Recent reviews by ChristopherAG

It's like that one Kenny Rogers song but with looting and shooting instead of holding and folding.

I'm currently several hours deep into petting cats, smacking eldritch fish creatures with my magical BBQ tongs, and traveling back-and-forth through time using an enchanted outhouse that I've dubbed The TURDIS.

10/10. Game of the year. Gold star.

One of my favourite gaming experiences of 2021 thus far.

As much as I loved the first Creepy Tale, this managed to be a more immersive experience, due in large part to the addition of voiceover and the extended game length in comparison to the first—the first took me about two hours the first time through, this one about four hours, though both can be completed rather speedily depending on your puzzle competency and willingness to consult a guide (I opted not to for the initial playthrough).

Much like the first, the story unfolds like a Brothers Grimm-inspired dark fairytale with an artistic aesthetic that's lovingly reminiscent of John Kenn Mortensen's work; there's a prompt upon startup where the developers recommend playing with headphones and a controller, and I second this recommendation—playing at night with quality headphones is certainly the way to go if you're looking to enhance your experience.

A highly satisfying way to spend a night or two, and I hope there's a Creepy Tale 3 in our future.

Haven't seen ya in over twenty years now.

Methinks it's time to share a drop of the hard stuff together by a roarin' peat fire and do some doomsdaying and armagiddying, eh, Michael?

Life in Cozy Grove: tranquil, cheerful, and charmingly spooky.

Also life in Cozy Grove:

-warnings about run-ins with bears
-you are encouraged to burn things
-one character is threatened with "disembowelment by a hundred skeletal claws"

I've never felt more at peace. 10/10—am enjoying my stay in Cozy Grove.

Started life as a lowly peasant who had no friends, befriended bandits and a demon, assassinated a king, betrayed bandits and a demon, ended life as infernal royalty who has evil friends.

Relatable.

You organize cats—neatly. Recommended for people who think cats and organization are neat.

For its brief duration (4-5 hours), I found myself completely immersed in the world of Firewatch.

While it would be easy enough to condescendingly write it off as nothing more than a walking simulator, Henry and Delilah are written so engagingly that you simply can't help but venture forth in an effort to continue their rapport, and Wyoming's Shoshone National Forest is crafted so well that you'll often find yourself slowing the pace down between objectives for the sole purpose of absorbing the beauty of the myriad locales within the region.

As for the divisive ending, while I won't provide spoilers, I will just offer that I personally was not underwhelmed in the slightest—I would even go so far as to say I loved it.

I'd also be remiss if I failed to mention that the developer commentary is one of my new favourite extras I've ever seen in a game; it's been a pleasure revisiting Firewatch as the development team offers a surplus of insight into their creative direction and methodology.

If you're on the market for an absorbing—albeit admittedly brief—narrative experience, Firewatch gets one of my highest recommendations, especially if you're able to obtain it on sale.

My secret word is: Grateful.

Much like its predecessor—The Test—you're given the opportunity to answer questions, only this time those asked are at times more varied than simple yes-or-no stock; for example, one series of questions will task you to consider hypothetical scenarios while another can best be summed up as a short game of "would you rather."

It's a bit longer than The Test, though only moderately so—my time clocked in at just shy of 40 minutes.

Pay attention. Answer earnestly. Ponder accordingly.

My secret word is: Order.

I would recommend this wholeheartedly—it's less a game and more an experience, albeit a rather brief one. You're basically paying for a questionnaire that will last you anywhere between 10-20 minutes, but I feel $2 is a fair price point for a fun experiment.

Pay attention. Answer earnestly. Ponder accordingly.