While I'm definitely with you on the gameplay-over-visuals department, I'm not sure if those memories of the 16-bit era aren't a little bit rose-tinted. As far as I can remember both publishers and the gaming press would make a huge deal of a game's graphics even in the 8-bit era.

You'd be amazed at how the mind wanders while one mechanically mashes the X button for the whole of 25 times needed to take out a stun-locked, helpless enemy.

True, that last sentence should probably read "meticulously crafted main character models". I thought the devs did an excellent job with the four playable characters, especially in the range of animations and facial expressions they're given (identical movesets notwithstanding) but, yeah, enemy sprites are pretty…

List definitely needs less double talk and more Bob Loblaw

We were a small group, 3-4 players and myself as DM and would often spent whole sessions without a single combat. I had tried to instill a sense of fear to my players that everything they encountered might be deadly - and it worked: combat was always a last resort solution and I believe (or I want to believe) that…

I loved the visual style of The Curious Expedition and it's a more brisk game than Renowned Explorers, but, despite the roguelike elements isn't as replayable due to a more limited range of encounters. Both good games though, with Renowned Explorers (which I liked, but wasn't as enthusiastic about when I first played…

Both games are great fun, but if you're getting one, Renowned Explorers is probably the better choice. It's endlessly replayable due to a stupendous number of optional encounters and outcomes depending on characters/skills/levels, plus acquiring a new relic is so wonderfully present you get giddy every single time.

It's precisely what I loved about Hyper Light Drifter: it offered mere glimpses of a story that's never fully revealed, but were enough to get my imagination going in filling in the blanks.

I found 4-star expeditions doable with a well equipped, fully levelled up party, but, yeah, from my experience the 5-star one is basically impossible.

Almost shed a tear at this - I know in terms of characters the Dark Sun setting is tailored to combat and power-playing, but all of my favourite role-playing memories are from Athas.

Darn - now I kinda feel accountable! Hope you end up enjoying it

Hmm, I very rarely got this feeling in DS2 (a couple of areas, two or three boss fights - and I'm actually forgetting every single name as I only played it once), but I guess it always comes down to a matter of personal opinion. Still, I'd urge you to give DS3 another chance: I was strongly underwhelmed for my first…

Surprised you were bored with the third installment. I thought it was a huge improvement over the bland,unimaginative Dark Souls 2. I have to admit though, that its early levels are probably the weakest ones - perhaps, if you're as slow in making progress as myself, 20-30 hours wasn't enough to get you to all the good…

Don't know about that, 2011 was pretty sweet: apart from the various entries included in the list, we also got Take Shelter, Drive, Submarine, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Bellflower, The Grey, The Raid: Redemption, Killer Joe, and Super 8.

Don't Go Alone. I only vaguely remembered some of the game's specifics and wanted to double-check those (esp. regarding the fear system) before going into all the trouble of trying to track it down and make it work. Got myself some help from The Obscuritory!

Hey, I've used your website just a few days ago for some of my research - thanks!

Ok, I'm being super pedantic about this but since you've offered…

There are many creative ways to subvert the whole fixed-ness of 2D environments, though, and I'm wondering if we've really exhausted our creativity or simply stopped looking too hard to find new ones. See, for example Fez and 8-bit classic Nebulus for creating the illusion of 3D rotation on a 2D plane. Or wonderful,…

My ears are getting increasingly sensitive in the last few years so I'm very hesitant to try it again, even though I've absolutely loved scuba diving the few times I've attempted it. The fact that I may never get to have this experience again is probably part of the reason why I'm getting all overenthusiastic about…

Loved Ignatiy's question about how player-controlled cameras have structured the way 3D environments look through their specific set of affordances and limitations. Seems like prime material for a future For Our Consideration.