I just wanna fly! || Cloudtrail Island (PC)

"Once you have tasted the taste of sky, you will forever look up." --Leonardo Da Vinci

Title Screen

Cloudtrail Island is a relaxing game of exploration created by a small team of people known as Wing It Games. You play as Wendy, a young lady who, it seems, is moving to Cloudtrail Island from Obscondia. The world of Cloudtrail is a world of disconnected floating islands that require some form of flight to travel between them. Wendy does this using a glider, and there are also these large almost blimp like airships that travel between the islands.

I really love the concept of this game, the disconnected sky islands, with the air travel and a view of endless blue skies. When I was younger, I played a game called Skies of Arcadia that filled me with such a sense of wonder. It had a similar concept, you had an airship and you traveled between floating islands that were different towns and cultural representations. There was a lot more to it, but the idea of living in the skies is similar.

Ah, the age old fetch quests! Bring it on!

The controls for this game are not stellar. The movements feel floaty, you get caught on the terrain when walking sometimes (especially bridges) and Wendy will jump into the hair when she hits a bump. To use the glider, you hit space twice, but in the platforming sections Wendy would whip out her glider when I was just trying to jump, which caused issues and got a little frustrating. The gliding was considerably smoother and I had fewer issues. 

The graphics style of the game is really cute and the music is nice as well. I didn’t seem to run into a lot of characters, but it might have been a result of the day/night cycle and I just wasn’t getting there at the right time to see them. The characters that I ran into seemed charming, if a bit generic. Also, I wish there was a house for me. I kept trying to go into houses but couldn’t find one that I could enter. I feel like the game was trying to go for a relaxing Animal Crossing vibe, but I felt like it needed more to get there, and a house would have added to that.

There is a large variety of items to collect in the game, and you would use them for fetch quests I imagine. There was a shop set up on the main islands, and he said he was a shop but I didn't get any options to buy or sell so it seemed pointless.

Flying is admittedly fun, though.

Overall, there is a decent amount of space to explore, the graphics are cute, and it is fun to soar around through the air. I love the idea of this game, and I feel like with some extra work and tweaking to the design and execution, it could really be a fantastic game to spend time in. As it is right now, it’s still worth a play to experience soaring through the air and to have a relaxing jaunt around the islands. You can download the game for free from Itch.io HERE.

There was a surprising lack of fencing for living so high in the air. I would be concerned about losing my children or pets off of the edge. Do you think you would enjoy living in the sky on a floating island? Would you want to live in a community like the Cloudtrail Island, or off on your own little hunk of floating rock? Let me know what you think in the comments and I will see you all next time. Until then, friends, happy gaming!

I'm worried about this cow. Are they okay?

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

We must Bebuild || Bastion (PC)

I love the art style

Bastion is an action role-playing experience created by Supergiant Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Media. You play as a young man right after a calamity that shattered the world into pieces. He seeks the Bastion, which seems to be a safe haven in this game where you can rebuild and hopefully find other survivors.

There is a narrator that follows your every move and basically give you a commentary over your actions. It’s interesting, and it gives me the feeling of being told a story that you’re leading. The world feels big, if disconnected, and it’s beautifully crafted. The hand painted quality and aesthetic make me think of older games like Legend of Mana which had a similar quality.

The Islands are floating!

In terms of gameplay, you’re tasked with collecting cores in order to expand the bastion, and perhaps finding others who have survived the calamity. So far, I’ve found one other survivor (minus the narrator) and found 5 cores. You have a multitude of weapons and skills to use, which is nice since it allows you to find what works for you, and also helps keep the battle from getting stale. The battle does get repetitive, and also really difficult. When you get swarmed, you really get swarmed. Knowing which weapons will help you the most against particular enemies helps a lot.

After you find the other survivor, he brings with him an ancient pipe. If you use it, you get some information about our MC (main character) and how he came to end up as he is. I wasn’t anble to complete the whole “pipe dream” as of writing this, but I know he lost his mother and all of the money he was sending home to her, so he returned to “The Wall” (I keep thinking Game of Thrones when I hear that, perhaps they are similar?) and was there when the calamity occurred.

I'm the map, I'm the map

The story is interesting, and despite the repetitive battle, I think the game is overall well made. The music is beautiful and charming, which goes along with the world perfectly. This game may appeal more to completionist types who seek to collect all items, complete the challenges and don’t mind the grind. For me, while the game is beautiful, and the score is enjoyable, it’s not worth sinking hours upon hours into (and it may be my lack of skill in these sorts of games that contributes to this).

