Recente recensies door ✞Skyknighter

When it comes to gaming, I never really thought that Webfishing would be a game I gravitated towards, as I myself never really like playing cozy games. But here we are with my review of Webfishing, a game that I enjoyed. The game is very simple but does have a rewarding progression system to keep the player invested. It also has a social aspect, something that I feel a lot of games have been missing for some time, so seeing it here is nice.

Pros

• Very fun and addictive gameplay
  
• Lots of ways to customize your character
  
• Being able to draw your very own sprays in the game
  
• Nice and charming art style

Cons

• Can get very repetitive after a certain amount of time

In Webfishing, you fish, that’s all that there is to the gameplay, the gameplay for the game is very simple but is also very rewarding to the player. It is fun and can be addicting to some players who like the idea of fishing and to those who like to be social. You can hold back your fishing rod to make the lure go further. When you catch a fish, you will be put into a minigame where you must hold the left mouse button down to catch the fish. However, there will also be times when you must click through a barrier to break it. If the red meter catches up to you or you don’t prompt the minigame, you will lose the fish you are trying to catch and the bait used.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3429997154
There are two different types of fish to catch, there are fresh water and saltwater fish, to catch them, you will have to go to the designated spot where they are located. But you can get access to certain lures that will give you the chance to catch salt or freshwater fish no matter the water you are using to fish with. There are also many different upgrades for you to get, you can even get a fishing buddy that will catch fish for you. Fish can come in different rarities and sizes; you can sell the fish you catch for money and their prices do depend on the size and rarity they are.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3429998474
To get a higher quality fish, you must use a certain bait type that gives you the fish with those qualities. Your fishing buddy can even catch higher-quality fish too when you put some upgrades into it as well. To get different bait types, upgrades, fishing buddy, cosmetics, etc, you will need money for all that.

There are lots of cosmetics for your character and you can change their appearance at any time, you can even change the type of animal they are as well. The customization options for the game are fantastic. There is even a way to draw your very own sprays into the game as well, I cannot draw. However, I can’t deny that some of these people have shown their creative side in the game, and I applaud them for that.

The only issue I have with Webfishing is that the gameplay can get very repetitive. The gameplay loop doesn’t really change. You can use a metal detector to find things and play music for people, but that’s it—there's nothing else to do. Also, there is a hacker problem from what I hear. I have never encountered any hackers in the game, but some people have reported them appearing in the game.

The art style for Webfishing is genuinely nice, it has a nice, charming art style that makes the world you explore like it’s outdoors, like a campsite sort of thing. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM, I experienced no issues while playing but I did get one or two crashes. One other thing I should add is that sometimes names don’t load properly for at least 15-20 minutes and sometimes more. I have no idea if this is a bug or whatnot, but I thought it was worth pointing out for the game.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3429996095

Webfishing is a very fun, casual game that I highly enjoyed. For 6.49 CDN, I think the game is worth the price. While I mentioned some of the problems in the game, I haven’t experienced any hacker problems or anything similar. Everyone’s experience with the game will be different, but I do recommend it for those who want to fish and chat with people.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights

The Penumbra games were a series of games that I went and noticed on sale in a bundle, but I never went out of my way to go and play any of the games until I decided to go out of my way and try the series out for the first time. The first game in the series Penumbra: Overture, is a horror game that I did enjoy. If I had to compare this game to anything, it would be an early Amnesia game. Also, Frictional Games made the Penumbra series before the Amnesia series so seeing some of the original roots from TDD that came from here was nice.

Pros

• Nice story, filled with lots of mystery and suspense
  
• Fan and tense gameplay
  
• Unique puzzles that require thinking
  
• Unsettling graphics that make the areas creepy

Cons

• The story lacks depth sometimes, where you have very little reason to care for some of the characters
  
• Combat is very clunky

The story starts with Philip Buchanon who receives a letter from his father who was thought to be dead, he tells him that he must go to Greenland to an unknown mining vessel. Upon arriving at the mine, the entrance collapses and Philip is trapped. With no other options left, he decides to go deeper, along the way, he soon finds out that he is not alone.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3427001356
I will say that Penumbra: Overture’s story is really good. It starts extraordinarily strong and picks up in the later parts. The story is, in fact, full of mystery and suspense that will keep the player invested throughout. You will want to find out more about what is going on in this mine. The story keeps the player in the dark about everything, and even when something is explained, you are still asking yourself questions about it.

You must start here if you want to understand the Penumbra series. The games are connected, so you must play this game to understand everything in the story. However, that leads to one of the more glaring issues with the game's story, it’s not perfect by any means. You see, there are a few characters in the game, but you have little reason to care about them at all, as you learn about most of them through notes that aren't always that interesting. The only character I could relate to is Tom Redwood and everything else just comes and goes. There are interesting bits to the story that I did like but everything else is just not interesting. This and another issue I will talk about later in the review were taken into consideration and improved on its sequel.

