Recent reviews by Aly

After ignoring its existence for more than four years, Outer Wilds suddenly came out of nowhere for me. For years, I had the same three games in my head that I considered "the best games I have ever played," and now that list has four. This is a game that, thankfully, wasn't made for everybody—a passion project that invested heavily in a few core gameplay concepts while blending in fresh, creative ideas. If you enjoy exploration, puzzles, and a compelling story, it's easy to argue that Outer Wilds is the absolute best in its genre. In my opinion, it's one of the best games ever made, period.

Many players who finished the base game and then looked up whether the DLC was worth playing were met with a bold claim: "The DLC is even better than the base game." To me, that sounded like an almost impossible standard. A game as uniquely brilliant as Outer Wilds is a once-in-decades experience—could the DLC really surpass it?

There was no point in speculating; I had to see for myself. I picked up right where I left off, my 100% completion of the base game behind me, and dove into Echoes of the Eye.

Here’s something important to note: while Outer Wilds is about 80% exploration and 20% puzzle-solving, Echoes of the Eye shifts that balance closer to 60/40. The DLC is undeniably harder, demanding more time and effort to figure things out. If I already felt that Outer Wilds wasn't a game for everyone, the DLC is even less so.

Additionally, Echoes of the Eye introduces horror elements and stealth sections—controversial additions even within the community. Personally, I think they complement the aesthetic and lore of the new content well. However, they are not the DLC’s defining feature.

What truly sets Echoes of the Eye apart is not how it differs from the base game, but how it expands upon its story. The DLC builds an entirely new side narrative to answer a single question—one that wasn’t even particularly pressing in the base game—and does so masterfully.

But is it better than the base game? I think that’s the wrong question. Echoes of the Eye wouldn’t exist without Outer Wilds; it is entirely dependent on the foundation laid by the original game. Without experiencing Outer Wilds first, the DLC wouldn’t carry nearly the same weight.

This expansion shouldn’t be judged as a standalone experience—it was developed so seamlessly within Outer Wilds that it feels like an essential part of a single, larger story. If Outer Wilds is a masterpiece of its genre, then Echoes of the Eye is the masterpiece within the masterpiece, elevating the experience as a whole to a new level.

Absolute Kino.

I resisted playing Outer Wilds for nearly five years, managing to ignore the constant praise and recommendations. I don’t buy games easily, and I’m often swayed by short first impressions of my own. Recently, a wave of visually similar games has emerged, each claiming to offer an experience similar to Outer Wilds.

To it's most basic, Outer Wilds is a game about exploration and uncovering the story of a long-lost civilization—one indirectly responsible for your species’ leap into the space age. It’s not a revolutionary premise; media has tackled similar themes before. There’s no combat, no character progression, and for roughly 80% of its 20-hour runtime, you won't even know what is exactly going on, unsure of what’s happening or where it’s all leading.

I understand why this is a hard sell—it certainly was for me. How do you convince someone that your game is special when you can’t really explain why without giving it away?

I don’t really have an answer for that, I don't think the developers had one either. But what I do know is that we, thankfully, live in an era where games no longer need media mouthpieces or flashy marketing to succeed. Outer Wilds thrived on word of mouth, and for good reason—because it delivers a truly unique experience. I went in blind, and I’m grateful for that.

Bit by bit, you piece together multiple intertwining stories, each offering glimpses into events that unfolded across the galaxy hundreds of thousands of years ago. Slowly, you begin to understand not just what happened, but why you are in your current situation.

And then, there’s that moment—an irreplaceable, deeply satisfying realization. The moment when everything clicks in your head. When this meticulously crafted, beautifully paced story finally crashes down on you, you understand everything, and you are the one who did it, you explored the galaxy and you put all of the pieces together. And then, it’s time to put an end to it.

Outer Wilds deserves every bit of praise it has received—the scores, the awards, the glowing reviews. It’s the kind of game you only get to experience once, so do yourself a favor: buy it, and buy it at full price. Years from now, when I look back at the turn of the decade, Outer Wilds will sit alongside the cherished games of my childhood—the ones that spark a unique kind of nostalgia, the kind that never really fades.

From the void where whispers writhe,
Ancient shadows dance and thrive,
In the heart of a factory, cold and vast,
The stars align, their secrets cast.

Iron gearstretch and moan,
Twisting metal, sinew grown,
Each bolt and rivet, a cosmic thread,
Binding nightmares, where reason's fled.

Glimmers of eyes in the darkness loom,
Creatures birthed from a factory’s womb,
They thrall to the call of an alien song,
In the hum of machinery, they belong.

Churning gears and ceaseless flame,
In this wretched place, there is no name,
For the factory grows, insatiable, keen,
An unholy monument to what might have been.

With every pulse, it stretches wide,
Devouring worlds, with hunger as guide,
Mouths unseen chant in unison dread,
To the stars we go, where the living are dead.

