mikvsl
BACKER
A absolute blast from the past.
The game retains the core essence of what made armored core great: intense mech battles, deep customization options, and a gritty, dystopian future setting. Fires of Rubicon adds modern graphics and improved gameplay mechanics, breathing new life into the franchise. The controls are intuitive, and the combat is as exhilarating as ever.
One of the standout features is the extensive customization system, allowing players to fine-tune every aspect of their mechs. The sense of ownership over your creation is deeply satisfying, and experimenting with different loadouts is a joy.
While the nostalgia factor is strong, fires of rubicon successfully combines old-school charm with modern improvements, making it a must-play for both fans of the series and newcomers alike. It's a thrilling return to the world of mechs and mayhem that we armored core fans have been waiting on.
The game retains the core essence of what made armored core great: intense mech battles, deep customization options, and a gritty, dystopian future setting. Fires of Rubicon adds modern graphics and improved gameplay mechanics, breathing new life into the franchise. The controls are intuitive, and the combat is as exhilarating as ever.
One of the standout features is the extensive customization system, allowing players to fine-tune every aspect of their mechs. The sense of ownership over your creation is deeply satisfying, and experimenting with different loadouts is a joy.
While the nostalgia factor is strong, fires of rubicon successfully combines old-school charm with modern improvements, making it a must-play for both fans of the series and newcomers alike. It's a thrilling return to the world of mechs and mayhem that we armored core fans have been waiting on.
2023
Thronefall is a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem of a game that may have a small player base currently, but it shows immense promise for future development. This fantasy RPG/Tower Defence has all the ingredients for greatness, look forward to what the developers have in store
2022
God of war ragnarok, what a truly amazing experience this game has been. This is how a sequel is made and it gives me high hopes for other studios that are in the process of creating their next big sequel.
Just wanna start off by saying every single performance in this game was stepped up drastically from the first game, everyone had their emotion and effort put into their rolls and it showed heavily throughout the progress of the story.
This game is truly beautiful and shows the capabilities of what the PS5 and the road ahead will bring on, as much as some of the environments (realms) from the first game have been reused, the amplification to improve said realms to give more life and feeling was done
God of war is known for violence and this game gave what everyone was wanting from the previous game, with the focus not needing to be put onto the fundamentals of the game, it was evident that all focus would be put on pushing the limits of what could be done to improve combat
This is how you show growth from a child to a teenager, the path of learning mistakes and emotions and growing from it to become someone better. Atreus was very much a small part of God of War but with Ragnarök he’s given the role and impact he deserves into the story
THATS WHY HE IS THE GOAT. Kratos in this god damn game is absolutely amazing, the voice actor done effortless work in shaping him to be a father with the burden of his god killing past. I shed a tear at the ending of this game because it was true closure, This man did everything to pro text his son and he came to realise himself that you can’t protect them forever, kratos character development and journey from start to finish is something award worthy, I’ve never felt this connected into a character since FF7, Kratos is a GOAT
This game is full of heartbreak, sadness, anger and it was evident this would be the ‘Empire strikes back’ part of the GOW story and it proved it well, every character went through their stage is distress and weakness. No one throughout this game was alone on their problems
This is how you do thor, he had everything. grief over us killing his sons, turning to alcohol because father doesn’t love him, the burden of his daughter. Thor had a heart in this game, he was merely following orders and he knew deep down all he wanted was love in his family.
Heimdall was a amazing character, a true story isn’t one without the character that prays for the downfall of others, He may have been annoying at times but he was the main stepping stone in the story for it to continue and kept the tension high when on screen
it’s fucking fenrir, need i say more. the game starts off with a stab in the heart with of course atreus first loved dog passing away, you later learn in the game the powers that atreus holds which proves to bring back the true form of fenrir
This game hit every high note possible that i didn’t think it would hit, i had already set high expectations for santa monica studios for them always showing their true efforts from the first game to this, The game is a cinematic art piece and a truly engaging story.
