PlatypusDude
56 reviews liked by PlatypusDude
Wanted: Dead
2023
A playable B movie
Obviously the core appeal of this is nostalgia for the weird cultural zeitgeist the CDi games have become but I have this deranged reading that the way it blends together the weird design choices of two infamously bad games (namely the fetch-quest style of progression) and the more conventional design choices of contemporary Metroidvanias was done as a parody of/way of taking the piss out of the latter
Arzette is short, but it's so enjoyable and charming. It had me laughing so much. The voice acting and cutscene animation is spot on for what they are parodying. Also it plays so much better than any of the cdi games it's taken inspiration from. I never once felt frustrated playing it.
Also some of the characters are legitimately designed so well. And even the boss fights can be hilarious at how you beat them.
Very very good and unique little game.
Also some of the characters are legitimately designed so well. And even the boss fights can be hilarious at how you beat them.
Very very good and unique little game.
as someone who does not really enjoy metroidvanias I actually really enjoyed this gameplay wise. it's definitely a great palate cleanser since there's no other game that is like this and it's short at about 4 hours. the cutscenes alone are worth the purchase.
This review contains spoilers
One of the best Like A Dragon/Yakuza gameplay experiences yet that's sadly hampered by some very strange plot decisions.
Combat is improved in almost every way from Yakuza: Like A Dragon, the side content is consistently excellent, and there's a ton of throwbacks to reward series veterans. Looking purely from a gameplay perspective, this is the best Like A Dragon title yet - apart from maybe Yakuza 0.
All of which makes the issues with its plot even more disappointing. The ending is particularly deflating and left me legitimately thinking, "oh, that's it?" For better and for worse, these issues aren't apparent until the latter half of the game, making for an excellent first impression but leaving you feeling like much of the story's intrigue was wasted towards the end.
Combat is improved in almost every way from Yakuza: Like A Dragon, the side content is consistently excellent, and there's a ton of throwbacks to reward series veterans. Looking purely from a gameplay perspective, this is the best Like A Dragon title yet - apart from maybe Yakuza 0.
All of which makes the issues with its plot even more disappointing. The ending is particularly deflating and left me legitimately thinking, "oh, that's it?" For better and for worse, these issues aren't apparent until the latter half of the game, making for an excellent first impression but leaving you feeling like much of the story's intrigue was wasted towards the end.
During the best of times this played like Rogue Squadron 1 but in the prequel era. At the worst of times, most of the time, you were on the ground controlling boring vehicles no one cares about busting unforgettable characters like Captain Panaka out of robot jail.
This DLC is clearly the worst of the bunch. I don't feel there was anything new or interesting brought forward in this DLC. Other scenarios had some really neat overall puzzle to solve, this felt disjointed, like i was missing certain screens. The final act is awful, it basically gives you an entire story to piece together from a few scenes, no real puzzle to solve, its just like trying to figure out a story with ripped out pages.
Been a fan of this series for a decade and even if this was just a rerelease, I still had so much fun playing it. But the minor issue I had was wishing more on the newer material the King prequel mission wasn't doing much for me and some lacked luster levels. Which created a unique approach to previous levels and did something on its own. But yeah, the game is good, wish we got a new game, but a man can dream.
Alan Wake II
2023
initiation 4 and return 7 need i say more
Alan Wake II
2023
hell yes.
I think this is Remedy's first game where the storytelling overwhelms the gameplay this intensely, and the results are absolutely glorious. Alan Wake 2 is completely streamlined to tell this one story and it doesn't really bother with extensive enemy encounters (which got really tedious really fast in the first game), instead it uses those moments more as a way to accentuate certain story moments and/or the general atmosphere. On that topic: I'm still absolutely in AWE (hehe) of Remedy's enviromental designers, the moodyness this game already has through its enviroments alone is really immense. The Dark Place is a game enviroment I'll talk about for years to come.
Alan Wake 2 also manages to turn the story of the first game into even more of a beautifully meta multimedia-mess. I can safely say that after playing I understand even less now, and I really love it. The entire story just clicked for me, weaving together the plot beats of the first game, CONTROL and its many new ideas quite seamlessly. And I love Saga as a protagonist.
I'm sure there've been many versions of what an Alan Wake 2 could've been. I'm very glad it's this.
(I only hope that Sam Lake has had his fair share of screen time now, because, at this point, his omnipresence in his own game felt quite self-indulgent.)
((ah yes and the chapter songs absolutely slap))
I think this is Remedy's first game where the storytelling overwhelms the gameplay this intensely, and the results are absolutely glorious. Alan Wake 2 is completely streamlined to tell this one story and it doesn't really bother with extensive enemy encounters (which got really tedious really fast in the first game), instead it uses those moments more as a way to accentuate certain story moments and/or the general atmosphere. On that topic: I'm still absolutely in AWE (hehe) of Remedy's enviromental designers, the moodyness this game already has through its enviroments alone is really immense. The Dark Place is a game enviroment I'll talk about for years to come.
Alan Wake 2 also manages to turn the story of the first game into even more of a beautifully meta multimedia-mess. I can safely say that after playing I understand even less now, and I really love it. The entire story just clicked for me, weaving together the plot beats of the first game, CONTROL and its many new ideas quite seamlessly. And I love Saga as a protagonist.
I'm sure there've been many versions of what an Alan Wake 2 could've been. I'm very glad it's this.
(I only hope that Sam Lake has had his fair share of screen time now, because, at this point, his omnipresence in his own game felt quite self-indulgent.)
((ah yes and the chapter songs absolutely slap))