This is a spoiler-free review table. If you find this helpful please consider marking it as such or leaving an award. Thank you.
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[th]CATEGORY:[/th]
[th]EXPECTATION:[/th]
[th]SCORING:[/th]
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[td][b]EXAMPLE:[/b]
Shows what a category(read from left to right) looks like on this table.[/td]
[td]That you are able to read this table after reading this example category.[/td]
[td]I give 0, 1, or 2 points for failing, meeting or exceeding my expectations per category and note why. After I add all the points to score the game. A perfect game earns 10 points.[/td]
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[td][b]AUDIO:[/b]
Both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds including music, effects, voice acting, user interface, and other sound designs.[/td]
[td]Most game audio is clean, clear, and crisp. Any significant issues are fixable with game settings.[/td]
[td]1 of 2 points. RetroMaze delivered audio that, while repetitive, was ultimately serviceable, easily adjustable, and even catchy. It may not have set the "retrowave" feel on its own but when paired with the visual elements the game managed to loosely fit into that style.[/td]
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[td][b]GRAPHICAL:[/b]
Particle systems and environmental effects, gameplay effects, user interfaces, cinematics, lighting and shadow, etc.[/td]
[td]Cinematics should have no stutter. Actions and other graphics have few visual hiccups that don't break gameplay. User interfaces are easy to read. Any significant issues are fixable with game settings.[/td]
[td]2 of 2 points: As I mentioned earlier: the soundtrack was able to help successfully set the mood when paired with the art style yet I do feel the art style needed the audio to do the same.[/td]
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[td][b]P&G(PLOT & GAMEPLAY):[/b]
Includes the story and settings(if applicable) and the controls, mechanics and gameplay systems that should be keeping me engaged.[/td]
[td]Game story and settings(if applicable) held my interest. Controls should feel intuitive or be reprogrammable. The mechanics and systems that should keep me engaged, at bare-minimum, stay rewarding.[/td]
[td]1 of 2 points. Keyboard control to navigate through the maze is nothing mindblowing. I never felt the increase in difficulty that was advertised. Everything was serviceable.[/td]
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[tr]
[td][b]TECHNICALS:[/b]
Includes game stability, presence of accessibility options, how intuitive the controls are, etc.[/td]
[td]User interface should be fluid. No major issues interrupt the gameplay and no hiccups hinder cinematics or gameplay.[/td]
[td]1 of 2 points. Everything here was serviceable and no issues interrupted my fun. I'm comfortable awarding it another point bringing the total to 5 out of 10 points.[/td]
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[td][b]VoC(VALUE OF CONTENT):[/b]
The cost of a game, the content provided by it, my overall enjoyment from it and if I felt I got a good value from it.[/td]
[td]My enjoyment from the game content should justify what I paid for it(1 point). I should be comfortable recommending the game at the price I paid for it(1 point). If I received the game for free I do this evaluation at full-price instead.[/td]
[td]2 of 2 points. After having completed RetroMaze I would feel comfortable paying full asking price and recommending it at full asking price in spite of getting it for $0.49(-51% full asking price).[/td]
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With everything factored in I feel RetroMaze is a solid 7 out of 10 game. Being a simple and small game with a low asking price set realistic hopes for the expectations I normally hold games to and I wound up having an enjoyable 30-40 minutes of playtime followed by another 60+ minutes of letting the game idle to get access to the Points Shop content. I'd recommend it to anybody who likes mazes or is looking for a gift for said persons or achievement hunters.
EDITS: This post was edited to convert the review into a review table like my other reviews. I had tried a more traditional review format this time but found I didn't enjoy seeing it lined up with my other reviews.