Penumbra: Overture is a survival horror game with a large focus on puzzle solving, you will be using the environment to solve some of them. This requires the player to think creatively about how to solve the puzzle in question, which makes it complex and difficult in some ways, which of course, makes it a puzzle. Although there are times when it can get confusing, you just must think at times and use the environment.

The puzzles are well throughout, and I thoroughly enjoy doing them, even when I got confused, it just felt natural to me. The game specializes in this aspect the most, rather than just being a horror game. None of the puzzles shined to me but it was nice seeing how some of the mining equipment was used or some of its machinery.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3427001726
While exploring the mine, you will encounter enemies who will try to hinder your path. Since you don’t have any means of defending yourself, you must run and hide to try to avoid enemies. However, there are other methods for dealing with them, like giving beef jerky to a zombie dog or using light to scare away spiders. There are also ways to trap enemies and kill them that way, so there are ways to take care of enemies, you just must try and think.

However, I should mention that there is a way to defend yourself if you need to, and while the game tells you that there is no combat. There is combat and it’s extremely clunky, this is some of the clunkiest combat I have seen in a horror game. To attack enemies, you must hold the right mouse button and swing with your mouse, the attack is dependent on where you move the mouse. The issue here is that your camera is locked in place, and you can’t move it around. The enemies will get the drop on you this way and you can die in three or four hits if not careful. You are just better off running from enemies or using some other means to defend yourself. Spiders are the worst as they are small and their hitboxes are small, so it’s best to just use light as they hate that. Which I never used because part of me was stubborn and thought I would be fine without it.

The atmosphere for Penumbra: Overture is very creepy and unsettling. It makes you feel like you are alone, and no one is coming to help you. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM. I experienced no issues while playing, and the game should be able to run on low-end PCs.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3427001824
Overall, Penumbra: Overture is a fine horror game that I enjoyed very much. I recommend it for those who want to get into the series or for those who are looking for a decent horror game. The game has two glaring issues, but if you are like me and can pull through, then there is a game here for you. The game is in a bundle at 12.99 CDN and it comes with its sequel Black Plague, so the price is worth it for the two games alone.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights

Katamari Damacy REROLL is a port of the classic roll-em-up game for the PS2. This is the very first time I have played the game, and it’s weird. However, I enjoyed it very much because of its fun and quirky gameplay. Rolling a small ball to an even bigger ball to make it even bigger seems simple on paper, but I oddly enjoyed it, as having the ability to pick up almost anything is quite fun.

Pros

• Fun and quirky story with whimsical characters
  
• Very fun gameplay that can be enjoyed by all
  
• A fantastic soundtrack
  
• Beautiful HD visuals that make the world very colorful

Cons

• The controls are a little rough and clunky when starting out
  
• You can’t fix the game settings until you beat the tutorial level

The story starts with The King of All Cosmos who I think could easily pass off as a Burger King Mascot, accidentally destroys all the stars in the solar system. Because of this, he decides to send his son the Prince to create stars for the galaxy because that’s too much for a king. There is also a subplot of a family of four, but the game doesn’t want you to focus on that or anything with the story.

I honestly feel that the developer's intention was not to focus on the story, which is why it’s not too complicated or in-depth. Which is completely fine sometimes, I do like playing a nice, relaxing, and casual game. To them, fun came first and I do think the story for this game is fun, The King of The All Cosmos steals the show for this though. I just love this guy's attitude despite it coming across him just being a jerk but I feel that there would be no game or reward for going through all the levels.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422535978
Katamari Damacy REROLL tasks the player to roll a Katamari into smaller objects to make an even bigger object. For you to then be able to roll over even bigger objects to make the Katamari even bigger, and so forth. Certain levels will have a certain size that the Katamari needs to be to beat it, however, if you get the Katamari to the right size before the timer is up. You can still keep rolling to make it bigger and this will add to your overall total score for that level.

When your Katamari crashes into an object it can’t pick up, it will bounce off that object if enough damage is done, certain objects will fall off. You can pick them up again, but some will try to run away from you. When humans get off, they suddenly get the ability to clip through walls and objects, making them impossible to pick up again. There is also a minor issue, which is that sometimes your Katamri can’t fit through certain gates because it’s too big, but you aren’t at a good enough weight to pick that gate up. Resulting in some of the objects you picked up bouncing off and ruining your hard work.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422536170
However, if I am going to talk about the gameplay, I should at least go over the major elephant in the room: the controls. They are a little rough and clunky when you are starting the game out, and they were the reason I almost stopped playing the game altogether. I am also going to say right off the bat that playing the game on a controller is best. Moving the file select screen, I do with my keyboard, there is a simple control option but that is the worst option you can enable. This is because you can’t move the camera while in the simple control scheme, so the normal one is your best option. So I had to get used to playing the game on the default controls, and then suddenly, it just clicked with me and I started to like them. The game works control-wise, it’s just getting a feel for them may take some time.

