DestroyerM24
169 Reviews liked by DestroyerM24
Fabledom
2024
Pretty standard city builder, akin to Civilization. I don't see myself doing multiple runs as there's no species variety or anything like that to choose from.
Plants vs. Zombies
2009
Since I have now gotten to the 3D Zelda's in my Zelda marathon, and they're usually a lot longer than the 2D ones, I've decided to play a game or two in between entries. There will be new games here and there, but it also gives me a good opportunity to replay shorter games I love. Plants vs Zombies is a game near and dear to my heart. I've played it countless times in the past, even tried to Let's Play it years ago, and even still in 2024...it's one of my favorite games ever.
The concept of PVZ is pretty simple. Zombies are trying to get to your house to eat your brains, you have to stop them by using plants you acquire throughout the game. Incredibly simple plot but it works because of the constant humor throughout. The only non-zombie, non-plant character is Crazy Dave and he also helps with the game being hilarious. He's iconic for a reason and is also home to all the dialogue in the game. The zombies themselves are also very humorous. I've seen them all hundreds of times not but on a first playthrough, it would've been a blast seeing each new zombie type as they appear and seeing what methods they use to try to get to the house.
The gameplay is also pretty simple in this game. This is a tower defense game, meaning as enemies slowly (or fast depending on the zombie) move to the point you have to defend, you must defend it with your arsenal. The game is on a grid system too so you must plan out your plots of land/water/roof as well. Your arsenal, the plants, are also varied in their uses. The sunflower is your most important plant as, while you can get sun here and there from the sky, they are the best way to produce sun in the game. Sun is your currency that let's you buy plants so obviously it's incredibly important. The game makes it known pretty much right away that you'll want sunflowers at all times. Other than that, you have offensive plants like Peashooters or melon-pults. You have defensive plants like wall-nuts or pumpkins that can hold off zombies for a bit. The reason they can is because they have much more defense than other plants and as such take longer to eat, vs like the usual 3 or so seconds it takes to eat a plant. You have TSPP's (temporary solution to a permanent problem as coined by Nintendocaprisun) which are plants that destroy a single or group of zombies and then disappear afterwards. They're amazing in a pinch but also usually take longer to charge. That's another thing in this game. Besides plants needing different amounts of sun to plant them, they also have different recharge times until you can plant them again. Sunflowers or offensive plants are usually the quickest while defensive or TSPP's are usually a lot longer. It adds just even more strategy to the game I feel.
The zombies are also varied in their ways to try to get into your house as well. I already said their various ways are humorous but they're practical too. A regular zombie has 10 health. Then there's an upgraded zombie with a cone that has 25. Then ones with buckets have 50. Not only that but some zombies are faster and behave differently than others. Pole-vaulters are very fast at first but once they get in front of a plant, they pole-vault over it and then walk normally. Dancing zombies literally dance over to you and summon 4 zombies all around them like a backup crew (they actually were originally Michael Jackson zombies doing the Thriller dance but had to change it due to him passing around that time). Gargantuars have 100 hp, the most of any zombie and when they get to 50 they throw a little imp on their back like 5 grid spaces ahead of you. AND the imp itself has like 3 hp or something but is super quick. It's just really cool to see all of these zombies with their own unique properties combined with the many different plant types in the game.
So, you know how the gameplay works. How about the levels themselves. That's also pretty simple. There are 5 levels in the game and each has different properties. The regular lawn levels are the most basic and there's actually nothing special about them. The nighttime levels don't have falling sun so you must rely on cheaper mushrooms that can only grow naturally at night and maybe some sun-shrooms instead of sunflowers. Pool levels introduce the water and also 6 rows instead of 5. You must plant lily-pads before you can plant any land plants. There are aquatic only plants (lily-pads as well) that you can plant without a lily-pad tho. Fog levels are pool levels except at night but also with fog. So apply everything I said about the night levels here as well as fog that covers half the level. So you'll either have to deal with not seeing half the level at all or use specific plants that let you deal with it. Finally, the roof levels which don't allow you to plant pea shooters, because of the angle or the roof, and you must plant these flower-pot plants first before any other plant. Besides the first level, which is basic for a good reason considering it teaches you the basics, each level is varied enough so it doesn't ever get boring. Also, every 5th and 10th level, the game breaks the pacing up a bit by letting you play a mini-game or a conveyer belt free-for all style stage. These as well are very fun and again makes it, so the game doesn't get tedious. This campaign all culminates in a battle with Zomboss, the final boss of the game and the mastermind/leader of the zombies. His fight is super fun and challenging enough to the point where it's not too easy. I didn't mention it before, but the main campaign is honestly not very hard at all. Some people might take issue with it but I always found it to be a very relaxing and chill game to play so I welcome the easier difficulty.
If you want difficulty, the other modes have you covered. Yes, the main levels aren't the only thing in this game. In fact, I'd say it's only around the halfway point if you want to do everything. First off, before I get into the various other modes PVZ provides, let's talk about the other things you can find on the main menu. Once you're at a certain point into the main campaign, you'll start unlocking other things you can do. The shop let's you buy various plants, items for your lawn, stuff for the zen garden and even a tree you can grow. You can buy all this stuff with money you get randomly from zombies. The zan garden let's you grow plants you get from the store or from killed zombies. This is a great way to get cash and is relaxing to check out every hour or so since it takes plants a bit to grow. There's also built in achievements, which I did get all of them back in like 2021, but this time I only got 11/20. I could've done them all again but a couple of them take a long while to get.
As for the actual modes, this is where the real difficulty comes in. Minigames contain some of the ones you played in the main campaign and a bunch of new ones. They're mostly very fun, some are more fun than others, and mix up the general gameplay a ton. There's a minigame where you feed brains to zombies that swim in a fish tank like fish. There's one where you must match plants like bejeweled. There's one where you play slots to obtain plants. They're all very different and the later ones especially can get quite touch. I'm looking at you Pogo Party and Bobsled Bonanza. The 2nd mode is puzzles. Here you play two types of little puzzle games. Vasebreaker where you must break vases that you don't know have a plant or a zombie in it (unless they're green then they always have plants). And I, Zombie where you actually play as the zombies and you must carefully figure out what zombies to place down to eat the plants. There's like 9 or 10 versions of each of these but they're pretty quick and a lot of fun. The last mode is survival where you must survive waves of zombies with whatever setup you have. In between waves the lawn doesn't reset so you can build a pretty crazy defense by the end. There's a normal and hard version for each of the 5 levels and the hard versions can get pretty ridiculous. Dare I say the hardest thing in PVZ1. I did everything in all of these 3 modes tho (besides the endless stuff cuz yeah that's a thing too) and got the gold sunflower trophy so I'm satisfied. Idk if I'd do the survival hards again tho, at least not all at once cuz they can get a bit tiring lol.
