GamblersFallacy
2016
Several times throughout my playthrough of Resident Evil 0, I considered quitting and just never coming back to the game again.
Some elements of this game are just inordinately frustrating. The clunky item management, the cheap enemy design, and the endless backtracking are all difficult to reconcile, and I love classic RE, so it's not that those elements are there, but rather that they're executed poorly.
In the end, if you're a Resident Evil completionist, this game is better than 6, but it's not better than any of the greats or even the also-rans. The worst of the classic RE survival horror games, bar none. Still worth a playthrough if you really can't get enough fixed-camera old-school horror, but it's safe to avoid this one if you're looking for more modernised RE2make shenanigans.
Some elements of this game are just inordinately frustrating. The clunky item management, the cheap enemy design, and the endless backtracking are all difficult to reconcile, and I love classic RE, so it's not that those elements are there, but rather that they're executed poorly.
In the end, if you're a Resident Evil completionist, this game is better than 6, but it's not better than any of the greats or even the also-rans. The worst of the classic RE survival horror games, bar none. Still worth a playthrough if you really can't get enough fixed-camera old-school horror, but it's safe to avoid this one if you're looking for more modernised RE2make shenanigans.
The problem with Hob's Barrow is that it doesn't know when to get to the point. It builds suspense successfully, but then fails to build to anything meaningful until the closing hour or so of the game.
Inevitably, this means the ending is disappointing, because it tries to cram too much "stuff happening" into too small a space.
Combined with far too few puzzles spread out over too long a running time, this means Hob's Barrow is a pleasant enough diversion while it lasts, but it can't sustain itself and won't stick long in the memory afterwards.
Inevitably, this means the ending is disappointing, because it tries to cram too much "stuff happening" into too small a space.
Combined with far too few puzzles spread out over too long a running time, this means Hob's Barrow is a pleasant enough diversion while it lasts, but it can't sustain itself and won't stick long in the memory afterwards.
2015
Darkest Dungeon is a game with incredible presentation and surprisingly lacklustre gameplay.
Excessive randomness, tedious grind (even in the game's Radiant mode), and a feeling of repetition setting in around the mid-point meant I dropped this and won't be picking it up again. It's a real shame, because the aesthetic is top notch.
Excessive randomness, tedious grind (even in the game's Radiant mode), and a feeling of repetition setting in around the mid-point meant I dropped this and won't be picking it up again. It's a real shame, because the aesthetic is top notch.
2022
The humour started to wear on me reeeeal quick, which is bad for an 8-10-hour comedy game. If the jokes stop working for you, then you're left with a weak, anaemic shooter with bland enemy design and unsatisfying weaponry. Unless you really can't get enough Rick and Morty Interdimensional Cable sketches (and bad ones at that), ignore this.
2015
Obviously, this game was not made specifically "for me", because there are loads of other folks out there who love it. Still, it feels like it was. I don't want to spoil, but Soulslike gameplay with a horror twist that gets super interesting in ways I didn't expect. My favourite game of all time.
This is a phenomenally overrated game.
It suffers from the typical AAA bloat endemic to many games nowadays, and it's also got this strange sense of half-hearted, unfinished jank to it. Story and gameplay feel completely disconnected in a way that's troubling and jarring.
The story itself is also pretty directionless; it lacks a strong core villain, which is probably Disney's fault. The final third of the game didn't just lose me, it jettisoned me into space, ensuring I'd never be on board with it again.
I dunno, I know this one's getting a lot of love, but I just can't see it. This game just feels so...meh to me.
It suffers from the typical AAA bloat endemic to many games nowadays, and it's also got this strange sense of half-hearted, unfinished jank to it. Story and gameplay feel completely disconnected in a way that's troubling and jarring.
The story itself is also pretty directionless; it lacks a strong core villain, which is probably Disney's fault. The final third of the game didn't just lose me, it jettisoned me into space, ensuring I'd never be on board with it again.
I dunno, I know this one's getting a lot of love, but I just can't see it. This game just feels so...meh to me.
For the most part, A Link to the Past holds up. It's got snappy combat, two interesting worlds to explore, and plenty of great classic Zelda gameplay.
