TheSlyBrit
I had a lot of hype for this game, what with the first instalment being one of the most memorable experiences of my childhood. When I finally got around to playing it, I wasn't exactly disappointed, but I did feel like it didn't improve on the original as much as it aught to have.
The visuals are still stunning and the semi-open world was neat but I think the level based approach of the original game with the addition of alternate paths would've been a better idea.
The combat was improved and actually felt pretty good for the most part, incorporating new enemy types that required different movement techniques to deal with - but again they tried to force you to engage with it a few times and even just lock you in a room to duke it out at one point.
The main flaw of the game lies in the storytelling once again, while there are a few interesting characters the plot is just annoyingly cliche and not very interesting.
Overall the experience if you just rush between story moments is comparable to the first, maybe slightly weaker in a few places and better in a few others, but the characteristically EA push for weird side content in the form of collectibles and social features left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth that makes me remember the original slightly more fondly.
The visuals are still stunning and the semi-open world was neat but I think the level based approach of the original game with the addition of alternate paths would've been a better idea.
The combat was improved and actually felt pretty good for the most part, incorporating new enemy types that required different movement techniques to deal with - but again they tried to force you to engage with it a few times and even just lock you in a room to duke it out at one point.
The main flaw of the game lies in the storytelling once again, while there are a few interesting characters the plot is just annoyingly cliche and not very interesting.
Overall the experience if you just rush between story moments is comparable to the first, maybe slightly weaker in a few places and better in a few others, but the characteristically EA push for weird side content in the form of collectibles and social features left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth that makes me remember the original slightly more fondly.
2008
I have a lot of nostalgia for this game because I played it when I was pretty young. At the time I played it, it was a one-of-a-kind experience and drew me into this really visually interesting environment that I got to take in as I raced through it.
In hindsight, the visual style is still really cool, but the story had a lot lacking in it. The gameplay is still very solid even to this day, being one of the few games to do first-person parkour in a grounded and somewhat 'real' feeling way - most other games with these sort of parkour elements feel rather floaty or use jetpacks etc to 'stick' you to the wall.
Sections with forced combat didn't feel great when I replayed the game more recently on pc, but didn't get in the way of the overall enjoyment.
The level design and lack of alternate paths leads to replayability being a bit meh, unless you're the type to want to try and beat your times, but the overall experience is fantastic; especially for a first playthrough.
In hindsight, the visual style is still really cool, but the story had a lot lacking in it. The gameplay is still very solid even to this day, being one of the few games to do first-person parkour in a grounded and somewhat 'real' feeling way - most other games with these sort of parkour elements feel rather floaty or use jetpacks etc to 'stick' you to the wall.
Sections with forced combat didn't feel great when I replayed the game more recently on pc, but didn't get in the way of the overall enjoyment.
The level design and lack of alternate paths leads to replayability being a bit meh, unless you're the type to want to try and beat your times, but the overall experience is fantastic; especially for a first playthrough.
This game had the potential to be fantastic, and it was still okay, but at the end of the day boiled down to a slightly prettier and less interesting version of the original.
Still has a terrible story, the gameplay is pretty good and they expanded on the options from the first game a decent bit but then 3/4 of the way through they put you in a city with the most repetitive environments possible and then give you a fucking glider so that getting around is as boring as possible.
If you just...don't use the glider, the interiors to every building look almost identical and the differing elevations for all of the buildings means that your options to path through them are limited, unless you glide up, then go on foot once you're up there.
The option to choose who you side with is on paper pretty neat, but in-game was annoying because it boiled down to facists vs nutters, so you end up just picking the one that gives you the coolest rewards.
Still has a terrible story, the gameplay is pretty good and they expanded on the options from the first game a decent bit but then 3/4 of the way through they put you in a city with the most repetitive environments possible and then give you a fucking glider so that getting around is as boring as possible.
If you just...don't use the glider, the interiors to every building look almost identical and the differing elevations for all of the buildings means that your options to path through them are limited, unless you glide up, then go on foot once you're up there.
The option to choose who you side with is on paper pretty neat, but in-game was annoying because it boiled down to facists vs nutters, so you end up just picking the one that gives you the coolest rewards.
2015
This game is a great example of good gameplay being able to overcome a shoddy story.
Kyle Crane is one of the blandest characters I've seen and all of the supporting cast and people you interact with are basically crappy b-movie characters; however, running around and platforming to avoid zombies or gunshots and using the climbing mechanics to solve puzzles and navigate quickly is so incredibly satisfying that you can tune all of that out easily.
Shame the sequel had all of the same problems, and barely added to the gameplay.
Kyle Crane is one of the blandest characters I've seen and all of the supporting cast and people you interact with are basically crappy b-movie characters; however, running around and platforming to avoid zombies or gunshots and using the climbing mechanics to solve puzzles and navigate quickly is so incredibly satisfying that you can tune all of that out easily.