This game's soundtrack is something special and I have to give props to the composer Laura Shigihara. Not only is she an amazing composer and also vocalist (she voices the sunflower in "There's a Zombie On Your Lawn"), she also streams a lot and just seems like a cool person. Anyway yeah, she composed an absolute banger of a soundtrack. My absolute favorite song was always Watery Graves and it's still my favorite now. Other than that, my other favorites would have to be Ultimate Battle,Loonboon and Braniac Maniac.
This replay was fun, even if I 100%ed it on replay a couple years ago, I can never get enough PVZ1. Like I said, Ocarina of Time is next and after that I think I'm going to replay Katamari Damacy before I get into Majora's Mask so stay tuned for all of that!
The concept of PVZ is pretty simple. Zombies are trying to get to your house to eat your brains, you have to stop them by using plants you acquire throughout the game. Incredibly simple plot but it works because of the constant humor throughout. The only non-zombie, non-plant character is Crazy Dave and he also helps with the game being hilarious. He's iconic for a reason and is also home to all the dialogue in the game. The zombies themselves are also very humorous. I've seen them all hundreds of times not but on a first playthrough, it would've been a blast seeing each new zombie type as they appear and seeing what methods they use to try to get to the house.
The gameplay is also pretty simple in this game. This is a tower defense game, meaning as enemies slowly (or fast depending on the zombie) move to the point you have to defend, you must defend it with your arsenal. The game is on a grid system too so you must plan out your plots of land/water/roof as well. Your arsenal, the plants, are also varied in their uses. The sunflower is your most important plant as, while you can get sun here and there from the sky, they are the best way to produce sun in the game. Sun is your currency that let's you buy plants so obviously it's incredibly important. The game makes it known pretty much right away that you'll want sunflowers at all times. Other than that, you have offensive plants like Peashooters or melon-pults. You have defensive plants like wall-nuts or pumpkins that can hold off zombies for a bit. The reason they can is because they have much more defense than other plants and as such take longer to eat, vs like the usual 3 or so seconds it takes to eat a plant. You have TSPP's (temporary solution to a permanent problem as coined by Nintendocaprisun) which are plants that destroy a single or group of zombies and then disappear afterwards. They're amazing in a pinch but also usually take longer to charge. That's another thing in this game. Besides plants needing different amounts of sun to plant them, they also have different recharge times until you can plant them again. Sunflowers or offensive plants are usually the quickest while defensive or TSPP's are usually a lot longer. It adds just even more strategy to the game I feel.
The zombies are also varied in their ways to try to get into your house as well. I already said their various ways are humorous but they're practical too. A regular zombie has 10 health. Then there's an upgraded zombie with a cone that has 25. Then ones with buckets have 50. Not only that but some zombies are faster and behave differently than others. Pole-vaulters are very fast at first but once they get in front of a plant, they pole-vault over it and then walk normally. Dancing zombies literally dance over to you and summon 4 zombies all around them like a backup crew (they actually were originally Michael Jackson zombies doing the Thriller dance but had to change it due to him passing around that time). Gargantuars have 100 hp, the most of any zombie and when they get to 50 they throw a little imp on their back like 5 grid spaces ahead of you. AND the imp itself has like 3 hp or something but is super quick. It's just really cool to see all of these zombies with their own unique properties combined with the many different plant types in the game.
So, you know how the gameplay works. How about the levels themselves. That's also pretty simple. There are 5 levels in the game and each has different properties. The regular lawn levels are the most basic and there's actually nothing special about them. The nighttime levels don't have falling sun so you must rely on cheaper mushrooms that can only grow naturally at night and maybe some sun-shrooms instead of sunflowers. Pool levels introduce the water and also 6 rows instead of 5. You must plant lily-pads before you can plant any land plants. There are aquatic only plants (lily-pads as well) that you can plant without a lily-pad tho. Fog levels are pool levels except at night but also with fog. So apply everything I said about the night levels here as well as fog that covers half the level. So you'll either have to deal with not seeing half the level at all or use specific plants that let you deal with it. Finally, the roof levels which don't allow you to plant pea shooters, because of the angle or the roof, and you must plant these flower-pot plants first before any other plant. Besides the first level, which is basic for a good reason considering it teaches you the basics, each level is varied enough so it doesn't ever get boring. Also, every 5th and 10th level, the game breaks the pacing up a bit by letting you play a mini-game or a conveyer belt free-for all style stage. These as well are very fun and again makes it, so the game doesn't get tedious. This campaign all culminates in a battle with Zomboss, the final boss of the game and the mastermind/leader of the zombies. His fight is super fun and challenging enough to the point where it's not too easy. I didn't mention it before, but the main campaign is honestly not very hard at all. Some people might take issue with it but I always found it to be a very relaxing and chill game to play so I welcome the easier difficulty.
If you want difficulty, the other modes have you covered. Yes, the main levels aren't the only thing in this game. In fact, I'd say it's only around the halfway point if you want to do everything. First off, before I get into the various other modes PVZ provides, let's talk about the other things you can find on the main menu. Once you're at a certain point into the main campaign, you'll start unlocking other things you can do. The shop let's you buy various plants, items for your lawn, stuff for the zen garden and even a tree you can grow. You can buy all this stuff with money you get randomly from zombies. The zan garden let's you grow plants you get from the store or from killed zombies. This is a great way to get cash and is relaxing to check out every hour or so since it takes plants a bit to grow. There's also built in achievements, which I did get all of them back in like 2021, but this time I only got 11/20. I could've done them all again but a couple of them take a long while to get.
As for the actual modes, this is where the real difficulty comes in. Minigames contain some of the ones you played in the main campaign and a bunch of new ones. They're mostly very fun, some are more fun than others, and mix up the general gameplay a ton. There's a minigame where you feed brains to zombies that swim in a fish tank like fish. There's one where you must match plants like bejeweled. There's one where you play slots to obtain plants. They're all very different and the later ones especially can get quite touch. I'm looking at you Pogo Party and Bobsled Bonanza. The 2nd mode is puzzles. Here you play two types of little puzzle games. Vasebreaker where you must break vases that you don't know have a plant or a zombie in it (unless they're green then they always have plants). And I, Zombie where you actually play as the zombies and you must carefully figure out what zombies to place down to eat the plants. There's like 9 or 10 versions of each of these but they're pretty quick and a lot of fun. The last mode is survival where you must survive waves of zombies with whatever setup you have. In between waves the lawn doesn't reset so you can build a pretty crazy defense by the end. There's a normal and hard version for each of the 5 levels and the hard versions can get pretty ridiculous. Dare I say the hardest thing in PVZ1. I did everything in all of these 3 modes tho (besides the endless stuff cuz yeah that's a thing too) and got the gold sunflower trophy so I'm satisfied. Idk if I'd do the survival hards again tho, at least not all at once cuz they can get a bit tiring lol.
