The {C} Guide to Holiday Gaming: What to Play, Gift, and Geek Out Over

Dark Quest 4 (RPG, Strategy) Available on: Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5

For those who are interested in stimulating their minds within a whimsical strategy-based set that resembles a virtual fantasy board game, look no further than Dark Quest 4. Imagine yourself in a mystical setting where chaos breaks loose, and the few members you meet along the way make a big difference in your escape back to sanity. Danger awaits outside your designated area, but using what little you have to defend yourself makes for an engaging time. The simple yet intriguing art style is the first to catch the eye of the gamer. Second is the ominous, soothing music that allows one to feel like they’re really inside a dreary campsite, collaborating as a team on who’s the best group to set forth on the next mission. Third is the scenery, which includes a mysterious old man constantly overlooking the player’s mission. He even delivers his own insults and taunts when things go south. This enhances the spooky atmosphere that questions whether the players are pawns in his manufactured and rigged game, where most are doomed to fail, or soldiers fighting to succeed despite the intimidating opposition. The strategy behind which skills, potions, powers, positions, and gears work best takes some getting used to, and at first, the game can feel stiff to control. The cards used during battle help with attack or defense, and one must choose wisely on selecting ones to match the character’s strengths. It’s important to remember to reset the inventory of the next characters of your choosing each turn because characters grow fatigued after their battle, and certain items are essential for each round. When a character hasn’t been used in a while, they’ll have a boost from being well rested. Being encouraged to switch characters allows for a better experience. Keeping that in mind, the gamer can plan which team should be swapped with each cycle. It takes a couple of levels and hits to understand which characters are preferred for each task and how to maneuver through particular stages. The levels gradually add more elements, including different enemies, heckling spaces, and secrets discovered through quick wit. The challenge of maintaining a cohesive group adds to the charm, but it would’ve been even better if the characters had more to their story rather than just being playable. Two characters are not like the other and can be described as either a distinct, niche taste or wasted potential by the powers they possess. Overall, the experience of Dark Quest 4 is a highly recommended one that really mirrors moving chess pieces on a gaming board with an underworld moderator spreading traps along the way. [4.5 out of 5]

Asfalia: Panic at the Mansion (Adventure, Indie) Available on: Nintendo Switch, PC

This game will make you very amused while playing what feels like a bedtime storybook come to life, bringing cozy visuals. Sit tight as you explore through a series of events leading to the uncovered mystery of your lost fluffy companions. People of any age can play and find comfort in the cute scenery, but young kids will get the most out of this game. The adorable art and interactions are heartfelt, and some characters stand out more than others in an innovative way. Charlie, the main character, is a sweet delight who resembles an innocent child on a mission to simply find lost puppies, not realizing the world can bring wonders and horrors with the bow of mystery. Each character, while having small roles, adds a layer to what perhaps goes on in the minds of curious children. A knife version of Nosferatu as a character may not be on the average player’s bingo card, but it makes for all the more delight. It takes a second for things to pick up in terms of pacing. The story and world start very slowly, but things pick up as soon as you get your adorable sidekick. It would be nice if you could run, and backtracking/exploring can feel like a chore. This game makes you appreciate the innocence found in the minds of curious youths. Everything and everyone around take the shape of an obscure reminiscence of our untamed dreams. The finale feels a little anticlimactic, and it would’ve been nice to see one last challenge to bring everything full circle, but overall, it’s worth the experience. The target audience is children aged seven and up, but it would’ve still been nice to see slightly more challenging mini-games or at least more options to click. The voice acting and music added to its charm, with each delivery giving vibes of an exceptional school play or compelling dubbed Anime flashback. [3.5 out of 5]

Hymer 2000 (Adventure, Indie, RPG, Puzzle) Available on: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5

Imagine a contained, narrow box filled to the brim with unanswered questions that you have to pick through one by one. Each pick gives a deeper sense of who built the box, why the world exists, and for whom it exists. Hymer 2000 gradually delivers in growing the curiosity of the player. This story-driven game takes a while to get into–an unsettling while, but once all the characters become established, it gets better. You play as Frank, who’s like a detective determined to understand the pattern of sequences that goes on between characters Bart, Apu, Lisa, Mark, and so on. The more you read about how things took place and how the future is looking for these characters, the more you feel attached to their stories. It’s a basic point-and-click game that relies more on your memory and ability to examine the lives of clones at Hope Residence. This story tackles real-life issues such as the use of AI, forbidden romance, complicated friendships, eerie loneliness, and the inevitable manner in which we forget our fondest memories. This game felt like a movie you watch and can’t help but think about for days. Life after the fact for these characters will paint pictures in your mind, you’d rather not forget. By the end, you’ll be begging for a happy ending for most, if not all, of these characters. The music was calm and kept the trembling feel of being alone as you observe, but it could be a little repetitive at times. It would’ve helped if there were a stronger variety of music to play over the adventure. More ways to investigate the surroundings through clicks could’ve also made things more interactive and less dull at times. This game isn’t for everyone. It’s not recommended for people who are not fond of reading and searching for clues through a glossary search system. It takes a lot of patience and attention to understand the situation through words rather than just visuals and button-mashing. [4 out of 5]

