Gamer Escape's Scores

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For 475 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 40% higher than the average critic
  • 9% same as the average critic
  • 51% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.4 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 72
Highest review score: 100 In Sound Mind
Lowest review score: 30 The VII Enigma
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 213 out of 475
  2. Mixed: 238 out of 475
  3. Negative: 24 out of 475
476 game reviews
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    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pepper Grinder
    I expected a bit more out of Pepper Grinder than I got, but none of that is really a mark against the game. There are definitely things about the game I dislike – boss fights primarily, or the general brevity and simplicity of the game – but that’s also judging a game I didn’t get rather than one I did, and the title isn’t priced like a big sprawling adventure. At a $15 price tag, it feels like a light weekend thing, something you can drill through in a few nights of idle play and then pick up again whenever you have a hankering for something similar...That’s… what it wants to be. And so I have to kind of give it up for that. There are frustration points, sure, but if you like this style of platformer it simultaneously doesn’t feel like something that’s been done a dozen times before and is fun to play start to finish. Not every game manages that.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an odd game that you will either really like and have a lot of fun with or it is going to frustrate the heck out of you, but I think ultimately I have to err on the side of it trying new things even if I don’t think it totally sticks the landing. Take that with the appropriate header.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    South Park: Snow Day!
    South Park: Snow Day!’s most prominent issue is one of fundamentals. The game’s namesake is very much intact and handled exactly in the way you would hope as a fan of the show, but the meat and potatoes of the actual gameplay leave much to be desired. Its humorous, surprisingly robust roguelike elements and attention paid to its source material simply aren’t enough to offset the detriment its simplistic combat and repetitive structure.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Alone in the Dark
    It’s rare that I say this, but this video game probably should have been a movie instead. Honestly that’s the biggest thing I felt during this whole experience, between the live action stars, the way the cutscenes are shot and paced, the way the gameplay felt almost like an afterthought, it truly feels like they were basically trying to make a movie but decided it must be a game instead. Now, that’s not to say there’s nothing to enjoy, far from it! I really enjoyed the writing and performances, but it likely says something that I had a lot more fun just rushing through on a second playthrough on easy to see the story differences than I did on my initial go on normal where I actually had to explore.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Goblin Stone
    The game is, on some level, Darkest Dungeon with lower stakes and featuring a group of weird little dudes instead of psychological torture. But they’re fun weird little dudes and you get invested in playing with them. If the basic gameplay loop sounds like fun, yeah, you’ll have to force past some occasional graphical weirdness and some interfaces that aren’t ideal, but there is a legitimately fun and compelling game on the other side. So while it doesn’t really nail the landing for full points, it doesn’t stumble on the dismount, either.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    BORE BLASTERS
    I’m loving the bite-sized gameplay that games like Bore Blasters brings to the table. It’s simultaneously a good way to sample what makes roguelikes so appealing to some, while also delivering fast and frantic rock-shattering action that throws away the pickaxe in a uniquely explosive way. This is a pretty solid game that worth giving a shot, if not for the fact that it’s one of the few games that lends itself nicely to portable play. Sure, other roguelikes might have a leg up in comparison. But that shouldn’t stop you from strapping into your gyrocopter and doing some deep dives of your own. If you’re looking for more dwarven shenanigans in your life, this one is worth a look. I’m sure some miners would raise a pickaxe and a beer in agreement.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Astro Duel 2
    Sadly, problems begin to arise after you’ve spent a few hours with the game, largely due to the fact that it doesn’t take much time to see a majority of the content Astro Duel II has in store for you. What’s there is fun enough, but it’s hard to fight the feeling that it would be vastly improved by having more to play with—ships and stages specifically, but a more traditional story mode wouldn’t have gone amiss—to prevent things from getting repetitive as quickly as they do.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Timemelters
    TimeMelters is a very intriguing game, one which takes an unusual gameplay self-cooperation mechanic (which I have actually seen before) and takes it in a totally new direction. It has been a lot of fun to play, and while there was some frustration, it was mostly the good kind that makes you determined to succeed. There is a good amount of game here too, between the solo campaign and the extra modes available, which could keep you busy for many hours. While the visuals are somewhat lacking and a few quality-of-life improvements might be needed, overall I had a lot of fun, and I highly recommend TimeMelters to anyone who loves having their brain melted by action-oriented puzzles.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Foamstars
    There are good bones here, and ones that could easily lead to a strong title were they to get beefed up over the course of balancing and patching the game. With things as they are, however, Foamstars just doesn’t make as large of a splash as it needs to.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
    But far from being the simple note-for-note reprise of the original that it could have been, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth swings for the fences to be a big and original thing that feels like a full game even while it is, functionally, the middle. It has weaknesses like combat I'm not wholly sold on and maybe a bit too much start-and-stop through gameplay, but if you've been looking forward to the game, you will not be disappointed.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sympathy Kiss
    If you’re a fan of beautiful artwork, good music, and good voice-acting, I would definitely pick this up. However, go into it with realistic expectations. The MC can be a bit bland and the writing can feel childish at times, but this isn’t to such an egregious point that you won’t be able to find enjoyment in the series as a whole. It also has great replayability with seven routes, each with multiple endings.