Ragnarok is my game of the year, this game had everything you could ask, even if you was never invested into the Kratos story, they pumped this game to its absolute limits and it came out phenomenal, I won’t be disappointed if it losses because this game holds a place in my heart
The soundtrack itself was outstanding to say the least, i’ll always be someone who pays close attention to the music in video games, the song from the trailer that with me because of the violin break, truly goosebumps, every track was composed with love
All fights were pushed up in scale to mention, if you thought that we wouldn’t ever see big monstrous fights again since the PS3 GOW story, this game took its time in making sure we got to fight things enormous to the point the screen can’t handle them
This game without a doubt, is a 10/10 game. It’s hard to believe video game reviewers but with no doubt in my mind i can confidently say this game hits every part that mattered and it hit it HARD. 10/10 mik approved
i hope everyone who was involved wins an award
one truly beautiful, connecting story. I look forward towards what santa monica will do next in this story or if they will go backwards and give the light to the story of old god of wars that some people may have not have experienced first hand like me.
Just wanna start off by saying every single performance in this game was stepped up drastically from the first game, everyone had their emotion and effort put into their rolls and it showed heavily throughout the progress of the story.
This game is truly beautiful and shows the capabilities of what the PS5 and the road ahead will bring on, as much as some of the environments (realms) from the first game have been reused, the amplification to improve said realms to give more life and feeling was done
God of war is known for violence and this game gave what everyone was wanting from the previous game, with the focus not needing to be put onto the fundamentals of the game, it was evident that all focus would be put on pushing the limits of what could be done to improve combat
This is how you show growth from a child to a teenager, the path of learning mistakes and emotions and growing from it to become someone better. Atreus was very much a small part of God of War but with Ragnarök he’s given the role and impact he deserves into the story
THATS WHY HE IS THE GOAT. Kratos in this god damn game is absolutely amazing, the voice actor done effortless work in shaping him to be a father with the burden of his god killing past. I shed a tear at the ending of this game because it was true closure, This man did everything to pro text his son and he came to realise himself that you can’t protect them forever, kratos character development and journey from start to finish is something award worthy, I’ve never felt this connected into a character since FF7, Kratos is a GOAT
This game is full of heartbreak, sadness, anger and it was evident this would be the ‘Empire strikes back’ part of the GOW story and it proved it well, every character went through their stage is distress and weakness. No one throughout this game was alone on their problems
This is how you do thor, he had everything. grief over us killing his sons, turning to alcohol because father doesn’t love him, the burden of his daughter. Thor had a heart in this game, he was merely following orders and he knew deep down all he wanted was love in his family.
Heimdall was a amazing character, a true story isn’t one without the character that prays for the downfall of others, He may have been annoying at times but he was the main stepping stone in the story for it to continue and kept the tension high when on screen
it’s fucking fenrir, need i say more. the game starts off with a stab in the heart with of course atreus first loved dog passing away, you later learn in the game the powers that atreus holds which proves to bring back the true form of fenrir
This game hit every high note possible that i didn’t think it would hit, i had already set high expectations for santa monica studios for them always showing their true efforts from the first game to this, The game is a cinematic art piece and a truly engaging story.
Ragnarok is my game of the year, this game had everything you could ask, even if you was never invested into the Kratos story, they pumped this game to its absolute limits and it came out phenomenal, I won’t be disappointed if it losses because this game holds a place in my heart
The soundtrack itself was outstanding to say the least, i’ll always be someone who pays close attention to the music in video games, the song from the trailer that with me because of the violin break, truly goosebumps, every track was composed with love
All fights were pushed up in scale to mention, if you thought that we wouldn’t ever see big monstrous fights again since the PS3 GOW story, this game took its time in making sure we got to fight things enormous to the point the screen can’t handle them
This game without a doubt, is a 10/10 game. It’s hard to believe video game reviewers but with no doubt in my mind i can confidently say this game hits every part that mattered and it hit it HARD. 10/10 mik approved
i hope everyone who was involved wins an award
one truly beautiful, connecting story. I look forward towards what santa monica will do next in this story or if they will go backwards and give the light to the story of old god of wars that some people may have not have experienced first hand like me.
