Dex isn't an especially original game. The story is pretty much a default cyberpunk plot, with the Evil Corporation (TM) vs. the good hackers. And the gameplay isn't especially amazing - it's nice but it's basically a 2D platformer style with some Metroidvania elements and a mediocre combat system (the melee fights are especially tedious, since there's very little variety to them). However, what really made this game work for me was how much it felt like an RPG of old. The world is full of secondary characters ready to drop side quests that are rich and complex; exploration pays off and returns a lot of perks and EXP - which then of course results in you being able to level up, increasing both your abilities and stats in many directions, transforming you into a powerhouse by the end of the game. The hacking sequences work like a twin-stick shooter - they're not the top of creativity but they can be fun. As a general rule the game becomes much better as you expand your toolset of moves and tricks, because at that point you really have multiple strategies to approach the same problems. You can be clever, sneaky, use your hacking abilities, go in guns blazing or simply pummel everyone to death with your bare (if possibly cyber-augmented) fists. This all works quite well, making the game a fun romp. Maybe you'll appreciate it more if you like the genre - and by this I mean western RPGs even more than action/platformers/metroidvania - but on sale it's probably a worthy buy for anyone.
The only thing that could be, understandably, off-putting about Defender's Quest is the art in the story clips. That is arguably rather bad, though it does its job. However, honestly, that's the ONLY criticism I can make to this game. From here on, it's only praise. Defender's Quest does a wonderful job of melding together the tower defence and the RPG genres. And by "melding" I don't only mean the fact that it has a fun mechanic which borrows from both - the action is tower defence based, but the 'towers' are actually members of your party who grow during your adventure acquiring new skills, powers, and items. No, what this game REALLY nails right is the atmosphere. From the title music, to the cute pixellated sprites, to the entertaining, tongue-in-cheek banter between the heroes, everything will remember you of an old school RPG game. It's one of those stories - a band of warriors with different competences and personalities held together by the same goal: saving the world. It may sound overdone but there are some pretty nice touches here which give the story a new flavour (mostly the fact that it's basically a fantasy zombie story, with the big bad being the one who unleashed this plague on the world). The dialogue is priceless, and you'll find that playing New Game+ is worth it just to get new bits of funny writing in the journal. In addition, the replay value is further increased by the fact that while completing the game isn't too hard, achieving top rates in all levels AND completing the New Game+ (which includes secondary quests) is a titanic achievement. So there's something for everyone, from the casual player to the completion fanatic. The nature of the characters makes for some nice strategic possibilities as well (for example, you may specialize your heroes in certain skills as they level up and use them in specific roles). In other words, if you need to play even only ONE tower defence game in your life... let it be this one.
I bought this game as part of a bundle without really having much hope for it. After playing a few levels, I was absolutely engaged. HOTLINE MIAMI captures the essence of what makes a game truly great: rhythm. It's fast, it has simple controls, and almost no lag due to death (you can restart immediately), yet it is incredibly complex and engaging. It will capture you immediately and force to play the same level over and over at breakneck pace to try and solve it. It's one of the best incarnations of arcade-ness I've ever played, a perfectly oiled puzzle of tactic and reflexes that requires absolute precision to be solved. The amazing music and the gloomy atmosphere only add to the enjoyment. A masterpiece.
This game is not, strictly speaking, a game. It's more of a Visual Novel (if you are familiar with the concept), a mildly interactive scenario where you mostly stroll around and push long narrative sequences with your actions. The gaming elements serve the only purpose of keeping your attention focused and improving the feeling of immersion, but it's the writing that is the focus. And oh God, is the writing GOOD. It is so much so that it can give a run to some of the best books, movies and comics I've enjoyed. It's a wonderfully deep tale of love and regret; its characters are well fleshed out and its mysteries are unravelled slowly, giving you the time to guess the solution to some of the questions and absolutely punching you in the gut with others. There are recurring themes and elements that tie down the whole story and the occasional witty banter or pop culture reference (usually courtesy of Dr. Watts, who's definitely a huge nerd) will bring some relief in the middle of an otherwise sombre and melancholic story. One of the best efforts at storytelling in games I've ever seen, comparable to the Syberia series, and definitely a must buy.
