ashbolt
22 reviews liked by ashbolt
Giddy at the thought of at least one person grabbing a rom list without context, and thinking this was gonna be a depressing look at the corruption of the highest court of law in the American legal system only for it to be a basketballer with a terrible isometric camera.
Metroid Dread
2021
Absolutely perfect game from start to finish. After playing Returns I can clearly see that it walked so that Dread could run. Dread takes all of the best aspects in the previous games along with refining all the issues of the previous games and combined them to create this masterpiece. Every area is super memorable and fun to explore; the gameplay flow is just seamless and that makes returning to previous areas feel natural and not like a chore. The abundant number of boss fights is incredible and they're all super fun to fight against. They also added so much enemy and boss variety which was a problem that I had with Returns. The EMMIs are leagues above the SA-X in Fusion when it comes to gameplay due to their unscripted nature and forcing you to be skillful in avoiding them until you have the means to destroy them.
Lastly I wanna talk about the story and Samus' character in this game. While this game is much more focused on the gameplay (as the previous games mostly were as well), there isn't an insane amount of story content, which is fine. Instead we get major story reveals throughout the game which unveil a ton of cool lore and story that ties the previous stories together. Overall, this made Samus' character the most interesting she has been in the 2D series, and she didn't need to utter a single word for me to feel that way about her.
Dread is easily the best 2D Metroid, and probably the best 2D platformer I've played so far. It expands on everything the previous games had set up for it, and refines all the issues to create the most smooth gameplay experience in the series.
Lastly I wanna talk about the story and Samus' character in this game. While this game is much more focused on the gameplay (as the previous games mostly were as well), there isn't an insane amount of story content, which is fine. Instead we get major story reveals throughout the game which unveil a ton of cool lore and story that ties the previous stories together. Overall, this made Samus' character the most interesting she has been in the 2D series, and she didn't need to utter a single word for me to feel that way about her.
Dread is easily the best 2D Metroid, and probably the best 2D platformer I've played so far. It expands on everything the previous games had set up for it, and refines all the issues to create the most smooth gameplay experience in the series.
Do you know what day it is today?
Stellar Blade
2024
Game for dudes that still jerk off to Victoria's secret magazines. Paying money for this in 2024 is like being the boomer that still bought porn mags at the gas station in 2003. Check out pornhub bro it's pretty cool.
Genuinely the most disappointing game I've ever played. It promises so many things in the trailer but so little comes to fruition.
The gameplay is probably the best aspect of this entry, and it's not even that good. It's fun for a couple hours but starts to become repetitive and mindless. Having the game alter between two protagonists is also really annoying because you have to keep switching out your equipment.
The characters do not get any development, except for Chitose. Not the party nor the main antagonists, which are also just really boring and generic. They're barely present in the story and don't have any interesting dynamics with the cast, and the plot is as good as the antagonists.
Lastly, the ending is another beast of its own. I didn't think it was possible to write an ending worse than LAD7's but here we are. To keep it as spoiler free as possible: if you were interested in this game for the satisfying conclusion it promised, you'll be as disappointed as I was because there is no conclusion.
Everything is just kind of brushed off because RGG wanted to play it safe.
I do not recommend this game. It is seriously not worth the time or money and I regret falling for the hype and buying it day 1.
The gameplay is probably the best aspect of this entry, and it's not even that good. It's fun for a couple hours but starts to become repetitive and mindless. Having the game alter between two protagonists is also really annoying because you have to keep switching out your equipment.
The characters do not get any development, except for Chitose. Not the party nor the main antagonists, which are also just really boring and generic. They're barely present in the story and don't have any interesting dynamics with the cast, and the plot is as good as the antagonists.
Lastly, the ending is another beast of its own. I didn't think it was possible to write an ending worse than LAD7's but here we are. To keep it as spoiler free as possible: if you were interested in this game for the satisfying conclusion it promised, you'll be as disappointed as I was because there is no conclusion.
Everything is just kind of brushed off because RGG wanted to play it safe.
I do not recommend this game. It is seriously not worth the time or money and I regret falling for the hype and buying it day 1.
Helldivers 2
2024
Unpopular opionion but I found the game a little too repetitive too quickly. Though it deserves praise for its unrelentingly well designed theme, exceptional voice acting and host of wonderfully cinematic moments in the middle of gameplay.
As of the early season I played the game was just too much of the same weapons and same stratagems being used over and over for me to want to stay invested.
As of the early season I played the game was just too much of the same weapons and same stratagems being used over and over for me to want to stay invested.
The brimstone-level voice acting is so fucking funny that it makes it difficult for the player to take the game's attempted scariness seriously, and the game is clearly-embattled by a lack of polish emanating from budget constraints, but I definitely give it credit for trying a novel new idea for a survival horror game with its first-person found footage type perspective and gameplay scenarios, which games like Outlast would execute to a significantly more effective degree in the years since.
