Recent reviews by ac.shou

Score: ★★★★☆
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Metroidvania, Platformer, Retro

Game Review:
Odallus: The Dark Call feels like the spiritual sequel Castlevania II always deserved but never quite pulled off. This isn’t just another retro rehash—it’s a grim, deliberate dive into methodical action-platforming with Metroidvania structure layered on top. Imagine Demons’ Crest by way of Faxanadu, filtered through a modern indie sensibility that respects the past without copying it wholesale.

Level design is smartly constructed, built around nonlinear exploration and backtracking once you earn new movement tools—double jumps, water traversal, and so on. What impresses most is how the game opens up: initially straightforward, but gradually revealing secrets, shortcuts, and alternate paths that beg for a second run. Combat is slower and weightier than typical action-platformers, but it’s intentional—you’re not here to button mash, you're here to survive. Enemy patterns are predictable but lethal, and boss encounters are fair but unforgiving if you don’t learn their rhythms.

Visually, the game delivers gritty 8-bit sprites that avoid the “crushed color” syndrome plaguing other retro indies. The art direction leans hard into gothic horror with crumbling ruins, haunted cathedrals, and corrupted monsters oozing menace. The soundtrack nails the eerie atmosphere too—chiptune with dread baked into the composition.

There’s a slight clunk to the controls—not broken, just old-school inertia by design—and the game occasionally drags in late-game item hunts. It’s still a far more respectful experience than many of its nostalgic peers.

Runs flawlessly on Steam Deck with responsive controls, no performance hiccups, and crisp visuals that scale well to the handheld’s screen.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★½
Completion Time: 8–10 hours

Achievement Review: The hardest achievements involve full exploration, secret areas, and the bad-to-good ending pivot. Nothing grindy, just thoroughness.

Score: ★★★½
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Action, Platformer, Retro

Game Review:
Oniken is a brutal throwback to the NES era (Ninja Gaiden, Contra), but unlike its pixelated ancestors, it refuses to hide its rage behind nostalgia. It’s not just difficult—it’s calculated in its cruelty. Every enemy, projectile, and trap is deliberately placed to punish hesitation. This isn’t a game about reflexes alone; it’s about rote memorization, tight execution, and learning the hard way.

The sprite art is detailed and thematically consistent—equal parts Fist of the North Star and Metal Storm—and the soundtrack could pass for a lost Famicom chip-tune LP. Mechanically, it’s responsive and snappy, with input latency dialed down to the millisecond. Yet the difficulty curve is less a curve and more a brick wall at stage 3. Bosses shift from manageable to absurd, and Boss Rush mode is downright sadistic. Even seasoned action-platformer players will find themselves on edge.

This isn’t challenge for fun—it’s challenge as gatekeeping. Oniken demands multiple replays to succeed, and if you’re not willing to study and adapt, it offers no compromise. That will alienate most players, but for masochists and purists, it’ll hit the right nerve.

Runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, though you’ll need steady thumbs and perhaps a stress ball.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Completion Time: 7–10 hours

Achievement Review: The Boss Rush and no-death run are the primary bottlenecks. It’s skill-based, but be ready to replay entire sections repeatedly. A test of patience more than reflex.

Score: ★★★★☆
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Third-Person Shooter, Tactical Shooter, Sci-Fi

Game Review:
Binary Domain was Sega’s unexpected swing at the cover shooter genre—a lane dominated by the likes of Gears of War—and somehow, it works. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it well enough to ride smoothly. The mechanics are tight, the AI is aggressive without being unfair, and there’s a satisfying feedback when tearing through robotic enemies piece by piece - limbs shatter, heads pop, and the bots keep crawling toward you Terminator-style. From a distance, it screams “generic sci-fi shooter,” but once you’re in it, the cheesy dialogue and over-the-top plot start to grow on you like a guilty pleasure.

The story is absolutely camp—complete with big twists, melodramatic performances, and characters that feel ripped out of every action movie cliché—but it’s held together by genuinely fun gameplay and a surprising emotional core by the end. It’s not profound, but it leaves you wanting a sequel, purely for the characters, the world, and the punchy action.

The squad-based combat is responsive through a trust system: depending on who you bring along on missions, different companions respond with unique dialogue and grow to like (or hate) you based on your choices. It’s a small but effective layer that makes each run feel a bit more personal.

Runs great on Steam Deck with with only minimal tweaks.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Completion Time: 19–21 hours

Achievement Review:
The core achievements are very manageable, mostly tied to story progress and difficulty modes. However, the biggest roadblock is is the online requirement. Several multiplayer achievements are tied to a dead online mode that can only be completed by coordinating sessions with friend(s) or leveraging the community within Discord.

Score: ★★★½
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Racing, Retro, Time Attack

Game Review:
80’s OVERDRIVE aims to be a neon-soaked tribute to the classic arcade racers of yesteryear, and visually, it nails that brief. If you grew up with OutRun, Lotus Turbo Challenge, or Rad Racer, the pixel-perfect synthwave aesthetic will immediately strike a chord. Gorgeous sunsets, palm-lined highways, and pulsing synth tunes? Check, check, and check.

