Ratings and Reviews by iaraya

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The Amiable Planet, by Yoon Ha Lee
Good food and friendly critters, May 19, 2025

> You emerge from your trusty starship. It folds its wings and settles down to nest in the clearing where it has landed, crooning softly. The air smells sweetly of mingled flowers, and beyond the embracing trees the sky is a clear blue adorned with a few swirls of cloud

A lovely exploration game set on a planet that is, true to the title, entirely amiable. There are no dangers here, not really any puzzles, just charming landscapes and friendly people.

On the amiable planet you will meet such creatures like a fairy octopus, a void catten who allows you to scratch its ears, and a mango-loving phoenix. Though they don't have any direct dialogue they are happy to meet you, and those with gifts to share do so freely. A favourite place is a 'bodega' with an impressive array of sweets and pastries (in quotes because you are free to sample everything with no expectation of payment). I think a not-insignificant percentage of the game's text is devoted to enticing descriptions of food and drink.

> The ube cream pastry you try is an attractive purple. The pastry itself is moist and sweet, while the rich cream inside fills your mouth with a burst of gentle milky flavor.

Of course you're not going to enjoy the fruits of this planet without giving anything in return. You can help each character by finding something they want from another part of the planet. These are not really puzzles, and as you encounter each wished-for item in your wandering the game helpfully reminds you who you should bring it to.

When going through areas a second time, as often happens in the course of these fetch quests, it is nice to savour one's surroundings and examine things again. Many things have alternate descriptions that the game cycles through as you re-explore, from space berries that taste different each time to momentary encounter with cute birds on the beach.

It all makes for a vibrant, charming landscape, an experience to put a smile ok your face.

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Metallic Red, by Riaz Moola
Cosy sci-fi in an intriguing world, May 10, 2025
Related reviews: IFComp 2024

An excellent cosy sci-fi game, albeit one that ended on a sudden note. You play as a lone captain of a spaceship, spending your days tending the ship and browsing the internet. I love atmosphere here, the slow life of an old but well-loved ship, the repetitive daily routine. Especially love the internet pages, glimpses of a society that, despite being in space, feel so human and similar to our own. People are still arguing about the superstition against buying your own first tarot deck!

The incorporation of the occult and tarot in general, but transformed into a more sci-fi lens. The tarot deck that can project card meanings, ritualised electric lighting. It's very cool and I'd love to see more of it.

“I want to see more of it,” is my main comment about this game in general. I like the second half of the game, which had the same great writing and atmosphere as on the ship, but it left me with many questions. We get a lot of tantalising details about the backstory here — the cult (?), the protagonist's relationship with their father, and why they want to leave. I expected more of an explanation, and the way it left off was a bit unsatisfying.

What we do have here is really enjoyable, though — I'll keep an eye on it if it ever gets an update or an expansion.

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