Miles Morales is an iteration rather than an innovation on Marvel’s Spiderman. It adds slight refinements and upgrades to gameplay elements which made the original such a blast in 2018, with the venom abilities being the real standout addition. The venom abilities look and feel fantastic, not to mention being incredibly useful to turn the tide in combat and stealth encounters. I also love the personality which oozes in the animation design, making Miles feel distinct and full of flair. There are quality of life improvements elsewhere with improved side quests, though some quests types can get repetitious, and the game prioritising quality over quantity more with its collectibles. However, all these minor additions do not stop Miles Morales feeling a bit too familiar. Moreover, the story did not grip me like I was hoping it would because of the weak antagonists and largely unengaging narrative. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed my time with Miles Morales; it just feels like Insomniac has all the pieces there to make a truly special experience but are held back my some poor design decisions which plague many open world games and various narrative shortcomings.
2020 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
2020 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
2011
Bastion oozes personality. Whether it be with its witty narrator, its eye-catching art style or its sublime soundtrack. All these elements have aged gracefully. Though the plot didn’t pull me in like I was hoping it would, the puzzle solving was very simple and the combat a bit stiff. However, the constant introduction of new gameplay features along with the games meaningful upgrade trees and layered combat systems kept me engaged throughout its duration to the point where I stuck around after completing the campaign to try high score challenges and upgrade my weapons. This game’s attention to detail has helped it stand the test of time surprisingly well, and while it has its flaws, its easy to see why it is considered amongst the crowning jewels of the first wave of indies which came out in the early 2010s.
2011 Ranked
Indie Recommendations
2011 Ranked
Indie Recommendations
Season 2 of Telltale’s The Walking Dead feels very familiar. It’s gameplay, visuals and style of storytelling are near identical to its predecessor. On the one hand, that means another fantastic narrative full of interesting and nuanced characters; albeit the narrative beats and cast aren’t quite as strong as in the first season. Though seeing Clementine mature as the main protagonist of this story, learning who to trust and who not to trust when trying to survive, was a personal highlight. On the other hand, the gameplay desperately needs a facelift, still feeling very cumbersome and unengaging. This is still a great experience which the vast majority of fans of the first season will enjoy. Just temper your expectations slightly as even though Season 2 has its share of memorable moments, it does not reach the highs of Season 1, subsequently remaining in its shadow.
2013 Ranked
2013 Ranked
Hearts of Stone has a better story than Witcher 3’s main game. It’s premise is incredibly intriguing, centring around an immortal rogue and a mysterious man who fulfils wishes. The writing is fantastic and is really brought to life by the well voice acted, layered and nuanced cast. The main game is superbly paced not only with its narrative, but with gameplay. There are some fantastic bosses, creative missions and great visual variety. A particular highlight was a level where use your Witcher vision to move items in a scene into their correct positions to commence flashbacks which give you an insight into the relationship of two of the games main characters. I did have a couple issues with this expansion, primarily in how you face the new spider enemies to the point where I was sick of them and there are barely any memorable side missions. However, these only slightly tarnish what is undoubtably the most fun I’ve had with any Witcher game to date. If you enjoyed the Witcher 3, you owe it to yourself to play this expansion.
Ranked DLC Recommendations
Ranked DLC Recommendations
2021
Halo Infinite is a welcome shake up of the Halo formula, which has become stale in the past couple entries, feeling both fresh and familiar. The open world of Zeta Halo is the game’s biggest innovation. There are still some linear missions, but a good chunk of the campaign consists of open world sections which provide a lot of flexibility with how objectives can be approached. Not to mention Zeta Halo is full of side missions and collectibles. Unfortunately, ‘quality over quantity’ seems to have been the approach taken with these side missions. There are a few standouts with the high value targets which have detailed back stories on their ascents to becoming feared killers and audio logs which provide intriguing lore. However, there is little to no context with most side missions other than kill everything in sight and it can often feel like you’re doing a check box ticking exercise.
