Nikonoim
2022
(At the time of writing, the full game has yet to come out)
One of the classics from the 90s era of shooter is the game Blood. Due to its excellent atmosphere, naturalistic level design, unforgettable main character, and overall great gunplay it managed to stand out from the rest. Cultic takes those same elements and attempts (and succeeds) to replicate and improve upon the experience originally provided by Blood.
There isn’t much more to be said, it’s a really good shooter seeped in atmosphere that takes inspiration from the right places. If you played and enjoyed Blood or are just a fan of the genre, then I highly recommend Cultic.
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
You are a detective who has dug too deep into a supposedly harmless cult, now you wake up in a pile of bodies and have to fight your way out.
It's not a story-focused game, but still, I was invested. The numerous pieces of lore scattered throughout the levels certainly helped.
𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲
It’s the standard throwback shooter formula with some additions. If you’ve played any other FPS of this genre, you will know pretty much everything there is already.
Gunplay is solid, weapons feel satisfying to use, especially since headshoting is a thing. There are also upgrades you can get for said weapons. Level design is excellent, offering natural feeling environments and a smooth transition between levels.
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬/𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞
Cultic is by no means photorealistic. It pays homage to the 90s era of gaming while still looking like something that was made in this decade. The colour pallet chosen here gives a unique aesthetic that adds a lot to the retro feel.
𝐀𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞/𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The atmosphere is perhaps the strongest point of Cultic. It's not horror, but the feeling of playing Cultic is similar. This is due to the cult theme (men in robes, ritual circles, those kinds of things) the game takes on.
With a strong atmosphere comes strong immersion. This is definitely true in this case.
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤
The soundtrack is pretty good, it has the same cultish, horror theme that permeates throughout the rest of the game. My favourite part is “Abomination”.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
No one-liners :(
One of the classics from the 90s era of shooter is the game Blood. Due to its excellent atmosphere, naturalistic level design, unforgettable main character, and overall great gunplay it managed to stand out from the rest. Cultic takes those same elements and attempts (and succeeds) to replicate and improve upon the experience originally provided by Blood.
There isn’t much more to be said, it’s a really good shooter seeped in atmosphere that takes inspiration from the right places. If you played and enjoyed Blood or are just a fan of the genre, then I highly recommend Cultic.
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
You are a detective who has dug too deep into a supposedly harmless cult, now you wake up in a pile of bodies and have to fight your way out.
It's not a story-focused game, but still, I was invested. The numerous pieces of lore scattered throughout the levels certainly helped.
𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲
It’s the standard throwback shooter formula with some additions. If you’ve played any other FPS of this genre, you will know pretty much everything there is already.
Gunplay is solid, weapons feel satisfying to use, especially since headshoting is a thing. There are also upgrades you can get for said weapons. Level design is excellent, offering natural feeling environments and a smooth transition between levels.
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬/𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞
Cultic is by no means photorealistic. It pays homage to the 90s era of gaming while still looking like something that was made in this decade. The colour pallet chosen here gives a unique aesthetic that adds a lot to the retro feel.
𝐀𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞/𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The atmosphere is perhaps the strongest point of Cultic. It's not horror, but the feeling of playing Cultic is similar. This is due to the cult theme (men in robes, ritual circles, those kinds of things) the game takes on.
With a strong atmosphere comes strong immersion. This is definitely true in this case.
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤
The soundtrack is pretty good, it has the same cultish, horror theme that permeates throughout the rest of the game. My favourite part is “Abomination”.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
No one-liners :(
2022
There are few games that while playing I thought to myself - why should I stop. I played Elden Ring the week it came out, when there was no information, no guides, no nothing, and it was some of the best single player experience I've had. The feeling of going out into this massive world, exploring and taking on the challenge that Elden Ring provides, is like nothing else. Yes, it is a hard game and there is no easy mode, but it's not soul crushingly difficult as some have described it. It is for the type of person that is willing to fail as many times as it is required to be able to overcome the challenge before them.
Story
I can't say that Elden Ring has a “good” story. In fact, if you rush straight to the end, you will have like 5 conversation by the time the credits roll.
But the lore of this world is incredible. Every item, every crevice is part of this gigantic fantasy world, that calls out to you to keep exploring more and more of it. Whether you will learn it from reading every item description or YouTube is up to you.
Mechanics and gameplay
It is Dark Souls with an open world. Honestly, the basics are pretty easy to understand - attack enemy, dodge roll when they attack. There are some things added to spice up the formula, but I can't say anyone will be left wondering what's what.
The big selling point is the open world, and I can say that From software has done a fine job. It is gigantic, I have 100+ hours and I didn't manage to explore all of it. Also, unlike many other games that have massive open worlds, Elden Ring never got boring. It constantly changes environments, so that it never feels like circling the same place.
You know how this games is supposed to be super hard, well you can circumvent most of it by just exploring. The first boss is intentionally way above your level to encourage you to back away and to become more powerful.
Graphics and artstyle
Elden Ring is absolutely gorgeous. The graphical fidelity technically isn't that good, but the incredible art design of the world and the attention to detail more than makes up for it.
There is a wide amount of color used throughout the different areas, but it always stays in that fantasy feel, so that the immersion is never broken.
Atmosphere/Immersion
In all of my time playing games that allow me to customize my character and make him myself, I have never felt as attached as I did to the character, I made in Elden Ring. The game gives you the feeling that you are a small, insignificant person, that has to carve out their own path in the world if they want to survive.
Immersion is another part that is done very well. There are no big flashy menus, quest markers or even a mini map, this allows the player to feel as if they are actually in this fantasy world.
Soundtrack
Great ost with many great songs, all of which closely follow the setting of the game, so you can expect instrumental somewhat classical in nature music. My favorite is “Roundtable Hold”.
Final Thoughts
All in on strength
Story
I can't say that Elden Ring has a “good” story. In fact, if you rush straight to the end, you will have like 5 conversation by the time the credits roll.
But the lore of this world is incredible. Every item, every crevice is part of this gigantic fantasy world, that calls out to you to keep exploring more and more of it. Whether you will learn it from reading every item description or YouTube is up to you.
Mechanics and gameplay
It is Dark Souls with an open world. Honestly, the basics are pretty easy to understand - attack enemy, dodge roll when they attack. There are some things added to spice up the formula, but I can't say anyone will be left wondering what's what.
The big selling point is the open world, and I can say that From software has done a fine job. It is gigantic, I have 100+ hours and I didn't manage to explore all of it. Also, unlike many other games that have massive open worlds, Elden Ring never got boring. It constantly changes environments, so that it never feels like circling the same place.
You know how this games is supposed to be super hard, well you can circumvent most of it by just exploring. The first boss is intentionally way above your level to encourage you to back away and to become more powerful.
Graphics and artstyle
Elden Ring is absolutely gorgeous. The graphical fidelity technically isn't that good, but the incredible art design of the world and the attention to detail more than makes up for it.
There is a wide amount of color used throughout the different areas, but it always stays in that fantasy feel, so that the immersion is never broken.