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open
    From the bit I was able to play of it, I think that Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open has a bright future ahead. After all, titles that look to tackle interesting themes from a different perspective are the sort of freshness in storytelling that every reviewer lives for. Couple that with the fact that the game looks and sounds great just means that I will be one of the first people to pick it up when it officially releases.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Granblue Fantasy: Relink
    So at the end of the day, despite everything that made this look like it was going to be a disaster, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is not just an alright game. It’s a really good game, a delight in terms of action RPG gameplay, and easily a title that you can start sinking a huge amount of time into whether you know this crew or not. I’m excited for the prospect of more, from more characters to more stories. And if you’re looking for a new RPG to sink your teeth to at the start of the year, you already have a strong example.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic
    This game does not need to be an amazing experience on par with dazzling triple-A games, it needs to be a fun, cute, and relaxing hidden object game. It is very much that. The list of things to find might seem a little short at first, but it’s remarkably devious and should keep you searching for a consistent stretch. If you see the scenes above and think “that looks like fun,” hey, you are probably going to have a good time.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Reigns: Three Kingdoms
    It doesn’t really hit me for a lot of my interests, and I definitely found myself feeling a bit like “well, why fire it up again” after my play sessions, but it’s also a nice lightweight game for playing when you want some lightweight strategy fun. And it’s set during an interesting stretch of history, to boot. If that’s your cup of tea, it’s well worth it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    House Flipper 2
    Unless you’re really into this game’s subject matter (Hey, if you like decorating housing in Final Fantasy XIV, you might just be one of these people), you’re probably going to pass on this. The game does try its best to give you the full experience without making it feel too much like real work, but for me at least, I spend enough time cleaning that I don’t really need to do it in a video game. Having said that though, I cannot deny that the experience is well-polished, and absolutely worth a buy if being a house flipper is your personal fantasy.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    HunterX: code name T
    HunterX: code name T is a middle-of-the-road experience. If you’re looking for a new metroidvania to sink your teeth into, your attention would probably be better spent elsewhere, and that’s a shame because there are some solid ideas here. The inclusion of a notable parry system that decreases enemy stats while increasing your own isn’t enough to stave off the exhaustion that creeps up from the game’s other aspects. Enemies, bosses, and areas all feel the same to go through, and this eventually builds to a point of exhaustion—even in this shorter metroidvania. It could have been excellent with more refinement, but as it stands, HunterX: code name T remains simply functional and little else.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bahnsen Knights
    There’s some great scenes, and the aesthetics are absolutely on point, but at the end of the day I simply can’t find myself recommending this to anyone except those who’d look at the trailer and immediately know it’s their jam.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
    Taking into account the long tail of support for the original, the promise of more characters, and the surfeit of extra modes, this is almost a definite buy for fighting game fans, especially if you are a longtime fan of the original game. But it’s also a good buy if you’ve always loved fighting games but dislike threadbare stories or struggle with the controls. And with the sheer breadth of extra modes available, odds are good you’ll find stuff to love in here.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A Highland Song
    I’m in a weird spot with A Highland Song. On one hand, the game didn’t provide me with the kind of experience I was expecting from the trailer. On the other, what actually is here was an interesting and engaging experience. Exploring and finding the various ways forward constantly kept my interest, even through occasionally frustrating moments. The rhythm runs, while disappointingly uncommon, provided nice breaks from the core gameplay flow and some wonderful tunes to listen to alongside. While it wasn’t what I expected, it was a journey worth going on. The Scottish Highlands are calling, and it’s a call that you may just want to answer.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    KarmaZoo
