2019
Enjoyment - 10/10
Difficulty - 5/10
Death Stranding is the PlayStation 4. Death Stranding is a fine dining restaurant serving you a delicious fast food burger, but it turned out it wasn't a burger. You begin to question what you just ate, and you cannot place the taste. The only thing you do know is that it was familiar and the best thing you ever ate. Death Stranding touches souls, and cleanses them. Death Stranding is a video game.
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Difficulty - 5/10
Death Stranding is the PlayStation 4. Death Stranding is a fine dining restaurant serving you a delicious fast food burger, but it turned out it wasn't a burger. You begin to question what you just ate, and you cannot place the taste. The only thing you do know is that it was familiar and the best thing you ever ate. Death Stranding touches souls, and cleanses them. Death Stranding is a video game.
🏆
Enjoyment - 10/10
Difficulty - 5/10
I first played Final Fantasy X from the Official PlayStation 2 Magazine (Issue 20, May 2002) demo disc. That experience was the first time a demo from a demo disc completely blew me away as a literal child.
Now, I am a grown man who fully completed his cherished childhood PS2 game on his PS4 with platinum trophy and all. No hesitation, 10/10 across the board.
🏆
Difficulty - 5/10
I first played Final Fantasy X from the Official PlayStation 2 Magazine (Issue 20, May 2002) demo disc. That experience was the first time a demo from a demo disc completely blew me away as a literal child.
Now, I am a grown man who fully completed his cherished childhood PS2 game on his PS4 with platinum trophy and all. No hesitation, 10/10 across the board.
🏆
Enjoyment - 5/10
Difficulty - 3/10
Horizon Zero Dawn is a painfully average video game.
The visual splendour of Horizon Zero Dawn's landscapes and vistas really carries the experience. Also, traversing on your robot horse and encountering imposing machines is cool. However, all of the game's positive aspects are undercut by its conflicting mechanics and genuinely awful story.
Combat is borderline atrocious. Not once did I have a good time with battling human or machine enemies. Dodging, slow-motion aiming, melee, stealth, it all seemed to run counter to the core of the game. Repetitive mission structures and forgettable side quests also paint the game badly. If I am being completely honest, if the game had a NO COMBAT PASSIVISM lean in its framework I think it would've been a much better game with a stronger identity it could build off.
The ecological, industrial, and tribal theming of Horizon Zero Dawn was very promising. Discovering titbits of the world's history that better informs you about this video game space gave me goose bumps. Stumbling across ruined buildings that were once bustling places now turned to moss infused steel henges as a result of nature's reclamation is truly immersive. However, the world building and the overarching stories are not happily married to each other which leaves a confusing energy for its players to divorce. By the end of the adventure, it left me massively disappointed as it only told a children's first human vs. earth conflict story.
Characterization is dreadful. Predictable character arcs. Pandering story beats. Annoying and unlikeable main character. Contradictory character actions within the plot. Bad ending. Very, very poorly directed.
"If the game was five hours long, maybe it would be good" -Girlfriend.
Don't really know how to end this. Horizon Zero Dawn is an annoying ginger girl who clumsily fights robot dinosaur in attempt to do something??
🏆
Difficulty - 3/10
Horizon Zero Dawn is a painfully average video game.
The visual splendour of Horizon Zero Dawn's landscapes and vistas really carries the experience. Also, traversing on your robot horse and encountering imposing machines is cool. However, all of the game's positive aspects are undercut by its conflicting mechanics and genuinely awful story.
Combat is borderline atrocious. Not once did I have a good time with battling human or machine enemies. Dodging, slow-motion aiming, melee, stealth, it all seemed to run counter to the core of the game. Repetitive mission structures and forgettable side quests also paint the game badly. If I am being completely honest, if the game had a NO COMBAT PASSIVISM lean in its framework I think it would've been a much better game with a stronger identity it could build off.
The ecological, industrial, and tribal theming of Horizon Zero Dawn was very promising. Discovering titbits of the world's history that better informs you about this video game space gave me goose bumps. Stumbling across ruined buildings that were once bustling places now turned to moss infused steel henges as a result of nature's reclamation is truly immersive. However, the world building and the overarching stories are not happily married to each other which leaves a confusing energy for its players to divorce. By the end of the adventure, it left me massively disappointed as it only told a children's first human vs. earth conflict story.
Characterization is dreadful. Predictable character arcs. Pandering story beats. Annoying and unlikeable main character. Contradictory character actions within the plot. Bad ending. Very, very poorly directed.
"If the game was five hours long, maybe it would be good" -Girlfriend.
Don't really know how to end this. Horizon Zero Dawn is an annoying ginger girl who clumsily fights robot dinosaur in attempt to do something??
🏆
Enjoyment - 8/10
Difficulty - 5/10
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a return to form.
Depending on who you ask, this is or isn't a Resident Evil game. While that debate and general mantra is exhausting, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard provides big spooks and a fun gameplay loop. If you have only started getting interested in the Resident Evil series, then this is a great springboard!
