[blog] JK's Backlog Battle

11/06/2024 - Cats Balance Completion.
Current Backlog: 721
Currently Playing: 10

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

Minicactus Games once again delivers an amazing puzzle game, this time with a lovely pixel art style and SO MANY CATS!
Cats Balance is such a fun balancing puzzle game with a bunch of different stages with varying levels of difficulty,
a fantastic soundtrack that is very calming and a cute black cat cheering you on all the way to the end.

It's super cheap and great quality for what it is worth. My only complaint was that it felt like the game was completed a little too fast,
so there could have been something more in it. Can't really say what that more could have been though, haha.

Either way, its an amazing little game and I definitely recommend this wholeheartedly! It was such a blast to play!
- Marisa (JK)

11/06/2024 - Cats Balance Completion.
Current Backlog: 721
Currently Playing: 10

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

Minicactus Games once again delivers an amazing puzzle game, this time with a lovely pixel art style and SO MANY CATS!
Cats Balance is such a fun balancing puzzle game with a bunch of different stages with varying levels of difficulty,
a fantastic soundtrack that is very calming and a cute black cat cheering you on all the way to the end.

It's super cheap and great quality for what it is worth. My only complaint was that it felt like the game was completed a little too fast,
so there could have been something more in it. Can't really say what that more could have been though, haha.

Either way, its an amazing little game and I definitely recommend this wholeheartedly! It was such a blast to play!
- Marisa (JK)

Like cats and will have to look at that game. Good review.

Like cats and will have to look at that game. Good review.

it was really great and cheap! fun times :D

18/06/2024 - Fables from the Den Completion.
Current Backlog: 723
Currently Playing: 10

It's a good little digital storybook. It's not a game at all, but it was a fun little thing from Might and Delight developers.
I love the artstyle of Might and Delight games, so getting a little storybook from them is amazing.
The stories are small short stories about fables about different kind of animals.
The fables have good sayings and meanings and it would be great to read for children!
- Marisa (JK)

19/06/2024 - Those Days Completion.
Current Backlog: 727
Currently Playing: 10

It was okay! The adult scenes were cute and wholesome,
but it felt like the story was zooming forward and there wasn't much to it in general.
It was also unfinished and from what I read around it seems that the creator has disappeared,
so it will probably never get finished.

Either way it was free, fun artstyle and rather wholesome for a gay adult VN game.
It's alright, but could have been better.
- Marisa (JK)

19/06/2024 - Clean The Sea! Completion.
Current Backlog: 726
Currently Playing: 10

💗 This game was gifted to Indie Therapy for review.

In a world where the oceans are burdened by humanity's neglect,
Clean the Sea! challenges you to pilot a lone vessel on a noble quest: cleanse the waters,
rescue marine life, and turn the tide on pollution. As you progress in the game, you'll witness the impact of your efforts,
bringing life and color back to the areas that you've cleaned.

Alright, so, I really like these types of games where you do a task, get currency, improve your tools to get better at the task,
then get more currency to improve your tools more, and the cycle goes on and on as long as the game goes on.
This game was fun in that regard, though I feel like it would have needed some more things
and better optimization in collecting and currency accumulation.

It only took an hour to 100% the game and clear all the areas currently available.
It's a short game, and I feel like it would have been better if it took a little longer with more content.
Sadly, you have to pay to get to the next areas, so if you focus on upgrading, you hamper your own progress and make it slower.
The new trash accumulation is not fast enough for proper currency accumulation, so when you play like that it slows down a lot.
However, once you reach a bank, you can turn coins into cash and it will get a bit better.

Despite this, I did enjoy the game! I do think there could be some upgrades however: balance trash accumulation with upgrade costs,
maybe add more different upgrades, the game needs to have an option to change the music volume, not just turning it on
and off and the different levels could be a little bit different from each other.

I will say I recommend this game because I do think this would be a really good game with a little bit more work!
The price is really good though, compared to what it is now!
- Marisa (JK)

20/06/2024 - Corbid: A Colorful Adventure Completion.
Current Backlog: 725
Currently Playing: 10

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

Hop on and drive into the colorful adventure of this very cute game! You play as Corbid, a cute elephant,
with the power of color on their side. You meet a cute friend, Poppy the axolotl, who helps you on your adventures.

You play your way through two different gardens which contain a few different levels and a boss "fight" for each.
It's a very well made and enjoyable game, with cute enemies and a colorful look. The enemies in this game are defeated non-violently,
so it's a very lovely game for children. The puzzles in this game include simple navigation, complex paths to unlock doors,
use pressure plates and switches, targeting, navigating through different slimes, finding the different colors, combining them and more!

I absolutely enjoyed the game, the first garden was rather simple, but it was clearly meant as a "teaching the basics" kind of stage.
The second garden was a little bit harder and it had me scratching my head at some times, but it was still rather simple
and great for kids as well! I also read some reviews where people said there had been some bugs, but for me, I encountered none,
so I believe they had fixed them rather quickly.

