SPICEBAG
The GOAT.
2007
My favourite of the Halo series, though this is likely because because I was of the target demographic at the time it came out.
I'm not a big fan of Halo multiplayer, I find it too slow and uninteresting but I loved the campaign in this one, especially when played co-op. It was fun back in 2007 on the 360 and during COVID I enjoyed beating it via MCC co-op on PC.
I'm not a big fan of Halo multiplayer, I find it too slow and uninteresting but I loved the campaign in this one, especially when played co-op. It was fun back in 2007 on the 360 and during COVID I enjoyed beating it via MCC co-op on PC.
A product of its time.
Nothing was particularly good about it but it was an immense amount of fun.
Nothing was particularly good about it but it was an immense amount of fun.
2016
I've never finished XCOM 2 but I always get the itch to play it once a year or two.
A fantastic iteration of the series. It suffered bad optimisation at launch but that's long since been resolved.
I prefer the base game to WoTC purely for the story, I find the antagonists of WoTC to be extremely cringe and badly written. However WoTC does introduce some great game mechanics.
I appreciate the Steam Workshop integration, that's worth the world to me.
Amazing game.
A fantastic iteration of the series. It suffered bad optimisation at launch but that's long since been resolved.
I prefer the base game to WoTC purely for the story, I find the antagonists of WoTC to be extremely cringe and badly written. However WoTC does introduce some great game mechanics.
I appreciate the Steam Workshop integration, that's worth the world to me.
Amazing game.
2013
I am disgusted that this is one of my most played games of 2023.
As a kid, if a classroom had a PC you can bet the browser version was open in one of my tabs. Really fun game despite the simple gameplay, lots of creativity. It does get unbearably grindy towards the late game.
As a kid, if a classroom had a PC you can bet the browser version was open in one of my tabs. Really fun game despite the simple gameplay, lots of creativity. It does get unbearably grindy towards the late game.
2013
Overrated.
I remember enjoying this game on launch with its barebones content, but every time I would take a break and go back I would hate it more and more. It's absolutely stuffed with microtransactions and DLC bundles, many of which are required for a full experience today. Yeah it's dead cheap nowadays but on reflection this was one of the worst offenders.
The guns don't feel nice to use, increasing the difficulty just makes enemies more bullet spongey. The gameplay boils down to press F on this item, wait 5 minutes, press F again, wait 5 more minutes, press a bunch of times, shoot enemies in between pressing F.
It's most comparable to L4D of all games but because it doesn't commit itself entirely to the horde shooter elements and suffers as a result. The UI gives me a headache and whether with friends or strangers it never feels like the game offers much variety in how you tackle missions.
Nowadays its install size is unjustifiably large too.
I remember enjoying this game on launch with its barebones content, but every time I would take a break and go back I would hate it more and more. It's absolutely stuffed with microtransactions and DLC bundles, many of which are required for a full experience today. Yeah it's dead cheap nowadays but on reflection this was one of the worst offenders.
The guns don't feel nice to use, increasing the difficulty just makes enemies more bullet spongey. The gameplay boils down to press F on this item, wait 5 minutes, press F again, wait 5 more minutes, press a bunch of times, shoot enemies in between pressing F.
It's most comparable to L4D of all games but because it doesn't commit itself entirely to the horde shooter elements and suffers as a result. The UI gives me a headache and whether with friends or strangers it never feels like the game offers much variety in how you tackle missions.
Nowadays its install size is unjustifiably large too.
2018
Very fun co-op game, especially if you like throwing your controller at the screen.
The best version of GTA.
It has flaws, the combat is iffy, driving is divisive (I personally prefer it to V's), the story might try a bit too hard and the missions lack variety. However, the world here is the best Rockstar ever created for this series, it feels like a proper sandbox.
The physics here is what shines the most, getting into fist fights, running people over, crashing a car, all immensely fun. I love the soft-body destruction of the vehicles.
The story tries so hard to be gritty, it wears its inspirations on its sleeves and it is all the better for it.
The online experience had no bullshit either. Load up, here is the exact same world as single player, here have some extra weapons thrown in and unique vehicles. Nothing was locked behind a paywall and it was fun from start to finish.
Compared to what came before and after I would rather play this iteration.
It has flaws, the combat is iffy, driving is divisive (I personally prefer it to V's), the story might try a bit too hard and the missions lack variety. However, the world here is the best Rockstar ever created for this series, it feels like a proper sandbox.
The physics here is what shines the most, getting into fist fights, running people over, crashing a car, all immensely fun. I love the soft-body destruction of the vehicles.
The story tries so hard to be gritty, it wears its inspirations on its sleeves and it is all the better for it.
The online experience had no bullshit either. Load up, here is the exact same world as single player, here have some extra weapons thrown in and unique vehicles. Nothing was locked behind a paywall and it was fun from start to finish.
Compared to what came before and after I would rather play this iteration.