The gameplay is very simple, and I think really anyone can pick up and play this game once they get used to it. Also, there is a lot of stuff for you to pick up in this game, objects you would never expect to pick up can be. And when I say there is stuff to pick up, trash is everywhere, and some people are doing the most random of things. The game has a nice, fun, quirky humor that I enjoyed very much. There are also hidden secrets you can find in the levels as well these are cosmetics for the Prince.

However, I should warn you that some of the levels have timers. If the timer runs out, it’s game over, and you have to redo the level. There are some levels that don’t require a time limit, rather they ask you to pick up a certain object. But the point of those levels is that they have that said object scattered and you either pick up a certain number or avoid that said object so you don’t beat the level too early and get a low score. I did like how the devs made the levels as sometimes it made you do things outside the box instead of just rolling a bigger ball.

There is one thing I would like to address is that this game is pretty short. It only has like ten levels with a few optional ones with it. As much as I would like there to be more levels, the game would eventually overstay its welcome and the only thing they could really do is make the Katamari bigger. So at the end of the day, I am glad that this game is short, the sequel is out on Steam though so if you want more Katamari Damacy fun, it’s there.

Katamari Damacy REROLL has very colorful graphics, and the art style is very nice. The colors match the world you are exploring. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM. I experienced no issues while playing, and the game ran very well.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422536372
The soundtrack is also just outright fantastic. I loved every single song, but my favorite has to be LONELY ROLLING STAR.

However, there is a small issue with the fact that you can’t change any of the game settings until you beat the tutorial level. This may not look like an issue at first glance, but the game is extremely loud when starting up I am used to having games be loud, but this takes the issue to a whole new level. I don’t care if the game starts in window mode, I just want to fix the volume for the game because of how loud it can get.

Katamari Damacy REROLL is a fantastic and fun casual game that I actually think almost anyone can really enjoy if they are looking for a simple yet fun game. Of course, there is the issue with the controls, but if you can find a way to get used to them, then this game is honestly a treat. I would maybe wait for a sale as I do think paying 39.99 for about four hours of content is a bit much, but if you are looking for some casual fun or are a fan of the series. Then I think picking the game up at full price is also fine.

Wallet, keys, rings, hopes and dreams, we lost it all at Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights

Do you ever get that one game where you ask yourself why is this game not getting more attention? To me, that’s Victory Heat Rally (VHR). I first heard of this game while going through Twitter and was intrigued by its art style. I then found out it was on Steam, saw some of its gameplay and I was immediately hooked by it. Like I fell in love with playing the game, so much that I got all the achievements

Pros

• Very fun gameplay that is easy to pick up and play
  
• 12 different characters for you to play as, each with their own unique stats
  
• Really nice upbeat soundtrack
  
• Beautiful retro arcade racing-style graphics

Cons

• The gameplay can get repetitive after a while

VHR is an arcade-styled racing game where you race against 11 other racers, which is very easy to pick up and play. This is very nice for those who just want an easy arcade-style racing game for you to go and play. For those looking for an arcade game with some minor challenge, then this game has that too. I feel that this is a game that can appeal to almost anyone who is looking for a casual fun racing game. Unless you are looking for a racing game with some challenge, then VHR won’t really be the racing game for you, as the game as a whole isn’t really that hard.

You can race on various tracks; some will be long and have three laps, and some will be smaller but have four or five laps, then there is rally racing, although it’s not a proper rally race. You will sometimes lap other racers, but you can crash into their cars to knock them off the track for a bit, the game encourages you to do this as there are three achievements to it. There are three main game modes for you to play, these are Arcade GP, Championship mode, and time trails mode.

When your car is drifting you can build up this meter, when you let go you will be giving a burst of speed. The boost meter has three levels to it, so the longer you hold it down, the more boost you get to help you get ahead of other racers. The boost meter speed is dependent on the weight of the car you are driving, while the speed of your boost is dependent on your power. Although weight is also dependent on how far you push other racers. Speed will affect your top speed when boosting is not in effect, acceleration is how fast you get to your top speed and handling affects how sharp you can make your turns.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420474844
There are 12 different racers for you to choose from and each has their stats that are unique to them. However, you can tweak them by having different gear or tires for them that can raise or lower a certain state depending on which one you have on you. My favorite character to play is Tommy because I could make his speed, and acceleration good, with some nice handling. Although all racers are viable in their ways with the right stats, you just have to go out of your way to experiment on them.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420474219
You start with three racers but to unlock more you will have to beat them in a race to unlock them in championship mode. In this mode, you and the rival racer will have a health bar and if you are a certain distance from them, it will deplete. If you or the rival racer are a certain distance away from each other, the health bar will deplete faster.