2023
Oh what a wonderful year it is for capcom, Past 3 years in terms of capcom produced games have not been a let down or reached a terrible standard. RE4 remake is 100% a 10/10 and i’m glad it got its remake, this game was good years ago and it’s still good now.
extremely glad this game was able to get its treatment on the RE Engine, especially with any sort of remake it’s a thrill to see characters reimagined to a realistic look
Ada still best girl and the new ending for the story i preferred a lot more since it allowed the story to have a sensible ending that made sense
I’ll always encourage people to get into the resident evil series especially when they’re out here beginning to remake the entirety of the series (don’t do 6)
And of course the big change and reveal of RE4 is the inevitable of RE5 being remade, my only concern that comes with this endeavour is solving how the story of RE5 will work with the new changes that have been brought to all current remade games in the series
10/10 #mikapproved, play this game if you really want some true entertainment and fun at a AAA standard. Look forward to seeing how else the rest of capcom’s catalogue this year performed with RE4 starting off the year this well. I genuinely think it’s a GOTY contender
extremely glad this game was able to get its treatment on the RE Engine, especially with any sort of remake it’s a thrill to see characters reimagined to a realistic look
Ada still best girl and the new ending for the story i preferred a lot more since it allowed the story to have a sensible ending that made sense
I’ll always encourage people to get into the resident evil series especially when they’re out here beginning to remake the entirety of the series (don’t do 6)
And of course the big change and reveal of RE4 is the inevitable of RE5 being remade, my only concern that comes with this endeavour is solving how the story of RE5 will work with the new changes that have been brought to all current remade games in the series
10/10 #mikapproved, play this game if you really want some true entertainment and fun at a AAA standard. Look forward to seeing how else the rest of capcom’s catalogue this year performed with RE4 starting off the year this well. I genuinely think it’s a GOTY contender
beneath it all, death stranding is truly a remarkable game. People's opinion on the game differ off the pure basis of the gameplay that the game is built around but playing the game and following with the story comes out a very well written story from Kojima. I loved every bit
honestly another #mikapproved game, after long waiting on hearing all opinions for the game, i had to give it a try. Even with how irritating the parcel delivery system could be, I accumulated 143 hours on this game not only for story but for how great the game looks
honestly another #mikapproved game, after long waiting on hearing all opinions for the game, i had to give it a try. Even with how irritating the parcel delivery system could be, I accumulated 143 hours on this game not only for story but for how great the game looks
2017
This game is a delightful city-building game with a charming pixel art style. It offers accessible gameplay for casual players and city-building enthusiasts alike. Though lacking depth, it compensates with a relaxing atmosphere and pleasing aesthetics. Construct castles, manage resources, and defend against Viking invasions.
While it may not provide extensive complexity, it delivers a satisfying and enjoyable experience for those looking to create and manage their own medieval kingdom.
With their next game being worked on (Nova Roma) they already have my interest to purchase after how much fun I've already had on K&C so far.
While it may not provide extensive complexity, it delivers a satisfying and enjoyable experience for those looking to create and manage their own medieval kingdom.
With their next game being worked on (Nova Roma) they already have my interest to purchase after how much fun I've already had on K&C so far.
The game takes us back to the golden era of classic side-scrolling beat 'em up games, seamlessly capturing the essence of the beloved classic games and arcade titles like Streets of Rage. With only a brief glimpse, it's evident that this game is a true homage to the Turtles' gaming legacy.
Visually, Shredder's Revenge nails the retro aesthetic, boasting vibrant pixel art that evokes nostalgic memories of our favourite TMNT adventures. The attention to detail in character animations, environments, and enemy designs is exceptional, immersing players in a world reminiscent of their childhood gaming days.
The game's soundtrack deserves special mention, as it flawlessly captures the essence of '80s and '90s arcade tunes. Each track complements the action-packed gameplay, enhancing the overall nostalgic experience.
With the problems that come with modern games such as padded levelling for characters to unlock multiple abilities and collectables spread across the world these aspects do not strafe away from the main purpose of fighting as the turtles.