Zeta Halo itself is visually impressive, and the game’s fantastic audio design and soundtrack really help immerse the player in the world. A more varied colour pallet and more biomes wouldn’t have gone amiss, but there is enough differentiation to make areas feel distinct from one another. Traversing this open world with the new grapple hook is a joy. Grappling up mountains and across ravines successfully is incredibly satisfying. Moreover, the grapple hook adds a completely new dynamic to combat, creating a more frenetic experience if you choose to grapple onto enemies and get in their faces at the risk of being overwhelmed by his comrades. Other abilities like the boost thrusters and shield barrier are a tonne of fun to use, and I often found myself switching between these to play off their strengths in encounters. What’s more, unlike a lot of games, the upgrades you can unlock for them are meaningful and can add further dimensions to their use.
To match your expanded arsenal, there are a host of new enemies as well as familiar faces which provide plenty of variety and, combined with how the game mixes linear and open world sequences in the main campaign, create a well-paced experience. Not to mention, this is the first Halo game which nails bosses. Most missions have bosses, and these bosses have diverse and engaging designs. They’re nothing groundbreaking, but it feels like Halo has finally caught up with its competition in this regard. It’s just a shame that this game’s story is forgettable, as I didn’t really have any emotional reaction to defeating bosses pivotal to the game’s narrative. What’s more the game relies too heavily on its gunplay. And while this gunplay is sublime, it can grow repetitive. More vehicle focussed missions and environmental puzzle solving would’ve really help mixed things up.
On a more positive note, Infinite’s multiplayer, in its current state, is a treat. There are plenty of game modes on offer, a good balance of community and developer created content and even a wave based objective based mode. There truly is a bit of something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fast-paced 4v4 experience, a more strategic affair with 12v12 big team battle or wave-based combat against the banished AI.
Halo Infinite is a huge stride in the right direction for the franchise. While there is still plenty of room for improvement, it has a strong single player offering and a top notch multiplayer experience. Here’s hoping 343 can capitalise on the momentum they have created with Infinite in the future with the inevitable sequel(s) fighting the banished and the titular Atriox.
2021 Ranked
Halo Ranked
Ranked Shooter Campaign Recommendations
Ranked Open World Recommendations
Zeta Halo itself is visually impressive, and the game’s fantastic audio design and soundtrack really help immerse the player in the world. A more varied colour pallet and more biomes wouldn’t have gone amiss, but there is enough differentiation to make areas feel distinct from one another. Traversing this open world with the new grapple hook is a joy. Grappling up mountains and across ravines successfully is incredibly satisfying. Moreover, the grapple hook adds a completely new dynamic to combat, creating a more frenetic experience if you choose to grapple onto enemies and get in their faces at the risk of being overwhelmed by his comrades. Other abilities like the boost thrusters and shield barrier are a tonne of fun to use, and I often found myself switching between these to play off their strengths in encounters. What’s more, unlike a lot of games, the upgrades you can unlock for them are meaningful and can add further dimensions to their use.
To match your expanded arsenal, there are a host of new enemies as well as familiar faces which provide plenty of variety and, combined with how the game mixes linear and open world sequences in the main campaign, create a well-paced experience. Not to mention, this is the first Halo game which nails bosses. Most missions have bosses, and these bosses have diverse and engaging designs. They’re nothing groundbreaking, but it feels like Halo has finally caught up with its competition in this regard. It’s just a shame that this game’s story is forgettable, as I didn’t really have any emotional reaction to defeating bosses pivotal to the game’s narrative. What’s more the game relies too heavily on its gunplay. And while this gunplay is sublime, it can grow repetitive. More vehicle focussed missions and environmental puzzle solving would’ve really help mixed things up.
On a more positive note, Infinite’s multiplayer, in its current state, is a treat. There are plenty of game modes on offer, a good balance of community and developer created content and even a wave based objective based mode. There truly is a bit of something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fast-paced 4v4 experience, a more strategic affair with 12v12 big team battle or wave-based combat against the banished AI.
Halo Infinite is a huge stride in the right direction for the franchise. While there is still plenty of room for improvement, it has a strong single player offering and a top notch multiplayer experience. Here’s hoping 343 can capitalise on the momentum they have created with Infinite in the future with the inevitable sequel(s) fighting the banished and the titular Atriox.