Atmosphere/Immersion
In all of my time playing games that allow me to customize my character and make him myself, I have never felt as attached as I did to the character, I made in Elden Ring. The game gives you the feeling that you are a small, insignificant person, that has to carve out their own path in the world if they want to survive.
Immersion is another part that is done very well. There are no big flashy menus, quest markers or even a mini map, this allows the player to feel as if they are actually in this fantasy world.
Soundtrack
Great ost with many great songs, all of which closely follow the setting of the game, so you can expect instrumental somewhat classical in nature music. My favorite is “Roundtable Hold”.
Final Thoughts
All in on strength
5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel does exactly what it set out to do. Making chess even more confusing. Overall, it is a fun experience, especially with friends.
Story
None.
Gameplay
Just like regular chess, expect the pieces can time travel. I can't go very deep into the mechanics since I suck at regular chess, let alone 5D chess. It has multiplayer, which is especially fun since you are both trying to outsmart each other in something both of you have no idea how to play.
Graphics and artstyle
There is nothing that needs to be said.
Atmosphere
Lower your expectations.
Soundtrack
Soundtracks alright. Nothing special.
Final Thoughts
Psychological Horror
Story
None.
Gameplay
Just like regular chess, expect the pieces can time travel. I can't go very deep into the mechanics since I suck at regular chess, let alone 5D chess. It has multiplayer, which is especially fun since you are both trying to outsmart each other in something both of you have no idea how to play.
Graphics and artstyle
There is nothing that needs to be said.
Atmosphere
Lower your expectations.
Soundtrack
Soundtracks alright. Nothing special.
Final Thoughts
Psychological Horror
2000
(I played this on Metal slug Anthology on a PS2 emulator)
Metal slug 3 is the fourth instalment in the Metal slug series, although it doesn’t differ much from the rest. Originally an arcade game that was later ported to a variety of platforms. It’s a 2D shooter/platformer, the most remarkable part of which is its artstyle. If you want to play one Metal slug, I would recommend this one, as it has the most spectacle and makes elaborate use of its fantastical elements.
Story
There is an overarching storyline in this series, but since it not in the game, I won't mention it. Only at the last level (which is like half of the game) is there a narrative and a reason for your actions other than “it’s a game”. I would say that ending left me satisfied, at least more so than the other Metal slug games.
Gameplay and mechanics
The controls are fairly simple since it is an arcade game. Movements are left or right, and you can jump or crouch. I don’t know if it’s just the emulator, but there seems to be a bit of delay. There is no free aim, as such you can only shoot in the 2 axes. Your starter pistol never runs out of ammo, but it doesn’t do much damage, especially when compared to the special weapons, that can dispatch even tougher foes with ease. Grenades are another part of your arsenal with limited usage and plenty of damage, but they do reset when you respawn. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal are the various vehicles you will come across. Survival is a key part of their effectiveness, as they can take multiple hits without dying, unlike the player character who dies to anything in one hit. After you die three time, you are given two choices – respawn at the place you died or restart the WHOLE GAME. Obviously, this was done to suck as much money as possible, back at the arcade. Nowadays, it sucks the fun out of the game. You will end up endlessly respawning and never actually get better. Compared to the previous instalment, it's mechanically the same, the only new things are more vehicles and special weapons.
Graphics and artstyle
Metal slug has always had amazing art, this is no exception. Everything is incredibly over the top and over detailed, however it always manages to convey whatever it desires without it being confusing. The fantasy or sci-fi (I am not sure) is in full force, with everything from ancient desert temples to alien spaceships.
Soundtrack and sound effects
Even with the technology of the time, the sound effects are pretty good. The constant sound of gunfire, enemies dying and something exploding never gets annoying. You have probably heard the sound for when you pick up a special weapon, even if you’ve never played a Metal slug game. The same goes for the soundtrack. It fits quite well into the game, even if it has a few parts that are similar to the ost’s of the previous instalments. The favourite part is “The midnight wandering”.
Final Thoughts
SEE YOU IN HELL!!!
Metal slug 3 is the fourth instalment in the Metal slug series, although it doesn’t differ much from the rest. Originally an arcade game that was later ported to a variety of platforms. It’s a 2D shooter/platformer, the most remarkable part of which is its artstyle. If you want to play one Metal slug, I would recommend this one, as it has the most spectacle and makes elaborate use of its fantastical elements.
Story
There is an overarching storyline in this series, but since it not in the game, I won't mention it. Only at the last level (which is like half of the game) is there a narrative and a reason for your actions other than “it’s a game”. I would say that ending left me satisfied, at least more so than the other Metal slug games.
Gameplay and mechanics
The controls are fairly simple since it is an arcade game. Movements are left or right, and you can jump or crouch. I don’t know if it’s just the emulator, but there seems to be a bit of delay. There is no free aim, as such you can only shoot in the 2 axes. Your starter pistol never runs out of ammo, but it doesn’t do much damage, especially when compared to the special weapons, that can dispatch even tougher foes with ease. Grenades are another part of your arsenal with limited usage and plenty of damage, but they do reset when you respawn. The most powerful tool you have at your disposal are the various vehicles you will come across. Survival is a key part of their effectiveness, as they can take multiple hits without dying, unlike the player character who dies to anything in one hit. After you die three time, you are given two choices – respawn at the place you died or restart the WHOLE GAME. Obviously, this was done to suck as much money as possible, back at the arcade. Nowadays, it sucks the fun out of the game. You will end up endlessly respawning and never actually get better. Compared to the previous instalment, it's mechanically the same, the only new things are more vehicles and special weapons.
Graphics and artstyle
Metal slug has always had amazing art, this is no exception. Everything is incredibly over the top and over detailed, however it always manages to convey whatever it desires without it being confusing. The fantasy or sci-fi (I am not sure) is in full force, with everything from ancient desert temples to alien spaceships.
Soundtrack and sound effects
Even with the technology of the time, the sound effects are pretty good. The constant sound of gunfire, enemies dying and something exploding never gets annoying. You have probably heard the sound for when you pick up a special weapon, even if you’ve never played a Metal slug game. The same goes for the soundtrack. It fits quite well into the game, even if it has a few parts that are similar to the ost’s of the previous instalments. The favourite part is “The midnight wandering”.
Final Thoughts
SEE YOU IN HELL!!!
2002
Metal slug 4 is the fifth game instalment in the Metal slug series, and no, you don’t have to play any of the previous ones. At its core, the series is a 2D run-and-gun shooter, that has a more humorous approach to the military shooter genre. Metal slug 4 is more of the same. It neither has any innovation nor changes anything to the formula. While that would be fine for anyone who really enjoyed the previous titles, personally I was starting to get a bit bored, thus the lower rating.
Story
There is no story in the game. I don’t count anything that is outside the actual game. However, all the characters, enemies and allies, have a lot of personality simply due to their animations.
Mechanics and gameplay
If you have ever played any 2D game before, you will easily get the hang of the controls. It should be noted that auto fire is turned off by default. I was able to enable it in the settings.
