"Too Old To Enjoy"
I decided to try the original Civilization, but I was only able to find a copy through a DOS-emulator online. It ran through a web page, and was a chore to understand how to run. Finally I was able to load the game and start playing.
This game is ancient in all of the worst ways. There is no real tutorial, and instructions on how to play are bloated and hard to decipher. The graphics are blocky, the music is loud and irritating, and the gameplay was barely functional.
Overall, I would Not Recommend playing this entry. It is much too old to really provide anything other than a glance at the franchise's early roots, and honestly it deserves to be left behind in history. Later titles add tutorials and clearer communication to the player about expected goals, as well as a plethora of new features.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
I decided to try the original Civilization, but I was only able to find a copy through a DOS-emulator online. It ran through a web page, and was a chore to understand how to run. Finally I was able to load the game and start playing.
This game is ancient in all of the worst ways. There is no real tutorial, and instructions on how to play are bloated and hard to decipher. The graphics are blocky, the music is loud and irritating, and the gameplay was barely functional.
Overall, I would Not Recommend playing this entry. It is much too old to really provide anything other than a glance at the franchise's early roots, and honestly it deserves to be left behind in history. Later titles add tutorials and clearer communication to the player about expected goals, as well as a plethora of new features.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
1995
"Unfairly Difficult"
"Rayman" is a title that I was unsure about playing, but was delighted by its visual presentation. The colors were incredible for an older title, and the sprites and environments were lush with detail. This gave me high hope that the surrounding gameplay would be worth playing...boy was I wrong.
Mechanically, the game plays fine as the controls work as they should. However, it is not long before you realize the true difficulty of the game. There are countless platforming segments, fights, and scripted segments of traversal via various methods that are punishingly difficult. Without cheats, this game is pretty much impossible to beat for a newbie (unless you decide to devote hundreds of hours of your life to understanding the precise jumps and level knowledge required to best many challenges.
The game has so much promise, yet it is wasted due to incredibly frustrating level design, inconsistent platforming behavior, unfair boss fights, and an overall punishing life system. The soundtrack is alright, but the story is pretty empty and run of the mill. Rayman himself has no character, nor do any other characters in the game.
Overall, "Rayman" is a very frustrating experience full of anti-fun mechanics. The game has some really good art and design for 1995, but it is all wasted with the massive difficulty level and requirements for completion. I would Not Recommend this title unless you want to devote countless hours to perfecting every aspect of it, or are willing to abuse cheats in order to see further portions of the game (doesn't make the levels any easier).
Final Verdict: 3/10 (Poor)
"Rayman" is a title that I was unsure about playing, but was delighted by its visual presentation. The colors were incredible for an older title, and the sprites and environments were lush with detail. This gave me high hope that the surrounding gameplay would be worth playing...boy was I wrong.
Mechanically, the game plays fine as the controls work as they should. However, it is not long before you realize the true difficulty of the game. There are countless platforming segments, fights, and scripted segments of traversal via various methods that are punishingly difficult. Without cheats, this game is pretty much impossible to beat for a newbie (unless you decide to devote hundreds of hours of your life to understanding the precise jumps and level knowledge required to best many challenges.
The game has so much promise, yet it is wasted due to incredibly frustrating level design, inconsistent platforming behavior, unfair boss fights, and an overall punishing life system. The soundtrack is alright, but the story is pretty empty and run of the mill. Rayman himself has no character, nor do any other characters in the game.
Overall, "Rayman" is a very frustrating experience full of anti-fun mechanics. The game has some really good art and design for 1995, but it is all wasted with the massive difficulty level and requirements for completion. I would Not Recommend this title unless you want to devote countless hours to perfecting every aspect of it, or are willing to abuse cheats in order to see further portions of the game (doesn't make the levels any easier).
Final Verdict: 3/10 (Poor)
"Interesting, Innovative, But Far Too Clunky"
'System Shock: Enhanced Edition' is a re-release of the original title from 1994. While the controls are cleaned up slightly and some visual enhancements were made, the game underneath feels unpolished and is very hard to recommend from a gameplay perspective. However, it is an important game that laid the framework for the Immersive Sim genre.
The gameplay is exceptionally diverse for a game that was released at such an infantile time for the video game industry. There is a variety of systems, and the story is actually told in a fairly entertaining way. There is a large selection of weapons and items to use, and the game is actually fairly scary despite being an older title. However, it is extremely clunky. The general design that is a mix of an FPS and a point-n-click game is very unintuitive, and always felt awkward during my time with it. The menu navigation is by far the worst, with lots of information being trapped behind a UI that is rough to look through. Additionally, the graphics are not very good at all, and the extremely jarring colors and textures hurt my eyes after a bit of playing.
Despite these faults, the game has the groundwork of an immensely influential title. Seeing elements of the Deus Ex and Bioshock games within this title is amazing! However, no matter how influential and important this game is, and how awesome it must have been at its release, it feels terrible to play now. I would Not Recommend checking this game out unless you are extremely patient or are familiar with unorthodox control schemes within computer games. It was super interesting to check out, but I wasn’t keen on finishing it after a few levels.
Final Verdict: 4/10 (Below Average)
'System Shock: Enhanced Edition' is a re-release of the original title from 1994. While the controls are cleaned up slightly and some visual enhancements were made, the game underneath feels unpolished and is very hard to recommend from a gameplay perspective. However, it is an important game that laid the framework for the Immersive Sim genre.
The gameplay is exceptionally diverse for a game that was released at such an infantile time for the video game industry. There is a variety of systems, and the story is actually told in a fairly entertaining way. There is a large selection of weapons and items to use, and the game is actually fairly scary despite being an older title. However, it is extremely clunky. The general design that is a mix of an FPS and a point-n-click game is very unintuitive, and always felt awkward during my time with it. The menu navigation is by far the worst, with lots of information being trapped behind a UI that is rough to look through. Additionally, the graphics are not very good at all, and the extremely jarring colors and textures hurt my eyes after a bit of playing.
Despite these faults, the game has the groundwork of an immensely influential title. Seeing elements of the Deus Ex and Bioshock games within this title is amazing! However, no matter how influential and important this game is, and how awesome it must have been at its release, it feels terrible to play now. I would Not Recommend checking this game out unless you are extremely patient or are familiar with unorthodox control schemes within computer games. It was super interesting to check out, but I wasn’t keen on finishing it after a few levels.
