Author: AndresPlays

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the latest video game adaptation from Tove Jansson’s kind world, now focused on its gentle protagonist. Every winter, the Rideau Canal freezes over. Accustomed to the harsh season, the people in Ottawa take this temporary opportunity to skate all over the world’s largest skating rink. Making the most of it, nearby pastry shops offer “beaver tails” (deep-fried dough) and warm chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows. In sub-zero temperatures, sipping a boiling hot beverage gives a cherished moment of respite amid the inclement weather. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth evokes this contrast by portraying its central character against an ever-present…

An opinion piece in which I navigate friction in video games getting the best of us and how simple it would be to just let it go. Studies indicate that informed buyers research before making their purchase decisions. A generally good practice, this becomes more difficult when talking about video games. Some may have a demo, but it might not successfully showcase everything a game has to offer. Gameplay elements could be tweaked by the time it releases. Player feedback could influence narrative arcs, combat mechanics, or even puzzles. In short, there are various factors that may not give a…

Tombwater is a top-down Soulslike dripping with atmosphere, successfully blending the Western genre with eldritch horror. Since Demon’s Souls release in 2009, developers everywhere have tried to replicate that inimitable FromSoftware formula. Eventually becoming its own genre—the challenging Soulslike—there are several recognizable staples any seasoned gamer will identify: a bonfire to rest (which also resets enemies), a distinct tinge of eldritch horror, and uproarious boss fights. Give or take a few of these elements, such as punishing enemy placement or traps, and you have the perfect formula. Easier said than done, Tombwater elegantly delivers a haunting blend of Bloodborne and…

Live this April 24, Yet Another Game Awards is an awards ceremony celebrating video games across the board. We interviewed its creator to learn more about it. Video game award events have become ubiquitous within the gaming industry. How else will we recognize the massive talent on display year in and year out? The conversation about whether video games are art is one that pops up like clockwork every few months in social media “discourse.” Every one of these doubts can be laid to rest when a well-thought-out awards event rewards ingenuity and expertise in various technical fields. But what…

Marrow Marrow is a VR arcade arena shooter that makes for intense sessions thanks to its aerodynamic grappling hook and fast-paced movement. Video games that go at a breakneck speed are nothing new. Quake, from 1996, is one of the pioneers of the FPS genre that made mouse and keyboard players move their wrists as fast as they could. Years later, Ghostrunner and its unforgiving one-shot deaths made for precise and quick ninja-like movements. In the virtual reality space, flashy action games like Vendetta Forever or Action Hero evoke that high-octane movie magic. Stripped down to the basics of arcade…

Dosa Divas is an active, turn-based adventure where you cook with love and fight against an evil empire. As you should. Stored away in the attic of my house, there is a box full of old photo albums and documents. In it, there is a memory I treasure the most. A typewritten recipe for a heartwarming noodle soup. My grandma would always cook it for me and my brother when she would take care of us. A deeply formative experience, her lasting love was channeled through one of the best dishes I have ever tried. The taste is one that…

Announced for Meta Quest, Sugar Madness is a new VR first-person on-rails shooter available to wishlist now. A playtest is planned later this month. Developed by JollyCo, Sugar Madness is a fast-paced, immersive first-person shooter in VR where quick thinking, strategy, and adaptability are key to survival in a corrupted world where monster-infused candies fight back. Based on the trailer, players can expect a wacky array of lightly scary enemies, projectiles, and massive boss encounters that they will fight against. Various levels, from winter wonderlands to Halloween-themed towns, will take players through a carousel of biomes. Blending arcade-style action with…

The Wide Open Sky is Running out of Catfish explores heavy themes that are handled well thanks to its surrealism. Surrealism and video games practically go hand in hand. Before technology allowed us to chase the endless trend of increasingly photorealistic imagery, we used to let our creativity run wild. Among the most famous examples, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed Super Mario Bros. 2 was all a dream in the plumber’s mind. More modern surreal video game portrayals include What Remains of Edith Finch, a narrative that goes through the unfortunate family tree of the Finches. Placing you in a first-person perspective,…

Imprinted is an upcoming mystery game that has you uncovering a ghost story from the “comfort” of a fake operating system. Everywhere you go, there is a ghost story not far from you. Maybe it’s human nature to scare ourselves from the mysteries of the unknown, or possibly an astral plane does exist. We will never know. What we do know is that supernatural tales of this vein have existed as long as we have. Today, real-life ghost hunters dedicate their lives to pooling resources and finding proof of the paranormal’s existence. For someone as skeptical as I, even writing…

People of Note is an ambitious turn-based musical journey where theatrical numbers and robust combat systems converge to deliver one of the most creative games to date. It is astounding to think that music is simply vibrations. Sound waves arranged and rearranged that give us goosebumps, motivate us to get up every day, and make us chant in unison with strangers like you’ve known each other your entire life. There are so many genres to even wrap our heads around. From tone to language and variations, what makes K-pop any different from hip-hop is precisely what makes each of them…