ChrisVsBacklog
2020
A short search and find adventure telling of a near future body horror medical practice. As uncomfortable as it is brief, this is yet another upsetting experiment from Yames.
A basic 2d slashing action with the most realistic rice cultivation simulation strapped alongside. I'm not sure who the target audience is, but I quickly discovered that it was not me.
2022
Hugely effective claustrophobic horror story, with a unique "closed box" exploration technique. A quick jaunt, the game is a one sitting experience, and worth your time if only to see how much is accomplished with so little.
2022
A great dungeon delver roguelight with brilliant Twitch community integration. I really enjoyed my time with Cult of the Lamb, but feel like it runs out of steam in the back half. The developers have voiced that they plan to add more, and I would revisit it should that come to pass. As it stands now, the research and tech tree will be full well before you are done with the dungeon side of the game, leaving things unbalanced. Until both halves of the formula are better in sync and yield risk/reward for the other side of the coin, Cult of the Lamb will continue to feel slightly under-baked.
2011
While the world of Thedas continues to be a compelling playground, the stakes in Dragon Age 2 lag behind the other entries in the series. Instead of a tale of global importance, DA2 is focused primarily on the struggles of Hawke and their band of buddies. While the ramifications of the events in Kirkwall reverberate into the world at large, DA2 never quite feels like the grand adventure you expected.
2009
The epic inaugural entry in the sprawling fantasy franchise. Dragon Age Origins sets the stage for a world of heroes and myth, supported by inventive and well developed cultures and politics. The world building at work in this game is worthy of heaps of praise, and quickly draws you deep into the fight for the fate of Ferelden.
The combat and UI feel dated by modern standards, but can be helped along by an avid mod community that helps to round out some of the rougher edges.
The combat and UI feel dated by modern standards, but can be helped along by an avid mod community that helps to round out some of the rougher edges.
A short but chilling visual novel following a simple errand that feels like it holds the weight of the world.
2017
Gameplay consists of a simple variation on a fantasy basketball contest, but the real shine of this game is in its story. Rich characterization, thoughtful lore, and stunning artwork deliver an outstanding experience, as expected from Supergiant Games, even if the actual "game" attached is a little thin.
2021
The conclusion to the modern Hitman trilogy continues to deliver a well tuned assassination playground, but needs to lean too hard into its framing story to feel as satisfying as the previous entries. Where the campaign falters, the freeform gameplay excells, giving players a continual opportunity to put Agent 47 to work.
2018
Not quite as impactful as the opening entry of the new Hitman trilogy, Hitman 2 still delivers some interesting contracts and decent playground levels. Unfortunately, the most fun to be had is likely replaying the missions from the first game using the new tools from the sequel.
2018
A solid enough zen-mode chore sim, but the gamified mechanics in the career don't line up for me. It's fine if you're just looking to vibe, but outside of some creative mode fun, I think this is a let down.
2021
Nothing new in the jump scare theater, and the frame story is thin. The episodic releases may continue to grow on the formula, but as it sits right now, this is forgettable.
Frantic neon colors and out of control arena fighting. In a burst it's pretty charming, but I couldn't see many players spending more than a single session with it.
2009
The birthplace of the looter-shooter was a novel trip when it landed, but feels restrictive and dated upon a return visit. Unless you really have an itch for the game's (limited) story, there are better ways to grind for gear.