houtheguardian.bsky.social
Video game fanatic. Occasional watcher of film.
On that constant backlog grind.
If you're curious, here's a Google doc with every game I've finished or played to a significant extent. I'm down for essentially anything.
https://shorturl.at/DksCv
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Mega Man 7 (1995) 5/10
Started off strong. Initially liked the new graphics, quickly realizing it results in less available screen space which really hampers the entire game. Very unsatisfying difficulty, piss-easy until Wily's stages which are ball busting. Music was also just so-so.
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Either of the American Mcgee Alice games could be fun to analyse themes.
Gravity Rush and Subnautica could also make for some fun discussion.
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Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania (2021) 5/10
Either the level design is terrible, or the reworked physics system wasn't made to account for the old level design. Hmm, makes you wonder. Feels like a pseudo remake just to have anything Monkey Ball available on PC.
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Onimusha: Warlords (2001) 8/10
Didn't know this had hands. Despite the age and tank controls you maneuver with such ease. Not scary but instead more tense, especially those few thrilling puzzles. Slide puzzle isn't that bad unless you buckle under pressure. Character shifts are fun pace breakers.
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Genuinely one of my favorite games from last year. The aspirations of the team behind it is crystal clear to the point of gaining my complete endearment.
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Get to Work (2024) 8/10
So simple, so smooth, so tense. I really liked this but I'd love a full game with this almost gravity manipulation without the fear of major progress loss. The occasional commentary surprisingly doesn't overstay, amusing and cathartic. Brought out some real buried memories.
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Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All! (2021) 4/10
Classic beat 'em up that's lacks flair, juice and variety. Or maybe just not to be twice its required length. Feels like a game that desperately needed another pass, and a year more in development, which i imagine the publisher both refused.
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That's what I really admire about Monolith. They always experiment with loads of gameplay concepts in every title produced, even when you wouldn't imagine innovation spring from FPSs. Will definitely be seeking out more of their catalogue.
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Hey, i get it. It was really cool despite my complete lack of Tron knowledge. That awful jump being too often required for platforming and the abysmal fall damage. At no point was it needed to be so penalizing. Was very fun the specific build i was rocking stun-locked every boss.
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Pizza Tower. For a brief period i was addicted to beating my previous speedrun record.
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Mushihimesama (2004) 8/10
It's a shmup. Feels and looks great! The prerendered/early 3D styled bugs tickles my brain just right. The game getting slowdown was always hype. Don't yet have the knowledge to properly assess negatives and positives between them.
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Tron 2.0 (2003) 4/10
This game entirely wins on its presentation departments. OST perfectly compliments the vibrant tech world. Endearingly camp story. Too bad the actual game is dull at best, and bafflingly frustrating at worst. Carries a shocking amount of DNA on to future Monolith titles.
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Rusty's Retirement (2024) 7/10
New favorite idle game! It visually acting like a second taskbar immensely helps the appeal to always keep it open. It's just very satisfying to watch. The typical ascension system being replaced with starting a map with zero progress crossover, not fuckin' with it.
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Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir (2019) 3/10
"It's made for kids" never excuse these cash grabs. Looks are pleasing, animations too but nothing has any life or flair to it. The attack moves are unnecessarily cumbersome to perform. Why switch off from Obelix when he has the magic menhir.
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F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin (2009) 3/10
Frustrates me the more i think about it. Adds new neat features, removes some that work. And iterates on the stuff that didn't work. Every weapon took a serious downgrade, especially the shotgun. Bizarrely bad cutscene direction. Generally mediocre by the end.
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More Pillars of Eternity in my vain attempt to catch up with Avowed's release. And on the side maybe some DMC Devil May Cry because that Netflix DMC teaser got me itchin'.
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FlyKnight (2025) 7/10
King's Field, RuneScape and literal bugs. Such an odd combo, very unique vibe. An unbalanced mess and way less demanding than those two inspirations would let on. I'd love to see what the developer would do with an expanded scope and reexamining the ideas of this.
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Flicky (1984) 6/10
Being able to actually vaguely control your jump trajectory unlike most platformers of this era, shocker, makes it fun. The lack of variety or maybe just adjusting the location of you're chicks or the enemies during the second arcade run, really hurts replayability.
