Botanicula
A true delight!
Edit update 23.11.2016: Nominated for the 2016 Steam Awards “Game Within A Game” award
Botanicula is an Indie, point-and-click, puzzle adventure; brought to us by the Czech creators of Samorost 1&2 and Machinarium, Amanita Design – if you enjoy either of those games, you will take delight in this. The thoroughly organic world and its inhabitants are highly imaginative, some even bizarre-looking and -sounding. Some players may consider it too succinct, or even more attuned toward children. The simple story, though solid and sweet, does not require heavy ruminations – this is a game of the senses, pure and simple. You control a group of four friends on a mission to plant a seed. The main goal on each level progresses you to the next level; the puzzles are intuitive. The price of the game, whether regular or on sale, is appropriate. Yes, it is a Flash game. (Interesting to note that I cannot enjoy tBoI or Windosill on my current PC setup without gameplay becoming bogged down almost instantly; but with Botanicula, never any bogging or catching.) Summed up: the graphics, gameplay, sound and music - all superb, A+++. What more can I say to get you to try out this lovely gem?…
– Real player with 14.5 hrs in game
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AT A GLANCE
(Full review follows below)
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Game Name: Botanicula
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Original Release: 2012
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Genre Tags: Point & Click; Adventure; Casual; Puzzle
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My Overall Grade: A-
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Estimated Playtime (Campaign): 4-7 hours
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Multiplayer Aspect: None
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Recommended To: Established fans of the genre; Novelty seekers; Casual gamers
REVIEW
Botanicula is an incredibly charming, short-and-sweet game which is frequently described as having a “happy” identity. It is a point-and-click style, casual adventure game that takes you on a wondrous ride through a microcosmic fantasy world inhabited by bugs and critters. Any fan of point-and-click, adventure-puzzle games will likely enjoy the experience.
– Real player with 5.6 hrs in game
Ayahuasca
I really dug this. I knew going in it wasn’t a game per say but I was actually relaxed and kind of mesmerized. I would say I think the $12.99 price I got it for is a lil' steep for basically a 20 minute stint, so i think I would be happier if it was like $5-maybe $10 and they would probably sell more. I like that it isn’t just a bunch of images in a 360 sphere you are looking at but real 3d models moving around and things. In fact, although it might be hard to do as this looked like it took quite the team to get it out, I would absolutely LOVE if they did chapters/dlc for $5 a piece and had different artists attempt the same kind of trip, same amount of time, in their own way. I could honestly see myself “using” this once a week to relax or something and definitely showing VR to my friends with.
– Real player with 3.0 hrs in game
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I’ve had an HTC Vive since 2017 and from the outset, noted that coming out of VR is more like emerging from dream than quitting a flat game. I think it’s compounded of two elements: the 360 ‘being there’ immersivity of VR, but also the physical activity which, no matter how limited, purges the adrenalin that static gaming leaves you full of.
I’ve been predicting VR psychedelics for as long as I’ve had the headset and I have several quite hallucinatory VR apps and games in my library: Chroma Lab, Cosmic Sugar, Emergence Fractal Universe, The Bond, Form. It was a no-brainer to buy Ayahuasca as soon as it came out.
– Real player with 1.6 hrs in game
24 Killers
Out in the Indian Ocean somewhere is a tiny desert island where a multiverse spanning drama is unfolding. You play as Home, a cursed super intelligence bound to a soldier’s corpse by an alien named Moon.
Powers: Gain powerful abilities like super strength, lightning speed, and stealth as you help Moon care for the island’s inhabitants. With these abilities, Home will be able to explore more of the island, defend themselves, solve puzzles, and get rich.
Whispers: Those living on the island were mutated by the presence of Whispers, playful sprites that love disguises. Whispers will change their disguise as Home gains new abilities. The shops around the island have adopted them as currency, and Moon is able to harness them as an energy source.
