Nicnac
16 reviews liked by Nicnac
The Messenger
2018
Frustration, this game gave me a lot of frustration. Yet I kept playing it, because the controls felt so nice.
My thoughts:
(+ = (mostly) positive; - = (mostly) negative)
+- Gameplay;
I'm very mixed about how I experienced this game. The controls are super tight and when you get good at it you can fly though the levels. But at the same time there are parts that are so hard it feels unfair. The dark souls games never made me this salty...
The metroidvania part of this game is pretty bad. The hints are too vague to solve without using hints or a guide. Also the fast travel options are too much spread out, meaning when you're going the wrong way you've lost a lot of time while at the same time gaining a headache.
+ Music;
Nice catchy tracks that switch between 8bit and 16bit.
+ Graphics;
Same as the music, nice unique areas that switch between 8bit and 16bit.
+ Story/Characters;
Simple and funny, perfect for a game like this.
Recommend?
Idk, I'd say no but I've played worse games I'd recommend which deserve it less.
My thoughts:
(+ = (mostly) positive; - = (mostly) negative)
+- Gameplay;
I'm very mixed about how I experienced this game. The controls are super tight and when you get good at it you can fly though the levels. But at the same time there are parts that are so hard it feels unfair. The dark souls games never made me this salty...
The metroidvania part of this game is pretty bad. The hints are too vague to solve without using hints or a guide. Also the fast travel options are too much spread out, meaning when you're going the wrong way you've lost a lot of time while at the same time gaining a headache.
+ Music;
Nice catchy tracks that switch between 8bit and 16bit.
+ Graphics;
Same as the music, nice unique areas that switch between 8bit and 16bit.
+ Story/Characters;
Simple and funny, perfect for a game like this.
Recommend?
Idk, I'd say no but I've played worse games I'd recommend which deserve it less.
Silent Hill 2
2001
The atmosphere, soundtrack, and characters in this game are top-notch. Even the gameplay still feels amazing all these years later. Sure, it's hard to get used to sometimes, but it's really not 'bad'. It feels great to play, in my opinion.
It really kept me on edge, even without the fear of enemies coming to mess me up. I wasn't really scared of losing all my health or having to re-run through areas, I was just purely afraid. All the jumpscares are so natural, and the enemy placements (with the radio sounds and such) made me jump sometimes. It really is what I want in a horror game; something that can consistently scare me without using cheap jumpscares or unnecessarily loud noise. Oh, also, the 'Nightmare' segments felt so much more natural in this one. SH1's nightmare segments were so obviously different, which is fine, but in 2 they blend in so much more, which is almost more terrifying.
And the story is amazing too but I won't get into that, looking it up yourself is much more fun.
It really kept me on edge, even without the fear of enemies coming to mess me up. I wasn't really scared of losing all my health or having to re-run through areas, I was just purely afraid. All the jumpscares are so natural, and the enemy placements (with the radio sounds and such) made me jump sometimes. It really is what I want in a horror game; something that can consistently scare me without using cheap jumpscares or unnecessarily loud noise. Oh, also, the 'Nightmare' segments felt so much more natural in this one. SH1's nightmare segments were so obviously different, which is fine, but in 2 they blend in so much more, which is almost more terrifying.
And the story is amazing too but I won't get into that, looking it up yourself is much more fun.
Doom 64
2020
Not a review just taking this out of rotation for now. I enjoyed what I played of it, so atmospheric and otherworldly in a way the original Doom games weren't. Enemy variety was kind of lacking. Some of the later levels got a little too heavy with the puzzles. Last one I remember playing had a Shell Game that would spawn in enemies if I picked the wrong one, and I just started quicksaving + quickloading and I still don't think I ever picked the right one so I have to wonder what I was doing wrong. Idk just not the kinda game I want to play at the moment but I love every other Doom game so I'll definitely pick this back up at some point and give a full writeup
Devil May Cry 4
2008
if we split this game up in 2 halfs, the first half would be 5 stars and the second would be 2. both the second best and second worst game in the series at once, what a title to have lmao
the best game in its genre
Devil May Cry
2001
dmc is so bad its good without it actually being bad. the whole series (except 2 we dont talk about 2) strikes a perfect balance between corny, cool, dumb and funny as fuck (whether intentional or not) dont get me wrong this game has flaws, but i really enjoyed my time with it and thats what matters.
