2001
Halo Combat Evolved is a must play game. A cultural phenomenon when it first released. In Halo you play as Master Chief, a super soldier. In Halo Combat Evolved the player will find themselves on the mysterious "planet" Halo where they will embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of Halo while fighting the Covenant, a military alliance of alien races. A brilliant first person shooter in which each gun feels unique and the gameplay truly shines. Halo CE is a joy to play. Everyone should play Halo CE at least once.
I replayed Halo via the Master Chief Collection on Series X last year.
I replayed Halo via the Master Chief Collection on Series X last year.
2010
Mass Effect 2 is a critically acclaimed action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in 2010 and is the second installment in the Mass Effect trilogy. The game is set in a futuristic universe where humans and aliens coexist, and players take on the role of Commander Shepard, a human soldier tasked with saving the galaxy from a mysterious alien threat.
The gameplay in Mass Effect 2 is a significant improvement from its predecessor. The combat system is refined and feels more fluid, allowing for a wider range of tactics and strategies. The game also introduces new weapons and abilities, allowing players to customize their character to suit their playstyle. Additionally, the game features a more streamlined inventory system, which makes managing items and equipment much more manageable.
One of the most significant improvements in Mass Effect 2 is the character development. The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. As players progress through the game, they have the opportunity to interact with these characters, learn about their stories, and build relationships with them. These relationships have a direct impact on the game's story and ending, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.
The graphics and sound design in Mass Effect 2 are also top-notch. The game features stunning visuals, with detailed character models, immersive environments, and impressive special effects. The sound design is equally impressive, with a gripping soundtrack, realistic sound effects, and well-voiced characters.
Overall, Mass Effect 2 is an outstanding game that improves on its predecessor in almost every way. The gameplay, character development, graphics, and sound design are all exceptional, making for an unforgettable gaming experience. The game's story is gripping and engaging, and the relationships players build with the characters add a layer of emotional depth to the game. If you're a fan of action role-playing games or science fiction, Mass Effect 2 is a must-play game that you won't want to miss.
The gameplay in Mass Effect 2 is a significant improvement from its predecessor. The combat system is refined and feels more fluid, allowing for a wider range of tactics and strategies. The game also introduces new weapons and abilities, allowing players to customize their character to suit their playstyle. Additionally, the game features a more streamlined inventory system, which makes managing items and equipment much more manageable.
One of the most significant improvements in Mass Effect 2 is the character development. The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. As players progress through the game, they have the opportunity to interact with these characters, learn about their stories, and build relationships with them. These relationships have a direct impact on the game's story and ending, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.
The graphics and sound design in Mass Effect 2 are also top-notch. The game features stunning visuals, with detailed character models, immersive environments, and impressive special effects. The sound design is equally impressive, with a gripping soundtrack, realistic sound effects, and well-voiced characters.
Overall, Mass Effect 2 is an outstanding game that improves on its predecessor in almost every way. The gameplay, character development, graphics, and sound design are all exceptional, making for an unforgettable gaming experience. The game's story is gripping and engaging, and the relationships players build with the characters add a layer of emotional depth to the game. If you're a fan of action role-playing games or science fiction, Mass Effect 2 is a must-play game that you won't want to miss.
2014
Far Cry 4 was a good follow up to Far Cry 3. Taking place in the Himalayas this time, the player controls Ajay Ghale a man returning to his home country to spread his mother's ashes and fulfil her dying wish. This game builds on everything Far Cry 3 did and does it better, except the story. Far Cry 4 is an incredibly fun game to play brought down by the story. In Far Cry 4 the player find themselves caught up in a rebellion to overthrow the dictator of the region, Pagan Min. Unless you're a fan of Far Cry games or are a fan of open world sandbox games I'd skip this game.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a good role-playing game! As someone that isn't a huge South Park fan I definitely thought this was a step down compared to the Stick of Truth. The combat isn't incredibly deep but it's deeper than it was in Stick of Truth. The Fractured But Whole's story is inconsistent. Similar to Stick of Truth the story in The Fractured But Whole doesn't hold any punches and doesn't care if you're offended. South Park: The Fractured But Whole according to people I trust also stays true to the TV show and that itself is praise worthy because licensed games tend to miss the mark. Despite everything I've said I still recommend this game to South Park fans! Comedy is subjective. What didn't appeal to me, might appeal to someone else.