Final Verdict: 4/10 (Below Average)
2016
"Simple, Mindless Murder..."
POSTAL must have been a very controversial game back in 1998 when it released, because it still remains a very disturbing and violent game. There is a heap of dark and demonic imagery paired with a jarring, industrial-focused soundtrack that will have player's heads pumping with blood. The gameplay revolves around "purging" areas of people, which essentially boils down to killing innocent civilians and armed police/military (a.k.a. "going postal"). While playing, I definitely felt a sense of wrongdoing despite me achieving the goals the game set out for me to complete, which is definitely an interesting thing that the game achieves.
However, I also found this game to be incredibly repetitive and boring after not even an hour of playtime. The game frontloads all of its weapons to you very early on, and none of the weapons really pack any real "punch". Enemy AI is abysmal, level design becomes similar as the game progresses, and there is a lack of any real story during its short 2+ hour runtime.
The game plays like a standard twin-stick shooter, with the player swapping between weapons/grenades on the fly. While my playthrough was extremely easy to complete, I wouldn't want to play again on a harder difficulty since the combat became boring for me. With a friend, the game gets marginally better, but it also takes away a bit of the "accomplishment" of single-handedly eradicating an entire town full of people.
Also, while the visuals are dark and gloomy (which fits the game's theme), they don't look very eye catching, and many things blend together. This makes many levels feel indistinct from one another, and made the short playthrough feel much longer in the worst of ways.
Despite its many flaws, Postal can still provide a player some fun for a cheap price. Its a nice game to turn your brain off to, though sometimes it feels like its too simplistic for its own good. I can Recommend it to someone looking for a short power-tripping experience where morality is of no question, but it plays like your everyday twin-stick shooter regardless.
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)
POSTAL must have been a very controversial game back in 1998 when it released, because it still remains a very disturbing and violent game. There is a heap of dark and demonic imagery paired with a jarring, industrial-focused soundtrack that will have player's heads pumping with blood. The gameplay revolves around "purging" areas of people, which essentially boils down to killing innocent civilians and armed police/military (a.k.a. "going postal"). While playing, I definitely felt a sense of wrongdoing despite me achieving the goals the game set out for me to complete, which is definitely an interesting thing that the game achieves.
However, I also found this game to be incredibly repetitive and boring after not even an hour of playtime. The game frontloads all of its weapons to you very early on, and none of the weapons really pack any real "punch". Enemy AI is abysmal, level design becomes similar as the game progresses, and there is a lack of any real story during its short 2+ hour runtime.
The game plays like a standard twin-stick shooter, with the player swapping between weapons/grenades on the fly. While my playthrough was extremely easy to complete, I wouldn't want to play again on a harder difficulty since the combat became boring for me. With a friend, the game gets marginally better, but it also takes away a bit of the "accomplishment" of single-handedly eradicating an entire town full of people.
Also, while the visuals are dark and gloomy (which fits the game's theme), they don't look very eye catching, and many things blend together. This makes many levels feel indistinct from one another, and made the short playthrough feel much longer in the worst of ways.
Despite its many flaws, Postal can still provide a player some fun for a cheap price. Its a nice game to turn your brain off to, though sometimes it feels like its too simplistic for its own good. I can Recommend it to someone looking for a short power-tripping experience where morality is of no question, but it plays like your everyday twin-stick shooter regardless.
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)
"A Solid Second and Final Expansion For the Grandfather of the Modern FPS"
'Completion time through Quakespasm was around 3-4 hours'
While not as great as the original title or its first expansion pack, Dissolution of Eternity was still a fun romp through a set of new levels in the Quake universe. This time, there are a few new enemies (mostly slight variations of older foes), as well as alternate firing modes for some weapons (fire bullets for the nailgun, triple rocket launcher, multi-grenade launcher. Additionally, the new levels are fun enough, though they get a bit repetitive by the end of the expansion and continue to lack any true thematic charm.
The soundtrack, like Scourge of Armagon , is fast-paced and aggressive, but I still prefer the original's score by Trent Reznor of "Nine Inch Nails" fame. It added to the atmosphere and personality of the game, something that the newer soundtracks couldn't maintain. They weren't bad by any means, but didn't stand out as much. The new weapons are also a bit hit-or-miss, as some are just damage buffs and don't change the style of combat (fire bullets).
The levels overall were a fun time as well. I do think there are still too many cheap deaths, which led to moments of frustration, but by the end it was still enjoyable.
Dissolution of Eternity was a solid finale to my core experience with the first Quake . While I wish there greater changes between the mission packs (this can be attributed to the short release windows after the game released), but it was good enough being an extra set of levels based off of the base game. I would Recommend this title to fans of the first game + the first mission pack, and anyone looking for a classic FPS that is relatively cheap.
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)
'Completion time through Quakespasm was around 3-4 hours'
While not as great as the original title or its first expansion pack, Dissolution of Eternity was still a fun romp through a set of new levels in the Quake universe. This time, there are a few new enemies (mostly slight variations of older foes), as well as alternate firing modes for some weapons (fire bullets for the nailgun, triple rocket launcher, multi-grenade launcher. Additionally, the new levels are fun enough, though they get a bit repetitive by the end of the expansion and continue to lack any true thematic charm.
The soundtrack, like Scourge of Armagon , is fast-paced and aggressive, but I still prefer the original's score by Trent Reznor of "Nine Inch Nails" fame. It added to the atmosphere and personality of the game, something that the newer soundtracks couldn't maintain. They weren't bad by any means, but didn't stand out as much. The new weapons are also a bit hit-or-miss, as some are just damage buffs and don't change the style of combat (fire bullets).
The levels overall were a fun time as well. I do think there are still too many cheap deaths, which led to moments of frustration, but by the end it was still enjoyable.
Dissolution of Eternity was a solid finale to my core experience with the first Quake . While I wish there greater changes between the mission packs (this can be attributed to the short release windows after the game released), but it was good enough being an extra set of levels based off of the base game. I would Recommend this title to fans of the first game + the first mission pack, and anyone looking for a classic FPS that is relatively cheap.
