Recent reviews by Dash Retro

One of the best rhythm games better than ever on PC!

Phenomenal game that will be talked about for years.

Standout features:
- Parry/Dodge system for action/turn-based hybrid combat
- Characters that play very different from each other
- Incredible soundtrack that's also big and versatile
- Extremely unique and interesting premise
- A story that actually goes somewhere very cool with the premise
- A solid theme and message that is reinforced by the plot and gameplay
- A story that is delivered in a way that respects the player's ability to reason and infer
- Several times the quality of most AAA games at a fraction of the price

The story and soundtrack make this a must-play for folks who want good writing. As outlined above, it is an interesting premise that, when expanded upon, totally sticks the landing.

The turn-based combat will be divisive for many. Some will say the Parry/Dodge system make this the only turn-based game they like. Some will say the system trivializes Health and Defense and forces you into a glass cannon build like every Dark Souls nerd. Personally, I think the system is extremely fun and fresh, but I wouldn't want every other turn-based game to start copying it. I would recommend everyone try it.

Besides talking strictly about the game itself, Exp33 is also a significant success story in the modern video game landscape. A brand-new indie studio delivered their first game. As an indie studio, they were able to take risks: making a unique premise in a complex world that doesn't over-explain itself to the player and rather leaves them mostly in the dark trying to assemble the pieces for much of the game. It's in a niche genre, but they took the risk of adding action elements which may have made it even more niche if it didn't successfully capture the interest of those outside the usual audience. They took risks in sourcing real talent outside the game industry for writing and music which also paid off. All of these risks were handled in the exact right way to make a game that shareholders in a board room could never sign off on, and instead, we got a true piece of art. I got choked up during the credits not just because of the story's closure, but because of the huge success for Sandfall Interactive and how much it has clearly resonated with gamers everywhere. This isn't just a 10/10 game, it's one that shows all the big publishers out there what we really want.

2024 GOTY and it's not even close. I haven't even started half the games yet.

Excellent sequel that really shows the advancement of the studio. Better visuals, soundtrack, gameplay, enemy designs, etc than the first. Easy recommendation.

FromSoft has once again set a new bar for action RPGs

One of the best games of all time, and this Steam version is very VERY good. It has enough options to play either vanilla or enhanced without overloading with way too many options like some source ports do.

I think this game has a particularly slow and unremarkable start, but the last few areas and bosses are very well-designed, very fun, and the atmosphere is incredible. If you are a fan of the genre and don't mind the slow start, the ending and some of the secrets are worth it. If you tend to drop games quickly, probably not.

Delightful game. Great style and gameplay, soothing soundtrack, and outstanding level design. There are also many secrets off the beaten path to award curious players. This is one of those games where I started a second playthrough immediately upon 100%ing my first file.

This is possibly my game of the year for 2021. If you like tank controls, fixed camera angles, great puzzles, and impeccable level design, this is a must-play. I do wish there were more options for rebinding controls, however.

One of the best platformers out there. Incredibly fun and fluid controls, great character design, fun writing, and excellent level design and secrets! This is also one of the most visually appealing games I've ever seen.