Recent reviews by Sepone

Epilepsy warning!
I'm serious...

To describe this game, let me quote an infamous YouTuber:

"Highfleet is self-described as a 'Fleet Carrier Sim', programmed entirely inside an ice fishing shack by a single russian man. Personally, I describe it as an 'Immersive Trauma Sim', because the hardest part isn't the combat, it's staying calm when all your senses are drowned out by the scream of gunfire."

Highfleet is different, a truly unique experience. 10/10

Very complex management game! Getting everything to run smoothly is a learning process that demands patience with problem solving. But making it happen is so rewarding.
Many reviewers complain about "bugs", but that's nonsense, most of these "bugs" is these player's inability to solve a certain problem. Staff not reaching their workplace? Check the security zoning! A service vehicle can't do its job? Check the according service buildings, deliveries, airport settings. etc.! I played this game for 200 hours, why did I not encounter these so-called bugs, but instead again and again realized it's a mistake in my airport design, and after correcting the mistake the "bug" is gone?

Turn-based tactics You might see Invisible, Inc. and think: "Stealth? Cartoon art style?? No BIG guns??? Meh!"
I did the same mistake and ignored this game for many years. As a big fan of Jagged Alliance and X-COM I tell you: This is the best turn-based tactics game ever made, Invivible, Inc. is the King of the Hill! If you're into this genre you HAVE to play it!

Nice game for idling around, but be advised it is not an idle game, it's an idol game

Serious review:
Idol Manager reminds me a lot of Music Band Manager, very similar gameplay: Choose music genre, dance performance style, lyrical content and formation to produce singles. Combine singles for a concert, make lots of dollarinos (well... yenarinos). You can also produce podcasts and shows with your idols, but there are not many options to tweak, the only relatively interesting part to manage are the concerts.
But there is also a Visual Novel to play through, lots of story and staff events, problem solving and even disputable romancing with under-aged idols (my-oh-my... I might go to hell for this), all adding a lot to the game compared to Music Band Manager.
The music is almost non-existent, despite of a fitting track in the main menu. Gives the perfect vibe to start the game, but in-game... meh! A bit unfitting for a music manager game IMO.
The pixel art is just marvelous, but unfortunately pretty repetitive. The idols portraits aren't pixel art and very nice to look at, especially in combination with a few of the more smugly mods out there (Jesus Christ...).
What brings us to another big plus: workshop support. It's always good for a game to support modders!

So... why the thumbs up? If you like the art style and the topic of the game you can surely waste some hours with it. But, if you're not into simple management games than leave your hands off of this one!

It's not easy to recommend Massive Chalice without a neutral option available, but I don't want to give it a thumbs down, too many aspects of this game are actually good.
I like the turn based combats, the voice acting and setting are all pretty well made. But the pacing of the game is marching to a different drummer. Between each battle, research decision or multiple choice event you get to replace dying heroes ALL THE TIME. I mean, you have to make a dozen decisions of whom to put in place of a died hero before something else pops up, again and again and again...
This is so annoying that I'm not sure how long I will keep playing, it annoys the hell out of me. Everytime I start the game it's dead-hero-message after dead-hero-message. Don't get me wrong, it's okay that they die, it's part of the game, but the pacing is too much of a good thing. There's no balance to it compared to all the other (actually very interesting) parts of the game.
So, if you like turn based tactics, this is an interesting game after all. Don't expect too much of an empire building/resource managing/research tree simulation, it's all bare bones, but be prepared to be a human resource manager. ALL THE TIME, again and again and again...
Sorry for the rambling, but if it weren't for this annoyingly omnipresent part of the game mechanics I would really like Massive Chalice a lot. There is actually a lot to be liked, decent tactics and nicely minimalistic empire management, great voice acting and music. Oops, I've got to go, another Sage just died...

TL;DR: this isn't XCOM or Jagged Alliance... most of the time! This game is more about stealth than combat. And because it's a CreativeForge game means it isn't programmed to its very end.
BUT... it's profoundly thrilling and immersive!

To be more precise, when you are forced to engage in combat this is absolutely an XCOM and JA style game with deep and satisfying mechanics at your hand. A single hit can kill and enemy forces are at many times overwhelming, so most of the time you can't just kick in the front door guns blazing. Later in the game your agents become badass killers that are absolutely able to pull off ambushes like this, but you'll have to farm a lot to reach this point, and it'll still be a risky way to play.

CreativeForge isn't known for perfectionism, to say the least. This game could have been way better, especially immersion-wise. People jump through closed windows, by itself a strange behaviour. But you can do this right next to an enemy without them noticing the noise of shattering glass. If your agent is disguised you can do it right in front of them, they don't mind. And even civilians walking around sometimes do it (imagine a secretary in an office running through a glass wall to reach her desk). The story lacks continuity at times. Imagine a´mission ending in a complete disaster (by default, it's a story mission) and no one mentions it again, while you as a player are devastated by the outcome. Or you track down a traitor in your own ranks and bury the bastard, but mission description still keeps telling you that you're looking for the mole.

BUT... in the end Phantom Doctrine is nevertheless a great game! I highly recommend to play Ironman mode. If you can avoid combat situations by just reloading a save the game becomes tedious. And this way it will be a thrilling experience. You hit the end turn button and hold your breath. Will someone notice the dead body over there? Can this guard see my agent around the corner when he continues his patrol?

So, if you like turn based tactics and don't mind the idea of more stealth than combat, if you like cold war and spy thrillers, Phantom Doctrine should be right up your alley.
Oh and, as a side note: I was pretty disappointed after playing the tutorial. The game felt messy and a bit cheap at first sight. Luckily I did come back later for a second try, so give it a chance, it's way better than it might look at first glance.

No story! No quests either!
At least 50 crashes in 300 hours!
And still one of the best games I've ever played!
You can build a base and recruit an army or you try to survive as a lone traveller. The world is HUGE and brutally unforgiving. Many places to explore and lots of loot to find. Mature dialogues, drug dealing, dismemberment... what's not to like? Highly recommended!

Very good computer game based on a great board game. The Witcher franchise stands for good quality games with great lore, and that is what you get with this one, too. Don't expect to find a multiplayer opponent, but you can play hotseat or against the AI. Unfortunately, you will beat the computer almost every time after figuring out the game mechanics. But it is still a lot of fun to battle the AI for a while, because the four available characters play differently, and it takes some time to see all they have to offer. The lore on the investigation cards is just great, making this game special compared to Talisman for example. The UI is well made, you actually roll the dice, artwork is just beautiful, what's not to like...