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)
"Great Set Of Extra Levels That Speeds Up Gameplay"
'Actual Playtime Through Quakespasm ~ 3-4 Hours'
The first mission pack provided for QUAKE was surprisingly great, and showcases a time in which "DLC" and "Expansions" added much more to the game in question. In "Scourge Of Armagon", the player once again must keep the Earth from being overrun by a new legion of monsters, and this time things are really cranked up a notch. The gunplay and level design is adjusted to be much faster paced than the original title, and while the atmosphere suffers a bit due to faster gameplay, the speed definitely helps the flow of combat. At times, it could feel exhilarating, dodging multiple enemy attacks like the game was a bullet-hell.
The soundtrack is still solid, although a bit more abrasive and less atmospheric than the original from Nine Inch Nails. I did like more of the levels and the placements of enemies, though there is an increase in locations where the player will die instantly without being able to gain any information. These were frustrating moments that ultimately serve as a product of the time period this game was released, but didn't damage the whole experience enough to let it affect my playthrough.
Ultimately, this is just more QUAKE , which is great! It's around half the length of the original title, which is fine for an expansion/mission pack. I can easily Recommend this title to anyone who was a fan of the original game!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
'Actual Playtime Through Quakespasm ~ 3-4 Hours'
The first mission pack provided for QUAKE was surprisingly great, and showcases a time in which "DLC" and "Expansions" added much more to the game in question. In "Scourge Of Armagon", the player once again must keep the Earth from being overrun by a new legion of monsters, and this time things are really cranked up a notch. The gunplay and level design is adjusted to be much faster paced than the original title, and while the atmosphere suffers a bit due to faster gameplay, the speed definitely helps the flow of combat. At times, it could feel exhilarating, dodging multiple enemy attacks like the game was a bullet-hell.
The soundtrack is still solid, although a bit more abrasive and less atmospheric than the original from Nine Inch Nails. I did like more of the levels and the placements of enemies, though there is an increase in locations where the player will die instantly without being able to gain any information. These were frustrating moments that ultimately serve as a product of the time period this game was released, but didn't damage the whole experience enough to let it affect my playthrough.
Ultimately, this is just more QUAKE , which is great! It's around half the length of the original title, which is fine for an expansion/mission pack. I can easily Recommend this title to anyone who was a fan of the original game!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
1996
"An Old-School FPS Classic That Still Holds Up, And Is Still Difficult"
'Played using QuakeSpasm mod, which didn't allow the hours played to translate to Steam but it was around 5-7 hours for completion)'
QUAKE is still a pretty fun FPS. While the graphics aren't the "best" by today's standards, I was surprised at how good the 3D characters looked for this being pretty much the first 3D FPS ever made. I used a sourceport mod in order to get the game running at the correct resolution, which was a bit tedious. I also managed to get the original soundtracks into the game, since the music was never released off of the disk itself, but it is available on the internet and was easy to fix.
The first thing I realized was that this game was much harder than I expected, especially the later levels. I didn't play on the highest difficulty, but I had a good challenge on normal mode with most of the levels. However, I disliked a few stages, particularly in the final chapter, and this was mainly due to the "slime" enemies being extremely hard to hit while dealing lots of damage themselves. This got annoying because in certain parts of the level, they would either be dropped right onto the player or spawned in the shadows which would catch the player off guard. Besides those annoying things, I enjoyed the diversity of demon-like enemies.
The shooting felt good as well. Pretty standard gun placement and UI design, but it worked well in this game. I felt that the soundtrack and texture overhaul (through Quakespasm) really made the game stand out, and I never realized that this title had such a creepy atmosphere. The soundtrack, which included lots of industrial screeching and demonic screams from the the band Nine Inch Nails, was extremely fitting for the dark tone of the game, and its one of the best soundtracks I have heard in my life. Very subtle in practice, but very effective for the experience!
I ran into a pretty annoying bug which forced me to "cheat" my way into the final boss room, which hurt the pacing of my experience a bit. I didn't like the final battle too much, but after it was all said and done I managed to beat an FPS that is a few years older than myself, and enjoyed it along the way!
I can easily Recommend this game for any FPS fans, or anyone willing to try the original 3D shooter that started it all. I have definitely begun to understand why Id Software is so highly regarded for their history in the FPS genre! I also look forward to playing the sequels, as well as the mission packs for each game!
Final Verdict: 8/10 (Great)
'Played using QuakeSpasm mod, which didn't allow the hours played to translate to Steam but it was around 5-7 hours for completion)'
QUAKE is still a pretty fun FPS. While the graphics aren't the "best" by today's standards, I was surprised at how good the 3D characters looked for this being pretty much the first 3D FPS ever made. I used a sourceport mod in order to get the game running at the correct resolution, which was a bit tedious. I also managed to get the original soundtracks into the game, since the music was never released off of the disk itself, but it is available on the internet and was easy to fix.
The first thing I realized was that this game was much harder than I expected, especially the later levels. I didn't play on the highest difficulty, but I had a good challenge on normal mode with most of the levels. However, I disliked a few stages, particularly in the final chapter, and this was mainly due to the "slime" enemies being extremely hard to hit while dealing lots of damage themselves. This got annoying because in certain parts of the level, they would either be dropped right onto the player or spawned in the shadows which would catch the player off guard. Besides those annoying things, I enjoyed the diversity of demon-like enemies.
The shooting felt good as well. Pretty standard gun placement and UI design, but it worked well in this game. I felt that the soundtrack and texture overhaul (through Quakespasm) really made the game stand out, and I never realized that this title had such a creepy atmosphere. The soundtrack, which included lots of industrial screeching and demonic screams from the the band Nine Inch Nails, was extremely fitting for the dark tone of the game, and its one of the best soundtracks I have heard in my life. Very subtle in practice, but very effective for the experience!
I ran into a pretty annoying bug which forced me to "cheat" my way into the final boss room, which hurt the pacing of my experience a bit. I didn't like the final battle too much, but after it was all said and done I managed to beat an FPS that is a few years older than myself, and enjoyed it along the way!