In conclusion it's a very lovely and enjoyable game in my opinion!
Definitely worth the price it sits at and it was super fun. Absolutely recommended!
- Marisa (JK)

20/06/2024 - Hidden Cats in Berlin Completion.
Current Backlog: 723
Currently Playing: 11

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

Nukearts Studio once more deliveres an amazing success of a game in their series of hidden cat games.
Like it's predecessors, Hidden Cats in Berlin delivers an impressive array of details in it's artworks,
with cats hidden in multiple different places and a couple of different modes to enjoy.
You start with an uncolored illustration and it gets colored as you find more and more cats until the last one is found
and the final awesome artwork is revealed in all of its beautiful color.

You get to play through two different modes of the main game, normal and advanced,
as well as extra kitten levels that are unlocked from finding special named cats in advanced mode!
There is also a big bonus level, which is unlocked by doing all of the bonus kitten levels.
It's similar to what they started to include in their few previous games.

The game is relaxing and addictive like all the games in the series and I would highly recommend this game wholeheartedly,
not just on sale, but even with full price as it is not only cheap, but supports the developers to make more of these
amazing hidden cat games! Try it out!
- Marisa (JK)

20/06/2024 - thanks mom Completion.
Current Backlog: 718
Currently Playing: 11

💗 This game was gifted to Indie Therapy for review.

Thanks mom is a.. confusing platforming game? Question mark?
I wasn't really sure what the heck was going on... I didn't really enjoy it.
Something about babies, pregnancy and cow butt. I know this review is a little sparse,
but I really don't know what to say. It was just.. bad in my opinion.

I wouldn't recommend it honestly. I guess if you want some weird stuff then sure.
- Marisa (JK)

21/06/2024 - The Wolf Among Us Completion.
Current Backlog: 718
Currently Playing: 10

I played this game for Pay or Play 2nd Cycle of 2024 and it was picked for me by La Volpe.

Telltale revolutionized the ground-breaking choice and consequence game mechanics with their The Walking Dead Series.
Now they delivered us a dark and moody thriller based on the Fables comics, The Wolf Among Us.

You play as Bigby Wolf, also known as The Big Bad Wolf, who acts as the Sheriff of Fabletown,
a community made for the fables who had to leave their home behind and enter the world of the regular people.
The game delivers a mature and gritty take on characters from fairytales, legends and folklore who have escaped into our world
and has you hooked on it's story from the get go.

The story spans across 5 episodes that have 5 chapters in each of them. It has twists and turns,
excitement and emotion at every turn and a thrilling ending that can change depending on your choices.
The story absolutely doesn't disappoint and it was such a blast to play through.

The game isn't even that hard to 100% either, as most achievements are automatic as the story progresses,
though some require you to do different choices, for collecting all entries for the book of fables.
Thankfully that has been made easy with the replay option after you have completed each episode.
I did that at the end once I had completed the whole game and it took only a few moments.

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who enjoys Telltale games and story-based games.
While everyone still clings to the hope of a second season, I personally am just really happy to have experienced this game.
Definitely worth your time!
- Marisa (JK)

25/06/2024 - Cats and Seek Completion.
Current Backlog: 717
Currently Playing: 10

A very lovely Hidden Object game where your hidden objects are cute cats!
The game has a very cute artstyle and you can customize all colors of the game if you want!
You can change the background, lineart and cat colors to suit your needs!
This was perfect because I wanted everything to be dark, since I cannot do lightmode.

The game doesn't take too long to complete though, it only took me 13 minutes to find all cats
and do a speedrun level once. It's rather short, and I would have preferred a little bit more game time.
There is some extra levels from paid DLCs.

I had some issues with the game running properly through steam when pressing play,
so I had to run the game through it's exe file, but that didn't affect anything thankfully, and achievements unlocked fine!
Other than that, it was a fantastic hidden cats game and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I can definitely recommend it for a quick little fun! and it's free, so its definitely worth it!
- Marisa (JK)

25/06/2024 - Cats and Seek Completion.
Current Backlog: 717
Currently Playing: 10

A very lovely Hidden Object game where your hidden objects are cute cats!
The game has a very cute artstyle and you can customize all colors of the game if you want!
You can change the background, lineart and cat colors to suit your needs!
This was perfect because I wanted everything to be dark, since I cannot do lightmode.

The game doesn't take too long to complete though, it only took me 13 minutes to find all cats
and do a speedrun level once. It's rather short, and I would have preferred a little bit more game time.
There is some extra levels from paid DLCs.

