What I've Been Playing - October
Darq: psychological platformer horror
Status: Unfinished (3/6 chapters)
Initial Thoughts: I like the mechanics and the dreamlike atmosphere, less sold on the monster designs.
Rating: 3.7/5
Bramble: The Mountain King: Nordic horror adventure
Status: Unfinished (12/16 levels)
Initial Thoughts: I love this game so much. The music, the menace, the pathos. Only complaints are less accessible for D/deaf players and massive difficulty spike at level 12.
Rating: 4.8/5
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies: Fantasy turn-based JRPG
Status: Finished (x8)
Thoughts: I'm so glad that this game has held up for me since I was eleven. While I miss the aspects of having defined characters in your party, the running theme of coming to peace regarding death and missed opportunities more than make up for it.
Rating: 4.2/5
Avalon Code: fantasy action role play
Status: Unfinished (prev. 6/11 chapters, new 1/11)
Thoughts: This game has way more confusing controls than I remember when I was nine though I find fighting easier. The concept is really cool (you have to collect information to preserve before the world ends) and I had an early crush on some of the romantic interests. However, it's unwieldy and does not seem to make use of its core conceit.
Rating: 2/5.
That wraps up October's game update, I guess. DQ III's remake comes out next month but we'll find out if I have any money, then.