Great story, great characters, fun gameplay...
Very unfortunate that a very important aspect of this remake is locked behind replaying the game 4 times and collecting all weapons for whatever reason.
Very unfortunate that a very important aspect of this remake is locked behind replaying the game 4 times and collecting all weapons for whatever reason.
Death Stranding
2019
Rating: 90/100
Summary:
I should preface by saying this game is certainly more of a experience and a work of both musical and cinematic art than it is an entertaining game.
Death Stranding is a game about connections and piecing together a once devastated world. The game follows Sam Porter Bridges, a member of Bridges on a mission to connect the UCA (United Cities of America) via the chiral network, a sort of post apocalyptic internet. This is important because average people no longer go outside as they live in underground bunkers. Porters or delivery people are the only people left to make deliveries to and from different cities, Sam being one of the them. This story incorporates many people that Sam meets along his journey, each with their own story to tell of what life was like for them before and after the Death Stranding and how they can help Sam on his journey to save his sister and reconnect the UCA.
Story: 10/10
The story of Death Stranding is certainly the most impactful part, the depth of each act and the thought that goes behind each of the logs and emails that you receive make it one of the most well written stories I've had the chance to experience either in film or game. Though at first glace many may see this as game centered around saving the girl and going home all happy, it is much more centered around Sam's growth as a person and his connection with his BB. This combined with the characters you meet along the way really shows the connection and growth that Sam experiences throughout the game.
Characters: 10/10
The characters in death stranding are what make this game so heartfelt and moving. Each character is so fleshed out that it feels like you're talking to real people with a real lives. There isn't too much I can say without spoiling, but everyone you meet will have you thinking deeper about both them as a character and Sam and his connection with them.
Gameplay: 6/10
The game was not meant to be played in my opinion, it was meant to be experienced. Though the gameplay score is low I don't hold that against Death Stranding with very much weight. The bulk of the game involves you making deliveries from point A to point B most of the time by foot, this for many can become tedious. The score of Death Stranding is beautiful and thought provoking, this combined with the amazingly detailed cinematic world of a post apocalyptic America makes walking through it something that you feel. For this reason I value the gameplay less so than the average game.
Conclusion:
Death Stranding is a game I will recommend to anyone who has an interest in experiencing something new. Everything about the game is a work of art, each character you meet is a new continuation to Sam's life and the journey you follow as the player. Though many may not find walking and not overly exciting gunplay thrilling, I assure you Death Stranding is more than worth your time.
Summary:
I should preface by saying this game is certainly more of a experience and a work of both musical and cinematic art than it is an entertaining game.
Death Stranding is a game about connections and piecing together a once devastated world. The game follows Sam Porter Bridges, a member of Bridges on a mission to connect the UCA (United Cities of America) via the chiral network, a sort of post apocalyptic internet. This is important because average people no longer go outside as they live in underground bunkers. Porters or delivery people are the only people left to make deliveries to and from different cities, Sam being one of the them. This story incorporates many people that Sam meets along his journey, each with their own story to tell of what life was like for them before and after the Death Stranding and how they can help Sam on his journey to save his sister and reconnect the UCA.
Story: 10/10
The story of Death Stranding is certainly the most impactful part, the depth of each act and the thought that goes behind each of the logs and emails that you receive make it one of the most well written stories I've had the chance to experience either in film or game. Though at first glace many may see this as game centered around saving the girl and going home all happy, it is much more centered around Sam's growth as a person and his connection with his BB. This combined with the characters you meet along the way really shows the connection and growth that Sam experiences throughout the game.
Characters: 10/10
The characters in death stranding are what make this game so heartfelt and moving. Each character is so fleshed out that it feels like you're talking to real people with a real lives. There isn't too much I can say without spoiling, but everyone you meet will have you thinking deeper about both them as a character and Sam and his connection with them.
Gameplay: 6/10
The game was not meant to be played in my opinion, it was meant to be experienced. Though the gameplay score is low I don't hold that against Death Stranding with very much weight. The bulk of the game involves you making deliveries from point A to point B most of the time by foot, this for many can become tedious. The score of Death Stranding is beautiful and thought provoking, this combined with the amazingly detailed cinematic world of a post apocalyptic America makes walking through it something that you feel. For this reason I value the gameplay less so than the average game.
Conclusion:
Death Stranding is a game I will recommend to anyone who has an interest in experiencing something new. Everything about the game is a work of art, each character you meet is a new continuation to Sam's life and the journey you follow as the player. Though many may not find walking and not overly exciting gunplay thrilling, I assure you Death Stranding is more than worth your time.
FromSoftware finally remembered what good gameplay is
