Mandrake 🐎 @dickmandrake@elekk.xyz

#introduction
The name's Mandrake. I've been part of Elekk's community since November 2017. I live in the UK and mostly toot about #gameing (specifically #indiegames), what I've been playing recently, and whether there's any games being given away for free. I also really like #DoctorWho and listening to #darksynth.

Also I'm horse

In a way, horses are just giant puppy send toot

Humble are doing a special bundle this week to raise money for organisations responding to COVID-19! https://www.humblebundle.com/conquer-covid19-bundle

Personal highlights in this bundle: Hacknet, Into the Breach, Tropico 4, Pikuniku, GNOG, Psychonauts

Imagine still celebrating April Fools Day on the Internet after #HomestarRunner completely annihilated it back in 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhfHM3jlKnU

Nevermind the clocks going forward in the UK by an hour, Elekk.xyz skipped ahead by 24 hours and went straight through to Monday!

So I've been playing #BrutalLegend this evening and... yep, that's definitely Jack Black: The Video Game. Ozzy Osborne's cameo is incredible, as is the heavy-metal soundtrack.

Man calls doctor using video chat. Says he's depressed. Says he feels increasingly isolated in a world of social distancing and what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is live-streaming tonight. Go and watch him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor... I AM Pagliacci!"

Act 1: a charming story about adolescence, breaking from society's traditions and subverting your parents' expectations, interspersed with simple but relevant puzzles

Act 2: solve these convoluted and purposely-timewasting puzzles, then defeat these evil alien incel eugenists

Figment: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/figment/home

Tormentor x Punisher: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/tormentor-x-punisher/home

World War Z: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/world-war-z/home

Jodie Whittaker recorded herself delivering this wonderful motivational speech as the Doctor from inside her wardrobe: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52038051 #DoctorWho

Also why can't I make Shay lick the frosting off the cupcake himself why do I have to give it to this one specific character so that they can lick it off for me this makes zero sense

This blogpost is a great critique of Act 2's puzzles, by the way: https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/StanislavCostiuc/20170126/290075/The_Two_Conflicting_Acts_of_Broken_Age.php (spoilers)

Basically, it's pretty obvious that this game had a troubled development and that Double Fine were pressured into making it feel more like the point-and-click games from the Good Old Days, when these kinds of annoying puzzles where everywhere. Sometimes, it's better to ignore the vocal minority.

The voice-acting, dialogue, and visuals remain excellent, though.

So I've been playing through #BrokenAge Act 2 and the puzzles are definitely a step backwards from Act 1. Rather than having just simple-but-straightforward inventory puzzles, there's a variety of frustrations involving timing sections, abstract descriptions of knots, metapuzzles dependant on player knowledge, and an instance where you need to do absolutely nothing for a whole minute. Solving this stuff doesn't make me feel satisfied or clever, just relieved when it's over.

It is written, only Doomguy can defeat the demons

"Dumbledore says it's my turn on the Firebolt"

It only took four months for #DeathStranding to turn from being this weird and self-indulgent vanity project, to suddenly becoming the most prescient video game of our time. How does Kojima keep doing this?

Why did Nintendo think it was a good idea to put a realistic tarantula that chases after you into this game?! https://www.twitch.tv/limealicious/clip/InspiringNeighborlySnoodJKanStyle (streamer: Limealicious) #ACNH

If you want to pass the time with some Golf Solitaire, Faerie Solitaire Classic is free on itch.io: https://subsoap.itch.io/faerie-solitaire-classic #FreeGame

Tomb Raider (2013 reboot, not the 1996 original) is free to keep on Steam right now until Tuesday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/203160/Tomb_Raider/ #FreeGame