I can easily Recommend this game for any FPS fans, or anyone willing to try the original 3D shooter that started it all. I have definitely begun to understand why Id Software is so highly regarded for their history in the FPS genre! I also look forward to playing the sequels, as well as the mission packs for each game!
Final Verdict: 8/10 (Great)
"'Welcome To The Madhouse, Batman!'"
Batman: Arkham Asylum serves as one of the best superhero games ever made, riding off of the praise of 2008's "The Dark Knight" and giving Batman fans and video game fans a chance to explore one of the darkest places in the Batman universe: Arkham Asylum. Joker has hatched an evil plan to take over Arkham Asylum, and The Dark Knight himself must stop him and his endless army of goons from terrorizing Gotham City. By injecting a streamlined combat system into the game, a healthy mix of stealth tactics and gadgetry, and a boatload of challenges to complete, Batman: Arkham Asylum defines a new era of quality, semi open-world Batman games.
Rocksteady did an amazing job in making Batman feel like the acrobatic, crime fighting superhero he has been portrayed as for the greater part of 75+ years. By implementing a fighting system that is extremely simple to learn, yet difficult to master, any player could jump into this title regardless of skill level. This free-flow combat system revolves around attacks, counters, stuns, and finishers, and only involves a few buttons. Many games have copied this attack-and-parry system in the decade since this game's release, and with good reason - this might be the most straightforward, yet solid combat system in an Action-Adventure game to this very day (discounting improvements made in games with similar systems).
The gadgets that Batman has at his disposal are plentiful, with the ability to use different types of batarangs, a zip line gun, and remote-control bombs. This, along with the many stealth finishers in this game, make the player feel like the apex predator; whether you are kicking thugs through windows or tying them up below gargoyles, Batman has all the moves to make any of Joker's goons run in fear. It is also a nice mirror to the fast paced combat system, giving a healthy mix of stealth and combat as the player progresses through the game.
Lastly, there are a LOAD of challenges to complete. The Riddler himself places 240 collectibles/puzzles to solve throughout each area of the game, and outside of the main story there are over a dozen challenges to complete. I was maniacal enough to collect every goodie in the game, as well as completing each challenge (besides the four extra challenges that are included with the GOTY edition). The collectible hunt felt a bit grindy to me, as a lot of the collectibles give little besides short descriptions of Batman's many foes he has faced in his career. One cool set of collectibles are the audio logs scattered throughout the game, which give some insight to the insanity of Batman's greatest foes. However for the most part, there are no extra gadgets to unlock, and the only thing you really have to show for it are a small collection of character models you can observe in the main menu. Some of the challenges feel a bit cheap as well, and serve to show how the combat system can start to break in functionality as more and more enemies are thrown at you (teleportation, inconsistency in who you are attacking, and overly long animations for finishers). Overall though, I appreciated the addition of these modes as an addition to the main story.
Batman: Arkham Asylum was a breath of fresh air to the superhero video game genre in 2009, and still serves as an awesome game to play over a decade later. With a solid combat system, array of gadgets and stealth tactics, and over a dozen challenges to test your skills, this game has a good amount of content to keep any player, Batman-fanatic or not, satisfied. I would highly Recommend this title, and I look forward to playing the 2011 sequel Batman: Arkham City in the future, which is supposed to expand on every aspect of the first game greatly, and is seen by many to be one of the best superhero games ever made!
Final Verdict: 9/10 (Excellent)
Batman: Arkham Asylum serves as one of the best superhero games ever made, riding off of the praise of 2008's "The Dark Knight" and giving Batman fans and video game fans a chance to explore one of the darkest places in the Batman universe: Arkham Asylum. Joker has hatched an evil plan to take over Arkham Asylum, and The Dark Knight himself must stop him and his endless army of goons from terrorizing Gotham City. By injecting a streamlined combat system into the game, a healthy mix of stealth tactics and gadgetry, and a boatload of challenges to complete, Batman: Arkham Asylum defines a new era of quality, semi open-world Batman games.
Rocksteady did an amazing job in making Batman feel like the acrobatic, crime fighting superhero he has been portrayed as for the greater part of 75+ years. By implementing a fighting system that is extremely simple to learn, yet difficult to master, any player could jump into this title regardless of skill level. This free-flow combat system revolves around attacks, counters, stuns, and finishers, and only involves a few buttons. Many games have copied this attack-and-parry system in the decade since this game's release, and with good reason - this might be the most straightforward, yet solid combat system in an Action-Adventure game to this very day (discounting improvements made in games with similar systems).
The gadgets that Batman has at his disposal are plentiful, with the ability to use different types of batarangs, a zip line gun, and remote-control bombs. This, along with the many stealth finishers in this game, make the player feel like the apex predator; whether you are kicking thugs through windows or tying them up below gargoyles, Batman has all the moves to make any of Joker's goons run in fear. It is also a nice mirror to the fast paced combat system, giving a healthy mix of stealth and combat as the player progresses through the game.
Lastly, there are a LOAD of challenges to complete. The Riddler himself places 240 collectibles/puzzles to solve throughout each area of the game, and outside of the main story there are over a dozen challenges to complete. I was maniacal enough to collect every goodie in the game, as well as completing each challenge (besides the four extra challenges that are included with the GOTY edition). The collectible hunt felt a bit grindy to me, as a lot of the collectibles give little besides short descriptions of Batman's many foes he has faced in his career. One cool set of collectibles are the audio logs scattered throughout the game, which give some insight to the insanity of Batman's greatest foes. However for the most part, there are no extra gadgets to unlock, and the only thing you really have to show for it are a small collection of character models you can observe in the main menu. Some of the challenges feel a bit cheap as well, and serve to show how the combat system can start to break in functionality as more and more enemies are thrown at you (teleportation, inconsistency in who you are attacking, and overly long animations for finishers). Overall though, I appreciated the addition of these modes as an addition to the main story.
Batman: Arkham Asylum was a breath of fresh air to the superhero video game genre in 2009, and still serves as an awesome game to play over a decade later. With a solid combat system, array of gadgets and stealth tactics, and over a dozen challenges to test your skills, this game has a good amount of content to keep any player, Batman-fanatic or not, satisfied. I would highly Recommend this title, and I look forward to playing the 2011 sequel Batman: Arkham City in the future, which is supposed to expand on every aspect of the first game greatly, and is seen by many to be one of the best superhero games ever made!
