Recent reviews by Master

CaliaQuest is a narrated visual novel with a focus on voice narration. I decided to buy this game to see if someone could create a good hypnosis videogame, spoiler ahead: they couldn't.

The gameplay is almost nonexistent, it all boils down to choosing to sacrifice some will points to take a different path. The game description talks about rolling a d20, but the roll is automatic, making trying out different endings difficult (although one could save scum to get through it); with this premise, it's easy to see how the game ends up being something very close to a playlist of erotic hypnosis audio tracks, spaced out by few clicks and sporadic choices.
The voice actress is surely talented, and the audio quality is overall very good, the same can't be said for the graphic, which is not always as it's supposed to be, and most importantly is AI generated.

First off, let's quote the author herself to get down straight what is hypnosis, and what someone who doesn't know anything about it should expect:
Hypnosis is a means to bring someone into a trance state, a state of extreme focus, often to the point of eschewing what’s going on around them. You may have the idea that hypnosis is like sleep, but that’s only partially true. It’s actually a state of almost total focus on a single thing, for example the voice of the hypnotist or the concept they’re introducing to you. https://mistresscalia.com/what-is-hypnokink/
The audio tracks that play throughout the game can be quite hypnotic, but whether this makes a good game is another sport: I don't think that this game remotely manages to bring hypnosis, and particularly the erotic hypnosis kink, into the world of video games; it is simply too lacking as a game, built on the -wrong- presupposition that it would be enough to hammer together a user interface and a start menu with erotic hypnosis audio files, to make an erotic hypnosis videogame. The gameplay is simply lacking, as in it's not there. There is nothing to play in the game, nothing at all.

Well... Not so fast: the feat is an ambitious one; I've seen dozens of more or less skilled developers try to make a videogame about hypnosis (and erotic hypnosis), a videogame which actively plays with hypnosis to hypnotize the user, and all of them are pretty lacking in one aspect or another, with CaliaQuest being no exception. The reality is that to hypnotize someone it is necessary create a state of relaxation and lack of thought that quite crashes with the concept of a video game. The only game that almost manages to do this, is Sublime Compliance, yet that one too ends up just being a glorified interactive hypnosis induction.

This is the first attempt by CaliaCorp at making an erotic hypnosis videogame, and it's as much clear that this time they didn't deliver, but there are lessons to be learnt here, for CaliaCorp as well as for anyone else who's producing or looking to produce a video game based on hypnosis.
First things first: if it is a game, it has to be interactive. The way I picture a visual novel to be more interactive would be, for instance, giving many more choices to the player, creating plenty more of shorter audio tracks, perhaps resetting the mouse x,y position on the first option of the multiple options to pick, so that it would be automatic for the hypnotized player to just click and go forward. This would probably amount to many more hours of recording, and a much more complex game, and given Calia's statement that "It's priced more in line with erotic hypnosis audio content, than with games" I've my doubts that she's willing to either fix it or create a sequel that addresses all the weak points of this title.
Another idea would be to have an option to roll the dice in-game, or to input the result of the dice roll in a field on the screen allowing the player to choose to fail (or win) a certain roll, and therefore to explore a different path.

Almost. Just a couple of things that really made me wrinkle my nose.
1) You can't call a game a roleplaying game when there is no roleplay, but everything is predetermined: it's simply misleading, deceiving. This game is a visual novel, as simple as that.
2) AI.
That's enough said. The fact that it is -at least- written on the store page gives me enough respect for the author to acknowledge her position (more on this later) and buy it regardless. Otherwise, AI-generated content in videogame is for me and should be for everyone an instant pass.

Calia is a small internet content creator focused on erotic hypnosis; I don't know exactly why she decided to open herself to video game developing but I can only be happy to see someone with the bravery of trying to connect these worlds. The task is not easy, and the possibility of failure are many and scattered all around. As for the game aspect, the menu, and, overall, anything that is not audio is at Digital Homicide level, or in other words looks like either an alpha or (and this is the case) the product of a green game developer.
I don't think that the retail price is justified by the value, I fully disagree with the idea of pricing a game "in line with erotic hypnosis audio content"; it's like going to eat a sandwich and paying it the price of a dinner at the restaurant because "it's priced in line with a restaurant meal". Regardless, I personally felt that not even the 70% discount justifies the price for me: I appreciate the effort (and the fact that this game DOES NOT USE DRM) but for what this is I wouldn't pay more than a dollar, or two at most.
During the gameplay I've also encountered a couple of bugs which, although not game breaking, makes clear that the game hasn't been polished.