South Park: The Stick of Truth is a GREAT role-playing game! As someone that isn't a huge South Park fan I was pulled into the universe that Trey Parker and Matt Stone created immediately. The combat isn't incredibly deep but it's serviceable enough that it doesn't take away from the experience. Stick of Truth SHINES via its story. It's HILARIOUS. It doesn't hold any punches and doesn't care if you're offended. South Park: The Stick of Truth according to people I trust stays true to the TV show and that itself is praise worthy because licensed games tend to miss the mark. I highly recommend this game to South Park fans!
2012
Far Cry 3 was my introduction to the Far Cry franchise and I fell in love with it. In Far Cry 3 the player controls Jason Brody, a man stranded on a mysterious tropical island with his friends, desperate to survive and escape. Far Cry 3 is carried by its villain Vaas portrayed by the great Michael Mando. For its time Far Cry 3 was revolutionary. It was THE standard for the open world action adventure genre. With deep character customization and a massive map to explore Far Cry 3 excels in player immersion and encourages the player to take their time and explore. A game I feel is definitely worth playing at least once. I'm not sure how well this game will appeal to gamers in 2022 but it's one my favourite games of all time.
The Wrath of the Druids DLC for Assassin's Creed Valhalla was just more of the "same old, same old" from Ubisoft. Ireland didn't feel unique, the story outside the main villain wasn't interesting and the quests just felt like they were designed to keep the player "busy."
Not worth playing unless you're a hardcore Assassin's Creed fan.
Not worth playing unless you're a hardcore Assassin's Creed fan.
2007
Mass Effect is a critically acclaimed and beloved video game franchise that has captivated millions of players since its initial release in 2007. The series is known for its captivating storytelling, immersive world-building, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
The Mass Effect series is set in a vast, sci-fi universe where players take on the role of Commander Shepard, a human hero tasked with saving the galaxy from a range of threats. The series is famous for its branching narrative paths, which allow players to make choices that impact the game's story and ending.
One of the most notable aspects of Mass Effect is its incredible attention to detail in crafting its universe. From the different alien species that inhabit the galaxy to the intricate politics and conflicts between various factions, every aspect of the game feels deeply thought-out and engaging. The series also boasts some of the most memorable and well-written characters in gaming history, with players forming deep emotional connections to their squadmates and other supporting cast members.
In terms of gameplay, Mass Effect is a third-person shooter with RPG elements. Players can customize their character's abilities, weapons, and equipment, and engage in tactical combat against a variety of enemies. The game's combat system is dynamic and challenging, requiring players to make strategic decisions based on their surroundings and the enemies they face.
Overall, Mass Effect is a masterpiece of gaming that offers a deeply immersive and rewarding experience. Its engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and thrilling gameplay make it a must-play for any fan of sci-fi or gaming in general. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan, the Mass Effect series is an experience that should not be missed.
The Mass Effect series is set in a vast, sci-fi universe where players take on the role of Commander Shepard, a human hero tasked with saving the galaxy from a range of threats. The series is famous for its branching narrative paths, which allow players to make choices that impact the game's story and ending.
One of the most notable aspects of Mass Effect is its incredible attention to detail in crafting its universe. From the different alien species that inhabit the galaxy to the intricate politics and conflicts between various factions, every aspect of the game feels deeply thought-out and engaging. The series also boasts some of the most memorable and well-written characters in gaming history, with players forming deep emotional connections to their squadmates and other supporting cast members.
In terms of gameplay, Mass Effect is a third-person shooter with RPG elements. Players can customize their character's abilities, weapons, and equipment, and engage in tactical combat against a variety of enemies. The game's combat system is dynamic and challenging, requiring players to make strategic decisions based on their surroundings and the enemies they face.
Overall, Mass Effect is a masterpiece of gaming that offers a deeply immersive and rewarding experience. Its engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and thrilling gameplay make it a must-play for any fan of sci-fi or gaming in general. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan, the Mass Effect series is an experience that should not be missed.
2013
Amazing game! Based on the Fables comic book series by Bill Willingham. The player plays as Bigby Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf) who is the Sheriff of "Fabletown." A town inhabited by characters and creatures from popular fairy tales. The game is a detective game in nature. You as Bigby Wolf are tasked to solve a murder that's told in a dark and at times brutally violent way. This game is not for kids. Don't let the idea that there are fairy tale characters in this game fool you. The story telling is excellent and is elevated by the excellent voice acting. With The Wolf Among US 2 announced I'd definitely recommend playing this game before its sequel comes out in 2023.