Desert Race Adventures (Adventure, Casual, Indie) Available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC

A race across the world with a pilot and their second in command gives the player a sense of leadership that addresses the elephant in the car’s room in the form of equipment management. On this adventure, the duty of the drivers is to take shifts driving to their destination, with all the disasters and intrusions of human necessities thrown at them. Unlike many racing games, there’s one car on the road, and the objective is to make it to the finish line in one piece. In order to make it to the finish line, the player needs to strategize how fast to go, when to rest, how much to repair without things going to waste, and which resources to utilize before the supplies reach zero. Not to mention surviving the escalation of random encounters and luck-based situations. On paper, this all sounds basic and average at best, but it’s a riveting time well spent. Like a rollercoaster that relies on your attention to detail and reliable nature to maintain the system to get the best time out of every attempt. Each drive is different for everyone, and while short, the experience is engaging. Beating different scores on the leadership board increases the motivation to beat it faster. The limitations lie in the lack of variety in some areas, such as character selection. All the characters have a bland feel and aside from their stats and abilities. They’re not compelling enough to make a player excited to pick them. Adding some voice-overs or mini animated moments would greatly enhance the charm of the characters. It would also be nice to add more scenery, variety in locations, stages, and cars. In addition to various events, encounters, and music, these elements will contribute to the appeal. The repetition is quite a bit noticeable after a couple of throughways. The controls are simple and easy to follow, which makes it easy for anyone to jump on the ride and try it for themselves. All in all, a solid game. [3.5 out of 5]

Heroes of Mount Dragon (Action, Indie) Available on: Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5

Dive into a pop-up storybook game filled with treacherous monsters, calculated button mashing, teamwork if you choose, individual growth, and lovable characters all around. It doesn’t take long to get drawn into its artwork and design, which could work as a stand-alone cartoon. Each character receives a riveting backstory that adds layers to their purpose and perspective. Gamers can choose from eight characters who are considered to be the chosen ones, and up to four can play at once. Most may consider it more enjoyable when more people join in on the fun, but it’s more of a challenge to go at it solo. There are times when the pacing is a little slow, but the overall story of how the heroes came to be is compelling. The narrator does a superb job adding to its charm by delivering the right amount of cheesiness freshly sown into its dialogue. The main strength lies in the witty fight moves. Players can gradually level up their character and learn/memorize new combos that suit them best for every battle. Combining moves with the unleashing hidden power of the inner dragon makes for great entertainment. The controls, however, can vary, with horizontal combat typically feeling smooth and responsive while vertical combat sometimes feeling a little stiff. It takes time to get adjusted to the movements, which adds to the experience. The music is good, but it would be better if it sounded more epic and urgent during the fight scenes. Overall, a very special game with a fine taste for world-building, character unveiling, heavy lifting brawls, and a comedic story. Discover how to mount your dragon through the beloved heroes who embody them from head to soul. [4.5 out of 5]

Death Kid (Action, Indie) Available on: Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5

First comes death, then comes patience, then comes the chance to correct a past mistake through rebirth. That’s Death Kid in a nutshell, but the more you seek deeper past the different levels, the more questions you’re left with. This game requires the player to focus on multiple enemies to ensure the safety of the three souls they must protect in order to succeed. They have to pay attention to their surroundings as well as the surroundings of the three souls, which you have to make sure live by the end of the time limit. There will be times when you’ll be begging for the stopwatch to reach its conclusion as your fingers feel strained from mashing for so long. The more you face your demise, the more you find ways to improve and advance your skills. Maneuvering past death requires the right skills, and the challenge aligns with figuring out how to survive through each rebirth cycle. The game’s concept is unique, but it’s not recommended for the casual audience because even the easy mode is very difficult. This is more so for players who can handle fighting through hard enemies for a long period of time, since every time you die, you must start all the way from the beginning, since there are no checkpoints to start from. The controls are precise and, at times, can feel awkward, but it’s intentional because the whole point is to improve your skills correctly so that you’ll be prepared next time. The struggle is the key to getting better, and when you do finally succeed, it feels rewarding. The music adds different flavors to each fight, which gives more hype to win. The story element is brief, but it also adds to the gloomy atmosphere of the battle chambers in the middle of the forest. The main character and figure who aids you on your mission are a nice-touched duo who gloss over the many themes of death. If you dare to challenge your limits and to invest time to learn its difficult mechanics, then this is the game for you. Casual gamers may even learn not to underestimate themselves more after playing Death Kid. [4 out of 5]