Unfortunately, it's also got uneven difficulty that spikes in several places, and its overworld design is pretty bland by modern standards.
If Nintendo could remake A Link to the Past using A Link Between Worlds' visuals and expanded, more unique dungeon design, then they'd have a true classic on their hands. As it is, this one's well worth revisiting, but it's not better than Ocarina of Time, whatever retro diehards say.
Unfortunately, it's also got uneven difficulty that spikes in several places, and its overworld design is pretty bland by modern standards.
If Nintendo could remake A Link to the Past using A Link Between Worlds' visuals and expanded, more unique dungeon design, then they'd have a true classic on their hands. As it is, this one's well worth revisiting, but it's not better than Ocarina of Time, whatever retro diehards say.
Inventive, imaginative, and utterly delightful, as well as surprisingly challenging. Play it. You won't be disappointed.
Starts out fairly strong and quickly gets incredibly repetitive.
There's slightly less of an emphasis on loot than there was in Nioh, but honestly, that just makes many of the systems feel even more like they don't work together. I barely touched the magic system and still managed to get through most of the bosses with no issues.
Enemy variety is pathetic. You're only going to be fighting maybe ten or fifteen unique enemy types across the entire campaign, and it's a very lengthy campaign. The side missions are almost universally not worth bothering with.
Some of the boss fights are pretty good, though.
There's slightly less of an emphasis on loot than there was in Nioh, but honestly, that just makes many of the systems feel even more like they don't work together. I barely touched the magic system and still managed to get through most of the bosses with no issues.
Enemy variety is pathetic. You're only going to be fighting maybe ten or fifteen unique enemy types across the entire campaign, and it's a very lengthy campaign. The side missions are almost universally not worth bothering with.
Some of the boss fights are pretty good, though.
Monstrously, disgustingly hard. If you think Souls games push you to your limit, then give this a go and prepare to weep amidst the broken ruins of your controller.
That disclaimer aside, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is probably the best game in the series. I hear there's a version swimming around out there with the slowdown removed, and if that were true, then it'd definitely be the way to play it, wink wink.
That disclaimer aside, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is probably the best game in the series. I hear there's a version swimming around out there with the slowdown removed, and if that were true, then it'd definitely be the way to play it, wink wink.
2023
Outstanding. An incredibly atmospheric survival horror game with a surprisingly compelling story and a focus on organic, mechanics-based gameplay.
Loses points because those god damn rats are incredibly irritating, and the ending, without wishing to spoil, feels like a damp squib.
Otherwise, Amnesia's got some teeth back, and you should definitely play this if you found A Machine for Pigs or Rebirth disappointing (as well you should).
Loses points because those god damn rats are incredibly irritating, and the ending, without wishing to spoil, feels like a damp squib.
Otherwise, Amnesia's got some teeth back, and you should definitely play this if you found A Machine for Pigs or Rebirth disappointing (as well you should).
1988
Marginally less horribly difficult than other games in its series. If you played Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts and thought "I'd love this if I wasn't crying with rage", then give this a look.
Zelda II is a very interesting failure. It's an unfun slog through samey palace mazes and inordinately frustrating fetch quests, but it's also where many of the series' mainstays originated.
If you really must see all things Zelda-related, play it, but otherwise, avoid like the plague. Hey - it's better than the CD-i games.
If you really must see all things Zelda-related, play it, but otherwise, avoid like the plague. Hey - it's better than the CD-i games.
A solid, if kinda unremarkable, Doom clone. Some cool stuff in here - fun platforming challenges, decent weaponry - but a very strange difficulty curve and a fairly forgettable story.
1999
Like many others have said, Planescape: Torment has one of the greatest video game stories of all time, but (and I hate to say this because I know how much P:T fans would disagree) it's in dire need of a remake. The combat flat out sucks, and the exploration can be a little slow.
Still, the characters are amazing, the narrative is excellent, and the world is interesting in ways that make other video game worlds feel boring. Buy it for sure, but don't be ashamed if you have to knock the difficulty down.
Still, the characters are amazing, the narrative is excellent, and the world is interesting in ways that make other video game worlds feel boring. Buy it for sure, but don't be ashamed if you have to knock the difficulty down.