DENNIS GAGLIARDOTTO
The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty Review
Arguably one of the best time-conscious visual novels to come out in quite some time, if not ever, and with an easy-to-read and use flowchart to access after you've become content with your initial route, The Hungry Lamb has an accessible but extremely dark story that introduces characters to immediately connect with, bringing forth a package that has an organic flow from beginning to end in a fantastic yet underutilized setting.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story Review
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a fantastic look into a genre that is frequently overlooked, and with a AAA budget and a reputable studio and publisher, I hope that The Centennial Case can help expose the genre's worth and appreciation more to the masses that would otherwise probably consider this "not a real game".
Arcadia Fallen Review
Arcadia Fallen's blend of alchemic and magical fantasy weaved in with the politics of war make it a thrilling adventure and remains captivating throughout thanks to the strength of its dialogue and characters, and it further goes to show that a good story or game can be presented in any fashion so long as one enjoying the art has a bit of imagination.
The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Review
The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants beautifully compiles three of the visual novel genre’s most critically acclaimed games into one package on Nintendo Switch and brings along with it unreleased content and short stories for what feels like a festival of narrative bliss in a dark gothic story involving drama, stunning art, and a slew of memorable moments.
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows (2018 PC Release) Review
For nearly two decades after its initial release, Corpse Party has remained unique in its design, characters, and perception of horror that is still unparalleled to this day. From the ever evolving lore to the personalized experience each game gives you, Corpse Party sticks with those that play it with tailor-made playthroughs and memorable moments that are as shocking and sad as they are mysterious and profound.
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception Review
Imagine waking up one day in the middle of nowhere, where it's cold, snowing, the woods are endless, and you're surrounded by are the chirps of birds, the rustling of the trees and the sounds of your footsteps. You don't even know your own name or what to do in the situation except your basic human functions. Utawarerumono - which means The One Being Sung in Japanese - puts you in the shoes of an unnamed man in this exact position where he must find out why he woke up there, how he ended up in that position, and journey back into the discovery of who he is along the way.