HIGH Finally defeating the dragon boss after twenty tries.
LOW Lowering the difficulty only to find it never really gets easier.
WTF Sir Arthur’s boxers had strawberries and not hearts?
HIGH That open-world feeling after the first level.
LOW An enemy shooting from above with no way to kill it.
WTF Checking FAQs to find out where to go next.
HIGH A soulslike platformer!
LOW If I miss that jump one more time, I swear…
WTF Can someone Google what a fetish for elevators is called?
HIGH A well-themed 8-bit platformer that’s heavy on the charm.
LOW Not much guidance on the purpose of in-game collectibles.
WTF Was that boss’s chainsaw supposed to keep going after his death…?
When I downed the first boss of Ember Lilies on my second attempt, I felt really good… at least, I did until she transformed into a walking Eldritch abomination with unnaturally long limbs and hair that looked like it came from The Ring. After she killed me, I expected a moment signaling that it was an unwinnable battle, but nope. I woke up on a bench outside of the boss room and it was time to try again.
HIGH Great graphics, great controls, fantastic bosses.
LOW A few platforming sections require a little too much precision.
WTF Wait, how long have I been able to swing my sword upward!?
Welcome to This Is Not A Review. In these articles we discuss general impressions, ideas and thoughts on any given game, but as the title implies, it’s not a review. Instead, it’s an exercise in offering a quick recommendation (or dismissal) after spending enough time to grasp the ideas and gameplay of a thing without necessarily playing it from A to Z.
The subject of this installment: Drawn to Life: Two Realms available on Nintendo Switch, Android, Microsoft Windows, iOS, developed by Digital Continue and published by 505 Games.
HIGH Great-looking levels and bosses.
LOW Having to replay entire levels after dying at the boss.
WTF Unreasonably large hitboxes during a late-stage boss.
HIGH Thick and cold atmosphere.
LOW Having to close all windows to see something on the screen.
WTF Dying at a fight 15x in a row only to win for no clear reason.
HIGH Shooting Sligs while impersonating one.
LOW Dying ten times in a row because of wonky throwing controls.
WTF Seeing advertisements for other games in the Oddworld factories.
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