Recent reviews by The8BitMike

Do not buy this game. No, seriously, I know it looks cool with its gorey, retro pixelart aesthetic, and it's Oregon Trail homages, but this game simply is not winnable. It tricks you right out of the gate with talent picks that make it seem like you have some choice in victory, but the RNG will simply deviate around your picks to ensure your survivors die quickly and often. Parts of this game are likewise downright broken, make zero sense, or add nothing to the game whatsoever, an the price tag attached is absurd. This is, at best an $11 title, and that's if everything worked as intended, but it doesn't and given there is somehow already a sequel available, it's unlikely this will ever be addressed. I streamed this for over an hour and if you'd like to see the result of that fruitless endeavor, I invite you to watch here; https://www.twitch.tv/videos/955933818

I haven't touched this game since I beat it. Over a year ago. And it still haunts me. That is insane.

This game will stick with you, with its brutal, unforgiving tone, it's bleak world, and it's memorable and flawed as hell characters. The main character specifically is one of the most brutally real protagonists I've seen in a very long time specifically because he is so flawed, and I love that. The world of Lisa is a harsh place, and while alot of games with similair mindsets try to push that across with a very "kill or be killed" mindset, this one gets that across just through Brad alone. He's not a hero struggling to do what's right, or fighting evil because it will help, he just wants to hold onto some semblance of peace he thought he had as it slips away, and hang the consequences. The amount of crap that gets thrown at him in this game is just unreal and yet he pushes on because there really is nothing else left for him. It's this, or fade into obscurity and die. You're forced with choice after choice, decisions that could grant you aid, a helping hand, damn you entirely or cost someone their life and all of it just sticks to you. And it hurts. And it's amazing.

And you should play it.

The first time I played this game, I hated it for what it wasn't. It wasn't Dark Souls, or at least it wasn't Dark Souls 1. So I left it there, trashed it in conversation when it came up, went on to Bloodborne and DS3 and didn't look back.

But then I did look back. I gave it another shot with an open mind and stopped trying to compare it to the others and take it as its own thing, and that helped. It also helped that the game shows its hand very early on, and that hand has exactly one card in it; the screw you card. This game is trap heavy. This game is mob heavy. This game is aggrivate and annoy the player whenever possible heavy. And it works. Somehow, and somehow, all the BS I hated the first time around failed to keep me from enjoying myself. It's not as good as the others in the series, but it doesn't have to be because it's doing its own thing and honestly doing it quite well. In all the other games I NEVER had as much fun with a covenant as I did serving the Rat King (#Ratlyfe) and the fact that the game itself is so slated against the player with traps and mobs is precisely why that covenant works at all. That's merely one example but it's perhaps my personal best example of the fun I could have in this game that the others could not provide me.

I think it says alot about this game that I return to it every few months to start entirely from scratch only to build up an array of good units, make decent progress and amass a small fortune only to lose it all in one horrible mishap, quit in frustration and walk away.

And then do it all again. Never change you monstrous abomination.

This is one of those games you need to experience. Not to play because it's good (But it is) not to laugh at because it's funny (But it is) and not to compare it to others in the series (It's apparently quite different)

First and foremost the game is smartly written. Every dialogue has a good chance of invoking a chuckle, and there's enough flexibility and risk/reward in the snarky/sincere system that the replay value is pretty strong as well. Rewards can be added to, detracted from, or outright lost entirely if you're snarky to the wrong person, but likewise can being too passive grate on someone to the point of them showing you the door. It's a really clever system that means you're never really going to know what happens next until you try it!

The combat is fine. It's manageable. It does it's job. It's by no means great (and you can honestly get through most of it spamming melee attack and blocking everytime you are blocked to avoid counter attacks) but theres a nice feeling of excitement whenever you find a new summon to try out and there's enough of them in the game to keep it varied. That says nothing of bow, flail, dual and two handed combat, so you have alot of options for yourself as well, but you can play pretty much any other adventure game for solo combat, your bardic spells should be focused on here.

As I said the writing is solid and on point, and the way the two main voice actors (Carey Elwes and the late great Tony Jay) play off each other is fantastic. I'm also pretty sure one of the Bobds played Griswald in Diablo 1 but I'll be damned if I can confirm that. But the voice acting overall is pretty solid, if a little silly with the thicker accents sometimes.

Alot of people have been complaining lately about a recent patched that butchered the controls, but I played before the patch as well as after and didn't have any large complaints. Controllers work now without external aid, though it takes a bit of finicky touches to get them set properly for the combat but overall I have no complaints.

Overall I'd say this is worth your time if you like your adventures funny. If you want something serious and grounded you won't find it here, but this game knows what it wants to be and does it in a way that doesn't come off as annoyingly self aware and obnoxious.

Maybe just wait for a sale. It's a bit pricey otherwise.

No doubt the phrase "Paper Mario Clone" has been tossed around in spades already, but it really is an accurate summary to say that if you like those games (That is, Paper Mario and it's sequel, the Thousand Year Door) You will find enjoyment with Bug Fables as well. It has all the style of those games but, more importantly, it has the same kind of love and soul that went into making them as memorable and enjoyable as they were. I'm only working my way through the second chapter but already I want to know whats going to happen next, what snarky quip will come, what monster I'll face - All of it! It's truly worth the money I spent to play it, and I'm going to be sure to see it through until the end.

I only found out about this one a few days before its release - And I'm glad I did because the moment I saw the trailer it's all I could think about until I got to play it. The game most certainly lives up to the hype I felt, and it continues to impress from the moment it boots up (Seriously just linger on the start menu and listen to the sounds; it builds the atmosphere SO WELL)

The gameplay is solid, and it's very easy to pickup and learn, but something I would advise anyone is taking a quick peek into the key bindings menu and changing a few things, as the game - By default - Is set to the WASD setup with spacebar to attack (Not a mouse/keyboard hybrid like you may think) and playing the entire thing one handed just feels wonky and off. Once I changed it, however, it was a blast to play.

The graphics and sounds are amazing, taking full advantage of the pixel art to drag you deep into an elder god-led world. Theres no shortage of immersion as the game never shys away from the elements of gore, sacrifice and fanaticism that the Cthulhu mythos is so known for. You actually want to spend time trying out every single unit type just to see what they look like, how they fight, and how they die and the music is entrenched with a deep orchestrahl score for the cutscenes.

Theres a ton of replay value here as well, as between many levels you're given branching paths with no way to return and check out the other side, meaning entire areas as well as boss fights are left to explore even after your first playthrough (When I finished the game I recalled an earlier cutscene showing some of the enemies I'd eventually have to face and realized I missed about HALF of them!) There are also arenas to unlock as you progress - Sort of like endurance runs to see how far you get - Which also count towards your overall progress of unlocking more Apostates (Your effigy in game that determines your bonuses or unit preferences) and achievements, if you care about that sort of thing.

All in all this game was amazing. Definitely worth your money!

I had an absolutely BLAST playing this! I remember seeing it on greenlight ages ago, and then it just kinda faded but I'm super happy I stumbled onto it again today and finally got to play it. Definitely recommending it to anyone with a flavor towards these kind of boss-rush styled games <3

This game is an absolute freaking gem - I had a blast from beginning right up until the very end. It's Metroidvania in style, with an emphasis on exploration and boss fights to secure different powerups/abilities to make new paths and find more bosses and man, does the atmosphere ever run you through the wringer. Seriously pick this up if you're a fan of exploration and combat games, or hell if you just have an unrivalled passion for killing aquatic life - You'll love it.

Everything was going swell until Richar-chan went full anime.

NEVER GO FULL ANIME.

10/10 would waifu again.