However, even if you’re like me, I think the 2-3 hours you can comfortably sink into the game worth it, if you buy it on sale. You can read more about it, or buy it on Steam *here*. Let me know what you think of it down 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'm Hanging On || Just, Bearly (PC)

“My heart was broken and my head just barely inhabitable.” –Anne Lamott

I love the style of the game. The drawings over irl backgrounds.

Just, Bearly is a collection of playable vignettes that revolve around feelings of awkwardness. Created by Daniel J Roberts, Just, Bearly encapsulates the feelings of unease and the challenge of stumbling your way through social situations. I’m not sure I ever related to something to closely.

The vignettes give a variety of short interactive parts—sort of like a Warioware game. You mash, drag, push, and pull your way through a variety of situations while trying to appear like a normal being. You come across another character who seems to help put your character at ease a little bit, which is nice.

I relate so much.

The only issue I had was that sometime when the vignettes were loading, I ended up with lag that interfered with me performing the requested tasks. While it was a bit frustrating, it didn’t ruin my overall experience. Other than the lag on a few select vignettes, the rest of the game ran smoothly.

I appreciate the almost sketch book quality of the character art. The backgrounds often seem to be images of real life places, which is interesting to me. Having the drawn characters on the still images helps to make a connection to real life (in my eyes anyway).

In any case, I highly recommend giving this game a try, particularly if you’re a wreck like me and like to play games you can relate to. It’s free to download from Itch.io *here*. The game is also available for download on Steam *here*. Did you succeed in pretending to be normal?

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

Los Locos! || Choreo - The Legend of Loco [DEMO] (PC)

"Uno se hace el loco, pero sabe quien es quien?" --unknown

I love the logo

Legend of Loco is a demo created by MegaSloth. The game is set in a colorful world with Lovecraftian undertones. With inspiration from early Disney cartoons, Aztec and Mayan culture, as well as the Cthulu Mythos, the world is sure to be filled with adventure and danger.

The artwork and environments that MegaSloth are charming and they make me want to explore the world. There is an interesting concept where you collect followers who provide different instrumental tracks, that all combine into the game score. That’s something I don’t think I have ever seen before, so I appreciate the thought that went into it.

I'm not sure what... but something is about to go down.

The controls need a little work. The platforming feels a little floaty at times, and fighting isn’t all that interesting to me. There are different things in the world to collect—skulls, tacos, flowers that bloom… but I’m not sure what any of them are for. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure what my goal is as I play the game. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong. But when I play, I like to have a goal in mind.

I made a friend!

This game did have a kickstarter, but unfortunately it did not get fully funded. Despite that, I hope that MegaSloth is able to continue working on this game, and retry for funding in the future because I feel that this game could really be enjoyable. Please stop by the Itch.io page and download the demo for free to try it for yourself *here*.

Let me know what you thought in the comments below! Do you want to see a full game in the future?

 

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

So I'm gonna fly! || Mimi's Delivery Dash

“We need to find our own inspiration. Sometimes, it’s not easy.” –Ursula, Kiki’s Delivery Service

Even the title screen throw me back to the movie :)

Mimi’s Delivery Dash is a short game created by Caffinate for the Movie Game Jam 2018. The game was created in 10 days, which is impressive for the amount of polish this little game has. I may be a little biased since Kiki’s Delivery Service was the movie that introduced me to Studio Ghibli and holds a dear place in my heart. Kiki’s Delivery Service is also the movie that Caffinate based this game on.

In the movie, Kiki is a young witch who leaves home to begin her training. She uses her flying abilities to make deliveries for a bakery to get by, but one day she finds that she has lost her ability to fly. Kiki spends the rest of the movie trying to find her spirit within to regain the ability she lost.

Someone has a delivery to be made!

In the game you play as Mimi, and you are making deliveries on your broom. The controls are simple enough, and you have a select key and a boost key. I like the various references in the game from the movie also. The music and sound effects are all very pleasing, and the visuals are beautiful.

Overall, this game gave me a wonderful sense of nostalgia and made me very happy. I want to go watch Kiki’s Delivery Service now (which I also recommend)! There is only one level, but I definitely wanted more because I enjoyed it so much. You can download this little for yourself free from Itch.io *here*. Let me know what you thought down below! Have you seen the movie?

