SPICEBAG
2023
This was my first experience with Diablo, spending most of my life knowing of it but not about it.
Visually it's nice, the world is interesting and the characters are varied. Gameplay-wise however I just don't get it. There is fun to be had, and putting together an effect build is satisfying but I can't imagine myself putting more than 30/40 hours into this at most.
The systems in place are thoughtful and work together nicely but the loot at the heart of everything is disappointing. When I think about my favourite looters I imagine those moments when you find a weapon that feels so good, so powerful that you wonder if the game made a mistake giving it to you.
Enemies scale with your level/loot so those kind of instances never occur, so the combat across the board feels very one note.
I had basically no expectations going into this but I have come away accepting that Diablo is not for me. I am grateful I played this on Gamepass and not for the cost of €70.
Visually it's nice, the world is interesting and the characters are varied. Gameplay-wise however I just don't get it. There is fun to be had, and putting together an effect build is satisfying but I can't imagine myself putting more than 30/40 hours into this at most.
The systems in place are thoughtful and work together nicely but the loot at the heart of everything is disappointing. When I think about my favourite looters I imagine those moments when you find a weapon that feels so good, so powerful that you wonder if the game made a mistake giving it to you.
Enemies scale with your level/loot so those kind of instances never occur, so the combat across the board feels very one note.
I had basically no expectations going into this but I have come away accepting that Diablo is not for me. I am grateful I played this on Gamepass and not for the cost of €70.
2016
An exceptional VR game.
When the only reason I put it down is because my battery ran out or I got physically too tired then I know it's fun.
When the only reason I put it down is because my battery ran out or I got physically too tired then I know it's fun.
MW2019 was a badly needed reset for CoD as a whole. It's remembered fondly now as per the CoD hype cycle but it is overrated in many regards.
Everything before it felt like it was overstaying its welcome with an improved engine desperately needed and MW19 delivered.
I've been playing since CoD 3, I was 11/12 when MW 2009 came out and I thoroughly got my money's worth from that game back in the day. I fell off after MW3, popped back in every now and then but found CoD to be boring. MW19 hooked me again, but it's with some seriously big asterisks.
At launch, the game on PC was only available via BattleNet, bad start.
The game wasn't greatly optimised, especially in Ground War which saw performance tank hard. However, a month after release they added Warzone and I am not quite sure what happened but this utterly broke the game for me. My game would fail to launch, crash when joining lobbies, crash mid match, fail to connect to servers, etc. I did everything, going as far to reinstall Windows with no solution. The error code I was given didn't even return any discussions online. I reached out to Activision support who naturally were no help.
It took about 3-4 months before they fixed whatever caused that and this game became playable for me again, without explanation.
The campaign is bad. It has highlights but it's a CoD campaign, what do you expect? Clean House is as good as it gets but the fact this series rarely showcases the kind of infantry warfare you saw in the opening of MW 2009 is disappointing, there are two missions where you fight alongside Marines and those are my favourite.
MP is a mixed bag. Some really fantastic weapon customisation here, cool killstreaks, interesting maps, creative game modes, all of it let down however by a ridiculous 'prestige' system that broke what wasn't broken, and skill based matchmaking which ensured you never had too much fun. Some days I would launch the game, play one match getting a positive K/D and the know my evening was about to be ruined.
Nowadays this game is basically abandoned, there are game breaking glitches, broken maps, unbalanced weapons, exploits, cheaters, etc. As soon as the subsequent CoD came out this game was abandoned entirely, only used to peddle cosmetic bundles.
I think this game is extremely important. It defined the current era of CoD and made some genuinely important decisions for the franchise, but at the same time it ramped up the SBMM, the heavy handed microtransactions, the focus on Warzone (which has subtracted from other modes), the ridiculously bloated install size (what do you need 150gb for?!), and it perpetuates the usual CoD cycle. The devs also were OK with the crack head gameplay of slide cancelling, bunnyhopping and spinning around as fast as possible which belongs in something like Tribes or Quake, not CoD. Thankfully MWII rectified this and provided better tools for dealing with campers.
The loudest sections of the community hated so much about this game at launch. It wasn't until it wasn't supported anymore has it become "an underrated gem" according to Reddit and YouTube.
At its best moments, maybe 6 months post launch this would have been a top 3 CoD, I'd have given it 4.5/5. Today, in its current state and with it still being full price most of the time, it's a 2/5. An important game for the series, no longer a good one.
Everything before it felt like it was overstaying its welcome with an improved engine desperately needed and MW19 delivered.
I've been playing since CoD 3, I was 11/12 when MW 2009 came out and I thoroughly got my money's worth from that game back in the day. I fell off after MW3, popped back in every now and then but found CoD to be boring. MW19 hooked me again, but it's with some seriously big asterisks.
At launch, the game on PC was only available via BattleNet, bad start.
