Transistor

honestly, this game ended up being a lot more tactical then brute-forcing and i like that about this game.

[h1][b]Strongly recommended:[/b] Transistor[/h1] Supergiant is one of those game studios that likes to take big swings, and somehow still seems to do great with everything they try their hand at. [b]Transistor[/b] is no exception, boasting a clear and cohesive creative vision despite being only their sophomore effort. I won't really get into the details of the story, because the game doesn't either. In fact, as you start Transistor for the first time, you don't even get a main menu - you're just dropped in medias res and expected to piece the story together as you go along. Luckily, if you're paying any attention at all, this isn't as difficult as one might imagine. However, there were times here and there when I felt the game got a bit too cryptic for its own good. The ending also offers an intriguing and effective twist that left an impression for a good while after it was over. When it comes to gameplay, Transistor combines the overall look and feel of isometric hack-and-slash games with its own take on the turn-based combat system. Once combat starts, you'll find the Turn meter at the top of the screen, which you can use to pause the action and plan the next few moves. The planned actions are then executed in a split second, and you have to wait for the Turn meter to fill up before you can use it again. Luckily for our protagonist, the Transistor she's wielding can equip a number of abilities, which you can acquire as you level up and during pivotal story moments. Each can be used as an active ability, an upgrade for another active ability, or as a passive bonus for the protagonist. In fact, the game encourages experimenting and combining abilities. For one thing, the difficulty curve is pretty steep, and figuring out effective ability combos is the best way to stay one step ahead of the enemies. You're also rewarded with lore, since each ability has an associated info file that is gradually unlocked as you use it in all three configurations. The presentation is probably the strongest aspect of Transistor. The world of Cloudbank is presented in colorful and stylish Art Nouveau environments and illustrations, clearly inspired by the works of Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt. The soundtrack is great, which makes sense for a game that has a singer as the protagonist. The voice acting is also top-notch, with standout performances by Logan Cunningham and Sunkrish Bala. Transistor is the perfect example of a 7/10 game: filled with interesting ideas, and while not all are executed perfectly, it's infinitely more captivating than a perfectly polished game with nothing to say. It's also the first game where I'm seriously considering starting a NewGame+, and that must count for something.