From the looks of it they're still continuing to work on this game with a new DLC coming and im very excited to see what it brings, The original games story is short but the replayability with friends or even solo is there to allow endless amounts of fun and chances to play all characters on the roster
If you ever see this on sale and want to experience a classic feeling game brought to the modern time alone or with friends, This is the one.
Visually, Shredder's Revenge nails the retro aesthetic, boasting vibrant pixel art that evokes nostalgic memories of our favourite TMNT adventures. The attention to detail in character animations, environments, and enemy designs is exceptional, immersing players in a world reminiscent of their childhood gaming days.
The game's soundtrack deserves special mention, as it flawlessly captures the essence of '80s and '90s arcade tunes. Each track complements the action-packed gameplay, enhancing the overall nostalgic experience.
With the problems that come with modern games such as padded levelling for characters to unlock multiple abilities and collectables spread across the world these aspects do not strafe away from the main purpose of fighting as the turtles.
From the looks of it they're still continuing to work on this game with a new DLC coming and im very excited to see what it brings, The original games story is short but the replayability with friends or even solo is there to allow endless amounts of fun and chances to play all characters on the roster
If you ever see this on sale and want to experience a classic feeling game brought to the modern time alone or with friends, This is the one.
2022
Game was recommend to me by my older brother for his high love for video game soundtracks, after him giving me a run on the game i knew i had to buy it for myself. Never had the chance to be around when SEGA was making Space Harrier, however i would see the the arcade machines blast the music at local arcades. This game defiantly touches that spot games like Space Harrier was achieving back in the day!
A fantastic love letter to a classic bygone era with super fun modern touches! A pumping arcade on-rail shooter experience combining elements of many classic titles into one superbly exciting and fun game!
From the universally charming art style to the beat pumping soundtrack this is a treat for the eyes and ears from start to finish, a very promising early access title with so much potential to come. You know it's got a touch of old school cool when you got a bit of carpal tunnel from completing each amazing level! Beyond Impressive!
Having the most amount of fun trying to S rank all levels, look forward to what the developer continues to pump into this game!
A fantastic love letter to a classic bygone era with super fun modern touches! A pumping arcade on-rail shooter experience combining elements of many classic titles into one superbly exciting and fun game!
From the universally charming art style to the beat pumping soundtrack this is a treat for the eyes and ears from start to finish, a very promising early access title with so much potential to come. You know it's got a touch of old school cool when you got a bit of carpal tunnel from completing each amazing level! Beyond Impressive!
Having the most amount of fun trying to S rank all levels, look forward to what the developer continues to pump into this game!
2009
I never understood why a lot of people highly dislike this game. This is definitely one of my favorite games in the Final Fantasy franchise. I just love the characters, the settings, the touching story, the cutscenes, the gameplay... Especially the soundtrack. This game is also one of the very few games I've played that actually do tell you some important lessons.
Yes, some battles can be a bit repetitive and the game can sometimes be a running sim, but I've delt with it.
There's a hella lot to do in the post-story as well. I'm not gonna spoil it, though!
All in all, this game is misunderstood a lot and I appreciate this game 100%.
Yes, some battles can be a bit repetitive and the game can sometimes be a running sim, but I've delt with it.
There's a hella lot to do in the post-story as well. I'm not gonna spoil it, though!
All in all, this game is misunderstood a lot and I appreciate this game 100%.
2011
Great story and alot of fun to play.
The story takes a new direction from FFXIII and heads in a new direction while keeping with the premise of changing your fate. The characters are likeable, with appearances from characters from FFXIII. Not nearly as linear feeling as 13 was, 13-2 has alot of open areas and the ability to go back and forth between areas, if you just feel like exploring some more or working on side missions.
The combat system isn't really any better than 13, but to me it feels a bit more entertaining with the monsters in the party. The crystarium is a bit more complex if your looking to min/max your characters, while being a lot simpler for just straight leveling purposes.
Ill always love the FFXIII music, FFXIII-2 takes previous themes from XIII and attunes them to all new heights
The story takes a new direction from FFXIII and heads in a new direction while keeping with the premise of changing your fate. The characters are likeable, with appearances from characters from FFXIII. Not nearly as linear feeling as 13 was, 13-2 has alot of open areas and the ability to go back and forth between areas, if you just feel like exploring some more or working on side missions.
