Game Roundup #3

Tangle Tower, Cult of the Lamb, Until Then

Game Roundup is a series where I briefly introduce some games that I’ve played and give my thoughts on it along with a short review.

Let’s start, shall we?

Tangle Tower

Played on: PC
Play time: 5.1 hours
Difficulty: Default

Unravel a thrilling mystery by exploring a strange and twisted mansion, discovering curious clues, interrogating peculiar suspects and solving unique puzzles. Will you be able to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower?

From the makers of Detective Grimoire, Tangle Tower is a wonderful detective game with some really nice art, great characters and fun twists. The voice acting is incredibly charming, and you can feel the passion and heart put into this game. The developers obviously enjoyed making this, and you can tell by every small detail. It has some really funny moments, and the banter and quips between our two main characters are just delightful.

The mechanic of taking statements from people and gathering clues is straightforward but requires you to think.

I think it also draws some inspiration from Ace Attorney, which is always a plus in my book as it is my favorite game series. And it does not have some of the more… contrived logic that Ace Attorney games tend to have, so it makes for a smooth and fun experience.

The sequel, The Mermaid Mask, is in the works and a demo is already out for it. It was a really fun demo and made me look forward to the full game in the future.

Cult of the Lamb

Played on: Steam Deck
Play time: 17.6 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.

As weird as it may sound, this game is my ultimate comfort game on my Steam Deck. I know, I know, it involves cults and demons and cleaning poop, but hear me out…

It’s really cute.

Behold, the leader of the cult

I had my reservations when I first got the game. Some of you may know of my aversion to any type of horror game but this does not involve any. The vibrant color scheme, the smooth animations, the absolutely adorable characters all combine to make for a really cozy experience, weirdly enough.

I’ve said it before that I am not good at resource management games, but this one is pretty straightforward when it comes to base building, so I didn’t have much trouble building and decorating my base. Plus, you can get your Followers to do the work for you and you just collect the materials.

The music and sound design are impeccable - they are very distinct and recognizable.

The interactions between you and your Followers are also really funny. You can give them gifts, complete their requests, intimidate them into giving you money, scare the living life out of them, praise them, let them ascend to a higher plane of existence or sacrifice them for the cult. Really, it’s all up to you. You can be a benevolent leader or just be the worst there is.

The combat is pretty fun, especially if you enjoy roguelikes. It can get pretty chaotic in the dungeons but if you thrive in such chaos, this just might be the game for you.

Until Then

Played on: Steam Deck
Play time: 16.5 hours
Difficulty: None

A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

Rather than a game, it is better to describe this as interactive fiction set in reimagined Philippines. Other than the little mini-games here and there, there isn’t much to do in this game but to take the story in. You can tell that the writers of this game really put their souls into this. The first parts of the game especially shine with its heart-rendering writing, one part of the game had me in tears at 8:30 in the morning.

But it’s not doom and gloom, as the game can get very funny and cute. The usage of pixel art in a 3D environment works phenomenally, it sets the mood very well. It’s a very laid-back experience where you can just get comfy and enjoy the chill vibes.

It technically involves some sci-fi elements, but they are not really the main focus and are used more as a plot device. The characters and the setting take the center in this game.

It also understands what it means to learn how to play the piano on your own. The little mistakes and starting over and over again are SO relatable.

Be warned that this game is not short; and for a game with little-to-no gameplay, it can get tiring. I do think that it could have been shorter, but it works well with the message it wants to convey and the emotions it wants to evoke.

I enjoyed spending my time in this reimagined Philippines, and getting to know these characters. This game is a charming little adventure that goes great if you want to take a break from heavier games.