Recent reviews by The_Gil-Monster

Before i begin, I'd like to thank the Steam "Vv0k3 Content" Advisory community for warning me against this game due to its pro-masking and anti-megachurch themes. I never would have known about Pulling No Punches if they weren't trying to stop it. I bought it immediately!

Set in a Brazilian city during a pandemic I'll just call "Povid-19", Pulling No Punches has you beating the stuffing out of anyone disobeying safety protocol. Is it legitimately good beyond its shock value? Absolutely. The animations are crisp and seamless, the satire is non-stop (your enemies become mutants after drinking toxic waste as an alleged cure), and the fighting engine is deep- blocking, sidesteps, and food to buy for stat customization. The game also runs well on Steamdeck.

Drawbacks? The enemies can be brutal, and combat can feel sluggish if you overcommit to attacks. I would've preferred an air recovery instead of having to hit a button to get up. I also would like an option to remap the controls (dodge roll to taunt button please!). Training is required!

But yes, I loved it. Finishing the story campaign only took an evening, but I had a blast pounding sense into idiots and fascists. Thanks, anti-VV0k3 bowdlers!

I genuinely like this more than the first game. The challenge never drops off and the animations are fantastic. Also, the new relationship system is a welcome and exciting new feature. I liked the buffs but I was not expecting tag team attacks! Highly recommend.

And then? My party gets ambushed by the Lost Battalion after deciding to fight them (let's read that sentence again to ourselves, shall we?) This shuffles their order and throws the healer to the front, where she takes two consecutive crits from Cadaver Soldiers. The other Cadavers act before our party can. She spends her turn moving back to where she can heal again while the Leper wastes his plodding back to the front line. The Highwayman and Runaway poke the evil Bishop (anointed by the Seething Sigh) because he has to die first- lest he resurrect anyone back to full health. This effectively gives the Lost Batallion a free turn. My party is bleeding and at low health. The Runaway Smokescreens the next Soldier in the turn order to blind him so as not be brought to Death's Door again. He hits her anyway. She bleeds out. I abandon the expedition in rage because trying to reach the next inn short-handed is an unfun chore, and then I ask Darkest Dungeon II "What do you want from me? I decided to fight because my party needs Mastery Points, and you don't always give them out."

I understand this game is supposed to be hard, but c'mon, Red Hook. The Token system does not cure RNG nonsense, it only treats it. Ambush? Fine. Crits? Fine. The enemy all attacks before we do? I'll look the other way. That it all happens at once? Back to the Steam store.

Most definitely worth the hype. Hilarious, cunning fun. You'll likely want to play the single player mode just to get a handle on the ship-fixing mini-games as some of them fall a little short of being intuitive. But so much fun. Get some friends and it's the best $5 you'll spend.

Great game- if you find the Gnawed Leaf and an orbital/offensive follower. Otherwise? Please listen carefully, Nicalis: Unavoidable damage is neither challenging nor fun. Unavoidable damage is neither challenging nor fun. Unavoidable damage is neither challenging nor fun. Unavoi- I'm talking about three Mega Troll Bombs greeting you as you enter the smallest-size room with fires on both sides. I speak of enemies that straight up teleport DIRECTLY ON TOP of Isaac, no matter what evasive action you take. I speak of a final boss you can't really prepare for, since it resides in one of six to eight identical boss rooms on its floor (please excuse my extreme wussiness for wanting to farm items before fighting a bullet-hell, rapidly teleporting, shape-shifting armored boss with literally NO means of escape). Come ON, Edmund.

On the positive side, I'm a fan of the Void, Little Monstro, sulfuric acid and electric tears. But that about does it for the new items. The rest just feel like derivations of other, more useful items- what is the Razor Apple but just another Tough Love? None of the new trinkets excite.

I've logged in hundreds- and hundreds- of hours into both BoI and Rebirth, but it might be time to move on as this game seems finally out of ideas. I have to say that I'm weary of this hey-devs-I-beat-the-game-now-it's-too-easy-fix-it aesthetic.

The original Decay was a pleasant surprise in the sea of XBOX Live indie games. Dealing with mature themes such as bereavement and suicide, it was an involving point-and-click horror adventure with a powerful soundtrack and atmosphere to spare. After much anticipation (and an almost-cancellation after the second episode), the sequel is here. Rather than continue the story of the first game, Decay: The Mare casts you as Sam, a recovering drug addict haunted by nightmares.

I'll get the bad out of the way first. The game is short- shorter than the first- and has less endings. I also realize that the price is turning people off- yeah, well I bought Episode 1 and 2 twice on XBOX Live and can't say I was thrilled to have to buy them again on Steam...

But the aching sense of dread and powerful soundtrack is back in full force- and it's also scarier than the first game, which says a lot. You'll get through this in a few hours, but you'll play again to find all the coins and unlock gruesome artwork and more. Recommended.