Recent reviews by Robin Wils

If it seems interesting. Give it a try. It is not for everyone, similar to "Pathologic 2".

The Void might seem like some sexual game, but it is not what it seems. It throws you into a world of which you know nothing similar to Ice-Pick Lodge's well-known title "Pathologic 2". The Void is lesser known, which is understandable since one of the main mechanics is drawing a symbol. You do not need a drawing tablet, but playing this with a controller is likely not convenient. Playing it with a mouse is doable.

The story seems like something abstract on first sight. But there is much to figure out here. It is a incredibly difficult survival game like "Pathologic 2". It is relatively easy to pick up for anyone. These games are an experience. Very different from any other games I have seen. Ice-Pick Lodge has many passionate supporters for good reason. Their games are truly something different. The best aspects usually contain spoilers, so it is best to just try it out.

Various mechanics in The Void aren't well-explained. There is an icon to see how far you can fill up a tree with color, which is never explained. Although it is mentioned that you should fill it up to the tips. Aside from that the controls are clear, and the game itself will teach you more about its environment later. It could have used a bit more development time. Some people experience rare crashes. The Linux version has issues. But fans of Pathologic will likely enjoy it.

Somehow I found myself drawn back to Elden Ring. Even though I completed it on another platform. Mostly to revisit Royal Capital. The game gives you value for your money, but this type of game is not for everyone. It gave me mixed feelings, and it is likely the last game of this type I will play.

Difficulty
Souls games are known for being difficult, but they just use a different mechanism of combat. Other games can be difficult too, if not more so. You can learn the combat of Souls games, and Elden Ring is likely one of the easier Souls games. But Souls games are not just about "getting good" as certain traps, like a rolling ball, can arrive before you even have a chance to react. You need to die at least once first. But I do like a bit of unfairness, I like this kind of "difficulty" if it is not overdone. Hidden walls are amazing (even better if you do not use guides). Perhaps patches made the game easier. I feel like I struggled way more on a early version of the game. It may just be a feeling though.

Review
Exploration in Elden Ring is rewarding, and you can get powerful early on. Although overdoing it can remove the challenge but it is your decision. The world seems too big sometimes, and often feels repetitive. But most landscapes are nice. Enemies are sometimes reused. There are worse cases of this elsewhere though. Most sections I liked were legacy dungeons like the Royal Capital, Stormveil castle and Raya Lucaria Academy. Caelid was cool, and its Divine Tower too. The volcano manor dungeon is cool. Limgrave is an excellent starting area. But there were many more areas which I did not like. Starting early in the game with Liurnia.

I dislike the quest system. Without guides on offline mode it is difficult to even be aware of certain quests. The online messages of other players do help a lot, but in a smaller world this system wouldn't be a problem in the first place. I have the feeling that many people which play the game use guides, but do not admit it.

Elden Ring has a story, but almost no-one is going to get it from the game itself as it is tedious work. You require third-party sources like YouTube. It does not seem like the worst story. I did not get all that much value out of this game as I seek other experiences.

Personal thoughts
Elden Ring is not a bad game, but it is not for me. The designs and music are cool. It is a massive game. I likely would suggest other games of this genre over this one. Although I haven't played them myself.

Souls games to me are games you play for the gameplay, beautiful landscapes and exploring but not really for the story. Sekiro might be a better buy to be honest. The mechanics in Sekiro actually do change the Souls gameplay formula a bit. But I mainly lack a strong message/characters. While I know there are many you can give for yourself, the game itself does not offer it to me.

It is very short, but likely took some time to make. In sale it is often cheap. Playing it once is probably enough. The game is entertaining, but nothing all that special. Fun concept though. Takes quiet some storage space, due to it all being clips.

Hi-Fi Rush is a fantastic game that shines in almost every aspect. Despite not being skilled at rhythm games, I was able to enjoy and complete it without much difficulty. The game is accessible and easy to finish but challenging to fully master. Completing it fully isn't easy, but finishing the main game is doable. Visually, the game is stunning, with a vibrant art style that really stands out. The gameplay itself may feel somewhat standard, but it is better than the many half-finished games being released these days.

Combining action with rhythm games was a great idea. But sadly there will likely never be a follow up. Due to what happened to the studio.

