As always, these are subjective opinions; I'm not trying to write a professional review. I'm just sharing my perspective and the experience I had with each of them.
🎮 VIDEO GAMES
RPGolf Legend 🏌️♀️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: ArticNet
A classic Zelda-like game with golf mechanics. The combat is a bit rough and slow, but it’s well-made, and the pixel art is pretty cute. If you like golf games with a twist, this is for you.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - not finished
Despot’s Game 🖥️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Konfa Games
A fun roguelike where you build your own team of humans, who constantly die, though. Pretty well thought mechanic. Still, for me roguelikes get repetitive fast and this was not an exception.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - not finished
Lost Ember 🐺
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Mooneye Studios
Walking simulator with a beautiful journey. I liked the possessing different animals' thing. Maybe too many cutscenes though.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - finished
Nuclear Throne ☢️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Vlambeer
A fun and frantic roguelike. Simple but effective. Perhaps a bit frustrating because you can die unexpectedly all the time, but since it's so fast-paced, you still feel like playing another round. However, it does end up being repetitive.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - not finished
Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight 🍁
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Bombservice
A very addictive metroidvania. It's challenging but not frustrating, except for a few bosses. Generally, once you get the hang of it, no enemy can resist you. I reached the final boss thinking they had gone overboard with the difficulty, but the truth is, it's neither too much nor too little; quite easy compared to others.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10) - finished
Art Heist 🖼️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: M9 Games
A solid escape room puzzle game. Some puzzles are somewhat challenging while others are too easy; there's a lack of balance, but overall, they are well thought out. In the Switch version, it got stuck on a puzzle, and upon reloading, I couldn't proceed, so I had to start over.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - completed 100%
Mail Time 💌
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Kela van der Deijl
A super cute game. I love games that are little adventures with simple yet well-crafted mechanics. I've enjoyed them a lot, and the art has been wonderful.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10) - completed 100%
Dad's Monster Houser 🐈⬛
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
Well, I'm a huge fan of Isoland, and now I'm catching up with other games by Cotton Game, and I absolutely love this one. The puzzles are very well thought out, cleverly connecting many of the rooms. I think, in terms of puzzles, I've enjoyed this one more than Isoland because at no point did I feel stuck, yet solving puzzles made me feel clever.
Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10) - completed 100%
Isoland 🐙
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
After playing Dad's Monster House, I felt like returning to the Isoland series. I love it, but you can tell they've been improving over time.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
Mr. Pumpkin Adventure 🎃
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
I'm guessing this was one of the first games of Cotton Game. The puzzles are really unbalanced and some are too mathematical (if that makes sense). Still, loved the art and it was entertaining.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - finished
A Long Time 🧳
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
I like the idea of Cotton Game trying different genres, I only knew them for the point & clicks. Still, this game wasn't it for me, the puzzle mechanics get repetitive and they are always the same puzzles just changing the pieces. Loved the art though.
Score: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10) - completed 100%
Link Twin 👯♂️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Lorraine Studio
I liked the idea of the main mechanic, but it got repetitive and kinda boring. Maybe not making the game only about puzzles would have worked better for me with the twin thing.
Score: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10) - not finished
OnlyUp ⚫️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Elusor Games
I can't believe this game passed Nintendo standards, honestly. I just saw it's a ripoff of another game named the same? Anyway, horrible controls and no spawn points. A disaster.
Score: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (1/10) - not finished
Little Triangle 🔺
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
I don't think a 2D platformer works on phones, the controls are not precise enough. I liked the art, and it has interesting mechanics, looks like a well-made 2D platformer, but playing on the phone is kinda frustrating and there's a point where you just can't continue. I may try it on Switch, but for now this is my review. There are a lot of playable characters, but they don't give you anything special, like new abilities or something.
Score: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10) - not finished
Hidden Cats in London 💂
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Nukearts Studio
I love hidden games from time to time. Maybe this one was too simple, and I was hoping for more maps, kinda like Hidden Paws for Switch. But still, entertaining and with lovely cats.
