This game has a lot of problems but they're all easily solved in a sequel. What's here is easily one of if not, the best visual depiction of modern tokyo outside of the stylised look of Persona 5. A joy to simply be in and walk around looking at various shops, and scenery the art direction here is great (as empty as the world is of life.) The story is very bare but serviceable with some decent boss fights to throw at you. What's lacking severely is tools for the player; movement is stiff for something that should feel more fluid, and enemy/"weapon" variety is a very dark spot. Had the movement been a little deeper the latter problem would be alleviated and vice versa. Something akin to (another Bethesda studio) Dishonored's movement tweaked would fit perfectly here, a lean mechanic, better mantling on buildings, and some more utility for the aerial movement would make moving around feel better, and stealth as an approach in combat a more sound effort. This is Tango's best work in terms of UI, menus, and controls etc. far better than TEW 1/2. But it has hiccups in other areas, on PS5 I ran into some problem areas on the 60FPS performance mode, caused mainly by some of the tall apartment complexs, and occasionly due to density of enemies/particles (the combat is very flashy and particle heavy.) I think the work and effort here is great as a jumping off point into something more ambitious like a Ghostwire: Japan or some other specific prefecture of Japan. But for it to have legs it'll need more than 4 choices of weapons to combo with, and better movement to play around. Some of the side content is great here too if you need more to go at.

Amazing sequel and the best souls like on offer. Much more depth in combat than the souls games but lacks in other areas like story and world building. This game uses levels but it doesn’t detract from the experience they’re well built and structured with shortcuts akin to Dark Souls 1. With it being a prequel of sorts to Nioh 1 it can be played in isolation and I honestly recommend it it’s much tougher than Nioh 1 but because of this it makes it easier to jump into a Nioh 1 playthrough since it’s the same game but with less mechanics overall such as burst counters and Yokai attacks. Worth playing through don’t be discouraged by difficulty or the more daunting things like the loot system and menus.

Enjoyable and short less than 3 hours but the gameplay that's here is fine it services the story being told - gameplay that's here is effective because of subtle interaction like a shoveling/shooting segment, without getting into spoilers they break your attention and snaps you back into focus very well reminded me of sequences like What remains of Edith Finch (Lewis' story.) Unfortunately I don't like it when games don't tell you how to play the game I hate to say it but if I have to check the controls settings to know how to play a game - even as inconsequential as being in control is here - It's a pain. It was especially awkward during the final act which has you cook a meal of your own choice, a good and meaningful send off to the narrative but actively engaging with it was a bit of a nightmare, I reloaded the scenario a few times because I lost something I picked up or couldn't see it the kitchens sorta bright lmao, and the lack of a consistent on screen dot to centre myself made it worse (it would've gone a long way.) I enjoyed the story for what it was, though with it being very "American" lets say there's certain topics/themes as well as the dry (though very well done) southern accent by the VA that just grated on me a little mainly just war related things. Worth experiencing because it is well written and scripted out it's just got small problems, but if you've got 2 hours give or take it's worth the price of admission.

This is the best way to experience the game (on console preferably atm I experienced bugs on PC) - the USG Ishimura is now fully interconnected and seamless, narrative has a more sensible through-line and logic with changes. The worst part of the original the ADS cannon section is completely different and better. Bummed it removed the nuclear green balls puzzle but it was goofy. Just a good remake since almost every change is for the better, some dialogue is iffy like Hammonds new VA at times, and a weird line of dialogue after a boss fight. Not without issues though on a replay of both the original and this remake I've noticed hit registration and enemy feedback in the remake is significantly worse from weapons missing shots even when aiming dead on, to enemy actions that were previously in the game in the original now gone e.g. headshots causing a frenzy state. Better transitions from standing to limping etc. It's all a lot worse looking directly between the remake and the original. So for 2023 If you're unsure which survival horror remake to go with, pick Resident Evil 4.

I'd previously never played the original half-life until I tried the Black Mesa remake and was shocked how much better it was than Half Life 2. Going back again and playing the original Half-Life I don't see the obsession with Half-Life 2's world or lack of an "Episode 3" or Half-Life 3. Continuing a games story and legacy where every NPC turns to you like a saviour and paragon of heroism (like in Half-Life 2.) Seems like a mistake, and the world would be much better without it to stand over what is a better game and story.