Awake, oh mortals, and heed this fate,
In the heart of the factory, the void must wait,
For what rises in shadows, from darkness to glow,
Is a truth that the cosmos has yet to bestow.

And as the machines groan, ever more,
With tendrils of space at their iron door,
In the factory’s heart, where production flows.
The universe twists, the factory must grow.

A fun game systems based simulation game with lots options and replayability. The community, even though small, is very passionate. The developer is also very present and takes his time to answer questions about the game, receive feedback and assist with modding endevours.

Currently, Soulash 2 is still in EA and I did not explore the new features fully, but it deserves a positive review, since it has the potential of becoming a pretty great and feature complete game.

I once heard that the greatest test of storytelling in visual media is the ability to convey your narrative through visuals alone, without relying on dialogue or exposition to communicate with the audience. In 2012, an indie gem blossomed, captivating players worldwide. With no dialogue and limited movement, the harmonious blend of visuals and sounds guided players through a simple yet profoundly emotional experience. That game was Journey. Since then, many games have attempted to replicate the unique adventure that elevated said niche PS3 exclusive to a multi-award-winning game. Now, in 2024, I believe I have finally found a game that satisfies the itch Journey left on me all those years ago.

Released in 2023, Bramble is a game I successfully managed to ignore for over a year. Saturated with announcements of casual, "emotional," and "immersive" walking simulator games, I dismissed it as just another pretentious indie studio's attempt, supported by a marketing team eager to reach into my pocket. Whether I have become more demanding or the gaming landscape more cynical, I cannot say. What I do know is that for most of the decade between Journey and Bramble, I consistently dismissed these games as "just another one."

That changed when I stumbled upon what I, in my ignorance, dubbed 'the credits song.' I have a habit of listening to video game soundtracks, with tracks from Bloodborne and Hollow Knight always on my autoplay. Then, out of nowhere, YouTube decided to throw something new my way. Curious about the unfamiliar tune, I checked to see what was playing. There it was, an impactful song proudly displaying the logo of a game I faintly remembered but had never investigated further.

I have always believed that a good soundtrack can elevate a game from ordinary to extraordinary, and Bramble certainly supports this belief. To satisfy my curiosity, I explored its soundtrack further. Delighted with what I heard, particularly their remix of 'In the Hall of the Mountain King,' I came to the possibly naive realization that I had to play this game, even though I knew little about it beyond a few tracks. Thankfully, I avoided spoiling arguably the best song in the game, which we have the pleasure of hearing twice, beautifully paralleling the beginning and the end our protagonist's wondrous and equally challenging journey.

Unlike Journey, Bramble is not completely devoid of dialogue. Even though our characters don't have a voice, the story is told visually, with the characters we meet along the way communicating through gestures. The game sets the mood with its beautiful graphics, sounds, and music. Occasionally, the narrator assists the player in understanding the events around them, doing so indirectly through the reading of illustrated short storybooks based on Scandinavian folklore. The story does a fantastic job of weaving together the childish wonder of exploring a world of fantasy, while also, very gruesomely, showing the reality of a world that is dark and full of suffering.

We explore this world through the eyes of Olle, a young boy who ventures outside his house to find and rescue his sister, who sneaked out to explore the nearby ruins at night. This journey is as sad as it is beautiful, as Olle is forced to endure things no child should ever face in order to save the one person who gives him the courage to keep going—his sister Lillemor. The game is relatively short, and over its 4-5 hour runtime, we witness the arduous tale of Olle's growth as a character. Along the way, we also meet several other characters whose tragic stories—filled with love, despair, injustice, death, and suffering—directly affect the world Olle sees around him.

Everything I've mentioned so far might sound nice and good, but what elevates Bramble from a good game to a fantastic one? One of the greatest achievements of Journey was its ability to create a visually mesmerizing adventure and communicate a simple but emotional story solely through its visuals and music. Bramble accomplishes this as well, but with adult themes like death, loss, trauma, and other harsh realities to set itself apart. Bramble is not a happy story; its ending is open to interpretation. Whether you have a more positive or negative outlook on its outcome, the tragedy Olle endures is undeniable and leaves a bittersweet taste. What really got me to write this review, was not only the amazing combination of sound and visuals, but the commitment the developer had to tell the story they wanted to tell, no matter how harsh and gruesome it might be. That is a rare thing to see and it is surely deserving of praise.

But the year is 2024, and clearly, Bramble is not Journey. It wasn't showered with game of the year awards, and while highly regarded by those who played it, it hasn't yet achieved the same indie darling status. Over the decade, this genre of games has expanded significantly, to the point of oversaturation. Bramble excels at what it does, but we must recognize that it isn't something revolutionary. Back in 2012, Journey was fresh and different, offering respite from the growing trend of shooters and action games. In 2024, however, Bramble ends up being treated as just another game in an oversaturated indie market. Had it been released in 2012 instead of Journey, I might not feel the need to make such comparison.

