Making Art || Catastropieces (PC)

“Art doesn’t have to be pretty. It has to be meaningful.” -Duane Hanson

Such a pretty and colorful title screen

Catastropieces is a point and click puzzle game created by Maria Ferreri and many others, in which you use Rube Goldberg contraptions to create art. I fell in love with the concept, and the creativity behind it, so I could wait to give it a try. Without further ado, let’s give it a try!

The style of the game is very nice, it looks smooth and the colors are nice. The game ran at a bit of a low frame rate on my computer, but it wasn’t terrible. I had a bigger issue with the controls are certain times. It was difficult to place objects where I wanted to go. Some surfaces wouldn’t register where I tried to place things. I also wished that you were able to place object diagonally, for example, laying a canvas from the top of a box to the floor so I could roll objects down it. It would have made it better for me.

This one you have to paint the car!

There were also times when I would try to rotate an object, but my camera would move instead, which was a little frustrating. There’s a random element to how the objects will move when acted upon with force, so it can be difficult to predict how certain parts of your contraption will work. I completed one level by repeatedly running the same contraption until a fruit rolled the way I wanted it to. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m not skilled in creating Rube Goldberg machines, and that likely playing into my terrible skill at this particular game. I still love the concept, and I think with some updates and minor fixes it could be great. If a person enjoys creating these types of contraption (instead of just watching them, like me), they may find more enjoyment in the game. Give the game a try for yourself, you can download it free from Itch.io *here*. Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

Who are You Really? || Thirteen & Half Cats (PC)

“Curiosity killed the cat, but where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance.” –Harry Lorayne

The style is so peaceful and serene. 

Thirteen & Half Cats is a short game created by Torri ( Nekomatata ). You play as a character who has been cursed and  must collect 13 cats to cure yourself. You learn some spells along the way to help you and find yourself in the end.

This game is short and sweet, but I really enjoyed it. The artwork and aesthetic are simple, the color scheme is soft and welcoming. It was fun to find the cats hiding in different areas and using the spells to find them. Although I saw the ending twist coming, I still enjoyed the experience.

All of the cats are so cute! Can I take one home?

The music is very well done as well. Paired with the soft aesthetics of the game, it felt very relaxing. The story is sweet, and I appreciate the thought and care that went into crafting the experience. I recommend giving the game a play for yourself! You can download the game free from Itch.io *here*.

Be sure to let the developers know what you thought and leave a comment below to let me know as well! Did you see the ending coming?

Thank you, as always. Until next time, friends!

Bellannmae

I want to go to an Onsen! || One Night, Hot Springs (PC)

"We need to say, with one voice, that transgender people are valued, they are loved, they are us, they deserve to be treated fairly and equally."

Looks so inviting~

One Night, Hot Springs is an adorable visual novel-esque game created by npckc for the trans girl jam. You play as Haru, a young transgender woman who goes to the hot springs with her best friend, Manami. The trip is to celebrate Manami’s birthday, so she wants to take her two best friends to enjoy a night at the springs. The thought makes Haru uncomfortable… so what can she do?

I really enjoyed the way this little game played out with Haru. She’s such a sweetheart, and the issues presented are presented in a sincere and sweet fashion. It was interesting to hear talk in the game about how transmen and transwomen live in Japan, and the situations they must face—such as having to use legal names and gender despite being trans.

The characters are downright adorable

 The art style is simple, soft and cute. The characters are all adorable and well represented, I think. The music is beautiful, and the game has an overall serene feel to it. There are decisions to make and multiple endings. I ended up with the good ending for Erika, so I made a new friend.

Overall, I really enjoyed this little game. I definitely feel that the trans community needs more representation in the video game community. I believe that understanding the LGBTQ community will help remove the fear that some people hold against them, and help children learn that it’s normal and acceptable.

We can only hope, Haru.

I hope to see more games like this in the future. You can download the game to play for yourself free from Itch.io *here*. Let me know what you thought down below! What ending did you get? Did you learn something new?

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

Finding Closure || Midnight Train to Nowhere (PC)

"You are strong enough to face this, even if it doesn't feel like it right now." --Unknown

Title Screen

Midnight Train to Nowhere is a short, but sweet, rpg style game created by mannytsu. A long time ago now, I reviewed another one of mannytsu's games called Imaginary Friends. In Midnight Train to Nowhere, you play as George, and you board the midnight train to find closure in your life, regarding your friend leaving. You’ll get to meet other characters and friends, and try to help them as you try to help yourself. Its seems that all of the characters aboard the train are working through their own issues, and until they work through them, they’re stuck on the train.

