Recent reviews by zerofiftyone

The sequel to my favourite game of the 2010s. Familiar like an old friend, but still manages to be full of surprises.

I played this at a few events and also judged the game for IGF.
This is a super funny, well written and well observed fictional simulacrum of the early days of the world wide web. It totally nails the feeling of discovery you had years ago when you first joined the internet; and manages to avoid the pitfall of over-using references, which is a thing you see in a lot of nostalgia-focused media.

Beautiful, meditative puzzle game about navigating non-euclidean space. (Note: I judged this game for IGF 2019)

Note: I judged this game for IGF 2019.

This game really took me by surprise! It's a really competent grapple hook game with a nice format (short levels with fast restarts) and easy to grasp controls. I generally don't fare well in games like these so I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I managed to get into the swing of things (sorry not sorry). The game uses 90s imagery and the vaporwave aesthetic in its audio and visuals; but does so with a restraint so that all of the important game elements are readable and the scene is rarely overwhelming to look at. Also, I'm always a fan of some nicely done VHS effects. It completely nails the feeling of speed and momentum and is genuinely thrilling at times (I found myself letting out an involuntary gasp from time to time).The game is simple in concept, but the level design work and the tuning of the physics make the experience something special. It's a simple game that's extremely well executed.

Note: I judged this game for IGF 2019.

The combat in this game is incredibly smart and novel, and the game manages to surprise constantly by pulling off the rare feat of incorporating elements of the story into the combat system in way that's actually effective. The thing that I'm particularly taken with is the charm and polish that's on display here. The dialogue is written with a sharp sense of humour, but doesn't drag at any point. The interstitial segments and snappy scene transitions are a really nice touch. The game gets going fairly quickly and manages to convey a story and a sense of place through e-mails and short conversations that don't slow the experience down. It's clear that a lot of refinement and restraint was applied towards the whole experience.

Don't sleep on this one, folks.

A minimalist, deceptively deep puzzle game that teaches and tests the player cleverly and wordlessly. Highly recommended for puzzle game fans.

An amazing collection of local multiplayer games. I've been playing these games with friends and at public events for over a year and they're a crowd favourite every time. Each of the games is easy enough to pick up from watching a match or two but are deceptively complex and very competitive. JS Joust has some unusual requirements in order to play (2-7 PS Move controllers and a large-ish room to play in), but the effort is definately worth it. Joust is the most memorable and universally enjoyable party game I've ever hosted. Even the two secret games are hilarious fun once you figure out how to unlock them (you'll have to figure this one out by yourself).

'80s crime thriller starring characters from your favourite bedtime stories. Would recommend.

One of my all time favourite games, finally out on the PC.

Great survival horror game. The punishing difficulty and bleak atmosphere create some pretty tense moments.