Brian Hobbs
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Posts by Brian Hobbs
Pine: A Story of Loss review
The strong visual aesthetic and tranquil atmosphere help elevate Pine: A Story of Loss, but the slow, repetitive pacing and simplistic gameplay limit the game’s appeal primarily to those who can draw from their own experiences to reflect more deeply on the emotional themes of moving on from heartbreak... Read more
Paper Trail review
There’s plenty of art and craft folded into Paper Trail’s perspective-shifting gameplay. Those seeking narrative or a world to explore may find the thin story and linear level-by-level progression a bit disappointing, but there’s more than enough satisfaction to be found in manipulating the vivid, whimsical environments and solving the intricate mazes that anyone who loves a well-tuned puzzle will likely find it a page-turner... Read more
Bilkins' Folly review
Packed with many hours’ worth of puzzles to solve, secrets to uncover, and plenty of jokes, Bilkins' Folly finds the sweet spot that combines a light and humorous presentation with a compelling gameplay loop of tricky treasure hunting that has deeper layers than you might expect... Read more
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley review
Based on Tove Jansson’s popular book series, Snufkin is a cozy, beautifully presented adventure that’s fairly short and light on challenge, but will surely please fans and newcomers alike who are eager to take a pleasant stroll among the natural wonders and quirky characters of Moominvalley... Read more
American Arcadia review
Like a bingeable TV show, American Arcadia is slickly presented and tightly paced, resulting in a charismatic and entertaining theme park ride of an adventure, even if the simple characters and somewhat unfocused approach to gameplay doesn’t foster much lasting impact... Read more
Chants of Sennaar review
It might feel bewildering at first, but deciphering glyphs to discover more about the vibrant and mysterious tower with its culturally divided people makes Chants of Sennaar a highly engaging and ultimately rewarding framework for the inventive language-based puzzles... Read more
Viewfinder review
Viewfinder’s shining achievement is its brilliantly executed set of reality-bending mechanics that are such fun to play with that its tenuous story and relatively simple puzzles are easy to overlook... Read more
SEASON: A Letter to the Future review
SEASON is a beautiful and thoughtful art piece of a game whose only challenge may stem from being overly ponderous at times, but it shines with its gorgeous landscapes, interesting characters, and imaginative worldbuilding and will reward those who come into it ready for some creative introspection... Read more
Somerville review
An artfully made take on the familiar story of an alien invasion, Somerville’s visual design and interesting scenarios form an engaging experience, though some confusing puzzle design and a plot that holds the player at arm’s length keep it from truly being out of this world... Read more
The Entropy Centre review
As another iteration on the futuristic physics puzzler, The Entropy Centre is one of the better ones, but a few uninspired design elements and some frustration with controls holds it back from being a real classic... Read more
Lost in Play review
It’s easy to lose yourself in Lost in Play, whose abundant charm is sure to spark your childlike sense of wonder, making this a treat for adventurers of any age... Read more