Final Verdict: 9/10 (Excellent)
2004
"'Rise And Shine, Mr. Freeman. Rise And Shine.'"
Half-Life 2 is a game that forever changed my life as a gamer. I was only nine years old when I stumbled across a demo disk copy of The Orange Box for my Xbox 360, and I decided to check out what that weird little disk had to offer me. I don't remember ever playing an old-school style FPS before that point, and if I had, none of them ever stood out to me the way that Half-Life 2 did. Little did I know that it would forever change the way I looked at video games, specifically the way a First-Person Shooter could work.
Coming back to it for possibly the tenth time, I was afraid that this game wouldn't hold up the same as it did for me three years ago. Back then, I was worried that it "wouldn't hold up the same as it did four years ago". Both times, I was proven wrong. With an immensely creative direction and timeless characters, Half-Life 2 still remains one of the greatest FPS titles of all time.
Many fans of the original title criticize this game's lack of revolutionary flavor that the 1998 title was able to bring to the gaming industry. Yes, the sequel brought a fantastic physics engine that changed up the gameplay, but that was already expected to happen with many games in 2004. It was expected that the sequel would continue the great ideas from Half-Life , throwing the great Doctor Gordon Freeman against many types of alien foes with unique designs and powers, but...that didn't really happen. In a lot of ways, Half-Life 2 was a disappointment in the same way that The Empire Strikes Back was a disappointment - it shifted the tone of the series in a different direction...
... a much darker direction...
Half-Life 2 throws you not into a version of Earth with tons of fun aliens to fight. It doesn't throw you into the heat of the aftermath of the Resonance Cascade from the original title. This game tosses you into the remnants of human civilization, desperate to survive mass genocide being committed by an alien empire known as The Combine. There are no more children. There is little hope left...
There is only one "free man".
There really isn't anything to talk about concerning this title that hasn't already been talked about. Many gamers have heard of this title and heard of its legacy, and to describe its refined FPS gameplay and great plot would be like preaching to the choir. What I find more important is to show this game to someone who is newer to FPS games, in hopes that it can be an example of exquisite storytelling and worldbuilding within a video game.
In my opinion, this is Valve's masterpiece, it is their golden child. It is the one game that they are terrified of making a direct sequel for, so much so that it has been sixteen years, nearly three times the gap between Half-Life and Half-Life 2 , and there is still no sign of Half-Life 3 . Its been over a decade since this game fell in my lap and proved to me that a fantastic world could be formed within the realms of an FPS title. I, as well as many other people, am eagerly awaiting Half-Life 3 . Expectations are all over the place for that title, and there's a very good reason for that.
Its hard to follow up a near perfect video game. Valve would be putting its reputation on the line to deliver something revolutionary for fans. However, there are rumblings that many employees want to return to this world and finish Gordon Freeman's story. Whether it is a traditional FPS or it involves virtual reality technology, there's only one thing for certain - the only thing standing between Half-Life 3 and the end of the trilogy is...time.
Of course I Recommend this game.
Its one for the ages.
Final Verdict: 10/10 (Masterpiece)
Half-Life 2 is a game that forever changed my life as a gamer. I was only nine years old when I stumbled across a demo disk copy of The Orange Box for my Xbox 360, and I decided to check out what that weird little disk had to offer me. I don't remember ever playing an old-school style FPS before that point, and if I had, none of them ever stood out to me the way that Half-Life 2 did. Little did I know that it would forever change the way I looked at video games, specifically the way a First-Person Shooter could work.
Coming back to it for possibly the tenth time, I was afraid that this game wouldn't hold up the same as it did for me three years ago. Back then, I was worried that it "wouldn't hold up the same as it did four years ago". Both times, I was proven wrong. With an immensely creative direction and timeless characters, Half-Life 2 still remains one of the greatest FPS titles of all time.
Many fans of the original title criticize this game's lack of revolutionary flavor that the 1998 title was able to bring to the gaming industry. Yes, the sequel brought a fantastic physics engine that changed up the gameplay, but that was already expected to happen with many games in 2004. It was expected that the sequel would continue the great ideas from Half-Life , throwing the great Doctor Gordon Freeman against many types of alien foes with unique designs and powers, but...that didn't really happen. In a lot of ways, Half-Life 2 was a disappointment in the same way that The Empire Strikes Back was a disappointment - it shifted the tone of the series in a different direction...
... a much darker direction...
Half-Life 2 throws you not into a version of Earth with tons of fun aliens to fight. It doesn't throw you into the heat of the aftermath of the Resonance Cascade from the original title. This game tosses you into the remnants of human civilization, desperate to survive mass genocide being committed by an alien empire known as The Combine. There are no more children. There is little hope left...
There is only one "free man".
There really isn't anything to talk about concerning this title that hasn't already been talked about. Many gamers have heard of this title and heard of its legacy, and to describe its refined FPS gameplay and great plot would be like preaching to the choir. What I find more important is to show this game to someone who is newer to FPS games, in hopes that it can be an example of exquisite storytelling and worldbuilding within a video game.
In my opinion, this is Valve's masterpiece, it is their golden child. It is the one game that they are terrified of making a direct sequel for, so much so that it has been sixteen years, nearly three times the gap between Half-Life and Half-Life 2 , and there is still no sign of Half-Life 3 . Its been over a decade since this game fell in my lap and proved to me that a fantastic world could be formed within the realms of an FPS title. I, as well as many other people, am eagerly awaiting Half-Life 3 . Expectations are all over the place for that title, and there's a very good reason for that.
Its hard to follow up a near perfect video game. Valve would be putting its reputation on the line to deliver something revolutionary for fans. However, there are rumblings that many employees want to return to this world and finish Gordon Freeman's story. Whether it is a traditional FPS or it involves virtual reality technology, there's only one thing for certain - the only thing standing between Half-Life 3 and the end of the trilogy is...time.
Of course I Recommend this game.
Its one for the ages.
Final Verdict: 10/10 (Masterpiece)
"At Least There's Better Star Wars Games Out There?"
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
"At Least There's Better Star Wars Games Out There?"
