"Let's Play Some Demos!" Video Series YouTube Playlist 

Welcome to Part 25 of the Let's Play Some Demos! | LPSD series!
For those who are new, I aim to provide commentary and feedback on game demos for educational purposes! In addition, with how saturated Steam is, let's get these indie games some attention, shall we (and the occasional AAA game I think isn't getting enough attention)?
For this episode, I used some of the demos I had grabbed from the Myths & Legends & Women's Day Sale Steam Events! 

RULES!
Typically, there are 4 demos. Each demo gets 30 minutes, not including the adjustment of settings and character creation. I might up it to 5 and/or play a great game for longer if there are technical issues. Or a demo finishes before the timer goes off.
And NO AI's spit, aka. plagiarism laundering.

Today, I, attempted, to play 4 demos for your enjoyment:

1. Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee by ArcanaXIX - Planned Release Date: 2025
   Play as Amadeus, a young werewolf struggling to understand his condition, as he navigates a tale woven by Witches. In desperation, he sells his own memories for a notebook and a promise. A linear narrative Visual Novel + Adventure Game. Episode 1 of 5. CONTENT WARNING: This game deals with topics including: child abuse/neglect, death, murder. It also involves body horror with respect to the main character's werewolf transformations.
2. Lord Ambermaze by Potata Company - Planned Release Date: To be announced
   Lord Ambermaze is an adventure RPG with a turn-based combat system and time manipulation mechanics – only your steps can force the flow of time to move. Delve into the depths of the underworld to challenge the evil Lord and restore time.
3. Night Dessert by mystific - Planned Release Date: 2025
   Night Dessert is a sultry talking simulator set in a cozy pixel-art pastry shop. Chat with intriguing characters, enjoy flirtatious conversations, and indulge in sweet secrets - all while a city under new prohibition laws tries to keep desires under wraps.
   CONTENT WARNING: This game features suggestive dialogue, flirtation, dating scenarios, occasional depictions of nudity, and playful innuendos. While exploring romantic and sensual themes, the content remains non-explicit and focuses on character relationships, personal dramas, and emotional connections. The tone is chill and atmospheric, blending humor, sultry undertones, and a touch of intimacy. The game does not contain violence.
   AI-GENERATED CONTENT DISCLOSURE: We are a small indie team without a dedicated composer, so we are currently using AI-generated music. Our goal is to replace it with original compositions as soon as our budget allows, and we would love to collaborate with talented musicians in the future.
   
   The ONLY REASON I played this is because they INTEND to replace the spit with original compositions, aka. human art.
4. Through the Nightmares by Sandman Team - Available: Coming soon
   Help the Sandman to overcome all fears in the hardcore action-platformer Through the Nightmares. Find and rescue the children, fight all their phobias! Defeat the almighty Morpheus! Test your skill in a world where everything is trying to kill you. Die, resurrect, learn from mistakes and try again!

The links above are to the games' Steam pages.
Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee, Lord Ambermaze, Night Dessert, and Through the Nightmares' demos are on itch.io!

Why was it an "attempt" to play? Because Through the Nightmares made me rage quit.

However, I will still be able to give an opinion, and it will be via the "Layered Compliment Sandwich":

Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee was surprisingly cute. The hand-drawn art style was refreshing and really added personality to the characters. And I have a theory regarding what the Witch might be doing. Amadeus said he doesn't have any good memories of his childhood home, which is why he had no problem with giving them up. And, as we, might, all know, we are shaped by our upbringing (this may fly over the head of some emotionally immature parents). By taking away Amadeus' memories of his childhood home, she made him a clean(er) slate. Now, he can face his condition with a slightly less biased eye. Yeah, he was harsh on his younger self, but that would be because he was drawing from other life experiences, and not so much from whatever his parents said to him. I want to play more of the game to see if my theory is correct. That, and see how well it handles the other themes the CONTENT WARNINGS mentioned. I think they'll handle it well. If you're story-driven, highly recommend.

Lord Ambermaze was my second introduction to the "Bumpslash Action-Adventure", my first introduction was through Angeline Era. How I feel about it remains the same; thanks for the convenience! Lord Ambermaze handled it better by NOT allowing me to use my controller. With a controller, I was internally screaming, for a little bit, about not having an attack button. Being locked to a keyboard didn't give me that anxiety about an expectation not being met. And, anyone who has seen enough of these knows you have to TRY to make me hate pixel art. We NEED more pixel art games so later generations of gamers know you don't NEED the best 3D graphics and Ambermaze helps me with the message. The game also reminds me of Hades and other roguelike games and I'm looking forward to how they use it. The potions were a nice touch. I am a bit confused about how time is utilized, though. If it's the Lord who decides who dies, why aren't we, the one trying to oppose him, already dead? Are they laughing at our attempts? If so, excellent villain! If you like roguelike games, highly recommend!

The ONLY REASON I played Night Dessert is because they INTEND to replace the spit with original compositions, aka. human art. Speaking in general, if you don't have the budget for a composer, then, instead of participating in plagiarism laundering, you should design the game so it doesn't need music. Funnily enough, they did. I turned down the volume on my headset, then turned down the music settings in the game so I could turn the headset volume back up, and I had a blast. The music wasn't necessary (for me). But the fact they went the route of tainting their game with AI's spit when everything else they had going for it was excellent was disappointing, to put it mildly. And I said as much when I shared the YouTube video on Bluesky. Furthermore, given the situation, why would an establishment trying to hide the fact they have contraband draw more attention to themselves by playing music on the radio? Also, it turns out I was right the first time. I should have left this as part of the NSFW series... What was I thinking? I know what I was thinking; it says "non-explicit" in the description. Lastly, I'll feel better about recommending this when they replace the AI's spit.

