Recent reviews by hiddenfallacies

This was always one of my favorite Nancy Drew games growing up, and it still holds up today! Although the graphics aren't the best and it's not that long, the story and characters are wonderful. On top of that, the puzzles in this game make genuine, logical sense. If you want a fun historical mystery set aboard a train, definitely check this game out.

This is one of the only Nancy Drew games that I didn't spend too much time with growing up (my friend owned it, not me), I found playing back through it to be quite enjoyable. My loose memories of the game made the events feel fresh and fun, but the lack of nostalgia made its lower points harder to ignore (bad puzzle design in some parts, etc.). Overall, check this game out if you're looking for a cozy and fun time!

Just as fun as I remember this game being growing up <33 Definitely check this out for the sheer nostalgia of one of the better Nancy Drew games, or for its (mostly engaging) puzzles and plot. I could play the bento-making minigame all day!!

Stardew Valley is everything you'd ever want in a game - peace, freedom from any stress or responsibilities, and cute sprite animations.

Once again, the developers of this game found a unique way to tell a realistic story without making it feel too contrived. All of the dialogue within Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story felt real, and made the experience incredibly authentic. I feel like it covered the topic of domestic violence and abuse in an interesting way that didn't feel like it was making a mockery of the subject. Definitely check it out if you have a few hours to spare. I'd recommend picking up the game while it's on sale.

This game made me fall in love with the "Life is Strange" universe all over again. It is absolutely breath-taking in every way, and it allows the franchise to evolve without betraying the feeling that every game in this series holds: nostalgic melancholy. By creating games that relate to most of their audience, it turns gaming into a more personal story-telling experience that feels truly special. The writing (which has drastically improved over the course of three years), to the music and the signature look of these games makes them intensely likeable.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit follows Chris, a nine-year-old boy, on a Saturday morning in December. It's leading up to Christmas, and he's looking forward to getting a pine tree to decorate with his dad. However, when the plans fall through, Chris makes the best of the situation and lives out his superhero dreams as his awesome alter-ego Captain Spirit. Without spoiling anything, it is important to note that this game depicts elements of alcoholism and child abuse in an extremely realistic way. If that's triggering in any way, it's probably best to watch a playthrough and read a summary before playing this.

Although the game only takes place in a house (and its attached yard), it feels giant. The amount of documents to dig through and areas to explore makes it so that you feel like you've known the characters for years at the end of only a few short hours. That, combined with some of the most realistic writing the series has ever boasted, makes it feel like the events of the game could actually occur. I know a lot of people weren't a fan of the new controls, but I quite liked how fluid they felt. If this is a taste of what we're getting in Life is Strange 2, I know it will be fantastic.

If you liked Life is Strange or Life is Strange: Before the Storm, definitely pick this up. If you didn't, try it out anyway. It's free, and incredibly different from the rest of the series (but not in a bad way).

Since this is a story-driven game, I can't exactly tell you why I loved this game so much without ruining the "mystery" of it. I will, however, say this: if you want to play a fun game with an interesting format, check this out. Please. By making this game into a "cell phone," it feels all the more personal as you dig through these character's lives and try to figure out what happened. By the end of the game, it feels as if you know each and every one of them, and that they're real people in your life. It's realistic and honest in its depiction of the subject at hand, and doesn't seem fake or patronizing in any way. It's a good step forward for the gaming industry, and I'm excited to see what else comes from these developers.

As someone who grew up playing Lego games (mainly the Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Harry Potter versions), I was hesitant to pick up some of the newer games in their catalog. I knew that voice acting had been added in, and I wasn't sure if the games would still feel the same. A week later, with a 100% game file to my name, I think it's safe to say that they are.

If you love Marvel, you'll love this game. With almost 200 characters in total, it's safe to say that at least one of your favorite superheroes is accounted for in this game. Seeing characters like Wiccan and Jewel present absolutely made my heart burst. That, combined with eight hub locations, twenty-one total levels, and hours of fun makes this game into an enjoyable experience. Getting it to 100% barely felt like a chore.

However, take note that the game pretty much forces you to complete the story mode for the first fifteen levels before you fully unlock free roam capabilites. This sucks, but it's worth it to get through. Also, if the game ever glitches an item for you (gold brick, minikit, etc.), simply lower the resolution and pop it into windowed mode to fix the problem. Nine times out of ten this will work.

Overall, a big thumbs up for this game. Lego's still got it after all these years.

If you liked Life is Strange (and, more specifically, the character of Chloe Price), it's worth it to pick up Before the Storm. Although Ashly Burch doesn't voice Chloe for the prequel, the new voice actor does a wonderful job with the role. And, Ashly is present in Farewell (which is worth the price of the game alone).

From the canonical confirmation of Chloe and Rachel's romantic relationship to all of the nods to the original game, Before the Storm is an enjoyable experience. I was nervous to play it, because I didn't want it to ruin my feelings about the original. However, it only made me love the series more. Life is Strange has always been a game about the intricacies of life and the relationships we build and break, and Before the Storm carries on that tradition respectfully.

In a way, the time travel mechanic's absence in Before the Storm made everything feel more real as the game dove into Chloe's grief and depression as well as Rachel's "coming of age" moment. As the game touched on Chloe's unhealthy coping mechanisms as her life continued to fall apart and Rachel's anger at learning the world is never how we think it is when we're younger, it felt authentic to actual experiences people go through. Above all, Before the Storm took all the ways we related to Chloe's situation and expanded upon them. The soundtrack, as always, matched the scenes perfectly.

Was this game necessary? No. Was it fun to play through (if you're a fan of Chloe and Life is Strange)? Yes.

The backtalk mechanic could have been left out, Chloe could've had kinder dialogue/action options, and it could have been cheaper (after all, it's two episodes shorter than the original and the stellar bonus episode is only available if you buy the deluxe version). But, Life is Strange had its own problems.

I'm excited to see where the sequel heads (although I know it's moving away from the characters and town that have come to feel like home). In the meantime, we have the comics to tide us over (that is, if they're any good).

Rusty Lake delivers another short horror game that has one hand in gothic elements and the other in the surreal. A fun take on the escape room genre that is equal parts disturbing in its content and charming in its imagery. It makes for a fun couple of hours. (I recommend picking it up while it's on sale.)