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

The gift of Myrrh...dur! Murder! || 1st Degree [DEMO] (PC)

“When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” –Mark Twain

I love the intensity

1^st Degree is a murder-mystery 18+ BL visual novel in the works by Parival. You play as Rei, a detective / copycat murderer, who is trying to catch / understand the methods of a killer that has been dubbed “The Doctor”. Outside of the whole murder thing, Rei is a typical smart ass, sarcastic protagonist that we all know and love. The game is still in demo mode, but it has me excited to see a full version.

You meet a large cast of characters in the demo, each with a unique personality. I love that this demo is fully voiced, since it really helps to bring something a bit more personal to the characters. All of the voices seem to fit the characters, but man… Aiden’s voice gives me shivers (in a good way). But in terms of looks, I think it’s a tie between Leo and Minami.

Good ol Rei

I like the story of the game. I’m always a fan of murder-mystery, and I think the twist of having the killer (or one of them) as the main character is interesting. I also wonder how his… extra-curricular activities will cause conflict later in the game. 

The artwork is very nice, and the designs for the characters are all lovely. I love the variety of expressions, as well as the well detailed backgrounds. The sound and music are well done as well.

One thing that I really appreciated with this demo was the use of a glossary. 1^st Degree uses a lot of different medical terms which can be confusing some someone who doesn’t have a lot of medical background. While I didn’t need to use the glossary, I think it’s a wonderful thing to include for players.

Everyone has to relax somehow

Overall, I’m very excited to see how this game develops. Rest assured I’ll be buying the full copy when it releases! If you’re interested, you can download the demo free from Itch.io *here*, and there are also links on the page to follow the game as it progresses. Let me know what you think down below!

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

I Had to Fold! || A Tale of Paper (PC)

“As long as we don’t die, this is gonna be one hell of a story.” –John Green

Our little paper friend looks like a KH Heartless

A Tale of Paper is a daring adventure created by OpenHouseGames. You play as an Origami figure trying to survive in an unknown world filled with water, murderous Roomba vacuums and spiders. Let’s jump right into talking about the game!

I enjoyed playing this game despite some issues I had—particularly with controls. As much as I love my little origami friend, I really struggled at times to get them to do what I wanted. Jumping was awkward, especially as a frog. It felt I needed for control over the distance I was trying to jump.

Found a... friend?

I like the variety of origami transformations you get, and the functionality of each. I love the environments (particularly the room with the planets) and the music is fitting. I really like the premise, and I feel the developers had a great idea with this game. Some parts of the game feel a little unpolished or awkward, but it doesn’t take away from the overall feeling.

I wasn’t able to finish this game, because I had issues with the controls. I wasn’t able to make it past the part where you’re running from a spider, Crash Bandicoot style. I kept getting stuck on things in the environment I shouldn’t have gotten stuck on or falling into the puddles of water because I couldn’t see them quick enough. After 15 minutes, I had to quit to save my sanity. I may try again another day, but for now I will appreciate what the game has given me thus far.

It was fun to hop around as a frog

I hope that OpenHouseGames continue to create interesting and unique games like this in the future. Be sure to download the game to try for yourself, free from Itch.io *here*. Let me know what you thought down below. Did you make it past the spider?

Thank you, as always. Until Next time,

Bellannmae

A Silent Story || A Raven Monologue (PC)

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” –Dr. Seuss

Starting off all alone

A Raven Monologue is a bit more of a story than it is a game, but I wanted to let people know about it anyway. A Raven Monologue was created by Mojiken Studio and is describes as an experimental silent story about a Raven who does not know how to croak, and his relationship with the townspeople.

What stands out most about A Raven Monologue is the artwork. The art is hand drawn and animated, which is something that I personally enjoy and appreciate. Clicking through the story has the feeling of reading a comic book. It’s a very relaxing and enjoyable experience.

We're off on an adventure

The music is phenomenal, and really compliments the game as you play. As for the meaning, I’ve seen a lot of different opinions on what the meaning of the story is, though the creators seem to have left it up for interpretation. It can mean what you need it to mean, I suppose. There is even a discord channel open for discussion on it, and you can find the link to that n the Itch.io page.

When I first played the game, my impression was related to materialism. During the first half of the story, the Raven seems to be collecting things from the people that he meets. When the Raven begins his journey back, he ends up alone. It made me think about how people are more important than things, that the Raven should have spent the time with the people rather than collecting the things.