Don't care didn't ask plus you're Neil Druckmann
Go play a real game that came out today like Another Code Recollection instead of funding this embezzlement scheme of a game
Go play a real game that came out today like Another Code Recollection instead of funding this embezzlement scheme of a game
Remember when Naughty Dog used to make games like Jak & Daxter and Uncharted while not being held hostage by a egotistical Zionist who believes he can do no wrong and a bigger company who so desperately wants the same 7 franchises they've relied on heavily since 2017 to be cinematic video game showcases so they can easily translate them into movies and TV shows because said-company's previously existing movie/TV IPs have either underperformed or is forced to have shared custody with the Mouse™?
On a completely unrelated note the Last of Us Part II is a very nothing remaster and they're now announcing the new cast for season 2 of the show.
On a completely unrelated note the Last of Us Part II is a very nothing remaster and they're now announcing the new cast for season 2 of the show.
This review contains spoilers
A great game but I have notes...
Gameplay wise, a mostly direct improvement on the first game. There's a few things I've missed - some of the old web gadgets lack functional replacements and some of the new ones feel rather naff - but that pales to... actually being able to complete a stealth challenge without being forced into combat! What a concept!
The side content is also way more focused. You will not be spending hours post-story mopping up every inciting group's 20 crimes or whatever. Mechanically, we're looking at surge modes for both spideys which are entertainingly broken once you master them, and the web wings are fun after they're upgraded and inessential before. Some of the puzzle elements like determining chemicals etc. felt either simplified or relegated more to side quests. Your mileage might vary on whether that's good or not.
The story is... a mixed bag. The most important one is the relationships between Peter and MJ, Harry, and Miles. And they're all done justice. Peter's arc of realising his responsibility isn't just to New York but to himself and the people around him, and toxic obsession towards the former enabled by the symbiote is well realised. Harry becoming Venom is similarly a genius move: taking that same single-mindedness and warping it with an obession with Spider-Man was an excellent way to keep the conflict personal. Unfortunately there are significant pacing issues here. The story hinges on Kraven the Hunter shouldering main villain status for well over half of the game and he is - frankly - neither interesting nor credible as an ultimate enemy. The black suit simply enters the fray too late, and delays the act 3 shift with it.
Some final stray positives: The side missions are very sweet and capture the heart of Spider-Man even if they are lacking in bringing in the iconic rogues gallery, Miles continues to be a very rich and well-realised character, and when the character beats do final hit in the final act I cried several times.
Gameplay wise, a mostly direct improvement on the first game. There's a few things I've missed - some of the old web gadgets lack functional replacements and some of the new ones feel rather naff - but that pales to... actually being able to complete a stealth challenge without being forced into combat! What a concept!
The side content is also way more focused. You will not be spending hours post-story mopping up every inciting group's 20 crimes or whatever. Mechanically, we're looking at surge modes for both spideys which are entertainingly broken once you master them, and the web wings are fun after they're upgraded and inessential before. Some of the puzzle elements like determining chemicals etc. felt either simplified or relegated more to side quests. Your mileage might vary on whether that's good or not.
The story is... a mixed bag. The most important one is the relationships between Peter and MJ, Harry, and Miles. And they're all done justice. Peter's arc of realising his responsibility isn't just to New York but to himself and the people around him, and toxic obsession towards the former enabled by the symbiote is well realised. Harry becoming Venom is similarly a genius move: taking that same single-mindedness and warping it with an obession with Spider-Man was an excellent way to keep the conflict personal. Unfortunately there are significant pacing issues here. The story hinges on Kraven the Hunter shouldering main villain status for well over half of the game and he is - frankly - neither interesting nor credible as an ultimate enemy. The black suit simply enters the fray too late, and delays the act 3 shift with it.
Some final stray positives: The side missions are very sweet and capture the heart of Spider-Man even if they are lacking in bringing in the iconic rogues gallery, Miles continues to be a very rich and well-realised character, and when the character beats do final hit in the final act I cried several times.
har har har har har har har har har haaar har har har har har har har har