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Difficulty - 5/10
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a return to form.
Depending on who you ask, this is or isn't a Resident Evil game. While that debate and general mantra is exhausting, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard provides big spooks and a fun gameplay loop. If you have only started getting interested in the Resident Evil series, then this is a great springboard!
🏆
2022
Enjoyment - 9/10
Difficulty - 4/10
Sifu is a knuckle sandwich. Sifu is a time machine. Sifu is a ticking time bomb. Sifu is a fighting game.
Sifu could possibly be the best single player fighting game ever made. I hold this game on such a pedestal because I truly believe we will regard this game as best-in-class in the not too distant future. If not Sifu, then the games directly inspired by it that improve its foundations.
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Now that I am thinking about it, I will make a long-form review of Sifu because there is a lot to unpack here. I'll come back to this and give a timestamp for future reference. [18/04/2024]
Difficulty - 4/10
Sifu is a knuckle sandwich. Sifu is a time machine. Sifu is a ticking time bomb. Sifu is a fighting game.
Sifu could possibly be the best single player fighting game ever made. I hold this game on such a pedestal because I truly believe we will regard this game as best-in-class in the not too distant future. If not Sifu, then the games directly inspired by it that improve its foundations.
🏆
Now that I am thinking about it, I will make a long-form review of Sifu because there is a lot to unpack here. I'll come back to this and give a timestamp for future reference. [18/04/2024]
2015
Enjoyment - 9/10
Difficulty - 7/10
Holy moly. Why haven't I played these games sooner?! Nights I could be vibing to this series... wasted. Instead, I was probably playing Fantastic 4 for PS2.
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Difficulty - 7/10
Holy moly. Why haven't I played these games sooner?! Nights I could be vibing to this series... wasted. Instead, I was probably playing Fantastic 4 for PS2.
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2004
Life would be better if we let the Prince roll us up.
Katamari Damacy reminds us of how boring life is. If only we, the collective human species, had a smidgen of the laughter, joy, and childlike optimism emanating from this video game world, then maybe our world would be in a better place.
Tragically, Katamari Damacy envisions our world as something to be cherished and collected. The Prince lovingly rolls his ball, collecting everything in its path. Small critters, soft toys, gardening equipment, road signage, people, and buildings. These are some of the things that are rolled up like a tightly packed cigarette. You will roll your ball until you cannot collect any more, creating an all encompassing ball of everything ever, all thanks to the Prince.
Sadly, this is not felt in reality. Life is mostly boring, often cruel, and sometimes joyless, with very little katamaries or Princes rolling around. While our lives are utterly boring, no matter how hard we excite ourselves, Katamari Damacy tells us that there is an alternative way of living. If we manifest the Prince to life and let the lovely little man roll us up, and everything we have ever known, existence would serve a greater purpose. We would be allowed to dream of better things. To surrender to the katamari would grant us the ultimate answer to the meaning of life, infinite bliss.
To be a single, atomised part of a beautiful star in the night sky would be an absolute privilege.
Katamari Damacy is Katamari Damacy.
Katamari Damacy reminds us of how boring life is. If only we, the collective human species, had a smidgen of the laughter, joy, and childlike optimism emanating from this video game world, then maybe our world would be in a better place.
Tragically, Katamari Damacy envisions our world as something to be cherished and collected. The Prince lovingly rolls his ball, collecting everything in its path. Small critters, soft toys, gardening equipment, road signage, people, and buildings. These are some of the things that are rolled up like a tightly packed cigarette. You will roll your ball until you cannot collect any more, creating an all encompassing ball of everything ever, all thanks to the Prince.
Sadly, this is not felt in reality. Life is mostly boring, often cruel, and sometimes joyless, with very little katamaries or Princes rolling around. While our lives are utterly boring, no matter how hard we excite ourselves, Katamari Damacy tells us that there is an alternative way of living. If we manifest the Prince to life and let the lovely little man roll us up, and everything we have ever known, existence would serve a greater purpose. We would be allowed to dream of better things. To surrender to the katamari would grant us the ultimate answer to the meaning of life, infinite bliss.
To be a single, atomised part of a beautiful star in the night sky would be an absolute privilege.
Katamari Damacy is Katamari Damacy.
Enjoyment - 6/10
Difficulty - 4/10
My teenage co-op game of choice, until Borderlands 2 released lol. Very nice to revisit this game on PS4 and playing co-op with my girlfriend. The game did show rough points that clearly needed ironing out and it made me better appreciate Borderlands 2.
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Difficulty - 4/10
My teenage co-op game of choice, until Borderlands 2 released lol. Very nice to revisit this game on PS4 and playing co-op with my girlfriend. The game did show rough points that clearly needed ironing out and it made me better appreciate Borderlands 2.
🏆
2019
Enjoyment - 5/10
Difficulty - 3/10
Days Gone is a fever dream.
I completely forgot to review Days Gone when I was doing my review rounds for the games I completed. I think that should tell you everything you need to know.
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Difficulty - 3/10
Days Gone is a fever dream.