A friend!

However, I was reading some comments and another thought occurred to me. Mojiken said in their description that the Raven didn’t know how to croak, and someone else pointed out that the things the Raven takes, with the exception of the pinwheel, are all taken from speech bubbles. Could it be that the Raven is actually taking their speech for his own? When I thought of the game like this, it changed the overall tone of it.

Those were my thoughts on it, but perhaps you can interpret it in a different way. Feel free to download the story for yourself, it’s free on Itch.io *here*. Let me know what you thought down below! Did you take something else away from the story that I didn’t?

Thank you, as always, and until next time,

Bellannmae

Free Itch.io Games #24

1. May I Take Your Order

Yummy...?

May I Take Your Order is a short visual novel created by AlexisRoyce. You play as a waiter/waitress catering to a couple who have some rather peculiar tastes. Be careful of your choices though, your life might depend on it! Survive the 3-course meal and hope that you get a big tip for all of this!

I rather enjoyed this short little experience. I played through it 3 times and got 3 different endings, including one where I rather unceremoniously was killed. The art is nice, and the music and sound effects are nice as well.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I look forward to what this developer makes in the future! Please download May I Take Your Order free from Itch.io *here*. Be sure to leave your feedback and encouragement for the developer, and let me know what you thought down below.

2. Healthy Breakfast

Align the glass shards to show the door!

Healthy Breakfast is a quirky little exploration game created by Boogie Knights and friends, about an elusive donut and pink flamingoes. Find your way through a bright, colorful, and sometimes surreal environment to find your way. Just follow the flamingo!

I really enjoyed this little adventure more than I expected to. The mechanics are interesting, and I left as though the environment was changing and shifting around me, which I thought was neat. Some doorways, for example, will only be visible through a mirror so you’ll have to maneuver your way to the door while keeping that mirror in your sight to locate the door. If you turn away, the door will be gone.

The music is interesting, though I was so focused on the visuals that I honestly didn’t pay that much attention. The ending was also a bit of a surprise! I really enjoyed this little game though, so I hope you’ll give it a try as well. You can download it free from Itch.io *here*. Be sure to leave your feedback for the developer and let me know what you thought below!

3. I’ll Take You to Tomato Town

Won't you take me to.... tomato town?

I’ll Take You to Tomato Town is a quirky shopping simulator created by adamgryu, along with friends.  You play as a character in a shopping mart, and your friends call and tell you what you need to buy. Seems easy enough, what could go wrong?

The colors are all bright and vibrant, including your Armstrong stretch arm. The sound effects are fun, and the calls from your friends are silly and fun to listen to. The game is rather short, but fun all the same. You can download this game free from Itch.io *here* and you too can go to Tomato Town!

4. Rose in Bloom

My Chihuahua loves to do this...

Rose in Bloom is a cute visual novel style game created by Lynnaira. You play as Rose, an artistic shut in who lives alone on a house on a hill (my dream). The choice you make through the game decide how the story goes.

One day, Rose is painting when she hears a knock on the door. It’s Jackie, a young lady who seems to have lost her dog. You can decide whether to help her or not. She seems nice enough, and a dog’s life is at stake here! I don’t want to spoil any of the story, so I won’t talk about what happens after.

The graphics and aesthetic of the game are very cute. Both Rose and Jackie are cute characters, and I also like their personalities. The music and sounds were quiet, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed the game over all. You can download Rose in Bloom for yourself free from Itch.io *here*

Be sure to leave your feedback for the developers, and let me know what you thought down below!

Thank you for stopping in, and until next time, Jammers, happy gaming!

Bell

Classic Whodunit || Rainswept[DEMO]

"It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense." -Mark Twain

Rainswept is a murder mystery adventure game in the works from Frostwood Interactive. You play as Michael Anderson, a detective sent to investigate an apparent murder suicide. The couple in question, Chris and Diane, have an unknown history, as they generally kept to themselves and didn’t really involve themselves in the community. The case seems pretty cut and dry… but is it?

Something seems off. There was only one gun shot reported being heard, but 3 bullets missing from the ammo box and the chamber of the gun used. Where are the other two? Michael will have to investigate the crime scene, question the locals of Pineview, and fine the truth of what happened.

