This feels exactly like going back to 1998 and playing Baldur's Gate for the first time.

Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness is a singleplayer isometric RPG made by GrapeOcean as a tribute to classics such as Baldur's Gate 1 and Icewind Dale, and that's exactly what it offers : nostalgia. Maybe it's not the best choice for newcomers to the genre in 2022, but it's definitely a game I would recommend to CRPGs lovers. Ah, the memories!

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2783564848

First of all, you should know that it is a small team with limited financial ressources behind this title, so don't expect anything such as Pathfinder or Pillars of Eternity for example. Still, GrapeOcean has been working hard ever since the release, updating the game, fixing bugs regularly and I really appreciate the good response and communication from them (can't say the same about most teams...). I don't regret supporting them to make this dream come true and even if there are still bugs and room for improvement, the game remains a wonderful experience for genre classics fans.

Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness offers the choice between 5 races (Human, Dwarf, Elf, Feldegug and Rillow) and 13 different classes - and if you prefer, you can also multi-class. The combat stays true to the good old party-based real time with pause RPGs. The graphics - which might not appeal to every gamer I'm afraid - also contribute to the Baldur's Gate impression and are, in my opinion, fitting and even more colorful.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2782513597

I won't hide the fact that I was concerned after finishing the first chapter - which is a short tutorial - in terms of story telling and progression. However, I gave it a chance and certainly don't regret it : it becomes more and more interesting and ultimately the story was for me one of the top strenghts of the game. I'll definitely replay it in a few months or years, making this time different choices and following the path of greed - an evil character, instead of a generous one, for a change. I've had the impression that your choices and actions might have consequences, especially in the last chapter - but I'll have to replay it to confirm my theory.

Black Geyser offers interesting mechanics that you probably won't see in other games, such as the greed system or the party cohesion bonuses. There's also potion crafting - which I didn't use enough to be honest - but differs from the usual ways and might peak the curiosity of the alchemist inside of you. I also appreciated having the choice between using a thief's approach or brute force to open locks, and especially the option that allows you to speed the game up so your characters move faster and the turns run faster as well.

When the game came out, the loading times made it barely playable: the more you played, the more you'd have to wait between areas. You would spend more time loading the map than actually exploring it. This issue has been mostly worked out and the loading screens are considerably shorter - although, in my opinion, sometimes still too long.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2810348719

If I had a complaint to make, it would be mostly about the companions : even if you have several companions that might accompany you, there is a real lack of dialogue and personality. The friendship exploration and evolution needs to be improved, so that we get the feeling that they are indeed living beings and we can care for them (or not). Same goes for the romances that feel like coming out of nowhere. Furthermore, even if it's the case in some other games, having the NPCs saying exactly the same thing can break immersion. However, I have no doubt they will keep polishing the game and its content, such as NPCs or companions talking to each other in a recent update.

Finally, achievement hunters will be pleased to know that there are 42 of them to collect. Be warned though: you won't be able to unlock them all in a single playthrough and some might still be buggy.

All in all I enjoyed my time on Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness greatly and would definitely recommend it to Baldur's Gate lovers - if not, you should probably wait for a discount on it. It is a refreshing experience, a game as we don't often see nowadays. I sincerely hope that more people will be drawn to this game, so that the team can keep updating and improving it, and even start working on Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness 2.

A masterpiece - visually, emotionally, morally, but also in terms of story and freedom of choices

Detroit: Become Human is an ambitious interactive and narrative game developped by Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls) and ported from PlayStation 4 to PC. It takes place in a near future (2038) where Androids have become a standard and share humans daily life, might it be for difficult and repetitive tasks, to take care of the household and children, or even to be the perfect partner who never complains nor says no.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2821362980

These Androids look and sound like humans, but remain nonetheless machines designed to serve humans and obey their orders. You get to play three of them: Connor, Kara and Markus, attaching characters with intertwined paths who will make you question humanity, what it means to be alive and challenge your empathy. For some of those Androids have had an experience or shock that has triggered something inside of them - something that they are not supposed to feel: emotions.

And it is because of this context that the game feels realistic and plausible - it isn't a sci-fi game with spaceships or completely out of the reach technologies - and therefore the story feels relatable and raises questions about our future.

"You can't kill me. I'm not alive."

The whole game doesn't only feel like a movie that you can interact with: there are for sure a lot of cutscenes and dialogues, with a brilliant narration, but you can also count on exploration, investigation work with Connor, thrilling action, even some creepy moments and countless emotional times. The game relies on a quick time events (QTE) system, which will give you only a few seconds to perform some actions, dialogues or make tought choices.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2821767797

What distinguishes Detroit: Become Human the most from other games of the genre in my humble opinion is the incredible number of choices and options. They actually matter and will have consequences, so you can choose your own gamestyle, define who you are and who you want to be, and deal with your choices. You think you can't get your character killed because (s)he is one of the protagonists? Guess again. It's like nothing I've seen before - Life is Strange and Telltale games are simply no match. For instance, there are over 40 different endings, so the game has a high replayability value. I hadn't even finished my first playthrough yet, that I wanted to try different choices already.

"28 stab wounds. You didn't want to leave him a chance, huh?"

I appreciate the flowcharts that you can check at any time and unlocks your route as you progress through the game. It gives you an idea on how many options there are and how everything could have turned out diferently. Even if you've finished the game once, you can replay it and follow another path - you still have many surprises waiting for you.

Another impressive fact about Detroit: Become Human is that it's not just voice acted, there are actual actors who have been captured, from trivial walking to performing spectacular stunts. No wonder it took so much time to film, but the result is incredible and worth the effort.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2820647940

Thumbs up for the amazing soundtrack as well: each of the three characters has a personal theme and epic musics that help creating the right atmosphere and feeling of total immersion.

Overall I'm happy with the PC port. I've played through the whole game with mouse and keyboard, but sometimes it can be a bit tricky (keep pressing 'Q', then 'shift' at the same time, and why not 'E' as well). Some of you might prefer playing with a controller, which is obviously possible.

"An eye for an eye and the world goes blind."

Would I recommend Detroit: Become Human? Without a doubt, I can't recommend it enough. It has become my favorite narrative game and one of my favorite games in general. Do yourself a favor: buy the game and play it blindly without checking the flowcharts or any guides for your first playthrough. Choose your own adventure and forge humanity and androids destiny!