The game does have some to do with it. There are also some minigames that you can play in championship mode. However, other than that, the gameplay can get rather repetitive. Even when I got all the achievements, there was nothing really left to do in the game.

VHR's art style has an arcade-like feel that I liked very much. The areas all felt different, but they were all colorful. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM. I experienced no issues while playing, and the game should be able to run on almost any computer.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420476264
I have to honestly say that VHR is a very nice racing game that I had a ton of fun with. I highly recommend this game for those who either want to play an arcade-like racing game or for those who just want a casual game to play. There is also local multiplayer so you can play with a friend and remote play is also available as well. That being said though, I would maybe get this game on a sale if you are a bit skeptical.

You may have bested me fair and square but Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights is numero uno

Sanabi is a fast-paced platformer that takes some inspiration from games like Katana Zero, with its feel. However, I think the devs took some inspiration from Bionic Commando with the grapple hook arm although the only difference is that in Sanabi, you can jump. The game is also a lot more story-focused than your average platformer. Offering some very unique twists and turns in its gameplay that I liked very much.

Pros

• A fantastic dystopian future-based story
  
• Really fun gameplay where you utilize a grapple hook arm
  
• Amazing soundtrack
  
• Beautiful sci-fi pixel graphics

Cons

• Some grammar issues are present in the dialog
  
• Sometimes there will be dialog during missions that are very hard to read

The story starts with an unnamed protagonist who is a retired veteran, however, he is known as the Brigadier General. Is out playing with his daughter, when she suddenly finds a package that looks like a clock and has the word Sanabi written on it. The protagonist tells his daughter to run from it but as soon as he rushes home, their house blows up, killing the protagonist's daughter. Fueled by revenge, the protagonist seeks revenge on Sanabi and he decides to go back as a soldier. He activates Protocol 0, this protocol will power him up, at the cost of ending his own life but with nothing else left to lose, he goes headfirst into action.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420061719
The story for Sanabi is good, it is way more story-focused than your average platformer. However, it’s also full of charm and the characters also have their very own fun moments that make the story shine and have comfort. Rather than being serious all the time, it never broke the flow of the story.

The only issue I have with the story and the game as a whole is that there are some grammar errors present in the dialog. More often than not there is no space between words which makes it sound like just one word when it’s not supposed to be. There is also an issue where some dialog will play throughout the level. This came up only a few times in the game but with how fast-paced the game is, it can get a little difficult to read. A small warning I should give is when I say that Sanabi is a story-focused game. I mean it, there will always be a cutscene after every level and they can get kinda long.

Sanabi is a fast-paced 2D platformer where you will utilize a grapple hook-like arm to reach higher areas or swing yourself to another platform. The game will auto-aim where the hook goes based on the position you are in. The grapple hook does have a decent range to it and you do have the ability to climb walls with it too. If you ever take damage, you can do a dash to get a better drop on said enemy that damaged you or to get away from a hazard that just damaged you. It’s just sometimes I wish that the grapple hook was a bit longer as sometimes I may jump a little too soon despite the fact that it’s clearly my fault for jumping so soon.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420062529
During combat, you can grapple enemies, where the protagonist will latch onto enemies and then kill them. However, there will be shield-based enemies whom you will then hold and can launch yourself to a platform or another angel in that spot. You may have to kill the enemy by a different means, like launching them into a red zone to take them out. Later down the line, you can get access to a more powerful dash-based attack that can push enemies or help take out tougher enemies.

There will be terrain that you can interact with; this adds some flare to the platforming as you will have to use the environment to help you reach your goal. Each area of the game has its unique challenges and obstacles for the player to overcome. I liked how the game forced you in some scenarios to start thinking about how to progress on the stage. To me, it added a sort of puzzle-solving element that was not too complicated but rather another obstacle for me to overcome.

Though, there is some terrain that your grapple hook arm can’t touch and there is some that will damage you if you touch it. One of my favorite aspects of the game is where you had to guide yourself through these red zones. You had to utilize either this bigger grapple hook or this small transport vehicle on this hook line. It made me feel like I was going through a section of the level I should not be able to go through. This gameplay gimmick was something I really did enjoy and found it unique because I felt like I was going through something that would otherwise be a bad idea.

The gameplay overall for Sanabi is extremely fun and I never really found any moment I did not like when it came to the gameplay. Sure, there were some annoying platforming sections, but I was able to get through them eventually. There are also some other gameplay gimmicks that I want to talk about but that would take a long time, and I would be spoiling the game.

Sanabi has some very beautiful pixel-based art style that is very nice to look at, the areas feel and look detailed like you are in a futuristic city. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM, I experienced no issues while I was playing, and the game ran very well.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3420063927

I would also like to add that the soundtrack for Sanabi is just fantastic. It's definitely worth checking out when you have the time.