The combat system isn't really any better than 13, but to me it feels a bit more entertaining with the monsters in the party. The crystarium is a bit more complex if your looking to min/max your characters, while being a lot simpler for just straight leveling purposes.
Ill always love the FFXIII music, FFXIII-2 takes previous themes from XIII and attunes them to all new heights
2001
I must thank my older brother for making me replay this as i wasn't able to play this when it first came out on the PS2 and experience what a generational jump this game was from Square Enix.
It's a very moving and compeling love story about betrayal, religion, friendship and also very action packed. Combat system is the classic 3 person turn based move list, which i have always loved about FF. What an experience this game is. the art holds up well, and the battle system is fluid and easy to understand. Writing this now, can't help but have a bittersweet feeling towards beating this. The adventure the story brings you on and the amazing characters are something I don't think I'll get to experience in any other title. Seriously, if you haven't played this game yet, get it! Quite the breathtaking experience, some of those boss fights had me a bit salty but that too is all part of the journey. Easily top 5 in terms of OST from FF series.
It's a very moving and compeling love story about betrayal, religion, friendship and also very action packed. Combat system is the classic 3 person turn based move list, which i have always loved about FF. What an experience this game is. the art holds up well, and the battle system is fluid and easy to understand. Writing this now, can't help but have a bittersweet feeling towards beating this. The adventure the story brings you on and the amazing characters are something I don't think I'll get to experience in any other title. Seriously, if you haven't played this game yet, get it! Quite the breathtaking experience, some of those boss fights had me a bit salty but that too is all part of the journey. Easily top 5 in terms of OST from FF series.
Although it has the most obvious story in the trilogy, LR has some amazing improvements in gameplay. Fully open world (not in FFXIII-2 complicated-but-still-intriguing way but more traditional), great balance between grinding amount and rewards for it, ability upgrade system, which brings back memories from FFVII and not-turn based, but greatly polished battle system. I spent 200+ hours with the trilogy and had much fun, and - I consider myself a quite experienced FF franchise fan - I will never stand among those who say that this trilogy, and especially its finale is rubbish.
Not having the ability to play the original replicant when it first came out on PS3 i was very grateful to see that it was receiving a remake after what an amazing game Automata was.
Breathtaking world building and storytelling, I have become a loyal fan of the NieR franchise since NieR Automata. When I played that game I couldn't keep myself away from my computer because I wanted to immerse myself into that world for every second that counts, and the result is back pains at night with insomnia from catharsis. I am pleased that Nier Replicant is able to give me that similar energy. From the delicate characters to the mean side quests, I'm very excited to see what else Yoko has to reveal next.
Breathtaking world building and storytelling, I have become a loyal fan of the NieR franchise since NieR Automata. When I played that game I couldn't keep myself away from my computer because I wanted to immerse myself into that world for every second that counts, and the result is back pains at night with insomnia from catharsis. I am pleased that Nier Replicant is able to give me that similar energy. From the delicate characters to the mean side quests, I'm very excited to see what else Yoko has to reveal next.
1997
Creating this game was like performing brain surgery with a chainsaw (at the time), and it boggles the mind that they were able to create such an exquisite video game. Playing FFVII is a very personal experience for me as I have been watching/playing it since its original release, so my review of this game would be very biased and I don't think anyone cares about how much I personally enjoy this game. All I'll say is that if you have any respect for role playing games then you would enjoy playing FFVII.
This review contains spoilers
I think i can finally write my review on this game after experiencing both Shadowbringers & Endwalker in its entirety.
Ive been a FF beloved fan for almost my entire life and can very much say im a fanboy for square enix as a game studio but out of all FF games 14 was the one game i had yet to encounter because of the only fact of it being an MMO. Thankfully with an older brother who had already been playing 14 for the past 10 years he guided me into actually giving 14 a try because even with this being an MMORPG, this game does take its time with its story to separate the fact they build it as a single-player experience that involves a engaging story and multiplayer elements outside of that.
