Recent reviews by Lumkins

"May we never go to hell but always be on our way." This is one of the most enticing narrative experiences I've played through in a while. A non-linear story with a cast of complex characters, that leaves plenty of room for the player to sort out their thoughts on the story unfolding before them. Dour and dreary, Mouthwashing may not be suitable for everyone, but I'm glad I played through it.

Crow Country is an excellent survival horror title with a charming cast of characters and a story full of fun (if not easy to solve) mysteries. The controls are especially intuitive for a game of its genre, allowing players to use analogue or tank-style movement. The camera even auto-adjusts when players are using the latter. Aiming is a bit slow, but in a way that makes combat feel more engaging and intense, rather than unfair. It also allows Mara more freedom to shoot objects and specific body parts than I had expected.

The art direction is fantastic. It feels like a PS1 game, while not looking like any particular title. Each area has plenty of detail, though there were times when interactable objects didn't stand out from the background, which led to some frustration for me early on. I particularly liked the monster designs, which become increasingly grim as the game progressed.

Also note that the game is incredibly puzzle-oriented, like many classic titles it draws inspiration from. There were times when I became stuck, which usually happened because I was either overthinking or misunderstanding the solution. Overall, the puzzles are well designed, and the constant flow of gaining key items remained satisfying throughout. For those who aren't puzzle savvy, the game also offers a hint system, for which your mileage may vary. There's also plenty of optional puzzles to solve and items to get. In total, I feel like, even though obtaining the key items is done in a rather linear manner, everyone's first experience with this game will feel different in some way.

With all that said, I couldn't recommend Crow Country enough. The puzzles, atmosphere, and story were excellent, and while I felt some of the key interactable objects and traps set for players could have stood out more, my short time with the game was enjoyable the full way through.

Excellent short horror story featuring some great atmosphere and an interesting narrative. I enjoyed the psychological horror aspect, reminiscent of Perfect Blue, though I wish the game delved a little more into that. Overall, this is the best Chilla's Art game that I've played.

Stardew Valley is a game with a simple concept that's easy to get into. It features a memorable cast of characters and decent variety in its gameplay. There's plenty to do for players who want to fully complete the game, as well as incentives to restart from the beginning and experience things in a different way. The day-to-day farm life offers a relaxing escape from the real world, while the dungeon-like mines are great for players who want a more thrilling experience.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the characters, while lovely, begin to lose their charm as dozens of hours are put into the game. Dialogue becomes repetitive, and even marriage starts to feel stale after a while.

This game is the classic Resident Evil formula perfected. The level design and scenario are Capcom at their best. The atmosphere and sound design are incredible. This game was leagues ahead of its competition when it came out in 2002 and still holds up today as one of the pinnacles of survival horror.