apparition
2015
A fun game that feels like it's cutting the difference between modern Telltale and older Lucas adventure games. From my understanding of Sierra-era King's Quest games being notoriously hard, this game does not inherit that legacy. Disappointed this never got a sequel or that another game never took up the direction this game was heading, but glad it got a chance to be made.
2011
Fun set pieces and weapons to use in them. The shift to the post-apoc survivor theme was neat.
2018
The pitch is simple: you pilot a freighter ship like you would a submarine. It executes it well.
People will point out that the devs were unable to finish the features of this game, but even with what is here, I managed to enjoy 40 hours of this game.
People will point out that the devs were unable to finish the features of this game, but even with what is here, I managed to enjoy 40 hours of this game.
This is the first game I every played that made me realize what vast, rich worlds video games could portray. An island full of people with their own mannerisms, quirks, and desires that intersect with your own goal of dispelling the mysterious aura the place radiates. Dungeons simmering with adversaries and obstacles. Incredible music and charming art. Truly, an adventure.
A world-stage based vehicle builder/physics simulator. Real fun to build goofy vehicles and seeing what you can do with them. Underrated.
2011
It's Minecraft. You build a house and expand it over time. You find fun ways to farm veggies. You forget not to dig straight down and your ass gets burned in the hot soup. You explore an ever twisting cavern and place torches on the right hand side like bread crumbs to find your way back home. You hear the hiss and bow twangs of enemies. You get lost in the ocean, build a new base, and 20 hours later you're elated to see the lava tower from your first base guiding you back.
It's Minecraft.
It's Minecraft.
I like visual novels, but this one didn't hit for me. The premise is that you're the leader of the crows, sending out rangers on missions. There are a few really engaging narrative points that feel meaningful, but more often than not instead of making you feel like you're in charge of an organization, you feel like you're just answering e-mails. A big part of this is due to the fact that there are a lot of repeated events with the same outcomes unless you're getting lucky and finding rangers with unique attributes that are relevant to the mission. Perhaps this game would have been shorter if it had focused on unique missions, but in choosing to create "replayability," the game suffers for it.
It comes with Apple Arcade and thus easy to try out if you already have that service, but it's not worth getting just for this. If you're looking specifically for a GoT choice game, Reigns has a themed version that might be better. If you're just looking for a choice-based narrative game like this, 80 Days might hit the spot better.
It comes with Apple Arcade and thus easy to try out if you already have that service, but it's not worth getting just for this. If you're looking specifically for a GoT choice game, Reigns has a themed version that might be better. If you're just looking for a choice-based narrative game like this, 80 Days might hit the spot better.
2020
My short, harsh, honest thoughts: A bloated version of the recent Deus Ex games and worse soundtrack; play those instead.
Longer: The Witcher 3 is a difficult game to follow up on. Where so many other developers saw Skyrim and merely imitated size, CD Projekt Red managed to stand out by making a huge world with barely any filler. I still remember quest lines and the turns contained within years later. CP2077 feels like it was made by one of those "other developers" chasing trends.
The game is huge, but lifeless. Tons of filler content (the fixer jobs are particularly bad stand outs). There are some neat game-breaking abilities, but nothing that I hadn't seen in Deus Ex or Dishonored and done better there. Whereas Geralt managed to be a character that somehow had muted emotions but distinct desires, V is so utterly a cypher that I forgot who I was.
Without a doubt there are stand out character moments. Panam and Judy's story lines are great. The quest where you ride along with a murderer seeking redemption is memorable as well. Somewhere in the grinding machine that made this pablum of an open world game, the energy that made W3 memorable is still there. Unfortunate that it doesn't stand out more.
Longer: The Witcher 3 is a difficult game to follow up on. Where so many other developers saw Skyrim and merely imitated size, CD Projekt Red managed to stand out by making a huge world with barely any filler. I still remember quest lines and the turns contained within years later. CP2077 feels like it was made by one of those "other developers" chasing trends.
The game is huge, but lifeless. Tons of filler content (the fixer jobs are particularly bad stand outs). There are some neat game-breaking abilities, but nothing that I hadn't seen in Deus Ex or Dishonored and done better there. Whereas Geralt managed to be a character that somehow had muted emotions but distinct desires, V is so utterly a cypher that I forgot who I was.
Without a doubt there are stand out character moments. Panam and Judy's story lines are great. The quest where you ride along with a murderer seeking redemption is memorable as well. Somewhere in the grinding machine that made this pablum of an open world game, the energy that made W3 memorable is still there. Unfortunate that it doesn't stand out more.
Combat is a bit dull, but it doesn't drag on too long. The writing is earnest and the characters are fun; reminded me of some of the joy I got from playing Mass Effect.
Close the dang fridge door.
Close the dang fridge door.
2018
Played through about 15 hrs. Combat felt like controlling a tank in the worst way possible. The loot and gear systems were incredibly dull. Some really lovely spectacle, lore, and fun characters in the time I spent in it, but I couldn't stand the way it played to keep pushing through.
Thematically, the storyline of playing kingmaker and investigating leadership was really appealing. Things quickly fall apart though as Eivor is easily the least memorable of main characters of the recent AC games. Consequently, the story really fell apart even if I liked individual moments and arcs.
While I appreciate the game has moved away from what feels like infinite gear and instead gave you the chance to improve a narrow range of it, the system still didn't feel great. The new raiding system wasn't particularly fun, though I really liked the theme of growing a settlement and recruiting inhabitants. Additionally, it still contains my biggest criticism from Odyssey: bloat. 5 years on and folks still haven't learned The Witcher's 3 best lesson: depth of quests is better than span.
In short, a big miss all around. Hoping Ubisoft looks back at AC 2 and Odyssey to find what made those sing and carry it forward to the next entries.
While I appreciate the game has moved away from what feels like infinite gear and instead gave you the chance to improve a narrow range of it, the system still didn't feel great. The new raiding system wasn't particularly fun, though I really liked the theme of growing a settlement and recruiting inhabitants. Additionally, it still contains my biggest criticism from Odyssey: bloat. 5 years on and folks still haven't learned The Witcher's 3 best lesson: depth of quests is better than span.
In short, a big miss all around. Hoping Ubisoft looks back at AC 2 and Odyssey to find what made those sing and carry it forward to the next entries.
2022
You don't need some rando on Backlogged to tell you this shit slaps. They softened the boss gates so that you can level way past them and the open world is fun. Haven't changed my prisoner outfit once and I won't ever. Go play it.
2016
Just finished replaying this game and while there are few areas that feel uninventive (mostly in the introductory levels), the set pieces are hands down near the best I've seen in a FPS in the last decade (recent Wolfenstein games would rival it). Additionally, the mechanic used in the Effect and Cause level is so satisfying once you into a flow it.
The main downside right now would be the busted multiplayer.
The main downside right now would be the busted multiplayer.
A short, fun game based around the mechanics of telekinesis and time-shifting. Lots of rough edges as this is definitely a "budget" game, but it's such a novel mechanic that it's worth playing through just for that.
2022
Sat down to play a round and 6 hours went by.
A+
A+