Recent reviews by powrtoch

Sad to say I almost missed out on this great experience. I decided to check it out because it was Steam Deck verified. Here are some things I liked and disliked:

Controls - From the moment I started, the game felt very polished. Every interaction feels smooth, snappy, and responsive. Text is quick and camera tool is instant. Your camera is used for more than just photos and even has some unique use in the Basto expansion.

Humor - The game's sense of humor surprised me. There are many unique characters and funny moments to discover and a few that made me laugh out loud. It maintains a fun, lighthearted tone throughout.

Audio - NPCs sound like a cross between Simlish and Animal Crossing speak. Mouth noises and cartoonish sound effects are used well and give the game a "homemade" feel. The soundtrack as well is relaxing with acoustic strings, whistling, horns, gentle vocalizations, and more that do well to complement the laidback nature of the game. I ended up seeking the soundtrack on Spotify afterwards. "Fisherman's Tune" and "Night Jam" were standouts for me.

Personal Touches - After completing a quest, you are allowed to stamp your card. This is done manually and thus each player's community card has that small personalized touch. The way some of your photos are integrated into the game are also a cool personalization. These may be small details, but I think it's little things like this that can make a game stand out.

Dislikes - Sometimes the object you're trying to take a picture of will look slightly unfocused no matter how much you zoom in or out due to being low res. I moved past this pretty quickly, however, and found the resulting pictures still came out looking nice. It is my one gripe though.

All in all, there wasn't a moment where the game didn't hold my attention. I am slow with games and like to take my time exploring every nook and cranny and interacting with everything. I managed to 100% both the base game and the Basto expansion in 9.6 hours. It may be a short game, but I found it fulfilling and the Basto expansion adds some free extra content. I played it on Steam Deck, and I would say it's a must play for Deck users. This game felt like eating a really good home-cooked meal. It's not a feast, but it's made with love.

This game is addicting. You run continuously through each level while avoiding obstacles and collecting gold and power-ups. It's very simple, but can be very challenging. It was frustrating at times, but it never stopped being fun. The great music provides plenty of motivation.