HammerkopCross
2021
Like someone found a 360 cover shooter at the back of Square Enix's warehouse collecting dust, popped it in and said "Well, let's add some loot and repeatable quests to give players something to do then ship this thing". Surprisingly, that actually works. Feels good to play and the idea of tying class abilities to healing works really well.
I've bounced off this game so many times since it launched for a variety of reasons, but finally got through this and honestly, it's solid action once it gets going. Story is fine, mostly hampered by a lot of video gamey stuff that takes you out of the immersion.
2021
Quaint and inoffensive with some very good voice acting.
2021
As a package including all the previous levels, this is immense. Story wraps up really nicely, paying off something that I didn't know I needed paid off until Hitman 2. Fantastic level design with plenty of sandbox antics to be had. Feels very iterative though, and not much has changed between games.
2021
Fantastic aesthetic that works in tandem with the game's story. Often gets a bit too obtuse, but the largest element holding the game back is that it never really feels like it has much care for its combat or desire to really do much with it. Pads itself out and by the end just kind of wears out its welcome to the point that even the final boss fight feels uninspired.
Enjoyed my time with it, but leaves a stronger first impression than it is able to sustain itself.
Enjoyed my time with it, but leaves a stronger first impression than it is able to sustain itself.
2021
Some jank on Xbox One, and not a particularly fun game to play. But you're probably not coming to it for any of that. It's super stylish, evoking a lot of noir and Saul Bass in a way that keeps things engaging throughout. Jazz soundtrack is great as well, especially in some of the later chapters where it comes front and center.
Not the worst way to spend a few hours as this is a brief, easily digestible experience.
Not the worst way to spend a few hours as this is a brief, easily digestible experience.
Inherently more fun than REMAKE, solely due to where it takes place in Final Fantasy VII's story, but as a result of trying to feel epic near the end it has some tonal whiplash it can't avoid. A lot of minigames as well, and I wish these were more seamlessly woven into the world as opposed to always feeling like discrete distractions (it doesn't help that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth did this better earlier this year).
Otherwise, it's some of the best combat in the series, visually vibrant, and has a narrative that's just propulsive enough to keep things moving if you avoid going down the side content rabbit hole.
Otherwise, it's some of the best combat in the series, visually vibrant, and has a narrative that's just propulsive enough to keep things moving if you avoid going down the side content rabbit hole.
Zero difficulty and no real personality to the game. An easy platinum, but fairly soulless.
Clunky, ugly, boring, reptitive - oh yes, I played it for the Platinum and that I endured this might be the scariest moment in the game.
2021
A relaxing time, though it can get a little frustrating trying to understand what the game deems okay to put where. But love its subtle storytelling in such a simple, yet satisfying concept.
Some tecnhical hiccups (played on PS5 which it kept warning was not fully supported, so this could be why) but otherwise a truly astounding and immersive experience that utilizes surround sound in such a stunning way.
Ichiban truly is a force of nature and one of the most endearing characters in video game history. Feels like a love letter to the series in so many ways and it's impossible not to love it if you've been along the way this whole time.
The post-game is significantly lacking though if you've beaten all the substories prior to the conclusion, like I did. Anyways, snagged that Platinum.
The post-game is significantly lacking though if you've beaten all the substories prior to the conclusion, like I did. Anyways, snagged that Platinum.
2023
Nice bite-sized adventure from DONTNOD that might be their best game thanks to not being overly ambitious. I don't need more than what was given, though I would love to see DONTNOD take the climbing mechanics in this and slowly iterate into a full-fledged adventure game.
Been sitting in the backlog for a long time despite heaps of praise, but was still pleasantly surprised by how well this came together in the end. Not every story is as compelling as some of the others, but they all have some memorable element to them and are pretty tightly written. Obviously held back when the player doesn't seem immersed in the atmosphere, but it rarely removes its hooks from you.
One of the Telltale games that I actually wanted to play for a long time, unlike most of their other games. Expected the Telltale formula would hold me back from enjoying it and that is largely not the case here since the writing is particularly well done.
That being said, the Telltale technical issues were pretty apparent as characters just wouldn't appear in some scenes. Nothing like an emotional moment of someone conversing with thin air.
That being said, the Telltale technical issues were pretty apparent as characters just wouldn't appear in some scenes. Nothing like an emotional moment of someone conversing with thin air.