The characters are charming and entertaining, though the story itself isn't particularly deep—it's decent, but not the main draw. Many of the game's moves and mechanics only became apparent to me after finishing the main campaign, which speaks to its replayability.

The platforming sections, however, are a bit hit-or-miss, as are certain enemies. While some players might find a few small aspects to dislike, I personally wasn't bothered by anything, except for the much steeper difficulty that kicks in after completing the main story. Fortunately, this is optional, so it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. The callbacks to other media were also a fun touch, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. They aren't that noticeable if you do not know the other media.

The visuals are nice. I like the challenge mode too, but the animations can be a bit slow, which breaks the flow of the game. There is no cloud sync, so the completed challenges do not sync to your other devices. The game drags. There is no local co-op mode, but you can play co-op. Although not on the same device.

The cons are minor, but they could be a dealbreakers. Buying the actual card game might be better. Making treasure negotiations and punishing others is handled better in person. It is just more fun that way. There is something to enjoy here though, but it could be better.

It is good, but I wouldn't call it scary.
The game has many features which I enjoyed. Having to turn around an item before being able to open or interact with is a cool mechanic. The animations and how certain enemies is impressive. The first-person is well-done. Although there is one element which ruins it for me. It does not build up the atmosphere, which makes it not all that scary. It lacks the fear of the unknown.

Resident Evil 7 is not the worst horror game I have played. I am tempted to return to it later. At this moment, it doesn't feel compelling enough to warrant completion. It still holds potential for enjoyment in other aspects. It is not a bad game, but perhaps a bit overrated. It is in fact one of the better modern horror games.

The in-game voice chat is essential as the interactions outweighs the game itself. The game isn't complex or that special, but this works in its favor. It resembles a casual party game, with some story elements that aren't the primary focus.

It's alright, but perhaps slightly overhyped. Nevertheless, it serves as a fun way to pass the time.

This is a story-driven game, and it might not be suitable for those uninterested in a specific philosophical theme. As a programmer, it's easy to comprehend that robots aren't human but can mimic human behavior. Although in this case, biomatter is involved. However, most things don't feel alive to me. Consequently, the emotional impact fell short for me. The storytelling is well-executed. Enemies aren't all that scary.

There are great moments skillfully presented, which are worth to experience. The concept remains alarming if humans attribute emotions to machines, but most of the game didn't really resonate with me. I recommend it, but I have mixed feelings about this game. There is interesting stuff for sure. It is short, and you need to be invested in the story. The idea needs to scare you.

Omega Strikers is fun and addictive.

Pong extreme!
Omega Strikers is like an extremely improved version of pong. It is something we haven't seen before. Somehow this version of pong can be very competitive. Easy to learn hard to master, but nonetheless fun -- no matter how skilled you are.

The review
The games are short and quick to play. It is quite easy to work on your skill and improve if you learn minor things from the internet. Those tips help tons, but applying them takes time. The game is very addictive and fun. I will probably keep playing for a while despite my dislike for escapism.

There are toxic emotes, but there is no chat during the game. The matches are short so I did not feel much toxic behavior. You are in another match after a few minutes. This game is enjoyable for sure. I recommend it if you are ok with becoming addicted to it. But it wouldn't hurt to try? Or would it? Perhaps it would.

One of the most atmospheric games out there. It does not use the heroic trope which many other games use. It is a hard game. A spoiler free guide can come in handy, but you should play without one first to get the full experience. A few things -- check letters and check trash cans. The "tutorial" doesn't really teach you this, but you are not playing an easy game.

At first I didn't use a guide and loved the looks of the world. That and the combined interesting music alone makes this game worth buying. Lots of playtime is available. Most people never finish it (I haven't either). Pathologic 2 has way better combat. The dialogue should also be improved, but it does not have the same music.

PathologicHD has a few game breaking bugs. Like a key not getting dropped into a bag when your inventory is full, which makes you unable to finish a quest. Luckily, there is a console available, but I recommend not using it too much. The enemy AI isn't that great, but don't worry they can still bully you.

This game will keep destroying your expectations. It shows that suffering is required for "being a hero". And that even then people often don't have the means to get there. Developing yourself, and getting somewhere takes time. The characters are not your typical heroes - far from it. The game might make you think.