Recent reviews by Cadavra-41

An amazing puzzle game with a compelling mystery to uncover along the way. There is huge variation in presentation and puzzle design throughout ensuing that you are always doing something new. The approach of having clear answers to puzzles once you have found the necessary information was a refreshing take on the puzzle genre. One of my favorite games I've played in 2024 and my puzzle game of the year. I was scribbling notes in a notebook like I was Charlie trying to figure out who Pepe Silivia is.

I really wanted to like this game but it just isn't very good. I'll try to keep it as spoiler free as possible but there are too many issues that add up to ultimately being a 2/5 game at best.

Starting with the good.
The voice acting itself is very good, and the environments are occasionally very pretty and almost always quite atmospheric.

Now for the bad.
The story is an interesting concept but is not executed well. The main character makes next to no decisions for himself and is just doing what hes told all the way to the end of the game. The supporting cast also will make nonsensical decisions just so the can end up in the right spot for the plot when needed. I will cry at most emotional moments in games and movies but I felt nothing during what should've been a pivotal moment. Basically take the plot of The Thing (1982) but make the characters only try to escape rather than ever fight back in any way. This causes the story to fall flat for me despite having a solid core idea.

The first time you see a monster it's quite unsettling but be prepared to see essentially that same design for the rest of the game with the exact same gameplay loop of move from hidey hole to hidey hole. You'll also get a good long look at each of them causing them to lose any real sense of unease or fear. The pathfinding is also hilariously bad at times and I'm pretty sure monsters got stuck on the environment more than once letting me casually complete a section.

The game also misuses mechanics that would fit in a more open design like a classic resident evil game. You will occasionally unlock doors, lower ladders, and close valves to shutoff spraying fire or gas leaks. There is also a one time use mechanic of being able to kick open a door. Now the misuse of these mechanics come from the fact that this is a linear game with zero back tracking so if you have to lower a ladder you aren't unlocking a shortcut back, you are just momentarily inconvenienced by hitting a button literally next to the ladder you are going to climb. Every blocked path is unlocked within feet of the block adding nothing to the gameplay except making you press X or hold right trigger and then tilt the left stick.

I've seen a handful of complaints about all of these things but the vast majority of people seem to not have any of these issues, which truly surprises me.

Not very far yet but I've been playing this on steam deck a little bit at a time. The game really hits all those farm/life sim elements that you expect with a few twists. I also really love the art and music which makes it easy to play.

A huge bonus is the dev has been responsive and even implemented a few steam deck specific fixes despite the game not being officially supported on it yet. the default control scheme suggested by steam work really well it almost feels like a native port. A few minor UI issues are still present but nothing game breaking since the updates.

This is a game I can see myself booting before bed each night to accomplish a few tasks and unwind. Really looking forward to playing more and to see what else comes.

One of my all time favorite puzzle games. Everything from the writing to the puzzle design is sublime. I have played through this game at least 4 times now and still enjoy it the same as day one. The original Portal is great but it's not often you find a sequel like Portal 2 that manages to improve upon every idea present in its predacessor.

If you haven't played either start with Portal if at all possible, but if you can only get one Portal 2 is the one to get.