Recent reviews by ✪ H2RO2

I held off on this one way too long because it seemed so mixed in how it was received by the fanbase. I gotta stop reading reviews and go off vibes.
This one was awesome. Maybe not the type of story everyone would've wanted as a follow up to LiS 1, but for me, one that felt extraordinary natural to continue Max's (and Chloe's, if you're a Bae person) story.
Love how the game intergrades your final decision in LiS into the story here. Kinda excited to eventually do a replay with some different choices and to see how dialogue changes pretending I'm a Bae over Bay guy. The writers seemed to really respect the gravity and weight of Max's final choice and how it would affect her, even many years down the line. Love seeing Max all grown, still running from her traumatic experience as a kid, and finally having the courage to face things in this one.

The premise really got me on this one - investigating a friend's murder in two timelines where one the friend is alive? Awesome. Where the game really became peak LiS for me is when the killer was revealed and it was suddenly still a time traveling experience and not just a split reality one.

Visuals great and artistic. Story 9/10 (Little bit weird in some spots but I think they brought it home). Characters all awesome and in-keeping with the first game on how you never really know someone fully, everyone contains multitudes, and many if not all people deserve second chances and help. Soundtrack so good. The song on the main menu was on a loop for me while doing chores when not playing the game.
TW/CW for this one - gun death/violence, before events of the game suicide, references to Max's experience of kidnapping victim in LiS 1. Creepy nonsensical nightmare sequence as in LiS when things get... weird.

I really vibe with some of these LiS titles on a personal level. Obviously not everyone will connect to all or even any of some of the MC's experiences, but Max really resonates with me. Once again just loved seeing her all grown and making her way.
All in all, loved it. Can't wait to start Reunion asap and see how they bring it all home for us.

Will update when I’m less jumpy and more locked in: Grace’s first real section (not the hotel; after) made me throw my arm over my face in terror twice and an hour in I quit out - man it can be fun to be scared so bad you have a full-body reaction, but I’m also not trying to have a heart attack.
Grace is gonna challenge Ethan for goofy a** on the nose comments I’m sure.
Leon’s intro is awesome and I can’t wait to get to goof around with him some more.

Wanted to throw down some prelim thoughts for anyone browsing. The residents are still evil and nobody’s at Bingo.

I have lost sleep
I dream only of BONK

This took me a bit to get into and I don't remember alot of the gameplay of the first, just the story, but felt a bit different. I enjoyed the different goofy antics and by about halfway through, was pretty fully invested in what was going on. Little music montage at the finale got me. Games like this feel like they take risks and aren't afraid to be personal and vulnerable, and I always think we need more of that.

NO TALKING IN THE CLUB!

Medical debt ruins lives.
I'm not saying working for a mob boss cleaning up murders is the way to go... but as your protagonist begins drowning in debt, his home is a wreck, and his daughter is sick and unlikely to get the case she needs, you can understand the desperation. As our man delves deeper into the business, not only do his tools and skills improve, but his life as well. His house is cleaned, repainted, rebuilt. His debts taken care of. His daughter's health improves.
It's a relaxing game and satisfying to level up skills and tools between each scene. It's fun as well to hunt for secrets and try to fully clear a level. You can ignore most of the "story" and just play to relax, but I think the fact that the devs actually built a life around this sarcastic man we get to inhabit for this stretch of time makes it even better.

Grateful that this is free but man it should cost some money. This is a quality game, from the design, the style, to the music.
It feels reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight, Stray, and Journey. The game is an hour long just for the experience, but encourages replay and exploration to find all the achievements. Recommended.

Frogwares at their best. The mix of Lovecraftian creepiness with their wonderful investigative gameplay really shines here. As well as that, the continuation of Chapter One's Holmes' story is an awesome take on this remake, bringing us a Holmes with a history, who's beginning to get his feet as a detective. His friendship with Watson is the point of pride of this game; the two together learn to be one as they support each other confronting past and present horrors.
Graphics are cool, locations look awesome and have people populating them well, making them feel nicely lived in. The DLC helps to flesh out these areas and give them more life (or... death). Ability to change costumes makes future replays fun with corny mustaches and interesting outfits.
Awesome updating of the much loved original, without remaking it scene for scene, shot for shot. Close enough that Frogwares Holmes veterans will notice the similarities and be pleased, but with enough difference to feel like its own totally unique game.
Newcomers to the series will also find this an excellent point to jump in without any context needed from previous titles.
soundtrack is also awesome, wonderfully creepy, sad, and epic all in the right moments. Voice acting really, really shines as the leads handle heavy emotional beats with just as much skill as light-hearted moments, or basic investigation line delivery. Really hope the studio brings them back for future entries.
Story is a 10/10 reflection on fear, trauma, healing, and finding truth. There were only a couple moments that fell short for me, and in the grand scheme of things, were very small dips in an experience I enjoyed very much.

I backed this on Kickstarter so received the game, DLC, soundtrack, and beta access. Game was made in Ukraine during the war and is an absolutely stunning and incredible effort without that, even moreso within those constraints.

Remaster makes the game look pretty good for its age. It's a short adventure in full, but the puzzles and areas will keep you occupied for a time to figure out what needs to be done. There's less humor in this one than in some of the other installments, but some of the situations are kind of comical anyways.
Real fun was a for its time pretty entertaining chase sequence through the New Orleans segment, one of a few parts in this game that lays groundwork for future installments gameplay elements.
Because of the length, I feel like the horror/thriller elements weren't able to be given proper justice, but as a detective game, it holds up fairly well.

Puzzles in these older ones are difficult, often needed a guide to get through some sections. This game looks pretty good for how old it is, and the voice acting is good as well.
Story is fun. There are alot of bonkers moments in this one and I appreciate how this one was allowed to not take itself too seriously and have some fun. Watson getting into predicaments is pretty hilarious.
Bonus points for the dog.