Inestimate's Reviews

  Console:  Switch , PC, XB1, Mobile Developer: Sectordub Release Date:  January 24, 2019 Pikuniku  is a simple adventure game with puzzle-platformer mechanics that focuses primarily on absurdity and dealing with somewhat goofy physics. Made by Sectordub, a small French-British team, I'd heard of  Pikuniku  without really knowing what it was. Following the announcement of  Pikuniku 2,  I noticed the first game was over 80% off, so I decided to play it on the spot! 

    Console: GBA Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe Release Date:  June 11th, 2001 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon  is a metroidvania with an equal focus on both combat and platforming, with a fairly hefty amount of exploration.  This is the first  Castlevania  game following the legendary  Symphony of the Night  to adopt a similar structure to it. Most notably,  Circle of the Moon  is not only included in the  Castlevania Advance Collection  (which is what I played it on), but it's the only game in the collection represented on the cover art. Outside of playing the very first  Castlevania  on an NES emulator and using save states as a teenager and watching a playthrough of Symphony of the Night , this is my first actual Castlevania game, so I was quite excited to finally play one.

Console: PS4, PS5 , Switch, PC, XB1, XSX Developer: Sonic Team Release Date:  November 8th, 2022 Sonic Frontiers  is an open world action platformer centered around exploration, collectibles and combat. As a bold new entry in the  Sonic the Hedgehog  series,  Frontiers  is the first time the series earnestly tries to be an open world game, and according to the director, is meant to be the model for future games, similar to how  Sonic Adventure  was when the series first transitioned to 3D. 

Console: PC, Switch, XB1, PS4 Developer: Team Cherry Release Date:  February 24, 2017 (Voidheart Edition: September 25, 2018) Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition  is a complete version of  Hollow Knight  including its DLC  The Grimm Troupe  and three free content packs  Lifeblood ,  Hidden Dreams , and  Godmaster .  Hollow Knight  is a 2D metroidvania with a strong emphasis on boss battles, gameplay customization, and exploration with a moody, dreary atmosphere. An indie darling from the first day its Kickstarter campaign went life (if not before),  Hollow Knight  is almost universally beloved and widely considered as one of the greatest indie games ever, if not greatest games ever full-stop. I had only tried it once years ago and bounced off of it, not being in the mood for it, and I came back to play it, as many did, since its extremely anticipated sequel,  Silksong , is finally coming out.

  Console: PC , Switch Developer: Giraffe Cat Release Date: October 26, 2023 The Sirena Expedition  is a short and sweet atmospheric horror-themed puzzle platformer that takes place fully underwater and can be finished in about an hour. Made almost completely by David Thatcher, with Amy Greir contributing to the soundtrack and voicing the main character,  The Sirena Expedition  was borne from a Game Jam and made over two years following it.

        Console: Switch 2 Developer: Nintendo EPD Release Date: July 17, 2025 Donkey Kong Bananza  is a 3D platformer with a focus on destructible environments, exploration, and combat. Made by the same team that made  Super Mario Odyssey , this is the first 3D  Donkey Kong  platformer since  Donkey Kong 64  and the first mainline  Donkey Kong  game to be made by a Japanese studio since  Donkey Kong Jungle Beat , the latter of which was developped by the same core team as  Bananza  as well. 

Console: Switch Developer: HAL Laboratory Release Date: March 25, 2022 Kirby and the Forgotten Land  is a 3D platformer with a focus on finding collectibles, exploration, and fighting enemies. The 13th main game in the Kirby  franchise, Forgotten Land  is immediately a breath of fresh air for the series, shifting the main gameplay to 3D for the first time. I've essentially been a Kirby fan all my life, and I can't think of a main Kirby game I haven't enjoyed, so I was truly pumped to finally get to play this, especially after seeing rave reviews from both Kirby fans and non-Kirby fans. Naturally, since this is a Kirby game and I always do this, I fully completed the game before writing this review. 

Console:  Switch, XSX, XB1, PS4, PS5,  PC Developer: Pixadome Release Date:  September 1st 2022 Chenso Club is a roguelite platform brawler with cute pixel art, charming characters, and a focus on difficulty. The second release by the now-dormant Pixadome, Chenso Club  makes a good first impression, but struggles to keep the momentum going and ends up stifled by its own design choices.