This game's soundtrack is something special and I have to give props to the composer Laura Shigihara. Not only is she an amazing composer and also vocalist (she voices the sunflower in "There's a Zombie On Your Lawn"), she also streams a lot and just seems like a cool person. Anyway yeah, she composed an absolute banger of a soundtrack. My absolute favorite song was always Watery Graves and it's still my favorite now. Other than that, my other favorites would have to be Ultimate Battle,Loonboon and Braniac Maniac.
This replay was fun, even if I 100%ed it on replay a couple years ago, I can never get enough PVZ1. Like I said, Ocarina of Time is next and after that I think I'm going to replay Katamari Damacy before I get into Majora's Mask so stay tuned for all of that!
The third installment of the Uncharted series was the first one I played, and despite not knowing much about the story from the first two games, I still enjoyed the hell out of it. It was also the first game I ever earned a trophy in, which adds a personal touch to my experience.
Once again, Nate is searching for an ancient mythical city, this time: Iram of the Pillars. The Islamic myth of Atlantis of the Sands is a neat idea that originates from the Quran, and truth be told, I know of it only because of this game. I like it when games revolve around mythical places that aren't the most mainstream thing ever, adding a unique flavor to the narrative.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception builds upon the foundation set by its predecessors with refined mechanics and new gameplay features. The melee combat system was significantly improved, making fights more dynamic and fluid, allowing for seamless transitions between punches, counters, and contextual actions. You can use the environment to your advantage during fights, such as slamming enemies into walls or using objects to attack.
The gunplay felt good, with shooting mechanics that are more polished, better aiming, and recoil management. Drake's climbing and traversal abilities are smoother and more intuitive thanks to improved animations and control responsiveness. The game features a variety of puzzles integrated into the environment and story, adding variety to the gameplay. Drake's journal often contains clues and hints that help solve the puzzles.
This game also features more robust stealth mechanics, allowing you to silently take down enemies and avoid detection. This adds a layer of strategy to certain encounters. There were sections where I would restart if detected and keep trying until I cleared the area undetected, but this was hard to achieve on higher difficulties. Surprisingly, the multiplayer was great, and I had a lot of fun playing it. It's a shame it's no longer available.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
Uncharted 3 is known for its cinematic set pieces, such as the famous cargo plane sequence, the sinking cruise ship, and the collapsing castle. These moments are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay, making the game memorable. When I think about "Uncharted 3" these great moments pop into my mind.
Adding to the list of great sequences are the young Nathan moments in Colombia where he first met Sully, the chase in Yemen, the desert visions, the ghost town, the horse riding through the desert, and finally, Iram of the Pillars/Ubar. The mythical city is gorgeous, and I was mind blown when the gates of the city opened and I got to see this great interpretation of it.
But.... why the hell does everything that's ancient in this series need to be destroyed, what's up with that? If an Uncharted game was set on an extraterrestrial planet, that planet would be destroyed by the end of the game.
Just like in Uncharted 2, It ruins the ending for me, once again. The entirety of the game you chase the discovery of an ancient mythical city only to destroy it, every fucking time.
Anyway, I really liked the pacing of the story; it probably has the best pacing out of all the Uncharted games. The cast is great with the likes of Nate, Sully, Elena, Chloe, Charlie, and Salim. I especially liked Sully's bond with Nathan, which is central to the story, providing both emotional depth and invaluable support.
That being said, Uncharted 3 is my favorite out of the first three games for its memorable moments and the bit of nostalgia it holds for me. It's a standout entry in the series, filled with thrilling adventures, compelling characters, and unforgettable set pieces.
Once again, Nate is searching for an ancient mythical city, this time: Iram of the Pillars. The Islamic myth of Atlantis of the Sands is a neat idea that originates from the Quran, and truth be told, I know of it only because of this game. I like it when games revolve around mythical places that aren't the most mainstream thing ever, adding a unique flavor to the narrative.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception builds upon the foundation set by its predecessors with refined mechanics and new gameplay features. The melee combat system was significantly improved, making fights more dynamic and fluid, allowing for seamless transitions between punches, counters, and contextual actions. You can use the environment to your advantage during fights, such as slamming enemies into walls or using objects to attack.
The gunplay felt good, with shooting mechanics that are more polished, better aiming, and recoil management. Drake's climbing and traversal abilities are smoother and more intuitive thanks to improved animations and control responsiveness. The game features a variety of puzzles integrated into the environment and story, adding variety to the gameplay. Drake's journal often contains clues and hints that help solve the puzzles.
This game also features more robust stealth mechanics, allowing you to silently take down enemies and avoid detection. This adds a layer of strategy to certain encounters. There were sections where I would restart if detected and keep trying until I cleared the area undetected, but this was hard to achieve on higher difficulties. Surprisingly, the multiplayer was great, and I had a lot of fun playing it. It's a shame it's no longer available.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
Uncharted 3 is known for its cinematic set pieces, such as the famous cargo plane sequence, the sinking cruise ship, and the collapsing castle. These moments are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay, making the game memorable. When I think about "Uncharted 3" these great moments pop into my mind.
Adding to the list of great sequences are the young Nathan moments in Colombia where he first met Sully, the chase in Yemen, the desert visions, the ghost town, the horse riding through the desert, and finally, Iram of the Pillars/Ubar. The mythical city is gorgeous, and I was mind blown when the gates of the city opened and I got to see this great interpretation of it.
But.... why the hell does everything that's ancient in this series need to be destroyed, what's up with that? If an Uncharted game was set on an extraterrestrial planet, that planet would be destroyed by the end of the game.
Just like in Uncharted 2, It ruins the ending for me, once again. The entirety of the game you chase the discovery of an ancient mythical city only to destroy it, every fucking time.
Anyway, I really liked the pacing of the story; it probably has the best pacing out of all the Uncharted games. The cast is great with the likes of Nate, Sully, Elena, Chloe, Charlie, and Salim. I especially liked Sully's bond with Nathan, which is central to the story, providing both emotional depth and invaluable support.