2021 Ranked
Halo Ranked
Ranked Shooter Campaign Recommendations
Ranked Open World Recommendations
2012
A captivating yet harrowing experience which forces you to be invested in this bleak world as you make literal life and death decisions. The Walking Dead S1 is written so well, with interesting characters and well-paced episodes which strike a good balance between faster sequences which get your heart pounding and slower sections which give you the time to get to take in your surroundings and get to know characters. The game is full of unexpected twists, turns and constantly evolving relationships with the fantastic Lee and Clementine being at the centre of it all. Not to mention the comic esque art direction is fantastic. It’s just a shame that the gameplay itself is pretty mediocre, being full off QTEs and stiff walking sections. However, these only slightly bring down what is one of the best story driven gaming experiences I’ve had.
2013 Ranked
2013 Ranked
Like a lot of art, TLOU2 is very polarising. For me however, it’s one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had. It feels weird to say that about a game which is so dark and harrowing, but its ability to create such an emotional experience by dealing with morality and grief in thought provoking ways is something truly special. The narrative pulls you in so many different directions and I even tried to go against what the game was making me do in a couple of gameplay sequences. The writing is exceptional, the voice acting is sublime and the expertly crafted cutscenes do a fantastic job of conveying characters emotions. These diverse characters, for the most part, have interesting personalities and really help with the world building. Moreover, the dual perspective narrative enables you to experience both sides of the story when coming to your own conclusions about different events or characters. However, it took a while for me to develop any sort of connection to the characters I was introduced to midway through the game and the narrative lost a bit of momentum for me here as well as in parts of the game’s chaotic last two acts.
TLOU2 gives the gameplay of its predecessor a much-needed facelift. Movement and hand to hand combat feel much more fluid, superb level design enables a whole host of viable approaches to each scenario and the sound design used to immerse and guide your encounters is a gold standard for the industry. What’s more, new enemies introduced into this game like dogs that can smell you out, spice up encounters in a welcome manner. Though I wish more new enemies were introduced late game too, as you’ve seen pretty much every enemy there is a third of the way through the experience. Regardless, this doesn’t stop you always being on edge venturing into new locations, thanks to the game’s incredible atmosphere and world building, with little details like letters and graffiti really immersing you in the setting. The game quickly teaches you that you are never safe from an infected encounter, even pulling you out of a crafting menu at one point for a fight.
Speaking of crafting, the attention to detail and animations for the gun upgrades is such a fantastic inclusion. Gunplay itself is a slight improvement over the original, but still feels a bit stiff and outdated compared to the best in the cover shooter genre. Some other gameplay gripes I have include your immersion breaking partner who darts across the screen when you are trying to hide from enemies, many upgrades and supplements having little effect, the act of scavenging being quite repetitive and human boss fights feeling uninspired.
God damn this game is gorgeous! Gorgeous in its beautiful vistas and in its bleak, dark, overrun settlements. The art team really outdid themselves with the attention to detail they have put everywhere. There is a constant juxtaposition in the game of hope and despair and the visual design really feeds into this. The story paced in a way so that just when you get sick of grimy infected corridors and stormy urban environments, you are thrust into flashbacks where characters relive some of the favourite memories which provided much needed context to what happened between the first and second game. This effective pacing stretches to the gameplay too, as just when you are starting to get sick of doing something, you are thrust into doing something completely differently. For an experience, this long, it really helped keep encounters fresh, only really starting to lose steam in its slightly drawn-out end.
Not many developers have the budget or patience to create a game like the Last of Us Part II. It has its flaws, but for me personally, the phenomenal narrative, sublime visuals, attention to detail and brutal gameplay make this an unforgettable experience that’s a must play for any gamer that enjoys single player experiences.
2020 Ranked
TLOU2 gives the gameplay of its predecessor a much-needed facelift. Movement and hand to hand combat feel much more fluid, superb level design enables a whole host of viable approaches to each scenario and the sound design used to immerse and guide your encounters is a gold standard for the industry. What’s more, new enemies introduced into this game like dogs that can smell you out, spice up encounters in a welcome manner. Though I wish more new enemies were introduced late game too, as you’ve seen pretty much every enemy there is a third of the way through the experience. Regardless, this doesn’t stop you always being on edge venturing into new locations, thanks to the game’s incredible atmosphere and world building, with little details like letters and graffiti really immersing you in the setting. The game quickly teaches you that you are never safe from an infected encounter, even pulling you out of a crafting menu at one point for a fight.
