Zyphe
2019
It's impossible to talk about this game without sounding like the most pretentious person imaginable. A once in a lifetime experience that everyone can and should go through as blind as possible. It's the best game ever made and if we're being honest second place is not close.
An excellent investigation vn with compelling characters, fun puzzles, a good mystery (including a non-anime-bullshit resolution!), and an absolutely gorgeous artstyle. Incredibly, this game dodges all the worst traits of a weeb game. No pedo-bait, no creepshots, no insufferable stereotypes.
My only gripe with it is that it could have gone further with many of the gameplay elements it promises at the start. Many concepts don't get reused past their introduction and some very interesting mechanics look like they would be way more important than they end up being.
Overall it is an excellent experience with very broad appeal that somehow square enix forgot? to market? like at all?
My only gripe with it is that it could have gone further with many of the gameplay elements it promises at the start. Many concepts don't get reused past their introduction and some very interesting mechanics look like they would be way more important than they end up being.
Overall it is an excellent experience with very broad appeal that somehow square enix forgot? to market? like at all?
2011
This is a half-finished game, its last areas filled to the brim with enemies seemingly placed at random and some of the worst bossfights ever put in a video game.
It's still the best game fromsoft ever made and noone besides a small Australian indie studio has captured the magic of its first half.
It's still the best game fromsoft ever made and noone besides a small Australian indie studio has captured the magic of its first half.
2022
What a fucking disaster game.
It's godawful, misguided final hours are only comparable to the godawful, unfinished second half of Dark Souls 1....
The absolute joy of exploring its gorgeous world as the map continues to expand around you is also only comparable to Dark Souls 1 (and Hollow Knight actually)...
There are SEVERE problems that this game introduces to the soulslike formula, and worse, reintroduces from Dark Souls 2. Despite that, Elden Ring is so phenomenal in every other aspect that it's genuinely difficult to criticize.
It's godawful, misguided final hours are only comparable to the godawful, unfinished second half of Dark Souls 1....
The absolute joy of exploring its gorgeous world as the map continues to expand around you is also only comparable to Dark Souls 1 (and Hollow Knight actually)...
There are SEVERE problems that this game introduces to the soulslike formula, and worse, reintroduces from Dark Souls 2. Despite that, Elden Ring is so phenomenal in every other aspect that it's genuinely difficult to criticize.
2019
Let me be absolutely clear, if ANY studio other than Atlus used this formula they could easily make a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the company is saddled with some of the most incompetent writers in the business, and the rest of them are content in making a stylish, vapid mess.
One of the worst examples of turn-based combat in recent memory, exploitable, repetitive and overused to a comical extent. Palaces are still boring to traverse and feel like pointless, extremely padded set dressing.
The character writing is so surface level and tropey I can only describe it as cringe-worthy. Some exceptions do apply but the vast majority of confidants and team members are mediocre and uninteresting at best.
The direction is also extremely questionable, they were more interested in fanservice than sticking to the themes they attempted to explore initially. Every female character devolved into a different type of waifu-bait the moment their introduction in the main story is finished. Am I'm NOT gonna touch the pedo shit.
One of the worst examples of turn-based combat in recent memory, exploitable, repetitive and overused to a comical extent. Palaces are still boring to traverse and feel like pointless, extremely padded set dressing.
The character writing is so surface level and tropey I can only describe it as cringe-worthy. Some exceptions do apply but the vast majority of confidants and team members are mediocre and uninteresting at best.
The direction is also extremely questionable, they were more interested in fanservice than sticking to the themes they attempted to explore initially. Every female character devolved into a different type of waifu-bait the moment their introduction in the main story is finished. Am I'm NOT gonna touch the pedo shit.
2017
Yoko Taro finally trial-and-errored himself into making a masterpiece, and it only took PlatinumGames to make him a combat system worth a damn. The atmosphere here is incredible, with one of the most consistently high quality soundtracks ever put in a game.
Gorgeous and extremely well-utilized visuals, a unique gameplay loop for a really engaging mystery. Was one of a kind for a while but I'm thankful we're starting to see new releases inspired by it.
2014
A phenomenal game betrayed by a subpar engine, massive pop-in and a significant amount of bugs. Despite that, Subnautica has the best gameplay loop of any survival crafting game. Its hand-made map and actually designed progression systems make it an absolute joy to explore and map out.
2014
A complete and utter trashfire.
There are a lot of games that misunderstood the appeal of Dark Souls 1, and this is chief amongst them.
Devs heard that people liked the difficulty so they assumed they could make the most boring encounters imaginable if they were hard.
Devs heard that the first game "opens up" after the lordvessel so they gave the players bonfire warping immediately, completely ruining the interconnected world.
Devs heard that the environmental storytelling was impressive so they relied on setpieces and spectacle instead of intrigue and mystery.
This is, without a shred of irony, one of the worst games I've ever played.
There are a lot of games that misunderstood the appeal of Dark Souls 1, and this is chief amongst them.
Devs heard that people liked the difficulty so they assumed they could make the most boring encounters imaginable if they were hard.
Devs heard that the first game "opens up" after the lordvessel so they gave the players bonfire warping immediately, completely ruining the interconnected world.
Devs heard that the environmental storytelling was impressive so they relied on setpieces and spectacle instead of intrigue and mystery.
This is, without a shred of irony, one of the worst games I've ever played.
Why do bartenders keep looking at me weird when I ask for extra karmotrine????
2023
This is the most complete package a fighting game has ever had. Very solid singleplayer content with new and inventive ways to get people into the genre. Training and learning tools were clearly a priority and it shows.
Character diversity is much much better than sfv, with much more distinct characters this time around. There arent many complaints to be had about the game balance either, all characters are viable if not good, and it is far to soon to know what "broken" means in a game with parry and drive rush.
However, the perennial problem of street fighter players being the most boring mfers imaginable persists.
Ken Players delenda est.
Character diversity is much much better than sfv, with much more distinct characters this time around. There arent many complaints to be had about the game balance either, all characters are viable if not good, and it is far to soon to know what "broken" means in a game with parry and drive rush.
However, the perennial problem of street fighter players being the most boring mfers imaginable persists.
Ken Players delenda est.
2013
Love waiting, love incessant padding to every core system, love every new addition being abandoned in favor for a newer one every 6 months.
If you removed the trash you'd have one of the most enjoyable shooters ever made, with incredible movement and build variety. Sadly, the trash is like 80% of the game at this point.
If you removed the trash you'd have one of the most enjoyable shooters ever made, with incredible movement and build variety. Sadly, the trash is like 80% of the game at this point.
2012
Utterly indefensible.
Morally reprehensible.
Plays like ass.
I don't believe the pixels on my screen can actually be called characters.
Disgusting on every level.
Morally reprehensible.
Plays like ass.
I don't believe the pixels on my screen can actually be called characters.
Disgusting on every level.
2014
As far as party games go this is an undisputed legend. An absolute blast with a couple of friends and a drink or two.
2022
An incredibly tense game about making connections and surviving in a place that doesn't even consider you alive. It's mechanically brilliant, marrying it's themes, it's mechanics and it's atmosphere together like very few games before it. This is an absolute gem.
Fun fact: This is the first game to my knowledge that's been inspired by the tabletop RPG Blades in the Dark. Its great, go play it NOW.
Fun fact: This is the first game to my knowledge that's been inspired by the tabletop RPG Blades in the Dark. Its great, go play it NOW.