Sanabi has impressed with its incredibly fun gameplay and its focus on its story which makes it stand out from the usual platformers of its genre. If you are someone who likes fast-paced platformers that are very story-heavy, then I think Sanabi is a fantastic game for you, especially for those who remember playing games like Bionic Commando.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights

Stray is an interesting and emotional game, at first, I was never really interested in Stray but when I got the chance to play it. I was very pleased with my experiences with the game for the first hour or so but when I got down to really playing through and finishing it. I noticed that Stray is quite the bare-bones game that doesn't do anything special and the only thing it has going for is that you are playing as a cat.

Pros

• An interesting story with some nice hidden lore
  
• Beautiful visuals that make the world feel alive

Cons

• The story lacks emotional depth in most characters
  
• Stray is very linear in terms of gameplay
  
• Platforming, chase, and stealth sections felt very basic and scripted

Stray follows the story of a Stray Cat, who has been separated from its family after failing off of a broken pipe. The Stray Cat lands in this forgotten city, and they meet a small robot by the name of B-12, who has lost all its memories of their previous life. The Stray Cat and B-12 decide to escape the city together and go to the outside world for the Cat to try and reunite with its lost family.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3416176858
The story for Stray is interesting; to say the least, I did enjoy it in a way but that’s not to say it’s perfect by no means. The main issue is that no character development exists for anyone in the game. The only major characters we have, are The Stray Cat and B-12, everyone else in the game is given zero depth. You see this cat can do things that a normal cat would not really do, it does not care about anything that’s going on in the city and just wants to go back with its family.

There are these creatures in the game called Zurks, they do have a point to the plot, but it’s been said they can eat through metal. The issue here is this is never shown, and you can see them get trapped and stuck on walls by being blocked or locked in cages. This turns something that could have been intense and throws it out the window, ruining something that could have made the story a little more interesting, including its gameplay.

Stray does have some hidden lore that you can find, which adds some flare to the story to at least make it engaging. So, it does have something good going for it that I will give the game credit for. I will also admit that the story does have some emotional depth to it, mainly near the end of the story, so it's not all bad.

Stray tries to fit in more than one genre and has a total of four different things it’s trying to be, it has platforming, chase sections, stealth, puzzle solving, and five if you want to include collecting things. However, Stray doesn’t do an excellent job of trying to make any of it stand out, and it’s just a walking sim. That’s not to say that’s a bad thing but Stray isn’t trying to advertise itself as a walking sim. To add to the other gameplay sections I mentioned about, they all feel scripted, like its very basic and there is nothing interesting to them.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3416745635
Stray is a walking sim that doesn’t do anything unique or special, it just distracts you that you are a cat. I mean in some ways playing as a different animal may change the gameplay, but it would have to be unique in some ways.

This also reflects on the story a tad bit because it's also very basic and the only thing that really keeps it interesting is because, well, you are a cat. You can do cat things, like jumping on platforms, knocking stuff over, meowing, and scratching things. I will admit that the gameplay is fun, but that fun dies down as soon as you notice the cracks.

Don’t get me wrong the idea of playing as a cat is a cool concept but when you start to see the big picture with Stray. You start to find out that Stray is very basic and linear, it also does not help that everything feels scripted. If you are a casual gamer, Stray may be a fun game for you but if you are a hardcore gamer or someone who will play other games on occasion. Then you will not like Stray at all.

One thing I will give the game credit for is its graphics, the world you explore is very beautiful and colorful. It felt alive and at times makes you want to see more, I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM, and I experienced no issues while I was playing.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3416211692
Stray is at an odd place for me, maybe I was expecting a little more when it came to playing it. I suppose Stray just wasn’t the game for me and that’s just how my taste in games is. If you are someone who loves cats and likes the idea of walking around as a cat and such. Then Stray is a fine purchase for you unless you are looking for something more to the game, then I’d stay away.

I wouldn't call Stray a bad or even terrible game by any means, I would mainly say this game just did not sit well for me. Others may enjoy it but personally, I didn't, I would pick this game up on a sale.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Life Needs a Little Sin

If I had to describe Red Dead Redemption in one word, I can’t do it because of how amazing it is. I don’t even think this review will let me describe my enjoyment of this game, this is the very first time I have ever played Red Dead Redemption, and I have to say. This is one of the greatest games I have ever played. I have so much to say about the game, but I can only say so much without spoiling the game.

Pros

• A fantastic story set in the Old West
  
• Really fun gameplay with some nice weapons to use
  
• Lots of side content for you to enjoy
  
• Genuinely nice soundtrack
  
• Beautiful graphics both during the day and at night

Cons

The issues were so minor that they did not meddle with my experience

The story starts out with former outlaw John Marston, who is forced to hunt down his former gang members by Edgar Ross and Archer Fordham. In return, he can get his family back and live a normal life for the rest of his days. Along the way, he will meet all sorts of people who have their own fair share of interesting stories to tell. In a time period, where having 20 dollars to your name meant something major.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3413767678
The story for Red Dead Redemption is honestly fantastic, and it never had a dull moment in its story whatsoever. A large majority of the cast is extremely likable in their ways, I wanted to learn more about them. It also shows the difference between what John Marston does and what some of the other people do in the world they are in. There is a lot I want to talk about with the game's story, but I would be spoiling it if I did.