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F.E.A.R. (2005) 9/10
I could pick at countless issues it has. Harder difficulties disincentivizes experimentation. Awkwardly segmented between horror and action. Many others, still. Don't care, this is THE primo fps experience.
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Saints Row: The Third (2011) 7/10
The open-world formula works here better than most because it's fun to navigate, the chaotic loop of jumping vehicles because of often conflicts helps a lot. Humor lands more than not for something this reference loaded. Has a pretty perfect capstone to the story.
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Balatro (2024) 7/10
It's good, you know that. I just didn't care to play more than those ten some such runs. The increasing difficulty levels felt very discouraging against experimentation. Don't know what else to add. At this point if you haven't played it, you probably wouldn't like it anyways.
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Cool stuff. Also, Gabriel plush NOW!!
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Rock of Ages (2011) 6/10
Not really a good game at least mechanically speaking. Fun, funny and some rotten gags even for 2011. It mixes so many seemingly contradictory themes and ideas. Such a unique vibe. Filler boss fights. For the sequel i *just* want them to tighten gameplay elements and feel.
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Oh that's way quicker than I'd imagined. Cool!
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Kinda respect the commitment to the bit of always adding a Hitler centered mission.
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Nonogram - The Greatest Painter (2018) 6/10
It's decent. Just far from the first picross like title I'd recommend to newcomers. Soundtrack became repetitive from second one. An intended accessibility feature was just distracting, and mildly annoying. Couldn't disable it for some reason.
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Captain Toad: Treasure Track (2014) 8/10
Beautifully realized dioramic environments, to the point you almost forget it wasn't created FOR it. Camera not so much. Lots of reuse, even accounting for outside the game. Do not try and complete it! Child-like wonder, toy sized puzzles. Easy recommend.
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Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk (2021) [Unrated]
Very visually striking. But less effective than 'Milk Inside'. I can't really justify my reasoning. That one felt so vivid and personal. This had a budget and a team, but felt almost made for committee. Still interesting enough.
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Red Dead Redemption (2010) 6/10
Filled with fetch quests and errands, until the last 1/4. Actually got teary-eyed. Dull horseback rides which quick travel doesn't fix. They try and liven up the world with events to mildly positive success. It's not great when Marston controls worse than the horse.
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You don't say. What the hell is this wack two sided piece?
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Serious Sam: The First Encounter (2001) 5/10
I might like this over 3. Don't know, they're both pretty similarly mediocre. Even though this has more negatives, i feel. Multiple obnoxious enemy types. Agonizing 'run' speed. Drawn out combat encounters.
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Call of Juarez: The Cartel (2011) 2/10
Whatever neat ideas it has going for it like playstyles, thematic purpose and Payday-esque gameplay. Are all completely invalidated by the inexcusably primitive gun play, awkward writing and the truly abhorrent experience it is to inhabit this trio. I can't.
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I really like it actually. Seems like a healthy mix of classic DK and the Mario movie design.
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Finally! I was genuinely worried this was just never gonna happen.
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Sheepy: A Short Adventure (2024) [Unrated]
More like 'Sleepy: A Sloppy Adventure'. Because you control a lumbering rock, jumping through sludge. Technically impressive. But i personally felt no directors touch or passionate soul in this project really.
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Believe me or not. Call of Juarez: The Cartel.
I had no idea this was set in modern day.
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Call of Juarez: Bound by Blood (2009) 4/10
We know the general trajectory the story will take, there's no mystery to the events, literally why care?! If it was co-op i could see why this was made. Constantly having to wait for your bro and wonder if their AI broke. Intrusive auto cover system.
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Call of Juarez (2006) 5/10
Running down the basics, shootouts are tight! Stellar soundtrack! Utterly sells its specific western feel. A myriad of gameplay concepts both intrigue and baffle in execution. Duels are borked, at least on pc, and feel awful when they aren't. Equally dumb protagonists.
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VLADiK BRUTAL (2024) 6/10
Almost hurts how obsessive the inspirations are. But it does do a pretty great job replicating Half-Life. Killer atmosphere and good gun feel. You almost always trade with the human enemies. If it wasn't for the absolute dog water bosses this would be an easy recommend.
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I guess i should preface that every tier is alphabetized except for the top, which is actually left to right ranked like my favorites.