Played on Xbox Series X.
Played on Xbox Series X.
Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a part of the Zero Escape: The Nonary Games collection. It's another visual novel published by Spike Chunsoft and predates the Danganronpa series.
In Zero Escape: 999 the player controls Junpei, a college kid who is knocked unconscious, kidnapped and wakes up on a ship. The point of the game is to complete "escape room" puzzles and progress through the story uncovering the mystery surrounding why you were kidnapped, who your kidnapper is and why you are taking part in "The Nonary Game." The least you know the better so l'm going to leave it there and move on.
I enjoyed my time overall with 999. The narrative kept me hooked and the puzzles weren't complex to the point where I felt like I was banging my head against the wall or that I wasn't making progress.
My frustration with Zero Escape was "unlocking" new paths in the story. Personally it felt as though as I was doing everything "right" yet new paths weren't unlocking. I felt "forced" to restart my game from scratch, deleting my save completely multiple times to experience a new branch in the story. This resulted in me having to replay certain story lines multiple times as a completionist. Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a game that I would highly recommend to fans of visual novels and escape room/puzzle games.
Pros:
The narrative
Escape room level design
Flowcharts that guide the player through the story
and finding new endings
Cons:
Progressing through the story felt "buggy." Unclear
if I was getting stuck due to bugs or not completing
things correctly or in the right order.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
In Zero Escape: 999 the player controls Junpei, a college kid who is knocked unconscious, kidnapped and wakes up on a ship. The point of the game is to complete "escape room" puzzles and progress through the story uncovering the mystery surrounding why you were kidnapped, who your kidnapper is and why you are taking part in "The Nonary Game." The least you know the better so l'm going to leave it there and move on.
I enjoyed my time overall with 999. The narrative kept me hooked and the puzzles weren't complex to the point where I felt like I was banging my head against the wall or that I wasn't making progress.
My frustration with Zero Escape was "unlocking" new paths in the story. Personally it felt as though as I was doing everything "right" yet new paths weren't unlocking. I felt "forced" to restart my game from scratch, deleting my save completely multiple times to experience a new branch in the story. This resulted in me having to replay certain story lines multiple times as a completionist. Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a game that I would highly recommend to fans of visual novels and escape room/puzzle games.
Pros:
The narrative
Escape room level design
Flowcharts that guide the player through the story
and finding new endings
Cons:
Progressing through the story felt "buggy." Unclear
if I was getting stuck due to bugs or not completing
things correctly or in the right order.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
2022
Infernax is awesome! Infernax is an 8-bit action adventure Metroidvania game. In Infernax the player controls Alcedor, a knight returning home to a land plagued by the undead and unholy magic. Infernax is all about the gameplay. While playing Infernax the player will travel across a decent size map completing side quests for various townspeople while also completing various "dungeons" that will challenge the them in unique ways in order to gain access to the "final" dungeon to complete there main quest. Throughout there play-through the player will comes across "shrines" that serve as save points and double up as a location to upgrade their character. The player is able to upgrade their health, mana (magic) and strength. Infernax isn't a long game by any means but the player will find themselves coming back for more in order to experience all of the endings and "secrets" hidden across world.
Infernax is a game that is carried by its tight gameplay, pixel art, and killer soundtrack. Infernax is great homage to old school 8-bit games like Castlevania. A game definitely worth playing, especially if you're a Xbox Gamepass subscriber.
Pros:
The pixel art
The soundtrack
Unique dungeons and enemies
Cons:
Game length (if you're not coming back for the
multiple endings)
The platforming (the timing can sometimes feel
unfair)
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
Infernax is a game that is carried by its tight gameplay, pixel art, and killer soundtrack. Infernax is great homage to old school 8-bit games like Castlevania. A game definitely worth playing, especially if you're a Xbox Gamepass subscriber.
Pros:
The pixel art
The soundtrack
Unique dungeons and enemies
Cons:
Game length (if you're not coming back for the
multiple endings)
The platforming (the timing can sometimes feel
unfair)
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is the sequel to the beloved Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. While Trigger Happy Havoc takes place in Hope Peak's academy, a government sanctioned co-ed private high school, Goodbye Despair is set on a mysterious tropical island.