Apart from trying to solve the mystery of what really happened, Michael is also facing some issues of his own. The demo doesn’t go into much detail, but it’s clear that Michael has a past of his own, and it’s haunting him. I’m curious to know what has hurt Michael so badly.

The art of Rainswept is beautiful and simplistic, the colors are pleasing to look at. The music is also very beautiful and nice to listen to. I’m really looking forward to seeing the game develop further. You can see more about the game, follow development, or add it to your wishlist on Steam *here* and you can also download the demo from Itch.io *here*.

As always, be sure to leave your thoughts and feedback on the demo for the developers, and let me know what you think down below. Are you looking forward to solving the mystery? Until next time, Happy Gaming!

Bell

Small Gesture, Big Impact || Tiny Echo (PC)

"Meraki (v.)  to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself in your work." 

Tiny Echo is an adorable exploration adventure style game created by Might and Delight. You play as Emi, an adorable character tasked with delivering messages to the spirits in the other realm. Emi has 13 messages, and a lot of ground to cover, so she better get a move on!

I was looking forward to getting this game, and it did not disappoint. The art style is what originally drew my interest, you know I love a game with hand drawn quality. Emi and the spirits all have their own unique appearances, and even the side characters and creatures of the world are quite cute. The music is wonderfully composed and fits well with the overall feeling of the game.

I just love the artistic style of this game.

The puzzles are a nice challenge, but not too difficult that it took me too long to figure anything out. I do wish Emi moved a little faster at times, but that may have just been me being impatient. I wish there was a little more use for the side characters, other than there just being an achievement for talking to them all. Maybe some integration into the puzzles, or something. That’s really the only criticism I have for the game though.

The story is simple, and a bit short (about an hour and a half of game play for me), but it was heartwarming, with a happy ending. I really enjoyed it, and I think you will too. You can buy the game on steam at full price for 7.99 *here*. Or add it to your wish list and wait for a sale (like I did!) and get it for 5.99. Either way, I hope you’ll enjoy it as I did!

Stay safe, until I see you next time, Jammers! Happy Gaming.

Bell

Free Itch.io Games #23

1. Chasing Birds

See Doggo Run

Chasing Birds is a relaxing little game created by davidczar, where you play as a carefree dog in a park. As a dog, you do what you do best, you bark and run, chasing the local birds. The birds fly away, and will land somewhere else in the park, for endless fun.

The graphics are nice, and the atmosphere is nicely created with the sound of the birds and people in the distance. It’s not a game that you can sit and play for hours, obviously, but it’s still nice for what it is. It was a relaxing few minutes of chasing birds. You can download it free from Itch.io *here* If you need a few moments to relax.

2. Celeste Witch

Like a Storybook!

Celeste Witch is a cute little shoot-em-up being developed by Monnotonne. You play as Celeste, and your girlfriend has been kidnapped by evil forces. So you grab your broom and give chase, off to rescue her!

This game is cute, and I had a lot of fun playing. The only issue I faced was that without any impact sounds when I fire at enemies, I never knew if I was doing damage, and this was particularly frustrating when trying to fight the boss. The same goes for when Celeste is hit. I mean, visually you lose a heart, but there is no impact or audio indicator.

You have a peashooter attack, a spread shot, a heavy mine, and then an orbiting bubble attack (like a shield, sort of). The animations are nice, and smooth, and the music is very nice, the coral level was my favorite I think. The music was relaxing. The art is cute, even the enemies look super adorable.

Overall, I think this game has potential, and I look forward to future updates. Feel free to download it free from Itch.io *here* and give it a try!

3. Trianglution

Evolve and grow

Trianglution is an evolution and survival game created by Reptoid Games. In Trianglution, you play as a triangle shaped lifeform, and your only goal is to collect nutrients, multiply, and evolve into stronger life forms.

I like this game, in theory. I enjoy survival games, and those that involve evolving lifeforms. However, this game has a few points that I couldn’t overwork. The controls really need some work, as it’s extremely hard to try to catch nutrients, and at times, the controls even seemed unresponsive. There is no “You died” or end screen, so I would be dead and in order to restart I would have to completely close the game and reopen.

There are also extinction events in the game, i.e. underwater volcanoes erupt. On the itch.io page it says that these events happen “periodically” but periodically is about every 30 seconds, which doesn’t give you any time to build any type of substantial colony of lifeforms.  This game does need improvements, but it could be worth playing if the game was refined and adjusted. In any case, if you’re so inclined, you can try the game for yourself, free from Itch.io *here*

4. Swords and Shadows

Take that, dastardly skeletons!

