Neoncloudff
2020
Fast-paced and wickedly difficult, this one-hit-one-kill action game is for those seeking intense gameplay structured around clever level design and first-person platforming. While genuinely frustrating at parts, the best moments of gameplay frequently create thrilling action-movie moments that are a pleasure to conduct and control.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/12/02/now-playing-november-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/12/02/now-playing-november-2020-edition/
2020
A cinema-inspired samurai epic drenched in gorgeous art and beautiful vistas. While it’s open-world activities aren’t anything to write home about, the extremely fun combat and compelling narrative make this a fantastic entry in the open-world genre.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
2018
This stealth adventure game feels like a long-lost PS2 title. It has a beautifully realized world and locale, but its story and stealth gameplay are rather underdeveloped. It feels like a “part one” of a much bigger game which we’ll probably never get to see.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Replaying this 2020 Action RPG was an absolute delight in 2024. Hard Mode dishes up some significant challenges, letting the combat shine brightly across its host of demanding boss fights and challenging optional content. The game has also aged beautifully, from its uncompromised visual flair to the incredible soundtrack.
2024 Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/now-playing-january-2024-edition/
So much could’ve gone wrong with Remake. While it’s not perfect this amazing reimagining of a veritable gaming classic is packed with fan service, epic battles, and unbelievable moments that truly blew me away. Seeing Midgar realized so beautifully, memorable characters brought to life so authentically, and an incredible soundtrack reimagined so faithfully – Remake sets the bar incredibly high for what a remake can actually be.
More thoughts: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/now-playing-april-2020-edition/
2024 Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2024/01/31/now-playing-january-2024-edition/
So much could’ve gone wrong with Remake. While it’s not perfect this amazing reimagining of a veritable gaming classic is packed with fan service, epic battles, and unbelievable moments that truly blew me away. Seeing Midgar realized so beautifully, memorable characters brought to life so authentically, and an incredible soundtrack reimagined so faithfully – Remake sets the bar incredibly high for what a remake can actually be.
More thoughts: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/now-playing-april-2020-edition/
I never thought I would get hooked on an MMO but lo and behold – I’ve plopped a just shy of 300 hours in this huge fantasy RPG. I’ve worked through the base game and the first expansion and, at the end of 2020, I’m working through the second major expansion Stormblood. It’s an unbelievably cozy, easy-breezy game to return to day after day, and it was an incredibly important game to me, too: I played it for hours upon hours while exercising, resulting in (alongside other exercise regimens) losing nearly 35 pounds throughout 2020. Few games have had this impact on my lifestyle – FFXIV is now a treasured game in my heart.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
I never thought I would get hooked on an MMO but lo and behold – I’ve plopped a just shy of 300 hours in this huge fantasy RPG. I’ve worked through the base game and the first expansion and, at the end of 2020, I’m working through the second major expansion Stormblood. It’s an unbelievably cozy, easy-breezy game to return to day after day, and it was an incredibly important game to me, too: I played it for hours upon hours while exercising, resulting in (alongside other exercise regimens) losing nearly 35 pounds throughout 2020. Few games have had this impact on my lifestyle – FFXIV is now a treasured game in my heart.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/now-playing-august-2020-edition/
2020
An excellent puzzle platformer completely lost to the noise of 2020. Lush music, unique gameplay gimmicks, and an awesome finale make this an excellent pick for those looking for strong puzzle design.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/now-playing-october-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/now-playing-october-2020-edition/
2019
Imagine The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’s pastoral landscapes but – instead of a fantasy RPG – you’re a painter trying to help others with your gift of creating art. It’s incredibly relaxing and features no violence, a perfect game to sit back with the family and enjoy or serve as a pallet cleanser after a particularly draining day.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Avoid this monstrosity of a game at all costs. This was my “terribad” pick to play as part of a longstanding tradition with friends. Drake exemplifies everything about early 2000’s design that you’d rather pack away and forget ever happened. Clumsy, glitchy, unpolished, and often totally unfair, this is one heckuva bad game.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/now-playing-january-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/now-playing-january-2020-edition/
2020
Mercilessly violent and utterly relentless, Eternal’s combat shines as a beacon for what is possible in the FPS genre. The level design and world-building are far more cartoonish, though, resulting in an overall package with an uneven tone. I prefer DOOM 2016 overall, but the combat in the 2020 sequel is an undeniable triumph.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/now-playing-march-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/now-playing-march-2020-edition/
2017
Indie 2D survival horror game developed by Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games. Surprisingly creepy for its low-budget and has a haunting narrative to tell.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
2020
Undeniably the best game at the launch of the PS5, this brutal and faithful remake of the PS3 cult hit is stunning visually and sounds absolutely fantastic. It’s a must-own for any PS5 owner, and a ballsy launch game to lead the new generation with.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/12/31/now-playing-december-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/12/31/now-playing-december-2020-edition/
Following up any cult classic is pretty much impossible and, unfortunately, Deadly Premonition 2 is a big swing and miss. While maintaining the eccentricities of the original through purposely dense dialogue and quirky humor, the braindead gameplay and vacant open world make this sequel pretty hard to recommend – even for fans of the original.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/now-playing-july-2020-edition/
2019
A brief yet captivating platformer that feels ripped straight from the darker corners of Roald Dahl’s mind. Some truly clever puzzle design makes this worth checking out, but the adventure feels half-baked due to its abrupt ending.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/now-playing-january-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/01/30/now-playing-january-2020-edition/
2019
A solid co-op adventure that meshes Diablo dungeon crawling and Darksiders puzzle solving. While surprisingly beefy, the Nintendo Switch port is a total mess and should be avoided at all costs.
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/now-playing-september-2020-edition/
Full Review: https://neoncloudff.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/now-playing-september-2020-edition/