That being said, Uncharted 3 is my favorite out of the first three games for its memorable moments and the bit of nostalgia it holds for me. It's a standout entry in the series, filled with thrilling adventures, compelling characters, and unforgettable set pieces.
NightFeed
2024
Just another Vampire Survivor clone. The gameplay is very basic, the visuals are very ugly, and the solo gameplay isn't varied enough, with nothing to really explore and dig into like Vampire Survivors did.
Wouldn't recommend.
Wouldn't recommend.
Call of Duty 3
2006
I have no idea but I played the most recent cod and I decided to finally finish the campaigns for the games. I picked COD3 since it had a multiplayer and no lobbies. So, I booted up the campaign and it was a wild ride between AMERICANS GERMANS AND UHHH. I have never played the trilogy and at first I was like wow this games sensitivity is so slow, and for some reason I kept getting stuck on everything. I mainly used the thompson and hip fired every single sponge bullet enemy.
It was a cool campaign and it is crazy that most people don’t talk about the first COD trilogy, they were classic shoot stuff up. Too bad I couldn’t play the multiplayer, I heard capture the flag was the meta. I’m gonna try to play campaign multiplayer and the extra mode in these COD games.
9 hours
NORMAL DIFFICULTY
THOMPSON GO CRAZY
TREYARCH ALWAYS GOT THE BANGERS, title screen go hard af.
It was a cool campaign and it is crazy that most people don’t talk about the first COD trilogy, they were classic shoot stuff up. Too bad I couldn’t play the multiplayer, I heard capture the flag was the meta. I’m gonna try to play campaign multiplayer and the extra mode in these COD games.
9 hours
NORMAL DIFFICULTY
THOMPSON GO CRAZY
TREYARCH ALWAYS GOT THE BANGERS, title screen go hard af.
Stellar Blade
2024
This game surprised me. At first I was only interested in this game because Eve was super hot, however i had no intend to pre order it, but i played the demo and i enjoyed the combat and music so i pre ordered it. First, to get some negatives out the way before i start talking about the positives, the story isn't all that special, its an alright story that i'm not gonna get into or analyze, the two open areas were just barren and only there to have side quest happen, however i do like the linear areas in the game, and the balancing of this game is weird not just with bosses as some areas have the worst enemy placement (That secret area you get access to when the lily bar is full and that desert open area had horrible placement) and even some bosses looked like they weren't even play tested just put in. Now on to the good, first of all the obvious is that this game is breathtaking, its so beautiful the graphics look so good and the design of the naytibas are so cool and i love the design for the bosses and it gets better as the game goes on. The combat was so solid and i loved it, the parry and perfect dodge felt solid and the game wants you to be aggressive however the game doesn't have a deep combo system but i don't mind that. The OST was so good, each area had a banger and the boss fight themes went so crazy like it had a range of electronic themes to metal themes to orchestral themes. This game also has a boss challenge and im a huge boss rush mode lover and i love that they let me replay these amazing boss fights without having to do a new game. This game is solid and i recommend it if you love challenging games.
Bloodborne
2015
The atmosphere of this game is my favorite from the souls games and i love the combat, especially the gun parry, but the base game has two good bosses and the dlc contains the peak boss fights like Lady Maria, Ludwig and Orphan of Kos. This game has the best world building in souls and i love looking into the lore and its always so interesting but i wish it had good boss fights to compliment its fun combat system as i loved the gun parry and the weapons, but you need the DLC to experience the best boss fights the game has to offer.
My rating is just the average rating for all the games.
Overall, it's great that almost the entire series is in one complete package. Without this, I would've never experienced Halo.
Halo CE: 6/10
Halo 2: 9/10
Halo 3: 8/10
ODST: 7/10
Reach: 10/10
Halo 4: 6/10
Overall, it's great that almost the entire series is in one complete package. Without this, I would've never experienced Halo.
Halo CE: 6/10
Halo 2: 9/10
Halo 3: 8/10
ODST: 7/10
Reach: 10/10
Halo 4: 6/10
Halo 4
2012
*Played as part of the Master Chief Collection
I actually played this game before on my cousin's 360 one night during a sleepover. I didn't really like it and thought the story was interesting but didn't get the hype for Halo as a franchise off this one experience.
Coming back to it now, fresh off the back of the rest of the MCC, and particularly Reach, I don't think my thoughts have changed much, to be honest. The story is interesting, particularly Cortana's rampancy (also they made her hella sexy for some reason? Like during the 4 year time gap in the story she just developed a gyatt?) and you can see that 343 is setting up a new storyline for the franchise, which is the most interesting part of the game for someone who is newly invested in the Halo lore like I am. The downside is that everything else in the game is just kinda mid.
The new enemy designs (and redesigns of the old enemies) are just lacking and for the redesigns, downright ugly. The gunplay doesn't feel as good or as visceral as it used to. Headshotting enemies in the previous games (or popping a grunt's little backpack thing) used to be so much fun, but now it all feels kinda limp. I can't even explain it properly, it's like a mixture of the guns not having enough oomph, and the enemy's dying animations being lacklustre.
Even the introduction of a dedicated sprint doesn't do enough to make the game feel fun to play. The level design is also noticeably worse, especially in the back half of the game.
It's a very mixed-bag experience overall, but I am tentatively interested in checking out where this story goes from here.
I'm kinda torn if I should wait around for an announcement of 5 coming to PC, or just check out Infinite? Would appreciate some suggestions from fans of the franchise.
I actually played this game before on my cousin's 360 one night during a sleepover. I didn't really like it and thought the story was interesting but didn't get the hype for Halo as a franchise off this one experience.
Coming back to it now, fresh off the back of the rest of the MCC, and particularly Reach, I don't think my thoughts have changed much, to be honest. The story is interesting, particularly Cortana's rampancy (also they made her hella sexy for some reason? Like during the 4 year time gap in the story she just developed a gyatt?) and you can see that 343 is setting up a new storyline for the franchise, which is the most interesting part of the game for someone who is newly invested in the Halo lore like I am. The downside is that everything else in the game is just kinda mid.
The new enemy designs (and redesigns of the old enemies) are just lacking and for the redesigns, downright ugly. The gunplay doesn't feel as good or as visceral as it used to. Headshotting enemies in the previous games (or popping a grunt's little backpack thing) used to be so much fun, but now it all feels kinda limp. I can't even explain it properly, it's like a mixture of the guns not having enough oomph, and the enemy's dying animations being lacklustre.
Even the introduction of a dedicated sprint doesn't do enough to make the game feel fun to play. The level design is also noticeably worse, especially in the back half of the game.
