I decided to play Gorogoa despite not being much of a fan of puzzle games owing to the beautiful illustrations and rave reviews. It certainly is beautiful, and quite calming to play; the soundtrack complements the game perfectly. Gameplay is innovative, with tiles either being stacked, pulled apart, or put next to each other to advance the main character's quest. There was only one puzzle that frustrated me when I was trying to solve it, about mid-game, and that's not bad. I'd say for puzzle game fans, this is a must-buy. For people who aren't fans of the genre, it's worth trying the demo (available elesewhere) first; if you like it, go for it!
I decided to play Braid after seeing it mentioned on several YouTube videos as an interesting and allegorical game. I hate to say it, but I'm not seeing what the hype is about. Sure, the art style is cute, and the puzzles tend to force you to think outside the box, but I cannot say I enjoyed the "allegories". The big "surprises" were both clearly signaled in the flavor text, and I was already bored of Tim as a protagonist before reaching that point. The allegories themselves felt forced, particularly as neither of the common interpretations really influences the gameplay in any way. It's not that Braid is a bad game, but that it doesn't actually do much for gaming as an art.
As I have reviewed HuniePop itself on the game's page, I will only review the deluxe edition content here. If you spend the extra money for the deluxe edition, you will get pretty much every piece of art in the game in high resolution, as well as a few outsourced pieces that are not in the game proper. The soundtrack is included in both mp3 and FLAC format. Although it's pretty good in the game proper, it's not really something I'd listen to elsewhere.
I'm more or less done my first run through HuniePop, and GOG is telling me that I've managed to spend 12 hours already. Twelve hours in a dating simulator, using match-3 mechanics to date cartoon women and memorizing details about characters whom I could never meet in real life. That just goes to show that, despite the rather simple premise, the game hooks you and doesn't let go. The dialogue is funny, the various characters are -- with one big exception -- likable and relatable, and the match-3 gameplay has a deceptive depth that will keep you focused on your every move. I definitely recommend playing this game. It's well worth the price.
I actually bought the game for my three-year-old son, as based on reviews it seemed like it would be easy enough for him to play on his own, with minimal input from me. For the most part, that was true, though towards the end game he did have trouble getting the sequence and timing right (yeah, there's one puzzle where timing affects the solution). He found many of the sequences funny, although he was scared of the grim reapers at one point in the game. Now, for the adult's review. Being as I dislike point and click adventures, Chuchel gets a couple stars simply for the fact that it was interesting enough for me to finish the game. It is, as the screenshots evidence, quite a beautiful game to look at, with very fantastic settings and creatures. Gameplay-wise, there's a maximum of 3 hours (closer to 2), so if you're looking for something longer or more in-depth then avoid this. The music is interesting as part of the game, but not something I'd like to play on my own while reading or whatever. Given that, and the art book, honestly, I'd say it's not worth buying the Cherry Edition.
Gris' soundtrack is simply beautiful and melancholic, drawing on your emotions with haunting vocalizations and touching instrumentals. It is easily worth the full asking price. Also, since it includes both mp3 and FLAC files, there's no reason to worry about compatibility vs. fidelity. (Repeated review; my first review, with the same points, seems to have been swallowed by the system).
Gris is... well, rather hard to describe. It is, as the screenshots make perfectly clear, an absolutely beautiful experience. The visual design, including the introduction of more color as you continue the game, is stunning. Deserts, forests, underwater tunnels, and even crystal palaces... every time you think you've seen all Gris can throw at you, it stuns you with another beautiful set piece. More than once I just stopped to admire the view. This art design is complemented by a great soundtrack, which underscores the emotional situation of your character as she explores this beautiful world. As with the visuals, for the most part it is a relaxing and serene experience, treating your ears as you explore the world at your own pace. When you're dealing with the corrupting force overtaking the world, it speeds up. Gris' story is surreal, yet painted in generally broad strokes. The main character, Gris, is a young woman whom you begin to control after she falls into a white void. Over time, she explores the world and discovers that a deep black force is corrupting the world, trying to sap the color out of it. Gris restores the world's color, with each color restored opening up new areas to explore. The narrative, of course, is highly symbolic, and worth a ponder after you finish the game. Gameplay itself is fairly simple, with the main task of each area -- collecting white points of light -- being completed through very light platforming and some simple puzzles. Never was I stumped by these, nor by the more difficult challenges that net you larger orbs of light, although some of the latter were easy to miss. The only shortcoming I can see is the short playtime; you'll be finished the main story within three to four hours. But considering the sensory pleasure that is Gris, I think it's well worth buying.