Blessings: 24 Killers features a unique file select that represents the in-game multiverse. Each “file” or “universe” has its own blessing. Blessings are optional modifications to the game rules that add extra challenge or help you complete future playthroughs faster. When you unlock a save file’s blessing, it will be available to use in all future playthroughs.
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Barking Puzzle
A game that somewhat resembles Mario, and other similar games in which it is pleasant to kill your time. I would like to see a variety of characters and “awards” that they select in the future. 8/10
– Real player with 11.9 hrs in game
Well, ok…
Reason for buying this:
1. Animal
2. Sound
3. Extraordinary journey
4. LvL’s
Like this 3
– Real player with 9.8 hrs in game
El Hijo - A Wild West Tale
Ultimately, I recommend this game, but with some caveats.
I learned about this game in the desperados III discord, but gameplay-wise, those two don’t have much in common. Somewhat easy stealth game (took me about 6 hours to clear it while inspiring all the children) with a handful more difficult spots. You’ll rarely have to worry about finding a spot to hide or wondering how to get through a corridor that has 5 patrolling bandits with intersecting routes. All levels are about getting to the end of the level, and although you may sometimes wonder WHERE the end of the level it, you’re usually steered in the correct direction, and there are usually multiple paths you can take to get there. The game’s cute, the art style is agreeable, the music has a nice heavy Morricone vibe.
– Real player with 58.0 hrs in game
I liked this game very much.
It looked beautiful and had a simple and fun story.
You are playing a little boy in the wild west who is trying to reach his mother who went to fight off bandits. The whole game is sneaking around with a different twist and a little bit of thinking.
Like shooting a stone with your slingshot in one direction to make the guard look around in a different direction, blowing of the lamp lights to make it movable in the dark and unseen, hanging underneath a moving Bison’s belly. Or moving behind a moving rail cart.
– Real player with 24.9 hrs in game
Foxen Island
This is another game where I wish steam had something more than a yes or no rating. It’s kind of slow pace as far as finding things though that is not a bad thing over all. Is cute and has a bit to explore though the second section isn’t out yet as far as I can tell. Also if you like this game you may also enjoy Chinbu’s Adventure.
Biggest problem this game has is control. Camera follows fox but fox does not follow camera so turning is a bit jarring. Also the drift when stopping can take some getting use to. Also there is no look up or down which can make it hard to get a good perspective. Even when using the controller turning was very touchy and trying to back up with keyboard or controller really doesn’t work.
– Real player with 3.5 hrs in game
Hello, your local fox here! I decided to try this on my stream as the first game for my weekly iteration of Foxxy Fridays on Twitch. The first game I ever streamed was a game called Lost Ember, and this gave me those vibes, but to a far more simplistic extent. It’s a cute game to explore, and I think would be more captivating to a younger audience, than one well-versed with video games. However, I know the game is still in early access, so I am excited to see what more will be added to the final version. I finished the game (early access) in a little over an hour, and was able to obtain 10/11 achievements, however, I was not able to access “Photo mode” to get the last achievement, which was really frustrating, as you can imagine. One other thing that would be really cute to add, is the ability for the fox to sit in the throne chairs. Could just be a little animation where the fox jumps to the seat and sits proudly or something. But here was my experience with that: https://clips.twitch.tv/RepleteBlatantPeppermintSMOrc-bR2k1MGE0Hf0QRPr
– Real player with 1.8 hrs in game
Golden Boy
Lucky me has the dubious honour of writing the first review for “Golden Boy”.
Golden Boy is another GameMaker Studio asset flip from serial copy+paste infringers, GreatHopeStudio. All these guys do is rip off game templates and projects from the Yoyogames/GameMaker Studio store and try to scam people into paying for someone else’s work on Steam. They have run asset flip scams dozens of times, and this is no exception. It’s nothing but a cash grab.
This time they’ve ripped off a basic template for a 2D retro pixel platformer, with locked resolution and controls, pixel “art”, and copy+pasted assets. Asset flips and other “Fake games” (as Valve calls them) are harmful to the industry, because they pollute the marketplace and reduce the visibility and exposure needed by genuine indie developers.