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
"At Least There's Better Star Wars Games Out There?"
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
This game seems to have aged poorly. It's very basic and barebones, and plays like a 25+ year old game would expect to play. It requires a joystick controller, which I do not own, and the mouse controls are pretty poor. I wish there was the ability to use a normal gamepad properly, but the functionality is also very poor. After less than ten minutes, I gave up on playing this title. Gameplay was simplistic and revolved around repeating an action for about 10 minutes, then moving onto the next level. It just didn't have anything that enticed me, and had pretty bad performance (15 fps?! Why would I want that in 2019?!). I would Not Recommend this game at all.
Final Verdict: 1/10 (Terrible)
This review contains spoilers
"Orcs, Demons, And Heresy (Oh My!)"
I had tried out Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine around a year or two back, and thought it was dreadfully dull. I felt the characters had no depth, the story was simplistic, and the combat was repetitive. I had given up only four chapters in, keeping myself from enjoying a very solid romp through an action-packed campaign. Thankfully, I corrected my old opinion by playing and beating this game over the last couple of days!
I'll get this out of the way - I don't think this game does a great job in its first couple of chapters. The story is yet to grow in any sort of way, the action is only decent, and the characterizations are pretty generic. By the time this game reaches its halfway point, however, all of these aspects start to grow into a very fun action-shooter.
I would compare the gameplay heavily to something like the first Gears of War , the biggest differences being a bit of a better color palette, a lack of co-op play for the campaign, a lack of cover-shooting, and a much heavier focus on melee-combat. Other than these things, the game is practically a Warhammer 40K version of Gears of War , and I will be using that game to make a few comparisons for anyone familiar with that series.
To start, the combat is fairly straightforward. You equip an arsenal of three main weapons, a pistol, and a melee weapon of choice. Most guns function similarly to normal weapons like sniper rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, and assault rifles, though they have a pretty decent art style, and sometimes even a unique appearance when firing. The melee weapons are pretty cool, with some options of a Power Axe and a Chainsword allowing for some brutal kills against the hordes of orcs and demons you will encounter in the story. My particular favorite was the Thunderhammer, a giant electrically-infuse battle hammer with enough power to slay even the toughest of foes in a few swings.
The game balances a mix of defensive and aggressive gameplay fairly well. You have the ability to execute enemies in order to restore health, though you run the risk of leaving yourself out in the open too long for enemies to melt your shields and flesh. There is a good amount of variety with encounters, giving each type of weapon a place to shine. You'll mainly be using your Bolter Rifle, which is similar to the Lancer from Gears of War except with a slower fire rate and without a chainsaw.
There is no ability to stick to cover, which helps a bunch in this game. It allows for combat to be less monotonous than in other third-person shooters, where they tend to revolve around sticking to cover and shooting when the enemy stops firing. I loved the sections where you gain access to a Jump Pack, which allow you to fly around the level while also smashing into the ground and turning enemies to mincemeat.
On the graphical side of things, they are pretty good for 2011. I wish that there was more color throughout the game, and the second half does a bit to help towards that issue, but it still lacks vibrant colors in favor of a grittier color scheme. However, the designs of the Space Marines and their foes are very good to compensate, with insignia's and armor grooves being unique for Titus and Company, while there are lots of scars and grimy details for both Orcs and Demons alike.
I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would, though I don't think its anything extremely interesting. There is a nice twist or two in the campaign, and I like the ruthlessness of both Titus, the enemy Orc boss, and the Demon leader, though I wish more depth was given to Titus and Company. The story beats get sort of mish-mashed with all of the mindless action throughout the campaign, which sucks because there is SO much lore waiting to be uncovered in this title. I am definitely more interested in learning about the Warhammer 40K universe after finishing this title.
Still, while this game's campaign was much better the second time trying it out, I have my complaints. I wish more open areas were used for combat, since a good amount of the game is focused on the player moving through static environments like sewers, manufacturing facilities, and bunkers. When there was an open area, I was hoping to see some more interesting architecture or jaw-dropping scenery, which only occurred with the Orbital Spire and Invictus scenes for myself. Lastly, the final boss fight was pretty lackluster since it was a quick-time-event, though I will admit, Titus wrecked the final boss pretty hard!
As for the multiplayer modes, I paid them no bother. The multiplayer seemed mostly dead, with the very few servers being dominated by extremely overpowered players, and the connection was awful. The same goes for the survival mode, which I felt could've been better with friends, though it didn't really have any unique aspects to it which would have kept my attention. This game drastically needed to have a co-op campaign, which honestly could've made sense given the story (just remove some of the solo sequences, which honestly were not much different themselves).
Overall, I found Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine to be pretty fun, and just shy of being a great game. I think the addition of a co-op campaign would have boosted my opinion heavily for this title, and I think that some more interesting scenery in the background could've also increased my opinion of the art/world design. The action was really great, if a bit simple at times, and I found myself much more interested in the lore of this franchise than ever before. This is a very good stepping stone for those interested in this franchise, since this title is easy to understand functionally for anyone who has played a cover shooter a la Gears of War before. I can definitely Recommend this one!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
I had tried out Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine around a year or two back, and thought it was dreadfully dull. I felt the characters had no depth, the story was simplistic, and the combat was repetitive. I had given up only four chapters in, keeping myself from enjoying a very solid romp through an action-packed campaign. Thankfully, I corrected my old opinion by playing and beating this game over the last couple of days!
I'll get this out of the way - I don't think this game does a great job in its first couple of chapters. The story is yet to grow in any sort of way, the action is only decent, and the characterizations are pretty generic. By the time this game reaches its halfway point, however, all of these aspects start to grow into a very fun action-shooter.
I would compare the gameplay heavily to something like the first Gears of War , the biggest differences being a bit of a better color palette, a lack of co-op play for the campaign, a lack of cover-shooting, and a much heavier focus on melee-combat. Other than these things, the game is practically a Warhammer 40K version of Gears of War , and I will be using that game to make a few comparisons for anyone familiar with that series.
