Recent reviews by ellis dex

this review is hard to write, because i barely have words to describe what norco is and how it feels. this is one of those games that absolutely destroys the concept of games not being art. it's a game that reveres its influences and setting, but not by putting them on a pedestal - it displays all the gritty glory, the dark and the light, all at once, and manages to be faithful and cohesive. it's a game that is both distant and personal - weird and unfamiliar, but in a way that draws you in, makes you feel at home, even while you're surrounded by things that make no sense to you. it is truly a masterpiece and i can't recommend it enough to people who like to really feel things when they play games.

the sweetest game i've ever played. genuinely makes me cry and i have to stop reading to take a breath sometimes because it's so cute. wholesome, adorable, the perfect game for a hopeless romantic. thank you gb patch!!!

Super interesting dialogue/choice mechanic that's incredibly unique and also hard to grasp, which I mean in a good way. The whole game felt like the perfect amount of 'oh yeah I can do something!' and 'oh my god I can't do anything at all'. I love interpreting the constellations and having them mean entirely different things to everyone; a really cool experience if you're into branching narratives and player agency. Heartbreaking and hopeful at once, with beautiful and creepy atmosphere, clever world and character building, and it also actually made me cry, so! <3

Is there anything more we need from life than to be a frog detective solving mysteries on an island? No. No, there isn't.

This game is adorable, and sweet, and is just a lovely experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something short and fun.

This game is so beautifully crafted. I felt like I was in a world made of poetry while playing it. All the issues it deals with, especially in the sun, river and flower routes, I think, are poignant ones, insecurities that we may have and not even have noticed or thought about, but just accepted. We go through the same explorations that Delphine does. Though some of the game feels quite pessimistic, if you play through all the routes, you can find endings that speak to the strength of the human spirit, the importance of honesty in intimacy, and what it means to find oneself. I would highly recommend this, but do be careful about the trigger warnings.

It seems a little basic at first - a very standard 8-bit. However, it's got a unique battle system and can draw you in very quickly with the interesting storyline and relatable characters. It's honestly one of my favourite games to daate. Plus, all the different endings is really genius, and, although I was going for the Pacifist (and got totally, totally freaked out by the ending), the way it remembers the other endings is awesome. Overall, I'd give it a huge recommendation to anyone looking for a new, interesting game.