I know I haven’t touched on the store too much but that’s just how good it is, I don’t want to give much on details. The story is that good and explaining it all in this review is extremely difficult for me to do, so you will just have to take my word for it.

Red Dead Redemption is an open-world type of game, there is a lot to do in the world. The game plays like a Grand Theft Auto game so I could grasp the game's feel quickly. Shooting felt very nice and field, there is an ability that John Maston has access to called Dead Eye. Where time is slowed down and you can get the aim on enemies, after you select your targets, you will kill them instantly with this ability. However, you can only have a max of six targets and can only do it with small firearms.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3413767364
There are some nice and fun weapons you can get, like refills, shotguns, and sniper rifles, each having their fair share of uses. My favorite weapon to use was The Winchester Repeater, the most balanced weapon. Able to hold ten rounds before needing to be reloaded, making it the ideal choice for me in most situations. I also liked using the sniper rifle on occasions when I was able to use it. I also really liked using the small firearms that the game gave to me as well, which I find very unique as I don’t usually use those when I get better weapons in the game.

There is lots to do in the world, you can do side quests in the game, and there are strangers and freaks to find, who have their own side stories that can offer them some nice rewards, like money. You will have a lot of, so much that you can just buy most of the properties in the game, which will always have a chest with some ammo and a bed for you to sleep in to save your game.

There are even shooting challenges you can do as well; these will have you either go into a standoff with someone or as simple as shooting a certain number of birds in the air. You can even do hunting-based challenges too, where you hunt certain animals and collect their skins. There are many types of wildlife and when you visit certain shops. You can sell exotic skins of animals for more money than usual compared to a country that has that animal. You can even collect plants, and they also have their challenges for you to go out and complete.

I should at least talk about the honor system for the game, the more good things you do for people, the more people will start to look at you more favorably. From this, you can get discounts from shops and the police will turn a blind eye to some crimes you commit. That being said, if you conduct dishonorable acts, dishonorable people will respect you. This does lead to a minor problem I had with the auto-aim. Sometimes it will lock you onto a target you had no intention of shooting, well the game will deduct your honorable score because of that.

The world of Red Dead Redemption is very beautiful, the land you travel in and the game has beautiful graphics both during the day and at night. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, and 16 GB of RAM I experienced no issues while I was playing the game and it ran very well.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3413768721
Red Dead Redemption is a fantastic open-world game that I really did enjoy, there is so much content that the game has in store for it. On top of that, you also get the Undead Nightmare DLC included in the game. This offers another story and more side missions, and you have to play the game somewhat differently than the base one making this game, a nice purchase.

Sure civilization may be duell, but the alternative, Mr. Marston is Skyknighter's Sleepless Nights

Flipline Studios has once again decided to port over one of their other games, Papa’s Pizzeria. I am surprised that this wasn’t the first game to be ported over to Steam but better late than never. The game has been updated with new quality-of-life features and the gameplay has been tweaked and updated.

Pros

• Fun casual gameplay to enjoy
  
• Customizable options for your character and restaurant for each holiday
  
• Classic Papa Louie art style

Cons

• Some of the minigames are very difficult to complete

You will be serving customers a wide variety of pizzas with different toppings. Luckily for Papa Louie, he made bank by selling only pepperoni pizzas, but since this is the deluxe edition, a few more toppings have been added. The gameplay has been improved, and I loved the quality-of-life features that were added. In the original game, the customers didn’t specify how they liked the toppings on their pizzas, but now it’s much easier.

You can create/customize your character or use one of the game's characters if you want. I should note that you can’t change the appearance of the base character you can play as in the game. You can change what clothing they wear to match the seasons but not their appearance. So, to me, it’s only fitting that my Sona Skyknighter runs this Pizzeria and serve the local customers.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3409374937
There are two types of customers you will see throughout the game, closers and extreme closers. Closers are the everyday people you will come across in the game, extreme closers are the people you get at the end of the day. I say this because every customer in the game is extremely picky about how their pizza is made. Accidentally put a topping on the wrong side and decided to make it how they wanted it but the said toppings were on a different side. Well, that customer will deduct that from your overall order score, so that means they want it exactly how they asked it.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3409372576
Seasons are here again, and you will unlock season-exclusive toppings, have you ever wanted to wonder what Egg Nogg on pizza would taste like for Christmas? No? Well, Santa loves that topping so it’s a thing. You can also get seasonal decorations and clothing with the tips you receive from the customers after serving their pizzas.

