Let's Review Your Games LIVE!

This podcast reviews five indie games, providing scores and feedback for each game's strengths and weaknesses. The host focuses on game design aspects like UI, color theory, and game mechanics, offering suggestions for improvement, and concludes that 'Reaver' is the strongest overall game based on a viewer poll, followed by 'Wheelborn' and 'Paper Sky'.

Game Review: Kinsfolk

• 00:03:15 The host begins by playing 'Kinsfolk,' a game with good frame rates and a clean start, but points out issues with color theory, UI design, and a slow-paced narrative. He criticizes the UI's use of basic fonts and suggests that a more refined approach would elevate its aesthetic and visual appeal. The gameplay was also slow to start, and the player lacked clear motivation early on.

Game Review: Paper Sky

• 00:22:26 The host reviews 'Paper Sky,' a paper airplane game with a unique gimmick. The game's introduction is considered exemplary and clever with a strong hook. He appreciates the artistic style and intuitive experience, but feels the game is lacking a clear sense of purpose, a defined loop, and a compelling destination for the player. He acknowledges the game's potential.

Game Review: Seventh Floor

• 00:33:18 'Seventh Floor' is praised for its excellent in-game UI design and smooth movement. However, the menu UI receives criticism for its inconsistent margins and font choices, resulting in an unprofessional appearance. The storyline lacks strong mystery and starts with a hospital bed setting, which is somewhat unusual. The host also highlights the frustrating and unfair game ending, leading to potential rage quitting.

Game Review: Wheelborn

• 00:47:22 'Wheelborn' is a game where the player is born from a wheel and tasked with collecting more wheels to rebuild a kingdom. The host finds the premise humorous and unique. He criticizes the font's readability and dialogue box design, suggesting a left-alignment and more integrated options would improve the player experience. The game's initial onslaught of enemies creates a chaotic and disorienting environment.

Game Review: Reaver

• 00:58:13 'Reaver' is a fast-paced game with a trippy aesthetic and disorienting color scheme. The host initially criticizes the inconsistent use of color and gradients but later acknowledges it might be intentional to create a specific atmosphere. He praises the smooth gameplay and intriguing elements but highlights the potential for nausea due to the design choices. He ultimately finds Reaver to have great marketability potential.

Game Design Feedback: UI

• 00:05:31 The host continually stresses the importance of good UI design in making a game look professional and appealing. He advises against using default fonts like Helvetica and suggests using cleaner, more distinct fonts like Gamand. He also points out that inconsistent margins and padding can detract from the overall aesthetic. The host believes that a clean and well-designed UI can positively influence player perception of a game's legitimacy.

Game Design Feedback: Game Start

• 00:19:14 The podcast analyzes the importance of impactful game starts. The host believes that slow starts can be detrimental, particularly when players lack immediate motivation or a compelling hook. The host discusses the concept of a 'black box' or a mystery that can instantly engage players and motivate them to continue. He stresses that players typically decide if a game is interesting within the first five minutes.

Game Design Feedback: Storytelling

• 01:02:05 The host explores the importance of emotional through-lines in game narratives. He explains how abstract games can still be effective when they establish a clear emotional purpose and destination for the player from the beginning. He uses David Lynch's films as an example of how abstract storytelling can be compelling when rooted in a strong emotional core, and suggests that games should follow a similar pattern to achieve success.