CaliaCorp tried to accomplish an epic feat: finally making a good hypnosis videogame. Unfortunately: it failed, but if you're into that, the erotic hypnosis content it's still pretty good! If you need ratings:

Graphics: 1/10
Sounds: 9/10
Gameplay: 2/10
Longevity: 4/10

Overall: 4/10

I can recommend this only to Calia's fans, who wish to encourage her to make more games, or people who have never explored hypnosis or erotic hypnosis, and desire to dip their toes in.
For everybody else, should be an easy pass.

It's a short game focused on the aesthetics, with a nice and relaxed soundtrack.
A walking simulator, probably better played under LSD, reminds us that games can be an purposeless experience with the only goal of opening our minds to realities not possible in the material world; the unachievable achievement pokes at those whom forgot that games shouldn't be a checklist of task that can be forgotten once all the entries are marked, but should allow us to feel emotions.

Video games can be a form of art, and Wanderlust is a testament to this statement; although short, this is a nice little art piece.

If you need ratings:

Graphics: 8/10
Sounds; 8/10
Gameplay: 1/10
Longevity: 4/10

It's a hard buy but for 75% off, or at full price to support the developer, can gift you half an hour through fancy sceneries.

Terrible port, some of the custom commands won't work (ie. + and - to enlarge and reduce screen size), the red cross on every medkit has been made green, swastikas are replaced with a scribble, skyboxes in masterlevels are missing, the NiN secret on e4m1 removed. Fortunately, these are issues that can be fixed with some mods (simply replacing the iwads with the original ones won't work) but it requires some work.
Furthermore, limitations from the original game engine have been brought back, as for example infinitely tall actors; I wouldn't be surprise if they also limited lost souls to 20, and BFG tracers.
Weapons don't switch instantly, but there's a slight delay after you change weapon before the animation begins.... And there is no way to turn off this ♥♥♥♥! In♥♥♥♥ingcredible.

For all this hassle just play any source port of your liking, instead of this broken mess.

This is what happens when you sell out to greedy corporations without soul.

edit: masterlevels have all different soundtracks from the original

The Store page isn't clear at all: I expected a mind-bending game, but all I got was a Lovecraftian AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!!

Although disappointed, I wouldn't mind and play it as such, if only the movements weren't so sloppy, and the mouse didn't have an obnoxiously high acceleration/deceleration.

It's a hard pass for me.

Where do I start... Let's start with the, usual for negative reviews, "I wanted to give this game a positive review but..." or "I wish Steam allowed for neutral reviews".

Before posting this review, I peeked at the others, and now I know where I want to start from: this game is not bad, this game is not a "nvidia tech demo" (did you mean "Ray Tracing tech demo, right?"), this game is a solo project by one folk named Richard Cowgill who did a great job creating a fun game play, even though he clearly needs help with certain aspect of game development (namely, the physics).
Given that the negative reviews are so shoddy and my final score is a positive, despite I wanted to give this game a negative review, I'd rather make this a recommendation, just to don't risk having mine just glanced over and put in the basket with all the others "tech demo bad".

The concept is nice: you're someone who knows about a certain treasure lost in a certain place, and you're going there to find it. The place you're going to explore is randomly generated so it offers great replayability. My issue with the game is the way the character feels. I understand that this is a solo project, but I just can't get past the clunkiness of the movements, the way things appear kind of distorted in the mirror, and how difficult it is to aim with the chalk. On top of this the protagonist cannot jump or climb even small objects (what a shame, for an Indiana Jones wannabee!), nor swim (found out the hard way, losing all my progress at the end of a level; I would have liked a one time alert telling me I would have died if I jumped in the water, rather than a message telling me that I can pick up an item or talk with the skeleton of an old adventurer every time I went near one. I digress, however, these would still be things I could bear, if only the movement wasn't so bad. Unfortunately, considered how sluggish the protagonist feels, the short breath it has, how big the levels are and how much I feel the need of backtrack to clear everything, after less than one hour and on my second death I decided I was done with it.
I would have liked to complete it, at least once, to see the story, but it feel too much like a chore.

