Curse of the Past (Nintendo Switch)

Alright, here we go. Imagine diving into “Maliki – Poison of the Past.” You’re like, okay, it’s got some turn-based combat, a bit of time travel, some cozy town stuff. Sounds like it’s bringing something new to the table, right? But really, it’s like this game can’t decide what it wants to be when it grows up. That’s ambitious, for sure, but it’s also kind of chaotic.

I mean, is this an RPG or a crash course in town management? Sure, it’s fun growing veggies and exploring Domaine—this whole Thousand-Root Tree thing is cool. But then you’re out there cutting grass and breaking rocks, feeling like you stumbled into a different game by mistake. Ever feel like you’re in a salad that’s got everything but the kitchen sink? Yeah, it’s like a Cobb salad when all you wanted was a plain old Caesar. And cozy, they say? Nah, when you’re grinding through boss fights and stumbling over glitches, cozy’s the last thing you feel. Talk about missing your own memo!

Even the fun bits, like those RPG segments? They can’t get going without being constantly interrupted by cutscenes. These cutscenes are animated pretty well, don’t get me wrong. But the story? Meh. Ever find yourself remembering characters by their hairstyles instead of their names? Yep, 15 hours in, still doing that. Except for Maliki, of course. If you didn’t read the original webcomic, you’re probably scratching your head over who these people are supposed to be.

Now, the time travel stuff does get a bit interesting. You’re hopping through different decades—from the 80s farms to 90s schools, even the Louvre in the 00s. The enemies? They’re kind of weird but memorable, too. Imagine everything being taken over by poison parasites. Yeah, unusual bits of humor crop up now and then, sprinkling some fun into the exploration.

Then, we have the mazes. Oh man, the characters even joke about hating them! But you’re grinding through, moving characters here and there, opening passages. Tourists in the ’00s and students in the ’80s blocking stairs—it’s a repetitive gig after a while, you know?

The one saving grace? Music. The soundtrack? It’s got those Legend of Zelda vibes sometimes. Can’t complain about that. Adjusting the volume for tracks and effects is neat, if not mandatory amid the chaos of everything else.

But quirks like unique abilities popping up randomly because of glitches? Tiresome. Speaking of bugs, this game is like a field study in ’em. Crashes and freezes galore, and some puzzle glitches choke the life out of your progress. And where’s the map? Seriously, older RPGs managed to include one, but here, you’re just wandering.

In the end, “cozy RPG adventure” they called it, only someone plucked it way too soon. If you jump in, expect some neat ideas buried under a mountain of bugs and hiccups. Honestly, it’s like imagination meets frustration, battling it out to see who wins. Maybe a good patch can iron things out, but right now, it’s a bumpy ride.