Richard Hoover
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Posts by Richard Hoover
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island review – Crossover DLC plunders more than enough nostalgic elements
Integrating these Tall Tales into the main Sea of Thieves game isn’t always smooth sailing, but The Legend of Monkey Island DLC provides a light but pleasingly nostalgia-filled outing for long-time fans of the beloved adventure series... Read more
Last Christmas review – Disturbing psychological themes to unwrap in this short but darkly compelling holiday adventure
Don’t let the cute cartoon style and adventure game humour fool you: in its brief play time, Last Christmas deals with some of the darker elements of the season in a horrifying yet compelling way... Read more
Scene Investigators review – Compelling crime anthology uncovers enough challenge to test any would-be detective
It’s fun to exercise one’s brain cells in Scene Investigators’ assorted collection of engaging mysteries that pull no punches when it comes to challenge and are immensely rewarding as a result... Read more
We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip review – Popular co-op puzzle franchise embarks on fun new spinoff series
With a new storyline and new tweaks to the series’ co-op gameplay, We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip is an excellent start to this multi-part franchise installment... Read more
Return to Grace review – Beautiful sci-fi exploration of AI bestows a short but favourable time on all who come to play
While not as deep as it could be, Return to Grace’s discussion of the role of AI in people’s lives – with those very AIs themselves – is a pleasant accompaniment to the wonderful sites discovered aboard an abandoned space base of the future... Read more
Delirium review – Short, raw but frequently funny absurdist adventure you’re bound to cotton to while it lasts
It may not be the most polished or user-friendly game, but Delirium’s zany night at home with two teens and a talking stuffed bunny proves to be a fair bit of fun... Read more
Mozart Requiem review – Entertaining historical mystery desperately in need of fine tuning
Finally localized in English after being released in Dutch and French over a decade ago, Mozart Requiem is so unpolished it’s still not ready for prime time release, seriously undermining its fine protagonist and a story full of intrigue and adventure... Read more
The Past Within review – Rusty Lake presents a short, surreal co-op puzzler
Though it may not leave a lasting impression, Rusty Lake’s macabre The Past Within is a short but reasonably enjoyable two-player co-op experience about raising the dead through puzzles... Read more
Watch Over Christmas review - Joy to the point-and-click adventure gaming world
With the stakes nothing short of Christmas itself, a child hero sets out through a beautifully detailed yuletide world to save Santa and solve a plethora of perfectly perplexing puzzles in Watch Over Christmas... Read more
The Gallery review – Dual-era FMV hostage thriller displays potential not fully realized
Largely ignoring the “full-motion” in full-motion video, The Gallery is let down by the lack of purpose for its otherwise intriguing antagonist in this well-acted story between hostage and terrorist... Read more
Born Punk review – Cyberpunk point-and-click isn't able to fully deliver on its abundant promise
With dull things to do, a plot even the characters don’t care about, and no real ending just when the story starts, it’s left to the lush pixel artwork, smooth animations, and atmospheric audio to at least partly salvage the dystopic future in Born Punk... Read more
Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit review – Like a Broken Sword game in Lithuania, this epic adventure rules
Ex-KGB spies, a centuries-old magical artifact, a unique Lithuanian setting, and character customization that goes beyond just the cosmetic make for a satisfying outing in the beautifully rendered Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit... Read more