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[Happily Lost in Space.]

1

TalkBack / Filament (Switch) Review

« on: October 26, 2020, 10:00:00 AM »

Happily Lost in Space.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55276/filament-switch-review

What do you get when you mix puzzle solving with an outer-space atmosphere? You get Filament, a visually stunning game that on the surface seems simple and easy to pick up for anyone looking for their next casual indie fix. However, upon diving into the game further, I quickly realized Filament requires a far larger mental capacity, so to speak, than I initially thought I was capable of. It also presents one of the most interesting stories I’ve ever witnessed from an indie game.  

Developed by Beard Envy and published by Kasedo Games, Filament is a puzzle-solving adventure that puts you in the boots of an unnamed astronaut aboard an abandoned space-ship. You eventually come across the ship’s navigator, “Juniper,” who is locked in the cockpit, and eventually requests your help in setting her free. The story isn’t elaborate or deep, but it succeeds in delivering a simple plot that works with the gameplay. In order to help free Juniper, you’ll venture around the ship across three different anchors, solving five different puzzles in each area, restoring power back to the ship. Once you complete an area, you’ll follow a line that leads towards the next. It may sound simplistic, but trust me when I say, the design of this game proves to be far more challenging than that. Be ready to utilize your brain to its near maximum potential.  

The core of Filament is focused on a tiny robot that has a cord attached, carrying a line of electricity/power that you’ll use to supply sufficient energy towards various prism towers in each of the levels. Once you light all of the ones necessary, the exit will open and set you free. Where it gets complicated is making sure you have your bases covered. It’s not as simple as just wrapping your power line around the prism tower then moving forward. The line has to stay within a certain proximity and resistance between each prism; otherwise, you may find yourself in a scenario where you’re trapped or at a loss of power due to the various types of obstacles and other types of prisms, such as negative prisms, colored prisms, prisms with different heights, etc. It’s very much trial and error, as you will more than likely find yourself restarting a particular puzzle over more than once or twice. Fortunately, it’s as simple as either holding down B to restart the level from the beginning, or you can hold ZR if you need to go back only a few steps. In addition to these features, there’s also a Hint Mode that you can enable twice per puzzle. However, by doing this, you permanently exempt yourself from acquiring one of the final achievements in the game, so I wouldn’t advise any completionist to use this option if you’re looking to 100% the game.

One of the most interesting things I came across during my playthrough was the amount of possible alternative routes/solutions that can be found when someone else accompanies you. This is a game I found myself enjoying with a second set of eyes, as it can definitely prove to be helpful in specific areas you may be struggling with. Most puzzles will test both your patience and tolerance, and right when you think you’re finished, another one gets thrown right at you. It’s remarkable to see how many different types of mechanics and specific rules are put into place within this game, and my playthrough constantly had me wondering how much time and math was spent towards creating each of these individual trials. For example, there are select levels that will introduce you to a second robot that you’ll take control over after using the first one you’re already familiar with. The catch? The second robot is only capable of lighting specific prism towers that share the same color as them (red, blue, etc.). Having to figure out a way to escape the room after lighting up all prisms amongst two different lines of power proved  itself to be quite a feat, much more than my initial impressions of the game led me to believe. It’s such a marvel to see how Filament’s intricate design can work as cohesively as it does, which only has me hungry for more.

Filament is a game I thoroughly enjoyed for expanding my puzzle-solving skills, as well as delivering a relaxing soundtrack, visuals, and wonderful story. This is one of those games that you can either spend a whole weekend playing through, or even just pick it up quickly during a lunch break for 15-20 minutes, then pick it right back up where you left off. High difficulty is very much present throughout the majority of the runtime; that said, I feel that this where it truly excels. The real highlight of the entire experience to be had within Filament is the massive number of puzzles, each being very unique and creatively designed in its own way. If you’re looking for your next puzzle-solving indie fix, look no further than Filament, available now on the Nintendo eShop.

[A platformer that isn’t for the faint of heart, dood!]