Bramble is a hidden gem that blooms for those fortunate enough to discover it. It leaves your imagination pondering long after a brief yet immensely rewarding adventure. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing this game. While its initial price may seem high for its brevity, the investment is truly for its exceptional quality. Here, we're paying for craftsmanship, creativity, quality and amazingly beautiful music, the developers unquestionably deserve it.

After avoiding Tails Noir (formerly known as Backbone) for years due to its mixed reception, I find the game has been unfairly judged. While I can't speak to any technical issues upon its release, my personal experience was a smooth and bug-free playthrough of the entire game.

The primary critique often leveled against Tails Noir pertains to its narrative departure from the Detective/Noir theme, evolving into something perceived as 'weird' or 'bizarre.' Interestingly, this shift is what captivated me the most. From the fourth act onward, the game exudes a palpable sense of hopelessness, reminiscent of the common tone found in Eastern European writing. It defies categorization as a romance, a Noir tale, or even a character-driven narrative. Instead, it unfolds as a tragedy, its core purpose being to illustrate how an oppressive and powerful regime can distort people's perception of reality. The concept of what lies beyond the city's walls drives individuals to commit horrific acts in pursuit of freedom. Irony abounds as the unknown beyond the wall (represented by the Artifact) proves to be even more menacing than the city's oppressive regime. The protagonist serves as a mere observer, a pair of eyes witnessing the horrors within the city, outside it, and the monstrous act people commit in their pursuit of elusive goals. The ending, far from a happy resolution, leaves no relevant loose ends, effectively concluding the observer's role and planting the seeds of revolution.

The overarching idea behind Tails Noir is commendable and even remind me a tiny bit of Stalker. However, its execution falls short. It could have become one of my favorite short stories if it had fully committed to its grimdark themes and spent less time on surface-level comedy and Twitter-like political commentary (which feels heavy-handed and out of place). It appears as if there were brilliant people in the team with great ideas, but alongside writers who just wanted to get their rocks off. Additionally, the story is entirely linear, which is fine, but I understand people who might feel misled by the presence of dialogue choices that, in reality, only serve as mere conduits for Steam achievements.

In conclusion, Tails Noir deserves a purchase and playthrough, provided one approaches it with an open mind and hold no expectations of a conventional detective story. Fans of 'Eastern European-like' narratives and horror stories akin to those of H.P. Lovecraft may find this game more appealing than the average player. However, it's essential to acknowledge its imperfections, especially where writing is concerned.

Wings of Vi is probably one of the most pleasant surprises I've had as someone who loves to play video games. Heavily inspired by the I Wanna be the Guy community, It brings a variety of great
and remarkable challenges to the table, but with some small issues.

Pros:
-Skill-based gameplay!
-Amazing Soundtrack.
-Gorgerous pixel art.
-Challenging but fair.
-Balanced difficulty curve.
-Lots of customization for your cute angel girl!
-Very well designed plataforming.
-Difficulty mode affects not only damage dealt/taken but mechanics too.
-A decent amount of extra content like modifiers and Boss Rush!
-Good looking and diverse levels.
-Pretty much one of the best set of bosses I've ever seen, with mechanics 'easy' to predict but difficult to master.
-Superb final boss.
-Cake!

But how does it feel to play this game? I have never been a strong fan of plataformers, I have played a few but all of them simple and usually story driven games. I got Wings of Vi gifted to me by a friend back in release date but only took the challenge recently and I loved 95% of it. Even though I died countless times and retried the same things for hours, I was always having fun and never got frustrated over it. This is due to what I mentioned above about the good level and boss design plus the fair but challenging mechanics, and of course the soundtrack. So why did I not love the other 5% of it?

Cons:

-Small set of bugs across the difficulty modes.
-Very simple story.
-No cute angel boys.

Not having a super developed story does not stop this game to show it's strong points in any way. The story is there, it is solid, it makes sense, and it has it's moments, but it is definitely the weak part of this game. Also, as mentioned above, none of those small bugs will stop progression in any way, they are all concentrated in one little area, are not easy to replicate, and the most they can do is generate some giggle worth situations.

So, is it worth it? This game gave me one of the best experiences I've had recently. Overcoming the challenges that the game presents you feels amazing and rewarding, not only on a personal level but with new abilities and customization pieces for your character. Wings of Vi is harsh especially if you are not used to hardcore plataformers and it definitely requires time to master mechanics and get better at the game in general. Do not feel bad for picking the Angel(easy) Difficulty at first, the game will still be as hard as Mortal(normal), but it will give you a little bigger chance to learn the plataforming and bosses mechanics. So back to the original question, worth? Definitely. This game is a hidden gem, and lucky are those who are able to find it and play as the angel who's gonna save all from the demon menace brought by Jeh'Oul.