There is also a mode where you can make pizzas from this food truck however you like them. You do have to cut them still though or the customer will not be happy with their order, you can cut them how you like, as long as it’s in a set pattern that the game gives you. You are also able to switch between any of the seasonal toppings of your choosing. Serve Valentine’s Day toppings during Halloween if you so wish.

At the end of the day, you can play minigames and if you win the minigame, you can win a random prize. These prizes are seasonal, but they are exclusive to the minigames only and you can’t find them in shops, although get ready to win the same prizes a bunch of times. Although the minigames are where my issues start to lie, some are unfair.

The first minigame I want to talk about is Customer Cravings, this minigame is quite simple, guess the correct order for the customer you serve. There is a slight problem, you see there is a new mechanic that Papa’s Pizzeria introduces. You can sometimes, unlock two customers in one day, the issue is, the game sometimes won’t tell you this and they might not show up. Thus, when it comes to Customer Cravings, it can be a problem when you don’t know anything about said customer's order. Now there is a way to cheat this by just going on the wiki and finding out said order but for those who don't do that like me; it becomes a problem. Unless I happened to server said customer and I just did not remember as they only came once. Other than that, this is the hardest version of Customer Cravings by far.

Strike Out is a minigame where you try and strike out this Baseball batter, the issue here is that the cursor moves too fast in the later levels. You need to avoid the red line or the batter will hit the ball but since the cursor moves so fast, the minigame becomes basically impossible to complete. Papa’s Raceway still suffers from cheating AI and Fashion Flambe is a little underwhelming for me. The only minigames I was able to do anything on, were Mitch’s Mess, Hot Shot, and Freeze-Put, although Freeze-Put can be a bit difficult in the later stages too but it’s possible.

The art style for Papa’s Pizzeria is nice, now the original game had this unique art style that isn’t present here so if you liked the original, it’s not going to be here. I tested the game on an AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, and 16 GB of RAM, the game should be able to be run on any computer with no issues.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3409374323
Papa’s Pizzeria is a nice throwback to the original game with some nice changes and quality-of-life improvements from the original. Fans of the original game should be able to enjoy this game with no issues whatsoever, well. There are some things that fans of the original may like that have been taken away from this game but overall, I enjoyed it and it’s a fun casual game to play when you are looking to chill.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Life Needs a Little Sin

Vampire Hunters is a game that is a Vampire Survivors clone that would have been called Vampire Survivors but the name was already taken. Now usually, I don’t review Vampire Survivor clones because the ones I have played, usually are quite boring to me. However, Vampire Hunters is unique, as it’s a first-person shooter where you can have a bunch of weapons.

Pros

• Fun action-packed gameplay where you can get tons of weapons
  
• Different upgrades and trinkets for your characters
  
• Each stage has a different objective for you to complete

Cons

• The game can get a little repetitive
  
• Bosses are a little underwhelming
  
• End credits are remixed with AI music

Vampire Hunters tasks the player to fight hordes of enemies, you have guns, melee weapons, etc, that you can get by leveling up. To level up your character, you must collect a certain amount of orbs. Then you can select an upgrade for your character unless you have a certain constellation equipped but more on that later. The game has auto-fire on by default, so all you have to do is point, aim, and move. You can turn off this feature off if you want to but I kept it on because I don’t want to be constantly clicking.

The gameplay is very fun and is action-packed, you will have a limit on the amount of stuff you can carry on you but you will get damage upgrades for the weapons instead. They will also scale to the later parts of the stage you are on but you will also come across stronger enemies as time goes on. The maximum amount of stuff you can hold in the game for your character is 14 different weapons, which weapons you get is up to you and is randomized.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3402815908
Besides upgrades for your characters, there are also permanent upgrades and skill trees for the characters. Permanent upgrades go through all the characters but will only affect the one you choose to play as. You will need these silver coins to get these upgrades and the amount to get another upgrade on it will increase. So for example you put one silver coin into damage, you will need two of them to get damage to level two. Then there are the trinkets, which you can get from the skill trees and these will give passive effects. Like more crit damage, health, shield, etc. Each character has their own trinkets they can use and to unlock these, you will need to boss souls. To get them, you will need to take out bosses in the stages, which are also randomized.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3402816268
The bosses work in that you will fight one at first after a certain amount of time but later down the line, you will face up to two, or three, with a max of four bosses to fight at the same time. Although at that point you can just take the boss out with no problem, as normally your Blood Rage meter will just take it out. Or you never have to waste it because said boss just shows up and doesn’t do anything, like they showed up to a party and just said nothing.

Now there is more than just surviving the stages, you see, after 30 minutes, you have the option to complete the stage by doing a simple objective. Like closing portals or doing some other small but simple objective. That being said you can just ignore and keep killing enemies to build up your combo meter, which will also build up your Blood Rage ability. Your Blood Rage ability is where you will do extra damage for a few seconds, and it helps clear out a bunch of enemies and just melts bosses no matter who they are. To build it back up, you will need to kill a bunch of enemies it also helps if your combo meter is very high too. The only way for a combo to break is if you didn’t kill an enemy after a few seconds or you get hit. One of the two will end it if you can get yourself on a straight pathway. Have fun if you have the correct guns because no enemy is getting through to you.