You always start with the standard pistol and a few grenades. Thought the level, there are special weapons that are much more effective, although they have limited ammo. The most powerful weapons are the various vehicles. They are not only able to dispatch foes much faster, but they can also take damage.
Yeah, in Metal Slug if you get hit you die and one of your 3 lives gets used up. Since this was originally an arcade game, where higher difficulty meant more money, Metal Slug pulls no punches. There is however salvation, when your 3 lives are up you get the option to completely trivialize the game and just respawn at no cost.
I am a bit disappointed in the enemy and level variety. The last game had aliens, ancient ruins and while this focused more on robots, there wasn’t anything that grabbed my attention.
Graphics and artstyle
The artstyle is as always incredible. I believe all the sprites are hand drawn, which explains why they are so vibrant and full of life. Metal slug is the kind of series that manages to put more character in a low-level grunt, than most AAA games have in their protagonist.
Atmosphere
It’s an arcade game, so there is hardly any immersion.
Soundtrack and sound effects
SFX are great. You will always know when something dies.
The soundtrack is phenomenal. If there is one thing that you should take away from this review is that you should listen to the Metal slug 4 ost, in fact listen to all of them. Favourite part is “Secret place [stage 6]”.
Final Thoughts
Yes, I am a Marco main. How could you tell?
Story
There is no story in the game. I don’t count anything that is outside the actual game. However, all the characters, enemies and allies, have a lot of personality simply due to their animations.
Mechanics and gameplay
If you have ever played any 2D game before, you will easily get the hang of the controls. It should be noted that auto fire is turned off by default. I was able to enable it in the settings.
You always start with the standard pistol and a few grenades. Thought the level, there are special weapons that are much more effective, although they have limited ammo. The most powerful weapons are the various vehicles. They are not only able to dispatch foes much faster, but they can also take damage.
Yeah, in Metal Slug if you get hit you die and one of your 3 lives gets used up. Since this was originally an arcade game, where higher difficulty meant more money, Metal Slug pulls no punches. There is however salvation, when your 3 lives are up you get the option to completely trivialize the game and just respawn at no cost.
I am a bit disappointed in the enemy and level variety. The last game had aliens, ancient ruins and while this focused more on robots, there wasn’t anything that grabbed my attention.
Graphics and artstyle
The artstyle is as always incredible. I believe all the sprites are hand drawn, which explains why they are so vibrant and full of life. Metal slug is the kind of series that manages to put more character in a low-level grunt, than most AAA games have in their protagonist.
Atmosphere
It’s an arcade game, so there is hardly any immersion.
Soundtrack and sound effects
SFX are great. You will always know when something dies.
The soundtrack is phenomenal. If there is one thing that you should take away from this review is that you should listen to the Metal slug 4 ost, in fact listen to all of them. Favourite part is “Secret place [stage 6]”.
Final Thoughts
Yes, I am a Marco main. How could you tell?
2010
Regarded as one of the best RPGs ever made, Fallout: New Vegas is the pinnacle of the Fallout series and is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants to play an RPG or just a good game in general. I played for a good amount of time, exploring as much as I could, doing all the DLCs, finishing the final quest, and I was left completely satisfied. It's overall a great combination of a lot of well executed mechanics and damn good writing. The only reason why you wouldn't play it is if you can't handle outdated graphics, but that's on you.
Story
It’s set in a post-apocalyptic New Vegas and the surrounding Mojave Desert. The world of FNV is fascinating. There are so many locations which just upon seeing them made me start to wonder what their story is, and how do they tie in to the rest of the world? FNV provided the answers (most of the time), thus I was even more engaged.
You play as a courier (fancy name for a mail man), who got shot in the head, lost all memories and now can change the world. As I said, the writing is exceptional, the main quest is well-made with plenty of choices the player can make to have their faction of choice be the victor. Of course, there is never a perfect ending, and there isn’t one faction that can bring perfect harmony. The player has to decide which is best.
I also like how the ending was an actual ending and not just dropping you straight back into the world as if nothing happened.
Mechanics and gameplay
It's a first person RPG. Obviously there are levels, skills and so on. They are well implemented, as I never felt that an enemy was incredibly powerful just because of their high level.
The combat was okay. There is plenty of variety in weapons and ways to kill enemies, but it never goes that in depth, so I can't praise it too much. In a pure FPS, this would be disappointing, but as this is an RPG, it gets a pass from me.
The map isn't that big compared to its rivals, however It's filled with so many interesting locations that I found myself stopping to explore them very often. Due to this, traversing the entire map took much longer than I expected.
Also, there are four additional DLCs that are all superb.
Graphics and artstyle
Even at the time the game was released, its graphics were hardly top of the line. As such, you can imagine that today in terms of graphical quality, FNV is quite poor. Personally, it didn't affect me that much, but anyone who is used to today's quality will be put off.
Atmosphere/Immersion
In terms of immersion, I would say it was not perfect, but still pretty good. I for some reason couldn't shake the occasional feeling that this is just a game, although that could just be me.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is mostly dark ambiance. There are different soundtracks for different places, but to me, they all sound the same, so I never paid that much attention. That is, expected for when there is radio playing, as there are so real bangers that Mr Vegas puts on. My favourite part of the ost, excluding the ones not made for the game, is “The Courier Walks Softly”.
Final Thoughts
Is it Caesar or Caesar?
Story
It’s set in a post-apocalyptic New Vegas and the surrounding Mojave Desert. The world of FNV is fascinating. There are so many locations which just upon seeing them made me start to wonder what their story is, and how do they tie in to the rest of the world? FNV provided the answers (most of the time), thus I was even more engaged.
You play as a courier (fancy name for a mail man), who got shot in the head, lost all memories and now can change the world. As I said, the writing is exceptional, the main quest is well-made with plenty of choices the player can make to have their faction of choice be the victor. Of course, there is never a perfect ending, and there isn’t one faction that can bring perfect harmony. The player has to decide which is best.
I also like how the ending was an actual ending and not just dropping you straight back into the world as if nothing happened.
Mechanics and gameplay
It's a first person RPG. Obviously there are levels, skills and so on. They are well implemented, as I never felt that an enemy was incredibly powerful just because of their high level.
The combat was okay. There is plenty of variety in weapons and ways to kill enemies, but it never goes that in depth, so I can't praise it too much. In a pure FPS, this would be disappointing, but as this is an RPG, it gets a pass from me.
The map isn't that big compared to its rivals, however It's filled with so many interesting locations that I found myself stopping to explore them very often. Due to this, traversing the entire map took much longer than I expected.
Also, there are four additional DLCs that are all superb.
Graphics and artstyle
Even at the time the game was released, its graphics were hardly top of the line. As such, you can imagine that today in terms of graphical quality, FNV is quite poor. Personally, it didn't affect me that much, but anyone who is used to today's quality will be put off.
