The Roottrees Are Dead, Helskate, Mika and the Witch's Mountain and Tails of Iron 2 | Yahtzee Tries

Summary

In this video, the host reviews several indie games, providing a mix of enthusiastic praise and constructive criticism. From the deductive puzzle game 'Root Trees Are Dead' to the skateboarding dungeon crawler 'Hell Skate,' the host explores unique gameplay mechanics and their personal experiences with each title. Highlights include a quirky genealogy game that rewards cleverness, a complex skating game that didn't quite land for the reviewer, and a cozy adventure with 'Mika and the Witch’s Mountain.' The final game, 'Tales of Iron 2,' is compared to dark fantasy classics but struggles with visual design and gameplay fluidity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses several indie games, starting with 'How Careless of Them' – a genealogical detective puzzle game that blends puzzle-solving with family history research.
• 😀 The game mechanics of 'How Careless of Them' involve searching for key information about family members and entering it into a family tree to unlock more details.
• 😀 The review compares 'How Careless of Them' to other games, drawing parallels with 'Return of the Obra Dinn' and 'Hypnospace Outlaw,' citing the game's engaging mechanics as a reason for its recommendation.
• 😀 A minor critique is raised about the use of AI art in 'How Careless of Them,' leading to a deduction in points for the game's artistic integrity.
• 😀 'Hell Skate' is discussed as a roguelike dungeon crawler mixed with Tony Hawk-style skating, with a blend of sword combat and magic spells.
• 😀 The review expresses frustration with the complexity of skating mechanics in 'Hell Skate,' which requires precise button inputs for actions, making it difficult for the reviewer to enjoy.
• 😀 Despite the reviewer’s dislike of 'Hell Skate,' the game is acknowledged for offering a unique mix of Tony Hawk’s skateboarding and RPG elements, but not resonating with the reviewer’s gaming preferences.
• 😀 'Mika and the Witch’s Mountain' is a cozy, lighthearted game where players control a young witch delivering items via broomstick, with pleasant physics and exploration.
• 😀 The reviewer enjoys the unique traversal system in 'Mika and the Witch’s Mountain' but critiques the repetitive NPC dialogues that disrupt gameplay flow.
• 😀 'Tales of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter' is described as a 2D Souls-like game with a woodland creatures theme, featuring gritty combat and a typical hero's journey plot.
• 😀 The review criticizes the game's visual style for being cluttered and hard to follow during combat due to excessive visual effects and poor animation, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay.

Q & A

What is the main premise of the game 'Root Trees Are Dead'?

The game 'Root Trees Are Dead' is a point-and-click deductive puzzle game where players take on the role of a genealogist piecing together the family tree of a wealthy family after a plane crash wipes out its most prominent members.

What is a key gameplay mechanic in 'Root Trees Are Dead'?

A key gameplay mechanic in 'Root Trees Are Dead' involves researching family members using in-game internet, tracking down information, and entering their names, pictures, and occupations into a large family tree. Players lock in family members once they correctly identify three of them.

How does the narrator feel about the game's style and mechanics?

The narrator enjoys the game's style and mechanics, particularly the puzzle aspect of identifying family members and the satisfaction of correctly filling out the family tree. They liken the game to a mix of 'Return of the Obra Dinn' and 'Hypnospace Outlaw'.

What elements did the narrator find immersive in 'Root Trees Are Dead'?

The narrator appreciated the attention to detail, such as the disco song composed by a family member, and the quirky elements like a 70s music record being part of the family history.

What was the narrator's opinion on the game 'Hell Skate'?

The narrator did not enjoy 'Hell Skate'. They found the gameplay too complex, with difficult button combinations and a glitchy interface. They expressed frustration with the technical skating mechanics and the overall difficulty in keeping track of controls.

What were the narrator's expectations for 'Hell Skate', and how did they compare to the actual game?

The narrator expected 'Hell Skate' to be more like the arcade-style 'Bomb Rush Cyber Funk', where skating was easier and more intuitive. Instead, the game had a more technical and difficult system, leading to frustration.

How did the narrator describe their experience with 'Mika and the Witch's Mountain'?

The narrator found 'Mika and the Witch's Mountain' to be a relaxing and visually appealing game where players control a young witch delivering packages on a broomstick. They enjoyed the unique traversal system, but grew weary of the overly long dialogues and character development.

What did the narrator criticize about the character interactions in 'Mika and the Witch's Mountain'?

The narrator felt that the interactions with quirky characters in 'Mika and the Witch's Mountain' were too lengthy and repetitive. They suggested that the game could benefit from spreading character development across multiple interactions instead of cramming it into one dialogue session.

How did the narrator feel about the visual and gameplay style of 'Tales of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter'?

The narrator was unimpressed with 'Tales of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter'. They found the visual style, inspired by medieval woodcuts, cluttered and hard to follow during action sequences. They also criticized the gameplay for being formulaic, resembling typical 2D Souls-like games.

What were the narrator's specific criticisms of the combat system in 'Tales of Iron 2'?

The narrator criticized the combat system for relying too heavily on typical Souls-like mechanics, such as parrying, blocking, and dodging, which felt repetitive and uninspired. They also mentioned the difficulty in reading the visual cues for actions like blocking and parrying due to the game's cluttered visuals.