To tell the truth, Alan Wake is not a series that I like very much. If you look at my review of the first game, I said that I found it boring and very repetitive. But Sam Lake must have loved the series so much that, even after 13 years, he finally managed to get the necessary budget from Epic Games and make the second game. As for the game, well, it still has scenes as boring as the first game and lots of extended dialogue. This must be one of Remedy's main problems, because they really fail at presentation. Although the story is interesting, the immersion part undermines the flow of the story with too much dialogue and too many notes. Okay, the game is Alan Wake, and collecting the manuscripts and delving into the details of the story plays a fundamental role in this game, as it did in the first game. But beyond that, elements such as mindscape and profiling, which came in the second game, again undermined the flow and caused me to burst out of boredom at times. Of course, we use this mindplace that I mentioned mostly with the second character of the game, Saga Anderson, for many detective works such as establishing relationships between evidence and events on the evidence board and interrogating suspects. Saga is an FBI agent and sets out to Bright Falls to re-investigate the forgotten Alan Wake case after the emergence of some rituals and dark entities that occurred 13 years after the first game. And in this adventure, she discovers unknown secrets about himself and Alan Wake. They made a smart decision by setting the story in the same time period as the release of the two games. As a sequel, the first game was quite open-ended and ended with a structure suitable for the second game. That's why the story of the second game didn't feel forced and appeared with a scenario that wasn't bad at all. By deciding to combine universes with Control, Remedy seems to have moved the story to a more logical place. The characters and names we are familiar with from Control appear in this game as well. Although sometimes I would like it to be a more linear game with a structure that focuses only on Alan Wake instead of two characters, both characters have their own entertaining sequences that are not boring. Both characters have different weapons and different features that you can use. Especially Alan Wake's location changes with different scenarios were very nice puzzle sequences. But in terms of combat, the shadow enemies in Dark Place are a pain in the ass and most of the time I didn't even bother fighting them, which was one of the only elements that undermined the gameplay. However, unlike Wake, the combat in Saga was more fun and it was more fun to fight with cult members and many bosses instead of some kind of shadowy creatures (which, according to the story, is Saga, the hero of this game, so this choice does not seem unreasonable). The game has a much more refined and enjoyable combat than the first game. Although there is not as much light weapon variety as in the first game, an enjoyable combat mechanic makes up for this. And unlike the first game, the game increases the tension even further by presenting the survival horror genre in a structure where you may have difficulty with limited resources and multiple enemies and sometimes have to escape from the enemy. However, as in the first game, the weapon variety is low and this makes the gameplay repetitive. I expected there to be more combat mechanics. Another thing I complain about is jumpscares. Why do jumpscares appear when I pick up an item, open a door, or even when I DO NOTHING but just WALK? I mean, when it first happened, it might be scary, but when I saw the same jumpscares over and over again, I didn't even react anymore and just looked at the screen with a straight face. And I think it was an unnecessary effort to create an atmosphere of forced fear. If I talk about the story again, the game did not end where I expected it to end, it ended in a much duller way by being extended unnecessarily, and this left a lower impact than it should have after finishing the game. And instead of replaying the game in ng+ to change the ending, why can't I change the ending with my preferences the first time I play? The game is again open-ended and ended without explaining the mysteries of many characters. Of course, if the 3rd game is coming, these will be covered up, but if not, there will be serious gaps in the story. The last thing I would praise is that a tremendous job has been done on the graphics and lighting of the game and the game really feels like a new generation game. The game also has a wide range of music and a very successful album (there is even a music video made for the game). In conclusion, the game is one of the most successful games of 2023, there is no doubt about it, but many of the elements I mentioned above made it difficult for me to enjoy the game. Of course, it was a game that I did not regret playing in the end, but Alan Wake is Alan Wake as always and you will enjoy this as much as you enjoyed the first game. If a new Alan Wake game comes out, I will definitely play it because I am seriously curious about where the story will go, but I also know that I will be bored. It's a bit complicated, but you get the idea.

Oh I love games with piss filters. It reminds me of the good times of PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360. Hitman: Absolution is one of these games, and although it has a slightly different structure than the other games in the series, it manages to save itself with a very good story, presentation and gameplay. Although the game does not offer you as much freedom as other Hitmans and sometimes progresses in a more linear structure, it still offers options in which you can kill your target and progress with different tactics during the mission. They just aren't as creative and varied as other Hitmans I've played. I took action in many places in the game and the action part of the game is also quite fun, you can even progress with action alone. Of course, I don't know how well this fits your playing style or the nature of Hitman, but action is often one of the only options you can resort to in the game. As a result, Hitman: Absolution manages to differentiate itself from other Hitman games with a different story, different presentation and level designs, but this is not a bad difference. If you are looking for a Hitman game other than the new Hitmans and do not want it to have too old mechanics, I recommend you give Absolution a chance.