My only other experience with MH before this was early Nintendo DS games which I remember enjoying.
However, MH: World felt like a game from 15 years ago, everything is clunky and unintuitive. I constantly see this game cited as a "must-play coop game", so that's why I got it.
However you've to play for an hour atleast to unlock coop and the coop system is incredibly restrictive, you can only summon other players for specific hunts, on specific maps and you're limited to a tiny play area. Every single time I thought I might have fun with this game it would throw up a new road block.
Ignoring the multiplayer element, I didn't find this fun at all. The enemy AI is robotic and unreactive. The game world feels messy and badly designed, traversal isn't intuitive or exciting. The nicest thing I can say is that there is good character customisation and weapon variety.
I just don't get the love for this game.
However, MH: World felt like a game from 15 years ago, everything is clunky and unintuitive. I constantly see this game cited as a "must-play coop game", so that's why I got it.
However you've to play for an hour atleast to unlock coop and the coop system is incredibly restrictive, you can only summon other players for specific hunts, on specific maps and you're limited to a tiny play area. Every single time I thought I might have fun with this game it would throw up a new road block.
Ignoring the multiplayer element, I didn't find this fun at all. The enemy AI is robotic and unreactive. The game world feels messy and badly designed, traversal isn't intuitive or exciting. The nicest thing I can say is that there is good character customisation and weapon variety.
I just don't get the love for this game.
2020
A competent, stylish Roguelike.
I appreciate the ideas and style here but I personally found the gameplay became boring quite quickly. More often than not runs would end because I didn't want to continue, as opposed to dying. I can't fault it much however, what it does it does well.
I appreciate the ideas and style here but I personally found the gameplay became boring quite quickly. More often than not runs would end because I didn't want to continue, as opposed to dying. I can't fault it much however, what it does it does well.
2019
A let down.
This game has good systems and mechanics but somehow just doesn't work for me. I can't pinpoint anything it does wrong necessarily but the complete experience failed to hold my attention on any of the three attempted playthroughs I did.
None of the stories or quests reach the heights of Fallout: New Vegas (which is the most valid comparison) and even though the combat system is better than NV it is still extremely rudimentary and unengaging.
This game has good systems and mechanics but somehow just doesn't work for me. I can't pinpoint anything it does wrong necessarily but the complete experience failed to hold my attention on any of the three attempted playthroughs I did.
None of the stories or quests reach the heights of Fallout: New Vegas (which is the most valid comparison) and even though the combat system is better than NV it is still extremely rudimentary and unengaging.
2009
I've always loved L4D ever since the first beta.
The fact this game is still alive is a testament to how fun it is and how allowing modding tools with quick integration can extend a game's life significantly.
If you've somehow never played this game I can't imagine it would seem all that fun today but as a product of its time it was best in class.
My only complaint about L4D2 is that I wish it borrowed more tonally from the first game, which was much darker and more horror focused. The deep south setting is wonderful here though.
The fact this game is still alive is a testament to how fun it is and how allowing modding tools with quick integration can extend a game's life significantly.
If you've somehow never played this game I can't imagine it would seem all that fun today but as a product of its time it was best in class.
My only complaint about L4D2 is that I wish it borrowed more tonally from the first game, which was much darker and more horror focused. The deep south setting is wonderful here though.
2022
I don't enjoy Rick and Morty or its style of humour but this was a fun one. This was really the kind of game I would expect to play in 2005/2006, it really lacked an underlying level of cynicism I think is so prevalent in games nowadays.
It refuses to take itself seriously and just wants to share some silly characters on a silly story with you. The gameplay is kind of boring in all honesty but it's not really the focus to begin with.
This is one of those games where you could watch a play through on YouTube and get the same experience as playing it yourself, but I mean that in the kindest way possible.
It refuses to take itself seriously and just wants to share some silly characters on a silly story with you. The gameplay is kind of boring in all honesty but it's not really the focus to begin with.
This is one of those games where you could watch a play through on YouTube and get the same experience as playing it yourself, but I mean that in the kindest way possible.
2013
One of the better Battlefield games, though for the last few years it's been ruined by the community.
The campaign is awful, like genuinely atrocious. Even the worst CoD campaigns outshine what's here, really floored me how bad this experience was back in the day. Everything looks good on the surface but if you pay even a sliver of attention the cracks show immediately. Your allies in game can't damage or be damaged by enemy fire, enemy vehicles randomly explode if you take too long, doors fail to open that should, etc. The story is taken way too seriously while having ridiculous characters.
More importantly, MP is fun but from the perspective of a review in 2024 it's a real mixed bag. On PC, most servers are community hosted.
You'll get kicked if you kill an admin.
You'll get kicked if you do too well.
You'll get kicked if you use anti-tank weapons.
You'll get kicked if you use a shotgun.
You'll get kicked if you vote for the wrong map.
You'll get kicked for taking a vehicle.
