Tag: Atmospheric

DERELIKT – Playtest Impressions

I’m not sure this can be called a true impressions article, as I dipped out of DERELIKT very early—long before any real testing could be done. The reason for this is that the game is currently segmented in a way that drops late‑game areas right after level one, which spoils a lot of things I want to keep secret until my full playthrough. Apparently, it goes something like this: Level 1, then level 4, and finally level 5. However, what I did get to test felt and looked damn good!

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Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: The Viewing [Film Review]

If you ever want to watch something mesmerizing that captures the essence of cosmic horror, I’ve got something special for you: The Viewing. The Viewing is part of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which is a horror anthology on Netflix. It only got the one season, and despite being quite entertaining, Netflix sadly decided not to renew it for a season two. The collection got a few horror gems, but the stand-out is definitely The Viewing, so I’m glad we at least got that story before being axed like a slasher victim.

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The Expanse: A Telltale Series – Embrace the Vacuum [Review]

In preparation for Owlcat’s upcoming RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, set in The Expanse universe, I decided to watch the show. Why it took me this long, I honestly don’t know. Because it’s excellent, as it reminds me of the cool sci-fi underground crime world of Mass Effect 2—where a mercenary’s life is only worth as fast as he is on the trigger. From here on, one thing led to another, and I got curious if the show has seen any other game adaptations. And to my surprise, yes, in fact it has, in the form of a Telltale style game in The Expanse: A Telltale Series, which we are reviewing today. 

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The Tragedy at Deer Creek – Frontier Trauma [Review]

Put on your best jacket and a warm pair of socks because we are heading into the cold frontier! The Tragedy at Deer Creek is a point-and-click adventure title with a heavy focus on its story. While the gameplay, the presentation and the narrative are very competently made, I’m in the middle of how I ended up feeling for the game. That’s mostly for my general dislike of ghost stories, as they usually don’t work on me at all.

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Fort Solis – Mystery Abandoned [Review]

Put on your best space boots, because we are in for a walking-sim on Mars. Fort Solis can best be described as an extremely cinematic Telltale-type of game, with even less gameplay, but arguably better presentation. I don’t mind the occasional walking sim if the story is good—so the question stands: Is Fort Solis worth it?

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Cralon – Demo Impressions

It’s time to try Björn and Jennifer Pankratz’s (former Piranha Bytes) game Cralon from their newly established studio, Pithead Studio. Cralon is a first-person dungeon crawler that is clearly inspired by the classic title Ultima Underworld. After finishing the short demo, the exploration and atmosphere sure are there. However, the combat will require some serious polishing, as it felt clunky and not very satisfying. But mood is one of the fundamentals to get right for a game like this—so, I’m glad they nailed this important aspect in the demo.

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