svejkovat
I played this back to back with Uncharted 4, which shows just how much I enjoyed that game, and this is in many ways a perfect addition with all the fun of the fair of its bigger brother.
A promising aspect of this tale is that they haven’t simply introduced women characters and made them carbon copies of the more well known men in those roles. A problem that blights a lot of games that do this. The script might not be as rapier wit sharp as Uncharted 4 but it isn’t far off.
The gameplay is rapidly paced and thrilling with an admirable focus on exploration in an intelligent way. I will definitely play this again
A promising aspect of this tale is that they haven’t simply introduced women characters and made them carbon copies of the more well known men in those roles. A problem that blights a lot of games that do this. The script might not be as rapier wit sharp as Uncharted 4 but it isn’t far off.
The gameplay is rapidly paced and thrilling with an admirable focus on exploration in an intelligent way. I will definitely play this again
In a world where 3D platformers were still finding their feet, Croc gave it a good go and sought to provide solid fun. It creaks at the seams a bit now and then but for a young boy enamoured with the very idea of 3D - it delivered.
I believe it was also the first game I owned on the PlayStation.
I believe it was also the first game I owned on the PlayStation.
1999
They took a perfectly enjoyable platformer in Croc and simply made it less fun.
1996
It’s a bit odd this is classed as a bundle because unless I remember incorrectly these games were not released separately.
The second and third games are much better than the first which felt like a grind to finish. The third in particular is tremendous fun and at times utterly ridiculous.
The second and third games are much better than the first which felt like a grind to finish. The third in particular is tremendous fun and at times utterly ridiculous.
Despite lacking some of the novelty of its gigantic leap forward predecessor the writing, variety, and general pallete of this game is much more enticing. On a personal level I have fonder memories of the Liberty City adventure but I would not contest anyone that claimed this is the better game.
We desperately need a return to Vice City.
We desperately need a return to Vice City.
2001
I still listen to Liberty City radio stations to this day.
I have no doubt this game has not aged well at all but you really had to be there when it came out. The atmosphere, wit, and sheer breadth of everything Liberty City had to offer was simply astounding.
This is one of the few games I think of in terms of being a vast leap forward in technology and story telling. It created an entire genre that continues to dominate the interests of videogame enthusiasts.
I have no doubt this game has not aged well at all but you really had to be there when it came out. The atmosphere, wit, and sheer breadth of everything Liberty City had to offer was simply astounding.
This is one of the few games I think of in terms of being a vast leap forward in technology and story telling. It created an entire genre that continues to dominate the interests of videogame enthusiasts.
There’s nothing to dislike here. The writing in these spin off ‘stories’ GTA games definitely does not reach the high point of the mainline series, but I suppose that is to be expected.
I don’t think it’s a narrative that will linger long in the memory but it was fun whilst it lasted.
I probably would have had more fun if I had played it on PSP, but having never owned one - I cannot say.
I don’t think it’s a narrative that will linger long in the memory but it was fun whilst it lasted.
I probably would have had more fun if I had played it on PSP, but having never owned one - I cannot say.
Much like my view on Liberty City Stories, except this game is a bit more creative with the mission variety and plot.
The writing in these spin off ‘stories’ GTA games definitely does not reach the high point of the mainline series, but I suppose that is to be expected.
I don’t think it’s a narrative that will linger long in the memory but it was fun whilst it lasted.
I probably would have had more fun if I had played it on PSP, but having never owned one - I cannot say.
The writing in these spin off ‘stories’ GTA games definitely does not reach the high point of the mainline series, but I suppose that is to be expected.
I don’t think it’s a narrative that will linger long in the memory but it was fun whilst it lasted.
I probably would have had more fun if I had played it on PSP, but having never owned one - I cannot say.
Considerably better than The Lost and the Damned, it almost feels as if that game was simply an afterthought compared to this.
The pacing and wit here is nearly as abundant as you might encounter in a main line GTA game. They really did not skimp on creativity.
The pacing and wit here is nearly as abundant as you might encounter in a main line GTA game. They really did not skimp on creativity.
2022
Pentiment should be roundly applauded for taking on a complex narrative in a unique setting. The wider history unfolding beneath the immediate plot is fascinating and I often found myself delving into the events and characters mentioned in the rich conversations you have around Tassing which are expertly depicted in an art style that is vivid and unique. Truly a one off. I can’t compliment it enough.
The narrative itself is very well constructed with a clear ‘Name of the Rose’ influence, though I would say from my perspective the actual culprits of this sinister plot were telegraphed far too clearly and despite the element of choice afforded to you I don’t think your accusations made any great difference to how the tale played out.