– Real player with 0.1 hrs in game
Lost In Time
Very Dark, Hard to see anything and slow playing even in running mode. I am lost in this game with no clear direction of where to go to what to do. So far I wouldn’t recommend it. You could at least make it daytime.
– Real player with 2.2 hrs in game
refunded. I love walking sims but this is a broken game don’t buy. No matter what setting I was on it was choppy, made me seasick to play. Doors are locked and you need to find keys. Well that would be great but the first key I picked up was not in my inventory when I went to the correct door. Also the inventory you have to scroll through everything to find your item…including pages you pick up..really just don’t buy this at all not even on sale, because this is a broken game. I didn’t experience the darkness like the other reviewer did but I didn’t even make it past the first key since it wasn’t in my inventory after pick up, you do pick up a flashlight before that.
– Real player with 0.3 hrs in game
Notre-Dame de Paris: Journey Back in Time
⣾⡇⣿⣿⡇⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⢻⣦⡀⠁⢸⡌⠻⣿⣿⣿⡽⣿⣿ play it
⡇⣿⠹⣿⡇⡟⠛⣉⠁⠉⠉⠻⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣄⡉⠂⠈⠙⢿⣿⣝⣿ It’s good
⠤⢿⡄⠹⣧⣷⣸⡇⠄⠄⠲⢰⣌⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣤⡀⠄⠈⠻⢮
⠄⢸⣧⠄⢘⢻⣿⡇⢀⣀⠄⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠄⢀
⠄⠈⣿⡆⢸⣿⣿⣿⣬⣭⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⠝⠛⠛⠙⢿⡿⠃⠄⢸
⠄⠄⢿⣿⡀⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⡾⠁⢠⡇⢀
⠄⠄⢸⣿⡇⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣫⣻⡟⢀⠄⣿⣷⣾
⠄⠄⢸⣿⡇⠄⠈⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣮⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢠⠊⢀⡇⣿⣿
⠒⠤⠄⣿⡇⢀⡲⠄⠄⠈⠙⠻⢿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠟⠛⠋⠁⣰⠇⠄⢸⣿⣿⣿
– Real player with 11.5 hrs in game
Out of the free educational type offerings, this title is a great for a short jaunt. You can’t teleport and fixed scenes are played in sequence but you can really see the potential for AC Unity to be in VR. The visuals are fine on an original Vive at 150% SS. I play modded Skyrim with 4K-8K textures, and I thought the intricate mesh details of the cathedral were really impressive. The textures are medium resolution.
It really is a huge regret Ubisoft hasn’t brought any of it’s open world titles to VR although AC Oculus title is planned.. Also a huge regret that AC Unity had such a terrible launch because it is one of the most beautiful open worlds created. But I’m glad at least more people can see the tremendous amount of work that Ubisoft put into recreating Paris.
– Real player with 0.6 hrs in game
Pocket Plants
It’s a pretty simple game but I see how it could appeal to some people. Find a plant, water it with multiple trips to the water source, level the plant up to the required tier, place the plant in its new home to lift the fog, do this until the vine is all healthy, win the level. The game is easy to break if you press random buttons, check the video for gameplay and said breakage.
It’s very relaxing and simple with no fear of failing as long as you read the tutorial the first time because there is no going back. It’s free and if you like caring for pants, you should try it. The level design is my favorite part of this game because it looks like an artist made it- there are some pretty cool visuals and even the forest is aesthetically pleasing. The music fits the relaxing theme, too.
– Real player with 1.9 hrs in game
Unfortunately, I could only get the game to run once. Every other time requires a combination of pressing the escape key and opening task manager to see anything beyond a black screen, which immediately goes back to black when trying to play. Hopefully this is just a bug, but I could find no way to report it. From what I’ve seen, the music and graphics are wonderful and I’d love to play more, but… shrug
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game