Recent reviews by Rain Shinotsu

Nulldrifters is a neat little game I came across after seeing the studio's later work Paperball. I suppose only playing for a half-hour just through the GP isn't enough credential to leave a review, but I will anyway, because I already kind of like the game. (No, I'm not going to compare it to Paperball; that's apples and oranges.)

The gameplay itself is simple to learn and moderately challenging to master. The visuals blend a retro feel (low-poly models and low-res textures) with modernish style (a HUD that responds to camera movement and some shadow and environment effects), which I think is pretty cool. The courses are quick, and most of them are fun to play. The music is OK: not original (and thus tailored to the game), but still pretty fitting for the mood. There are a whole 16 stages (although really quick, none of which take above 90 seconds) and 8 cars (although I think the choice is purely visual), as well as three games modes (Grand Prix (in three difficulties), Quick Race, and Time Trials).

The game has no options whatsoever. I think it would greatly benefit from at least a control remap, resolution/window options, and FOV/zoom setting. The controls are mostly fine, but with rear-view on backspace, I have to take my hand off of the steering to look behind me. (Also, AZERTY, Dvorak, etc. users might not like the use of A and S keys for acceleration and brake/drift.) The resolution fits with the visual style, but no window options means the game is stuck in a window that takes up less than a quarter of my (2560×1440) screen. The low FOV and the lack of a minimap make it hard to tell where to go, and some corners (especially in stages like Oil Platform and Drain Facility, with narrow roads and minimal guard rails) are very difficult, if not impossible.

For US$2, the game provides a decent value. It easily has a half hour's worth of content, but that can be up to quadrupled if you try all of the game modes. The game is a bit lacking in options however, and sometimes it can be frustrating. All in all, if you're looking for a simple racing experience, it's definitely worth checking out if you temper your expectations just a little.

Paperball is a ball-rolling game that takes the concepts of the classic Super Monkey Ball games and builds on them in a way that fans of the series can appreciate. The level design follows the style of classic SMB but brings several new ideas to the table, the music fits each world well, and the overall arts-and-crafts theme and plot is really cute (plus I like the mascot, but that could be furry/cat bias). The one thing I'm not a fan of is the physics; I can't place my finger on what's wrong, but I think it's the acceleration feeling a little slow. Even so, I don't dislike the engine, and the game still plays fine.
For the price of the game, you get plenty of content (even more with the free update that released last year), so if you like ball-rolling games, especially the classic SMB titles, Paperball is very much worth checking out.

I found HRDINA a while ago while browsing free games to play, as I wanted something to spend a little time on but didn't feel like playing games in my existing library. All in all, I like it in some ways but find others frustrating.

Overall:
The concept driving the gameplay is interesting, but the execution is a bit buggy. The plot is OK for what it is. Graphics are fairly lacking, but it's easy enough to tell what everything is. The soundtrack is easily the best part of the game, at least in my opinion. Because the game is free, there isn't much to lose besides some time, but even if you get frustrated by the gameplay, the music might be enough to keep you playing anyway.

Gameplay:
It's a platformer, but the ground is generated with the music; intense songs make it bumpier and calm songs make it smoother. There's a lunge attack on top of running and jumping as well. It feels like the game is fairly buggy, with weird enemy hitboxes and the chance of breaking through the floor, so gameplay is probably not a strong point for the game.

Plot:
The story is told by the lyrics of the background music, with quotes from the protag throughout the game to help non-Czech speakers understand the story. The protagonist of a video game tries to leave his game for the real world. There, he's met with hostility, so he travels in order to try to find somewhere that he can be safe and feel welcome. It's not incredible by any means, but it doesn't have to be; that's not the point of the game.

Graphics:
The graphics are comprised of a lot of pixel graphics translated to one block deep 3D figures (with some assets having actual depth). The backgrounds have minimal to no detail, but the ground gets some embellishment in the form of scenery. There are also sometimes screen effects such as volumetric lighting, but those can be turned down/off in the game's options.

Soundtrack:
This is where the game stands out, and the basis for the idea behind the game. It's not an original soundtrack, but it is a licensed (as far as I know) soft rock(?) album by a Czech band named Zrní. Some people might like the album, and others not. Personally, I liked it, and it introduced me to a number of songs I listen to outside of the game even now (my three favorites are Hrdina, Jablonĕ, and Autobus). I have yet to explore the band's other work, but this album left a great first impression.

VVVVVV is one of the first games I bought on Steam, and while it might not be my all-time favorite game now, it still sits high on my list.

Overall:
Gameplay is fine, with a game mechanic you don't often see. Graphics are retro-inspired but not the first thing on my mind when I think of games that call back to retro gaming. The plot is OK too; not breathtaking, but fine for what it is. The music is, in my opinion, where the game really shines.

Gameplay:
VVVVVV is a fairly standard run and jump platformer, except instead of jumping, you flip your personal gravity to overcome obstacles. You can only flip from the ground though, so you can't use this as an alternative to jumping. Also, the levels are designed with flipping in mind, and the game is difficult but mostly fair, plus there are a few particularly challenging parts of the game that take a lot of practice to get through but can be satisfying when finally gotten.

Plot:
The plot is fairly simple: a team of scientists traveling through space crash their ship in an unknown dimension and get scattered throughout, so the captain (as whom you play) ventures out to try to find everyone so they can repair the ship and continue on their journey. It isn't profound, but it's OK for what it is.

Graphics:
The game takes on a retro aesthetic, with low-res characters and world. It is reminiscent of old games, but games like Shovel Knight and The Messenger are generally more colorful, and I think to those before VVVVVV when I think of games modeled after games from the NES/SNES days. The framerate (30 FPS) is definitely dated, but I'd say it's OK for a game like this.

Soundtrack:
One of the best parts of the game, the OST (composed by Magnus Pålsson a.k.a. SoulEye) is comprised of upbeat chiptune music. Some of its pieces (especially Pushing Onwards) are among my favorite video game music even now, but other tracks in the soundtrack are fun to listen to as well. I liked the soundtrack so much that I even bought it separately.