Silent Hill: Short Message was a short but nice experience that allowed us to re-experience the P.T atmosphere that remained in our culture. Being a walking simulator and not having many mechanics, it gave it more of an interactive game feel, but since P.T. has a similar atmosphere, I can't judge it too much. The game consists of 3 chapters, and in each chapter, it offers a scenario that includes beautiful messages in which the main character repeatedly experiences the traumas and psychological distress she experienced with his environment and friends and seeks salvation. Some of the parts I didn't like were that the phone could have been more interactive and useful. It was also a bit disappointing that the game didn't mention Silent Hill much and only made a few references through notes. Although the chase sequences in the game are sometimes reactionary, they become repetitive and lose their impact. And it was a poor choice that the atmosphere of fear that the game provided to the player was limited to this. In essence, Silent Hill is a series that stands out with psychological horror, but I couldn't see much of this in the gameplay part. But apart from this, the graphics and lightning was top-notch. In conclusion, Silent Hill: Short Message has a nice and serious scenario that highlights the important problems that lead young people to suicide, such as traumas, lack of self-confidence and social problems, and it is a short and pleasant experience with the atmosphere of P.T. Could it be better? Maybe, but even the fact that the game was released for free was a pleasant surprise from Konami. I hope the Silent Hill games that will come with Silent Hill 2 Remake will be successful.

More weapons, classes, etc. features have been added compared to the first game, but the game is basically as boring as the first game. So, the first game was somewhat enjoyable with its co-op, but my complaint is the level designs and Remnant 2 has even worse level designs than the first game. Especially in a Souls-like game, missing a puzzle or a key item due to random level designs puts you in a much more complicated and boring situation than you can solve with a little internet browsing. It is exactly the same in terms of gameplay, and although there is no noticeable improvement in terms of graphics, an absolutely terrible job has been done in terms of optimization. Although I did not have any ammo problems in the first game, it is quite possible to run out of ammo in the middle of the boss fight and be helpless in this game. In terms of story, it is also not very interesting and has a story where you mostly skip the dialogues and dive into the main topic. Even though it is a sequel to the first game, I did not care about the second game as I did not find the story very interesting from the beginning. As a result, although Remnant 2 surpasses the first game with more classes, more explorable worlds and more bosses, weapons and equipment, it does not fix the underlying problems of the first game but makes them worse. If you want to play, you better find someone with you because a solo experience can be much more boring.

The look I gave to my friend's corpse when there were 5 missing from the quota. (squint)
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In my opinion, Cold War seems like a game made specifically to advertise the Haptic-Feedback feature of Playstation 5's new controller, Dualsense. However, compared to other newly released Call of Duty games (such as Vanguard, MW III), the game is a much better production with its story, mission design and characters. The game has chosen a more complex structure in terms of mission diversity, instead of being a linear campaign where you will find evidence and solve codes in missions ranging from stealth and some secret agent parts, and it was not a bad choice. As the name suggests, the story takes place in a scenario in which we play a key role in a series of events during the Cold War. In addition to characters such as Woods and Mason, whom we are familiar with from the old Black Ops, a mysterious character such as Adler adds more depth to the story. In gameplay, especially Haptic-Feedback's different recoil effect on the controller for each weapon provides a more realistic and immersive effect to the game. (Of course, it can hurt your fingers during long periods of play and drain the controller's battery quickly.) On the other hand, the enemy artificial intelligence can go astray during the battle, but it is not as bad as the newly released MW III :P I did not like the boss fight-like parts where we defeated some armored enemies. It's no different from bullet sponge enemies that talk purely to force the player. In one of the sections, a semi-open world structure was preferred, and in these sections, we were running around and hunting hordes of enemies, which were among the parts that I did not find very entertaining. But overall, Cold War was a game that wasn't as bad as I expected. Especially the way it connects the story and the increasing mystery elements towards the end of the story create at least an intriguing feeling in the player. Mission design and variety are also at a sufficient level. It's definitely not a Call of Duty you should play, but if you like the Black Ops series and its characters, it's one of the productions you should try.

It was quite surprising to see such a game from Tango Gameworks after Ghostwire. Hi-Fi Rush is one of the underrated games of 2023 that surprises and is surprisingly good. The game has a structure that can be played for hours without getting bored, with its cartoon-like atmosphere, entertaining and humorous storytelling, and especially its wonderful combat and music. Rhythm-based action games are not a very prominent genre, and Hi-Fi Rush managed to become one of the most successful examples in this regard. Although the game seems simple, catching the rhythm between the music and your attacks is the cornerstone of the game. You need to make sure that your combos, dodges and even your jumps fit the beat. And the game offers a wide range of gameplay and abilities, along with the features of the supporting characters. Of course, since you need to match the combos you will make in the game to the music, it is important to choose the combos you will make depending on whether the music playing during the fight is slow or fast. Boss battles are at a sufficient level and quite enjoyable depending on the duration of the game. Some bosses and enemies, especially some sequences where you have to parry, can sometimes be quite challenging, but it adds a different atmosphere to the gameplay (these parts reminded me a little of Sekiro). The story is cliché, but the presentation and characters save this story from becoming monotonous. One of the features that makes the presentation quite entertaining is the many references to games and anime. Many challenges and additional parts are playable after the game is over and offer the opportunity to use many features you have unlocked. All in all, Hi-Fi Rush was one of the games I regret overlooking in 2023, and I'm pretty glad I got the chance to play it. If you have an active gamepass subscription, this is one of the games you should definitely play right now. I'm looking forward to the second game coming out.

