Yuggy
First time finishing the original TR and I fucking loved it!
Honestly, the game is transformed just by having a save anywhere feature (I know this is in the PC version). The new visuals and 60fps help too.
New art is great and being able to switch back to the original visuals with the press of a button is very helpful when you need its brighter lighting.
No handholding, minimal HUD, great puzzles, a suitably creepy and lonely atmosphere, and a classic soundtrack. What a game.
(Yes, it can be tough at times but it’s far easier - and fairer - than its sequels. Speaking of which, TR2 next.)
Honestly, the game is transformed just by having a save anywhere feature (I know this is in the PC version). The new visuals and 60fps help too.
New art is great and being able to switch back to the original visuals with the press of a button is very helpful when you need its brighter lighting.
No handholding, minimal HUD, great puzzles, a suitably creepy and lonely atmosphere, and a classic soundtrack. What a game.
(Yes, it can be tough at times but it’s far easier - and fairer - than its sequels. Speaking of which, TR2 next.)
2022
Replay. I was wrong about this one. It's a modern classic. How the heck did only two people make this?
2013
Oh my. So I bought this in 2016 and then forgot about it. Probably because my Xbox ownership has been so inconsistent. Anyway, I very rarely play military FPS games so I actually found this kind of refreshing. It's short, daft, and loud.
Shite out of ten -- and that's OK.
Shite out of ten -- and that's OK.
Second ever replay of the OG but this time on PS5. I fucked up and Barry died. Even got all the MO discs. Prick.
Mint game.
Mint game.
2007
Replay.
Halo 3 marked the peak of Xbox as a brand, for me at least. Although I never actually owned a 360 in its heyday, I did borrow one to play this -- and it delivered on the hype and then some. A brilliant campaign. Still plays like a dream.
Halo 3 marked the peak of Xbox as a brand, for me at least. Although I never actually owned a 360 in its heyday, I did borrow one to play this -- and it delivered on the hype and then some. A brilliant campaign. Still plays like a dream.
2023
Dead Space is such a videogame.
A largely unnecessary 'remake' of a classic. It's a great time however you choose to play it - even on PS3 like I did in 2020.
Still, the remake reminded me of some of the things that never quite clicked with me about the series:
1) The necromorphs are probably the least scary thing in the game
2) The plot itself is terrible and only gets worse in the sequels, but the Ishimura is a great setting and they nail the environmental storytelling
3) The pacing towards the end did that thing that a lot of games in its generation were guilty of. You know, endless waves of enemies and tedious navigation before an abrupt ending.
And yet, it remains a tense and incredibly well designed experience (for the most part).
Also, New Isaac sucks.
A largely unnecessary 'remake' of a classic. It's a great time however you choose to play it - even on PS3 like I did in 2020.
Still, the remake reminded me of some of the things that never quite clicked with me about the series:
1) The necromorphs are probably the least scary thing in the game
2) The plot itself is terrible and only gets worse in the sequels, but the Ishimura is a great setting and they nail the environmental storytelling
3) The pacing towards the end did that thing that a lot of games in its generation were guilty of. You know, endless waves of enemies and tedious navigation before an abrupt ending.
And yet, it remains a tense and incredibly well designed experience (for the most part).
Also, New Isaac sucks.
I love birds
2023
Aww, that was lovely. The kind of experience that makes me feel good about indie games being a thing.
Assassin's Creed Brothergood
Strange one. Better and worse than the first game. Brilliant plot, dialogue, and presentation. Lousy combat and too much backtracking. But the forges were good Zelda-like mini dungeons.
A flawed game, but definitely worth playing if you're a fan of the series.
Also has Odo from Deep Space Nine in it.
A flawed game, but definitely worth playing if you're a fan of the series.
Also has Odo from Deep Space Nine in it.
2002
This is called SOS The Final Escape in Europe. Because of that, i didn't realise until recently that it was the first Disaster Report game.
My pal had this when we were kids. It looked cool but I forgot about it until recently when I beat (and LOVED) the fourth game on PS4.
This is very similar. A super tight few hours of survival adventure set during the aftermath of an earthquake on a man made island.
Its silly characters and dialogue only add to the charm. In fact, it almost has that Yakuza energy wherein it throws moments of levity in there to counter the serious stuff.
Glad to finish this. Shame the sequel - Raw Danger! - only got a European release in France.
My pal had this when we were kids. It looked cool but I forgot about it until recently when I beat (and LOVED) the fourth game on PS4.
This is very similar. A super tight few hours of survival adventure set during the aftermath of an earthquake on a man made island.
Its silly characters and dialogue only add to the charm. In fact, it almost has that Yakuza energy wherein it throws moments of levity in there to counter the serious stuff.
Glad to finish this. Shame the sequel - Raw Danger! - only got a European release in France.
Wild stuff. Pure unadulterated PS2 era jank.
Ambitious from a technical perspective - normal mapping on PS2, gosh - but to the point that it becomes quite ugly. They ask way too much of the console here. But I kinda Iove that. It's fascinating to see what they were able to do, regardless of whether it works or not.
From a plot and visual design perspective It is totally off its nut. Mecha Godzilla Smith being a highlight.
Ambitious from a technical perspective - normal mapping on PS2, gosh - but to the point that it becomes quite ugly. They ask way too much of the console here. But I kinda Iove that. It's fascinating to see what they were able to do, regardless of whether it works or not.
From a plot and visual design perspective It is totally off its nut. Mecha Godzilla Smith being a highlight.
2023
Barely an RPG.
Hack, slash, walk, repeat. No mini games, no strategy, no dialogue options, and barely any excuse to explore and better your character.
Think about FF7 on PS1. That had materia, strategy, bike chases, secret summons, dungeons, chocobo breeding, snowboarding and all sorts of other lovely nonsense.
With that said, gosh this game is stunning to look at. And Jill is brilliant.
What a disappointing experience.
Oh, and those side quests? Pathetic.
Hack, slash, walk, repeat. No mini games, no strategy, no dialogue options, and barely any excuse to explore and better your character.
Think about FF7 on PS1. That had materia, strategy, bike chases, secret summons, dungeons, chocobo breeding, snowboarding and all sorts of other lovely nonsense.
With that said, gosh this game is stunning to look at. And Jill is brilliant.
What a disappointing experience.
Oh, and those side quests? Pathetic.
2022
A love letter to many of my favourite games of all time, but not quite as good as any of them. But I reckon I'll be replaying this for years just because I'm a sucker for the old school survival horror gameplay loop.
2012
First replay since 2015. Quietly one of the most impressive action games of its generation. Looks and plays great, tons of gameplay variety, and it has a confidence in its daftness while being compelling.
The story isn't quite as interesting as it was to me in 2015, but it was great to revisit.
The story isn't quite as interesting as it was to me in 2015, but it was great to revisit.