The characters are cute, and I love the hand drawn style of artwork. The animations are well done, the colors are smooth, and it’s like watching a cartoon play out. The music is also amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love the variety of characters

I enjoyed the messages that were portrayed throughout the train as well. Particularly Maria, who is on the ceiling is what looks like a depressive episode. Even if you get the step stool to try to reach her, you cannot. So, Aaron says that he’ll continue to stay and support her, until she feels better. I feel that’s really sweet. As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, it hit home with me.

Over all, the art is cute, the music is beautiful, and the message is meaningful. This game is certainly worth the 10 minutes that it takes to play, and it’s free on Itch.io *here*. The game is up for votes in the Indie Game Maker Contest 2017 also, so if you like it, you can also show support by voting for it *here*.

Thank you all, as always, for stopping in. I hope you’ll give this game a shot. Be sure to leave your feedback and encouragement for the developer, and until next time…  Happy gaming, Jammers!

Bell

The Perfect Monster || Dr. Frank's Build-A-Boyfriend (PC)

"There is love in me the likes of which you've never seen. There is rage in me the likes of which should never escape. If I am not satisfied int he one, I will indulge the other.” -Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein

Title

Way back in January of this year, I talked about a demo I played for Dr. Frank’s Build-A-Boyfriend by Heiden. It was short, but I really liked the idea and was looking forward to playing to full game. Well buckle your seatbelts, cause it’s here and I finally carved out some time in my schedule to sit down and play it.

I found this game to be hilarious. Dr. Frank’s over dramatics, and the boyfriends unfailing innocence are charming. The sprite art and the environments are nice, and the puzzles are a perfect difficulty. There is a secret ending, which I think I know how to get but I haven’t tested it just yet. So, you can have fun trying to find that on your own.

That jerk!

Essentially, you play as Dr. Frank, who, after having his heart broken and his research stolen, is looking for revenge. And what better way to get revenge on a past lover, than to show them up with a new, and better, lover at your side? So, Dr. Frank is collecting… body parts to build himself a new boyfriend. But only the best body parts will do… right?

The game is a bit short, and I felt like there was more that could (or should) have been done with the boyfriend. It would have been nice to have even some smaller events to just fill the game out a little more. This isn’t something that really takes away from the enjoyment of the game, more of just a personal feeling.

Uh oh!

The music for the game is really nice, although sometimes the music would change suddenly and I wouldn’t know why, particularly while I was searching the house for clothes. The SFX were pretty well done also.

Without a doubt my favorite part of the game is building the boyfriend. The options are simply comical, and I had a good laugh while creating my boyfriend 3 separate times. My only issue is that the hair styles sometimes don’t quite look like they’re pictured in the builder, and I with the look of the boyfriend would change a little more drastically to really show. But, the pepperoni nipples were the real star.

Build that boyfriend!

If you enjoy a nice comical romance, I would certainly recommend giving Dr. Frank some of your time.  You can find the game free to download on Itch.io *here* Please be sure to leave your feedback for the developer, and happy gaming. Until next time, Jammers!

Bell

Norse Adventure || Finding Idun (PC)

Starry Night

Finding Idun is a cute adventure game created by Chris Macey where you play as Loki and you are on a journey to Jotunheimr to rescue Idun. When the great giant Thjazi tricked Loki into promising to bring her to him, Loki had no choice but to comply. Loki led Idun (the goddess who possessed magic apples of youth, the same apples that kept the gods young) out to the woods, Thjazi swept down in eagle form and took Idun away to his home in Jötunheimr (per the Itch.io page). You’ll be platforming, solving puzzles and meeting new people.

You have to read the Itch.io page to get the story information, as the game doesn’t tell you any of this. All I knew from starting the game was that I was going to rescue Idun. It was fine for just going to play the game, but I’m a gal that likes backstory so it might have been nice to even just have a little description at the beginning of the game.

I love this place

I like the dark, backlit graphics which is reminiscent of games like Limbo with the glowing eyes. The music is nice, and there’s enough of a variety in the different areas that I didn’t get tired of it. The controls, however, can be more difficult to deal with. I have fallen off many a ledge because the moving and jumping mechanics don’t always want to work together. 

I’m a big fan of Norse Mythology, and mythology in general, so that’s what drew me to this game in the first place. There is also a phone app that can be used to unlock more story. There are 4-digit pins in the game that you can find to do this. I think it’s interesting to tie a game you play on a PC to an app like that.

Overall, I like the game. It could use some polishing and minor mechanic fixes, but it’s still worth a play. You can download and play Finding Idun free from Itch.io *here*.