If you're unaware of what Danganronpa is, it's a visual novel style game about high school students who are locked in a location together and told they must kill one another. If one student kills another one and gets away with it, he or she "graduates" and is allowed to leave, and all of the other students are killed. If the other students can gather enough evidence and correctly identify the murderer, the murderer is executed and the other students live to see another day.
In between the various murders that occur the player is able to interact with his classmates and form bonds and learn more about their past and their dreams for the future.
Monokuma is back in Goodbye Despair, setting the rules for the killing game while also overseeing the class trials once again. Monokuma is hilarious. Without Monokuma Danganronpa doesn't work. Talking about Goodbye Despair in depth would be a disservice to new players of the series. It's best to go in as blind as possible. If you've played Trigger Happy Havoc then you already know what you're getting into.
Goodbye Despair is a game that everyone should experience as blind as possible if they aren't weary or turned off by anime tropes and camp. While I enjoyed my time with Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair I came away from it appreciating and liking Trigger Happy Havoc more.
Pros:
The narrative
Soundtrack
Cast of characters
Cons:
Mini games during the class trials
Localization. There were typos in text multiple times
throughout the game.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
If you're unaware of what Danganronpa is, it's a visual novel style game about high school students who are locked in a location together and told they must kill one another. If one student kills another one and gets away with it, he or she "graduates" and is allowed to leave, and all of the other students are killed. If the other students can gather enough evidence and correctly identify the murderer, the murderer is executed and the other students live to see another day.
In between the various murders that occur the player is able to interact with his classmates and form bonds and learn more about their past and their dreams for the future.
Monokuma is back in Goodbye Despair, setting the rules for the killing game while also overseeing the class trials once again. Monokuma is hilarious. Without Monokuma Danganronpa doesn't work. Talking about Goodbye Despair in depth would be a disservice to new players of the series. It's best to go in as blind as possible. If you've played Trigger Happy Havoc then you already know what you're getting into.
Goodbye Despair is a game that everyone should experience as blind as possible if they aren't weary or turned off by anime tropes and camp. While I enjoyed my time with Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair I came away from it appreciating and liking Trigger Happy Havoc more.
Pros:
The narrative
Soundtrack
Cast of characters
Cons:
Mini games during the class trials
Localization. There were typos in text multiple times
throughout the game.
Played on: Xbox Series X via Xbox Gamepass
1997
Final Fantasy 7 is probably the best RPG ever made. If it's not the best it's definitely in the top 3. It's the pinnacle of story telling. From the incredible soundtrack to the battle system the care and love that went into creating Final Fantasy 7 is apparent.
Originally released on the Playstation 1 in 1997 and re-released remastered a few years back Final Fantasy 7 was a joy to play. The additions of "speed boost" and "no encounters" features made normally tedious aspects of playing an RPGs like Final Fantasy feel FUN.
Final Fantasy 7 is a game that everyone should experience at least once and I regret not replaying this classic sooner!
Pros:
The story telling and soundtrack
The dungeon design and enemy variety
3x speed boost
The battle system and materia
Cons:
The controls during mini games
Chocobo breeding (I'll leave it at that.)
Played on: Xbox Series X
Originally released on the Playstation 1 in 1997 and re-released remastered a few years back Final Fantasy 7 was a joy to play. The additions of "speed boost" and "no encounters" features made normally tedious aspects of playing an RPGs like Final Fantasy feel FUN.
Final Fantasy 7 is a game that everyone should experience at least once and I regret not replaying this classic sooner!
Pros:
The story telling and soundtrack
The dungeon design and enemy variety
3x speed boost
The battle system and materia
Cons:
The controls during mini games
Chocobo breeding (I'll leave it at that.)
Played on: Xbox Series X
2020
Man, my thoughts when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077 are all over the place. First off, what is Cyberpunk 2077? Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role playing game that takes place in a fictional city American city known as "Night City."
The game is open world and set in the Cyberpunk universe. The player controls a customizable character known as V and is played in the first person perspective. The player can choose to play this game in numerous ways. They can play up close and personal using melee combat or fight from a distance using various ranged weapons, or the player can choose to use various hacking skills and machinery to their advantage to avoid direct combat.
