I came to this one sequel first. I watched someone play CAPTURED 2 on YouTube, then found both games sitting in the same discount window and picked up the pair, because I wanted to start the franchise where it began. The playthrough showed me what the series promises and how it executes; what I wanted from the original was to see whether it was already all there.
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Do No Harm Spiel
There are many games that claim to be the spiritual successor to Papers, Please. Plenty have already tried incorporating Lovecraft, or cosmic horror creeping into otherwise sane jobs. Do No Harm is a Lovecraftian doctor simulator. I’ve played apothecary simulators and surgeon simulators, but a doctor simulator in eldritch horror is one I hadn’t tried.
Sony Counted Disc Buyers Right
Sony says the disc backlash isn’t making “any impact” on its business, and I believe it. Not because Sony is on a crusade. Because Sony is reading a number that says exactly that, and the number is correct.
The Stairway 7 Spiel
Different Exit 8-likes certainly have tried different methods of incorporating or developing the definition of “Exit 8.” I even wrote about the four pillars of Exit 8-likes. Unfortunately The Stairway 7 misses the mark in its own noise, enough that I wonder if the game was even meant to be an Exit 8-like.
Fears to Fathom – Norwood Hitchhike Spiel
Fears to Fathom is now in the second season, and with it, the first season went on summer sale. If I were to compare the franchise to Chilla’s Art, I would argue Fears to Fathom relies more heavily on the urban legends of the 80s and 90s, revived as creepypasta. In my previous review of the first episode of Fears to Fathom, I remarked on the fact that the episode largely rests on anachronistic horror tropes. Norwood Hitchhike doesn’t escape the path.
Cursed Digicam | 呪われたデジカメ Spiel
Chilla’s Art makes chilling, socially aware horror games set in modern Japan, but in the supernatural theme, I am inclined to say many are hit and miss: cryptic messages, ambiguous threats and motives, seemingly unrelated motifs, and unique gameplay mechanics thrown out midway. As indie games, they have their unique flavor, but as horror games, they don’t connect to the foundation to make a statement.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Spiel Pt. 2
As a long running series, there wasn’t much I could say about gameplay aspect in Lord of Hatred in the previous piece. And now that we have discussed the parts that are on the surface without going into spoiler territory, I thought to touch on the areas that it is plot critical. Much of the heavy lifting the expansion does for the franchise, I believe it has to do with the plot element.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Spiel
Vessel of Hatred, the previous expansion, left quite a lot to be desired. It only introduced a new class to the game; it added a new region; it unfolded some of Mephisto’s plans. But ultimately, aside from some powerful cinematic in and out of the game, it was a filler between the stories. Lord of Hatred is the conflict Diablo IV needed, all the way to the resolution.
Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access) Spiel
Slay the Spire, the first game, opened its own genre. I think I’ve seen more StS-like games that tried to deliver the flavor, but ultimately had its shortcomings. Many reviews I’ve read since almost always mentioned how they (the reviewers) returned home, to the original Slay the Spire. Some went so far to say, at the given price point of (the game they were discussing), why not buy the Slay the Spire at discount?
Umigari Spiel
I had played Umigari demo, and I liked the fishing and the usual Chilla’s Art special sauce that gave it some tangy flavor. I suppose it is the inherent problem in most fishing sims that fishing in video games often devolve into mini games. There are few games that escaped the usual fishing mini game criteria, and the demo seemed to have shown what is possible via mix of first person shooter with a harpoon. Overall, I’m afraid it overstays its welcome.
Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 Spiel
Perhaps not so surprisingly, this will not be the end of Poppy Playtime the main franchise. As I understand it, the series was first planned with total of five chapters. Due to the nature of the episodic release, some parts of the review may contain spoilers. Please do check out previous posts on Chapter 1-3 or Chapter 4, if you would like to be cautious. This is also the first chapter I played on the PC at the time of the release, instead of waiting for a console port.
Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Spiel
What better way to start a family holiday than an old school murder mystery set in London? It’s a psychic-filled murder mysteries set in London, solved by an American detective character, made by a Korean developer, with only Japanese dubs. I’m serious. This is quintessentially Castle in the Sky but with more emphasis on East Asia than the actual European writers of the time period would have spent on — calling everything different in the book American or Chinese were one.
Skin Deep (2025) Spiel
Back when Hitman (2016) was released, I remember an old friend of mine telling me how the stealth formula in the popular franchise is simply getting too old. The AI of these NPCs never work together. And each iteration did try to amp up AI behavior, but it hasn’t changed so drastically. It did give enough room for players to waltz in the high security zones and assassinate targets; it created some amazing speed runs. It has its own unique quirky funs, but it never made that smooth spy movie-like infiltration gameplays.
Fear the Timeloop – Prologue Spiel
I prefer not to talk about a game that is not fully released, let alone a demo, but Fear the Timeloop seemed to have positioned itself in a different spot. The reason behind avoiding making a comment on a game before the full release often comes from the common practice amongst the developers not to reveal critical game information, such as gameplay or basic lores. Fear the Timeloop seems to have warranted enough talking point, though I do wish to see some major polishing work before it can be launched.
Return of Obra Dinn Spiel
The legendary developer of Papers, Please returned with another retro style game, or had returned in 2018. Yes, I am writing for a game 6 years too late, despite it not getting a major update since. For 6 years the game is left with what I would call a breathing room for improvement, while having an overflowing narrative based on dry world-building exercise.