It's a very mixed-bag experience overall, but I am tentatively interested in checking out where this story goes from here.
I'm kinda torn if I should wait around for an announcement of 5 coming to PC, or just check out Infinite? Would appreciate some suggestions from fans of the franchise.
I first played Link's Awakening on my 3DS years ago. I got it on the eShop one day after a Youtuber I liked was let's playing it, and seeing as I was a Zelda fan at this point, I figured I'd enjoyed it. I think I got up until Eagle Tower and dropped it? I at least don't remember ever beating this game. Fast forward to the beginning of 2022, I had just gotten the remake for Christmas and was excited to play it. I actually beat that version this time and had a great time. Now with this marathon, I can finally beat this version of the game. I think overall I might prefer the remake, but this version is still good and Link's Awakening is still a good game overall.
Also quick note before the review: I was originally going to play the three CDI Zelda's next but decided against it so I'm skipping those. I also know this is the DX version, and that technically released after Ocarina of Time, however the majority of this game is still the original Link's Awakening which released 5 years before OOT so I just decided to play this first.
Anyways, Link's Awakening. This released 2 years after A Link to the Past and compared to that game and even the Zelda games before it, this game's plot and general atmosphere is very different. The story this time around is pretty simple. This is the same Link as the one in ALTTP and he regularly goes out to sea to train in other countries in case of further threats. One day, a storm destroys the boat he is on and he is washed ashore on Koholint Island. This girl named Marin finds him and brings Link to her home where he wakes up to see her and her father Tarin. Link leaves the home hoping to learn what this island is about and how he can get off of it. Along the way, he meets an owl that tells him to escape this island he must get the 8 instruments of the sirens and wake the wind fish (who resides in a giant egg) with them. Halfway into the adventure however, Link finds out that the entire island may just be a dream created by the wind fish. Whether that's true or not, Link continues to gather the instruments so he can wake the wind wish and get off the island. It's a simple plot but the first thing you'll notice is that it's WEIRD. I did not mention Zelda because she is not in this game. No Triforce or Ganon either. The big staple characters aren't in this game, instead it's an entire brand new cast. You have Marin and Tarin, the other villagers of the town they're in. There are many animal NPC's through out the world, there's even and animal village too lol. The villagers eventually can't recall how long they've been on the island. Throughout the game you even start seeing things from other Nintendo games like the many different Mario enemies, a girl gives you her photo and she looks just like Princess Peach and there's even an enemy that looks and acts like Kirby. This along with the general plot gives this game such a weird, dream-like atmosphere. That's kind of a joke but it's true, they really did a great job at making this game feel like a dream. This is honestly my favorite aspect of this game; just how weird and different it feels from other Zelda games.
The general gameplay is similar to ALTTP, tho it's not quite as linear as that game. You're still going through dungeons and what not but they aren't marked on your map. It can be a bit cryptic at times, trying to figure out how to get into each dungeon, because now you have to find each dungeons respective key to unlock it. Besides that, the overworld itself is pretty fun tho it can get a bit tedious to backtrack through. There are a couple warp points throughout the world you can warp to, but I think there should've been more because even with them, backtracking is plentiful and it's not super fun in this game. The reason for that is, and it's the game's biggest issue, there's only two item slots in this game and stuff like the power bracelet and even the sword takes up a slot. I know this is a Gameboy game, so there was only A and B to work with but having to constantly switch between items to explore can get a bit tiresome. That plus when you don't have an item, needed to clear an object, equipped, an unskippable message appears every time to let you know you need that item. So, whatever you do, don't touch any rocks without having the power bracelet equipped. Like I said, this is my biggest annoyance in the game and while I still enjoyed the overworld despite this, it can be annoying due to these issues.
Exploring the overworld, you'll find many optional secrets just like ALTTP. Like that game, there are caves all throughout and you'll usually need a dungeon item to get whatever treasure is inside. The puzzles in these might actually be more complex than ALTTP's, either way it's good that they're back in this game. You'll also find those weird NPC's throughout the world as well. There's actually a long trade quest in the game, that you would think would be optional due to how long and exploration based it is but it's not. It's required at several points to progress and also the reward you get at the end of it is too. It's not the worst thing in the world but I had forgotten how to do parts of it so I had to look some of it up online so that might stump new players.
Next I want to talk about improvements this game makes compared to past games. This is a Gameboy game so obviously I can't compare its visuals to ALTTP but for a Gameboy game this looks super nice and compared to the first two Zelda games, this also looks nice than them. They did a great job with all the pixel art in this game and I can see why some people prefer this version of the game compared to the remake, based on the art style since it's super charming here. This game also improved on stuff from ALTTP as well funnily enough. You could collect items with you sword in Zelda 1 but not ALTTP for some reason, luckily, you're able to in this game again. I also found the Pegasus Boots better in this game due to you not needing to press and hold the item button again and again when you want to dash constantly. You just need to hold it and Link will start to dash on every screen he's on now. Something that's kinda weird compared to past game is the rupees. Every rupee that spawns in the overworld from cut bushes or defeated enemies is a single rupee. The only way to get more than that at once is with chests and they can give you 20, 50, 100 or even 200 rupees. It's an interesting change but probably a needed one since this was a Gameboy game and this game was already probably pushing the system to its limits.
The dungeons in this game are actually really solid. They're not as vibrant or as memorable visually as ALTTP dungeons however they're full of puzzles, maybe even moreso than ALTTP. That game has a bit more of a focus on combat, and I still might prefer that games dungeons just because of the aforementioned visual memorability. But even still, very good set of dungeons that even stumped me a bit at times. The items you get in these though are pretty solid. You have the aforementioned power bracelet, the magic rod from past Zeldas, the hookshot from ALTTP as well as the flippers. A lot of these are just older items but the standout item, and the one that actually makes the game more fun to play in general tbh, was the roc's feather. When you equip this, you can jump. That's it but it makes a world of difference in how you can play and can absolutely just destroy some bosses super-fast if you're skilled enough. If I didn't need any item to progress, I just went with my sword and the roc's feather. That was my go to set of items. There was an annoyance I had with the items. Since there's no way to speed up text, you'll be seeing the same dialogue for the map and compass over and over again. The map is fine since it's so short but the compass is like three times as long or something and they decided to let you know there's a new sound that plays whenever a chest is in the same room as you. That's cool...you don't have to tell me every time I do a dungeon tho! The bosses at the end of dungeons might also be an improvement from ALTTP. They aren't as flashy of course but they also don't require red/green potions sometimes to defeat, they all have dialogue this time which gives them more character and they're also just really weird or goofy which fits the setting of the game. I'd say they're overall maybe simpler to fight than ALTTP's bosses but simple doesn't equal bad. The final boss tho, had several different phases that took the form of bosses you fought in past games, and it also made use of several of Link's items. Because of that, it was easily the best boss in the game.