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International (RPG) Available on: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5

Enter a world with endless whirls of bone-crushing fights, infinite materials subject to collection, and a lump of different stories charmed through music heard by the ears of the beholder. Players are in for a gradual, hard-as-rock, but sweet treat when they pick up this game. Choose between several different characters who each have their own unique tale that requires exploration across the map to fully unravel. Albert is the recommended character to start with, but Claudia feels like a more entrancing start to the game. For the casual gamer, it starts off a little overwhelming since there are several guidelines and tips for strategy thrown their way. What position works best? Should you repair, buy, or improve a weapon, keeping your budget in mind? When should you move on to the next part of the large map? So many questions start with the character you choose. A vast number of individuals will appreciate the minimal hand-holding walk through and independent journey. These are some of the many answers to questions that require patience, trial and error, and observant individuals. Furthermore, there’s a lot to keep track of. HP (Hit Points), LP (Life points), BP (Battle Points), and DP (Durability points), proficiency (abilities) are some aspects that require different encounters to understand, to name a few. Like most JRPGs, it’s a long process of figuring out which skills, weapons, and characters work best for your team. Following a few quests at a time is the key to the best success. That means paying attention to clues through side characters’ comments and focusing on things that stand out. Once the player discovers more context, all other stories begin to align. Exploration is the key to unlocking new missions, characters, and discoveries, but it’s important to stay focused on a few missions at a time so the enemies don’t become too hard by the time you attempt to complete them. This game could’ve benefited from demonstrating more and saying less. More engaging cut-scenes and demonstrations for how everything works would’ve benefited the game overall. More visuals and cut-scenes would keep the momentum going. That being said, the various save slots allow players to experiment with their game play strategies and work off of mistakes made in previous throughways. Maneuvering through the map can be a headache at times, but it is outweighed by the mesmerizing music that delivers in representing each region. Overall, this game was an amazing time spent. [4.5 out of 5]

Meg’s Monster – Lost memories (Adventure, Indie, RPG) Available on: Xbox, PC

Words cannot express how alluring the stories in this game were. At times, you’re so immersed in its world that you almost forget the feeling of the controller in hand, replacing it with hope for the characters. Roy, the main monster, and Meg, the adorable child, are quite the unexpected duo. Their indestructible bond guides them through several ominous spaces as they search for answers to the mystery that morphs into several more. Roy’s tough exterior hits hard when you realize his hidden soft interior, while Meg is sharp for her age and demonstrates how innocence can blind us from so much darkness. A fully built monster in the eyes of most is seen as an angel in disguise to his human duckling. Story is the driving force because the dialogue is very well written, the characters all feel uniquely relatable, and once everything ties in together, the player will be left looking at the stars for days of wonder, the same way Meg did. Roy and Meg are not the only characters who bring fascination to the table, as almost all other characters have compelling backstories of their own. The lost memories edition provides closure to characters who you didn’t realize needed it until you witnessed their origin for yourself. Some of the many themes include regret, forgiveness, distrust, and loyalty. The game play itself is interesting because your objective is to protect Meg rather than yourself, but there aren’t many battles to begin with. It would’ve been great to see some more action implemented in the stories because it would allow for more content to replay the game. Additional mini-games scattered throughout diverse stories add to its overall charm. It would’ve also been beneficial to see more locations and side quests. The main story only has about five different locations to explore, and a change of scenery would make the world feel even bigger. The star baller of this game is the story, which is why, regardless of its flaws, it’ll shine bright in a vast number of gamers’ eyes. This game is highly recommended for people with a taste for good storytelling, character development, and music. You’re in for a long, captivating trip with Meg’s Monster – Lost memories. Who’s to say we’re not all monsters roaming along the fine line between acceptance and disapproval? Outstanding work. [5 out of 5]

Rating Scale:

5 out of 5 – Even the flaws add to its perfection

4 out of 5 – Absolutely entertaining playthrough with minor shortcomings

3 out of 5 – Good time overall, but nitpicks galore

2 out of 5 – May collect dust in the gaming case

1 out of 5 – Lacking in every capacity