The game wasn't greatly optimised, especially in Ground War which saw performance tank hard. However, a month after release they added Warzone and I am not quite sure what happened but this utterly broke the game for me. My game would fail to launch, crash when joining lobbies, crash mid match, fail to connect to servers, etc. I did everything, going as far to reinstall Windows with no solution. The error code I was given didn't even return any discussions online. I reached out to Activision support who naturally were no help.
It took about 3-4 months before they fixed whatever caused that and this game became playable for me again, without explanation.
The campaign is bad. It has highlights but it's a CoD campaign, what do you expect? Clean House is as good as it gets but the fact this series rarely showcases the kind of infantry warfare you saw in the opening of MW 2009 is disappointing, there are two missions where you fight alongside Marines and those are my favourite.
MP is a mixed bag. Some really fantastic weapon customisation here, cool killstreaks, interesting maps, creative game modes, all of it let down however by a ridiculous 'prestige' system that broke what wasn't broken, and skill based matchmaking which ensured you never had too much fun. Some days I would launch the game, play one match getting a positive K/D and the know my evening was about to be ruined.
Nowadays this game is basically abandoned, there are game breaking glitches, broken maps, unbalanced weapons, exploits, cheaters, etc. As soon as the subsequent CoD came out this game was abandoned entirely, only used to peddle cosmetic bundles.
I think this game is extremely important. It defined the current era of CoD and made some genuinely important decisions for the franchise, but at the same time it ramped up the SBMM, the heavy handed microtransactions, the focus on Warzone (which has subtracted from other modes), the ridiculously bloated install size (what do you need 150gb for?!), and it perpetuates the usual CoD cycle. The devs also were OK with the crack head gameplay of slide cancelling, bunnyhopping and spinning around as fast as possible which belongs in something like Tribes or Quake, not CoD. Thankfully MWII rectified this and provided better tools for dealing with campers.
The loudest sections of the community hated so much about this game at launch. It wasn't until it wasn't supported anymore has it become "an underrated gem" according to Reddit and YouTube.
At its best moments, maybe 6 months post launch this would have been a top 3 CoD, I'd have given it 4.5/5. Today, in its current state and with it still being full price most of the time, it's a 2/5. An important game for the series, no longer a good one.
Treyarch continues to be the least interesting CoD developer.
The story tries some new things but I really didn't care by the end.
Realistically though, we judge these games on the multiplayer and this multiplayer is awful. They never properly balanced sniper rifles so every match is nothing but one shot snipers, if you pick any other weapon type you're at a significant disadvantage. The perks, gear, killstreaks, etc. are all standard fare.
Map design doesn't stand out at all here either.
The biggest flaw is that the game came after 2019's MW which had a significantly improved engine with far better graphics, and significantly more fun gameplay. This was just a step back in every direction, a clear downside to their staggered 3 year release cycle.
I was never the biggest zombies enjoyer but whatever they have done to the game mode this time around is especially dull.
The story tries some new things but I really didn't care by the end.
Realistically though, we judge these games on the multiplayer and this multiplayer is awful. They never properly balanced sniper rifles so every match is nothing but one shot snipers, if you pick any other weapon type you're at a significant disadvantage. The perks, gear, killstreaks, etc. are all standard fare.
Map design doesn't stand out at all here either.
The biggest flaw is that the game came after 2019's MW which had a significantly improved engine with far better graphics, and significantly more fun gameplay. This was just a step back in every direction, a clear downside to their staggered 3 year release cycle.
I was never the biggest zombies enjoyer but whatever they have done to the game mode this time around is especially dull.
2018
I think I am in the minority of people who actually really loved the setting and didn't mind that it wasn't somewhere crazy and exotic. I think the world built for this game is one of its strongest elements.
The combat systems in Far Cry have only been getting simpler since Far Cry 2 and Far Cry 5's biggest sin is just how boring it has made the combat. Enemies feel less intimidating than Far Cry 3 or 4, more often than not I would go out of my way to engage with enemies every chance I got as every encounter was over way too soon. It was all just too easy.
I like that they took themselves less seriously this time around but the game feels more like a sandbox with no real direction and underwhelming systems. The story is most interesting when it focuses on Joseph Seed, all of his underlings are significantly more dull and the mission variety is lacking.
It's worth playing if you still enjoy Ubisoft open world games but it's one of the weaker Far Cry games on the whole.
The combat systems in Far Cry have only been getting simpler since Far Cry 2 and Far Cry 5's biggest sin is just how boring it has made the combat. Enemies feel less intimidating than Far Cry 3 or 4, more often than not I would go out of my way to engage with enemies every chance I got as every encounter was over way too soon. It was all just too easy.
I like that they took themselves less seriously this time around but the game feels more like a sandbox with no real direction and underwhelming systems. The story is most interesting when it focuses on Joseph Seed, all of his underlings are significantly more dull and the mission variety is lacking.
It's worth playing if you still enjoy Ubisoft open world games but it's one of the weaker Far Cry games on the whole.