While the game drives on the right nostalgia-fueled highway, it occasionally hits a few potholes. The visuals are undoubtedly striking, with beautiful pixel art and stylish parallax backdrops that bring the VHS decade of excess to life. The music slaps—there’s no other way to put it—with a high-energy retro OST that keeps the mood just right while you tear down the track.

Where things falter is in the handling and game loop. The controls are responsive enough, but lack the weight or nuance of modern arcade racers. Car handling feels stiff, almost digital—turning left or right is more binary than fluid. That’s fine if you’re expecting a faithful homage to 8- and 16-bit racers, but frustrating when the track design ramps up and you’re fighting controls more than racing opponents.

There’s a campaign mode with upgradeable cars and police chases, which sounds awesome on paper—but it's fairly shallow in execution. Most races devolve into memorization and dodge-reflex gameplay. Rival AI is functional but unremarkable, and the upgrade system is basic at best, failing to give you that rewarding sense of progress over time. Crashes feel cheap, sometimes unavoidable, and the checkpoint/time-extension system can feel punishing for casual players.

If you come in expecting an authentic retro arcade racer with all the charm and limitations of its inspirations, you’ll have fun in bursts, particularly on the Steam Deck. However if you're looking for modern depth, tight mechanics, or long-term engagement, 80’s OVERDRIVE starts to feel more like a stylish nostalgia trip than a truly gripping ride.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Completion Time: 11–13 hours

Achievement Review:
Grind-heavy but achievable if you stick to the road and optimize upgrades. Be ready to replay for high scores and perfect times if you’re chasing 100%.

Score: ★★★★☆
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Casual, Action, Superhero

Game Review:
Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is a sleeper gem—an unexpected delight that captures the heart of the animated Justice League series into a light, accessible brawler for a younger crowd. While clearly designed for kids, there's enough charm, polish, and comic book spirit here to keep even longtime DC fans smiling.

The voice acting is vibrant and well-cast, giving life to a script that has surprising moments of wit and cleverness. The story, while simple, gives each hero a meaningful role, anchored by fun side quests that bring in familiar villains with just enough mythology to keep it interesting. The ability to switch between Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman is a rare treat—especially since games rarely let you play as the Trinity outside of cameos or ensemble casts.

Sadly, it’s also a missed opportunity. Aquaman, Cyborg, Flash, and Green Lantern are only relegated to NPC status, and it’s a shame not to see them in action. Combat is repetitive, the RPG elements are shallow, and yes—it makes zero sense why Superman and Wonder Woman use a goofy little vehicle to traverse a pint-sized open world. But somehow, that absurdity adds to the game’s silly charm.

In a real world that recently often feels heavy and humorless, Justice League: Cosmic Chaos feels like a playful escape. It’s not deep, it’s not groundbreaking—but it is joyful. And that’s something a lot of games forget to be.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Completion Time: 13–15 hours

Achievement Review:
Achievements are straightforward, with most tied to story progression, collectibles, and light combat challenges. No real grind or difficulty—just time.

Score: ★☆☆☆☆
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Top-Down, Shooter, Bullet Time

Game Review:
The Hong Kong Massacre wants to be Hotline Miami with slow-mo flair, but ends up a frustrating mess. It’s visually blurry, mechanically broken, and as soulless as AI-generated stock footage. You’ll wrestle with floaty ragdoll physics, non-existent resolution settings, and “bullet time” that functions more like a death sentence.

Enemies? They're lightning fast, mimic your every move, and somehow shoots better than you ever could. They snipe you from off-screen with supernatural aimbot accuracy and clairvoyant wallhacks. It’s less a test of skill, more an exercise in futility. Even with decent aim and awareness, you're always taken out by a stray, invisible bullet you couldn't possibly react to.

Weapon upgrades exist only in theory—your starter pistol remains inexplicably the best choice across the board. The level design is repetitive and sterile, and the whole loop feels like punishment without purpose. Dialogue is worse than fan fiction—flat, robotic, and totally forgettable. Any attempts at storytelling read like machine-generated filler.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Completion Time: Approximately 7–8 hours

Achievement Review:
Most achievements demand precision in a game that’s anything but precise. Completion feels like self-inflicted punishment.

Score: ★★★★★
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Action, Stealth, Superhero

Game Review:
Batman: Arkham Asylum redefined superhero games when it launched—and it still holds up today. This isn’t just a game where you play as Batman; you feel like Batman. From the second you’re locked in with Gotham’s worst, it’s clear Rocksteady Studios weren’t just making a licensed title—they were crafting a faithful adaptation built by fans, for fans.

The FreeFlow combat still sets a gold standard. Every punch, counter, and cape stun feels smooth, deliberate, and earned. Predator segments make you feel like a true hunter, watching terrified thugs unravel as you take them out one by one. The Metroidvania-style structure, paired with gadget-gated progression, encourages exploration without ever dragging. There’s real comic book DNA here—exceptional pacing, smart encounters, and no filler.