Server admins want you to take one of four approved weapons, no equipment and you better not complain if they spawn-trap you with helicopters. This isn't a rare occurrence, it's the rule not the exception. I've never played a multiplayer game with such power-tripping admins who actively make it worse.
It doesn't help that the server pool is so small these days. The game is definitely well past its prime but even at its best I think it was just an OK shooter. It's greatest strength was its atmosphere online, seeing jets fly overhead, hearing tanks fighting, running into collapsing buildings.
The campaign is awful, like genuinely atrocious. Even the worst CoD campaigns outshine what's here, really floored me how bad this experience was back in the day. Everything looks good on the surface but if you pay even a sliver of attention the cracks show immediately. Your allies in game can't damage or be damaged by enemy fire, enemy vehicles randomly explode if you take too long, doors fail to open that should, etc. The story is taken way too seriously while having ridiculous characters.
More importantly, MP is fun but from the perspective of a review in 2024 it's a real mixed bag. On PC, most servers are community hosted.
You'll get kicked if you kill an admin.
You'll get kicked if you do too well.
You'll get kicked if you use anti-tank weapons.
You'll get kicked if you use a shotgun.
You'll get kicked if you vote for the wrong map.
You'll get kicked for taking a vehicle.
Server admins want you to take one of four approved weapons, no equipment and you better not complain if they spawn-trap you with helicopters. This isn't a rare occurrence, it's the rule not the exception. I've never played a multiplayer game with such power-tripping admins who actively make it worse.
It doesn't help that the server pool is so small these days. The game is definitely well past its prime but even at its best I think it was just an OK shooter. It's greatest strength was its atmosphere online, seeing jets fly overhead, hearing tanks fighting, running into collapsing buildings.
2021
This is an odd one.
As a fan of L4D since the original beta on PC back in 2007, I was interested when I saw this. I never expected a L4D-tier experience so I never felt let down in that regard. However this game has good ideas but rarely utilises them.
For one, I love how seriously it takes itself. The zombie shooter genre is oversaturated and has been for atleast a decade, we have seen every kind of game come and go. I feel like zombie games that try to be actually horror games are now a rare occurrence, so I love the tone and setting of this. The overrun buildings, the graffiti everywhere, police barricades, all that tropey stuff is exactly what I like in this sort of game.
The gameplay isn't half bad either. Shooting enemies feels fun but the animations are robotic and stiff. Special infected have multiple variants but they are poorly designed so you can't ever tell them apart in the midst of fighting.
I also enjoyed the deck building card system. I haven't played since they got rid of it but I felt like it offered a reason to do multiple play throughs that was lacking from other games like this. You could make some ridiculous builds, for instance a shotgun build with endless ammo and increasing fire rate/damage.
The biggest flaw for me was the difficulty, about 2/3s of the way through the main campaign the difficulty spikes up significantly and some areas become absolute slogs. Not even in a "wow this end game is hard" way, more like a "wow this wasn't playtested" way. The rewards for pushing through aren't worth it so usually when I hit that point I stop playing or start a new run.
WB games, as usual did a bad job. They marketed this game as being a competitor to L4D and leaned into Turtle Rock's history, regardless of how valid it is today. They also abandoned this game very quickly after launch.
It was on sale for €5 on Steam recently, I definitely think it is worth that if you and your friends want an easy to play game to occupy yourselves while chatting.
As a fan of L4D since the original beta on PC back in 2007, I was interested when I saw this. I never expected a L4D-tier experience so I never felt let down in that regard. However this game has good ideas but rarely utilises them.
For one, I love how seriously it takes itself. The zombie shooter genre is oversaturated and has been for atleast a decade, we have seen every kind of game come and go. I feel like zombie games that try to be actually horror games are now a rare occurrence, so I love the tone and setting of this. The overrun buildings, the graffiti everywhere, police barricades, all that tropey stuff is exactly what I like in this sort of game.
The gameplay isn't half bad either. Shooting enemies feels fun but the animations are robotic and stiff. Special infected have multiple variants but they are poorly designed so you can't ever tell them apart in the midst of fighting.
I also enjoyed the deck building card system. I haven't played since they got rid of it but I felt like it offered a reason to do multiple play throughs that was lacking from other games like this. You could make some ridiculous builds, for instance a shotgun build with endless ammo and increasing fire rate/damage.
The biggest flaw for me was the difficulty, about 2/3s of the way through the main campaign the difficulty spikes up significantly and some areas become absolute slogs. Not even in a "wow this end game is hard" way, more like a "wow this wasn't playtested" way. The rewards for pushing through aren't worth it so usually when I hit that point I stop playing or start a new run.
WB games, as usual did a bad job. They marketed this game as being a competitor to L4D and leaned into Turtle Rock's history, regardless of how valid it is today. They also abandoned this game very quickly after launch.
It was on sale for €5 on Steam recently, I definitely think it is worth that if you and your friends want an easy to play game to occupy yourselves while chatting.