I completely forgot to review Days Gone when I was doing my review rounds for the games I completed. I think that should tell you everything you need to know.
🏆
Enjoyment - 7/10
Difficulty - 3/10
Placing Far Cry 3 is tricky. COOL video gamey game moments are had, but there's too much busy work for my taste buds. I'll say this, Far Cry 3 is the cool uncle that drinks too much.
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Difficulty - 3/10
Placing Far Cry 3 is tricky. COOL video gamey game moments are had, but there's too much busy work for my taste buds. I'll say this, Far Cry 3 is the cool uncle that drinks too much.
🏆
2019
Enjoyment - 9/10
Difficulty - 3/10
MORE PERSONA 5!
Since I already played Persona 5, I decided to play on HARD which was a nice challenge. Even on HARD, it was still fairly manageable.
Fantastic game. Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal opened my eyes to a great series that I previously ignored. Must buy, must play!
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Difficulty - 3/10
MORE PERSONA 5!
Since I already played Persona 5, I decided to play on HARD which was a nice challenge. Even on HARD, it was still fairly manageable.
Fantastic game. Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal opened my eyes to a great series that I previously ignored. Must buy, must play!
🏆
Enjoyment - 9/10
Difficulty - 6/10
My first playthrough was in 2020, and returning two years later on HARD difficulty was a huge confidence check. Nevertheless, I managed to platinum Final Fantasy VII Remake. Along with the HARD playthrough, I had to do some miscellaneous trophies like getting praised by Jessie, ranking first on the darts leaderboard, obtaining all weapons abilities and music discs, and completing all quests (you need a second set of quests for a specific chapter to do this, the PSNProfiles guide is really helpful)! Dressed to the Nines was a bit annoying, but it was easy when consulting the guide.
After completing two full playthroughs, cutscenes and all, I would highly recommend this game! As someone who isn't an avid fan of FF, Final Fantasy VII Remake tempts me to become one.
🏆
Difficulty - 6/10
My first playthrough was in 2020, and returning two years later on HARD difficulty was a huge confidence check. Nevertheless, I managed to platinum Final Fantasy VII Remake. Along with the HARD playthrough, I had to do some miscellaneous trophies like getting praised by Jessie, ranking first on the darts leaderboard, obtaining all weapons abilities and music discs, and completing all quests (you need a second set of quests for a specific chapter to do this, the PSNProfiles guide is really helpful)! Dressed to the Nines was a bit annoying, but it was easy when consulting the guide.
After completing two full playthroughs, cutscenes and all, I would highly recommend this game! As someone who isn't an avid fan of FF, Final Fantasy VII Remake tempts me to become one.
🏆
2020
Enjoyment - 6/10
Difficulty - 6/10
Rogue Legacy 2 wants to be loved, but during your committed relationship they become clingy and overbearing.
On top of this, the trophy list asks you to become the game's servant and makes you wish that your contract had an earlier end date.
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Difficulty - 6/10
Rogue Legacy 2 wants to be loved, but during your committed relationship they become clingy and overbearing.
On top of this, the trophy list asks you to become the game's servant and makes you wish that your contract had an earlier end date.
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2021
Enjoyment - 8/10
Difficulty - 2/10
Dodgeball Academia shows you what school would be like if it was cool and valued the game of dodgeball a bit too much.
Played this through PS Plus Extra and it was a real treat! Very simple, easy game with endearing characters. Nice game that would probably be your best friend.
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Difficulty - 2/10
Dodgeball Academia shows you what school would be like if it was cool and valued the game of dodgeball a bit too much.
Played this through PS Plus Extra and it was a real treat! Very simple, easy game with endearing characters. Nice game that would probably be your best friend.
🏆
2015
Enjoyment - 10/10
Difficulty - 7/10
How stupid was I to think that Bloodborne was not a game for me. Past me was very silly. Coming from the perspective of a non-fan of the Souls games, Bloodborne had some initial growing pains. At first, I did not get it. The first couple of deaths were especially off putting. It was like catching a whiff of spoiled milk. However, as I inched closer to a new area around a different corner, not knowing what was ahead of me and getting excited for what challenges lurked beyond my reach, I finally got it.
The world of Bloodborne is truly wondrous. A feast in all senses. Bloodborne is a feeling you can't shake off. It is the linkage of video games, like a shadow for not yet realised imagined worlds.
🏆
Difficulty - 7/10
How stupid was I to think that Bloodborne was not a game for me. Past me was very silly. Coming from the perspective of a non-fan of the Souls games, Bloodborne had some initial growing pains. At first, I did not get it. The first couple of deaths were especially off putting. It was like catching a whiff of spoiled milk. However, as I inched closer to a new area around a different corner, not knowing what was ahead of me and getting excited for what challenges lurked beyond my reach, I finally got it.
The world of Bloodborne is truly wondrous. A feast in all senses. Bloodborne is a feeling you can't shake off. It is the linkage of video games, like a shadow for not yet realised imagined worlds.
🏆