Recent reviews by The Fool

Despelote paints a very personal picture of growing up in Quito in the early 2000s. The game is somewhat autobiographical, following the experiences of the designer of the game. It creates a portal in which for 2 hours you can live in this snapshot of his life and see the world as he remembers it.

Despelote has a very strong sense of place. The snapshots of conversation and discussions that feel distinctly Ecuadorian, the unique visuals that mix realistic depictions of the city with very simple illustrations, and the live-action footage used throughout help ground you in Quito. I love that this kind of game exists.

It does something magical; it feels like the perfect mix of movie and game - the gameplay is intuitive, engaging and fun, and you never really lose momentum in the story - there are always things to do and conversations to hear. This is extremely hard in my opinion. I played a bunch of narrative games in which the story is great but you always hit a wall that drags everything to a halt; that never happens here.

I've never been a good football player, but this game made me enjoy kicking a ball around and see the connections that come with it, the community it creates. Anyway, the game is great and worth experiencing. Play Despelote.

Just finished Phoenix Springs. The game reminded me of the point-and-click games I used to play when I was a kid, the kind in which you would have to click and try everything to advance to the next puzzle. This game has been on my backlog ever since I caught a glimpse of it late last year. Its premise and art style really grabbed my attention and didn’t let go.

And after playing it I can say it lived up to the hype. The art style is one of the most unique I've seen in a while - it oozes style, and the story with its noir-twists, dreamlike vibes and a heavy "leave it to interpretation" approach really "matched" my freak. A couple of times it surprised me how fast the time had passed while I searched for answers in the different places the game takes place.

The only downside is that it is a little bit TOO much like the games that I used to play when I was a kid. There are a couple of puzzles that I feel are a drag to get through and that unless you jump into a guide online you would get stuck in there forever... or throwing everything at the wall until something sticks. I'm ashamed to admit I used the walkthrough with solutions to some puzzles that appears on the "Tips" menu more times than I would have liked.

Overall, Phoenix Springs had me hooked - I wanted to see what happened next in the story and untangle the mystery of what happened Leo Dormer alongside Iris. If you have patience to spare, don't mind feeling lost and enjoy movies like Inception or Memento - then this game is for you.

This game asks you to investigate the fate of Marissa Marcel by exploring the clips of three unreleased films she starred in. You navigate from clip to clip by focusing on a specific element, action, or character and try to parse three stories at once - the movie, the 'making of,' and the fate of Marissa.

This is one of the most unique games I've played - the way gameplay mixes with film sets it apart - a lot of interactive movies keep the interaction to specific moments to make the player decide between option A or B.

This game takes a more holistic approach and makes the whole movie interactive; your inputs determine the order you see the clips and you can decide the speed at which you see the clips, and even the decision of rewinding a clip can reward the user with a new piece of information.

This game makes you feel like a detective, peeling apart layers of an onion, diving deeper into the mystery.

Also a heads up, the game contains several sex scenes - some, especially in the first movie, are a bit uncomfortable to watch. The sex scenes never feel tacked on though, they reveal something about the movie, the characters or the overall mystery.

My only complaint is that when you are in the end game - when you have 90% of the clips discovered - discovering new clips becomes a chore and there is no way to know what is missing or clues to where to go. The only way to move forward is to go online.

It is the perfect game for a lazy afternoon - short, sweet, engaging and fun. It has a bunch of charming characters and funny scenes/gags. Loved to run around tearing apart all tax related and non tax related documents in sight.

SEASON: A letter to the future asks what memories - sights, sounds, thoughts - should be carried to the future. It allows you to take pictures, record sounds and add your observation to an scrapbook the protagonist is creating to share with future generations. It is a beautiful game to explore - both visually and emotionally. I spent so much time just looking at the views and recording sounds. It's a love letter to experiencing the world around you and keeping your eyes open to its beauty.

It has some "performance" issues and bugs here and there but nothing game breaking or that gets in the way of the experience.

If you like games like Kentucky Route Zero, 1000xResist, Phoenix Springs, Firewatch - this one is for you.

I expected the game to be more centered around traditional nun life and experiences and to be less "adventure". The fact that a lot of the game is puzzle-solving through climbing, running or by moving heavy things - feels wrong, that's not a nun, that's Lara Croft.

In the moments when the game's mechanics and theme come together, it really shines. There are a couple of moments in which your character has to pray to advance. I really loved that.

I think there are some mechanics, such as the "meaningless" point system or the praying, that could have been explored in ways that expanded on the game's ideas.

I left the game wanting more.

Even so, Indika is worth trying even if not all the pieces fall into place.

Mouthwashing deals with 'Taking Responsibility,' both from action and inaction, and the consequences of running away from said responsibility.

It is a well-done experience, tells a compelling story, and the time commitment it requires is not a big sacrifice.

If you like narrative games or thrillers, this game could be up your alley.

While Waiting from Optillusion follows the life of an unnamed man from birth until death - you play small scenes/minigames centered around moments in life in which you wait for things to happen - for fireworks to go off, a message from your crush, the outcome of an operation.

I am a sucker for this type of media - in which you follow an average person from the very beginning to the end. The game used that format nicely, and the poignant nature of some of the scenes hit really hard alongside the idea of 'life is what happens while you wait for stuff to happen.'

Weirdly enough, this is a great game to play while waiting. There are A LOT of scenes and all of them have a bunch of challenges that will have you coming back again and again to find all the little secrets the game offers.

The gameplay itself is okay. There are some scenes that are great and other ones that don't hit the mark, but that is to be expected. As a whole the game, is a relaxing, fun and - at times - moving experience.

This game has been on my radar ever since it started appearing on several 'Game of the Year' lists and getting a bunch of award nominations. That is to say, I had a lot of expectations going in... and they blew them away: the world they built, the themes they explore, the presentation, music, etc. It's all top-notch.

There are several scenes in this game that will stay with me for a while. It was like experiencing an interactive piece of theater.

1000xResist is the sort of game that feels very personal - like only the people involved could have created this game.

There is honestly a lot that can be said about this game - you could link it to the pandemic, Chinese and Hong Kong history, the importance of memory at a personal and societal level, etc. If you are a fan of dense games like that, this is for you.

Hekki!

A Short Hike is a game based around walking, climbing, and flying around a very scenic island. There you will meet all sorts of characters who will ask for your help with several tasks. It is incredibly charming.

The main story is quite short, but its emotional punch hits hard and manages to be memorable.

The soundtrack fits the setting perfectly and wins you over.

Finally, The game honors its title and is on the shorter side of things, perfect for a slow afternoon or for winding down after working or studying for the day