Swords and Shadows is a procedurally generated dungeon crawler in the works from 8-bit Ape. The game is currently in pre-alpha but shows a lot of potential as a fun dungeon exploring adventure. The game take inspiration from Zelda and Torchlight. Both are games that I personally enjoy, so I am looking forward to the finished product.

I like the design of the game; the characters are cute and I love the cute skeletons you fight. The controls were smooth and I didn’t have any issues with anything not working properly. I also enjoy when dungeons are procedurally generated, so you can get a unique experience each time. It helps give the game replayability, as well as some extra challenge when needed.

As of my writing this, the developer did just release an update that more content will soon be added to this little prototype, including a new enemy (bats) and villages are in the works also. I’m looking forward to seeing the game develop further. You can download the game to try for yourself free from Itch.io *here*.

Thank you all, once again, for spending some time with me today! Be sure to check out all of the games mentioned, and leave your feedback and encouragement for the developers! See you next time, Jammers!

Bell

Looking for the Light || Actual Sunlight (PC)

Title

Actual Sunlight is an “adventure” game created by WZOGI. I put adventure in quotes because the game doesn’t quite fit what I expect my adventure games to be, in terms of gameplay. You play as a character who feels stuck in his daily life, and is having trouble finding the willpower to move on. This game tried to deal with some heavier and more complex issues, like depression, and suicide, but it fell short in a few areas for me.

I want to make a note that I could not finish this game. I have a pretty good idea of how it ended, though. I’ll check to see if I’m right before I finish writing this to see. Anyway, you follow your character through his daily life, and almost every object you inspect or person you interact with will give you a little blurb about something—like a memory, or an information tid-bit. I think this can be a useful tactic in the game, but when it’s almost the only way to get anything from the game, it because tedious. I’m talking about walls of text. If you wanted to make a point, this same thing could have been achieved by writing a short story, or an online comic or something. What’s the point of making this a game, if there’s not actual gameplay(other than walking around).

Wall o Text

The graphics are not spectacular. Keep in mind that I’m not a stickler on hyper realistic next gen graphics. But because I felt this game was, frankly, boring, it would have been nice to have something to keep me interested.

The theme of this game is meant to be depression and thoughts of suicide, but other than a few explicit mentions of it, I didn’t get that impression from the game. I felt that the character was unsatisfied in his life and harbored a lot of resentment and self-loathing, which can be a part of depression, but are not exclusive to it. Even so, this game could have been better if it used character development, interaction, or anything to help build a story, rather than the wall of text style that was used.

The office

Overall, I feel that this game could have been much better, but simply fell short. I got this game on a steam sale for, I think, 50 cents or so. So, it’s not a huge loss. Normally the game is 4.99, and I wouldn’t recommend it for that price. In case you want to read on it some more, or even try it yourself, you can check out the Steam page *here*. 

As always, thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. Hope everyone is ready for the holidays! 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*.

Doomed to Repeat?! || Operation Future Domination DEMO (PC)

“Lessons in life will be repeated until they are learned.” –Frank Sonnenberg

 

Title Screen

Source: Screen Capture in Game

OFD is an intense mystery/action/romance visual novel created by Eirrir. You take the role of Rin (or whatever you choose to name her) who has just graduated high school and are in the throes of a hot and humid summer with your close friend Nicolas, or  Nico.

She and Nico seem to be having a normal summer thus far, but things are soon going to take a turn for the strange. You see Leon, someone your age from school, seems to be in distress, stumbling along and mumbling to himself. Intrigued, you follow. But what if it's all a ploy? Something is strange...

I don’t wanna spoil the mystery that we learn about at the end of the demo, but it’s intriguing. I look forward to unraveling that mystery in the future game. 

Uh oh.

Source: Screen Capture in Game

I think the art style is cute, and the backgrounds are nice as well. The calendar and time elements are reminiscent of Persona. The music is fitting also. The finished game is aiming to have 15+ hours of gameplay, 3 potential love interests, 10+ endings and CGs, and more. 

Overall, I feel this demo is well done. I look forward to getting to play the full game in the future. I definitely recommend playing the demo yourself, which you can do for free *here*.

Thanks for sharing some time with me today! Please be sure to leave your feedback to help the developers, and happy gaming!

Bell