Stevo's Bargain Bin

We all have games which talk to us on some kind of emotional level. Celeste definitely is one of mine. The game, developed by Matt Makes Games, is a gorgeous 2D platformer which has a lot more to say than is initially apparent. When we meet our protagonist Madeline, she is just starting her arduous trek up Celeste mountain. Her motivations are not altogether clear to begin with, but as she journeys onward and upward a compelling and heartwarming tale emerges. Without going into detail - because it's best experienced firsthand - Celeste surprised me as its story addressed some important topics such as mental health. It gave Madeline's epic journey up the treacherous mountainside an added level of depth which not many platformers have managed  to pull off - for me at least. As she continues to climb, Madeline meets a likable cast of supporting characters - each of whom bring something to the story. In practice, her efforts to reach the summit translate to some pret...

I am a real sucker for both Metroidvanias and retro-inspired games. So when I came across Gato Roboto (quite by accident) on the Nintendo store and saw it combined both, I was quick to add it to my collection. I picked it up the night before it launched so when I sat down to play, it was very fresh because little was out there in the way of reviews or letsplays which was a lovely way to experience it. Gato Roboto, by Doinksoft , is a "meowtroidvania" which puts you in control of a cute kitty named Kiki. At the start of our adventure, Kiki must set out to explore a hazardous alien underworld after a crash landing leaves her human companion Gary stuck on board their spaceship. Before long she gains access to her mech suit and can start really kicking ass. The style and layout of the environments (particularly the earlier ones) strongly reminded me of the old Metroid games - which was delightful. I loved the simplicity of its art and the fact that finding various...