I had some issues with the game running properly through steam when pressing play,
so I had to run the game through it's exe file, but that didn't affect anything thankfully, and achievements unlocked fine!
Other than that, it was a fantastic hidden cats game and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I can definitely recommend it for a quick little fun! and it's free, so its definitely worth it!
- Marisa (JK)

Love cats so defintly will put this game on my wishlist.

Love cats so defintly will put this game on my wishlist.

there is other games in the Cats and Seek series as well! you'll love them :D

25/06/2024 - Cats and Seek: Kyoto Completion.
Current Backlog: 717
Currently Playing: 10

Another fun Hidden Cats game from Noobzilla. I feel like this one was a huge improvement on the previous one I played!
Still very cute art and lovely soundtrack! You can still pick your personal colors on the background, lineart, and cats which is still a huge bonus!
You can also customize your cursor which was super fun!

This time there is more things to do, some special easter eggs and locked chests.
They have less achievements than the last game, but this time the game takes longer to 100%,
but it doesn't take too long in my opinion! There is also a photomode that you can try out!

This game still didn't want to launch properly through steam, so I had to play it through the exe again,
but the achievements unlocked normally and game time was recorded fine. It's still a little bit of an inconvenience,
but it was a good game still.

Definitely recommended, a lovely game for free and was very fun to play.
Absolutely worth your time!
- Marisa (JK)

21/07/2024 - The Henry Stickmin Collection Completion.
Current Backlog: 733
Currently Playing: 10

I played this game for Pay or Play 3rd Cycle of 2024 and it was picked for me by VinroyIsViral.

Absolutely adored this game back in 2008 when it was still just a collection of flash games.
It's still an awesome game to this day, and well worth getting.

The Henry Stickmin Collection is a collection of a Newgrounds choose-your-own-path classic games,
reborn and put together in a 6-game epic collection where the story culminates into multiple different and awesome endings.
Correct choices move the story forward where incorrect choices lead to an array of different fail scenes.
If you happen to get the correct ones on your first try, you are doing something wrong. Failing is the best part of this game in my opinion.

The game brings back incredible amounts of nostalgia and some of the endings made me shed a tear, if you know, you know.
The game is still one of the funniest and well made games out there and its definitely worth getting
if you like point-and-click games and good humor.
- Marisa (JK)

01/08/2024 - Assassin's Creed 2 Completion.
Current Backlog: 737
Currently Playing: 9

An epic story of family, vengeance and conspiracy set in the pristine, yet brutal, backdrop of a Renaissance Italy.

I played this game for the first time in 2016 on my xbox 360 and fell in love instantly!
I played it after completing the first game in the series, and I was very much happily surprised of the improvement
they had done to the second game compared to the first one. Don't get me wrong, Altaïr is a great character and I loved him,
but Ezio really captured my heart, as well as all the other characters that were introduced in this game.

I also feel like Renaissance Italy is the perfect spot for an Assassin's Creed game.
There is so much fun things to see and learn about, but also the villains of the story were all quite interesting.
I've always had a soft spot for this game, but playing it again on steam just reminded me of how much I loved it.

In technical aspects, it's slightly clunky and hasn't aged really well, there were more than a few times
where I almost threw my controller at the wall because Ezio decided to jump backwards of a tall building,
causing desynchronization, rather than up or to the side where I wanted him to go.

Either way, it's still an awesome game and I 100% recommend everyone to get it.
So much fun times with this game.
- Marisa (JK)

03/08/2024 - The Darkside Detective Completion.
Current Backlog: 744
Currently Playing: 10

I played this game for Pay or Play 3rd Cycle of 2024 and it was picked for me by Sword.

Grab your trench coat, tune your sixth sense and join the Darkside Division
as they investigate the outright bizarre, the downright dangerous and the confusing cases of Twin Lakes.

The game follows a list of mysterious cases that are to be solved by the hard-boiled,
yet surprisingly humorous Detective Francis McQueen and their lovable partner, Officer Dooley.
Each case is it's own contained story, but certain plot threads and characters can be seen in multiple different cases.

The Darkside Detective effortlessly blends the spooky aspects with humor, creating a unique
and engaging atmosphere that feels like a cozy mix of supernatural spooks and lighthearted buddy cop comedy.
The witty dialogue stands out amidst it all, consistently delivering funny lines and puns.

The pixel art style is charming and nostalgic, perfectly capturing the essence of classic point-and-click adventure games.
The game's design is full of clever details that reward exploration and keen observation,
interacting with everything also gives you hilarious commentary from McQueen and Dooley.
The puzzles are well-crafted, but on the tad easier side, so you wont get frustrated with them.

Overall, the game is a fantastic experience
and I think anyone who enjoys these kinds of point-and-click pixel games will love it.
The "very positive" rating it has on steam is well deserved! Highly recommended.
- Marisa (JK)

04/08/2024 - Magic Axolotl Completion.
Current Backlog: 746
Currently Playing: 10

Magic Axolotl is an enchanting and delightful game that captures the essence of whimsical, short-form adventure.
In this charming little game, you play as an adorable axolotl wizard who embarks on a magical quest
to recover a fallen star, guided by a mystical map. The journey takes you into beautifully crafted areas
and finally into a dark forest where a dark ghost cat stands guard over the precious star.