Through the Nightmares was fun, until it wasn't. I rage quit. Those types of games are not for me... But the Let's Play Some Demos! series is not for me alone. If someone gets a chuckle out of my struggle, and wants to get the game as a result, then it's worth it. The color palette of the game was what caught my attention. It's fitting for a "someone tries to save people from their nightmares" theme, with the dark purples and blues being contrasted with the bright yellows. And the levels getting more difficult as you progress through the nightmare makes perfect sense. The photos after each level to help you get to know the person you're helping was a nice touch. My issue with it is the same issue I have with games like Hollow Knight and Constance, I do not have the talent for timing. If you're good at platformer type puzzles, have at it. And I recommend this one for you.

Overall, I want Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee, and Lord Ambermaze, and they are on my wishlist.
When the spit is replaced in Night Dessert, I'll wishlist it. I am following it, however.

As a reminder, Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee and Night Dessert have a planned release date for 2025. Lord Ambermaze and Through the Nightmares release dates have not yet been announced.

And that's it for the mini-review of Part 25! Thank you for reading!
If this series of videos is something you're interested in, they're available on YouTube, The Titans' Discord, Steam, Rumble, Odysee, Ko-fi, and on multiple blogging platforms!
Don't forget to hit the Subscribe and/or Follow buttons to know when there's more!

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The Monday, Mar. 24th, and 700th, Artist Shout-Out goes to Samuel!
Check them out here!

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Welcome Gamers!
2:34 - Artist Shout-Out
4:29 - Demos' Intro/Rules
11:06 - Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee
45:04 - Lord Ambermaze
1:17:12 - Night Dessert - Mature
1:40:58 - Through the Nightmares
2:02:54 - Demos Line Up
2:07:21 - Artist Shout-Out
2:09:02 - Thank You/Links
2:10:20 - Rendezvous Point Bookshop Plug
2:11:20 - Up Next: Let's Play Some NSFW Demos! - Part 4/Password: LPSNWD 4$
2:13:00 - Farewell

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• Pilot: CrossCode, Dumpy & Bumpy, Ynglet, Zero Ranger
• Part 2: A Dance of Fire and Ice, 2064: Read Only Memories, Death and Taxes, Underhero
• Part 3: TEKKEN 8, Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition, Secrets of Grindea, Forspoken
• Part 4: Death's Hangover, Fae Farm, Fate/Samurai Remnant, Mini Settlers
• Part 5: All-Star Fruit Racing, Indivisible, SaGa Emerald Beyond, Visions of Mana
• Part 6: Glorious Companions, Tales of Arise, Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge, Cozy Island
• Part 7: The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, Cursebane, Dex, The Lady Puppet
• Part 8: Detroit: Become Human, Little Goody Two Shoes, Luma Island, Tinkerlands
• Part 9: Backpack Battles, Glaciered, Ratopia, Slime Rancher
• Part 10: Captain Contraption's Chocolate Factory, Maid Cafe on Electric Street, Neon Noodles, Tiny Glade
• Part 11: Critter Café, Grimoire Groves, Pixel Cafe, Wizdom Academy
• Part 12: AdventureBarStory, Bone's Cafe, DELTARUNE, Mudborne
• Part 13: Food Truck Simulator, Magical Bakery, Magical Delicacy, Seaside Cafe Rush Hour
• Part 14: Chef's Tail, Espresso Tycoon, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Tavern Talk
• Part 15: Chicken Journey, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, Terra Memoria, Until Then
• Part 16: Cornucopia®, Hipster Café, Let's Café, Spells & Secrets
• Part 17: Doloc Town, Feed the Cups, Manitas Kitchen, Mushroom Picnic Party, Rift of the NecroDancer
• Part 18: Meadgard: Beer and Plunder, BOKURA: planet, Teeny Tiny Town, Tower of Babel: Survivors of Chaos
• Part 19: Dungeons of Hinterberg, The Mildew Children, Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island, Yaoling: Mythical Journey
• Part 20: AI LIMIT, Harmony's Odyssey, Last Time I Saw You, Whiskers & Wizardry
• Part 21: Constance, Dragoon Ascension, Kara Fantasy, Welcome to Elderfield
• Part 22: Crowncity, Dungeon Alchemist, Parliament of Hell 1796, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
• Part 23: The Bear - A Story from the World of Gra, Crime or Punishment, The Star Named EOS, There's No Monsters, Emblems: Sunless Vow
• Part 24: Angeline Era, ctrl.alt.DEAL, Find-o'-Lantern, Imperiums: Greek Wars
  
• Part 26: Tuesday, April 1st
• Part 27: Tuesday, April 8th
• Part 28: Tuesday, April 15th
• Part 29: Tuesday, April 22nd
• Part 30: Tuesday, April 29th

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MORE INFO & TO SUPPORT

- About MonriaTitans | WGS
- Rendezvous Point Bookshop
- Artist Shout-Outs Criteria
- The Titans' Discord
- Throne Wishlist
- #SubOffTwitch
- YouTube
- Rumble
- Odysee
- Twitch
- Steam

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Originally published to https://opinionsandtruth.wordpress.com on March 27, 2025.