tldr videogame curation
melbourne, australia

Reviews

Fun little game where your mouse cursor is your character and your weapon - swipe around, kill stuff, choose upgrades. Not heaps of metaprogression, and visibility can become a bit of an issue, but the loop is fun, art well-made and it’s fairly priced. I think if it got a few content updates it’d be a cool game to hop back into every now and then.

Deckbuilding autobattler roguelite with some realtime combat elements - it’s such a genre-mash that it can be a bit hard to get your head around at first, and ultimately hard to decide if it works. Cool concept, art and atmosphere, but the core combat mechanic won’t be for everyone. The mix of autobattle with realtime interactivity sometimes means you spend more time waiting than calculating your next move. Interesting game though, and decently priced.

Journey Death Stranding, but Ueda. A wonderful, melancholic little adventure reflecting on nature and hardship. Striking visuals and pleasant audio encourage an ascent through towering landscapes and mysteries. I really like this pared back, focused DON’T NOD - cool game.

Everything from the first one has been energised and elevated to the next level. Fluid, engaging combat combined with smooth and expressive movement make for a challenging-but-rewarding loop through which you’ll happily die and reset… a lot. Some new mechanics are a little janky, and the story isn’t particularly gripping, but overall an exhilarating time that doesn’t outstay its welcome.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Alan Wake - and even less so of horror games in general - but this sequel is something else. Remedy have taken the entirety of their back catalogue and combined it all into a captivating and masterful nightmare. Probably the most graphically impressive game I’ve ever played, but its technical achievement would be hollow without the sublime art direction and sound design. The story is kooky but cool, even if the writing is a little overbearing at times. Absolutely love Remedy’s vision and ambition here - it won’t be for everyone, but IMO it’s a triumph.

Somehow, two years after it was first released, a silly little watermelon game captures the streamer zeitgeist. It’s simple but addictive, and for whatever reason is just as enjoyable to watch (or at least have on in the background) as it is to play. It’s also way cheaper than an actual watermelon, so give it a go.

A gorgeous and satisfying game, wherein - again - even just moving around feels terrific. Traversal additions are smart and fun, combat is still energetic and gratifying. The writing isn’t always great, and I wish I could speed up some sections, but overall an incredibly slick package which I honestly would have played for another coupla dozen hours.

The hint is in the name: this game (and Nintendo when they’re in this form) is indeed a wonder. Constantly surprising, funny, delightful, and endlessly creative. The best 2D Mario has been in a long time. Vibrant and refreshed, but still underpinned by decades of perfecting tight controls and a seemingly endless supply of not just ideas, but the talent to execute them. Love.

What a huge step forward since the first one! The dual world concept is fantastic and executed really well - transitioning between realities feels fresh, and exploration is way better this time. Difficulty feels a bit artificial at times and I questioned balance more than once. Combat is varied, flexible & satisfying (if a little bit floaty). Boss battles are often really artistic and often memorable. Mixed feelings linger, but it’s definitely worth a play.

Definitely a cool game - love the atmosphere, styling and general foundation. I can see this becoming something great over time, but currently the loop and endgame are a little underwhelming. Even with that though, the game is fun, fairly priced and an enjoyable little romp.