Mad Cave Reviews -1
Just For Records Sake
I tried my best to enjoy writing about these reviews but I struggled too much on Gutternaut. So I’m just gonna give my thoughts in as little as possible.
Battlecats Vol. 1: Feels like a pretty typical D&D campaign, even with the twist. Characters aren’t really that interesting compared to the world and that’s not much. 6.5/10
Potions Inc.: Got into this mainly for the marketing that I thought would lead to some ARG. Partly because the pacing in the story wasn’t that great. It just felt like a vanilla hero’s journey without many dynamics. 7/10
Battlecats Vol. 2: Things step up here with depths that give weight to every character’s journey. Especially with the antagonists getting the most interesting dynamics. 7.5/10
Battlecats Tales of Valderia: Makes the world feel bigger and more lively, especially with backstory to some of the more interesting characters. 8/10
Show’s End: Some of the best horror has heart like in here. Love, sacrifice, and where they collide play a huge role for how characters try to thrive. 8.5/10
Over The Ropes: Showing off a genuine passionate love of pro-wrestling by making a show out of your life. 8.5/10
Good Game Well Played: The debut of Mad Cave’s YA imprint Maverick started out really strong. Characters you grow to love with a setting that has as much character. 9/10
The Last Session: Colorful designs, personalities, and conflicts when it comes to what a D&D game means to the players. 9.5/10
Nottingham Vol. 1: A compelling grimdark take on Robin Hood where the legend combines with a noir story where the Sheriff is the closest thing to a hero. 9/10
The Tiger’s Tongue: Started out very interesting especially with how unique this fantasy world felt. But near the end, the B plot felt rushed despite having decent characterizations. 7.5/10
Show’s End - The Second Coming: Goes even deeper on needing somewhere to belong in love and sacrifice. All the while challenging it on how cults manipulate people through that. 9/10
Over The Ropes - Broken Kayfabe: Challenges how much making a show out of your life and getting engaging with it can be both empowering and disheartening. 9/10
A Legacy of Violence: A creepy and disturbing plot of slow burn tension…can also get frustrating when the pace gets too slow. 7/10
Nottingham - A King’s Ransom: Drives home how the legend of an altruistic Robin Hood could not exist in the time of King Richard. Especially where the Crusades fit in. 9/10
Lower Your Sights: A collection of mostly empowering tales in support of the Ukrainian victims. Some are better remembered than others. 8/10
Nature’s Labyrinth: Fantastic artwork can’t hide just how weak the characterizations turned out to be. 6/10
Dahlia in the Dark: A moral gray urban fantasy with compelling character dynamics and arc that ends with you thinking. 8.5/10
Hunt. Kill. Repeat.: An action packed Greek epic about how abuse makes us follow the biggest, baddest, monsters. 8.5/10
Don’t Spit In The Wind: An artsy look on how burnout and indifference in a polluted world permeates hopelessness. Enough for people with their own microcultures still trying to make living worth it. 8/10
Tales From Nottingham: An anthology giving more insights into characters and how they lived before the main book. Only to turn into something else near the end. 8/10
The Karman Line: A space social anxiety horror where media manipulation is the main villain. 8/10
Paper Planes: Probably the most heart wrenching look at a relationship falling apart because of their sexuality and social anxieties as characters try to move on from their lives with a new hope that things can get better. 10/10
Monomyth: So much potential with magical visuals and character arcs only to lose whatever direction it had. 6.5/10
You’ve Been Cancelled: Flat characters making up flashy satire. 7/10
John Tiffany: First translated work with great payoff. Especially when they leave you wanting more. 9/10
Mariko Between Worlds: A flat plot in a setting that had so much potential than as a backdrop. 6/10
Under The Influence: A political thriller about how influencers can become modern day cult leaders full of tension, misdirection, and suspenseful manipulation. 9/10
Project Riese: This was okay, but it feels like it could’ve been more other than a low budget Nazi experiment punching rail ride. 6.5/10
Crusader: A very pulpy adventure starting out with eye widening action before transitioning to a D&D style adventure. Just wish it had a more interesting lead like the Pilgrim. 7/10
Confetti Realms: A very emotive plot with small surprises, but kind of slow pacing. 7/10
Whisper of the Woods: A terrifying folk horror that offers an engrossing look into Romanian folklore and the obsessions that come with trying to make sense of it. 8/10
The Devil That Wears My Face: Exorcist horror gets renewed by forcing a new definition of evil, demons, and faith. Suspense and surprises with the art, transitions, and juxtapositions make this an unforgettable experience. 9/10
Tales From the Cave put the best parts of Mad Cave on display. Battlecats get a campaign with 8/10. A Hunt. Kill. Repeat. villain gets some development 8.5/10. And another Nottingham story sticks to the atmosphere and themes as a decent stand-alone story 9/10.
Edenfrost: A look at how Jewish symbolism can change before the Soviet Union. Where persecution, weaponization, and keeping faith take their toll. 9/10
Voyage de Gourmet: Probably the most intense social anxiety tests in a light hearted setting. A chance to reconnect with a friend feels like walking on eggshells despite the little victories. 10/10
Skeeters: Feels like a splatterhouse flick in the best ways. Folks are looking for something to live for as something absurd comes their way. 9.5/10
Charred Remains: A spooky atmosphere of a mystery around a monster… but the pace of the context could have been better with moments of revelation happening sooner. 7/10
Deer Editor: Great satire on how mundane absurdities are so acceptable that if you need something so out there to change your perspective. Could’ve had more time with some characters though. 7.5/10
Silver Vessels: Couldn’t decide whether it was a coming-of-age story or a social commentary. 6/10