NewsLetter 26-2021

Hello there, my dear Patron! Nice to see you here in our latest Newsletter looking back at all that happened on the site since then, starting June 28th until July 4th of 2021.

So if you haven’t had time to read in the past weeks, here’s all that was published, all wrapped in a nice package. So get yourself a cup of coffee (or tea of course), kick back and enjoy!

Reviews

Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag Review – Two Thumbs Up

Steam: Platformer Puzzle (UK £11.39 | US $ 14.99 | EU € 12,49)

James: Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag is one of the best games I have played this year. On the surface, it gives the impression of a typical action platformer. But with its unique Celtic design, tight controls, memorable soundtrack and awesome characters this is a game that just gets everything right. Clan O’Conall was a wonderful experience that I hope as many people as possible get to enjoy. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to buy a book on Celtic folklore and listen to absurd amounts of Celtic violin music.

For now, the game is only available on PC but let’s hope it finds its way to other systems very soon.

Ender Lilies Quietus of the Knights Review – Two Thumbs Up

Steam: Action Adventure (UK £21.99 | US $ 24.99 | EU € 24,99)

James: Ender Lilies Quietus of the Knights is one of those games where, usually, this level of high difficulty would put me off and I would just walk away due to frustration. But I didn’t, some bosses took me multiple attempts to complete and yes I had to take breaks, but I kept getting drawn back to fight the darkness.

Maybe it was the delightful piano score, the light vs dark story arc or the smooth control system but I just couldn’t help being drawn back in. I’ll admit I was not very good at the game but this is a rare occasion where despite my hardships I have nothing but praise for this title. Not for everyone, but as the game seems to hint at in the darkest of depths there is always light. At least that’s what I took from it.

Lost Ember Review – We Like It a Lot

Switch: Adventure (US $29.99 | UK £24.99 | EU € 29,99)

Paula: Lost Ember has lovely visuals, simple gameplay mechanics and a heartfelt story. The calm and peaceful vibe of the gameplay is perfect for players looking for a laid-back game to play. It is not overly long, coming in at around five hours.

If you like games with a strong narrative, animals and a little exploring the environment then Lost Ember might certainly be worth a look.

Cube Blast Match Review – We Like It a Lot

Switch: Puzzle (US $18.00 | UK £16.19 | EU € 18,00)

Paula: Cube Blast Match is a nice take on the 3-match genre. While Match-3 games are not my favourite style of games I do like the ones that try to do something different from the norm. Cube Blast Match is one such game. While it won’t blow your socks off for having overly inventive gameplay, it is a fun little game to pick up and play.

Minute of Islands Review – We Like It

Switch: Adventure Puzzle (US $19.99 | UK £19.99 | EU € 19,99)

Paula: Minute of Islands is a decent adventure game. Visually it is good to look at, minus the gorier scenes, which I could have done without. The gameplay, while good, gets a little repetitive going in a loop off: travel to an island, activate the purifier, find the giant, activate the giant.

If you’re a fan of the aesthetics and enjoy relaxed gameplay then Minute of Islands could be just what you are looking for.

Dabado Puzzles Review – We Like It

Steam: Puzzle (US $17.99 | UK £13.99 | EU € 14,99)

Mina: Dabado Puzzles is a challenging, beautiful puzzle game filled with difficult levels and amazing artwork. The surreal paintings coupled with the music, the organic puzzle pieces, and the massive amount of love and effort obviously put into it make it a wonderful thing to behold. The difficulty level is not for everyone, however, and many would be deterred by not only the RNG and lack of proper tutorial, but also having to play the same levels over and over again.

That being said, it’s a must-have for those who love to conquer a big puzzle challenge and come out on top after many, many failures.

Summer Paws Review – We Like It

Switch: Puzzle Adventure (US $4.99 | UK £3.59 | EU €4.99)

Paula: Summer Paws is a lovely, chill-out kind of game. A game to play with a cup of coffee instead of the crossword in the local newspaper. Play it on a commute into work as it is an easy game to pop in and out of too. I can see the game being a big hit with younger members of the family as they hunt for the cute kitties.

Best Day Ever Review – We Like It

Switch: Visual novel Adventure (US $13.16 | UK £9.51 | EU € 11,06)

Mina: This game isn’t for everyone. I can see several of my friends really loving this title with its deep connections and choices that deeply matter to how the rest of the game plays out. There are a lot of unique and interesting ideas here, and the game is beautifully put together.

While this game might not be for me, it is an amazing visual novel for those who really dig that sort of thing. It’s hard to state just how polished and pleasant the presentation of this unique title is. For what it is, Best Day Ever couldn’t be a better put together game. So if you can’t get enough of relationship simulations, visual novels, and games where choice matters, this game is certainly for you.

No Place Like Home Review – We Like It

Steam: Adventure (US $9.99 | UK £ 7.20 | EU € 8,19)

Mina: For a game in early access, No Place Like Home has a lot going for it. While the performance issues and collection of small glitches are definitely detractions, the overall look, feel, and gameplay of NPLHis exceptional. It’s relaxing, cute, family-friendly, and fun to play. The characters, the looks, the ability to pet critters, and decorate your home make for a pleasing overall gaming experience.

No Place Like Home is slated for full release in Q4 of 2021, and is currently half off on Steam while still in Early Access.

Crazy Jump Review – We’re Not Sure

Steam: Action Platformer (UK £1.69 | US $1.19 | EU € 0,99)

James: Crazy Jump, just like its name, is a very basic platformer. While I had some fun with it I didn’t feel at all compelled to get all 3 stars on every level. PC is a good place for new developers to start to hone their craft but it’s unlikely Crazy Jump is going to turn heads. The graphics are too plain and the gameplay lacks anything unique.

If Crazy Jump was the only platformer you ever played in the 1980s you might think it’s pretty awesome but today it’s just another platformer in a sea of so many others. I guess it is pretty cheap though.