NatusFanatus
2019
A genuinely fun blend between sidescrolling-metroidvania, action-turn-based gameplay with Mario RPG-esque mechanics and every character featuring their own moveset with special and super attacks akin to a Fighting Game.
Sadly, the game unfinished with a lot of its promised features and additional characters missing, a lot of remnants of unfinished mechanics and quests, as well as a ton of questionable design choices. In short, the original developer team got completely screwed over and fired by the lead-dev, before the studio and the rights to the game were sold to 505 Games, who have no intention of adding the missing content.
The writing is questionable, with a lot of tonal whiplash between goofy and cheesy dialogue, as well as emotional moments the game tries to play straight, only for the characters to move on immediately after (The protagonist overcomes her father's death at the beginning in a few seconds tops).
The platforming and combat is really fun, but the amount of backtracking you have to do for the side quest, as the only fast travel options are between very few specific points in the map, makes it a slog towards the end. An entire character can be rendered unobtainable because the quest monsters you need to kill is highly susceptible to a glitch which makes them disappear off the map, but still being marked as "unfinished" and preventing you from obtaining the character in question.
If you're still interested in the game in spite of its many flaws, I personally recommend grabbing it during a sale or grabbing a key if you'd rather not support the lead-developer who's responsible for the game's current state as is.
Sadly, the game unfinished with a lot of its promised features and additional characters missing, a lot of remnants of unfinished mechanics and quests, as well as a ton of questionable design choices. In short, the original developer team got completely screwed over and fired by the lead-dev, before the studio and the rights to the game were sold to 505 Games, who have no intention of adding the missing content.
The writing is questionable, with a lot of tonal whiplash between goofy and cheesy dialogue, as well as emotional moments the game tries to play straight, only for the characters to move on immediately after (The protagonist overcomes her father's death at the beginning in a few seconds tops).
The platforming and combat is really fun, but the amount of backtracking you have to do for the side quest, as the only fast travel options are between very few specific points in the map, makes it a slog towards the end. An entire character can be rendered unobtainable because the quest monsters you need to kill is highly susceptible to a glitch which makes them disappear off the map, but still being marked as "unfinished" and preventing you from obtaining the character in question.
If you're still interested in the game in spite of its many flaws, I personally recommend grabbing it during a sale or grabbing a key if you'd rather not support the lead-developer who's responsible for the game's current state as is.
2023
The core gameplay is still fun, although the things accompanying it are "okay-ish". The more "open-world" levels are a nice idea but similarly to the open-world in Halo Infinite, largely unnecessary, as you spent a lot of the time simply speeding through with the motorcycle with some small obstacles and combat encounters in between.
The upgrade system is still decent, but sadly lost the creativity of the game's first one, in favor of user-friendliness (and giving you a reason to explore for perk points).
The story is decent so far, and I'd rate it about the same as the first game. I do like the banter between the protagonist and the side characters during the levels, but the dialogue in the "hub" is more "meh" (although you're given a skip button).
My largest gripe is the same as in the first game, which is the overall jankiness of the parkour being largely the same. Wallrunning can either be too sensitive, or not work at all. Mistiming a dash or a jump by a miniscule amount can cause you to die because you didn't wallrun at a slightly too low angle. Kill-barriers on the bottom of the map are sometimes way too deep, causing you to randomly wall-run near it with no chance to get back, which is really annoying.
The game features a roguelike-mod which is pretty cool, although some of its platforming modules are either unreasonably difficult, or piss-easy if you get some broken upgrade like a literal double jump.
The upgrade system is still decent, but sadly lost the creativity of the game's first one, in favor of user-friendliness (and giving you a reason to explore for perk points).
The story is decent so far, and I'd rate it about the same as the first game. I do like the banter between the protagonist and the side characters during the levels, but the dialogue in the "hub" is more "meh" (although you're given a skip button).
My largest gripe is the same as in the first game, which is the overall jankiness of the parkour being largely the same. Wallrunning can either be too sensitive, or not work at all. Mistiming a dash or a jump by a miniscule amount can cause you to die because you didn't wallrun at a slightly too low angle. Kill-barriers on the bottom of the map are sometimes way too deep, causing you to randomly wall-run near it with no chance to get back, which is really annoying.
The game features a roguelike-mod which is pretty cool, although some of its platforming modules are either unreasonably difficult, or piss-easy if you get some broken upgrade like a literal double jump.
