Chowder
Imported from my Backloggery:
Va-11 Hall-A was a big surprise to me. Beginning to end, I absolutely loved it. The way that the characters were written was extremely believable, and you felt attached to each and every one of them. The different endings were seamless as well, and it seems as though there are some interesting secrets in it as well. The way that the world was conveyed was interesting, and made it all feel believable. I enjoyed the themes as well, and got really emotional at points.
Va-11 Hall-A was a big surprise to me. Beginning to end, I absolutely loved it. The way that the characters were written was extremely believable, and you felt attached to each and every one of them. The different endings were seamless as well, and it seems as though there are some interesting secrets in it as well. The way that the world was conveyed was interesting, and made it all feel believable. I enjoyed the themes as well, and got really emotional at points.
Imported from my Backloggery:
The story for this game is fantastic and highly engrossing. Once I got to chapter 2, I couldn't put the game down. I loved everything except for a few small issues that stopped me from enjoying the game as much as I could have. At points, I got into a few fights that I had no idea were coming. I was in a fight that I had no way of winning, so I had to download a god mode mod for that fight. Other than that, I have very few complaints. I'm now invested in The Witcher series!
The story for this game is fantastic and highly engrossing. Once I got to chapter 2, I couldn't put the game down. I loved everything except for a few small issues that stopped me from enjoying the game as much as I could have. At points, I got into a few fights that I had no idea were coming. I was in a fight that I had no way of winning, so I had to download a god mode mod for that fight. Other than that, I have very few complaints. I'm now invested in The Witcher series!
2020
Imported from my Backloggery:
Carrion was a great time, the way that it truly made you think and feel like a horror monster was rather impressive. The movement and combat are immensely satisfying, and the pacing is near perfect. My only issues are with the navigation and checkpointing. There are certain difficult moments that aren't properly checkpointed, and the roar that shows you where to go is useless. I loved the ending and the way the characters react. Fun, breezy, and easily puts you in flow state.
Carrion was a great time, the way that it truly made you think and feel like a horror monster was rather impressive. The movement and combat are immensely satisfying, and the pacing is near perfect. My only issues are with the navigation and checkpointing. There are certain difficult moments that aren't properly checkpointed, and the roar that shows you where to go is useless. I loved the ending and the way the characters react. Fun, breezy, and easily puts you in flow state.
2017
Imported from my Backloggery:
RUINER was an interesting one... The thing that I loved most about this game was the pacing, throughout the game, there was little to no exposition, they just said 'go' which made this feel much less boring than it could be. The combat was so dry, however. Switching guns throughout combat encounters keeps you on your toes, but it just ended up feeling like Hotline Miami but with less strategy. I loved the worldbuilding and the art direction, but the 3D was rough. The 2D stuff was cool though.
RUINER was an interesting one... The thing that I loved most about this game was the pacing, throughout the game, there was little to no exposition, they just said 'go' which made this feel much less boring than it could be. The combat was so dry, however. Switching guns throughout combat encounters keeps you on your toes, but it just ended up feeling like Hotline Miami but with less strategy. I loved the worldbuilding and the art direction, but the 3D was rough. The 2D stuff was cool though.
2019
Imported from my Backloggery:
It's really hard for me to rate this game because I started out enjoying the graphics and presentation, but found the gameplay to just be so-so. I would have seen this game out to completion if it wasn't for the invulnerable enemies that incentivized the entirely unenjoyable stealth. This game also has a really great sense of humor that kept me laughing, but it was ultimately not fun to play, especially as the game got harder.
It's really hard for me to rate this game because I started out enjoying the graphics and presentation, but found the gameplay to just be so-so. I would have seen this game out to completion if it wasn't for the invulnerable enemies that incentivized the entirely unenjoyable stealth. This game also has a really great sense of humor that kept me laughing, but it was ultimately not fun to play, especially as the game got harder.
2001
Imported from my Backloggery: (In Water Ending)
I enjoyed thinking about SH2 way more than I enjoyed playing it. There's a staggering amount of depth when it comes to atmosphere, visual design, storytelling, and much more. That being said, actually PLAYING the game was rough. The survival horror mechanics were rudimentary, and I had much less trouble in this game than SH1. I ended the game with 300+ pistol, 100+ shotgun, and 60+ rifle ammo. The game was stupidly easy. I was just never scared, which definitely dampened it for me.
