LogFAQs > #968120261

I was let down by Metroid Dread too, though I think for mostly different reasons than you. I thought it was an "OK" janky 2D action game but there was absolutely nothing there for me as a Metroid fan. I found the controls and combat to be really bad (though marked improvements on Samus Returns, which was borderline unplayable for me). The level design was off the charts awful, both to look at and to play, at least until I accepted that I'd just let it funnel me wherever and never try to leave the beaten path or backtrack for any reason. Also, cut the EMMI stealth sections from the game entirely please, those were meritless. I did like the boss fights (until they would spring a cutscene QTE on you -- is this 2005??) and the plot was, uh, enjoyable to mock I guess. Would be a little impressed if this was a new franchise from a one man team or something, but frankly I'm more likely to pick up Other M 2 than another Metroid from this dev.

All four other games you found disappointing are games I've considered buying multiple times, so that's a bit worrying! The characters' mundane problems in Coffee Talk sound fine to me, but you're not making the writing itself sound interesting enough to support it. VAL-HALL-A or whatever is probably more my speed anyway since I'm more a bar than coffee shop person, and I'll probably try Transiruby at some point as mediocre Metroidvanias are almost all I play right now.

I'd encourage giving Lenna's Inception another shot! Without spoiling it, I don't remember any real creepypasta stuff in that game. Yeah there's glitches intruding on the game world but it's part of the gameplay and story, not used for creepiness really. Undertale neutral route would be a good comparison I think, where it can be subversive but it's not really trying to scare you. Also you can get a librarian as your familiar, which rules.