Recent reviews by Nez'lakor

Split Fiction is one of those rare gems that truly surprises you.
It makes you laugh, then catches you off guard, then squeezes your heart in the most unexpected ways.
And the ending? Just mind-blowing.
Over 20 years of nerding experience and still, it had me frozen like a rock in front of the screen... split screen, of course.

And the brilliant part? You only need one copy to play it fully co-op with a second player.
Yes, you heard that right: one purchase, two hearts (or two shared brain cells, depending on who you’re playing with).

So do yourselves a favor. Get it.
Call someone you care about (or someone you just barely tolerate) and play it together.
You won’t regret it.

DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility for any friendships or relationships that may end because of this game.

Ah, I see, brilliant business model.
The game is free... the therapist isn’t.

Packed with references to early Silent Hill and Resident Evil titles (and even a hint of Evangelion, in my opinion), this indie horror gem is a must-play for fans of the genre. It features pixel art with fixed camera angles, a well-crafted dystopian sci-fi setting, and an ever-present sense of anxiety that intensifies as you dig deeper and progress through the game, becoming almost suffocating especially if you play on Survivor difficulty with the classic inventory (a combination you'll need if you're aiming for 100% achievements, so keep that in mind).

I even had to snack on some chocolate during breaks just to recharge and push myself to keep going.

The first Hero Shooter with heroes you actually care about

Let’s get straight to the point, It wasn’t easy.
Almost impossible, really, to even get closer to the original.
Nobody gave Bloober Team even half a chance, and even Konami seemed unsure, oddly quiet about it. In some cases, they even made old social media posts about the game mysteriously disappear, fueling fear especially in fans like me who were deeply connected to the original masterpiece.
And yet, against all odds, Bloober Team pulled off a monumental remake worthy of a standing ovation. They not only stayed true to the original with a rigorous devotion, but also delivered an experience that’s, at times, far more horrifying, impactful, and disturbing than its predecessor.

A perfect example? That Unreal Engine logo at the start of the game.

That ♥♥♥♥ still creeps me out.

In my stuttering dreams, I see that logo, Unreal Engine 5.

Playing Yakuza 0 and watching JoJo at the same time is a dangerous combo that just makes you want to punch random people on the street, while being well dressed in a fancy suit and screaming random Japanese words.

❝Black Heart.
It becomes black when touched by pain.
Yours isn't as black. Yet. But soon.
The pain saps your strength, yet it can give you more. It's up to you to decide what to do with it.
Is it really so bad for it to be black?
You can stop caring about others.
This opens many doors, you know.❞

Reviewing a game like this is always challenging, torn between shouting to the world about how fantastic it is and why it should absolutely be played, and preserving the experience and the joy of discovery for those who decide to purchase it.
It's a short game, around 4 hours, presented in 2D pixel art.
The gameplay strongly resembles a metroidvania, but not entirely, as the core of this experience isn't meant to be the gameplay itself.
Instead, it's the narrative that bring you in a dark, haunting world meticulously reconstructed with a superb soundtrack that guides you step by step through a story about pain, suffering, and remorse...
or maybe, it's a story about love?

When you let your intrusive thoughts win

Idris Elba hardly testing my heterosexuality here

Wake the ♥♥♥♥ up Samurai, we have a game to restart.