Atmosphere/Immersion
In terms of immersion, I would say it was not perfect, but still pretty good. I for some reason couldn't shake the occasional feeling that this is just a game, although that could just be me.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is mostly dark ambiance. There are different soundtracks for different places, but to me, they all sound the same, so I never paid that much attention. That is, expected for when there is radio playing, as there are so real bangers that Mr Vegas puts on. My favourite part of the ost, excluding the ones not made for the game, is “The Courier Walks Softly”.
Final Thoughts
Is it Caesar or Caesar?
2006
(I played this on Metal Slug Anthology on a PS2 emulator)
Metal Slug 6 is the, probably, seventh instalment in the Metal Slug franchise. Playing the previous ones in not required. They are 2D run-and-gun arcade games that boast an impressive artstyle and well there is a good chance you’ve read this already, so I wont waste any more of your time. Except for the new levels and weapons there isn’t anything new. I should mention it is of slightly lower quality.
Story
Nothing. Actually, there is some storytelling, but it’s the practically just to connect the levels.
Mechanics and gameplay
I lied there is something. Now there is a meter that fills up every time you deal damage. What does it do? It just gives you more points.
If you want any more information about the gameplay, read any of my reviews on the other instalments. I am not rewriting it again.
Graphics and artstyle
The artstyle is of lower quality than expected from this series. It feels a bit cheap honestly.
Soundtrack and sound effects
They are good, but since the rest of the game didn’t make an impression neither did they.
Final Thoughts
HEAVY MACHINEGUN!!!
Metal Slug 6 is the, probably, seventh instalment in the Metal Slug franchise. Playing the previous ones in not required. They are 2D run-and-gun arcade games that boast an impressive artstyle and well there is a good chance you’ve read this already, so I wont waste any more of your time. Except for the new levels and weapons there isn’t anything new. I should mention it is of slightly lower quality.
Story
Nothing. Actually, there is some storytelling, but it’s the practically just to connect the levels.
Mechanics and gameplay
I lied there is something. Now there is a meter that fills up every time you deal damage. What does it do? It just gives you more points.
If you want any more information about the gameplay, read any of my reviews on the other instalments. I am not rewriting it again.
Graphics and artstyle
The artstyle is of lower quality than expected from this series. It feels a bit cheap honestly.
Soundtrack and sound effects
They are good, but since the rest of the game didn’t make an impression neither did they.
Final Thoughts
HEAVY MACHINEGUN!!!
2018
Kenshi is a janky, clunky and ugly RPG that, for all of its flaws, I still think is one of the best open-ended RPGs I've played. It doesn’t have a storyline to follow, you just get dropped in and have to figure out the rest by yourself. This can make for a difficult early game in the beginning, until you understand how the different mechanic’s work. Due to this, I can’t recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and stress-free gameplay experience, nor can I recommend it for an expansive storyline. Kenshi is, for me at least, the definitive make your own story type game. The possibilities are many, and this goes for replayability as well. Many will bounce off Kenshi for the problems mentioned above, but those who aren’t bothered by it will find a truly amazing game.
Story
The world of Kenshi does the heavy lifting, as there is no main narrative to follow. It’s set in the post-apocalypse; however, the apocalypse was very apocalyptic, and it happened very far in the past. Technologically, it’s a weird mix of medieval era and modern day. Like, the most effective ranged weapon is a crossbow, but there are also fully functional autonomous robots. There are also remnants of the old world, like long abandoned ruins or a space lase that randomly fire down to Earth.
That’s one of the four races. The others are: humans obviously, Sheks like humans but more stupid and brutish, and the Hive who are bugmen that make for great manual labour. In addition, there are also many factions, all of which have their own relationships with one another and their own rules. Like the Holy Nation will kill you on site if you have any mechanical part.
As I said it’s a make your own story, the game helps with this by being so cruel, you can’t help but bond with your characters and the suffering they are being put through.
Mechanics and gameplay
It's an RPG, and it has all the elements you would expect. There is combat, base building, skills, and so on. I don’t want to spend the next 10 paragraphs describing all the mechanics, so instead I will give a short summary of one of my playthroughs.
My journey began with my two characters already enslaved by the Holy Nation and working in the Mines. Their names were Eon and Shem. My immediate goal was to obviously escape, and for that Shem was the promising one. He was faster and stealthier. So, one fateful night, I plotted my escape. While the guards were sleeping, Shem would unlock his cage and knock one of them out, take their armour and disguise himself. Everything was going well, until a guard walked in while Shem was stripping the downed guard. Shem was promptly beaten up and put on the cross, he lost an arm. Eon was in the same building while this was taking place, and he managed to escape.
The next few days were spent in hiding, avoiding anything and everything. Eventually, Eon travelled beyond the borders of the Holy Nation. There he made new companions, started a base, smuggled drugs and made a lot of money in the process. During that time, he was also training, he didn’t forget Shem’s sacrifice, and he wouldn’t leave him a slave.
He gathered his strongest warriors and led them through the Holy Nation undetected until they reached the Mines. A great battle took place, Eon’s warriors were strong and their weapons powerful, but the Holy Nation had numbers. Eon underestimated his foe, but he could buy time, just enough for Shem to limp to safety. After the dust settled most of the warriors were dead or met an even worse fate, Eon was back in his chains, and Shem brought himself back to Eon’s base. He would return the favour.
The cycle will continue.
Graphics/Artstyle
This won’t win any awards for good graphics. If one were to zoom in far enough, the difference between Kenshi and an asset rip on Steam wouldn’t be that big. There are mods to improve it, but I find it oddly fitting.
It's an ugly world, can’t have it looking pretty.
Atmosphere/Immersion
I find Kenshi very immersive. Throughout my playthrough I got very attached to my characters, more so than other games, even though they had no actual personality. I believe this is due to the cruel and unforgiving nature of Kenshi, that gives a sense of realism and validity to the trials and tribulations that the players characters experience.
In fact, this can be applied to the whole game. The world is interesting because it doesn’t care about you, the player is just another small part of it. Thus, it feels more real, almost like it could actually exist.
Soundtrack
It’s a nice tribal-like ost that leans into the desert part of the game. My biggest problem with it is that it plays very rarely. My favourite part is “Scorching Wind”.
Final Thoughts
40 km/h seems like a reasonable pace for someone to be travelling for multiple days, without rest, sustaining themselves entirely on 3 loaves of bread. Right?
Story
The world of Kenshi does the heavy lifting, as there is no main narrative to follow. It’s set in the post-apocalypse; however, the apocalypse was very apocalyptic, and it happened very far in the past. Technologically, it’s a weird mix of medieval era and modern day. Like, the most effective ranged weapon is a crossbow, but there are also fully functional autonomous robots. There are also remnants of the old world, like long abandoned ruins or a space lase that randomly fire down to Earth.
That’s one of the four races. The others are: humans obviously, Sheks like humans but more stupid and brutish, and the Hive who are bugmen that make for great manual labour. In addition, there are also many factions, all of which have their own relationships with one another and their own rules. Like the Holy Nation will kill you on site if you have any mechanical part.
As I said it’s a make your own story, the game helps with this by being so cruel, you can’t help but bond with your characters and the suffering they are being put through.