The gameplay is simple yet captivating, relying on drawing spells with your mouse to defeat various enemies.
I found the mechanic very simple and quick to learn, making it easy for players of all ages to jump in and enjoy the game.
Though, the hard mode of the game is actually quite difficult to master, and I had to get my drawing display
to be able to manage all the spells without taking damage, if you manage to beat it with your mouse,
you might actually be a wizard!

Despite its short playtime, the game delivers a memorable experience filled with heart and whimsy.
The story seems sweet, yet it isn't much expanded on. The axolotl protagonist is absolutely adorable,
and the little amount of interaction that you get with the ghost cat at the end adds a touch of mystery
and intrigue to the narrative.

Overall, Magic Axolotl is a delightful indie gem that offers a perfect blend of cute visuals, engaging gameplay,
and a heartwarming short story. It's a must-play for anyone looking for a magical, feel-good, casual game.
Whether you're a seasoned gamer or just looking for a charming way to spend a cozy afternoon,
this game will undoubtedly leave you enchanted and smiling.
- Marisa (JK)

14/08/2024 - Pixel Car Racing: Blocky Crash Completion.
Current Backlog: 745
Currently Playing: 10

💗 This game was gifted to Indie Therapy for review.

An indie racing game where you race with small cars made of blocks!
It reminded me of Lego Racers somewhat, though this lacked in many aspects in my opinion.
The game has it's heart in the right place, but it falls short on several key areas that I would think were integral for a racing game.

The game mechanics are alright, but there are many things that I didn't like,
such as the fact that there was no controller support or the fact that getting new cars good cars required a lot of grind.
There isn’t much to keep players engaged long-term, as the tracks and cars, though varied,
don't offer enough distinction or challenge to sustain interest. There is a lot of levels,
but they don't really get more interesting or harder.

Visually the game is really fun and the artstyle is quite pleasant to look at.
The way the cars break down when you hit things and get repaired with different colored blocks was super fun.
Soundtrack wise the game was really good, though I kinda wish there were more variety.

In conclusion, I feel like the game can become something amazing with a little more polish,
though I didn't personally like how it was at the moment. I wish there was a neutral review option,
but I guess I will recommend it, as it's still a few hours of good fun.
- Marisa (JK)

17/08/2024 - Back To Home Completion.
Current Backlog: 756
Currently Playing: 10

💜This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

I really wanted to give this game a recommended review, but sadly,
I had so many issues with it that I just can't. I'll start with the positive though,
as my experience with the game wasn't all bad.

Back To Home is your average walking simulator type of game, with some platforming mixed in there.
The graphics were decent, but the cat looked a little sick (especially when looking from the front lol).
The soundtrack was lovely and It was easy to complete, in theory.

Truth however, was that I was more often than not, stuck in some hole that was left by the developer
who had put down the 3D assets of the terrain. There were many such holes that I accidentally dropped myself in,
and I was unable to continue without closing the game and restarting the chapter/level.
There was also one part of the game where I was able to just jump over most of the "puzzles"
and skip them entirely, and getting forward to the next chapter.

I feel like with a lot of hardwork and polish, this game could be a lovely little hidden gem,
but to me, it currently isn't it and I felt more annoyed playing it, than satisfied and enjoyed.
I wouldn't recommend getting it, as there are other better walking simulator like games out there similar to this one.
- Marisa (JK)

17/08/2024 - Where Kiwis Completion.
Current Backlog: 756
Currently Playing: 10

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

I feel like the devs did an improvement here by not giving an achievement for each Kiwi found,
like they did in hidden cats game, but it didn't really improve the game enough to get a good review.

The game takes under 10 minutes to complete and it's really not that good.
There is so many better hidden object games on steam. Most of the games from these devs feel like a copy paste,
I also took a closer look at the artwork and it's really detailed for sure, but there is a lot of errors and it doesn't feel like it was done with care.

Sadly not for me and I wouldn't recommend wasting your money on it, even though it's really cheap.
- Marisa (JK)

17/08/2024 - Where Birds Completion.
Current Backlog: 755
Currently Playing: 10

💜 This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

I don't honestly know what to say about these games anymore. They are literally the same game, just with different items/animals to find,
that are not actually that well hidden either! Also why did they combine birds, humans and balloons together to be found??
The one with Kiwis made sense to find the kiwi birds and the kiwi fruit, but this makes no sense.
Also there were birds in the background that I couldn't select, which were clear birds!!

This game just made me more annoyed. If you have to play this dev's games play one of the other ones lol.
- Marisa (JK)