This may be a good Homestuck game (I wouldn't know) but it is not a very satisfying adventure game. Thematically, it takes the quirky, self-refential route, which may or may not click with you, depending on your sensibilities. I found its goofy humor and drawn-out conversations rather uninspired. The story and characters are pretty lighthearted to the point of being childish and the exhaustingly uninteresting conversations they have truly tested my patience. Mechanically, it's a pretty straightforward affair. There are some very simple puzzles to get through, plus a handful of lame "battles", that are again solved with inventory items and character abilities (which effectively work as items, from a gameplay persepective). Each scene is packed with points of interest, which come with lengty commentary by the main character. There is a lot of worldbuilding hidden in there, and it helps flesh out the story and characters quite a bit. Alas, I found them quite boring to read, since the story never really captured my interest. This is labeled as Act 1, so naturally there is no real conclusion to the adventure but I can't see myself bothering with subequent acts, unless the reviews are really, really glowing.
Don't be fooled by the lush visuals, this is not a Firewatch clone (not that there would be anything wrong with that, mind). It's a classic first-person adventure, cleverly streamlined for modern audiences. Call of the Sea tells a captivating story of mystery and romance, with strong Lovecraftian undertones, which are used mainly to anchor the supernatural elements rather than to inspire horror. Norah is a likeable, well-acted protagonist and the game's what-happened-to-this-intrepid-expedition plot unfolds at a brisk pace, through conveniently placed notes, scattered recordings, and Norah's commentary. The puzzles might give less seasoned gamers a slight pause but they are not designed to stall you for too long. Rather, they provide a sense of earned progression through the beautifully rendered areas of the island. Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by Call of the Sea. It's a very well-rounded adventure with a coherent yet not overexplained plot, amazing visuals and just the right amount of head-scratching. It could do with some additional optimization to run more smoothly, though. Played on Game Pass but I'd say it's worth the asking price.
Night Call is a text-only visual novel with strong noir vibes and very shallow gameplay. You're a cab driver with A Past(tm), working the night shift in Paris. Following a sequence of rather unrealistic events, you're strong-armed into investigating a series of heinous crimes by collecting information from the random clients who enter your cab. There are three stories to explore, all based around the premise of a serial killer stalking the streets of Paris, but they all follow the exact same beats making it feel like you're playing the same story thrice. The game gathers and arranges all the clues for you and the only thing left to do is click through waves of character drama and pick the appropriate response every now and then. Some of the stories are compelling, some surreal, some cringy, and some overly preachy but overall the writing is pretty good for the most part. Managing your resources (money, gas) seems utterly meaningless and gathering clues feels entirely random. It's an ok game, with cool monochrome visuals and chill music. Good to kill 5-6 hours with but gets repetitive quickly after that.
It's hard to imagine this was -mostly- the effort of a single dev. Tight controls that make for fluid combat and fun exploration. Evocative pixel art that won't blow you away the way Children of Morta does but expertly captures the game's tech-infused post-apocalypse. Music which vibrates with a somber mysticism that perfectly underlines the action. But the true gem is the design. It's been awhile since I've played a game where all its systems, simplistic as they may seem, work in tandem to create such a cohesive, satisfying experience. The area design is fantastic, with hidden routes and secrets aplenty that make exploration challenging and immensely rewarding. The semi-open world provides enough focus to keep you from wandering aimlessly, while letting you tackle the obstacles at your own pace. Bosses hit HARD but have a very reasonable HP count, making all fights tough but never overwhelming or dragged-out, even after numerous tries. Nothing feels random or excessive, except perhaps a couple of deadly trap-dodging sequences to reach optional power-ups. The story and lore are quite cryptic and I required the help of internet sleuths to figure out the finer points but it manages to capture your imagination even without knowing what exactly is going on. Hyper Light Drifter is a delicious old-school experience that looks and plays better than most AAAs out there. Don't miss it.