Kevin Conroy is Batman. Mark Hamill is Joker. Their performances breathe life into a psychological tug-of-war that feels pulled straight from the best story arcs. The game doesn’t just throw villains at you—it builds atmosphere, tension, and stakes in every interaction with gravitas.

This isn’t just dark and brooding for style—it’s purposeful. The story works because it understands Batman: it’s not the grit, but the resolve, the duality, and the mythology that matters.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Completion Time: Approximately 22–25 hours

Achievement Review:
Combat (chains) and stealth challenges require precision, patience, and perfect rhythm. The Riddler trophies? They’ll test your memory, observation, and sanity—but completing it all feels like earning your place in the Batcave.

Score: ★★★★½
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Retro, Action, Platformer

Game Review:
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a love letter to the golden age of 8-bit side-scrollers. It channels the spirit of Castlevania III in all the right ways—tight level design, character switching, punishing bosses, and a killer chiptune soundtrack that sets the mood perfectly. Each character adds a unique twist to combat and exploration, allowing for tactical variety and replayability.

What truly elevates the experience is its balance between challenge and fairness. The controls are crisp and responsive—especially vital for those split-second decisions in the heat of battle. The visuals embrace the retro aesthetic but add subtle modern effects and quality-of-life tweaks that make it feel polished rather than dated. The game respects its roots while standing firmly on its own.

On Steam Deck, it plays like a dream. Its bite-sized level structure and nostalgic visuals make it perfect for portable sessions.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Completion Time: 8–9 hours

Achievement Review:
The game demands multiple playthroughs, including Nightmare Mode and Boss Rush. Mastery of all characters and knowledge of alternate paths are key. Fair, but definitely skill-testing.

Score: ★★★★★
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Narrative-Driven, Noir, Choice-Based

Game Review:
The Wolf Among Us delivers one of the most gripping and stylish narratives in the Telltale catalog. Set in a gritty, neon-drenched world where fairy tale characters hide in plain sight, it casts you as Bigby Wolf—a hardened sheriff walking the line between justice and rage. Every decision you make shapes the story’s path, relationships, and tone, forcing you to live with the weight of your choices.

The real strength here lies in the sharp writing, expressive voice acting, and a world dripping with atmosphere. Characters are layered, flawed, and believable, even if they're a talking pig or a glamoured troll. The pacing keeps you hooked, and the moral dilemmas rarely offer easy answers.

On Steam Deck, it runs smoothly with no input issues—an excellent handheld experience, especially given the episodic format.

It’s not an action game, nor a puzzle-heavy one. But as an interactive story? It's unforgettable. A must-play for fans of mature storytelling with an edge. A sequel couldn't come soon enough!

Achievement Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
Completion Time: 8–10 hours

Achievement Review:
Full completion is straightforward—just finish the episodes. No missables, no grinding, just an engaging ride from start to finish.

Score: ★★★★★
Played on Steam Deck: Yes
Tags: Classic JRPG, Turn-Based, Story-Driven

Game Review:
My first encounter with Final Fantasy IV was on the Super Nintendo and later reintroduced to it on the Nintendo DS with the Final Fantasy IV: 3D Remake. Unfortunately, the pixelated Japanese text with the DS version made the experience nearly unplayable—frustrating enough that I had to walk away. The Steam port, however, redeems the game entirely. With clear, legible text, a streamlined UI, and smoother performance, this version makes revisiting the story not only possible but thoroughly enjoyable.

The 3D remake modernizes the visuals with fully animated cutscenes and voice acting, breathing new life into the narrative. While the chibi-style character models may clash with the game’s mature themes, they offer a unique aesthetic that can distract the emotional weight of the story. Personally, I still prefer the original 16-bit pixel art, but I can respect the creative direction here. The soundtrack remains a masterclass in emotional scoring—nostalgic, cinematic, and utterly timeless.

What sets this entry apart is its narrative depth and pacing. It's a beautifully told story of redemption, duty, and identity—easily my favorite in the franchise. The Active Time Battle (ATB) system, once revolutionary, still holds up remarkably well, providing a satisfying mix of tension and strategy.

On Steam Deck, it plays flawlessly—perfect for quick bursts or long, immersive sessions. For new players and returning fans alike, this is a classic reborn.

Achievement Difficulty: ★★★★★
Completion Time: Approximately 100–120 hours

Achievement Review:
Beating the game is manageable—but completing it? Brutal. Multiple playthroughs (at least two) are required, and you'll spend dozens of hours farming rare drops like rainbow puddings and dragon tails. It's painful, excessive, and not for those without commitment. This game's grind lives true to the JRPG classics. Only attempt if you're a hardcore JRPG completionist—or a masochist.

For reference, all characters were at maximum level with close to their top min/max stats. I had also invested ~650,000 Gils and up to 70 hours of time at the late-end of the game. Click here[ibb.co] to view the visual breakdown of the journey.