An adventure that has lasted nearly 8000 hours, FFXIV has become more than just a game for me; it's a cherished part of my life. With the release of its latest expansion, Endwalker and previous Shadowbringers, it has solidified its position as one of the greatest gaming experiences I've come to enjoy.
The narrative of Shadowbringers delves into complex themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the balance between good and evil. The characters you encounter are deeply relatable and evoke genuine emotions, making the journey all the more engaging, it was the first major expansion i had got myself into and thankfully it was one of the best to touch the game at the time. Raid Tier, Nier Collab, Story, New Jobs. This expansion was the best thing that could of possibly happened to the game.
Endwalker. This of course was the conclusion of the Ascian story and it was perfect. an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, delivering and heart-wrenching moments. The narrative keeps you at the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the secrets of the realm. The memorable characters you've grown attached to throughout your journey receive satisfying conclusions to their storylines, leaving you with a sense of fulfilment. With of course, a lot of QoL changes added to the game. The Endwalker expansion has been a great stepping stone for FF14 and its journey to this point.
It's an amazing game. Yes, you should play it. But it's also a pretty serious commitment. The reason why it isn't for everyone is because not everyone can give it the benefit of the doubt and not everyone can approach an earnest piece of media and let go of all the cynical and adversarial systems that recent gaming has seemed to cling to. The game itself is incredibly fun: there is something for everyone. But for me it’s always been the people: I have made friends & enemies for life, and even seen plenty of irl relationships start within FFXIV.
My only "negative" is that the end game is heavily based around having a group and finding groups to do content with. There is PLENTY of end game content to do, you just cant join a matchmaking queue necessarily and quickly connect to players, its very community driven so you have to actively seek people to play it with. So, if your shy just be conscious of this. I will say, the community is very supportive (unlike a lot of other gaming communities) which is great.
This game has set its place in the top 10 favourite games of all time.
Ive been a FF beloved fan for almost my entire life and can very much say im a fanboy for square enix as a game studio but out of all FF games 14 was the one game i had yet to encounter because of the only fact of it being an MMO. Thankfully with an older brother who had already been playing 14 for the past 10 years he guided me into actually giving 14 a try because even with this being an MMORPG, this game does take its time with its story to separate the fact they build it as a single-player experience that involves a engaging story and multiplayer elements outside of that.
An adventure that has lasted nearly 8000 hours, FFXIV has become more than just a game for me; it's a cherished part of my life. With the release of its latest expansion, Endwalker and previous Shadowbringers, it has solidified its position as one of the greatest gaming experiences I've come to enjoy.
The narrative of Shadowbringers delves into complex themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the balance between good and evil. The characters you encounter are deeply relatable and evoke genuine emotions, making the journey all the more engaging, it was the first major expansion i had got myself into and thankfully it was one of the best to touch the game at the time. Raid Tier, Nier Collab, Story, New Jobs. This expansion was the best thing that could of possibly happened to the game.
Endwalker. This of course was the conclusion of the Ascian story and it was perfect. an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, delivering and heart-wrenching moments. The narrative keeps you at the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the secrets of the realm. The memorable characters you've grown attached to throughout your journey receive satisfying conclusions to their storylines, leaving you with a sense of fulfilment. With of course, a lot of QoL changes added to the game. The Endwalker expansion has been a great stepping stone for FF14 and its journey to this point.
It's an amazing game. Yes, you should play it. But it's also a pretty serious commitment. The reason why it isn't for everyone is because not everyone can give it the benefit of the doubt and not everyone can approach an earnest piece of media and let go of all the cynical and adversarial systems that recent gaming has seemed to cling to. The game itself is incredibly fun: there is something for everyone. But for me it’s always been the people: I have made friends & enemies for life, and even seen plenty of irl relationships start within FFXIV.
My only "negative" is that the end game is heavily based around having a group and finding groups to do content with. There is PLENTY of end game content to do, you just cant join a matchmaking queue necessarily and quickly connect to players, its very community driven so you have to actively seek people to play it with. So, if your shy just be conscious of this. I will say, the community is very supportive (unlike a lot of other gaming communities) which is great.
This game has set its place in the top 10 favourite games of all time.