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REVIEW: Until Then's beautiful recreation of the Philippines is only matched by its emotional metaphysical journey
One of the most genuine representations of Filipino culture in gaming, Until Then is an emotionally resonant story about human connection.

Nate Hermanson
Jun 24, 20249 min read
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REVIEW: Penny's Big Breakaway is 2024's best Dreamcast game
Sonic's speed. Mario's precision. Penny's sentient yo-yo. Evening Star's retro-inspired platformer has a recipe for success.

Nate Hermanson
May 23, 20247 min read
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REVIEW: Life Eater is Strange Scaffold's most twisted game yet (and they made a black market organ trading sim)
Being a weird little freak behind my computer screen because god told me to.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 16, 20248 min read
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REVIEW: Capitalism's a drag in the work-work balance simulator CorpoNation: The Sorting Process
CorpoNation's gameplay bravely toes a line between fun and total drudgery (on purpose) in this dystopian corporate world.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 25, 20247 min read
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REVIEW: Chronique des Silencieux's detective gameplay sacrifices playability for intrigue
Chronique des Silencieux is an interesting historical fiction approach to mystery, but beware of hiccups in translation and logic.

Nate Hermanson
Feb 3, 20246 min read
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REVIEW: El Paso, Elsewhere is nostalgic, fresh, and Strange Scaffold's best
Meet me in the liminal space of one reality-shifting El Paso motel.

Nate Hermanson
Sep 26, 202310 min read
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REVIEW: Final Fantasy 16 takes wild swings but stays true to its roots
Final Fantasy 16 shows the darkness that past games in the series would have hidden in the margins.

Nate Hermanson
Sep 23, 202311 min read
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REVIEW: Gunbrella soars with its quality and lands gently as one of the year's best releases
The Gunbrella is the Best Weapon of 2023, THERE I SAID IT.

Nate Hermanson
Sep 13, 20237 min read
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REVIEW: Innchanted's co-op magical management chaos is layered... literally
A game of magic potions, enchanting inns, and serving steaks... and mis-steaks.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 24, 20238 min read
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REVIEW: 2D cinematic platformer Lunark's old-school-cool can't be beat
A loving homage and modern take on classic cinematic platformers, Lunark stretches your gaming muscles in new ways.

Nate Hermanson
Apr 20, 20238 min read
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REVIEW: 9 Years of Shadows is a back-to-basics Metroidvania about healing with art
Europa and one immensely cuddly teddy bear, Apino, fight back against shadows that have engulfed the world for nearly a decade.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 27, 20239 min read
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REVIEW: Tchia's culture-driven island experience wows with representation and coziness
Trek across Tchia's New Caledonia-inspired open world with childlike wonder.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 20, 20239 min read
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REVIEW: Tails: The Backbone Preludes is the missing piece to the Backbone saga
We're happy to report that Backbone has found its missing vertebrae.

Nate Hermanson
Mar 3, 20238 min read
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REVIEW: Chico and the Magic Orchards DX delights with Game Boy puzzle action
Chico and the Magic Orchards DX brings back the simplicity and satisfaction of Game Boy era puzzle platforming.

Nate Hermanson
Feb 4, 20237 min read
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REVIEW: Get weirdly relaxed while vacuuming up blood in Serial Cleaners
Serial Cleaners serves up a PowerWash Simulator-like experience... but edgier.

Nate Hermanson
Oct 7, 20227 min read
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REVIEW: Jack Move's comfortably compact cyber-RPG experience proves less is more
Scamming corporations for a living? It ain't much, but it's honest work.

Nate Hermanson
Sep 29, 20226 min read
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REVIEW: Meditate on a few iffy decisions in Retreat to Enen
Maybe we're not cut out for meditation. Maybe Head West's Retreat to Enen wasn't cut out to be a survival game. Who's to say?

Nate Hermanson
Sep 20, 20229 min read
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REVIEW: We need to talk about Sifu.
Sloclap's Sifu comes with some cultural baggage and lacks punch in its narrative, but offers a hard-hitting combat system.

Nate Hermanson
Feb 6, 20229 min read
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REVIEW (sort of): Monster Harvest reaches for the stars, ends up stuck in the mud
Monster Harvest drew from some of the greats, but unfortunately, it wasn't ready to see the light of day — let alone steal the spotlight.

Nate Hermanson
Oct 25, 20216 min read
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REVIEW: A delicate dance of romance and revolution — Ambition: A Minuet in Power
Wield your influence, sexuality and keen listening as you sell valuable secrets and navigate revolution igniting in the streets of France.

Nate Hermanson
Oct 22, 20216 min read
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