doesn’t fail to deliver on.

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🏆 Overall Score: ( 8.4 / 10 )
The Invincible is a testament to the power of storytelling and world building, offering a compelling narrative experience with a well-made unique art style. While its slow pace and emphasis on exploration may not be for everyone, those who appreciate rich storytelling and immersive worldbuilding will find themselves being dragged further and further inn Stainslaw lem amazingly crafted world.

Hellblade - Senuas Sacrifice: “A Masterclass in Emotional Storytelling, World building and emotional expression”
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🎮 Gameplay: ( 5 / 10 )
While Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice isn't groundbreaking in terms of gameplay mechanics, it's important to recognize that the focus here lies more on the narrative experience than on innovative gameplay. Combat is very unpolished and feels somewhat repetitive, the same thing can be said about the puzzles, while thematically relevant, they feel a tad bit boring. Both regular fights and boss fights can be cheesed out with ease. If you don’t like walking simulators, this game might not be for you. However the gameplay serves its purpose in driving the story forward and immersing players in Senua's journey.

📘 Story: ( 8.5 / 10 )
The story is captivating and deeply emotional. It's a narrative explores themes of mental illness, trauma, and resilience with unparalleled depth and nuance. Senua's personal journey is both compelling and haunting.

🌆 Worldbuilding: ( 9.3 / 10 )
From the grim landscapes of Viking-era Scandinavia to the nightmarish depths of Senua's own mind, the world of Hellblade is a masterclass in atmospheric design. Every detail, from the crumbling ruins to the whispering voices that echo in the darkness, contributes to a sense of unease and immersion that is second to none. This game blends real life inspiration from the Viking era and combines it with fantasy elements, which results in a unique world that creates its own unique identity.

📺 Visuals: ( 9.7 / 10 )
Visually stunning and meticulously crafted, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a feast for the eyes. The character models are incredibly lifelike, and the environments are breathtaking in their beauty and brutality alike. This game exceeds in emotional expression, which I find to be its strongest suit. The acting is Amazing, and the visual and emotional expressions makes this game into a masterpiece in regards to visuals, one could almost say it sets a cinematic standard for story driven games.

🎧 Sound: ( 9.1 / 10 )
From the chilling whispers that echo Senua's tortured mind to the thunderous clash of combat, the sound design is nothing short of exceptional. Every sound cue serves a purpose, drawing players deeper into Senua's harrowing journey and intensifying the emotional impact of each moment. The constant voice that talks to you through the play through also helps in keeping the players involved in the story, which is an important selling point, not making the journey tedious and boring. The sound composed by Andy LaPlegua also perfectly complements the game's themes and narrative beats, enhancing the emotional resonance of Senua's story. From somber melodies to pulse-pounding rhythms, the music evokes a wide range of emotions.

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🏆 Overall: ( 8.3 / 10 )
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a masterpiece of storytelling and world design that sets a new standard for emotional expression in gaming. While its gameplay may not be revolutionary, its narrative depth and immersive atmosphere more than make up for any shortcomings. This is a game that demands to be experienced, offering a journey that will linger in your thoughts long after you've put down the controller.