Arcesius
2017
Very colorful platformer with a focus on speedrunning. The game is initially on the easy side, and a casual playthrough should not give anyone any trouble. However, that cannot be said about the real challenges in the game.
Beating the platinum time for each individual level was the most fun I had with the game. Then there are three full game speedruns that you can do. An any% run, which was probably the hardest one due to the platinum time being quite tight and having to find a compromise between going fast and using safe strats, a speedrun where you have to collect about half the Splashers (collectibles) and lastly a 100% run.
The last one has a platinum time of 73 minutes and is thus a pretty long speedrun. This one was a bit of a slog.
Beating the platinum time for each individual level was the most fun I had with the game. Then there are three full game speedruns that you can do. An any% run, which was probably the hardest one due to the platinum time being quite tight and having to find a compromise between going fast and using safe strats, a speedrun where you have to collect about half the Splashers (collectibles) and lastly a 100% run.
The last one has a platinum time of 73 minutes and is thus a pretty long speedrun. This one was a bit of a slog.
2017
Gorgeous looking game with handdrawn backgrounds that does little to stand out gameplay-wise.
Ironman mode has also a coding error where intended death (you have to take that one for story reasons) is still interpreted as a death, which is a silly oversight.
Fun for a while, and a short game anyways that is worth a playthrough.
Ironman mode has also a coding error where intended death (you have to take that one for story reasons) is still interpreted as a death, which is a silly oversight.
Fun for a while, and a short game anyways that is worth a playthrough.
I know there is a good game here, but there are only specific aspects of it that appeal to me specifically, and some crucial ones that unfortunately don't.
I love how fleshed out the characters are, how they have consistent personalities, and I think the voice acting is incredible. I loved exploring a world so well-known to me.
But unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the combat. I already disliked the direction they took with FF XV, and I feel the same with this one. It would be silly to call it shallow, as anyone that completed the Shinra Battle Simulator knows how complex it can be, but you don't need to learn any of it for the entire game. I also didn't like how linear the entire game was. And while it's true that the original was also linear, they could have broken up that linearity in newly added places such as Hojo Laboratory, where they introduce Red XIII's ability to wallride, but do absolutely nothing interesing with it.
I love how fleshed out the characters are, how they have consistent personalities, and I think the voice acting is incredible. I loved exploring a world so well-known to me.
But unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the combat. I already disliked the direction they took with FF XV, and I feel the same with this one. It would be silly to call it shallow, as anyone that completed the Shinra Battle Simulator knows how complex it can be, but you don't need to learn any of it for the entire game. I also didn't like how linear the entire game was. And while it's true that the original was also linear, they could have broken up that linearity in newly added places such as Hojo Laboratory, where they introduce Red XIII's ability to wallride, but do absolutely nothing interesing with it.
After playing the sequel - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 - first, it is difficult to not compare the two games. End Times - Vermintide is, in comparison, quite rough, has less depth in its combat, and just doesn't feel quite as responsive.
However, it is still a fantastic game, and one worth picking up if you have a group to play with. And you should have a group, as the servers are relatively empty.
Having experience with the game, progressing was relatively easy, and we cleared all missions on Cataclysm with relative ease.
However, it is still a fantastic game, and one worth picking up if you have a group to play with. And you should have a group, as the servers are relatively empty.
Having experience with the game, progressing was relatively easy, and we cleared all missions on Cataclysm with relative ease.
2016
This one is interesting. The game is all about finding the solution to each level, and execute that solution as quickly as possible. Most screens will only award you thee stars if you complete the screen within 2-3 seconds.
Figuring out the solution to the "puzzles" was the more fun part of the game. Executing those solutions was then fairly straightforward.
Completing all marathon modes is also fairly straightforward, with the first world probably being the most challenging one.
Figuring out the solution to the "puzzles" was the more fun part of the game. Executing those solutions was then fairly straightforward.
Completing all marathon modes is also fairly straightforward, with the first world probably being the most challenging one.
2019
Fun roguelike to play in coop for a while. However, due to the way loot works, the game incentivizes splitting up if you want all players to get stronger as you progress instead of moving together towards the extraction point, so everyone ends up on their own.
Completing 20+ stages in one run would cause my PS4 to crash, and my group could only finish one such run by hosting with a PS5.
Completing 20+ stages in one run would cause my PS4 to crash, and my group could only finish one such run by hosting with a PS5.
2015
Chaotic game full of destruction and bad references. I played through the game in coop and shared a few laughs, then decided to play through Hardcore mode solo. That second playthrough was not really fun, as the game is not made to be played carefully but instead to deliver action pretty much constantly.
2019
Good game that takes what made its predecessor stand out from other similar games and improves the setting. It also adds more bosses, which were lacking in number in the first game, and reduces the danger that trash mobs pose.
