Transient

Transient

I’ve betatested this game, and am now playing the full version for the first time. I may update this review after I’m through, but so far, this is what I can say about the game:

To summarize, this is a very interesting, story-driven, lovecraftian, atmospheric, cyberpunk adventure game, with great locations and attention to detail, that will appeal to any Lovecraft fan, and may just win over anyone who is not one already.

Now, onto the more detailed review:

This game is awesome. Once again, these developers deliver a truly lovecraftian story, set both in Lovecraft’s universe, and in the one they create and expand upon with each coming game. I’ve reviewed all of their previous games, and I never get tired of saying this: these guys know their Lovecraft. They really capture what was his most characteristic and interesting aspect, distilled into all of his tales: the atmosphere.

Real player with 26.4 hrs in game

! Just in case anyone ever reads this, I’m playing on v0.140 for reference. I’m giving this a thumbs up in part for the genre combination, and for conarium, a good game without too much in the way of a downside. I’ve read a few negative reviews about the end, which i wouldnt mind so much if I got to see the protagonist actually float into the sky eye of nirvana, just end sooner, or something(or just tease a sequel or something, it doesnt have to be cyber, but why not?). I’ve more of a problem with the beginning, let me notice ive got no shaman cinnamon, load into my chair and go to that street with jovarium sunset bar first so I can take a cyber stroll down the punk street to get some meta saffron from the electro apothecary, and maybe swing by the dystopian 7/11 for some digital donuts, and holo-cigarettes. you could have me cyber holo summon up the supplies(or get them from the locker) when i unplug from my nifty padded hacker chair and then put it in my wicken blade runner pantry down stairs. I could avoid a cyber dystopian cop by keeping my distance so i know they want to keep the octopus truth hidden from me. Then at the end near the train station, have my guy go like “wow! nobody would ever believe this train thing! those corporate goons were hiding this all along!”, otherwise the whole cyber punk part falls by the wayside. If you don’t want to add a more cyber start, maybe have the plot dump orb, not immediate go into the thou, and thees. You gotta ease me into thees, lowes, and theretofores, I was just playing some gta, and its a nasty shock. Also the voice FXs on the mushroom headed guy needs another pass, go listen to the starcraft archon merging is complete track guy for reference. Also the first encounter with red mystic goat skull head guy next after the raven explosion friend needs a voice fx rework too, either more cybery, or go listen to the haunting ghosts from deadspace voices or something idk. Also maybe a little more concern on finding my clone whacked, or just some more text logs on that. Also check your text logs for grammar and spelling mistakes. saw a few:/ I’m just posting on steam, you’re publishing. On the upside though, pretty environments, fun mash up of two of my favorite genres, and neat mini games. cool scitar, wind chimes, and chanting music. Fun retro computer consoles, but dont over use antewhateverthat word was, and dont copy paste the same admittedly well done description of indescribable horrors(even if it is a lore acceptable copy paste). I think some of the problems in this game comes from lovecrafts horror often being so different from a lot of cyber punk in it’s fear of the unknown, knowledge, inevitability, slow creeping mutations and occasion body horror. Though cyber punk(and maybe i’m just getting dystopias confused with cyber punk here) are often concerned with conspiracy(hooded cults, big future organizations), inevitability or alterations of self by technology, the focus tends to be more meditations on the ills of technology as opposed to forbidden knowledge in general, ignorance of hidden costs, or dependence on technology. I think there is great potential in the meeting of of the genres, but I don’t believe that Transient really takes advantage of that. It’s a shame because there are some overlaps there, and it would be pretty awesome(get some lovecraft style descriptions of cronenberged cyber monsters, maybe dwell on wires/gears meeting gross flesh the way love craft did on tentacles? Maybe cyber punk lessons brought home with fish/lizard themed horror?) particularly with some occult in there. I had fun though, so even if I can see where it could have been way better story/message wise, thumbs up. I just like this neon, smokey, conspiracy, and occult combination a lot, but played great, zero errors.

Real player with 15.4 hrs in game

Transient on Steam

Please Duology

Please Duology

Surreal dream logic story telling combined with body horror elements. Worth checking out if you’re looking for some pretty weird horror atmosphere.

Real player with 3.3 hrs in game

Very Surreal!

https://youtu.be/xyNh7lYgyYw

Real player with 1.3 hrs in game

Please Duology on Steam

The Bolt Age

The Bolt Age

It has some great aesthetics and a nice story, but the game needs to be polished, I will return to this review at a later date, after some updates have been made to remove the bugged enemies, which can spawn in walls, be unable to die, be invisible and there are issues with an inability to change weapons at time.

Pros

Good Aesthetics

Nice Story

Great Graphics

Smooth animation for the electricity

Level design is decent

cons

It is just way to buggy at the minute to be playable, WITH UPDATES this will be a very PROMISING GAME but it just needs some fixes to make it playable.

Real player with 2.0 hrs in game

I was excited to try this game out as from the trailer it looked like a game a really enjoyed in my childhood.

It did turn out to feel that way, the visuals were pretty cool and the weapons felt exciting to use. Unfortunately my laptop has served it’s time and can’t handle this game’s VFX so I’ll pick it up again when I get a new rig.

Real player with 1.7 hrs in game

The Bolt Age on Steam

Shadows Behind the Throne 2

Shadows Behind the Throne 2

Remember “That Which Sleeps” the kickstarter game that promised that you could play as Cthulhu and corrupt the world and a million other things, but then the dev took the money and ran and never delivered.

