Recent reviews by Brick

What Sherlock (the TV series) was to Sherlock Holmes' novels, American Arcadia is to the premise of The Truman Show — a man's life is part of reality TV, and he spends decades without knowing anything about it — made interactive.

Having said that, the common thread between American Arcadia and The Truman Show, is only that, the premise. Everything else — the characters, the world building, and the narrative — is entirely original.

American Arcadia is a fine example of Naval's words when he said, "Movies will be Games". Play the game! Nah! Watch the game? Play it while watching, probably? Or, watch it while playing... Anyway, you'll love it, it is an amazing interactive experience! 🎶 Believe me - Don't be a fool! 🎶 And of course, please remember not to break the fourth wall!

Full Void thrusts you into a world that masterfully marries a dystopian future with a nostalgic past. This world, under the rule of a rogue AI, pins its hope of redemption on a lone teenager. The world-building is simply masterful!

The expert craftsmanship of the game generates an overwhelming sense of oppression and urgency that is truly remarkable. During my two playthroughs, there were countless moments when I found my pulse quickening as I navigated through the atmospheric, pixel art landscapes. The retro ambience is a charming homage to the games of yore — think Prince of Persia, Another World, and the likes. Every detail, from the eerily captivating soundscapes to the painstakingly hand-drawn pixel art, breathes life into the dystopian narrative in a way that's difficult to express in words.

There was a minor hiccup during my initial playthrough when my achievements were unexpectedly wiped clean — a regrettable glitch that necessitated a second run. Thankfully, the developers quickly addressed the issue. Considering the overall captivating journey, I was more than happy to embark on a replay.

In conclusion, Full Void is a masterful dystopian journey through a captivating world that brilliantly captures the thrill of overcoming obstacles, the satisfaction of unveiling secrets, and the nostalgic charm of classic gaming. Highly recommended!

As I look back with fondness on the days I'd lose myself in the enigmatic worlds of puzzle platformers—worlds with unique landscapes, where origins and backstory were left to the player's imagination—I find that Stuffo the Puzzle Bot brilliantly rekindles those same feelings.

What I genuinely admire about Stuffo is its streamlined yet captivating puzzle design. Each level presents a fresh challenge, uniformly operating under a consistent set of rules. The player's primary objective? To strategically manoeuvre blocks, each with distinct behaviours, creating a path towards the exit. In most levels, an optional "atom" collectable adds another layer of mental gymnastics. The process—comprehending each block's behaviour, picturing the perfect setup, and deciphering the winning sequence—usually becomes more intuitive once you form a mental image of the end goal. That said, the game isn't devoid of rewarding 'aha' moments, which typically surface when you untangle a solution to a level that initially seemed insurmountable and has left you stumped for a while.

The overall experience is enriched by soothing down-tempo ambient tracks. The music is both tranquil and entrancing, making it the perfect accompaniment to my work playlist.

Stuffo also shines in its accessibility options, catering to a broad variety of players. Notably, you can choose to remove decorative elements within a level, allowing a clear focus on the core game-play elements. Personally, I favour keeping these decorations on. I have a soft spot for pixel art, and they're truly beautiful and teeming with detail. A covert nod to the two levels featuring the eponymous "Stuffo" decorations.

In a nutshell, Stuffo the Puzzle Bot is a worthy contender if you're a puzzle enthusiast. It ticks all the right boxes with its robust puzzle design, mellow yet groovy music, and thoughtful accessibility features.

Two years ago, when I first caught sight of the trailer for 'Planet of Lana', I was utterly blown away. My exact words from a WhatsApp message then read, "I am blown away! So very much looking forward to this... This is a world that I want to explore every nook and cranny of... if I can just get to roam around in this world, that would be sufficient." Now, having journeyed through this world, I can affirm that the long wait was absolutely worth it.

The moment I set foot on Novo (Planet of Lana), I was engulfed by its vibrant, hand-painted landscapes, evoking the same awe and admiration I feel for the enchanting worlds conjured by legends like Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai. Takeshi Furukawa crafted a masterful auditory experience that augmented the emotional depth of the game. This, coupled with the meticulously designed sound effects, made the journey through Lana's world profoundly immersive.

Novo is so mesmerising, I often found myself pausing my journey just to admire its sheer beauty, soaking in the ambience, and longing to learn more about its origins. Every relic, every shrine whispering the tales of this world's history left me gazing in silent awe at the mystery they embodied.

The relationship between Lana and Mui is a moving narrative that transcends the game's mechanics. Their story of resilience, their unyielding bond amidst adversity has struck a deep chord within me, tugging at my heartstrings at every turn. One particular moment, which I shan't spoil, was a scene where Lana's desperation and her raw emotions towards Mui were so palpably real that I found myself wiping away tears.

As I continue to gaze at the glyphs of Novo with fascination, and daydream of owning a Camel Robot of my own, I find comfort in the certainty that Planet of Lana has been an emotional journey worth every second of the wait; a surreal, indelible experience that I will forever cherish.

No cost review too great...

I had played the original Cave Story back in 2010, when I read an article about it on 'Hak5'. I liked it 10 minutes into the game, and loved it by the end; when I had had experienced two different endings. "Multiple endings! Wow!", I thought; and when I read more about it, I found out that there was one another "best" ending, and some more hidden secrets that I was yet to discover. So I went back to the game, and I did. That was awesome, discovering something new about something that you are already in awe of.

A couple of years forward, I'm playing Cave Story+, with polished graphics, remastered and new music, new game modes, and what not; and I'm totally in love, all over again. Take my word for it, this game is awesome, you will enjoy it to the core. But, if you do like to read more on why I think so, here goes:

• Your decisions, and there by your actions will have a bearing on the sort of a game end that you will experience.
  
• You will still discover secrets when playing it for the 'n'th time, there by hugely increasing the game's replay value (provided you don't refer to something similar to 'Cave_Story_Secrets.txt' after the first time, or worse, before you have even completed the game; you will be very very tempted though, and hey, there's no shame in addressing a few guilty pleasures; I always do).
  
• You will love getting lost in a fantastic 2-D world, with beautiful sprites and background art; an awesome score that sets the mood of the area and the situation you are in.
  
• And at last, you will relish, and be in awe of the fact that all of this, from programming; to all the graphics, music; to the big fantastic story in its entirety (which gets revealed in bits, a lot of it through a lot of the characters who are beautifully woven into its strands) was originally conceived by a single guy (who aptly calls himself 'Pixel'). A SINGLE GUY!

Pixel's spirit is that of Hermit Gunsmith, (the drowsy creator of Polar Star; "What's 'Polar Star'?", you ask! I say, "Play the game and you shall know.") for he says a few words of wisdom, late into the game, that very much reflect the guy that Pixel is.

"There remains a very delicate balance in this world, between those who create and those who will experience the creations of others. I can't say that I wasn't aware of this. However, I had never experienced it. Now, thanks to you, I finally have. As long as the there is someone who will appreciate the work involved in creation, the effort is time well spent. To this end, I will continue to create for as long as I can."
- Hermit Gunsmith; Creator, Polar Star & Spur.

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=123953248
Say what you will, I will always be of the opinion that creating something like this (referring to the core of the game here / original version), with everything that it has, is extremely complex, even for a couple of people. A SINGLE GUY! EVERYTHING! Having played Cave Story(+) a good number of times; I deem this game, a creation born out of utmost love; and just for that single fact, it has inspired me.

If you can't afford this now, you can still play the free version[www.cavestory.org]. Apart from some bells and jingles, the core of the game is all there in the original version, you won't miss anything major.