Overall it is a fairly enjoyable game that, due to the introduced parry mechanic, is way too easy for the genre.
I also really enjoyed the setting in the DLC.
Overall it is a fairly enjoyable game that, due to the introduced parry mechanic, is way too easy for the genre.
I also really enjoyed the setting in the DLC.
2020
A superficially great looking roguelike, oozing with character, which quickly turns out to be shallow and uninteresting. Sure, some item combinations make for a chaotic time, but there is no real enemy diversity, no soul to the different areas (they are look the same with some slight light changes) and no real strategy to develop.. Enter the room and clear everything from the entrance with your gun that fills the entire screen with lasers.
2020
A fantastic action game that keeps the system complexity of the original and improves upon many aspects of the first entry in the franchise.
Enemy design is again top notch, levels, while linear, are beautiful and fun to clear out, and there are many viable playstyles and builds to craft.
However, the game is - compared to the first Nioh - rather on the easy side, and that doesn't suit the game well. Even without broken builds.
Enemy design is again top notch, levels, while linear, are beautiful and fun to clear out, and there are many viable playstyles and builds to craft.
However, the game is - compared to the first Nioh - rather on the easy side, and that doesn't suit the game well. Even without broken builds.
What a trip. Whenever I think of this game, I think of one thing: Player freedom. It is incredible how much freedom you have, with which actions you can get away, or how creative the game allows you to be in problem solving.
When it comes to combat, the systems are truly deep and each fight needs to be approached carefully, especially on Tactician / Honour Mode.
When it comes to combat, the systems are truly deep and each fight needs to be approached carefully, especially on Tactician / Honour Mode.
2017
Best precision platformer I've personally played. I love the thematic consistency throughout the game, the dark themes and oppressive atmosphere.
But what I love the most is the gameplay. Incredible level design, a character that feels fantastic to control, and less emphasis on speed, but more on precision.
The game is also deceivingly long. When you just thought you were done, the next portion of the game opens up. It goes on and on, and keeps delivering high quality.
The retro carts are a nice addition as well. Collecting 1000 rings in The Super Mega Cart was not the most fun task, but everything else was just fantastic.
If you enjoy tight platformers, give this one a go.
But what I love the most is the gameplay. Incredible level design, a character that feels fantastic to control, and less emphasis on speed, but more on precision.
The game is also deceivingly long. When you just thought you were done, the next portion of the game opens up. It goes on and on, and keeps delivering high quality.
The retro carts are a nice addition as well. Collecting 1000 rings in The Super Mega Cart was not the most fun task, but everything else was just fantastic.
If you enjoy tight platformers, give this one a go.
2017
My favorite game by Housemarque by far. Fast-paced gameplay accompained by an OST with hard and straightforward beats to keep you focused, and colorful visuals. Nex Machina is an arcade game that is a joy to master.
You will be constantly hit by waves of enemies, all of which fill the screen in colorful explotions when they are defeated. There are lasers to dodge and walls of projectiles to avoid. However, the game never feels visually too chaotic.
I completed a 1CC run and a full Veteran Run, which were really fun to do, but moved away after beating the first area on Master difficulty.
You will be constantly hit by waves of enemies, all of which fill the screen in colorful explotions when they are defeated. There are lasers to dodge and walls of projectiles to avoid. However, the game never feels visually too chaotic.
I completed a 1CC run and a full Veteran Run, which were really fun to do, but moved away after beating the first area on Master difficulty.
A step up from the first game in the series, though many of the issues are still present here. The game looks great, but wonky hitboxes make both platforming and fighting enemies unfun at times.
Still, a fun game in coop. Unfortunately, progress for Hard & Hardcore was only tracked for the Host, so I had to do that run solo.
Still, a fun game in coop. Unfortunately, progress for Hard & Hardcore was only tracked for the Host, so I had to do that run solo.
A fantastic coop-experience; Remnant is a game that shines if you communicate properly and tackle its challenges together with some good friends.
I don't really think that a randomized campaign was a necessity, but it didn't bother me either. What I did enjoy, however, was the randomness of Survival mode, added with one of the DLCs. Beating 10 bosses in Survival mode was one of my highlights with the game.
Great atmosphere and enemy / boss design (for the most part), as well as a great character progression and build system thanks to swappable mods and a large variety of traits.
I don't really think that a randomized campaign was a necessity, but it didn't bother me either. What I did enjoy, however, was the randomness of Survival mode, added with one of the DLCs. Beating 10 bosses in Survival mode was one of my highlights with the game.
Great atmosphere and enemy / boss design (for the most part), as well as a great character progression and build system thanks to swappable mods and a large variety of traits.