Implausibly Shadows is not only the game that was promised, but it delivers. The graphics are a little off and the interface is a little confusing, but goddamn is it fun to corrupt and dismantle several civilizations until eternal winter falls upon the land. There is a lot of room to grow, and here is hoping it keeps growing.

Real player with 119.6 hrs in game

Great game. It’s a bit like Ruinarch, if you’ve ever played that, except on a strategic level. Lots of variety in the ways you can take down a kingdom. Very replayable and it’s right up my alley.

That said, it’s EXTREMELY rough. As EA as you can get while still being playable.

  • Kind of a crap, poorly thought out UI. For example, saves are placed in alphabetical order instead of chronological order where your most recent one is at the top. You might have 7 autosaves, and the one you’re looking to load is save number 3, halfway down the screen and you have to look at the time to know that’s the one you want. I called my manual save aaa, so it will be at the top of the list. That’s a small thing, but there are a lot of poorly designed UI functions like that and it impacts the level of information you get from the game.

Real player with 39.5 hrs in game

Shadows Behind the Throne 2 on Steam

The Indigo Parallel

The Indigo Parallel

Gameplay will vary depending on the direction the player chooses to explore and the choices they make along the way. The Indigo Parallel incorporates numerous pathways leading to environmental puzzles to solve, the use of vehicles to progress, and communication terminals to interact with.

The goal of the Indigo Parallel is to create a game that allows the player to discover new and hidden pathways during each playthrough. Choices made throughout the game unlock new areas and alter existing levels.

Each element of this game, from the hieroglyphics to game play, the textures to the models, has been created through years of passion by a solo developer.

The Indigo Parallel is a unique experience. Its rich non-linear environment showcases a dark future with plenty of secrets.

Be prepared, this game is weird.

Key features:

  • Non-linear gameplay with branching pathways, filled with hidden features.

  • Levels that are altered by choices made, making each playthrough different.

  • Beautiful and immersive environmental storytelling.

  • Stunning soundtrack featuring music by J Ryan Halpenny and Decima1.

The Indigo Parallel on Steam

Unchosen: Forsaken

Unchosen: Forsaken

I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY BUT I FAILED TO SEE THAT ITS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VIVE, I NEED A REFUND!

Real player with 0.5 hrs in game

Alright game but has so much potential, for example,

add more shadows, when i first loaded in i had no clue what to do, add doors opening by themselves

it was a good game i had a few scares but nothing to much but i only played for a couple misn but yea

Real player with 0.1 hrs in game

Unchosen: Forsaken on Steam

King Oddball

King Oddball

Never has the art of flinging rocks at stuff been raised to such heights since Og realised how he could conquer his Neanderthal neighbours. You start off thinking you are aiming then somehow the game contrives to make you believe you are just the luckiest son of a gun around when combos go off. The levels do seem really well crafted to go nuclear on the right tossed rock - its hard to explain without resorting to analogies like skimming stones on a lake or gently casting pebbles at your loved one’s window.

Real player with 16.9 hrs in game

I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 hours it took me to complete to 100%. The mechanics are really solid and the rocks always seem to go where they are supposed to go. It’s a great little puzzle game a bit like Angry Birds but better in my opinion. I always thought Angry Birds was a bit hit and miss with the controls but you feel like you have perfect control over the rocks when you throw them here.

I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes casual puzzles. There are quite a lot of levels to play so you get a lot of playtime for your money. Some levels are very easy and some levels are harder. You’ll end up trying a hard level over and over again.It’s is very addictive. You find yourself getting nowhere near sometimes. The amount of times I have said to myself “This is stupid. It’s impossible!” but I managed to complete them all in the end. I must admit sometimes lady luck was on my side. That is half the fun with this game though. One minute you are frustrated because you have tried a level 20 times and just can’t seem to work out how to do it and then suddenly you fluke it ands go on an amazing hit run.

Real player with 10.3 hrs in game

King Oddball on Steam

Visceratum

Visceratum

“_That is not dead which can eternal lie,

And with strange aeons even death may die._” - H.P. Lovecraft

  • A frank, sometimes surreal, other times horrifying story with a good portion of caustic irony and grotesque..

  • Simple controls and no “platforming”, pixel-hunting or teeth-grinding puzzles allow you to concentrate on the main thing - the story and your participation in it.

  • A unique atmosphere woven from real photographs, bizarre plasticine animation, and enchantingly murky music by Serge Bulat.

Blood. Guts. Our own meat.

Here are the Great Ancients sleeping in each of us.

Should we fear imaginary monsters, or creatures crawling out of the depths of the sea? After all, they are only the wretched of this world.

The unknown and fleshy within us - is the true, underlying horror of which we may not even be aware. A horror about to break free…

Visceratum draws inspiration from the work of those who have been able to look into the abyss of humankind. Let’s honor those names: Lovecraft and Kafka, Beksiński and Giger; Cronenberg, Švankmajer, Lynch. And many other masters of the dark arts gave a bit of their energy to the seed from which Visceratum sprouted. However, the game does not try to parasitize on the greats - by paying tribute to them, it seeks to construct its own reality.

The strange visuals, сrawling at the bottom of the “uncanny valley”, combining serious themes and drama with outright absurdity - create a special surreal atmosphere of Visceratum. Will you dare to step into these dark waters?

Visceratum on Steam