Mechanics and gameplay
It's an RPG, and it has all the elements you would expect. There is combat, base building, skills, and so on. I don’t want to spend the next 10 paragraphs describing all the mechanics, so instead I will give a short summary of one of my playthroughs.
My journey began with my two characters already enslaved by the Holy Nation and working in the Mines. Their names were Eon and Shem. My immediate goal was to obviously escape, and for that Shem was the promising one. He was faster and stealthier. So, one fateful night, I plotted my escape. While the guards were sleeping, Shem would unlock his cage and knock one of them out, take their armour and disguise himself. Everything was going well, until a guard walked in while Shem was stripping the downed guard. Shem was promptly beaten up and put on the cross, he lost an arm. Eon was in the same building while this was taking place, and he managed to escape.
The next few days were spent in hiding, avoiding anything and everything. Eventually, Eon travelled beyond the borders of the Holy Nation. There he made new companions, started a base, smuggled drugs and made a lot of money in the process. During that time, he was also training, he didn’t forget Shem’s sacrifice, and he wouldn’t leave him a slave.
He gathered his strongest warriors and led them through the Holy Nation undetected until they reached the Mines. A great battle took place, Eon’s warriors were strong and their weapons powerful, but the Holy Nation had numbers. Eon underestimated his foe, but he could buy time, just enough for Shem to limp to safety. After the dust settled most of the warriors were dead or met an even worse fate, Eon was back in his chains, and Shem brought himself back to Eon’s base. He would return the favour.
The cycle will continue.
Graphics/Artstyle
This won’t win any awards for good graphics. If one were to zoom in far enough, the difference between Kenshi and an asset rip on Steam wouldn’t be that big. There are mods to improve it, but I find it oddly fitting.
It's an ugly world, can’t have it looking pretty.
Atmosphere/Immersion
I find Kenshi very immersive. Throughout my playthrough I got very attached to my characters, more so than other games, even though they had no actual personality. I believe this is due to the cruel and unforgiving nature of Kenshi, that gives a sense of realism and validity to the trials and tribulations that the players characters experience.
In fact, this can be applied to the whole game. The world is interesting because it doesn’t care about you, the player is just another small part of it. Thus, it feels more real, almost like it could actually exist.
Soundtrack
It’s a nice tribal-like ost that leans into the desert part of the game. My biggest problem with it is that it plays very rarely. My favourite part is “Scorching Wind”.
Final Thoughts
40 km/h seems like a reasonable pace for someone to be travelling for multiple days, without rest, sustaining themselves entirely on 3 loaves of bread. Right?
(Takes around 3 hours to complete)
AC 4 has the least amount of content and the shortest completion time out of all main titles of the franchise, except for the first two, but it makes up for it with one of the best stories I've seen in a video game.
Story
Don't play this game if you expect a typical Call of Duty-esque storyline. It is split into two parts – the gameplay and the cutscenes. During the gameplay, you play as Mobius 1 – an elite pilot for the ISAF, which is currently at war with Erusea. You take part in dangerous operations and by the end of the game you are called by most a hero. The cutscenes are a narration of a man's childhood during the war, told through beautiful hand drawn panels. His family had been killed by a crashing plane, shot down by an enemy pilot. After Erusian forces occupy his town, he meets that enemy pilot – Yellow 13. Between them, a very interesting dynamic develops – Yellow killed his family and is part of the enemy, but there is no one else who he can rely on. Eventually, this leads to Yellow turning into a sort of surrogate father for the kid. During the cutscenes, Mobius 1 serves the role of an antagonist, as there is no one else who can match Yellow in skill.
Gameplay
It has the standard for the series of arcade flight mechanics. Unfortunately, there is a low number of aircraft, and you can't change the SP weapons like in the later games. It has great mission pacing with one of the best final levels in the franchise. One criticism I can bring up is the lack of checkpoints. This becomes especially apparent in some 20+ minute long missions.
Graphics and artstyle
The cutscenes are all hand drawn and as such they have aged very well. The same can't be said for the gameplay part. Just don't look at the ground too hard and you will be fine.
Atmosphere
The cutscenes are melancholic and nostalgic, while the gameplay makes you feel like a hero who can get the job done, not matter the odds.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is good and fits pretty well. “Megalith Agnus Dei” stands out as the best for me.
Final Thoughts
“Stand back I am about to Mob” - Mobius 1
AC 4 has the least amount of content and the shortest completion time out of all main titles of the franchise, except for the first two, but it makes up for it with one of the best stories I've seen in a video game.
Story
Don't play this game if you expect a typical Call of Duty-esque storyline. It is split into two parts – the gameplay and the cutscenes. During the gameplay, you play as Mobius 1 – an elite pilot for the ISAF, which is currently at war with Erusea. You take part in dangerous operations and by the end of the game you are called by most a hero. The cutscenes are a narration of a man's childhood during the war, told through beautiful hand drawn panels. His family had been killed by a crashing plane, shot down by an enemy pilot. After Erusian forces occupy his town, he meets that enemy pilot – Yellow 13. Between them, a very interesting dynamic develops – Yellow killed his family and is part of the enemy, but there is no one else who he can rely on. Eventually, this leads to Yellow turning into a sort of surrogate father for the kid. During the cutscenes, Mobius 1 serves the role of an antagonist, as there is no one else who can match Yellow in skill.
Gameplay
It has the standard for the series of arcade flight mechanics. Unfortunately, there is a low number of aircraft, and you can't change the SP weapons like in the later games. It has great mission pacing with one of the best final levels in the franchise. One criticism I can bring up is the lack of checkpoints. This becomes especially apparent in some 20+ minute long missions.
Graphics and artstyle
The cutscenes are all hand drawn and as such they have aged very well. The same can't be said for the gameplay part. Just don't look at the ground too hard and you will be fine.
Atmosphere
The cutscenes are melancholic and nostalgic, while the gameplay makes you feel like a hero who can get the job done, not matter the odds.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is good and fits pretty well. “Megalith Agnus Dei” stands out as the best for me.
Final Thoughts
“Stand back I am about to Mob” - Mobius 1
1996
This is the first fully 3D FPS game and one of the three giants from the golden age of id Software. So, does it hold up 30 years later? Well, no, not really. These days there are numerous better games to play that tell a grander story, have a more intricately designed gameplay and look better. However, there is something about quake, perhaps it's primitive nature or the low poly look, that still makes it entertaining to play. Like a trek through a bygone era. If you ever want to experience what was once the peak of PC gaming and a turning point for the FPS genre, play Quake.
Story
There isn't much of a story in Quake, in fact the only part that can be called a “story” is the few lines of text at the end of each chapter. That is to be expected of that era. Fitting an engaging story into an already graphically complex game would have been too much for computers of that time.