2020
I haven't played in a long while but when I did it was a competent alternative to Counter Strike.
My biggest complaint is that it just made me wish I was playing Counter Strike instead.
My biggest complaint is that it just made me wish I was playing Counter Strike instead.
2017
Without sounding like a contrarian, smarmy, edgelord video game critic on YouTube, this game is genuinely AAA slop.
It's a game that would have done numbers in 2014, even for its original console release in 2017 this game seems woefully behind and boring. It's got the UI littered with popups at all times, half-baked stealth mechanics, protagonist who talks out loud about what objectives they need to complete, crafting, a map full of markers, collectibles, a tutorial/introduction that takes almost 2 hours and is 70% cutscenes, etc.
This is the kind of game you use to introduce someone to the concept of video games, a visually impressive, rollercoaster ride that is more fun to look at than to actually engage with.
The best thing I can say is that the PC port was OK for a Sony game.
It's a game that would have done numbers in 2014, even for its original console release in 2017 this game seems woefully behind and boring. It's got the UI littered with popups at all times, half-baked stealth mechanics, protagonist who talks out loud about what objectives they need to complete, crafting, a map full of markers, collectibles, a tutorial/introduction that takes almost 2 hours and is 70% cutscenes, etc.
This is the kind of game you use to introduce someone to the concept of video games, a visually impressive, rollercoaster ride that is more fun to look at than to actually engage with.
The best thing I can say is that the PC port was OK for a Sony game.
2012
Dishonored occupies a strange place in my mind.
I played it not long after release, that first play through was magical in my memory, I was thoroughly hooked and loved the freedom the game offered. I beat it and promptly forgot about it.
Over the years I've gone back to try it again but one or several things have stopped me from enjoying it to the same degree I once did. It definitely shows its age now and even at release the PC port wasn't great.
I do hope to one day do another full play through.
I played it not long after release, that first play through was magical in my memory, I was thoroughly hooked and loved the freedom the game offered. I beat it and promptly forgot about it.
Over the years I've gone back to try it again but one or several things have stopped me from enjoying it to the same degree I once did. It definitely shows its age now and even at release the PC port wasn't great.
I do hope to one day do another full play through.
2021
An interesting idea but it didn't hold my attention for the full run. I appreciate the aesthetics a lot. It's probably a great game for the right kind of person, that's just not me however.
2017
A beautiful passion project, and it has great co-op.
I am not the biggest fan of platformers, especially one as consistently difficult as this one. I've never beaten it but I like loading it up every year or so to throw myself at it again, it's difficult not to enjoy it, very much an example of you get out what the devs put in.
I am not the biggest fan of platformers, especially one as consistently difficult as this one. I've never beaten it but I like loading it up every year or so to throw myself at it again, it's difficult not to enjoy it, very much an example of you get out what the devs put in.
2013
Infinite always felt like a significant step back from prior entries, it was a nice change of setting but nothing else.
1999
There are entire YouTube essays upwards of 4+ hours that can describe why this game is so phenomenal and for good reason.
It is outdated by today's standards in terms of graphics, settings and UI. It was ahead of its time in terms of sound design, level design, storytelling and world building.
Get it, fix it up with mods and enjoy a piece of history.
It is outdated by today's standards in terms of graphics, settings and UI. It was ahead of its time in terms of sound design, level design, storytelling and world building.
Get it, fix it up with mods and enjoy a piece of history.
2023
I thoroughly adore this game.
The art style was what attracted me to it but the gameplay is very tight and fun. The roguelike elements work well, the enemies are varied and the overall tone is consistent and well realised.
I think this game will stand the test of time as a well loved cult classic.
The art style was what attracted me to it but the gameplay is very tight and fun. The roguelike elements work well, the enemies are varied and the overall tone is consistent and well realised.
I think this game will stand the test of time as a well loved cult classic.
2016
lot of really good ideas and a very distinct style, I really wanted to enjoy this but it completely bored me right out of the gate and never gave me much reason to want to push on. Admittedly I played for a very short amount of time but I guess I expected more from the get-go.
2023
Overwatch in its original form never grabbed me the way it did other people, I found everything about it felt too "floaty" and it was a game dominated by meta, moreso than a lot of its contemporaries. It wasn't a bad game but I wasn't the target demographic. I saw it get a lot of my more casual friends into competitive FPS games which was cool.
Overwatch 2 is the natural progression of mismanagement and bad ideas. Reducing team size was a silly idea. The new heroes (atleast what I have played) aren't very fun. The removal of the PvE mode, what was the whole point of a serialised sequel is gone.
Who does this game even exist for anymore?
Overwatch 2 is the natural progression of mismanagement and bad ideas. Reducing team size was a silly idea. The new heroes (atleast what I have played) aren't very fun. The removal of the PvE mode, what was the whole point of a serialised sequel is gone.
Who does this game even exist for anymore?