Although as much as the game is fun, it does have its fair share of issues, the game can get stale, it is a Vampire Survivors clone, so it suffers from this exact issue. There isn’t much to do afterward but get a higher score, which is fine, but the issue is there. Speaking of things that do nothing, the bosses do nothing. They just show up and don’t do anything, mind you some will go out and find you and will attack you and others do have gimmicks. However, there is this boss called Slayme, which is a nod to Ghostbusters, and this scarecrow-like boss that will hop on one leg and put down these totem poles and that’s it. Mind you Slayme one will leave this green goo behind and slow the player but it’s more of a minor inconvenience than anything.

Stages do have their gimmick bosses, but they also don’t do much, like in this one stage, there is a dragon boss. But here is the thing, this boss, only affects half of the stage, if you go inside the castle, the dragon can’t hurt you. There are other examples of bosses not doing much but if I had to say, they just all seem like giant enemies. Now to be fair, Vampire Survivors bosses aren’t anything special either, they are just giant sponges.

Vampire Hunters uses old-school 3D graphics, they are nice to look at and I like them. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM, I had no issues while I was playing, and the game ran fine.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3402816801
I should at least talk about the soundtrack a tad bit, the game uses copyrighted free music for the game's soundtrack, they even have a remix for a TouHou song so that’s cool. However, the end credit theme is AI-generated, and the Steam store page does not state this at all. Now using copyrighted free music is fine but using an AI-generated song is pretty sad. It's not enough to get this game a negative review but I will point it out. The devs do need to update the Steam store page saying that AI is used in the game as per their rules.

If you are looking for a casual but more action-packed Vampire Survivors clone, then Vampire Hunters is not a bad choice. There is something to be had here that is enjoyable, with its fun gameplay, weapons, and other upgrades you can get. The references that the game has is also a nice touch, something I enjoyed.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Life Needs a Little Sin

S. Prysm Destroyer is a very basic Contra-like platformer with an anime aesthetic, which is not a bad thing actually. Sometimes being a simple game and being fun is all that matters, and the game is fun, I really did enjoy it, more so than I thought. It does have a few unique things that make it stand out from Contra, which I liked.

Pros

• Fun gameplay that is a bit challenging
  
• Lots of fun power-ups to use
  
• Different costumes for your character to wear
  
• Nice retro anime aesthetic

Cons

• Sometimes there is too much on screen to tell what’s happening
  
• The game is a bit blurry

S. Prysm Destroyer is a 2.5 platformer where you will shoot down enemies to take back your home world. It’s a simple platformer where you must go from point A to point B, along the way, you will come across pickups that can give you extra firepower, health, a turret, or a shield. The game can also be challenging, so if you are looking for a game that will give you a Contra-like feel, this is it, just don't go expecting this game to be as hard as Contra.

While going through the level, you can come across a special power-up that is pretty much a one-hit kill for most enemies in the game. You can get a flame sword or a power-up that will freeze enemies and kill them. These power-ups are quite fun to use and add flavor to the levels.

There are different costumes for your character to wear, to get them, you will need to complete certain challenges on certain levels, like beating the level under a certain timer, getting a certain score, or beating the level without getting hit. So, more challenge is added to the game, I should note though, that these costumes are only on Amor. The character you play as there are none for the mech currently.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3399337273
S. Prysm Destroyer only has two issues worth noting: sometimes there is too much going on the screen. This only really comes up when you are using the special power-ups as they can take up the entire screen. The screen is also blurry but that’s due to the art style that was used, which is not an issue on its own but combined with the special power-ups taking up the screen, it starts to become a problem.

You also have access to a jetpack that you can use after jumping to hover in the air for a few seconds, I have no issues with this feature. However, I am confused about why this meter is not right beside the health bar. Your health is on the left while the jetpack is on the right, I may be nitpicky on this but that’s just something I was a little confused about.

The graphics and art style that the game uses are genuinely nice, I love the retro anime aesthetic that the game has going for it. The only issue I have is that the game is a bit blurry, and I already talked about that. I tested the game on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor 3.50, and 16 GB of RAM, I experienced no issues while I was playing, and the game ran perfectly.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3399337040
S. Prysm Destroyer is a fun 2.5 platformer that I do believe is worth your time, the game is on the short side but with the added challenges, it does add some replayability. If you are looking for a Contra-inspired game, then I think S. Prysm Destroyer will be a fine game for you. Or if you want to play a casual action game with an anime aesthetic.

Looking for more reviews like this one? Then follow Life Needs a Little Sin