2023
Imagine the most over-the-top FPS you can think of and now imagine it getting increasingly more over-the-top and insane as it progresses (although the insanity still falls short of Cruelty Squad).
Fast and brutal FPS, with a high emphasis on "fast" and the protagonist increasingly leaning into his chainsawmen-ness (?). Story doesn't take itself too seriously, although the game kinda drags on towards the end.
Fast and brutal FPS, with a high emphasis on "fast" and the protagonist increasingly leaning into his chainsawmen-ness (?). Story doesn't take itself too seriously, although the game kinda drags on towards the end.
2023
High-octane and brutal gameplay. Don't get fooled by the game's atmosphere, it does not play like F.E.A.R. in most ways (except bullet-time and the shotgun being almost as amazing), do not expect the same tactical gameplay like F.E.A.R.
Extremely punchy weapons, all of which leave visible impacts on your opponents, a nice horror-esque atmosphere (don't worry, it's not a horror game for the most part), an interesting storyline accompanied by decent lore. Generally a more over-the-top tone.
Be wary of the highest difficulties, because they will kick your ass. A lot.
Extremely punchy weapons, all of which leave visible impacts on your opponents, a nice horror-esque atmosphere (don't worry, it's not a horror game for the most part), an interesting storyline accompanied by decent lore. Generally a more over-the-top tone.
Be wary of the highest difficulties, because they will kick your ass. A lot.
2019
Amazing gameplay, a fantastic soundtrack, and a super interesting storyline.
Sadly, it ends on a cliffhanger left unresolved for almost five years now, its first DLC with a development time rivaling Deltarune's chapter 3 and 4 at the time of writing.
Sadly, it ends on a cliffhanger left unresolved for almost five years now, its first DLC with a development time rivaling Deltarune's chapter 3 and 4 at the time of writing.
2019
Extremely fun build-engine FPS.
A ridiculous but really fun and punchy arsenal (I'm pretty sure dual-wielding SMGs that shoot burning flechettes is a violation against the Geneva conventions somewhere), really good level-design featuring a ton of secrets, and fast shooter action.
If you liked Blood or Duke Nukem for their action, I wholeheartedly recommend this game. Be warned, however, that the levels in this game are significantly longer.
A ridiculous but really fun and punchy arsenal (I'm pretty sure dual-wielding SMGs that shoot burning flechettes is a violation against the Geneva conventions somewhere), really good level-design featuring a ton of secrets, and fast shooter action.
If you liked Blood or Duke Nukem for their action, I wholeheartedly recommend this game. Be warned, however, that the levels in this game are significantly longer.
2023
Decent Retro-FPS that does a good job at emulating a lot of the qualities of quake-esque shooters, with a decent arsenal, a weird-ass setting with even weirder monsters and some cooking recipes as a reward for beating an episode (yes really).
Has a demo if you want to test it out.
Has a demo if you want to test it out.
2016
One of the best boss-rush games I've ever played. Well-polished and challenging combat, amazing bosses and soundtrack, and a lot of replayability to boot.
Main gripe was simply the final boss who throws a giant curveball in terms of difficulty of the bullet hell sections compared to the rest of the bosses.
Main gripe was simply the final boss who throws a giant curveball in terms of difficulty of the bullet hell sections compared to the rest of the bosses.
Nice and short (around 4 hours maybe) DLC which runs parallel to the base game's story, and gives you a lot of worldbuilding and context to the story if you care about it. The atmosphere is just as bleak and full of dread as the base game.
Biggest problem is simply for achievement hunters as you're forced to play through the DLC a whooping 11 times if you want to truly 100% the game.
Wholeheartedly recommend if you liked the base game.
Biggest problem is simply for achievement hunters as you're forced to play through the DLC a whooping 11 times if you want to truly 100% the game.
Wholeheartedly recommend if you liked the base game.
2016
One of my favorite games ever in terms of pure atmosphere. The whole game is accompanied by a feeling of dread, as you drive your train through the apocalypse, and attempt to piece the story together through the tidpits you find, with nice and fitting soundtrack, as well as mesmerizing background visuals.
Sadly, it gets dragged down in its gameplay which, while mostly servicable, could have used a lot more work (although a lot of the issues were addressed in its amazing DLC). The train maintenance is fine, but the way its set up effectively prevents you from learning more of the story as the dialogue between passengers continues regardless whether you're able to read it or not (I get the idea but it's just annoying).