Shame the sequel had all of the same problems, and barely added to the gameplay.
2016
King of the cosy games, tickled that itch that I've not had satisfied since playing harvest moon for the DS as a kid.
I have thoroughly burned myself out on this style of game with the many hours I put into stardew, but I have a lot of fond memories of putting time into decorating the farm and getting to know the cute and/or interesting villagers.
Actually has some pretty poignant moments in it, which surprised me when I was initially playing, along with some darker themes when you get to know characters with depression etc.
I have thoroughly burned myself out on this style of game with the many hours I put into stardew, but I have a lot of fond memories of putting time into decorating the farm and getting to know the cute and/or interesting villagers.
Actually has some pretty poignant moments in it, which surprised me when I was initially playing, along with some darker themes when you get to know characters with depression etc.
I've completed this game multiple times and do on occasion go back to play it here and there.
The most important part of a character driven RPG are indeed the characters and this has one of the most captivating groups of characters I've seen in all of the games I've played and mountains of cool story elements to explore. The plot of the game itself has its ups and downs but is mostly solid, helping you direct the choices your character makes throughout and giving you multiple options to consider.
The gameplay is phenomenal, the best of any of this genre of game had offered at the time I played. I've always liked CRPGs, but I often bounced off of the gameplay and struggled to like them as much as I could've. Pillars of Eternity being a good example of a great & comparable game that I maybe enjoyed half as much as I would've if I liked the RTWP.
The latter portions of the game aren't quite as good as what the first few acts have to offer, that being some of the best atmosphere and story in gaming, but all of them are still solidly good.
The most important part of a character driven RPG are indeed the characters and this has one of the most captivating groups of characters I've seen in all of the games I've played and mountains of cool story elements to explore. The plot of the game itself has its ups and downs but is mostly solid, helping you direct the choices your character makes throughout and giving you multiple options to consider.
The gameplay is phenomenal, the best of any of this genre of game had offered at the time I played. I've always liked CRPGs, but I often bounced off of the gameplay and struggled to like them as much as I could've. Pillars of Eternity being a good example of a great & comparable game that I maybe enjoyed half as much as I would've if I liked the RTWP.
The latter portions of the game aren't quite as good as what the first few acts have to offer, that being some of the best atmosphere and story in gaming, but all of them are still solidly good.
The game's been talked about critically for a number of good reasons, but I generally feel like it's a solidly fun title with a lot to offer when it comes to gameplay.
The open world elements were done really well - I honestly didn't expect open-world and stealth to ever mesh in a way that felt good but they did it.
The story is the weak part of this game. It has cool visuals and a lot of the boss fights the story culminates into are decent enough, but the older games just had more satisfying moments when the action did pick up and generally were either more interesting or more cohesive experiences.
I haven't completed the story in it's entirety yet, but I got pretty close to the end of the game before moving onto other titles. Will probably come back to it eventually, have do so before.
The open world elements were done really well - I honestly didn't expect open-world and stealth to ever mesh in a way that felt good but they did it.
The story is the weak part of this game. It has cool visuals and a lot of the boss fights the story culminates into are decent enough, but the older games just had more satisfying moments when the action did pick up and generally were either more interesting or more cohesive experiences.
I haven't completed the story in it's entirety yet, but I got pretty close to the end of the game before moving onto other titles. Will probably come back to it eventually, have do so before.
2012
One of my favourite games of all time, fantastic gameplay, decent story.
Has a few cool side quests in missions and there's a lot to explore - it's almost immersive-sim like, similar to the older deus ex games, albeit it's a more focused experience.
The stealth genre is painfully underrepresented and this game is one of the best options you have on offer.
Has a few cool side quests in missions and there's a lot to explore - it's almost immersive-sim like, similar to the older deus ex games, albeit it's a more focused experience.
The stealth genre is painfully underrepresented and this game is one of the best options you have on offer.
2016
It's the best we have for multiplayer horror games, with a lot of really cool licenses and characters to play, but it's plagued with a lot of balancing issues and poor game design.
I'd argue most of the content in the game is good, but when the different systems intersect a lot of glaring issues appear that limit it from being as good as it otherwise could be.
I'd argue most of the content in the game is good, but when the different systems intersect a lot of glaring issues appear that limit it from being as good as it otherwise could be.
2022
It's a culmination of all of the good features from FromSoft's prior games, packed into an open world with new lore to discover. Brilliant gameplay, interesting lore and worldbuilding and very stable with few technical issues.
Only real complaint about the game is some of the repeated bosses and a few of the bosses have specific input-reading moves which didn't really happen in the older games and can be sorta annoying until you're used to them.
Only real complaint about the game is some of the repeated bosses and a few of the bosses have specific input-reading moves which didn't really happen in the older games and can be sorta annoying until you're used to them.