Joe Richards
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Steam Deck HQ Latest Reviews
While I would have liked to see a bit more done to update these games for modern platforms beyond just a bump to resolution, Patapon 1+2 are still landmark titles that deserve a look from anyone who has an appreciation for PlayStation's back catalogue. This is the definitive way to experience two core PSP games.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a triumph in what it sets out to achieve. This isn't a game interested in converting willing consumers into fans, it's a game that takes bold steps in order to succeed what came before it. If you needed proof that Hideo Kojima is still the titan of the industry that he's hailed as, this game is that proof. I was left truly speechless by the end, and I have a feeling that many others will too.
to a T has one of the most earnest cores of any game that I think I've ever played. It's positive, it's cozy and does a damn good job in trying to situate us in the position of a disabled person without revelling in the misery of its own characters. At the same time, I feel like to a T maybe goes a bit too far into the weird and whacky to be a truly grounded exploration of the subject matter. Which is sad, because I really did enjoy myself for the most part.
What’s here is ambitious, and it’s written very well. I just wish the game was a bit confident in letting its quiet parts really breathe. In the fine details, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shines. In an ironic twist of fate - and maybe in an intentional confrontation of its themes - it was these fine details that I wanted to enjoy the most. The disruption to these details throughout the main story feels intrusive, and I sit here thinking, “Was that the point”?
Taking the game as a whole, it’s hard not to be massively impressed by what Pipistrello manages to do with the toolkit it gives itself. Every piece works together to make for a distinctive adventure game that will grab you from the very first minute and refuse to let go. While I might take some convincing on the “Yoyovania” as a genre, it’s clear that there’s an unparalleled creative vision here that should be admired.
This collection of fighting games sits comfortably with Capcom's other compilations as a similarly high quality collection of some truly classic games that were previously stuck on old hardware. For some of these games, it might be the beginning of a new era for their compeititve scene. For others, the mere fact they're here is enough as a curio. Immaculate emulation and slick new features make this the definitive way to play with friends and share the experience.
Little Kitty, Big City is a great little adventure that had me grinning from start to finish. It harnesses the inherent charm that cats have and brings that to an experience that can be enjoyed by almost every type of player looking for a relaxed experience. Exploration and fun are at the core of what Little Kitty, Big City sets out to do and some clunky platforming controls are the only obstacles to total triumph. For now, this is the most "cat" game that you can possibly buy.
As a photography simulator, Lushfoil Photography Sim shines when it allows itself to. A brilliant atmospheric decompressor is lost under the weight of mechanics that I really don't think needed to be there. This feels like a bizarre moment where I want it to be less of a "game" and lean into itself as an experience. Still, it's well worth a peek if you enjoy wandering some silent roads and seeing the sights on your own time.
Lost Records is a visually gorgeous game and proves that the team who pioneered Life is Strange still have the aesthetic nailed down. Unfortunately this and some smart adaptations of mechanics do little to hide a story that tries in vain to recapture the same energy, managing to totally lose itself by the end. I can see what they were going for here, but that vision is lost in a game that doesn't know what it wants to commit to. A deeply personal story is subsumed by what feels like an obligation to the supernatural. A story about the supernatural is lost in a story about the personal. Neither is done justice and both feel like they deserved more.
For what Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sets out to do, I think it succeeds in every aspect. This is a game made with adoration and love for the legacy of Indiana Jones; for anyone that has a history with Indy, this is essential. If you can look past some rough edges, there's a diamond in the rough.