People have many thoughts about this game but looking at it as fairly as possible, besides MGS5 it controls the best, has a decent and fun variety in the combat (when it happens) and is still visually impressive in some ways. A lot of this game narratively is a weird mix of trying to tie up loose ends, and push the story to an end with some good and some questionable callbacks and references. But I don't hate it so I have to say I enjoyed it a lot. It brings so many old franchise characters back to try and make the plot of every MGS game fit in a cohesive and current world and for 2008 in a video game it does a good enough job of bringing every side character still alive (and some dead) in previous entries into a modern world styled after the Iraq war/"private military corporation" context. Yes the cutscenes are long, some things don't quite make sense in the 10-40 minute movies but it just about manages to make sense, and it's most importantly still entertaining to watch. It isn't worth playing unless you've played at least 2 ideally 3 of the metal gear series specifically the metal gear Solid games. It is heavy on the references to previous games to the point of having a context sensitive button on X in cutscenes to see flashback images of events Old Snake has experienced. Even some or many he hasn't such as MGS2, and MGS3 scenes it'd be impossible for him to recall not being the main character/a character involved directly. It is important or even crucial to the game that the player has been a part of every step of the journey of Big Boss, and Solid Snake. Which is something of a rarity to this extent in games because it's very hard to pull off and I think it fails in many ways so much so I couldn't recommend someone playing this game in isolation. I'm a fan of the franchise this game was basically made for the fans I hear somewhat begrudingly by Hideo Kojima but I enjoy it for what it is and the highs are too high to drag what's here down. Now Kojima just needs to make a game with a movement control scheme consistent with MGSV let me crawl in death stranding 2 and crouch walk you coward.

I enjoyed the game but damn does it fail to fix/add to gameplay in key areas I disliked a lot. Combat tied to “loot level” is still bad there’s so many stats and the only one that matters is still the number in the top left menu. Combos feel a little better but no dedicated jump tanks the skill ceiling significantly - late game bosses have issues with hyper armour much like the valkyries in 2018 though not as bad here (no single boss is as hard as the valk queen in 2018 - which is a good thing). Unlike 2018 which deftly ties itself to the previous entries in the Greek pantheon of games Ragnarok chooses to ignore that almost entirely in any meaningful connection to the main plot - No Athena, No Zeus it’s all referential. Who Kratos was as a Greek god of war is called upon on several times and it’s never met by the game. It feels as though the game struggled to balance his character in this transition to a more full character world. Note I say character world because each area still feels as empty as 2018. This worked for 2018 because Kratos is actively trying to hide but here we are seeking new lands and help etc. yet the collection of allies amounts to less than 10. Massive improvements come in enemy variety and depth in side content which I generally preferred to the main path. The enemy variety is very welcome from 2018s Troll repertoire, and even main bosses knock out everything from 2018 significantly improving on what failed especially Helheim. Worth playing if you’re a fan of 2018 but go in with low expectations for it following up 2018 in the story department.

Amazing Survival Horror with many inspirations notably Silent Hill 2, and Resident Evil 1 Classic - but this stands on its own and in many places even above those. The combat is overall great, with less tension in places due to spotty movement and the doors between rooms feeling off at times. This is worth playing if you're a hardcore fan of the genre. Great atmosphere and mystery here packed in a visually striking world. Fails for me in one area in particular - inventory managment - a core part of any game in this genre arguably, but taken a little too far. Ammo is maxed in inventory to a stiff amount, and doesn't allow multiple slots with ammo of the same type. On top of this, a key equipable item in the game (like most survival-horror games) is a flashlight, which in this game is actually an active item in inventory, so in a 6 slot inventory (with no upgrades) you're going to be capped at 5 slots for most of the game considering how useful the flashlight is - and necessary in certain parts. It hampers the tempo of the gameplay to be even more slow and moving between item boxes than even Resident Evil ever was. Otherwise though an amazing game to play and experience.