Recent reviews by Castledoque

Alum features clever, varied and well-integrated puzzles, stylish retro graphics and atmospheric music, but is marred by persistent Christian preaching. In the hands of more proficient writers, this tale could have been a beautiful Christian allegory. However, as things stand, Alum drops the ball story-wise with unsubtle symbolism and one-dimensional characters. Puzzles are still a joy though...

Full review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/alum-3

A superb sci-fi tale, brilliantly written, with engaging gameplay and ingenious puzzles of ever-increasing difficulty. Throughout the beautiful world of The Talos Principle, you will come across terminals with quotes by major writers and philosophers, simple yet in no way simplistic thoughts by everyday people, even seemingly meaningless discussions in chat rooms that suddenly reveal unexpected depth: the sum of all human knowledge and experience, that we must not allow to perish. The Talos Principle is not only a sophisticated puzzle game, but also a deeply humane and elegant work of art, that dares to tackle complex subjects, without ever forgetting the primary objective of any game : to be, first and foremost, fun. A masterpiece!

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/talos-principle-the-2

The third installment of the tale of Rufus and Goal brings to its final conclusion a story about the survival of the fittest at the expense of the weak, the personal drama of an anti - hero who tries to make amends for his mistakes though he never learns from them, and a vortex of explosions, disasters and failed stratagems that began with the first game in the series. Although it falls somewhat short compared to the superb Deponia (1) and despite some flaws in its execution, this 18-hour long game that features a solid allegorical background and great puzzles is anything but a failure.

Despite a moderate overall difficulty in terms of puzzles and an unfortunate drop in the level of difficulty in chapters 2 and 3, The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 retains all the charm that was present in the first game of the series, while at the same time it manages to deviate sufficiently from the tried formula and to remain fresh. It tells a touching and bittersweet tale that combines elements of an epic drama and a gentle satire and it provides us with almost 30 hours of escapism and fun in a world of magic, heroism and puzzles. What else could we wish for?

Full Review: http://www.adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/the-book-of-unwritten-tales-2

Despite a few minor shortcomings, Primordia is a true gem, a deceptively simple cyber-punk thriller that gradually blossoms into a dystopian epic adventure with rich lore that dares to pose profound philosophical questions. In merely 8-9 hours, the player follows Horatio and Crispin in an unforgettable journey of thought and emotion, which combines the unfolding of a gripping tale with clever puzzles and addictive old-school adventure game gameplay.

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/primordia

Games like Stacking prove that creating games can indeed be an art form. It is a magical journey into a beautiful fairytale world subtly reminiscent of silent movies, a modern adventure game with fresh and alternative gameplay mechanics and at the same time a true work of art. Technically brilliant, great fun and a true artistic creation!

Full review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/stacking-2

Despite the somewhat lackluster retro graphics, Resonance is a real gem. It features a superb storyline with a shocking twist, first-rate puzzles and groundbreaking gameplay mechanics (multiple characters, separate inventories of thoughts and items). A refreshing and superb reinvention of the classic adventure game!

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/resonance-2

The Night of the Rabbit is a beautiful fairytale set in a world of innocence, magic and excitement. It features a relatively open world, the puzzles are difficult yet logical and there are lots of optional activities. Not just a game, but a whole alternate universe!

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/the-♥♥♥

Despite a somewhat confining linearity, Memoria is another triumph for Daedalic. It features an expertly-told poignant and complex storyline with a powerful and unexpected twist, interesting philosophical connotations, elegant visuals and excellent puzzles.

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/memoria

The Book of Unwritten Tales is a nostalgic yet modern game that simultaneously satirizes and embraces the clichés of classic adventure and RPG games and the tropes of epic fantasy sagas. Fun, beautiful to look at, with likeable characters and an engaging story, it features clever, albeit relatively easy, puzzles and constitutes a quality benchmark for traditional adventure games. Highly recommended!

Full Review: http://adventureadvocate.gr/gamereviews/item/book