Speaking of crafting, the attention to detail and animations for the gun upgrades is such a fantastic inclusion. Gunplay itself is a slight improvement over the original, but still feels a bit stiff and outdated compared to the best in the cover shooter genre. Some other gameplay gripes I have include your immersion breaking partner who darts across the screen when you are trying to hide from enemies, many upgrades and supplements having little effect, the act of scavenging being quite repetitive and human boss fights feeling uninspired.
God damn this game is gorgeous! Gorgeous in its beautiful vistas and in its bleak, dark, overrun settlements. The art team really outdid themselves with the attention to detail they have put everywhere. There is a constant juxtaposition in the game of hope and despair and the visual design really feeds into this. The story paced in a way so that just when you get sick of grimy infected corridors and stormy urban environments, you are thrust into flashbacks where characters relive some of the favourite memories which provided much needed context to what happened between the first and second game. This effective pacing stretches to the gameplay too, as just when you are starting to get sick of doing something, you are thrust into doing something completely differently. For an experience, this long, it really helped keep encounters fresh, only really starting to lose steam in its slightly drawn-out end.
Not many developers have the budget or patience to create a game like the Last of Us Part II. It has its flaws, but for me personally, the phenomenal narrative, sublime visuals, attention to detail and brutal gameplay make this an unforgettable experience that’s a must play for any gamer that enjoys single player experiences.
2020 Ranked
Unravelling my thoughts on Hotline Miami 2 was about as difficult as it was to understand its story. On the one hand it iterates on the gameplay of the original in interesting ways, there is a tonne of variety thanks to the whole host of characters you control throughout the story and the gunplay is as tight as ever. However, for me the story was disjointed and there are a few missions with weak level design. I think the more open level design is effective in some scenarios but in others it slows gameplay down too much. Overall though this is still a thoroughly enjoyable gameplay experience, and as gameplay is king for this genre of game, the lacklustre story is forgivable.
2015 Ranked
Indie Recommendations
2015 Ranked
Indie Recommendations
2018
Red Strings Club is a two-part story. In the first, you play as a barman in the future who requires information as payment from customers for their drinks. He uses this information to find out more about a corrupt mega corporation, while using the drinks he serves customers to alter their emotions to provoke them into providing the information he desires. It’s a fantastic concept which makes for a fascinating story, meaningful dialogue options and ensures the player always pays attention to what is going on, even if the gameplay side of things is a bit simplistic.
Unfortunately, the second part of the story is a bit less engaging. You break into the corporation’s HQ at night with a different character to try and stop an event happening. This character uses fake voices and insights he’s gained from the barman, along with items in the HQ, to phone employees and extract the information he needs from them. It sounds interesting on paper, but the trial and error process of ringing different employees and seeing whether they have information you require is tedious, especially considering how long this section of the game lasts for. If this portion of the game was streamlined and the bar making section was fleshed out further, especially in terms of gameplay, I would’ve had a more positive overall experience. Don’t get me wrong, I still recommend this game to anyone whose interest is piqued by what I’ve described, its just this game was close to being something truly special. As it is, for me personally, its just good.
2018 Ranked
Unfortunately, the second part of the story is a bit less engaging. You break into the corporation’s HQ at night with a different character to try and stop an event happening. This character uses fake voices and insights he’s gained from the barman, along with items in the HQ, to phone employees and extract the information he needs from them. It sounds interesting on paper, but the trial and error process of ringing different employees and seeing whether they have information you require is tedious, especially considering how long this section of the game lasts for. If this portion of the game was streamlined and the bar making section was fleshed out further, especially in terms of gameplay, I would’ve had a more positive overall experience. Don’t get me wrong, I still recommend this game to anyone whose interest is piqued by what I’ve described, its just this game was close to being something truly special. As it is, for me personally, its just good.
2018 Ranked
2021
Bowser’s Fury is a fun experiment. Its bitesize islands are perfect for constantly throwing new mechanics and enemies at the player, Bowser frequently interrupting gameplay is a clever idea without being so invasive that his interruptions feel like a chore and the areas evolving as you revisit them make treading old ground not feel tedious. Yes boss fights with Bowser and the challenges to get the cat shines are repetitive and there is scope for improvements with the water sections, but Bowser’s Fury is still a blast and its shorter length means that the concepts which could grow tedious in a full length Mario game do not overstay their welcome here.
