Recent reviews by Not Now Mom, I'm Gaming Podcast

Tell Me Why, is it nothing but a heartache?

Our verdict: Unworthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

★★★★☆

While I like the idea of a character book, it doesn’t really mean much to me after I’ve played the game, especially since it might be a little while until I actually take the time to look at the DLC or buy it. At that point, I don’t really remember who the characters are, and, even after getting done with the game again, I still wouldn’t really remember them, because I’ve got such a bad memory.

What I really wish they did was give us more journal entries so we could learn about the characters through their own writing, instead of basically being told about them like some preacher giving us their eulogy at a funeral.

If you’re a writer, I’m sure you know the whole “show, don’t tell.” Well, a diary entry would’ve been the perfect show, in this case.

But…at least we get something on them. At least they’ve been made human instead of simply text on a screen.

We even get their faces, which I do enjoy the scribble art style.

It’s so great to hear how a developer goes about creating their own game. Even moreso, their thought process while creating the game itself, as well as the problems they had to force themselves to get through and the mental stress they had to overcome.

Especially knowing that this game was created in a single week based on a specific theme of “It’s been a long time, but we’re not done yet.”

It’s especially good for other aspiring game developers to listen to in order to understand that sometimes you have to force a game out of your head and meet the bugs and the flaws head on and not give up, even when the rain doesn’t come until you’re the last man standing.

The wallpapers are a nice touch, and I actually expected them to have something along the lines of the in-game art style, but no.

These are much more easy on the eyes and calming, compared to what you see in-game.

I enjoy the second one with the night theme the most.

Game on,
The Gaming Experience[www.tgexp.com]

Cloud Climber, not just a game for climbing clouds.

Our verdict: Worthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

Draugen, where the truth is only through what your mind perceives.

Our verdict: Worthy
Find out why on Worthy of Me[worthyofme.com].

The Medium, where we walk the world between the living and the lived.

Our verdict: Worthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

Hidden Object - Food, how well do you know your foods?

Our verdict: Unworthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

Nanotale - Typing Chronicles, type your way past monsters and save the trees!

Our verdict: Worthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

Greedfall, it’s a long journey to find a cure for the malichor.

Our verdict: Worthy
Find out why in our full game review[tgexp.com].

★★★★★

The audio is one of the best features of this game. Whimsical tunes to dreary melodies, everything about the music sets the mood.

Which is a good thing, considering there is no speaking in this game. The music kind of guides you into what's happening as scenes transition from one area to another.

It's not always about the music either. Sometimes it's about the smaller sounds. Of nature, of paperwork, of school. The sounds in general go great with this game.

You can't wander around much in A Bird Story. Instead, you can follow a small, set path to where you're needed to go, or you watch as the main character interacts with the world before you're able to take initiative.

Navigation was a bit rough for me while using a controller, but you can also use mouse and keyboard--which is more recommended.

Nothing stands out too much as far as the graphics go, but that doesn't make the game bad or doesn't give it a charm. I've always liked pixel art in games, because they take time to create (if not using a generator, I suppose).

You go left, up, down, and right.

That's more-or-less the kind of gameplay you'll be dealing with. But aside from that, you'll also be interacting with objects and people.

Take note that there is no words being given toward you or others. This game is all about actions that are being taken. That's where the whole story comes into play, and it's a very nice style. Words tend to get in the way, sometimes.

In the end, A Bird Story is a very short, but very good game that features the power of friendship and caring for others, despite them being completely different from you.

Everyone thinks about their dogs or cats as lifelong companions, but hey. Sometimes they can be squirrels, foxes, or even--you guessed it--birds.

Game on,
TGEXP

★★★★☆

Before I even got a whiff of this game, I watched a fellow gamer friend of mine play it, so when I did start playing it, I kind of knew what I was in for, but not really.

Turns out it’s a bit more complicated, interesting, confusing, and pain-wracking to try and control two people at once in a game. But it’s a very fun thing to do as well.

I can’t really say much of the game up here, so let’s get into the actual review.

Unfortunately you won’t be hearing any epic musicals on your journey through this game, but that’s ok, because the music it does offer sets the mood of the different areas you enter.

The soundtrack is a bit more somber than most games I’ve played. But…we’re dealing with kind of a tragic theme here, regarding what the brothers are doing.

Sometimes it’s not so much as music, but a rhythmic beating of drums.

Eerily beautiful.

This game is linear, but there are also side areas that you might want to meander into, in case you happen to be an achievement-hunter. But you don’t have to explore.

Like I said, it’s straight-forward, and if you go the wrong way, or get too far from the other brother, you can’t progress until you get closer or go the correct way.

This one kind of threw me off. The boys do actually speak, but they don’t speak English. Maybe not even any native language that we know? I’m not entirely sure why the creators decided to go this route, but you get the gist of what they’re saying because they use hand motions.

While the foreground might look a bit clunky graphic-wise, the background scenery in this game is absolutely stunning. And I’m going to go out on a limb here and say they were pretty proud of their work, because all throughout the game there are benches the brothers can sit on. When they do, it gives you a view of the scenery they’re gazing out at.

Very enjoyable aspect of the game, even though it’s just a sight-seeing technique.

As I said above. Enjoyable. Frustrating. Borderline painful.

We’ll get to the painful part first:
You’re constantly controlling two characters with the joysticks, as well as the L and R buttons to make them hold onto things. If you let go of the L or R, your character may die. Which means they need to stay down, and you need to also move your character.

You don’t want the brothers to die, and so that puts more effort into making sure they don’t, by adding possibly more pressure to the buttons.

Do this for around three hours of playtime and your wrists and fingers are going to start cramping up.

How about some frustration?
Each L and R button controls one brother.

So if the L brother happens to go in front of the R brother…you’re going to get confused as ♥♥♥♥ when it comes to moving them around, because they aren’t on their proper sides.

So you basically need to pay attention to where the two are, and try not to get them crossed. There are times they have to be on the other side of one another, though.

It sounds easy, but… yeah. It’s not.

Sounds enjoyable, right?
No really, it is!

I’ve never played a game where you’ve had to control two characters at a time, and it was a learning experience. And despite the frustrations, it was very fun.

On another note, the game is pretty straight-forward and linear, but you can go to side areas and hunt for achievements.

You can control two characters at once. Each character can do random things to people or objects they can interact with. Stunning visuals that you can sight-see on a bench.

I say it’s worth looking into if you’re not searching for a combat-style game, and it only takes a few hours to get through, unless you take advantage of exploring what little side areas there are.

Game on,
TGEXP