I enjoyed thinking about SH2 way more than I enjoyed playing it. There's a staggering amount of depth when it comes to atmosphere, visual design, storytelling, and much more. That being said, actually PLAYING the game was rough. The survival horror mechanics were rudimentary, and I had much less trouble in this game than SH1. I ended the game with 300+ pistol, 100+ shotgun, and 60+ rifle ammo. The game was stupidly easy. I was just never scared, which definitely dampened it for me.
1999
Imported from my Backloggery: (Bad+ Ending)
While I was playing, I found it hard not to compare SH to Resident Evil. In comparison, this game wasn't even close. The puzzles were backloaded toward the end of the game, which I found to be really tedious. When it came to combat and level design, it wasn't to the same standard as RE1. Where SH did stand out however was the visual direction. There were some really clever scares, and I really enjoyed the way the story was told. There are some fun things, but it didn't compare to RE.
While I was playing, I found it hard not to compare SH to Resident Evil. In comparison, this game wasn't even close. The puzzles were backloaded toward the end of the game, which I found to be really tedious. When it came to combat and level design, it wasn't to the same standard as RE1. Where SH did stand out however was the visual direction. There were some really clever scares, and I really enjoyed the way the story was told. There are some fun things, but it didn't compare to RE.
Imported from my Backloggery:
I really wanted to like this game, but I really didn't like the action focus mixed with tank controls. It felt less like a power fantasy, and more felt disengaging. I didn't love the aesthetic of the beginning, a post apocalyptic city mixed with PS1 graphics just didn't work for me. I really was missing the spooky atmosphere. I also didn't love the pure quantity of enemies and found myself more annoyed than scared most of the time. I enjoyed the few Nemesis encounters and campy vibe though.
I really wanted to like this game, but I really didn't like the action focus mixed with tank controls. It felt less like a power fantasy, and more felt disengaging. I didn't love the aesthetic of the beginning, a post apocalyptic city mixed with PS1 graphics just didn't work for me. I really was missing the spooky atmosphere. I also didn't love the pure quantity of enemies and found myself more annoyed than scared most of the time. I enjoyed the few Nemesis encounters and campy vibe though.
2010
Imported from my Backloggery:
Despite a relatively dry beginning and slow start, I found myself absolutely transfixed by the end of NieR. The combat left a lot to be desired, in addition to being repetitive, I found that I was having a better time if I was overpowered for each encounter. The story is basic, but it becomes quite a unique narrative 10 hours in. I found myself highly invested in the narrative, even if it did come across as sadistic to the point of comedy at times. NieR is highly flawed but very special.
Despite a relatively dry beginning and slow start, I found myself absolutely transfixed by the end of NieR. The combat left a lot to be desired, in addition to being repetitive, I found that I was having a better time if I was overpowered for each encounter. The story is basic, but it becomes quite a unique narrative 10 hours in. I found myself highly invested in the narrative, even if it did come across as sadistic to the point of comedy at times. NieR is highly flawed but very special.
2013
Imported from my Backloggery:
I thoroughly enjoyed DKG3. It's rife with hype-ass moments and some killer music, which allows for some really incredible action sequences. The combat was serviceable, offering some visceral fun and primal enjoyment via the progression system (which beautifully ties into the narrative). The story is the main attraction though, a lot of characters are more nuanced than they initially let on, and the plot ties so well with the rest of the series. It's just begging to be analyzed.
DLC:
Though largely superfluous, there are still some nice stories to be found in these DLCs. Two's DLC really stood out to me for that, her descent into madness is well done, and uses the anime art style to push your suspension of disbelief as far as it will go. The rest of them weren't Earth-shattering, but they are some nice context. I just wish playing these in Japanese wasn't such a pain to do.
I thoroughly enjoyed DKG3. It's rife with hype-ass moments and some killer music, which allows for some really incredible action sequences. The combat was serviceable, offering some visceral fun and primal enjoyment via the progression system (which beautifully ties into the narrative). The story is the main attraction though, a lot of characters are more nuanced than they initially let on, and the plot ties so well with the rest of the series. It's just begging to be analyzed.