2021 Ranked
2021 Ranked
2011
Portal 2 is damn good, but is not quite the perfect experience, for me personally, that many believe it to be. It’s got phenomenal writing, puzzle design and physics, with the hilariously dimwitted Wheatley absolutely stealing the show. The new puzzle mechanics introduced throughout the experience help keep things fresh and understanding how to combine these is where the gameplay is at its best. Though the game has some minor pacing issues, especially in the drab corridors that connect the test chambers, the soundtrack is forgettable and a bit more visual variety would’ve added to the experience. However, these minor grievances are dwarfed by what this game absolutely nails, doing everything a sequel should. Now I’m just waiting for Cave Johnson’s scientists to finally make their breakthrough and blow up my house with lemons.
2011 Ranked
2011 Ranked
2015
Halo 5 does not feel like a Halo game. It may look like one, but when you get your finger on the triggers, its overhauled systems are plain to see and more akin to more generic blockbuster shooters like COD. While the new gunplay and traversal systems aren’t bad, they do not feel at home on this sort of game, watering down the experience which results in some of Halo’s identity being lost in the process. While the game is gorgeous and there is some intrigue to the story, it isn’t memorable. Halo 5 is not an awful experience, but it’s a misstep which unfortunately tarnishes the name of this fantastic franchise. Here’s hoping that the shift in momentum back in the right direction initiated by Infinite can make people fall in love with Halo once again.
2015 Ranked
Halo Ranked
2015 Ranked
Halo Ranked
2018
Forza 4 is an iteration rather than an innovation for the franchise. There are many quality of life improvements which gives its gameplay the edge over previous entries, but some unnecessary additions and the lack of variety on the map prevent this from being my favourite in the franchise so far. Its still got an incredible car roster, gameplay mechanics and a tonne of content, even if there is a lot of repetitiveness in this content. Moreover, showcases are better than ever, the seasons are a fantastic concept and the seamless online integration with its fantastic events really add to the experience. Its just a shame that there are few memorable map locations (even if, as a Brit, I can see how much attention to detail they’ve put into elements such as the street signs and architecture), player customisation and houses feel pointless and lacklustre mid to late game progression hold back the experience. Its still among the best sandbox racers out there, but if development focussed more on elevating the open world experience rather than all the cosmetic fluff that comes with it, this could’ve continued the upwards trajectory of this franchise.
2018 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
Co-op/Multiplayer Recommendations
2018 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
Co-op/Multiplayer Recommendations
2012
Even though I enjoyed my time with Halo 4, it left me conflicted. On the one hand, Cortana’s deteriorating mental state and evolving relationship with Master Chief is an interesting dynamic to the story, the level design in some of the later levels was great and the forerunners new weapons and enemies added some welcome variety. On the other hand, the game’s antagonist bored me, some of the new weapons and enemies have mediocre designs and many levels are too open to promote strategic positioning on the battlefield. With some better writing and design decisions this could’ve been something special as the core gunplay, visuals and audio are all strong. I’d still recommend Halo 4 to Halo fans, but if you aren’t invested in the franchise and its antagonists, I’d skip this.
2012 Ranked
Halo Ranked
2012 Ranked
Halo Ranked
After 150 hours, 100% achievement/trophy completion and far too much Gwent, I’ve finally rolled credits on this masterpiece. Its by no means perfect, but working my way through this over the course of several months has been a truly special experience as someone who is fully invested in the universe, having played both previous entries and read all the books several times.
The Witcher 3 is beautifully written. There are so many layers to its writing. On the surface it has a whole host of engaging and diverse characters, great comedic moments and some engrossing and truly twisted plotlines. However, intermingled with this there is complex political undertones, frequent reminders of racial oppression present throughout the land and of course the ever-present white frost. On top of this, the game pays an incredible reverence to its source material, with countless links to previous games and book. It does an extremely good job of balancing all of the above without overwhelming the player. Moreover, the extremely detailed character and location breakdowns in the menus as well as the books littered throughout the game allow you to dive deeper into elements that are of particular interest. I really appreciated this attention to detail which helped me feel more informed when making the important dialogue decisions in quests. These choices can have huge consequences which completely change the world and what happens to characters. This is a welcome change from the superficial decision-making present in a lot of games.
