Recent reviews by ponett

Shout out to Derek Yu for recommending this on Bluesky, I never would've known it existed otherwise.

A pretty perfectly executed throwback to early '80s arcade games. The core of the gameplay is simple: run from one side of the screen to the other and dodge the raindrops. But there are enough little intricacies and risk/reward elements to discover to make it interesting. After a while you'll also unlock a customizable mode that lets you mix and match additional obstacles to make the game easier or harder, as well as two other rule variants. Really fun little game to launch on a whim and play for a few minutes.

I bought this because I love the soundtrack, even though I don't consider myself much of a shmup or bullet hell fan, but I still ended up really loving this game. There's just something about it. It’s straightforward but very flashy, with the camera dynamically zooming around from setpiece to setpiece at ridiculous speeds and each level segueing directly into the next. The lack of a powerup system on the main mode, instead giving you the ability to swap shot types at will, makes it feel really approachable. I did multiple playthroughs of it just because I was having so much fun with it.

Very clever little one button platformer that's really more of a puzzle game built around understanding the unconventional rules of your movement, the first of which is extremely aggressive fall damage that requires you to jump carefully. This could be considered a Metroidvania, though you never really gain any new abilities. Instead, the game keeps revealing new things you didn't realize you could always do, which in turn makes you look at the areas you've already been through in a new light. If I have one complaint, it's just the lack of checkpoints in one specific tricky area near the end, but the game is so short that it's not a huge issue.

i wasn't quite sure what to expect but grow home is definitely one of the most fun 3d platformers i've played in a while. not that a lot of 3d platformers come out these days, but anyway

you play as a wobbly robot named BUD whose goal is to grow a giant beanstalk up into space. as it grows towards the top of the game's one large map it passes through several sets of floating islands which make up the different areas of the game. in order to get to the credits all you have to do is connect the beanstalk to all of the nutrient-rich glowing green islands to help it grow, but searching for the 100 crystals scattered throughout the game world will grant you several incredibly useful (and borderline necessary) upgrades including a jetpack and the ability to zoom out the camera. there's also an optional sidequest that requires you to scan one of (almost) every plant and animal in the game using the teleporters strewn throughout the map

BUD starts out with only the ability to jump, grab, and climb, but you'll quickly find items that let you glide, and on the way up you'll find bouncy leaves to help you ascend and teleporters for fast travel. the grabbing and climbing saved me from falling more times than i can count, which easily makes up for how slow climbing can be at the beginning of the game without the jetpack. there's no combat, but there are a handful obstacles that can (and likely will) kill you, sending you back to your last teleporter. every hour or so the game starts to feel totally different, whether you've discovered a new means of getting around or you've just decided to tackle a different objective, so even with such a simple set of moves and objectives the game never gets stale

the graphics go for a simplistic low poly art style with emphasis on lighting and color choice. i'd say it paid off--this game is consistently gorgeous to look at. similarly, the music is most often replaced with soft ambient noise and the cute beeps and grunts BUD makes. the upgrade crystals also create a soft twinkling sound effect when nearby, which is a huge help if you're trying to find all of them

if you're worried about uplay: don't be. grow home doesn't use uplay. it also has very few glitches and it ran well on my three-year-old machine. the game also recommends you play with a controller, but i had no trouble at all playing with a mouse and keyboard. the only real complaint i have is that bud sometimes drops things you're trying to carry just because of the physics, but it was never a huge hassle

overall it took me 6.5 hours to find every item, and it took maybe 4 or 5 to get to the credits. i'd say it was worth the money for sure, and i'll likely play it again someday. if you enjoy 3d platformers with lots of collectibles and you don't mind the lack of combat then you'll probably enjoy grow home

do not play with anthony field he picks meepo

gone home made me cry

if you like hard platformers and/or electronic music and/or ♥♥♥ then this is the game for you

bad rats is the citizen kane of video games

this comparison gets thrown around a lot but basically starbound is terraria if terraria was actually good. it has a wonderful science fantasy theme, the atmosphere is great, and exploring space and building and fighting your way through a ton of different planets is really fun

this game ruined my life