Chowder
2018
Imported from my Backloggery
I was shocked to see how hard this game ended up hitting me. I cried in the opening sequence, and was emotionally moved throughout. The platforming, although basic, is elegantly simple and easy to get through. The music and art make this game feel so incredibly emotional, it's hard to describe. So many of the moments hit their emotional beats, and it just made me enjoy it so much. It's pure catharsis in game form.
I was shocked to see how hard this game ended up hitting me. I cried in the opening sequence, and was emotionally moved throughout. The platforming, although basic, is elegantly simple and easy to get through. The music and art make this game feel so incredibly emotional, it's hard to describe. So many of the moments hit their emotional beats, and it just made me enjoy it so much. It's pure catharsis in game form.
2007
Imported from my Backloggery: (Beaten on Normal)
What a blast this game was to play! Although ME had combat that felt floaty, playing on a lower difficulty alleviated this problem. What works so well is the pacing of the main story. Every time you touch down on a new planet, a 1-3 hour story plays out, which has an engaging beginning middle and end, which feeds into the main story. It's an excellent way to keep you constantly engaged. I also liked getting attached to characters in your party, I just wish they expanded on that part more.
What a blast this game was to play! Although ME had combat that felt floaty, playing on a lower difficulty alleviated this problem. What works so well is the pacing of the main story. Every time you touch down on a new planet, a 1-3 hour story plays out, which has an engaging beginning middle and end, which feeds into the main story. It's an excellent way to keep you constantly engaged. I also liked getting attached to characters in your party, I just wish they expanded on that part more.
2014
Imported from my Backloggery:
I really enjoyed the story for this game, but the gameplay kept me from enjoying this game as much as other people. The gunplay ended up feeling awkward and I got to a point where I didn't have enough filters to progress, because the NPCs wouldn't stop dawdling and talking. The atmosphere is amazing and the graphics aren't amazing, but are more than passable and have a lot of attention to detail which helps with immersion. The previous issues kept me from being totally immersed.
I really enjoyed the story for this game, but the gameplay kept me from enjoying this game as much as other people. The gunplay ended up feeling awkward and I got to a point where I didn't have enough filters to progress, because the NPCs wouldn't stop dawdling and talking. The atmosphere is amazing and the graphics aren't amazing, but are more than passable and have a lot of attention to detail which helps with immersion. The previous issues kept me from being totally immersed.
2019
Imported from my Backloggery: (Beaten on Hardcore Ranger)
Especially when playing on Hardcore Ranger, I found this game to be ridiculously immersive, even surpassing the other games in the Metro series. There were moments where the borders faded away and I was completely in the universe of Metro. There were some incredible emotional highs, especially toward the end. Unfortunately the open world design wasn't my favorite. A lot of the game fades into unmemorable white noise that was still fun, but I cant recall. About a 40/60 split between those.
Especially when playing on Hardcore Ranger, I found this game to be ridiculously immersive, even surpassing the other games in the Metro series. There were moments where the borders faded away and I was completely in the universe of Metro. There were some incredible emotional highs, especially toward the end. Unfortunately the open world design wasn't my favorite. A lot of the game fades into unmemorable white noise that was still fun, but I cant recall. About a 40/60 split between those.
Imported from my Backloggery:
I thoroughly enjoyed Metro: LL. In addition to be being expertly paced, the design of the world made for an incredibly immersive experience that had me lost in the world more than any other game I have played. I have never felt so engrossed in a game before. The emotional beats also worked really well for me, and I felt chilled to my core a few times. Serviceable gameplay. The only issues I have in the game is the romance with Anna, as well as the combat sections with kiting monsters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Metro: LL. In addition to be being expertly paced, the design of the world made for an incredibly immersive experience that had me lost in the world more than any other game I have played. I have never felt so engrossed in a game before. The emotional beats also worked really well for me, and I felt chilled to my core a few times. Serviceable gameplay. The only issues I have in the game is the romance with Anna, as well as the combat sections with kiting monsters.
