I first encountered inbento on the iOS platform (iPhone) and later on PC through the Bundle for Ukraine. However saying this, this game started its life as a PC game even though you wouldn't know it when playing the mobile version because the port was well done. Gameplay involves following recipes to make cute bento lunchboxes. Things start out very simple and get progressively harder with each level section as new puzzle mechanics are introduced. The system requirements really are as low as they look. I can play it on my laptop without a cooling pad and not have the computer get angry by running the internal fan to shed heat. Also this game has the most important feature that a game could possibly have: cats. You'll see them in the intermissions and more importantly, you're playing as one of the cats making the bentos and living your best life in a world setting full of cats.
This review is based on the itch version, which should be the same as the GOG version. The primary difference is that the GOG version will have a proper installer. While I did encounter a few bugs, none were particularly game breaking. If something seems broken - animal stuck on your head that you cannot remove (for example), you really just need to press the Esc key to bring up the menu then select the "save and exit" option. Once back on the title screen, just continue, and the game should have fixed itself. This game really does everything it claims to. The character creation is more extensive than shown in the store page screen shots. You also have the option to return to it at any time if you want to tweak your character's appearance or if you have a new piece of clothing. You can hang out with a bunch of different animals: bears, dogs, horses, foxes, pigs, and especially cats. The ten animal limit for the cafe might not seem like much until you have ten animals in your cafe plus furniture and human patrons. The animals really are all interactive where you can pet them, follow you around, go to your cafe, etc. The cooking mini game felt a little wacky. My only real complaint with this game is that you can only have up to six items on display no matter how many display cases you put in the cafe. Also the run animation is a bit odd, but this is easily fixed by riding around on a giant cat everywhere. If your familiar with WASD to move plus using a mouse to look around, the controls should feel familiar.
Review is based on the Itch version, which should be the same as the GOG version. What really makes VVVVVV truly special among games is the accessibility options. As someone that gets migraines from the exact same graphics that give other people seizures, I only needed to turn off the screen effects that would involve shaking and flashes. However if you're more severe on either migraines or epilepsy, you can go a step further and also disable the moving backgrounds. The game does retain one potential problem spot of a room with a giant elephant that flashes colors. I did not check this room with backgrounds turned off. For people with disabilities, you can slow down the game or turn on invincibility mode. Having mild carpel tunnel in my wrists from childhood injuries, the option to slow down the game was extremely helpful in a level area called The Tower that would otherwise not something that I would not be able to get through. There is something very refreshing about a game where the developer put a lot of care into trying to make a game that would be playable and fun for as many people as possible and didn't worry about trying to dazzle people with fancy graphics. The minimal graphics also means that it is going to be playable on a lot of computers. Even if you don't normally play platform games, this is one that is worth picking up. Gameplay centers on navigating through the areas and reversing gravity as needed. You don't need to fight anything, just avoid anything dangerous. The game is also very generous when it comes to continue spots, and lets you keep retrying as much as you want or need.
You play entirely as Abraham Van Helsing in this game and while it initially seems like it is going to make some effort to follow the novel Dracula, it doesn't take long for it to go off the rails and be Dracula in name only. Having said that, the plot isn't the worst thing about the game. This is on the whole an adventure game. You'll want to do adventure game stuff, like find stuff to pick up, possibly manipulate it by combining it with other items in your inventory. What you probably were not expecting was to have to do a bunch of math puzzles nor were you expecting to have to push a bunch of balls to form a specific pattern. If these do not sound fun, you are going to want to find yourself a walkthrough before purchasing. The game can be played entirely with the mouse where you navigate by clicking on screen, but there will be times where the camera angle shifts such that anyone who played Resident Evil will be having flash backs to RE tank controls due to odd camera angles. The worst of this occurs in the Cairo Museum, where you will find yourself wandering about looking for stuff and occasionally not finding it even though you're in the right area in general just due to the camera angle you currently have. Also as a side note, Dracula Love Kills is a direct sequel to this game where you play Dracula and still hot for Mina. Although it is a hidden object game with a rather campy plot, it is actually significantly more fun than Dracula Origin if you like the hidden object genre. I would give this game a solid 5/5 and because the copy of DLK that I have is marred with DRM, I will be repurchasing the GOG version... I wouldn't say the same about Dracula Origin.
This is one of the best game soundtracks period. If you're not bothered by the lack of a FLAC version, just buy it. The only bad thing I have to say about this soundtrack is that you must buy the game Bastion in order to buy the soundtrack as it is one of those rare gems that is good enough to enjoy without having every played the game. While I would recommend the game Bastion, there isn't a single game that is going to appeal to absolutely everyone.