My primary criticisms are focused on pacing , gameplay, and technical concerns. I would have marked this as a 3.5 were it not for the fact I encountered game breaking bugs at the start of the third act. I had to reinstall the game as a result. Technical issues like this are entirely unacceptable two years after the release of a game with a fairly simple design. Furthermore, why is the game visibly loading every room? It even briefly cuts when you engage in a conversation. There were adventure games in the 90s that did not do this. It adds to the general sense everything is moving at a glacial pace. I understand the page turning motif but this loses its novelty quickly.
The larger problem perhaps is that Pentiment isn’t really an adventure at all. There are no puzzles, few different pathways, you only really fail in an objective by running out of time. By the end of my experience I was skipping past townsfolk because I knew their conversation would not further the plot in any way. That is entirely because there was nothing left to challenge me. There’s only so many times you can listen to people detail the delay of the local post.
The narrative itself is very well constructed with a clear ‘Name of the Rose’ influence, though I would say from my perspective the actual culprits of this sinister plot were telegraphed far too clearly and despite the element of choice afforded to you I don’t think your accusations made any great difference to how the tale played out.
My primary criticisms are focused on pacing , gameplay, and technical concerns. I would have marked this as a 3.5 were it not for the fact I encountered game breaking bugs at the start of the third act. I had to reinstall the game as a result. Technical issues like this are entirely unacceptable two years after the release of a game with a fairly simple design. Furthermore, why is the game visibly loading every room? It even briefly cuts when you engage in a conversation. There were adventure games in the 90s that did not do this. It adds to the general sense everything is moving at a glacial pace. I understand the page turning motif but this loses its novelty quickly.
The larger problem perhaps is that Pentiment isn’t really an adventure at all. There are no puzzles, few different pathways, you only really fail in an objective by running out of time. By the end of my experience I was skipping past townsfolk because I knew their conversation would not further the plot in any way. That is entirely because there was nothing left to challenge me. There’s only so many times you can listen to people detail the delay of the local post.
"I am not in the dude business, dude"
I played this after 'The Ballad of Gay Tony' and it is significantly less interesting. I am loath to dislike it for that reason alone, as a standalone adventure it is perfectly fun (and quite hilarious if you know the fate of Johnny Klebitz) but it simply did not have the same polish or attention to character development.
I played this after 'The Ballad of Gay Tony' and it is significantly less interesting. I am loath to dislike it for that reason alone, as a standalone adventure it is perfectly fun (and quite hilarious if you know the fate of Johnny Klebitz) but it simply did not have the same polish or attention to character development.
1997
To think there was a time I picked this game up with a friend (without any parental approval) assuming it was just Micro Machines with guns...
The first iteration of the now genre defining series was considerably less expansive and brilliant than what was to follow but the wit and sheer irreverence of it all was there to see from the beginning.
I absolutely would recommend going back and experiencing it for yourself to see just how many of the now uniquely GTA elements that we know and love were there from the outset.
The first iteration of the now genre defining series was considerably less expansive and brilliant than what was to follow but the wit and sheer irreverence of it all was there to see from the beginning.
I absolutely would recommend going back and experiencing it for yourself to see just how many of the now uniquely GTA elements that we know and love were there from the outset.
1999
Whilst I accept this iteration does somewhat improve on the original those improvements are minimal and I always felt the writing in the first was sharper, and it is the writing that to this day I find most compelling about GTA.
I actually played the expansion for the original GTA (GTA London 1969) more than this on release, I suppose because I was enamoured with the idea having so rarely seen my own country featured in a game - so I admit of all the games in the GTA series this is the one I remember least.
I actually played the expansion for the original GTA (GTA London 1969) more than this on release, I suppose because I was enamoured with the idea having so rarely seen my own country featured in a game - so I admit of all the games in the GTA series this is the one I remember least.
This was a big deal for us limeys at the tail end of the 1990s, yes it was just a reskin but given that's what most expansions were in those days - we knew no better.
Unfortunately the game is markedly less polished than the original GTA and never held any sway that would make me wish to return to it.
Unfortunately the game is markedly less polished than the original GTA and never held any sway that would make me wish to return to it.
2007
As I only play single player games largely I found this to be a fulfilling and exciting campaign that delivered on much of the promise that went before it, it's just not particularly new.
Perhaps the lustre of Master Chief has worn off by now however as the repetitiveness of the plot begins to tire. Whilst I enjoy the character's general arc the entire Cortana relationship is simply confused and convoluted.
Shooting and evasion is still as crisp as ever. There remains few feelings as satisfying as a well placed plasma grenade in Halo.
Perhaps the lustre of Master Chief has worn off by now however as the repetitiveness of the plot begins to tire. Whilst I enjoy the character's general arc the entire Cortana relationship is simply confused and convoluted.
Shooting and evasion is still as crisp as ever. There remains few feelings as satisfying as a well placed plasma grenade in Halo.