2010
Imported from my Backloggery
Despite having enjoyable and sharp writing, that kind of reminded me of a Tim Schafer game at times, an interesting mystery and a cool vibe/art style, this game did not grab me at all. My biggest issue is that I really just wanted to see where the story was going, but I was interrupted by really annoying puzzles that felt cryptic and inconsistent. When I solved them, I didn't feel smart, I felt lucky. The way that they transparently make you feel bad for failing a puzzle bothered me too.
Despite having enjoyable and sharp writing, that kind of reminded me of a Tim Schafer game at times, an interesting mystery and a cool vibe/art style, this game did not grab me at all. My biggest issue is that I really just wanted to see where the story was going, but I was interrupted by really annoying puzzles that felt cryptic and inconsistent. When I solved them, I didn't feel smart, I felt lucky. The way that they transparently make you feel bad for failing a puzzle bothered me too.
Imported from my Backloggery:
Red Dead 2 will probably be a game I will really enjoy in a few years, but as it stands right now, I do not have the patience or energy to play a game like this. The first the hours were relatively unexciting despite having incredible sound design, music, acting, and graphics. In addition to this, the game was simply not fun to play. The auto aim felt way worse than it did in the original, and the way the recoil works doesn't feel powerful at all. It's overwrought with tedious mechanics.
Red Dead 2 will probably be a game I will really enjoy in a few years, but as it stands right now, I do not have the patience or energy to play a game like this. The first the hours were relatively unexciting despite having incredible sound design, music, acting, and graphics. In addition to this, the game was simply not fun to play. The auto aim felt way worse than it did in the original, and the way the recoil works doesn't feel powerful at all. It's overwrought with tedious mechanics.
2013
Imported from my Backloggery:
This game is largely forgettable in its combat and story, but some of the game mechanics were super fresh. The combo creation system was inconsequential, but a cool mechanic nonetheless. The memory remix mechanic was great though. The visual design was amazing and is something that I will always remember. The game still treated me like a baby throughout and largely felt generic. It lacks impact, and is worth a skip.
This game is largely forgettable in its combat and story, but some of the game mechanics were super fresh. The combo creation system was inconsequential, but a cool mechanic nonetheless. The memory remix mechanic was great though. The visual design was amazing and is something that I will always remember. The game still treated me like a baby throughout and largely felt generic. It lacks impact, and is worth a skip.
2019
Imported from my Backloggery:
This game was a blast. The team did an incredible job updating the classic Resident Evil gameplay into 3D, which was a huge surprise. The graphics and sound design create absolutely terrifying moments. That being said, the puzzle design was super lacking. There was never any point where I even remotely had to think, instead I was charting routes from point A to B, which was fun. In boss fights, I got frustrated bc I didn't know whether to run or fight. The story was dumb, but I loved Leon.
This game was a blast. The team did an incredible job updating the classic Resident Evil gameplay into 3D, which was a huge surprise. The graphics and sound design create absolutely terrifying moments. That being said, the puzzle design was super lacking. There was never any point where I even remotely had to think, instead I was charting routes from point A to B, which was fun. In boss fights, I got frustrated bc I didn't know whether to run or fight. The story was dumb, but I loved Leon.
2002
Imported from my Backloggery:
What an incredible piece of gaming history. Although this game feels a little clunky with its tank controls, the entire experience feels deliberately crafted, with scares being meticulously planned in advance. Although the graphics are serviceable, the prerendered backgrounds and general art direction create an oppressive atmosphere. The scares especially were terrifying in all the right ways. To top it off, it had a great range of emotion, from campy characters to emotional side stories.
What an incredible piece of gaming history. Although this game feels a little clunky with its tank controls, the entire experience feels deliberately crafted, with scares being meticulously planned in advance. Although the graphics are serviceable, the prerendered backgrounds and general art direction create an oppressive atmosphere. The scares especially were terrifying in all the right ways. To top it off, it had a great range of emotion, from campy characters to emotional side stories.
