AndoCommando
2011
goblin slayer
"as a person who has lots of sex all the time, i can say that this game is 100% accurate to having sex with sexy women. like i do. everyday. this game did not make me horny however. i am not gay. i just have too much sex with real women to spend more than 15 minutes in this game at a time. on the other hand i would recommend this game to people who do not have sex (unlike me because i have lots of sex with women a lot) as there is a naked woman in it and she is naked. she kinda looks like one of my many girlfriends who i have sex with a lot. i have lots of sex. i also an very handsome and women ALWAYS want to have sex with me because i am very muscular and handsome and very good at video games. all my girlfriends say im very good at sex and playing video games and being handsome. one of my girlfriends asked me to have sex with her but i told her i was playing a sex game instead so she started crying and became a lesbian and killed herself because i did not have sex with her. i have sex with women. not men. i am not gay. i am very cool and handsome so girls always have sex with me because i am very cool and sexy. my penis is very big. all my girlfriends like my penis because it is very big and i am very good at sex with my women. every woman ive had sex with is very sexy and so am i. i have lots of sex. i am also very handsome and sexy and i have lots of sex."
This review contains spoilers
Trails in the Sky is one of the truest JRPG series around. What I mean by that is while it may triumph most others in the finer details of its worldbuilding and combat system, the overarching success of Trails' First Chapter (FC) can be linked back to how it ticks off all the boxes for your standard JRPG narrative, and it's through this that will determine whether the game is for you.
There's a distinct formula that FC follows: each part takes you to a different city with new people and quests to solve, the latter often being the same as past ones with slight alterations. We learn about each character before tragedy strikes, leading to the main plot kicking in as you beat wave after wave of enemies until finally, the big startling revelation turns out to be something else entirely. Cue sentimental scenes, bonding moments and credits to close out each episode. It's easy to fault the game for such repetition, even the finale plays out this way. But this is their tried-and-true approach and one that I believed worked like a charm.
It's uncanny for how standard-fare most of the writing is that the game maintains a lovely sense about itself that I'm enamored by. A cast of all-too typical archetypes building off one another with playful banter and interactions. Swathes of dialogue that never relate back to the core narrative hold a natural whimsy to them, enhancing the role of a Bracer in this new world. Even the ironically predictable twists and questions never fail to leave their mark thanks to gradual development over the course of the game.
If you're a JRPG fan, you know what you're walking into. But for those unsure of whether Trails is worth the investment, let me just say that FC is a game that wears its heart on its sleeve. There's hardly any pretense in the presentation, nor does it shy away from the clear scope of its gameplay. It knows what it wants to be and delivers on that earnestly.
There's a distinct formula that FC follows: each part takes you to a different city with new people and quests to solve, the latter often being the same as past ones with slight alterations. We learn about each character before tragedy strikes, leading to the main plot kicking in as you beat wave after wave of enemies until finally, the big startling revelation turns out to be something else entirely. Cue sentimental scenes, bonding moments and credits to close out each episode. It's easy to fault the game for such repetition, even the finale plays out this way. But this is their tried-and-true approach and one that I believed worked like a charm.
It's uncanny for how standard-fare most of the writing is that the game maintains a lovely sense about itself that I'm enamored by. A cast of all-too typical archetypes building off one another with playful banter and interactions. Swathes of dialogue that never relate back to the core narrative hold a natural whimsy to them, enhancing the role of a Bracer in this new world. Even the ironically predictable twists and questions never fail to leave their mark thanks to gradual development over the course of the game.
If you're a JRPG fan, you know what you're walking into. But for those unsure of whether Trails is worth the investment, let me just say that FC is a game that wears its heart on its sleeve. There's hardly any pretense in the presentation, nor does it shy away from the clear scope of its gameplay. It knows what it wants to be and delivers on that earnestly.
2001
Classic FPS that holds up solely for its solid gunplay and fast-paced progression. Has some lofty ideas integrated with the mechanics, but lacks the foresight needed for using them in the first place. Modifying environments is commendable until it's no longer relevant in entire maps. Story and characters are tertiary here; you play this if you wanna blow s**t up.
P.S. I recommend using the Dash Faction mod.
P.S. I recommend using the Dash Faction mod.
While this may be an improvement over Man of Medan, it still suffers most when striving for as close to a cinematic experience that survival horror games are currently capable of. An over-reliance on quick-time events and walking down trodden paths can hardly be called immersive gameplay, but even the choices made are undermined in favor of a mystery plot that crumbles at its conclusion. The writing is also nothing to ride home about, littered with a cliched cast all falling prey to the tropes of B-movie horror flicks. The twist ending is audacious, yet ends up compromising the vast amount of content already played of its value, leaving as many narrative threads dangling as it does tie up.
2011
One of the best sequels I've ever played. Refines the gameplay with an influx of new mechanics and greater charm in its small cast. The aesthetic of its predecessor is morphed and adapted to period-specific alterations. Very few locations are left to the player, but a superb grasp of scaling makes small levels look huge and larger ones feel endless. It's a short game to complete, and yet, people still devote hundreds of hours to it, learning more about the possibilities left in their hands. A game with such depth, makes for the most rewarding of experiences.
Forget the original trilogy, KOTOR immerses you into the world of Star Wars like no movie ever has. Every character encountered has their own tale waiting to be told. Each planet a well-defined political structure with cracks beneath the surface. And a balanced perspective between the Jedi and Sith leaves you, the player, at the center of it all. With an extensive class system at your disposal, lies the freedom for an adventure to unfold in whatever path you choose.
Aside from a handful of elements showing their age, this game deserves all the praise it gets.
Aside from a handful of elements showing their age, this game deserves all the praise it gets.
2007
Fascinating game design. Subtle storytelling via completing perfunctory tasks leads to a far greater narrative and world at play that only gets fully realized in the sequel. A joy to play with infinite potential when it comes to puzzle solving. Sadly, it's far too short for me to fully appreciate on its technical elements alone.
Never came across as manipulative or exaggerated in its appeal to pathos. At times it even showed some impressive prose. However, the post-apocalyptic setting and theming is overshadowed by a bubbly robot's radiant persona. It's a short emotional tale but with lacklustre plotting, development and sci-fi elements.
Hardly the clever game it's heralded as. Holds your hand through each case yet still stumbles through several leaps of logic and strict linearity to a fault. Cringeworthy caricatures and tedious anime tropes unfortunately plague every part. Still charming in its own way. Great sound design.
Same mechanical flaws as its predecessor, but a significant dip in writing and audio mixing. Clementine isn't as compelling a protagonist, with her choices rarely being important until the last episode. Several pointless deaths tie up loose threads in the plot. The journey is still fun though, with Kenny's return and progression being the highlight.
Unconventional means of crafting intrigue. Our computer screen is the interface, our choices and assumptions paint such stark pictures of those we follow online. Several literary references but lacks the pedigree of writing needed for a solid social commentary. The final episode being the clearest example of how Orwell is content with "playing it safe." Read his books instead.
2015
If this were a Visual Novel, it would be the best Visual Novel.
2012
Fantastic cast, with every person you come across defined by what they've lost and trying to come to terms with such. Each episode has its share of hope and heartbreak, culminating in a powerful last stand and sendoff. Great interactivity for the most part, with choices having both short and long-term consequences. Love the cell-shaded look and gritty art direction. This is the best version of The Walking Dead.