The soundtrack in this game, even tho its a Gameboy game, is really melancholic at times and is charming as hell. The signature Ballad of the Wind Fish(I sent Marin's version is easily my favorite song in the game. Mabe Village,Tal Tal Heights and the Ending Theme were my other favorites. The whole soundtrack is good however, and something else this game had over ALTTP is the fact each dungeon had their own unique theme. Now I can't say I prefer any of them over the two ALTTP had but they're still mostly solid here.
While I did have some issues that held this game back from being better than ALTTP, this is still a really solid Zelda game and one that is unique in the story it tells and the atmosphere it provides. It must've been amazing having a game like this on the go back in the day. Like I said as well, I do prefer the remake just because of the some of the improvements it made. I'm kind of known as the original game enjoyer, so for me to prefer a remake over the original is very odd. We'll get to that game way down the line but even if I like that one more, it doesn't stop this version from being good. It certainly has its own charm as well.
I think I'm going to take a small break in between this game and Ocarina of Time. I'm thinking maybe my Plants vs Zombies replay is next? Either way, stay tuned for that and then Ocarina of Time after in the near future!
Also quick note before the review: I was originally going to play the three CDI Zelda's next but decided against it so I'm skipping those. I also know this is the DX version, and that technically released after Ocarina of Time, however the majority of this game is still the original Link's Awakening which released 5 years before OOT so I just decided to play this first.
Anyways, Link's Awakening. This released 2 years after A Link to the Past and compared to that game and even the Zelda games before it, this game's plot and general atmosphere is very different. The story this time around is pretty simple. This is the same Link as the one in ALTTP and he regularly goes out to sea to train in other countries in case of further threats. One day, a storm destroys the boat he is on and he is washed ashore on Koholint Island. This girl named Marin finds him and brings Link to her home where he wakes up to see her and her father Tarin. Link leaves the home hoping to learn what this island is about and how he can get off of it. Along the way, he meets an owl that tells him to escape this island he must get the 8 instruments of the sirens and wake the wind fish (who resides in a giant egg) with them. Halfway into the adventure however, Link finds out that the entire island may just be a dream created by the wind fish. Whether that's true or not, Link continues to gather the instruments so he can wake the wind wish and get off the island. It's a simple plot but the first thing you'll notice is that it's WEIRD. I did not mention Zelda because she is not in this game. No Triforce or Ganon either. The big staple characters aren't in this game, instead it's an entire brand new cast. You have Marin and Tarin, the other villagers of the town they're in. There are many animal NPC's through out the world, there's even and animal village too lol. The villagers eventually can't recall how long they've been on the island. Throughout the game you even start seeing things from other Nintendo games like the many different Mario enemies, a girl gives you her photo and she looks just like Princess Peach and there's even an enemy that looks and acts like Kirby. This along with the general plot gives this game such a weird, dream-like atmosphere. That's kind of a joke but it's true, they really did a great job at making this game feel like a dream. This is honestly my favorite aspect of this game; just how weird and different it feels from other Zelda games.
The general gameplay is similar to ALTTP, tho it's not quite as linear as that game. You're still going through dungeons and what not but they aren't marked on your map. It can be a bit cryptic at times, trying to figure out how to get into each dungeon, because now you have to find each dungeons respective key to unlock it. Besides that, the overworld itself is pretty fun tho it can get a bit tedious to backtrack through. There are a couple warp points throughout the world you can warp to, but I think there should've been more because even with them, backtracking is plentiful and it's not super fun in this game. The reason for that is, and it's the game's biggest issue, there's only two item slots in this game and stuff like the power bracelet and even the sword takes up a slot. I know this is a Gameboy game, so there was only A and B to work with but having to constantly switch between items to explore can get a bit tiresome. That plus when you don't have an item, needed to clear an object, equipped, an unskippable message appears every time to let you know you need that item. So, whatever you do, don't touch any rocks without having the power bracelet equipped. Like I said, this is my biggest annoyance in the game and while I still enjoyed the overworld despite this, it can be annoying due to these issues.
Exploring the overworld, you'll find many optional secrets just like ALTTP. Like that game, there are caves all throughout and you'll usually need a dungeon item to get whatever treasure is inside. The puzzles in these might actually be more complex than ALTTP's, either way it's good that they're back in this game. You'll also find those weird NPC's throughout the world as well. There's actually a long trade quest in the game, that you would think would be optional due to how long and exploration based it is but it's not. It's required at several points to progress and also the reward you get at the end of it is too. It's not the worst thing in the world but I had forgotten how to do parts of it so I had to look some of it up online so that might stump new players.
Next I want to talk about improvements this game makes compared to past games. This is a Gameboy game so obviously I can't compare its visuals to ALTTP but for a Gameboy game this looks super nice and compared to the first two Zelda games, this also looks nice than them. They did a great job with all the pixel art in this game and I can see why some people prefer this version of the game compared to the remake, based on the art style since it's super charming here. This game also improved on stuff from ALTTP as well funnily enough. You could collect items with you sword in Zelda 1 but not ALTTP for some reason, luckily, you're able to in this game again. I also found the Pegasus Boots better in this game due to you not needing to press and hold the item button again and again when you want to dash constantly. You just need to hold it and Link will start to dash on every screen he's on now. Something that's kinda weird compared to past game is the rupees. Every rupee that spawns in the overworld from cut bushes or defeated enemies is a single rupee. The only way to get more than that at once is with chests and they can give you 20, 50, 100 or even 200 rupees. It's an interesting change but probably a needed one since this was a Gameboy game and this game was already probably pushing the system to its limits.