Gameplay
The gameplay holds up enough to still be engaging. Weapons are all the usual ones you will find in these kinds of games. I do have criticism for the guns – some of them become immediately redundant when you pick up their “super” variant. The enemies are a much better part, with plenty of variety in design and the ways they attack the player. Unfortunately facing off against hordes of monsters was simply too taxing for the time so for the most part you will be facing off against a maximum of 7 enemies at once. Also, just so we're clear, I hate the spawn. They are the worst, most annoying enemy in the game. Even the few times you meet them are too many. Level design is okay, though.
Graphics and artstyle
Simple low-poly graphics are what this game is all about.
Atmosphere
Oppressive.
Dreadful.
No matter where you go everything is unnatural, misshaped, dreamlike or rather – nightmare-like. And whatever you are going to see there is perhaps best left unseen.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is dark ambiance by Nine-Inch Nails, and it fits perfectly with Quake.
Final Thoughts
It is surprising how such an old game, that is technically not even horror, manages to capture the essence of Lovecraft better than most modern titles.
Story
There isn't much of a story in Quake, in fact the only part that can be called a “story” is the few lines of text at the end of each chapter. That is to be expected of that era. Fitting an engaging story into an already graphically complex game would have been too much for computers of that time.
Gameplay
The gameplay holds up enough to still be engaging. Weapons are all the usual ones you will find in these kinds of games. I do have criticism for the guns – some of them become immediately redundant when you pick up their “super” variant. The enemies are a much better part, with plenty of variety in design and the ways they attack the player. Unfortunately facing off against hordes of monsters was simply too taxing for the time so for the most part you will be facing off against a maximum of 7 enemies at once. Also, just so we're clear, I hate the spawn. They are the worst, most annoying enemy in the game. Even the few times you meet them are too many. Level design is okay, though.
Graphics and artstyle
Simple low-poly graphics are what this game is all about.
Atmosphere
Oppressive.
Dreadful.
No matter where you go everything is unnatural, misshaped, dreamlike or rather – nightmare-like. And whatever you are going to see there is perhaps best left unseen.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is dark ambiance by Nine-Inch Nails, and it fits perfectly with Quake.
Final Thoughts
It is surprising how such an old game, that is technically not even horror, manages to capture the essence of Lovecraft better than most modern titles.
2003
(I played this on Metal Slug Anthology on a PS2 emulator)
Metal Slug 5 is the sixth main line instalment in the Metal slug series. Playing any of the previous games is not required. The Metal slug series are 2D run-and-gun arcade games that ran boast an impressive artstyle. Metal slug is no different. In fact, throughout its lifecycle Metal Slug has stayed mostly the same, the only difference between games are levels, sometimes weapons and vehicles. Now that’s not a bad thing per se, but if you are like me and were hoping for something different after 5 games, then you will be disappointed.
Story
There is no storyline. I don’t count anything outside the actual game. However, the way characters are animated gives them quite a lot of personality.
Mechanics and gameplay
Metal Slug 5 has fairly standard 2D controls. If you’ve played any other game of this genre, then you will have no problem getting used to the controls. There is one mechanic that you won’t find in the previous entries – sliding. In every level you start off with a week pistol, there are more powerful weapons scattered throughout the level, but they have limited ammo. There are also vehicles you can find. They are much more deadly, but their biggest advantage is being able to take damage.
That’s right, if you take any damage, you die. At least you get 3 lives, however after that you have to restart not just the level, but the whole game. There is another option – just to respawn with 3 more live where you died, no progress lost. I am guessing that since this was an arcade game, that was their way to suck out more money. Also, yes, the game is really hard.
Level and enemy variety is great. There are some foes from the previous title, that have been reused, but overall, I never felt like I was playing though the same area.
Graphics and artstyle
Metal slug is a standout series that has always managed to deliver an incredible artstyle. Background, explosions, bosses – everything is well animated and detailed.
Atmosphere
Due to it being an arcade and not taking itself seriously, there is hardly any atmosphere.
Soundtrack and sound effects
SFX are great, every important event (enemy dying) has a sound (scream).
Music is another thing that metal slug always gets right. Favourite part is “RUINS EXCAVATION”.
Final Thoughts
OKAY!!!
Metal Slug 5 is the sixth main line instalment in the Metal slug series. Playing any of the previous games is not required. The Metal slug series are 2D run-and-gun arcade games that ran boast an impressive artstyle. Metal slug is no different. In fact, throughout its lifecycle Metal Slug has stayed mostly the same, the only difference between games are levels, sometimes weapons and vehicles. Now that’s not a bad thing per se, but if you are like me and were hoping for something different after 5 games, then you will be disappointed.
Story
There is no storyline. I don’t count anything outside the actual game. However, the way characters are animated gives them quite a lot of personality.
Mechanics and gameplay
Metal Slug 5 has fairly standard 2D controls. If you’ve played any other game of this genre, then you will have no problem getting used to the controls. There is one mechanic that you won’t find in the previous entries – sliding. In every level you start off with a week pistol, there are more powerful weapons scattered throughout the level, but they have limited ammo. There are also vehicles you can find. They are much more deadly, but their biggest advantage is being able to take damage.
That’s right, if you take any damage, you die. At least you get 3 lives, however after that you have to restart not just the level, but the whole game. There is another option – just to respawn with 3 more live where you died, no progress lost. I am guessing that since this was an arcade game, that was their way to suck out more money. Also, yes, the game is really hard.
Level and enemy variety is great. There are some foes from the previous title, that have been reused, but overall, I never felt like I was playing though the same area.
Graphics and artstyle
Metal slug is a standout series that has always managed to deliver an incredible artstyle. Background, explosions, bosses – everything is well animated and detailed.
Atmosphere
Due to it being an arcade and not taking itself seriously, there is hardly any atmosphere.
Soundtrack and sound effects
SFX are great, every important event (enemy dying) has a sound (scream).
Music is another thing that metal slug always gets right. Favourite part is “RUINS EXCAVATION”.
Final Thoughts
OKAY!!!
(Takes around 6 - 8 hours to complete, depending on how good you are)
This is probably the best detective game out there. With an amazing artstyle, good story and an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop, it is a game you should definitely pick up.
Story
You are an insurance investigator tasked with finding out what happened to the crew of the ship Obra Dinn, with the help of a magic watch that shows the last moments of someone's life. Because of this, you play the role of an observer looking at all the trials and tribulations that the ship went through. They are told to you in a non-linear manner, oftentimes you will see the end of a chapter before the beginning. This might seem confusing, but due to this being a detective game, you will always be paying close attention to whatever is happening.
Gameplay
The gameplay consists mainly of figuring out the fates of the crew (what was their name, how did they die). This is done perfectly with almost no hand holding, allowing you to fail endlessly. It might seem like this would just end with frustration; however, the game gives you enough clues to figure out the fate of everyone. Also, the “Aha” feeling of finally figuring out the fate of someone, through a series of deduction and exemption, is unmatched by anything.
Graphics
Don't be put off by its black and white aesthetic, this is a very beautiful game. Paying homage to older video games while also looking like it was made in this decade is pulled off perfectly here. Never was I confused or missed something because it was in the shadows. Also, great sound effects and voice acting.