Although the concept is inspired by Bloodborne, it seems like the game hasn't quite decided what it will be. Bloodborne-looking Sekiro? I mean, I've seen something similar to this recently in Lies of P, but Lies of P was a production that was just like a real Soulsborne game with its gameplay and level designs. The parry system feels bad, and most of the time you don't even know whether you parry or not. Movements and combat feel cumbersome, which is the biggest minus in a soulslike game. Although the character's ability to steal his opponent's ability with his claw is cool, your job is done until you use it during the fight due to the slow animation. Although the level designs, hub section, graphics and lighting are nice, the game could be much better if it had more enjoyable and satisfying gameplay. Still, it's one of the indies you can try as a soulslike (and especially if you're a PC player waiting for Bloodborne to come to PC :P)

Although it is difficult to find successful examples in Soulslike games, I would not hesitate to try them. Even though I've never played Nioh, I've heard from many people that Team Ninja's Nioh series is the most successful series in terms of soulslike games. I had the chance to try the newly released Wo Long since it is available on GamePass. It wasn't very difficult for me to get used to the controls and the dodge/parry system, which seemed different at first, and the fact that dodge and parry are the same button was the only mechanic that made the game more dynamic, fun and enjoyable. Actually, at first I thought that the game would promise an experience that would challenge me, but repetitive enemies, some levels that felt too long, and the difficulty imbalance between some enemies were some of the elements that I saw as minuses. But overall, the game promised an easier experience than I thought. The story is not very complicated, it has a fantastic story set in the ancient Chinese civilization, and it has a plot that I don't care much about. Although the graphics, lighting and art design look great, there are still optimization problems on PC, albeit to a lesser extent. The variety of weapons and cosmetics in the game allows it to have a wide range of builds. Another thing I appreciate is that the game has a very detailed character creation menu. I finished the game on my Twitch channel with a character and build completely similar to Musashi. As a result, Wo Long is a production that will keep you glued to the screen for a long time and is worth the money, with its many side quests and various and entertaining build options. However, even just focusing on the main quest is long enough to satisfy you in terms of gameplay, so if you like Soulslike games, I recommend you to try it while the game is still on GamePass.

I really enjoyed the first game when I played it on PS 3. Even though this remake improves on the original game in terms of graphics and lighting, I expected more. For example, where are the updates that improve quality of life? Or perhaps the clunky horse controls could be fixed? The game is good, but repeating the same sequences over some long bosses in a single kill can be boring, and at this point I would expect the game to offer me a checkpoint. Although it is a remake, it is a good thing that it remains extremely faithful to the main game, but it would have been nice to add something extra. After all, a remake does not always mean only visual improvements like a remaster. But ultimately, there is nothing that Shadow of the Colossus Remake does that contradicts the original or is worse than the original did. It was a nice nostalgic experience to experience it again with high resolution, improved graphics and lighting.

At first, I didn't expect much because it seemed like a very cheap production, but Nightmare of Decay was a very successful production in its own right. The game is full of inspirations and references from many Survival/Horror games, especially Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Amnesia, Cry of Fear. The game has simple puzzles and some okay boss battles. Even though the story is a cliche story of escaping from a nightmare, I didn't care much in a game like this. One of the points that surprised me was that such a game took up 100 MB of space, because there are many sounds and places in the game, and assuming that it was 2 hours long, it was a very successful job. If you like the Survival/Horror genre in general, I can recommend this indie production.

Limbo and Inside are artistic games that I really like. Cocoon is a production that is as good as Limbo and Inside with its art design and well-thought-out puzzle dynamics. The game brings a new breath to the genre with its worlds-within-worlds mechanics that I have never seen before and puzzles that look like they came out of the movie Inception. Of course, at some moments it can be tiring to do backtracking or perform other operations from other worlds to overcome the obstacle in front of you. The game has a very simple gameplay mechanic, and even with such simplicity, the inclusion of well-thought-out boss fights has saved the game from being a monotonous puzzle game. In conclusion, Cocoon was a very successful production with its music, art design, level designs and most of all its unique puzzles. If you have an active GamePass subscription, it is one of the productions you should definitely try.