Recent reviews by Matt64091

Consider this more of a "meh" review. If you like the first two, you will probably enjoy this game. If you are new to the series however, please play either of the first two. This game is a step up in some ways, but a step down in all the important ways. First, let's talk about the improvements.

Pros/Improvements:
+More choices/impact, but barely
+More video and audio (although the video quality is a bit scuffed, but hey it's an indie game)
+Decent puzzles. A bit on the easy side, but so where the first two games.

Cons/Downgrades:
-This is subjective of course, but man do I dislike the story. Some *minor* spoilers ahead (for all three games): The story is about a ghost. TECHNICALLY, it's a simulacra, but not like the previous games. It's more traditional horror, and less tech based like the previous games. The entire gimmick is the game is on the phone, and revolving it around a ghost just doesn't work here.
-I don't vibe with the characters. Again, this is subjective but I find both Paul and Ruby to be much less interesting then literally ANY of the other characters from the previous games. I can't really put it into words, they just aren't interesting.
-I personally didn't find the mystery as compelling as the first two. Probably because of the same issue I pointed out in my first con.

TL;DR: If this is interesting to you, play the first two games. If you are a fan of the series, $10 is a pretty cheap price for a still pretty decent game, even if it is worse then the first two.

TL;DR: If you like VR Rhythm games, you can't really go wrong with this. At least try it, and if you don't like it after a few songs refund it. IMO, this is the best VR Rhythm game on the market, beating out Beat Saber and others.

If you like VR rhythm games, this is on the top of the pack IMO. I played both Beat Saber and Audica, and I wasn't really able to get into either of them. I think Synth Riders is better then both of those games for a few main reasons (all of which are subjective of course): simplicity, and movement. This game is much more dance focused then any other VR Rhythm game (that I have played). Of course, since there is no feet tracking in VR you can still kind of just stand in one place and move your arms around while you bob and weave. But compared to other VR games, moving around is more heavily encouraged due to the barriers, and more importantly the continuous notes. Plus, it's simply more fun to move around. You can obviously do that in other VR games, but it doesn't feel nearly as natural in this game. There are certain "beat maps" that really just make you dance naturally, and it feels fantastic. And to add to this, the gameplay is very simple. Sure, swinging a sword around is simple, but I HATE how beat saber has the directional slices. Yes, you can turn them off but you are missing some of the experience if you do that. In this game, you just hit the orbs with your hands. It's really simple, and allowed me to get good at the game very quickly. Also, simpler does not necessarily mean easier. Some of the custom beat maps are INSANE. I can not stress how much I love this game, and the fact that Beat Saber is so much more popular really makes me angry and sad. But as my friend said, I guess swinging a sword around is just cooler for a lot of people *shrug*.

Disclaimer: Got this game from my Humble Monthly Subscription, didn't buy it full price.
Consider this more of a mixed review then a positive one. This game does a lot right, and a lot wrong. But to sum it up, this game really feels like it should be a book series or TV show more then a game. That is to say, the story and setting this game has created is REALLY good. It's interesting, and kept my brain wondering endlessly. However, the actual game is pretty lackluster. The gameplay boils down to walking around, and doing language puzzles. The language puzzles are actually pretty good, but the walking around really slows the game down. In fact, this entire game is a slow burn. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but the game repeats itself constantly, and the slow pace feels unnecessary. There is no reason for this game not to have a run button for example. The sailing part of the game could honestly be completely removed with little to no loss of quality. Overall, if you can tolerate a really slow burn, I think this game is worth it overall. The setting and story is really fascinating (if you are a fan of sci-fi). But if you lack patience, I would strongly recommend avoiding it, or reading the books instead.

Consider more of a "mixed" review then a straight positive review. I didn't really love this game, but I would still recommend it. Why? Well, I simply didn't fully understand what I was getting myself into. I bought this assuming it would be similair to stardew valley, but without the town sim/dating stuff. That literally couldn't be farther from the truth. This game really is just a chill farming game, with incredible music and beautiful graphics. But the keyword there is chill. There is little progression in this game. There isn't any incentive to farm a ton of crops, and then sell them to buy anything. The only incentive to grow things is the very few things you need to build certain buildings (i.e 2 "turnips" or 3 "blue flowers"). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's just not for me. If you like really relaxing, hands off sandbox games, this is perfect for you. But don't expect any real progression aside from some lite building and exploring. Do I regret buying this game? No, it was a great experience. Just not really what I want from a VR farming sim.

I cried like a little ♥♥♥♥♥. 10/10

This game is amazing. Its just a huge upgrade from the first game in every way. More items, more characters, and most importantly, another dimension. This is the best 3D rouge-lite shooter out there. HOWEVER, this is only really true if you have friends to play with. Sure, its still fun solo but its clear this game was made from the ground up with co-op in mind.

This game is amazing. Take amazing electronic and chiptune tracks, combined with bullet-hell action and a sprinkle of cuteness. You get this gem. If your worried about play time, yes the story mode is pretty short (2-3 hours). But it really has a lot of replayability because of the online play, and the recently added hardcore mode.

If you want a free game to waste time in, this is perfect for you. Everything can be gotten for free (with the exception of specific cosmetics), and the core gameplay is very satisfying and "feels good". HOWEVER, the new player experience is pretty crap, and I would recommend you get a friend to help you out through the beggining of the game. The beggining of the game can also be quite boring, and I would recommend sticking it through until the first cinematic quest before quitting.

Not Tonight is a great attempt to capture the success that Papers, Please had. There is just something satisfying about allowing or denying entry to people. However, this game is not perfect. The story is filled with political commentary. HOWEVER, its important to undesrtand that this is a work of fiction. The political universe this is set in is satire, and shouldn't be taken too seriously. That being said, the story is a bit lackluster. It lacks signifigant choices like in Papers, Please. It also lacks any signifigant achievments for you completionist folks like me out there. I would definatly recomend buying this on sale, however be warned that this is NOT a spiritual succesor to Papers, Please. The gameplay is much more relaxed, not as stressful and the story is less interesting.

This game will make you shiver. Its another game in the new "Lost Phone" genre. This is a spooky take on the rising genre. Although it is a bit short, I can confirm that it is well worth the $5. That being said, I do have a minor issue, in that
there is no "good" ending. Aside from that though, this is a solid narrative experience that will mess with your mind a wee bit.