    I don’t want to come off as overwhelmingly or unnecessarily negative about KarmaZoo. At its core, this is a weird game trying a weird new idea in a way that I can respect. The problem is just that I think most of its swings don’t actually work, and the net result is more mildly frustrating than innovative. It keeps unfolding new ideas, but each new idea strikes me as kind of mid-tier. It grows in depth, but none of those new depths ultimately work for me. I think that if you have a dedicated group to play the game with, you might get a fair bit more out of it. If you don’t have that, though? You can probably keep this one locked in its cage.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
    I came away from this with the impression that I really didn’t miss out on much. Turok 3 is a game that lost its identity, and it now comes as no surprise that the next game was a reboot where Turok was changed into a space marine. In trying so hard to be like the other big name franchises, it became little more than another copy and sadly faded into obscurity. That all said, it’s only just mediocre at its worst, and you still get to shoot grenades at dinosaurs, so at least it has that going for it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Of Blades & Tails
    While it certainly exceeded my expectations in a number of areas, Of Blades & Tails still has quite a few areas it could improve on. It’s an awfully rough start and the middle needs some work narratively, but it nails the landing. With over 20 hours to beat, a charming aesthetic, and a variety of ways to tackle combat, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into here. I just wish this wasn’t a case of “Yeah it gets good ten hours in.”
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
    The story isn’t perfect, but still spins a tale worthy of the Dragon of Dojima. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name may be a shorter game, but there’s a surprising amount of depth in that brevity. It’s been a good year for Like a Dragon, and a game that celebrates their leading man like this is worthy of your time and money. Go ahead and devour this, and get excited for Infinite Wealth.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Last Faith
    The Last Faith is a strong title with some clear stumbles, but quality still wins out more often than not, and I’m eager to see Kumi Souls Games’ next effort as a result.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE
    If you’re looking for a metroidvania game to play that you haven’t played before, this game is going to deliver. It’s not without charm and it’s not wildly incompetent. But it’s a C- effort and that’s all the worse when you know that the studio is capable of delivering much better. Unless you’re in dire need of a new metroidvania or a big fan of the series it’s based upon, I wouldn’t rush to grab this one.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Astral Ascent
    If you are tired as heck of roguelike games, this is not the game that’s going to change your mind. But if you like solid platforming action and are willing to learn the game’s systems, crack the bones and sink into the marrow? You’ve got a heck of a game on your hands, and many exciting runs ahead of you. And that’s even before you unlock your third characters.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    This Bed We Made
    I want to emphasize that I absolutely *do* recommend this title. It has replayability and a unique enough theme that you won’t feel like you’ve played it before. If you’re a fan of the mystery genre this is one you won’t want to miss. Lastly, I want to give a quick shoutout to Lowbirth Games. They are a studio trying to bring light to issues faced by marginalized groups through their games and that’s a cause I can get behind. They did a fantastic job with This Bed We Made and you can bet on the fact that I will more than happily pick up anything else they put out.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Roboquest
    If you like first-person shooters, you will have an absolute blast with Roboquest. The game scratches the itch for a satisfying and active shooter in a way that few other titles manage, and you can expect to spend hours just ducking back in for another round of shooting and jumping in the hopes of reaching the end this time. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Jusant
    Jusant is not a game for everyone, but if you expect it to be one you’ll appreciate, it probably will be. Its noteworthy climbing mechanics are kept fresh throughout the adventure by asking you to utilize them in different ways, its ponderous atmosphere is top notch, and the environmental storytelling within its detailed world really gets your imagination going to a degree I hadn’t remotely expected. But it isn’t perfect. It’s more traditional storytelling elements are weaker, it doesn’t challenge the player very much, and it runs short at about six or so hours long. These detractions end up being minor disappointments in the face of a very successful adventure game, but they’re still there all the same, and it’s a shame Jusant doesn’t eschew them to become something even more special than it already is.
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