To start, the combat is fairly straightforward. You equip an arsenal of three main weapons, a pistol, and a melee weapon of choice. Most guns function similarly to normal weapons like sniper rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, and assault rifles, though they have a pretty decent art style, and sometimes even a unique appearance when firing. The melee weapons are pretty cool, with some options of a Power Axe and a Chainsword allowing for some brutal kills against the hordes of orcs and demons you will encounter in the story. My particular favorite was the Thunderhammer, a giant electrically-infuse battle hammer with enough power to slay even the toughest of foes in a few swings.
The game balances a mix of defensive and aggressive gameplay fairly well. You have the ability to execute enemies in order to restore health, though you run the risk of leaving yourself out in the open too long for enemies to melt your shields and flesh. There is a good amount of variety with encounters, giving each type of weapon a place to shine. You'll mainly be using your Bolter Rifle, which is similar to the Lancer from Gears of War except with a slower fire rate and without a chainsaw.
There is no ability to stick to cover, which helps a bunch in this game. It allows for combat to be less monotonous than in other third-person shooters, where they tend to revolve around sticking to cover and shooting when the enemy stops firing. I loved the sections where you gain access to a Jump Pack, which allow you to fly around the level while also smashing into the ground and turning enemies to mincemeat.
On the graphical side of things, they are pretty good for 2011. I wish that there was more color throughout the game, and the second half does a bit to help towards that issue, but it still lacks vibrant colors in favor of a grittier color scheme. However, the designs of the Space Marines and their foes are very good to compensate, with insignia's and armor grooves being unique for Titus and Company, while there are lots of scars and grimy details for both Orcs and Demons alike.
I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would, though I don't think its anything extremely interesting. There is a nice twist or two in the campaign, and I like the ruthlessness of both Titus, the enemy Orc boss, and the Demon leader, though I wish more depth was given to Titus and Company. The story beats get sort of mish-mashed with all of the mindless action throughout the campaign, which sucks because there is SO much lore waiting to be uncovered in this title. I am definitely more interested in learning about the Warhammer 40K universe after finishing this title.
Still, while this game's campaign was much better the second time trying it out, I have my complaints. I wish more open areas were used for combat, since a good amount of the game is focused on the player moving through static environments like sewers, manufacturing facilities, and bunkers. When there was an open area, I was hoping to see some more interesting architecture or jaw-dropping scenery, which only occurred with the Orbital Spire and Invictus scenes for myself. Lastly, the final boss fight was pretty lackluster since it was a quick-time-event, though I will admit, Titus wrecked the final boss pretty hard!
As for the multiplayer modes, I paid them no bother. The multiplayer seemed mostly dead, with the very few servers being dominated by extremely overpowered players, and the connection was awful. The same goes for the survival mode, which I felt could've been better with friends, though it didn't really have any unique aspects to it which would have kept my attention. This game drastically needed to have a co-op campaign, which honestly could've made sense given the story (just remove some of the solo sequences, which honestly were not much different themselves).
Overall, I found Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine to be pretty fun, and just shy of being a great game. I think the addition of a co-op campaign would have boosted my opinion heavily for this title, and I think that some more interesting scenery in the background could've also increased my opinion of the art/world design. The action was really great, if a bit simple at times, and I found myself much more interested in the lore of this franchise than ever before. This is a very good stepping stone for those interested in this franchise, since this title is easy to understand functionally for anyone who has played a cover shooter a la Gears of War before. I can definitely Recommend this one!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
2009
"A Weird, Irritating, Fast-Paced And Fun As Hell Party Game"
When one of my friends recommended that I should pick this game up, I thought he was joking. The art style, gameplay, and overall vibe of the game didn't fit for me, and I was uninterested in his suggestion. However, since the title was on sale at the time, I figured at the very least, I would waste only a few dollars on something that I could try playing for a couple of hours. That was a good decision, since this is a pretty good party game!
100% Orange Juice definitely has a style that may throw off many western audiences. If you aren't really into anime, manga, or Japanese-styled video games, this title appears to be a hard sell (a reason I was skeptical at first). However, its mechanics (while not the easiest to explain at first) end up being simple to understand over time. There are bunch of characters to choose from, and a system that encourages frequent play in order to unlock new cards, characters, and cosmetic items. None of these are pay-to-win, and extra characters can be purchased as well (around $2-$3 for two). I've only played 7 hours, but I plan on sinking dozens more into this game for sure.
As for modes, there are plenty of options for Single, Cooperative, and Competitive play. The campaign isn't the best, since there is a very obvious random advantage for the CPU, but it has its moments. The newer co-op modes are hectic, and if you can manage to get a few friends together, are a tense and fun experience. This mode revolves around fighting a boss, some of which win by either killing your team outright or by surviving a determined amount of time. Lastly, the competitive mode in this game is its bread and butter. There have been so many games full of laughter, yet so many filled with frustration due to randomness gone haywire. While sometimes frustrating, it is always pretty fun to come back to, and luckily games don't drag on too long (assuming animation times are set to the fastest setting).
100% Orange Juice is a fun time. It should be a staple in anyone's library for those looking for a party game full of chaos. With the amount of customization available, as well as the multiple events that occur fairly frequently, you will find yourself coming back time and time again! The gameplay takes a bit getting used to, but it is highly worth it in the end. Overall, I Recommend this title, since it has helped scratch my itch for some good crazy party-games in a gaming industry that seems to forget about them!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
When one of my friends recommended that I should pick this game up, I thought he was joking. The art style, gameplay, and overall vibe of the game didn't fit for me, and I was uninterested in his suggestion. However, since the title was on sale at the time, I figured at the very least, I would waste only a few dollars on something that I could try playing for a couple of hours. That was a good decision, since this is a pretty good party game!
100% Orange Juice definitely has a style that may throw off many western audiences. If you aren't really into anime, manga, or Japanese-styled video games, this title appears to be a hard sell (a reason I was skeptical at first). However, its mechanics (while not the easiest to explain at first) end up being simple to understand over time. There are bunch of characters to choose from, and a system that encourages frequent play in order to unlock new cards, characters, and cosmetic items. None of these are pay-to-win, and extra characters can be purchased as well (around $2-$3 for two). I've only played 7 hours, but I plan on sinking dozens more into this game for sure.