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TalkBack / Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties Dood! (Switch) Review

« on: October 06, 2020, 09:00:00 AM »

A platformer that isn’t for the faint of heart, dood!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55146/prinny-2-dawn-of-operation-panties-dood-switch-review

Before diving into Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties Dood!, my only impressions of the game were that the main character was an adorable little blue penguin that shares the name of an alias of a game collecting friend of mine (@pureprinny) and that they often like to say “Dood.” Upon further research, Prinny 2 is a spinoff title of popular tactics role-playing game series Disgaea, which is developed by Nippon Ichi and published by NIS America. So for someone who has little to no experience with either, what should I be expecting? As it turns out, this ended up being one of the most frustrating and aggravating platformers I’ve ever played. But what exactly is underneath the hood of this game?

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties Dood! is a sequel to Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?. You play as one of a thousand different Prinnies that serve Etna, ruler of the underworld, who has come to discover that her panties have been stolen. Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds. You are playing as an army of pseudo-penguins who embark on a quest to search for a demon’s missing undergarments. It doesn’t get any more in depth than that. Having “panties” in the title should be enough of an indication that this is not a game for anyone looking for an innocent story. Although the audience for this game may be considered a mature one, it’s by no means overly offensive. The narrative serves up plentiful amounts of humor that really had me smiling and chuckling quite often throughout my play time, so it’s simply something to take into consideration when considering a purchase.

Unlike the Disgaea games, the Prinny duo are action-platformers. Your Prinny’s abilities are very simple and not hard to learn. You’re given knives that you can attack up front and personal with, or from mid-air, which allow you to shoot laser-like projectiles for a period of time before landing back on the ground. On that note, when you do this, the camera shifts from 2D to a 2.5D angle, which I found to be really dynamic and awesome to look at. You’re also able to dash, ground pound, duck down, and slide, though I personally found a few of these moves to almost be unnecessary. Prinny has no power ups or upgrades; the closest you’ll get is acquiring sweet treats dropped by enemies, which can help build up your combo meter. Once filled, your attacks become stronger than your base level attacks. If you eventually eat enough food, the Prinnies will then fart so large to the point that they’ll fly up into the air.

Let me be clear: this game will make you frustrated beyond what you’d typically expect of a platformer in 2020. What I mean by that specifically is that Prinny 2 heavily focuses on replicating classic game difficulty, reminiscent of games like Castlevania, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, Mega Man, etc. One of the easiest examples to describe this difficulty is how you will time your jumps and movement, as precision on your timing and placement is everything in this game. You may find yourself leaping forward to jump across the ledge, but don’t expect to shift your trajectory backwards after you see you’re about to land on a missile or enemy. Each leap carries the risk of being a one way ticket to your death. Once you jump, you’re committed. It was something that took me a considerably long time to get used to, but found it to become a huge part of the level design presented throughout. Tons of risky challenges will put you in a position where you’ll have to find different patterns and strategies towards progressing through the level, similar to the likes of Mega Man. It’s something I can appreciate as a fan of the retro platformer era, but it’s hard not to feel it might be a tad bit over the line.

The visuals and score are spooky and eerie, but also sweet and charming. What we’re given is a very colorful and expressive 16-bit game, not much different from other games in this style. However, one element that stuck out to me the most was the transitioning camera between 2D and 2.5D as I had mentioned earlier. It’s a nice touch that I appreciate quite a bit, considering it isn’t attempted often in other games. It’s almost akin to the likes of Super Paper Mario’s folding back and forth between dimensions. From what I’ve seen at a quick glance, many of the sprites and animations are shared from the first game, with minor adjustments made, maintaining beautiful fluidity when traveling throughout the worlds you’ll play through. Many of the characters are based off of a very common anime style, which I find to be a bit oversaturated and uninspiring, but not a dealbreaker overall. The score jumps back and forth from fast-paced rhythm to more slow and spooky organ-like notes. Considering at the time of this review we are entering the spooky season, it was definitely fitting and I enjoyed it more than I normally would.

Once you manage to complete the main story of the game, be sure to give yourself a quick pat on the back, then jump right back in, as this game has a ton of replay value. Some of the unlockables include a boss rush mode, a couple extra playable characters, and a new campaign which features alterations in terms of bosses, levels, expanded story, and more. It’s an expansive spin-off that holds heavy amounts of challenge and humor, and gives players the chance to dive into the world of Disgaea for those who may not have had much or any first-hand experience with the franchise in its entirety.

If you’re looking for something humorous with high difficulty that’ll test your skill and quite likely push you even further beyond that, you’ll definitely find it in Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties Dood!

[Finding your missing peace.]