The dungeons in this game are actually really solid. They're not as vibrant or as memorable visually as ALTTP dungeons however they're full of puzzles, maybe even moreso than ALTTP. That game has a bit more of a focus on combat, and I still might prefer that games dungeons just because of the aforementioned visual memorability. But even still, very good set of dungeons that even stumped me a bit at times. The items you get in these though are pretty solid. You have the aforementioned power bracelet, the magic rod from past Zeldas, the hookshot from ALTTP as well as the flippers. A lot of these are just older items but the standout item, and the one that actually makes the game more fun to play in general tbh, was the roc's feather. When you equip this, you can jump. That's it but it makes a world of difference in how you can play and can absolutely just destroy some bosses super-fast if you're skilled enough. If I didn't need any item to progress, I just went with my sword and the roc's feather. That was my go to set of items. There was an annoyance I had with the items. Since there's no way to speed up text, you'll be seeing the same dialogue for the map and compass over and over again. The map is fine since it's so short but the compass is like three times as long or something and they decided to let you know there's a new sound that plays whenever a chest is in the same room as you. That's cool...you don't have to tell me every time I do a dungeon tho! The bosses at the end of dungeons might also be an improvement from ALTTP. They aren't as flashy of course but they also don't require red/green potions sometimes to defeat, they all have dialogue this time which gives them more character and they're also just really weird or goofy which fits the setting of the game. I'd say they're overall maybe simpler to fight than ALTTP's bosses but simple doesn't equal bad. The final boss tho, had several different phases that took the form of bosses you fought in past games, and it also made use of several of Link's items. Because of that, it was easily the best boss in the game.
The soundtrack in this game, even tho its a Gameboy game, is really melancholic at times and is charming as hell. The signature Ballad of the Wind Fish(I sent Marin's version is easily my favorite song in the game. Mabe Village,Tal Tal Heights and the Ending Theme were my other favorites. The whole soundtrack is good however, and something else this game had over ALTTP is the fact each dungeon had their own unique theme. Now I can't say I prefer any of them over the two ALTTP had but they're still mostly solid here.
While I did have some issues that held this game back from being better than ALTTP, this is still a really solid Zelda game and one that is unique in the story it tells and the atmosphere it provides. It must've been amazing having a game like this on the go back in the day. Like I said as well, I do prefer the remake just because of the some of the improvements it made. I'm kind of known as the original game enjoyer, so for me to prefer a remake over the original is very odd. We'll get to that game way down the line but even if I like that one more, it doesn't stop this version from being good. It certainly has its own charm as well.
I think I'm going to take a small break in between this game and Ocarina of Time. I'm thinking maybe my Plants vs Zombies replay is next? Either way, stay tuned for that and then Ocarina of Time after in the near future!
Just an absolute pile of janky misery. The controls feel like ass and your character skates across the environment like they have no weight at all, the level design is literally cobbled together bullshit, and the controller support is so atrocious it's unreal. Like come on guys, you literally have the Souls games on PC to steal decent controller support from. Trying to navigate the menu is so fucked up, I unequipped a weapon and then somehow got a completely different weapon from doing that.
Halo: Reach
2010
*Played as part of the Master Chief Collection
I think this might be the best Halo game?
It's just the perfect sequel and prequel to all that came before it, with a tight, harrowing story, told through great cinematics and pulse-pounding gameplay. They were seriously cooking with the story on this one, not only with the contents, but the actual cinematography used in the cutscenes is movie-level. It was a joy to watch. Unlike ODST, I actually felt emotionally connected to the characters of Noble Team as well.
Gameplay-wise, adding abilities like sprint and jetpack makes the player experience that much more fun and open to experimentation. Sure, we lost some features like dual-wielding and the Battle Rifle, but the game just feels so much more fast-paced and you feel like a total badass ditching empty guns mid-fight to keep fighting the overwhelming forces.
I don't think it's my favourite Halo game - Halo 2 still holds that title - but this is definitely a close second. It's also mechanically the superior entry, which is why I'm giving it a perfect score.
I think this might be the best Halo game?
It's just the perfect sequel and prequel to all that came before it, with a tight, harrowing story, told through great cinematics and pulse-pounding gameplay. They were seriously cooking with the story on this one, not only with the contents, but the actual cinematography used in the cutscenes is movie-level. It was a joy to watch. Unlike ODST, I actually felt emotionally connected to the characters of Noble Team as well.
Gameplay-wise, adding abilities like sprint and jetpack makes the player experience that much more fun and open to experimentation. Sure, we lost some features like dual-wielding and the Battle Rifle, but the game just feels so much more fast-paced and you feel like a total badass ditching empty guns mid-fight to keep fighting the overwhelming forces.
I don't think it's my favourite Halo game - Halo 2 still holds that title - but this is definitely a close second. It's also mechanically the superior entry, which is why I'm giving it a perfect score.
Empire at War is one of the best love letters to star wars I've seen in any medium. It is filled with so much attention to detail from the films and expanded universe and just plays like some kids' dream game of commanding armies and star fleets. It's a game that is extremely investing to play with a loop that never feels annoying or repetitive. It's got a great campaign, and its Galactic conquest mode is endless hours of just pure enjoyment.
The base game is amazing, but honestly, you can't talk about empire at war anymore without talking about the modding scene. The modding scene took a really good RTS game and turned it to 11 with three mods, especially being highlights. Thrawns revenge takes empire at war and just puts it in the post endor era with some amazing chaotic galactic conflicts and being one of my personal favoured of the bunch due to just the sheer amount of factions and stuff to do there is.
Fall of the Republic is the mod made by the same team that takes empire at war and puts it into the fan favourite clone wars . What else can I really say? It's amazing.
Awakening of the rebellion acts more as an expansion upon the base game, setting it in the Galactic civil war as well, just adding more planets more units more, and everything is great.
Play empire at war. If you like RTS games especially or are just into star wars even a little it's an amazing game to play. You don't even need to be that big into RTS games since it's not particularly overwhelming with its systems. The game is always super cheap with its expansion.
The base game is amazing, but honestly, you can't talk about empire at war anymore without talking about the modding scene. The modding scene took a really good RTS game and turned it to 11 with three mods, especially being highlights. Thrawns revenge takes empire at war and just puts it in the post endor era with some amazing chaotic galactic conflicts and being one of my personal favoured of the bunch due to just the sheer amount of factions and stuff to do there is.
Fall of the Republic is the mod made by the same team that takes empire at war and puts it into the fan favourite clone wars . What else can I really say? It's amazing.
Awakening of the rebellion acts more as an expansion upon the base game, setting it in the Galactic civil war as well, just adding more planets more units more, and everything is great.
Play empire at war. If you like RTS games especially or are just into star wars even a little it's an amazing game to play. You don't even need to be that big into RTS games since it's not particularly overwhelming with its systems. The game is always super cheap with its expansion.
This review contains spoilers
The second Uncharted significantly improved in many aspects over the first game, elevating the series to new heights. You can feel the leap in quality within the first hour of gameplay, it feels smoother, more polished, and overall, a more refined experience.