For how I don't like being hard on games made by a single person, I'd rather be honest. If the movement and the interactions were polished, perhaps some extra content added, such as more puzzles, threats, options (Aehm, slider for mouse sensitivity? Have you ever heard of it? :p) I would happily spend a few bucks for it. The ideas and gameplay for a solid game are there, it's just the execution that it's a little below the minimum I can bare.

If you need ratings:

Graphics: 7/10
Sounds: 7/10
Longevity: 7/10
Gameplay: 4/10

Overall: 6/10

Stay in the Light surely feels wonky to play, but has a great concept that it's worth exploring. Considering that it's free to play, if you don't have anything else to play you may want to give this one a try, by now you should know what to expect!

Surely well done but I find it utterly boring. It's just another dominion mode game with modern weapons.

I don't know what I was expecting: you do nothing but walk/run all the time.

You spawn and the boss of a mining company is a woman (asian-black), while on her side stands a guy (white) that looks like he took his fair share of punches during high school despite being rather strapping...

Wait... What!?!

I thought miners were all big hairy males and women skirted the job because it's a dangerous, hard and boring one... Whatever! I guess this lady is actually a dude and the other guy a pansy. Nothing out of the ordinary, so I roll with it and..

Wait... What!?!

I have to select between Body Type 1 and 2? Pronouns? What the actual ♥♥♥♥ of a character creation is this? Isn't this game going to ask me if I've trigger words or anything? No? Whatever! I guess the developers really had to make sure to don't get labelled some kind of -phobic so I decided to move ahead. I get outside, space pirates arrive and I obliterate every single one of those ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ before they can even get in position. Here I come babe! The man of your dreams came to save your day, artifact and the ship of that other dude (black)!

Wait... What!?!

Why is everyone talking about how good was the lady with her guns when she could barely be seen in combat while I was zig-zaging through the enemies tearing them apart? It's not even just one person: pretty much every secondary NPC is in awe at Mrs. Miner Mylady Oscar while nobody gives a damn about the real hero (ME!). Whatever. I guess it's just poor scripting and random writing. So I start talking with her and the other guy, who doesn't leave me any choice but to go to bloody Constellation, whatever that is.

Wait... What!?!

Why is this lady acting like she owns everyone, telling the guy that can't leave, and why is he almost pleading her to let me go with his body language? Whatever, I guess they used the wrong animation and the voice actors put the wrong emphasis. Anyway, this rock is trash and I got a free ship, a free robot and most importantly a free ticket off this piece of ♥♥♥♥ planet! Constellation, whatever you are, I'm coming for you! So, some ♥♥♥♥ happens and before you know: I'm walking on New Atlantis! I get greeted by a guide, or something like that (black guy), so I decided to walk ahead and I find a neat bar, The Viewport. It's so cool and its owner is a cool woman (black)! How nice! So I move to the Demison Mercantile and there's a cute lady at the desk... She's nice and all, but there's also this other guy (white) who look funny, so I decided to have a chat with him...

Wait... What!?!

Did he think I was trying to hit on him just because of a single question? WTF dude! I was just trying to make small talk! Whatever, I let it go because I'm definitely not interested in a hookup at this moment and that other guy (white) looks like he has something to say... He does indeed! Turns out the guy is an art dealer and he's new around here, so he signs me up for a fetch quest because he's too shy to go around the big city. I head straigh down to The Well, where at the Trader Association I meet this fine (and bossy) lady who gives me the package and tells me that the owner's name was changed.

Wait... What!?!

Did these people just set me up into being a stolen art courier? I don't want this freaking thing, take it back girl!
All transactions are final. Damn. I guess I've to confront the dude and tell him off! So I do and he basically laughs at me. No moral this guy, damn son, It's 300 years from now but everyone is still a piece of ♥♥♥♥, perhaps even worse!
Screw this! I'm heading to the Constellation but before that I'll take a coffee at Terrabrew coffee, because the lady (hispanic) who runs the place looks really hot, and give a better look around The Well. I find the House of the Enlightened and the guy at the desk (white, although he speaks with a thick indian accent) tells me that there is a poor guy (black) who needs help and so he needs a kind soul like me to go help him. I stare for a moment at the guy (white) cleaning the floor, thinking about how ugly he looks and how dull he sounds when he speaks, then I head straight for the Medical Bay. Before talking with our boy, I want to get healed from my wounds, and the doctor (woman) is very helpful with that. So go back to our poor soul with a difficult past, and he's basically telling 'off a police officer (black) who's practically begging him to accept his help; the officer gives up, and I persuade the weak to accept my help; we get some free food for him from the owners of Kay's House where (not one but) two women (white) run the business, then I escort him back home, where he thanks me and everything is fine and dandy.
On my way back I stop at Jake's.