DLC:
Though largely superfluous, there are still some nice stories to be found in these DLCs. Two's DLC really stood out to me for that, her descent into madness is well done, and uses the anime art style to push your suspension of disbelief as far as it will go. The rest of them weren't Earth-shattering, but they are some nice context. I just wish playing these in Japanese wasn't such a pain to do.
2003
Imported from my Backloggery:
A lot of this game was a real slog to get through. Most of the gameplay in this game is dry, dated, and simplistic. Most of the mechanics that were interesting were unnecessary and had no need to be used. The dodge was clunky and the ground combat especially was poor. Story-wise, the first half of the story is dry and generic. What saves this game from a one star, however, was the second half of this game. The story become interesting and subversive, and the gameplay at the tail end was fun.
A lot of this game was a real slog to get through. Most of the gameplay in this game is dry, dated, and simplistic. Most of the mechanics that were interesting were unnecessary and had no need to be used. The dodge was clunky and the ground combat especially was poor. Story-wise, the first half of the story is dry and generic. What saves this game from a one star, however, was the second half of this game. The story become interesting and subversive, and the gameplay at the tail end was fun.
2020
Imported from my Backloggery:
Despite having an initially gripping setup, characters, and truly immersive world, the game ultimately failed to bring any sort of meaningful emotional payoff for the story. Overall, I never got much out of the game beyond 'woah, this is cool'. Some SQs were great, but most were lackluster. The gameplay is rather lacking in replay value and meaningful roleplaying and decision making as well. The combat beyond the many ways you can tackle an encounter is nothing to write home about.
Despite having an initially gripping setup, characters, and truly immersive world, the game ultimately failed to bring any sort of meaningful emotional payoff for the story. Overall, I never got much out of the game beyond 'woah, this is cool'. Some SQs were great, but most were lackluster. The gameplay is rather lacking in replay value and meaningful roleplaying and decision making as well. The combat beyond the many ways you can tackle an encounter is nothing to write home about.
2017
Imported from my Backloggery:
I enjoyed what I played of Tacoma for the most part, the narrative was interesting for the most part, and some the implications that existed in the story were interesting, and quite dark. The theme and story they were telling was singular, but Tacoma lacked one huge part of the experience, which was involvement. You don't affect anything, you are a passive observer, which deflated a lot of it for me. Most of the narrative was told to you, which bothered me. I also lost my save.
I enjoyed what I played of Tacoma for the most part, the narrative was interesting for the most part, and some the implications that existed in the story were interesting, and quite dark. The theme and story they were telling was singular, but Tacoma lacked one huge part of the experience, which was involvement. You don't affect anything, you are a passive observer, which deflated a lot of it for me. Most of the narrative was told to you, which bothered me. I also lost my save.
2019
Imported from my Backloggery:
This one was a tough one to rate due to the fact that I didn't really love playing a large portion of this game, a lot of the puzzles just turned out to be a little too hard for me, but I persevered and pushed through. That being said a lot of the puzzles were so satisfying to me. The story was also incredible, It got me thinking about human's place on the earth in a way I never thought I would. It's really well done, and I thought it was fantastic for that.
This one was a tough one to rate due to the fact that I didn't really love playing a large portion of this game, a lot of the puzzles just turned out to be a little too hard for me, but I persevered and pushed through. That being said a lot of the puzzles were so satisfying to me. The story was also incredible, It got me thinking about human's place on the earth in a way I never thought I would. It's really well done, and I thought it was fantastic for that.
2019
Imported from my Backloggery account:
This game is fun gameplay-wise, but nothing beyond that. The story has a few heartfelt moments, but fails to really stick the landing overall. The villains are lackluster and downright annoying. The gameplay is serviceable and fun, but nothing beyond that. In addition, the sheer amount of talking makes the game less fun to play through multiple times, and kept me from keeping on with the game. The core gameplay loop is fun, but the rest of the game bogs it down.
Beaten: Oct 2019 in 60 hours
This game is fun gameplay-wise, but nothing beyond that. The story has a few heartfelt moments, but fails to really stick the landing overall. The villains are lackluster and downright annoying. The gameplay is serviceable and fun, but nothing beyond that. In addition, the sheer amount of talking makes the game less fun to play through multiple times, and kept me from keeping on with the game. The core gameplay loop is fun, but the rest of the game bogs it down.
Beaten: Oct 2019 in 60 hours