As for modes, there are plenty of options for Single, Cooperative, and Competitive play. The campaign isn't the best, since there is a very obvious random advantage for the CPU, but it has its moments. The newer co-op modes are hectic, and if you can manage to get a few friends together, are a tense and fun experience. This mode revolves around fighting a boss, some of which win by either killing your team outright or by surviving a determined amount of time. Lastly, the competitive mode in this game is its bread and butter. There have been so many games full of laughter, yet so many filled with frustration due to randomness gone haywire. While sometimes frustrating, it is always pretty fun to come back to, and luckily games don't drag on too long (assuming animation times are set to the fastest setting).
100% Orange Juice is a fun time. It should be a staple in anyone's library for those looking for a party game full of chaos. With the amount of customization available, as well as the multiple events that occur fairly frequently, you will find yourself coming back time and time again! The gameplay takes a bit getting used to, but it is highly worth it in the end. Overall, I Recommend this title, since it has helped scratch my itch for some good crazy party-games in a gaming industry that seems to forget about them!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
"Rev Up Those Fryers, Cause I'm Sure Hungry For One 'KFC Dating Simulator'"
In 2019, KFC sponsored a game that aimed to be a dating simulator revolving around Colonel Sanders being the main love interest - yes, this is a real thing. What is more surprising, however, is that is was a fairly enjoyable experience full of charm and humor. A colorful cast of characters (and a few pretty original ones) populate the game's 2-3 hour runtime, and there is a decent story to be experienced here. However, despite the tongue-in-cheek humor, this game does have some flaws that prevent it from being a more solid experience.
First, the positives - the game is really goofy, and runs with that sentiment throughout its length. The scenarios presented are random and hilarious, and the characters all have a quirky nature to them that allows them to be easily integrated to the plot. Additionally, the art style is pretty good looking! The environments, while a bit limited due to the length of the game's story, are actually fairly detailed. While some areas are much more detailed than others (the Colonel's home is by far the most detailed area compared to the rest), the backgrounds avoided reusing assets from other games. The sound design is also really great, with characters making noises at perfect moments for comedic effect.
Next, the "meh" stuff - I wish the story went on a bit longer in order to give some more background to the school and characters. The game only takes place over three days, and it doesn't really give enough time for the player to become attached to any person. Yes I know, the game isn't "supposed" to take itself seriously, but in this regard I feel the game could have transcended into something else entirely. Additionally, the choice system could have been a bit more interactive and implemented in a more meaningful nature. Most of the choices end up in a fail state, unless the correct choice is made. It makes the game very linear, which is fine, but the strength of the game's plot is its biggest weakness.
The bad - at the end of the day, this is just a generic dating simulator with a bit of KFC spice added in. Its by no means "bland", but its likely never worth a replay, and will leave you feeling as if you played a slightly dressed-up dating simulator. This is a genre that I am not the biggest fan of, and I really rely on the plot and characters to carry a lot of the load in order to get me through the mostly non-interactive gameplay. This game failed to capitalize on its unique blend of quirky product-placement and goofy charm - I really thought this could've been a great game had there been a more involved plot-line + character system.
Overall, I think its a very unique game, but one that lacks a lot of substance. I can Recommend it, and it's definitely worth checking out for the absurdity of the situations and the humor in the game, but the game's story and lack of true depth for many characters may leave you wanting. I personally felt that it could have been a few hours longer, focusing more on the different characters, building up the lore behind the cooking academy, and even polishing up the choice systems. Hell, a cooking mini-game where you make KFC dishes would have worked wonders here! Alas, its still a game I appreciate - not only for its existence, but for being able to put a smile on my face. That's how you know something has flavor.
Now can we PLEASE get a fast food harem game?
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)
In 2019, KFC sponsored a game that aimed to be a dating simulator revolving around Colonel Sanders being the main love interest - yes, this is a real thing. What is more surprising, however, is that is was a fairly enjoyable experience full of charm and humor. A colorful cast of characters (and a few pretty original ones) populate the game's 2-3 hour runtime, and there is a decent story to be experienced here. However, despite the tongue-in-cheek humor, this game does have some flaws that prevent it from being a more solid experience.
First, the positives - the game is really goofy, and runs with that sentiment throughout its length. The scenarios presented are random and hilarious, and the characters all have a quirky nature to them that allows them to be easily integrated to the plot. Additionally, the art style is pretty good looking! The environments, while a bit limited due to the length of the game's story, are actually fairly detailed. While some areas are much more detailed than others (the Colonel's home is by far the most detailed area compared to the rest), the backgrounds avoided reusing assets from other games. The sound design is also really great, with characters making noises at perfect moments for comedic effect.
Next, the "meh" stuff - I wish the story went on a bit longer in order to give some more background to the school and characters. The game only takes place over three days, and it doesn't really give enough time for the player to become attached to any person. Yes I know, the game isn't "supposed" to take itself seriously, but in this regard I feel the game could have transcended into something else entirely. Additionally, the choice system could have been a bit more interactive and implemented in a more meaningful nature. Most of the choices end up in a fail state, unless the correct choice is made. It makes the game very linear, which is fine, but the strength of the game's plot is its biggest weakness.
The bad - at the end of the day, this is just a generic dating simulator with a bit of KFC spice added in. Its by no means "bland", but its likely never worth a replay, and will leave you feeling as if you played a slightly dressed-up dating simulator. This is a genre that I am not the biggest fan of, and I really rely on the plot and characters to carry a lot of the load in order to get me through the mostly non-interactive gameplay. This game failed to capitalize on its unique blend of quirky product-placement and goofy charm - I really thought this could've been a great game had there been a more involved plot-line + character system.
Overall, I think its a very unique game, but one that lacks a lot of substance. I can Recommend it, and it's definitely worth checking out for the absurdity of the situations and the humor in the game, but the game's story and lack of true depth for many characters may leave you wanting. I personally felt that it could have been a few hours longer, focusing more on the different characters, building up the lore behind the cooking academy, and even polishing up the choice systems. Hell, a cooking mini-game where you make KFC dishes would have worked wonders here! Alas, its still a game I appreciate - not only for its existence, but for being able to put a smile on my face. That's how you know something has flavor.
Now can we PLEASE get a fast food harem game?
Final Verdict: 6/10 (Above Average)