Wait... What!?!

Why is the owner (black) jumping at my throat for having asked an innocent question? Why did the developers make a character like this? Whatever! Diversity! The world is full of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ so it's natural to find them in a video game too. Can't shrug off the feeling that they just wanted to make him assertive but don't understand that being an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ doesn't make anyone assertive, but I'm over it. Constellation is my next destination and I'm sure that I will feel like home there...
... not again! On my way to constellation this woman stops me and tells me that her partner (male) he's basically a slacker and she can't get the job done... I already know where this is going: fine, I'll help. Fast forward 5 minutes, I'm on my way to Constellation, and this time I ain't stoppin for ♥♥♥♥!
So I get inside Sarah greets me, she's quite a pain in the neck with her attitude but I like blondes so I roll with it. Anyway, I won't have to deal with this ♥♥♥♥ much longer...

Wait... What!?!

This ♥♥♥♥♥ wants to stick with me? For nobody knows how long? *eyeroll* oh come on now! She basically tells me that I need to join them to get to the bottom of my hallucinations, so I do, and the first thing she wants me to do is to run around the galaxy with her until we find another artifact. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Great. Whatever. Fine! I'll do it! I just want to be done with this, and with her buddy Noel (black) who is basically having an orgasm because her assumption were true. Whatever, there's nothing else I can do anyway, and Walter (white) despite being a ♥♥♥♥ tells me these two girls are super duper cool, so I better do as they say... I suppose!
Okay Sarah, let's get this done so you can ♥♥♥♥ off ASAP and we can all live happily, not together, after. I look at Matteo (white) with a mix of pity and wonder before going out: how is it possible that such a tool is part of an organisation like this? Doesn't matter, anyway, and besides: he's probably autistic, or some ♥♥♥♥ like that... That hat is still the dumbest thing I've ever seen, anyway. lol.
So me and the blonde ♥♥♥♥♥ go look for some info, before that I stop at Aphelion Realty to purchase a house, but the lady who works there tells me that I need to be citizen, first. Fine. So I go at Vanguard and speak with Command Tuala (which, from the name, I thought was a woman, but he's just a black man); he sounds a like someone who worked his muscles more than his brains, but he's a good boy, so I quickly forget about the house as he's giving me some info about the piece of artifact me and the ♥♥♥♥♥ are looking for: great! Seems like I'm about to dump Sarah!

You know what? I don't care if you don't think this game is being woke: you're either willfully ignoring the issues or completely blind. Doesn't matter which of the two: on my book they're equally bad, for different reason.

Go tell your friends you played a game where every leading NPC you talk to is a woman, every white man is either a pansy, an idiot, or can be criticised about his morals and tell them you didn't see anything woke with it. They will probably respond:

Wait... What!?!

PS: if you were wondering I'm not just salty at the wokism, the game is just garbage. It's Skyrim in space, with obnoxiously frequent and long cutscenes, animations and horrible performances.

The game looks rather good for a 2007 game, but it's thanks to the Ray Tracing and the work on the lights that has been done to support it. Except that, it's the same game, and it's still bugged! For crying out loud, I couldn't figure out how to run without using the nanosuit's boost, if not using the classic nanosuit setting, which then rendered me unable to activate the maximum armor boost. :l

This is not Crysis Remastered but Ray Tracing: Crysis, with slapped on a 30 paper while it should have just been a free update, or a 5 paper DLC.

I get supporting Crytek in hope they'll pull out something good again, but this is simply overpriced; if only the owners of the old versions would have received this for free, I could understand the pricing, but as it stands, I don't.

https://store.steampowered.com/sub/987/

I tried really hard to like this game, but I couldn't.

The movement is too slow, the weapons feel generic and weak, the enemies are few and repetitive, the graphics nothing remarkable even with RTX on (although this makes the game really heavy for the GPU).

I wouldn't pay more than a buck for this. I did not have fun playing it.

If you need ratings:

Graphics: 7/10
Sounds: 7/10
Longevity: 6/10
Gameplay: 4/10

Overall: 6/10

Buy it only if it's cheap and if you don't mind the fact that this is more like a walking simulator with guns and enemies.