The main story of Cyberpunk 2077 felt short to me, but personally I found it really engaging. The side quests and the open world design is where the game suffered for me. While some of the side quests were incredible or disturbing (Joshua!) a lot of them were very basic in nature. Go to a location, kill or save someone, rinse and repeat. I enjoyed exploring Night City. I hardly used a vehicle to get around because I enjoyed travelling through different districts finding shards, or listening in on conversations NPCs were having. As a completionist the data term achievement and finding all of the NCPD Scanner hustles towards the end felt incredibly tedious and frustrating.
From a performance and graphics perspective the game was... just okay. I wasn't blown away by the graphics. I played Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X. I encountered numerous bugs and glitches throughout my playthrough. Textures in the world would simply vanish, enemies would appear clipped through environments, the frame rate or game would stutter and more. Shutting the game down completely and restarting it would fix the bugs. Reloading my save or exiting to main menu wasn't enough. The main story kept me engaged enough to push through the bugs but towards the end they were definitely frustrating, and I started experiencing bugs more frequently after the 1.52 patch was released.
In summary:
While Cyberpunk 2077 was a buggy experience for me and while the main story felt short, I enjoyed my time exploring Night City. I found all of the story endings to be great in their own ways. I'm wonder which one would be canon if they made another Cyberpunk game in the future. If I could talk to CPR directly I would tell them simply quality over quantity when it comes to the side quests and collectibles going forward and to work on the performance of the game. I'm definitely interested in the expansion and will play it as soon as possible. I WANT MORE Cyberpunk 2077. As long as the performance isn't a mess.
The game is open world and set in the Cyberpunk universe. The player controls a customizable character known as V and is played in the first person perspective. The player can choose to play this game in numerous ways. They can play up close and personal using melee combat or fight from a distance using various ranged weapons, or the player can choose to use various hacking skills and machinery to their advantage to avoid direct combat.
The main story of Cyberpunk 2077 felt short to me, but personally I found it really engaging. The side quests and the open world design is where the game suffered for me. While some of the side quests were incredible or disturbing (Joshua!) a lot of them were very basic in nature. Go to a location, kill or save someone, rinse and repeat. I enjoyed exploring Night City. I hardly used a vehicle to get around because I enjoyed travelling through different districts finding shards, or listening in on conversations NPCs were having. As a completionist the data term achievement and finding all of the NCPD Scanner hustles towards the end felt incredibly tedious and frustrating.
From a performance and graphics perspective the game was... just okay. I wasn't blown away by the graphics. I played Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X. I encountered numerous bugs and glitches throughout my playthrough. Textures in the world would simply vanish, enemies would appear clipped through environments, the frame rate or game would stutter and more. Shutting the game down completely and restarting it would fix the bugs. Reloading my save or exiting to main menu wasn't enough. The main story kept me engaged enough to push through the bugs but towards the end they were definitely frustrating, and I started experiencing bugs more frequently after the 1.52 patch was released.
In summary:
While Cyberpunk 2077 was a buggy experience for me and while the main story felt short, I enjoyed my time exploring Night City. I found all of the story endings to be great in their own ways. I'm wonder which one would be canon if they made another Cyberpunk game in the future. If I could talk to CPR directly I would tell them simply quality over quantity when it comes to the side quests and collectibles going forward and to work on the performance of the game. I'm definitely interested in the expansion and will play it as soon as possible. I WANT MORE Cyberpunk 2077. As long as the performance isn't a mess.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a "western style" role playing game. An enjoyable game. In Dragon Age: Inquisition you lead a term of characters into battles against various enemies. Dragons, humans, demons, and more. It's a game filled with meaningful content and a game that truly shines in its character development via character interactions and dialogue.
This game does a great job immersing you in the world. The story had me engaged from start to finish but the collectible were a bit much and some of the side quests were a bit dull. I'm fascinated to see how Bioware continues the Dragon Age franchise after this game.
I played Dragon Age: Inquisition via Xbox Gamepass on my Xbox Series X.
This game does a great job immersing you in the world. The story had me engaged from start to finish but the collectible were a bit much and some of the side quests were a bit dull. I'm fascinated to see how Bioware continues the Dragon Age franchise after this game.
I played Dragon Age: Inquisition via Xbox Gamepass on my Xbox Series X.