GamblersFallacy
Mechanicus is a solid turn-based strategy game with a good few flaws. It's got great atmosphere, an absolutely killer soundtrack, and some surprisingly solid writing, and there are some fun ideas in the core gameplay. Unfortunately, a lack of enemy variety, repetitive tomb exploration, and a totally broken difficulty curve mean it's best to wait for a sale on this one rather than buying it outright. Still, it's well worth a look if you like tactical RPGs.
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.
2012
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an exemplar when it comes to turn-based strategy. Everything, from base-building to combat, is compelling and addictive. You'll want to keep pushing on for just one more mission, and the loss of a seasoned vet who's been in every mission since you started will rip you apart.
2022
This is a solid idea for a game that needs just a little extra work. From a promising starting point, the game doesn't really sufficiently evolve; the puzzles you're solving at the start are, largely speaking, just as difficult as the ones you're solving at the end, so there isn't really a convincing difficulty curve. Still, it's atmospheric, it looks nice, and there's some solid writing on display, even if it is a bit tell-don't-show.
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.
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.
Klonoa 1 and 2 are both adorable 2D puzzle-platformers with some interesting mechanics and some slightly wobbly controls.
There's a bit of an overemphasis on plot; there's too much dialogue, and it isn't particularly great dialogue, either, so you might find yourself zoning out a little during the plot.
Even still, there's a really infectious sense of colour and joy about these games, and it's all undercut with a melancholy that makes them kinda feel like the last days of summer holidays. They might not be the fastest-paced platformers, but check them out if you want something a little different.
There's a bit of an overemphasis on plot; there's too much dialogue, and it isn't particularly great dialogue, either, so you might find yourself zoning out a little during the plot.
Even still, there's a really infectious sense of colour and joy about these games, and it's all undercut with a melancholy that makes them kinda feel like the last days of summer holidays. They might not be the fastest-paced platformers, but check them out if you want something a little different.
2023
Brilliant. Jet Set Radio aesthetics, Bayonetta-style combat, and Gitaroo Man vibes. Came out of nowhere and will probably be one of my games of the year for 2023.
2023
It's...alright. I didn't love the original Dead Space; it has no subtlety and its story is weak, and too many of its objectives are boring "go to A and do B"-style affairs. Still, the atmosphere is solid, the combat is fun, and there's fun to be had if you want schlocky B-movie horror.
This remake is alright, but I don't think it adds anything that's particularly essential. You won't be missing out if you just play the 2008 original instead. Sure, the visuals are nicer, but it's probably not good only to care about stuff like that.
This remake is alright, but I don't think it adds anything that's particularly essential. You won't be missing out if you just play the 2008 original instead. Sure, the visuals are nicer, but it's probably not good only to care about stuff like that.
Loved it, loved it, loved it. My only criticism is that it's not long enough, which just means I wanted to keep playing it.
The Obra Dinn comparison isn't unwarranted, but this is a different kettle of fish, so I'd recommend checking this out even if for some reason you didn't like Obra Dinn (which you should).
The Obra Dinn comparison isn't unwarranted, but this is a different kettle of fish, so I'd recommend checking this out even if for some reason you didn't like Obra Dinn (which you should).
2022
It's fun! If you've got a Steam Deck you should definitely play it, but if you're playing on PC it's a slightly less essential game.
It's worth it just to spend another 30 minutes or so in the Portal universe, although the jokes might be getting a little too broad. Still, it reminds you why Valve's game design is second to none. If this is a redefinition of the walking simulator then I'm very happy to have more like it.
It's worth it just to spend another 30 minutes or so in the Portal universe, although the jokes might be getting a little too broad. Still, it reminds you why Valve's game design is second to none. If this is a redefinition of the walking simulator then I'm very happy to have more like it.
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.
The weakest SteamWorld game by far, in my opinion, but then I'm really not a card game fan, so I don't really know why I picked it up.
The story here isn't much to write home about. Some of the characters are fairly endearing, but the dialogue crosses the border into cringe meme territory a little too often for my tastes. Your mileage may vary.
The deckbuilding system is alright. It never gets more interesting or complex because you can never have more than 8 cards in your hand, and switching between cards within decks is a chore.
Combat is fun at first, but it gets repetitive thanks to bullet sponge-y enemies (of whom there is very little variety), and the difficulty is all over the shop. Buy this if you really can't get enough card games, but don't buy it just because you like SteamWorld's aesthetic. Don't make the mistake I did.
The story here isn't much to write home about. Some of the characters are fairly endearing, but the dialogue crosses the border into cringe meme territory a little too often for my tastes. Your mileage may vary.
The deckbuilding system is alright. It never gets more interesting or complex because you can never have more than 8 cards in your hand, and switching between cards within decks is a chore.
Combat is fun at first, but it gets repetitive thanks to bullet sponge-y enemies (of whom there is very little variety), and the difficulty is all over the shop. Buy this if you really can't get enough card games, but don't buy it just because you like SteamWorld's aesthetic. Don't make the mistake I did.
It's all three Mass Effect games collected into one. What's not to love?
The first Mass Effect is solid. It lays the groundwork for future games, but the party members are just OK and the combat's a little uneven.
Mass Effect 2 is commonly considered the best of the trilogy, and it's hard to disagree, although it does have its issues. The gameplay is smooth and fluid (albeit a bit basic), the party members are great, and the overarching story is good too.
Mass Effect 3 isn't a bad game. It has some great character interactions (especially in the Citadel DLC), and its combat is sharper and more complex than Mass Effect 2. I wanted the story to be significantly weirder, though. It's a solid conclusion to the trilogy, but I was left wanting more, and those dream sequences with the child really haven't aged well (and they were poor to start with).
The first Mass Effect is solid. It lays the groundwork for future games, but the party members are just OK and the combat's a little uneven.
Mass Effect 2 is commonly considered the best of the trilogy, and it's hard to disagree, although it does have its issues. The gameplay is smooth and fluid (albeit a bit basic), the party members are great, and the overarching story is good too.
Mass Effect 3 isn't a bad game. It has some great character interactions (especially in the Citadel DLC), and its combat is sharper and more complex than Mass Effect 2. I wanted the story to be significantly weirder, though. It's a solid conclusion to the trilogy, but I was left wanting more, and those dream sequences with the child really haven't aged well (and they were poor to start with).
2022
A masterpiece. It's flabby in places, but who among us cannot say the same?