Recent reviews by J. W. BaSiTo

Painfully slow-burning grimdark car crash. A morbid game for the morbidly curious.

With their debut title, Black Salt Games has made a first impression that's as positive as it is unforgettable. What is bound to be my personal GOTY is unfortunately only half as long as I wish it to be. Masterclass environmental storytelling, simple yet satisfying mechanics, entrancingly immersive music, and painterly polygonal visuals, all culminate in what amounts to be the quintessential singleplayer experience. While a determined fisherman could complete the game in just a few hours, the story politely inclines the player to shift into low gear (or whatever the seafaring equivalent is) and get the most out of a world that is as deep as its waters. However long you end up spending on this game, DREDGE deserves every second of it.

An exceptional demo for the "Unbeatable" price of free. Can't wait for the full release when I can finally throw D-CELL some money proper.

Personally not the biggest fan of Metroidvanias but the stellar pixel art really sold me on this one. I'm glad it did because paired with the music, it generates a beautiful setting; this game has a nobledark aesthetic and nails it. On top of some (Lord forgive me), 'Souls-like' mechanics, exploring and boss fights were quite fun. One in particular, Pardoner Fennel's fight , I really loved. The story ain't half bad either and I was thoroughly invested by the end. 100% exploration/completion doesn't feel tedious and you are rewarded as you uncover the narrative piece by piece. After playing I can still personally say that the art is the main selling point of this game, but its other facets live up to that standard. 9/10.

Short but sweet with fun puzzles and great art. Not to mention the banger house and electronic BGM. All this for free makes it definitely worth your time.