Overall a fine experience for its atmosphere, and relatively short runtime of around 6-7 hours.
Sadly, it gets dragged down in its gameplay which, while mostly servicable, could have used a lot more work (although a lot of the issues were addressed in its amazing DLC). The train maintenance is fine, but the way its set up effectively prevents you from learning more of the story as the dialogue between passengers continues regardless whether you're able to read it or not (I get the idea but it's just annoying).
Overall a fine experience for its atmosphere, and relatively short runtime of around 6-7 hours.
2023
Decent retro FPS, but a lot of its positives are accompanied by something pulling it down.
The upgrade system includes a lot of unique changes to how a weapon behaves or can be used as a whole, although a good deal of those mods are extremely overpowered whereas some are borderline useless.
The soundtrack is pretty good with a lot of nice metal songs, but they loop so often during the game's long levels that it kind of blends together at some point.
The game really drags on towards the end, featuring five episodes with levels being really long compared to other retro-FPS'.
The arsenal itself is decent, with (mostly) punchy sounds, but as is often usual with Retro-FPS, their impact on enemies is only felt after you kill them by gibbing them (and even the gibbing is somewhat underwhelming).
The upgrade system includes a lot of unique changes to how a weapon behaves or can be used as a whole, although a good deal of those mods are extremely overpowered whereas some are borderline useless.
The soundtrack is pretty good with a lot of nice metal songs, but they loop so often during the game's long levels that it kind of blends together at some point.
The game really drags on towards the end, featuring five episodes with levels being really long compared to other retro-FPS'.
The arsenal itself is decent, with (mostly) punchy sounds, but as is often usual with Retro-FPS, their impact on enemies is only felt after you kill them by gibbing them (and even the gibbing is somewhat underwhelming).
2019
Fast, difficult, and brutal retro FPS with an amazing horror atmosphere.
The game will absolutely kick your ass even on the difficulty equivalent to a medium difficulty in other retro FPS, and absolutely brutalize you on its high difficulties, be warned.
But beyond the difficulty awaits an extremely fun retro FPS rewarding quick movement, good tactical thinking outside of circlestrafing and shooting, and smart usage of the tools available to you.
The hellhounds can still piss off though.
The game will absolutely kick your ass even on the difficulty equivalent to a medium difficulty in other retro FPS, and absolutely brutalize you on its high difficulties, be warned.
But beyond the difficulty awaits an extremely fun retro FPS rewarding quick movement, good tactical thinking outside of circlestrafing and shooting, and smart usage of the tools available to you.
The hellhounds can still piss off though.
One of the most fun I've had with a side-scrolling roguelike in a while since Dead Cells.
The character movesets were well translated into the game, although the game itself is only "Blazblue" in name and its playable characters. Don't get fooled, as the story (as decent as it is through its unique presentation) has literally nothing to do with Blazblue otherwise.
(But that's not what you'd buy the game for anyway, is it?)
The character movesets were well translated into the game, although the game itself is only "Blazblue" in name and its playable characters. Don't get fooled, as the story (as decent as it is through its unique presentation) has literally nothing to do with Blazblue otherwise.
(But that's not what you'd buy the game for anyway, is it?)
2020
Effectively a must-play for Half-Life fans, especially if you've already played the first game because seeing how much life was put into this game is genuinely mesmerizing.
Do not that this game (on default difficulty) is significantly more difficult than Half-Life 1 and arguably Half-Life 2 (due to the abscence of the gravity gun) in its middle-part.
Do not that this game (on default difficulty) is significantly more difficult than Half-Life 1 and arguably Half-Life 2 (due to the abscence of the gravity gun) in its middle-part.
2020
Imagine Katana Zero except the devs took over the movement from Titanfall and actually incorporated it into the level design.
Extremely fun time only marred by an extremely ridiculous difficulty spike of the platforming in the first third of the game, and the platforming mechanics being slightly janky at times, but I'm sure it'll get better in the sequel. (Spoiler: it fucking doesn't lmao)
Extremely fun time only marred by an extremely ridiculous difficulty spike of the platforming in the first third of the game, and the platforming mechanics being slightly janky at times, but I'm sure it'll get better in the sequel. (Spoiler: it fucking doesn't lmao)