Look at this good boy. Look at the color; the pristine boldness of its make-up and the promise of well-tuned platforming goodness. Since playing the demo of this game back late last year, I was ecstatic to finally get my paws on Grapple Dog, the latest game by indie developer Joseph Gribbin. After going through the whole thing and collecting every shiny rock I could, my thoughts have become resolute. Let’s get ruff!
Continue reading “Thoughts on Grapple Dog”
Before starting this, I would like to personally apologize to the creator of Velocity Noodle. I originally intended to make this into a video review, but video editing is a hefty, monumental task that, frankly, I do not have the motivation to sit through currently. Thus, I kept putting off my thoughts on the game for days, weeks—now, here it is a month to the day that it released. (I played this on release day.)
Hopefully, despite the delay, I can encourage a few lads to give this a try. Probably.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Velocity Noodle”
I should specify that the “Updated” in the title is due to already having a Prodigal review published on another website. This post will cover all that the linked review did not, which includes content added since the game’s release in late 2020.
Let me also specify that my thoughts / opinions on this title are not influenced by my good standing with the team behind it. My goal is to be as objective as possible, regardless of whether or not I have an NPC modeled after me in-game.
Now, some close to me are already aware that I enjoy Prodigal quite a bit. It was my Game of the Year in 2020 and is currently my fourth-most played game on Steam in terms of total playtime. Discovered by complete chance, the impact it’s had on my life is a rarity that I try not to take for granted. Games that fit your preferences almost effortlessly well do not come along often.
Quite a bit of content has been added since my initial review—which, until this past week, I had never gotten around to playing. Extended story elements, lots of postgame content, and menacingly difficult challenges make up most of what’s now on offer. At this point, Prodigal feels truly complete. Did it carve out a fate worth diving into?
Continue reading “Updated Thoughts on Prodigal”
Right after the heels of reviewing Shantae and the Seven Sirens, I decided to do something that, in hindsight, I should’ve done years ago: replay Pirate’s Curse. For those unaware, Pirate’s Curse is the best Shantae game… at least, everyone says it is (including me). It had been many years since the game firmly entrenched me as a Shantae (and WayForward) fan, so what better way to celebrate Seven Sirens being “pretty good” than by going back to see if it really is the best.
Spoiler: it is. Continue reading “Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Review”
Please note that this is not a Top 10 Best Video Games of 2019 list. Rather, this is a list of the best video games I played in 2019, as in it doesn’t have to have been released in 2019 to make it, only that I had to have finished (a majority of) it in 2019. Continue reading “Top 10 Best Video Games I Played in 2019”
Unfortunately, I cannot share the same enthusiasm I had for last year’s list in my current mindset. Seeing as I’m still in an unintended semi-hiatus from the blog and the continued pressure of landing an actual full-time job that doesn’t make me want to end myself to secure a proper place in society looming, I don’t feel as chipper these days. Truth be told, I forgot about this until just a few days ago when my mind happened to linger upon the calmer years of KeenGamer’s existence. Nevertheless, sharing my opinion on games (and anything, really) is still a profitable and engaging process for me, so allow me to continue to do so for your viewing pleasure. Continue reading “Top 10 Favorite Games After Two Years with KeenGamer”
This is not going to be a typical post for The Visualist’s Veranda.
Over the years, I’ve become more acclimated to the world of indie games, due primarily to my experience working for KeenGamer. There’s something about the spirit of a really good indie game that makes me enjoy the video game medium even more, particularly seeing first-hand the passion and commitment needed to make something so time-consuming and daunting. Thus, I decided I wanted to make a collection of all the great indie games I’ve played in the last few years, whether for review or not, and chronicle them in a handy, link-heavy package. Because I really enjoy shilling. Continue reading “Recommended List of Indie Games #1”
Sometimes, there are things you wish to review, but the expectations set by the topic itself make it difficult to reciprocate equal treatment. There have been plenty of games in the past that I’ve come to cherish, games that showed that luscious glimmer of spirit I saw prior to experiencing it. As a reviewer, these are the things I write for, in order to experience that same enthusiasm and passion for the creative process. It can be rare, for a chap as cynical as I, to let that feeling override the mental process. You don’t think about how much something means to you after the fact—you just know. Continue reading “Iconoclasts Review”
(Disclaimer: This post will continue as though one is adequately familiar with A Robot Named Fight!. For those unaware, feel free to check out my (albeit outdated) review of the game here, where I go over the basic foundation of the game.) Continue reading “Thoughts on A Robot Named Fight! (Big Wet Update)”
Please note that this is not a Top 10 Best Video Games of 2018 list. Rather, this is a list of the best video games I played in 2018, as in it doesn’t have to have been released in 2018 to make it, only that I had to have finished (a majority of) it in 2018. Continue reading “Top 10 Best Video Games I Played in 2018”
The Visualist's Veranda 