The main story itself is well told, with some really strong and memorable arcs. It does have pacing issues, with a bloated middle section and some smaller arcs which feel more like busy work, but the high stakes, intriguing cast and constantly evolving relationships make it very engaging. On top of this, there are some sublime side quests such as one where you decide whether you take part in the assassination plot of a king and another where you work with a mage to uncover the secrets of a haunted island. Each area on the continent feels very distinct with its own culture and political landscape (with Skellige being my personal favourite), and the quests that are done in each of these locations do a great job of capturing this uniqueness. That being said, with a game of this size and scope, inevitably there are some weaker, more generic side quests and some forgettable characters.
The Witcher 3’s gameplay is enjoyable, but with scope for improvement. Its gameplay loop consists of traversal, combat and clue hunting. Unfortunately, this loop can get repetitive due to the lack of depth in some of its systems. For example, clue hunting is just a case of using your Witcher vision to find whatever is highlighted in red on your screen. As this system is used so frequently it would’ve been nice if there was more interaction, taking inspiration from the likes of Uncharted’s temples or Arkham Origin’s crime scene reconstructions.
Combat, the second gameplay pillar, is quite a standard affair with light and heavy attacks mixed in with counters and dodges. Potions, oils and signs do elevate the experience by encouraging strategising and enemy weakness exploitation. Moreover, you can read your bestiary to try and plan ahead when taking on the larger monsters. These monsters are some of the highlights of the game as besting them makes you feel most like a Witcher. Contracts where you trawl through a cave taking out a queen spider’s babies to remove any chance of reinforcements before you tackle the queen and another where you lure a monster into a barn with alcohol so that you can prevent it retreating during combat is this game at its peak. Its just a shame that combat feels a bit stiff sometimes and the camera can sometimes be a pain when trying to reposition yourself as you are swarmed by foes. What’s more, even playing this game on death march, there is no consistent difficulty curve. I struggled to fend off even the easiest of foes in my first dozen hours with the game, but I soon out-levelled my foes, making it incredibly easy to brute force my way through encounters rather than these being tense, methodical affairs requiring the use of everything at your disposal. Regardless, I would like to give a special shoutout to the gory combat finishers, which left me completely awestruck on several occasions as limbs were severed and body parts flew across the screen.
The final gameplay pillar, traversal, is really enjoyable primarily because of the world you are traversing through. Visually, it is gorgeous thanks to some exceptional lighting (I could soak in those sunrises and sunsets all day), the environmental variety between locations and the game’s art direction. The sublime soundtrack and sound design only add to this immersion. Though, Ido have some minor gripes with Geralt feeling a bit clunky at times, roach’s uncooperativeness and cliffs that cannot be traversed making for tedious diversions. Regardless, the sheer quantity of random encounter, side quests, loot and monsters lurking about make the continent feel lived in whilst also capturing how bleak times are with the war that ravages through the land.
When I said the Witcher has three gameplay pillars…I lied. Gwent, while not integral to the experience, is one of the best things to come out of this game. It is simple to learn, but true mastery takes lots of practice and card collecting. Gwent is a game within a game as there are so many quests and challenges you can take on to proceed in your quest to complete you deck. What’s more it spawned its own spinoff game Thronebreaker, which I highly recommend, and a standalone competitive multiplayer game. Long story short, Gwent rules.
If you hadn’t gathered by now, I adore this game. It does so much right and truly warrants the many hours required to see this experience through to its end. Yes it has some flaws in its gameplay, but the endless list of things it does right dwarfs its handful of flaws. If you are one of the few people who haven’t dipped your feet into this world yet, I could not recommend it enough. Just be prepared to lose many hours of your life…
2015 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
Witcher Franchise Ranked
The Witcher 3 is beautifully written. There are so many layers to its writing. On the surface it has a whole host of engaging and diverse characters, great comedic moments and some engrossing and truly twisted plotlines. However, intermingled with this there is complex political undertones, frequent reminders of racial oppression present throughout the land and of course the ever-present white frost. On top of this, the game pays an incredible reverence to its source material, with countless links to previous games and book. It does an extremely good job of balancing all of the above without overwhelming the player. Moreover, the extremely detailed character and location breakdowns in the menus as well as the books littered throughout the game allow you to dive deeper into elements that are of particular interest. I really appreciated this attention to detail which helped me feel more informed when making the important dialogue decisions in quests. These choices can have huge consequences which completely change the world and what happens to characters. This is a welcome change from the superficial decision-making present in a lot of games.