Imported from my Backloggery: (Beaten on Survivor Difficulty)
This game opened really strong, running and looking great, with incredibly breathtaking action setpieces, but toward the last third, the game's quality fell off, I had trouble understanding Lara's motivations throughout the game, as she flip flopped back and forth with what she wanted. Once the end came along, the gameplay and visuals stopped being original, and just felt like a repeat of the first one. Overall, it's better than the first, but a massive rehash with some much needed streamlining.
This game opened really strong, running and looking great, with incredibly breathtaking action setpieces, but toward the last third, the game's quality fell off, I had trouble understanding Lara's motivations throughout the game, as she flip flopped back and forth with what she wanted. Once the end came along, the gameplay and visuals stopped being original, and just felt like a repeat of the first one. Overall, it's better than the first, but a massive rehash with some much needed streamlining.
Imported from my Backloggery: (Took a break at D.o.H. hate that guy!)
Precise, thrilling, tense, and engrossing, Sekiro had me gripped through almost the entire experience. Although I never connected to the world like I did in Dark Souls, the atmosphere made up for that, with creative setpieces and a cinematic story. The gameplay is simple yet precise, and puts you directly into the mindset of a samurai, where combat is lethal, and seconds matter. At a point, the inputs dissappear, and fights become a complex dance that reels you in. Exploration was fun too!
Precise, thrilling, tense, and engrossing, Sekiro had me gripped through almost the entire experience. Although I never connected to the world like I did in Dark Souls, the atmosphere made up for that, with creative setpieces and a cinematic story. The gameplay is simple yet precise, and puts you directly into the mindset of a samurai, where combat is lethal, and seconds matter. At a point, the inputs dissappear, and fights become a complex dance that reels you in. Exploration was fun too!
Imported from Backloggery: Combat: Hard - Exploration: Normal
I enjoyed the highs of this game a lot. The tension, especially in certain scenes, is turned to 11. I love the fact that there were multiple sequences that I actually found scary and nailbiting. Jonah is more fleshed out and better than ever (he's so likeable). Croft ends up in a good place too. The graphics were surprisingly underwhelming, and the gameplay was super derivative of the other games in the franchise, but the focus on plot and puzzles made up for it.
I enjoyed the highs of this game a lot. The tension, especially in certain scenes, is turned to 11. I love the fact that there were multiple sequences that I actually found scary and nailbiting. Jonah is more fleshed out and better than ever (he's so likeable). Croft ends up in a good place too. The graphics were surprisingly underwhelming, and the gameplay was super derivative of the other games in the franchise, but the focus on plot and puzzles made up for it.
2015
Imported from my Backloggery:
While SOMA didn't necessarily blow me away on the first playthrough, due to the unenjoyable monster encounters and well-tread thematic ground, SOMA has stuck with me longer than I really expected it to. Messing with machines and turning knobs was really fun, the amount of depth that is present in the writing, as well as the oppressive and hopeless atmosphere has haunted me for a while. Although the ending was undercut slightly by the post credits scene, the ending was still quite moving.
While SOMA didn't necessarily blow me away on the first playthrough, due to the unenjoyable monster encounters and well-tread thematic ground, SOMA has stuck with me longer than I really expected it to. Messing with machines and turning knobs was really fun, the amount of depth that is present in the writing, as well as the oppressive and hopeless atmosphere has haunted me for a while. Although the ending was undercut slightly by the post credits scene, the ending was still quite moving.
2013
Imported from my Backloggery: (Easily beaten on hard)
Tomb Raider is a great time, as a cover shooter, it is standard, but a blast to play. Running around swapping weapons while popping heads is great, but it doesn't really make too much sense in the context of the story. You are becoming the tomb raider, not starting as a killing machine from the beginning. The game is impeccably paced and the map design is excellent. The only issue that I have is that it feels slightly dated and generic. I'm very excited to play the sequel.
Tomb Raider is a great time, as a cover shooter, it is standard, but a blast to play. Running around swapping weapons while popping heads is great, but it doesn't really make too much sense in the context of the story. You are becoming the tomb raider, not starting as a killing machine from the beginning. The game is impeccably paced and the map design is excellent. The only issue that I have is that it feels slightly dated and generic. I'm very excited to play the sequel.