Soundtrack
Nice classical music that fits with the aesthetic of the rest of the game. Favourite part is "Soldiers of the sea".
Final Thoughts
Some of the most entertaining 8 hours of my life. Lucas Pope can make games like this one until the end of time, and I will be there to play every one of them.
This is probably the best detective game out there. With an amazing artstyle, good story and an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop, it is a game you should definitely pick up.
Story
You are an insurance investigator tasked with finding out what happened to the crew of the ship Obra Dinn, with the help of a magic watch that shows the last moments of someone's life. Because of this, you play the role of an observer looking at all the trials and tribulations that the ship went through. They are told to you in a non-linear manner, oftentimes you will see the end of a chapter before the beginning. This might seem confusing, but due to this being a detective game, you will always be paying close attention to whatever is happening.
Gameplay
The gameplay consists mainly of figuring out the fates of the crew (what was their name, how did they die). This is done perfectly with almost no hand holding, allowing you to fail endlessly. It might seem like this would just end with frustration; however, the game gives you enough clues to figure out the fate of everyone. Also, the “Aha” feeling of finally figuring out the fate of someone, through a series of deduction and exemption, is unmatched by anything.
Graphics
Don't be put off by its black and white aesthetic, this is a very beautiful game. Paying homage to older video games while also looking like it was made in this decade is pulled off perfectly here. Never was I confused or missed something because it was in the shadows. Also, great sound effects and voice acting.
Soundtrack
Nice classical music that fits with the aesthetic of the rest of the game. Favourite part is "Soldiers of the sea".
Final Thoughts
Some of the most entertaining 8 hours of my life. Lucas Pope can make games like this one until the end of time, and I will be there to play every one of them.
2015
I picked this game up many years ago and have played it on and off. It was the first big RPG that I played, so I can’t that harsh on it. However, after playing Fallout: New Vegas, I understand the feeling that Fallout 4 was a downgrade. There are other games that do what Fallout 4 better, but if you do want to be able to sink 100+ hours without getting to the endgame with a post-apocalyptic setting, then this is a good option. Also, there are a gigantic number of mods.
Story
The world of Fallout spans many games, so the lore goes fairly deep. Fallout 4 does manage to be a good introduction and doesn’t throw too many things at once.
You play as a regular citizen in the USA who just found out that the whole country is about to be nuked, so you take your partner and kid and get cryogenically frozen in a vault. After an unknown amount of time, you wake up just to watch your partner get killed and your child taken, before going to sleep. After waking up again, you decide must find your son, and also go on many wacky adventures while you are at it.
Can’t say it’s the worst story ever, but personally I was never that engaged. That’s why I never finished the game. I just did side quest and explored until I ran out of steam.
Mechanics and gameplay
You can shoot, loot, build, talk – after all it’s a Bethesda RPG.
It’s all fine. But I have a problem – it’s just okay. Looking back to my play thoughts, I can’t recall anything that stuck out as very noteworthy. It all kind of blends in together. I think that’s the main reason as to why I always just stopped playing, even when I was close to the end. Fallout 4 is a game is trying to do a lot at once, so don’t expect everything to be up to the level of games that focus on a specific mechanic.
Graphics and artstyle
The graphics are okay. It's neither very pretty nor ugly. I do believe that the colour palate could have been better. A lot of places can seem similar at a glance.
The atom punk aesthetic has been heavily leaned in, which I think is a good thing. It's one of the more recognizable part of the game.
Atmosphere/Immersion
The number of quality-of-life features, like fast travel, quest markers and more, means immersing yourself into the world is much harder, as the game is constantly reminding you that it’s a game.
Soundtrack
I never listened to the ost, so I can’t say anything about it. I have heard that the radio is pretty good, so I recommend giving it a try while playing.
Final Thoughts
Vault-Tec did nothing wrong.
Story
The world of Fallout spans many games, so the lore goes fairly deep. Fallout 4 does manage to be a good introduction and doesn’t throw too many things at once.
You play as a regular citizen in the USA who just found out that the whole country is about to be nuked, so you take your partner and kid and get cryogenically frozen in a vault. After an unknown amount of time, you wake up just to watch your partner get killed and your child taken, before going to sleep. After waking up again, you decide must find your son, and also go on many wacky adventures while you are at it.
Can’t say it’s the worst story ever, but personally I was never that engaged. That’s why I never finished the game. I just did side quest and explored until I ran out of steam.
Mechanics and gameplay
You can shoot, loot, build, talk – after all it’s a Bethesda RPG.
It’s all fine. But I have a problem – it’s just okay. Looking back to my play thoughts, I can’t recall anything that stuck out as very noteworthy. It all kind of blends in together. I think that’s the main reason as to why I always just stopped playing, even when I was close to the end. Fallout 4 is a game is trying to do a lot at once, so don’t expect everything to be up to the level of games that focus on a specific mechanic.
Graphics and artstyle
The graphics are okay. It's neither very pretty nor ugly. I do believe that the colour palate could have been better. A lot of places can seem similar at a glance.
The atom punk aesthetic has been heavily leaned in, which I think is a good thing. It's one of the more recognizable part of the game.
Atmosphere/Immersion
The number of quality-of-life features, like fast travel, quest markers and more, means immersing yourself into the world is much harder, as the game is constantly reminding you that it’s a game.
Soundtrack
I never listened to the ost, so I can’t say anything about it. I have heard that the radio is pretty good, so I recommend giving it a try while playing.
Final Thoughts
Vault-Tec did nothing wrong.
There has been much written about this game, especially in the past few years. This is for a good reason; it is genuinely an incredibly fun experience. I played it a year ago, and yet I still think about it every so often. It’s nothing like the other Metal Gear games, which emphasize stealth and tactic, while MGR:R is all break neck action and set pieces. They do provide so context to the story, but I personally didn’t find it confusing even without it. I would highly recommend it if you want fast action or just overall a fun time.
Story
In the near future, you (a cyborg ninja named Raiden) discover a secret plot to start another war in the Middle East, so that more money could be funnelled to autonomous war robots, thus you go rouge from your mercenary company to stop them. During your journey, you will fight gigantic twelve story tall robots, cyborgs like you, and the senator of Colorado. (Guess which one is the strongest)
Don’t get this game if you want a serious storyline. However, it does take itself seriously, which can make for some absolutely hilarious moments. Like the famous: “Memes, the DNA of the soul.”. Due to this, every character has a very memorable personality and their interactions are always engaging.
Some may call it anime-like, but I prefer to say that it’s made to be as hype as possible. It does away with any realism and has a moment that would make you say “Wait, why couldn’t I do that before”, if you weren’t already engrossed in its absurdness.
Reading into the dialogue, does reveal that there are some thought-provoking messages. Every character has their own motivation for why they fight. Understanding them is what elevates MGR:R to more than just fast action and crazy cutscenes. In fact, for me this makes the battles even more hype, as it turns them into clashes of motivation.
