Barrow 最近的评测

Edit: Looked into the claims in other reviews that the game uses generative AI content. Per their Discord, the developers used some AI-generated icons in the beta (which is not ideal), but all of said content has long-since been replaced. Claims that the voice acting is AI-generated are baseless. Were it true, I'd also not recommend the game.

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A competent roguelite shooter that nails the Doom/System Shock vibe. There are a few build combinations that are notably overtuned, but otherwise there is plenty of room to tinker with new setups without feeling hamstrung by choosing to get creative.

Note that many gameplay mechanics are locked behind meta progression, so the pool gets deeper as you get further into the game.

Lightyear Frontier is a cozy gem of a farm/crafter hybrid. Let's get the TL;DR out of the way first:

There are a lot of negative reviews about Shifting Gears, and understandably so. Prior to the update, this game was essentially an extremely polished tech-demo. It had a clean design, a linear narrative, and encouraged investment. It's understandable that people would be upset by a change in direction. That said, people have also become accustomed to Early Access meaning "finished game awaiting content", which Lightyear certainly wasn't. What the game is now is a robust platform for future expansion, a giant step closer to being that "finished game awaiting content". It traded out the training wheels to go from something you would demo at a expo to a longer-form and deeper game which has room to grow, while still being fully and extensively playable in its current form.

On to the game itself: Lightyear Frontier is a cozy crafter. The building system is pretty solid (standard survival crafter fare with a rudimentary support system) and the crafting is straight-forward (refining via "put materials in and wait" for most of it). Farming isn't particularly complicated (though grow times vary and there is a simple nutrient system for crops which can add some interesting choices), as is the case with the livestock system that is added later.

What the game excels in, and which is added or expanded upon in the Shifting Gears update, is a calm immersion via the Mech; it's not just a gimmick, but what draws you into the setting. Exploration is a huge part of the game, and nuance with the Mech makes it go from a slog to a journey. It adds a number of factors to be mindful of without being punishing (they can even be adjusted/disabled at any time): Fuel management gives a sense of how long you've been in the field/encourages you to look for natural deposits, damage from falling and deep water helps you to be mindful of your surroundings and adds some tension when you're eyeing resources on a cliff, and your mass feels omnipresent (sprinting into a forest is a good way to damage you and the trees you crushed).

What's nice is that none of the aforementioned features ever feel punishing. You have no time pressure, you can always teleport home, it's easy to craft repairs and fuel (though better versions encourage tech progression). It's a game that begs to be played at your leisure.

Would I play this game obsessively? Not a chance. But when the world is a bit too much and you want a break from it, Lightyear Frontier is a great choice.

A genuinely good and refreshing take on deck builder games that doesn't rely on the old "get your deck as small as possible" standard. There's a ton of mechanics thrown at you up-front, but they're easy enough to pick up after a few fights/runs. While lacking in run duration currently (only 2 maps as of writing this), there is already a ton of content with regard to progression, both during a run and long-term. Additionally, the visual and audio assets are great and add significantly to the experience.

I think my favorite part of this game is the realistic skill system. For example, you can craft countless items and never get better at it, just like Dean Hall and survival games.

A game whose controls are so tight, gameplay is so polished, challenge is so intoxicating, and pace is so varied that even I would bother to write a review for it. A must-own for anyone who enjoys challenging games that encourage personal improvement, and worth a try even for those who normally dislike Metroidvania titles.