Recent reviews by OSU

Fantastic game with superb netcode, but for prior RIvals of Aether 1 players, do be aware that this is more like PM / P+ than RoA1, which means there's going to be a lot of adaptation. Shields, ledges, grabs, spot dodges, etc. fundamentally change how you approach neutral, and while this isn't a negative in general, it may be a deal breaker. As a long time RoA 1 player, it definitely took me a good while to start figuring things out, and even now I'm still learning.

For existing Smash players, this is by far the best platform fighter that isn't Smash, straight up. Buttery smooth netcode, fantastic movement options, an input system that makes you feel like you're always in control, and movement tech that doesn't require 6 months of grinding to start performing.

For players new to platform fighters in general, this is a bit of a harder sell at the moment. While games like Smash have story modes, party mechanics, and casual items, this game is all about the competitive balance. As of this review, there isn't even a built in tutorial system (though one is planned), so a lot of learning will have to be done outside of the game. To the developers' credit, they have released a bunch of YouTube guides on how the characters work, but I'd like to see more support ingame to help new players improve.

The developers have announced that all future characters will be free, largely supported by the cosmetics store that you can optionally pay for. You earn coins through playing the game that can purchase skins, icons, spawn platforms, etc. but can also purchase "bucks" that allow you to purchase anything in the store. There's no battle pass system in here, no mandatory daily logins required, just a simple system of paying for exactly what you want, when you want, which I'm a big fan of.

(I've only got 2.3 hours on the demo, but I've extensively played through the beta period and have 1000+ hours on RoA 1)

What a solid sequel to the entry that got me into platform fighters to begin with. This game feels like a love letter to Super Smash Bros Melee, taking everything that made the game so beloved competitively and removing the warts. Being a RoA verteran, it's definitely weird having shields, ledges, grabs, and other changes, but I still feel fully in control of my character and movement, and it's really a joy to play.

Not being beholden to Nintendo means sponsorships and prize pools are actually viable now, and I'm super keen to see where this game goes.

Fun game, takes a bit to get into and it's a damn shame the second playable character (Vera) only unlocks after beating the entire game with Sami first. There's an active speedrunning community for this game too.

Fantastic game to play with mates, and the evolving storyline over time with the community really keeps me engaged and motivated to keep coming back. It's a little pricey, but in the world of 70 dollar games that continue to nickel and dime you, this is a refreshing take on what fair and reasonable pricing models look like.

While at first glance this might give factorio vibes, it's a totally different experience. It has a story mode that teaches you the game mechanics in various maps, and it overall feels like it's taken the good part about trains and automation, and stripped away the tedium. There's still depth and strategy even with the tedium taken away, and overall I'm having a good time.

It feels quite polished, and with that I'm gonna say if you're a fan of factorio or other automation style games, definitely give this a go.

Awesome game with lots and lots of potential. At the moment there's not too much variety in strategy (rush advanced towers) but this IS early access, and the dev seems receptive to feedback. I'll be keeping my eye on this one for updates.

As long as you have a walkthrough on hand, this is a fantastic time. My only complaint is the strike system; if you present wrong evidence enough times, you'll "lose" and be forced all the way back to the main menu, where you have to then reload from the last save. If you're 90% of the way through the case and make a mistake? Tough luck kiddo, gotta replay EVERYTHING from the start of the trial.

Otherwise, this is a gem of an experience. Funny dialogue, quirky interactions, and every now and then you'll get that A-HA! moment that makes you feel like a genius.

I've sunk a bunch of time into this game on other platforms so disregard my hours, but oh man is this a blast to play! It's a real simple concept of tapping to the beat that becomes more and more complex as you add in triplets, sixteenths, polyrhythms, and more (in the case of the DLC)

Immensely satisfying once you beat that one level you're been trying over and over and over again (looking at you, level 12!)

A fantastic tribute to Half Life. Devs are also working on a remake of Blue Shift too, which is accessible via the steam workshop for Black Mesa.

The devs deserve all the praise they're getting, and props to Valve for not only being accepting of these sorta mods, but also allowing the devs to charge for it; this game is so full of love and passion, and they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts.

Good game, wasn't expecting this much fun going in. The game could do a better job of explaining things, but the core gameplay loop is super addicting.