The game kicks off with the iconic falling train sequence, instantly grabbing your attention. This strong start sets the pace for the first hour, maintaining interest before picking up steam again mid-game. The narrative once again centers around the search for a mythical land, this time Shambala. The introduction of Chloe adds a fresh dynamic, but the reduced presence of Sully is felt. Elena shines once more as a key character, and while the antagonist Lazarevic is serviceable, he doesn’t quite steal the show. The story is compelling, with standout chapters like the dramatic train sequence and the thrilling Yeti encounter.
Traveling through stunning locations such as Borneo, Nepal, Tibet, and the Himalayas, the game offers breathtaking scenery and diverse environments. The gameplay enhancements are notable, particularly in the shooting mechanics, which feel more responsive and enjoyable.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
However, the ending, once an ending that I used to love, now feels underwhelming. Shambala, a mythical and sacred place, ends up being destroyed in a rather cliché manner. Instead of exploring its rich history and hidden secrets, the narrative opts for a dramatic but somewhat predictable conclusion. This destruction feels like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into Shambala’s mysteries and beauty, leaving me with a sense of lost potential. The game builds up this wondrous location, only to tear it down in a way that feels rushed and conventional, which diminishes the impact of reaching such a mythical place.
Despite this, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves remains an exceptional game. It might have its flaws, and some might argue it’s a bit overrated (I agree), but it undeniably pushed the series forward. With its improved gameplay, engaging story, and good visuals, it’s a memorable adventure that stands the test of time. While it may not be perfect, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves solidified its place as a cornerstone of the action-adventure genre and remains a must-play.
The game kicks off with the iconic falling train sequence, instantly grabbing your attention. This strong start sets the pace for the first hour, maintaining interest before picking up steam again mid-game. The narrative once again centers around the search for a mythical land, this time Shambala. The introduction of Chloe adds a fresh dynamic, but the reduced presence of Sully is felt. Elena shines once more as a key character, and while the antagonist Lazarevic is serviceable, he doesn’t quite steal the show. The story is compelling, with standout chapters like the dramatic train sequence and the thrilling Yeti encounter.
Traveling through stunning locations such as Borneo, Nepal, Tibet, and the Himalayas, the game offers breathtaking scenery and diverse environments. The gameplay enhancements are notable, particularly in the shooting mechanics, which feel more responsive and enjoyable.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
However, the ending, once an ending that I used to love, now feels underwhelming. Shambala, a mythical and sacred place, ends up being destroyed in a rather cliché manner. Instead of exploring its rich history and hidden secrets, the narrative opts for a dramatic but somewhat predictable conclusion. This destruction feels like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into Shambala’s mysteries and beauty, leaving me with a sense of lost potential. The game builds up this wondrous location, only to tear it down in a way that feels rushed and conventional, which diminishes the impact of reaching such a mythical place.
Despite this, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves remains an exceptional game. It might have its flaws, and some might argue it’s a bit overrated (I agree), but it undeniably pushed the series forward. With its improved gameplay, engaging story, and good visuals, it’s a memorable adventure that stands the test of time. While it may not be perfect, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves solidified its place as a cornerstone of the action-adventure genre and remains a must-play.
The thing with the first Uncharted is that it was a remarkable game for the year 2007, but it feels a bit wooden by today's standards. There are some aspects of the game that feel dated, which is understandable given its pioneering role in the series.
The story is alright, not groundbreaking, but it sets the stage for the series by kicking off Nathan Drake's adventure. The real highlight is the characters, especially Elena and Sully, who bring charm and personality to the game. Their interactions and chemistry with Nate make the narrative engaging, even if the plot itself is relatively straightforward.
For its time, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was visually stunning. The lush environments, detailed character models, and fluid animations were a benchmark in 2007. While it may not hold up to the graphical standards of today, it still has a certain charm and showcases the technical prowess of Naughty Dog at the time.
The gameplay is decent, combining shooting and climbing mechanics that were innovative at the time. The cover system trick is a life saver, especially on Crushing difficulty where you die immediately. The game's areas are well-designed, capturing the Indiana Jones ancient lush jungle vibes perfectly. The mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat keeps the gameplay loop engaging.
However, not everything is perfect. There are some annoying sections, like the Jet Ski segment with Elena, which can be frustrating and break the flow of the game. These moments are few and far between but noticeable enough to impact the overall experience.
The soundtrack is pretty much nonexistent besides "Nate's Theme," which every game in the series has recycled. It's Naughty Dog's fault, they fail to create more than one memorable track per game, whatever that game might be. This lack of a varied and impactful soundtrack can make some parts of the game feel less immersive.
Even though this is my least favorite Uncharted, it remains a solid game that set the stage for an incredible series. While it may feel dated and wooden in some areas, it remains an important piece of gaming history. The characters, gameplay, and overall adventure capture the essence of a great action-adventure game.
However, the fact that it didn't age as gracefully as its sequels and that the later games surpassed it in almost every aspect drags the game down a bit.
But despite its flaws and the superior quality of its sequels, it's still worth playing for anyone interested in the origins of Nathan Drake's epic journey.
The story is alright, not groundbreaking, but it sets the stage for the series by kicking off Nathan Drake's adventure. The real highlight is the characters, especially Elena and Sully, who bring charm and personality to the game. Their interactions and chemistry with Nate make the narrative engaging, even if the plot itself is relatively straightforward.
For its time, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was visually stunning. The lush environments, detailed character models, and fluid animations were a benchmark in 2007. While it may not hold up to the graphical standards of today, it still has a certain charm and showcases the technical prowess of Naughty Dog at the time.
The gameplay is decent, combining shooting and climbing mechanics that were innovative at the time. The cover system trick is a life saver, especially on Crushing difficulty where you die immediately. The game's areas are well-designed, capturing the Indiana Jones ancient lush jungle vibes perfectly. The mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat keeps the gameplay loop engaging.
However, not everything is perfect. There are some annoying sections, like the Jet Ski segment with Elena, which can be frustrating and break the flow of the game. These moments are few and far between but noticeable enough to impact the overall experience.
The soundtrack is pretty much nonexistent besides "Nate's Theme," which every game in the series has recycled. It's Naughty Dog's fault, they fail to create more than one memorable track per game, whatever that game might be. This lack of a varied and impactful soundtrack can make some parts of the game feel less immersive.
Even though this is my least favorite Uncharted, it remains a solid game that set the stage for an incredible series. While it may feel dated and wooden in some areas, it remains an important piece of gaming history. The characters, gameplay, and overall adventure capture the essence of a great action-adventure game.
However, the fact that it didn't age as gracefully as its sequels and that the later games surpassed it in almost every aspect drags the game down a bit.
But despite its flaws and the superior quality of its sequels, it's still worth playing for anyone interested in the origins of Nathan Drake's epic journey.