Gameplay
Contrary to its predecessors, MGR:R is a hack and slash game. Even for a newcomer to this genre, it isn't that difficult. Most of the time you be fighting enemies at close range, trying to hit as many combos as possible, only interrupting to block any attack being thrown at you. When an enemy gets too low health, you can enable blade mode to cut them into as many pieces as possible. And I do mean that literary, I almost crashed my game once. Doing so allows you to heal to max health. This in turn makes retreating pointless, as you need just one enemy to top up.
While there are combos, there is no style meter. The only thing resembling it is a rating at the end of each stage which takes into account kills, time, combo etc.
My favourite part of the game is definitely the boss battles. Each one is a test of a certain skill, culminating in the last one that test everything you’ve learned. They have just the right number of predetermined parts and skill required to make the player feel like a total badass. Also, just have to say, the final boss – literally the best boss battle ever.
Graphics
For a decade old game, I can’t complain. I would even say It's pretty good. During fights, you get all of these sparks and various other vfx that really add to the feel of cyborg combat.
Some may find the washed out early 2010 style unappealing, but I find that it lets the bright colours, that come from combat, stand out more.
Atmosphere
There are few games that can be entirely described by a single 1-minute clip. Just look up Rules of Nature on YouTube.
Music
Hands down my favourite video game ost ever. First, having lyrics in your songs, especially lyrics with actual meaning that also tells you more about the character – amazing. But that’s not all. You know how some games will have like a more powerful song for the second phase of a boss. Now imagine that instead the lyrics kick in. I am ascending.
Of course, it's metal. It's metal gear rising after all. Can’t say a favourite song, listen to the whole album. (I lied, its “The Stains Of Time”)
Conclusion
Average American Citizen
Story
In the near future, you (a cyborg ninja named Raiden) discover a secret plot to start another war in the Middle East, so that more money could be funnelled to autonomous war robots, thus you go rouge from your mercenary company to stop them. During your journey, you will fight gigantic twelve story tall robots, cyborgs like you, and the senator of Colorado. (Guess which one is the strongest)
Don’t get this game if you want a serious storyline. However, it does take itself seriously, which can make for some absolutely hilarious moments. Like the famous: “Memes, the DNA of the soul.”. Due to this, every character has a very memorable personality and their interactions are always engaging.
Some may call it anime-like, but I prefer to say that it’s made to be as hype as possible. It does away with any realism and has a moment that would make you say “Wait, why couldn’t I do that before”, if you weren’t already engrossed in its absurdness.
Reading into the dialogue, does reveal that there are some thought-provoking messages. Every character has their own motivation for why they fight. Understanding them is what elevates MGR:R to more than just fast action and crazy cutscenes. In fact, for me this makes the battles even more hype, as it turns them into clashes of motivation.
Gameplay
Contrary to its predecessors, MGR:R is a hack and slash game. Even for a newcomer to this genre, it isn't that difficult. Most of the time you be fighting enemies at close range, trying to hit as many combos as possible, only interrupting to block any attack being thrown at you. When an enemy gets too low health, you can enable blade mode to cut them into as many pieces as possible. And I do mean that literary, I almost crashed my game once. Doing so allows you to heal to max health. This in turn makes retreating pointless, as you need just one enemy to top up.
While there are combos, there is no style meter. The only thing resembling it is a rating at the end of each stage which takes into account kills, time, combo etc.
My favourite part of the game is definitely the boss battles. Each one is a test of a certain skill, culminating in the last one that test everything you’ve learned. They have just the right number of predetermined parts and skill required to make the player feel like a total badass. Also, just have to say, the final boss – literally the best boss battle ever.
Graphics
For a decade old game, I can’t complain. I would even say It's pretty good. During fights, you get all of these sparks and various other vfx that really add to the feel of cyborg combat.
Some may find the washed out early 2010 style unappealing, but I find that it lets the bright colours, that come from combat, stand out more.
Atmosphere
There are few games that can be entirely described by a single 1-minute clip. Just look up Rules of Nature on YouTube.
Music
Hands down my favourite video game ost ever. First, having lyrics in your songs, especially lyrics with actual meaning that also tells you more about the character – amazing. But that’s not all. You know how some games will have like a more powerful song for the second phase of a boss. Now imagine that instead the lyrics kick in. I am ascending.
Of course, it's metal. It's metal gear rising after all. Can’t say a favourite song, listen to the whole album. (I lied, its “The Stains Of Time”)
Conclusion
Average American Citizen
1996
(I played this on Metal slug anthology with a PS 2 emulator)
Metal slug is a 2D platformer shooter arcade game from the 90s. The main standout part of Metal slug is its amazing art. Is it worth playing? The answer to that question depends on whether you can handle the unfair difficulty of arcade games and how much nostalgia you have for the game.
Story
Contrary to what the IGDB summary might make you think - there is no story told throughout the game.
Gameplay
The core gameplay mechanics are good. Mobility wise you can go left or right and jump or crouch while shooting left right up or down or throwing a grenade. There are also special weapons with limited usage. Enemies have plenty of variety and their attacks are well telegraphed. However, there are two main problems. First is the difficulty - While the first few levels are ok, later ones had me respawning multiple times every encounter. This won't actually be that bad if not for the second issue - since it is an arcade game, there are no checkpoints. Every time you die more than 3 times, you get given the choice of restarting the whole game or respawning right back where you died. At first glance this might seem fine, but due to the hard difficulty you end up just brute forcing the entire game without any satisfaction that you've improved.
Graphics and artstyle
For me, this is the main selling point of the metal slug franchise as a whole. The artstyle of this game is phenomenal. Some of the best 2D sprite work I have ever seen in a game. Everything from the enemy soldiers to the background has so much character and style.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is pretty good as well. Favorite part is “stage 6”.
Final Thoughts
YOU'RE MINCE MEAT!!!!
Metal slug is a 2D platformer shooter arcade game from the 90s. The main standout part of Metal slug is its amazing art. Is it worth playing? The answer to that question depends on whether you can handle the unfair difficulty of arcade games and how much nostalgia you have for the game.
Story
Contrary to what the IGDB summary might make you think - there is no story told throughout the game.
Gameplay
The core gameplay mechanics are good. Mobility wise you can go left or right and jump or crouch while shooting left right up or down or throwing a grenade. There are also special weapons with limited usage. Enemies have plenty of variety and their attacks are well telegraphed. However, there are two main problems. First is the difficulty - While the first few levels are ok, later ones had me respawning multiple times every encounter. This won't actually be that bad if not for the second issue - since it is an arcade game, there are no checkpoints. Every time you die more than 3 times, you get given the choice of restarting the whole game or respawning right back where you died. At first glance this might seem fine, but due to the hard difficulty you end up just brute forcing the entire game without any satisfaction that you've improved.
Graphics and artstyle
For me, this is the main selling point of the metal slug franchise as a whole. The artstyle of this game is phenomenal. Some of the best 2D sprite work I have ever seen in a game. Everything from the enemy soldiers to the background has so much character and style.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is pretty good as well. Favorite part is “stage 6”.
Final Thoughts
YOU'RE MINCE MEAT!!!!