Score: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10) - completed 100%
Rain City ☔️
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
A point-and-click game in the pure style of Machinarium. The art is beautiful, but the gameplay is somewhat linear. There are few objects to collect at once, which weakens the strength typically associated with the genre. It's easy, although with a few challenging puzzles here and there.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - completed 100%
Super Mario RPG ⭐️
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: ArtePiazza
I hadn't played the original, and I loved it. It oozes personality everywhere, like no other Mario game. Perhaps a bit repetitive in combat, although it tries to add new mechanics to prevent it from becoming too tedious.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10) - completed
A Foreign Land of Us ✈️
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
A short story told through interconnected small images. I found it beautiful and a very original way to tell a story through a video game.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - completed 100%
Isoland 2 🚀
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
I'm all about Cotton Game's games this month; I just can't stop. I had already played Isoland 2, but I'm replaying them all after the latest one. This one is better than the first, with the drawing tool being very useful and great puzzles.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
Mr Pumpkin 2: Walls of Kowloon 🐉
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
A direct continuation of Mr. Pumpkin, with more elaborate puzzles and a point-and-click style reminiscent of Machinarium. On par with Isoland, I liked it.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
OneWay Elevator 🛗
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
Probably my favorite game by Cotton Game. I love it. A simple idea but executed very well and with beautiful art.
Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10) - completed 100%
Isoland 3 🪐
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
On par with the previous ones, perhaps my only complaint is that the second round is almost the same.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 🔑
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Nintendo Software Technology
I reached the 6th world and got tired. It felt very repetitive, and the puzzles were monotonous. Perhaps with more platforming, it would be more enjoyable. Or if they explored more mechanics with the mini Marios. I imagined it more like the Clank mini-games in Ratchet and Clank, and I was a bit disappointed.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10) - completed 100%
The White Bird Carnival 🐟
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
A splendid way to tell a story through a video game. Very original and utilizes mobile functionalities very well. If anyone ever asks me if video games are art, this is a great and clear example that they are.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
Woodle Tree Adventures 🪵
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Chubby Pixel
Don't know how to explain it but this game is camp. Loved it.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10) - completed 100%
Isoland: The Amusement Park 🎡
Platform: iPhone / Developers: Cotton Game
I really liked this Isoland sequel, specially liked that the second run is quite different.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10) - completed 100%
Lost Forest 🌳
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Developers: Morning Shift Studios
A pointless game. I kept exploring hoping that after finding all the special places there would be something good, but... It sends you straight to the main title. Probably the worst walking simulator I've ever played.
Score: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (2/10) - completed 100%
📺 SHOWS
The Trust: A Game of Greed 💸
Just a pastime.
Score: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10)
Operación Triunfo 2023 🎤
Season: 1 / Platform: Prime Video
Well, I got hooked big time. The season started great, and by the fourth or fifth week, it reached a brutal peak, but it's been declining since then, and the finale leaves something to be desired. Booting out Suzet (a potential finalist) in the first gala... has had consequences.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10)
Avatar: The Last Airbender ⬇️
I have to confess that I usually do enjoy live-action adaptations; they're a way to revisit the story from a different perspective. In this case, I quite liked it. They've made a more adult series, which involves many changes that may seem better or worse, but for me, they work with the new format. I don't understand people who complain so much and wanted everything to be the same but with people... I mean, for that, just watch the original series again; it will always be better.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
🎨 ANIMATION
Nimona 🦈
Platform: Netflix
A truly amazing movie. Great animation and Nimona is such a cool character. Loving the message too.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
Hazbin Hotel 🏩
Season: 1 / Platform: Amazon Prime
I'm obssesed with the character design, they all look so cool. A really fun and original show, I wasn't expecting to like it that much.
Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10)
What If...? 🇬🇧
I liked it, some episodes more than others, but overall very good. I quite liked the character of the Native American heroine and the good Hera as well.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10)
🎌 ANIME
The Secret World of Arrietty 📍
Platform: Netflix
I remembered it being less 'hey, hey, hey, little one,' but it's not bad. The animation is awesome.
Score: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10)
📺 FILMS
Saltburn 🦌
Platform: Amazon Prime
I liked the parasite idea, and it wasn’t as disturbing as people say it is, yeah it has some weird scenes but makes sense for the crazy character. Really well-made and the developing of the story is amazing, you know what the plot twist will be, but the building up is so good that makes you watch it till the end.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
Everything Everywhere All at Once 🥯
Platform : Movistar Pluse+
I've watched this masterpiece again. Hilarious and with impeccable recording and editing.
Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10)
The Marvels 🐈
Platform: Disney+
Let me just say that Kamala has grown so much on me, I love her. Not a bad movie and the Marvels are such a cool trio, still the plot could have been way better and the main problem was having a boring antagoinist. Obsessed with the kitties scene.
Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7/10)
Society of the Snow 🗻
Platform: Netflix
Well, I started watching it a few days ago and had to stop because of the bad feeling it left me with. I decided to finish it, and I did the right thing because it's a very good movie that sublimely narrates some terrifying real events.
Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
Have you played or watched any of these? What's your opinion?