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TalkBack / Journey of the Broken Circle (Switch) Review

« on: September 17, 2020, 09:10:00 PM »

Finding your missing peace.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/54965/journey-of-the-broken-circle-switch-review

Upon first glance, Journey of the Broken Circle appears to be a visually stunning and relaxing experience. However, after playing through the entirety of the 3-4 hour adventure, you’ll quickly come to realize that there is much more to it than that. Deep emotions and core values are demonstrated and emphasized amongst most of the cast in this story. I found these to be quite relatable to my own personal real life experiences and encounters with others.

Journey of the Broken Circle, developed by Loveable Hat Cult, stars Circle, or rather an “incomplete circle” who shows a lot of heart and compassion, setting out on a journey to find their missing piece to allow them to feel complete again. You’ll travel through many various landscapes and mystical areas with basic platforming-style gameplay, as well as come across many other supporting characters along the way. Some of them will accompany you throughout your journey, granting you different special abilities for a period of time. One of these is called Sticky (a sticky thing?), who allows you to stick to walls, essentially allowing you to climb up obstacles in your way. In short, the game is very simple and doesn’t demand much prior gaming experience. But is there even more than meets the eye?

As mentioned earlier, what appeared to be a relaxing experience evolves into a much deeper and emotionally driven tale of someone trying to feel complete. Not just for the missing gap that makes them look like PAC-MAN, but to feel that sense of comfort and support from another. We all can relate to this to some degree, and I firmly believe that those who decide to play through this game will discover what I mean in their own kind of way. Relationships and human touch are vital for our overall well-being as humans. For me specifically, Journey of the Broken Circle was most relatable in terms of how anxiety and fear can really develop into a larger enemy within us, one that many on the outside won’t realize or truly see. Circle fights against shadow-like creatures spawned from their own fears, insecurities, and more, eventually finding their way towards growth and confidence in themself to move forward to the next chapter of the game.  

Although simplistic level design is apparent throughout the playthrough, it can prove to be difficult at times to actually execute what the game intends for you to do. I’ll explain further, though keep in mind that it’s possible individual experiences may vary. In one of the areas in the third chapter, I found myself rolling down a large hill. At the end of that hill, I had come across what appears to be a loop for you to go through (akin to Sonic the Hedgehog). Once I had reached the loop, I suddenly realized that I didn’t have enough momentum to be able to go through it. The solution? To go back up the hill and try again. In this particular moment, no matter how many times I would try to follow what the game’s level design intended, I would find myself more confused and frustrated with it, having to take a break and come back to it at a later point of the day, which left something to be desired.  This is one example of many that demonstrates how the physics in this game can prove to be unreliable at times. Whether it’s climbing onto a wall you were meant to stick to, a branch you were supposed to latch onto that flings you forward to the next one, or in this case not maintaining the momentum needed to go through a loop, the game fails to provide any sense of direction, or instruction for your newly obtained abilities. As someone who was very invested in the story, sporadic moments like these throughout my playtime were a letdown.

One obvious highlight of Journey of the Broken Circle is its entire presentation. The visuals are gorgeous, especially at high viewpoints, and the writing of the characters left me begging for more. Its style is very similar to the likes of other classic indies like Donut County, A Short Hike, Night in the Woods, and more. The wit and humor found in these types of games always captures my attention. Being reminded of how real world scenarios can be played out for fun inside of an imaginative game like Journey of the Broken Circle really does allow us to feel more personally connected to the game’s cast of characters and environments.

Journey of the Broken Circle is a unique and special type of game. The way it presents itself and unfolds as you progress is an experience I firmly believe everyone should witness or play through at least once. I like to think of this game as a storybook. The text and speech from the characters and narration is presented in a way like you’re flipping pages in a children’s book. As you roll forward, narration follows. If you roll back, the narration replays itself again (which I found myself doing a few times as I would occasionally roll forward too quickly; it’s a nice touch). The story teaches us how to become content with ourselves and our spirits, as well as helping us learn what we value in other people whom we seek to have become part of our lives. Though some sections of the game could definitely use some polish, in addition to being a bit more tedious and frustrating than you’d expect, the value and overall presentation of this emotionally driven tale more than makes up for its hitches. Journey of the Broken Circle is a title that I’d heavily recommend to those who are battling wars within themselves and wish to find a relatable experience that can provide peace, and maybe even a little wisdom for the game we all play: life.