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Does the player make the game complete?

by Paul Gestl

Games let us become heroes of our time. We fight the bad guys, find true love, and save the world, all in a day’s work. But before we do any of that, we have to pick a hairstyle that looks like a badass anime protagonist, hopefully without having to buy any DLCs.

Screenshot by Ryan Somma/CC BY 2.0

Character customization has become a staple of many RPGs and other sorts of games that you wouldn’t expect as an option. But in reality, what does a bunch of attractive aesthetics actually do for players of a game?
From a technical standpoint, next to nothing.

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Antichamber Review

Antichamber

Developer: Alexander Bruce
Publisher: Demruth
Released on Jan 31, 2013

Antichamber is a 1st person puzzle game known for twisting the boundaries of reality using confined spaces and color-coded blocks, designed in a style similar to Escher’s. It’s one psychologically trippy game that makes the player doubt what they’re seeing. Branching paths and endless hallways are everywhere, creating a sense of disorientation for those who just want to reach the end.

Genre: An Indie Puzzle-Adventure Game

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Is Realism Important in Video Games?

A thoughtful discussion by Paul Gestl

People play video games because they want to experience things they can’t do in real life. But contrary to popular opinion, that doesn’t seem to be the path the current gaming industry is heading towards. This is probably a response to the outcry by mainstream journalists and feminists alike who want to see more relatable female characters.

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West of Loathing Review

West of Loathing

Developer: Asymmetric
Publisher: Same as Above
Released on Aug 10, 2017

West of Loathing is a comedic stick-figure RPG taking place in the Kingdom of Loathing, where demon cows terrorize ranchers, skeletons rise out of their graves, and bandits cause trouble for the local towns. What kind of crazy adventures await you in the wild west? One thing’s certain; you’ll be wearing many hats, as the Cowboys once did in style.

Genre: An Indie Adventure RPG

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Long Live the Queen Review

Long Live the Queen

Developer: Hanako Games
Publisher: Same as Above
Released on Nov 08, 2013

Long Live the Queen is an anime strategy simulator disguised as a cutesy visual novel. You are the young princess Elodie, who is still grieving the death of her mother, the Queen of Nova. You are next in line to inherit the throne, of a kingdom riddled with political conflicts between nobles and commoners. Can you give her the proper upbringing she needs to become a respectable princess?

Genre: A Strategy Simulation Game

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