The main story itself is well told, with some really strong and memorable arcs. It does have pacing issues, with a bloated middle section and some smaller arcs which feel more like busy work, but the high stakes, intriguing cast and constantly evolving relationships make it very engaging. On top of this, there are some sublime side quests such as one where you decide whether you take part in the assassination plot of a king and another where you work with a mage to uncover the secrets of a haunted island. Each area on the continent feels very distinct with its own culture and political landscape (with Skellige being my personal favourite), and the quests that are done in each of these locations do a great job of capturing this uniqueness. That being said, with a game of this size and scope, inevitably there are some weaker, more generic side quests and some forgettable characters.
The Witcher 3’s gameplay is enjoyable, but with scope for improvement. Its gameplay loop consists of traversal, combat and clue hunting. Unfortunately, this loop can get repetitive due to the lack of depth in some of its systems. For example, clue hunting is just a case of using your Witcher vision to find whatever is highlighted in red on your screen. As this system is used so frequently it would’ve been nice if there was more interaction, taking inspiration from the likes of Uncharted’s temples or Arkham Origin’s crime scene reconstructions.
Combat, the second gameplay pillar, is quite a standard affair with light and heavy attacks mixed in with counters and dodges. Potions, oils and signs do elevate the experience by encouraging strategising and enemy weakness exploitation. Moreover, you can read your bestiary to try and plan ahead when taking on the larger monsters. These monsters are some of the highlights of the game as besting them makes you feel most like a Witcher. Contracts where you trawl through a cave taking out a queen spider’s babies to remove any chance of reinforcements before you tackle the queen and another where you lure a monster into a barn with alcohol so that you can prevent it retreating during combat is this game at its peak. Its just a shame that combat feels a bit stiff sometimes and the camera can sometimes be a pain when trying to reposition yourself as you are swarmed by foes. What’s more, even playing this game on death march, there is no consistent difficulty curve. I struggled to fend off even the easiest of foes in my first dozen hours with the game, but I soon out-levelled my foes, making it incredibly easy to brute force my way through encounters rather than these being tense, methodical affairs requiring the use of everything at your disposal. Regardless, I would like to give a special shoutout to the gory combat finishers, which left me completely awestruck on several occasions as limbs were severed and body parts flew across the screen.
The final gameplay pillar, traversal, is really enjoyable primarily because of the world you are traversing through. Visually, it is gorgeous thanks to some exceptional lighting (I could soak in those sunrises and sunsets all day), the environmental variety between locations and the game’s art direction. The sublime soundtrack and sound design only add to this immersion. Though, Ido have some minor gripes with Geralt feeling a bit clunky at times, roach’s uncooperativeness and cliffs that cannot be traversed making for tedious diversions. Regardless, the sheer quantity of random encounter, side quests, loot and monsters lurking about make the continent feel lived in whilst also capturing how bleak times are with the war that ravages through the land.
When I said the Witcher has three gameplay pillars…I lied. Gwent, while not integral to the experience, is one of the best things to come out of this game. It is simple to learn, but true mastery takes lots of practice and card collecting. Gwent is a game within a game as there are so many quests and challenges you can take on to proceed in your quest to complete you deck. What’s more it spawned its own spinoff game Thronebreaker, which I highly recommend, and a standalone competitive multiplayer game. Long story short, Gwent rules.
If you hadn’t gathered by now, I adore this game. It does so much right and truly warrants the many hours required to see this experience through to its end. Yes it has some flaws in its gameplay, but the endless list of things it does right dwarfs its handful of flaws. If you are one of the few people who haven’t dipped your feet into this world yet, I could not recommend it enough. Just be prepared to lose many hours of your life…
2015 Ranked
Ranked Open World Recommendations
Witcher Franchise Ranked