JollyNiceSoup
Stunning addition to an already incredible game; in particular the parry only bosses and even more particular the Knight; who rockets up the charts of my favourite fights in any game, ever. Looks - without a hint of hyperbole - like the best looking videogame of all time. Constantly stunning with imaginative and hilarious animation. Tight, responsive controls that do exactly what you want, exactly when you want them.
This DLC turns a 9 into 10. Absolutely delicious. Please don't let it be the last.
This DLC turns a 9 into 10. Absolutely delicious. Please don't let it be the last.
You've tried a visual novel, why not try a, er... visual film! The Centennial Case sees you follow a mystery writer as she sticks her nose in a family's business and tries to figure out who's doing a load of nasty old murders. With a story told entirely through FMV, the interaction comes in Sherlock Holmes-style mind palace sections (where you try to piece together various clues to form hypothesis) and then more traditional choose-a-path sections where you attempt to use those hypothesis to solve the case.
Although restricted by the fact there has to be a 'right' answer (and some of the solutions require a fair old leap of logic), this ticks along at a decent pace and just about manages to be charming through some scenary-chewing performances. I particularly enjoyed letting characters hang at a pivitoal decision moment and watch them gurn repeatedly for several minutes.
A videogame that's very light on the game and very heavy on the video, but an enjoyable experience nonetheless.
Although restricted by the fact there has to be a 'right' answer (and some of the solutions require a fair old leap of logic), this ticks along at a decent pace and just about manages to be charming through some scenary-chewing performances. I particularly enjoyed letting characters hang at a pivitoal decision moment and watch them gurn repeatedly for several minutes.
A videogame that's very light on the game and very heavy on the video, but an enjoyable experience nonetheless.
2021
Gonna seem like a total contrarian, but good grief I really struggled to enjoy this. I just found the controls to be the game's toughest enemy; particularly it's attempts to meld 3D analogue control to a 2D plan and that sodding missile button. I did manage to get some enjoyment from the bosses, which just managed to fall the right side of the challenging divide, but I broadly found this to be a humourless, frustrating time. Dread, indeed.
2022
There was a moment when this was in danger of being an all-timer. Despite some rather ropey chatting, the main speed running elements of the game are completely brilliant; shaving fractions of a moment off your best times to take down leaderboard rivals. Then; rather unfortunately; it all gets a little messy and unfocused towards the end. And as the throughline within the levels becomes less clear, it all gets a bit frustrating. The game does finish with some fantastic, palm-sweating, boss fights but those crappy penultimate levels and the tiresome narrative do stop this from reaching true greatness.
2022
Some very odd UI design aside, I thought this was really good. Pretty bleak at times, but a thoughtful and well written narrative about finding pockets of light and humanity in a bleak, inhuman world. Some real big decisions to make towardw the end too.
2022
Some fancy visual and sound design married to some rather boring open world and mission design. There are moments of actual brilliance when it starts to go a bit haywire (reminded me a little of Control at those points) but they are too few and far between. The virtual tourism aspect of it just about makes it worth playing for me but the last couple of hours are proper dull and you should probably duck out the moment you've stopped enjoying wandering around spooky ol' Tokyo. All feels very 'launch window' - even if it isn't.
2019
Way too long and not nearly varied enough for me, which is a shame because some of the later levels are total bangers. It's unfortunate that you have to do tens of near-identical, barely challenging tutorial-like levels before you get to them. There's an exceptionally tight ten hours trapped within a fourty hour game. I'm pleased I've played it, but I'm also very pleased it's finished.
Wasn't completely won over unfortunately. I found the Somnium bits pretty tedious and the story didn't quite ever take off in the same way that the Zero Escape games do.
The perving was funny in places but completely overdone. It felt like it was literally every scene. If it were a bit more selective in it's use it would have got away with it, but as it is it's like reading a visual novel written by a Daily Sport journalist.
A shame, but it's just about done enough to get me onside for a sequel. I think now the groundwork has been laid there's real potential for headfuckery. Really hope it takes the baton in the same way that Virtue's Last Reward did after 999.
The perving was funny in places but completely overdone. It felt like it was literally every scene. If it were a bit more selective in it's use it would have got away with it, but as it is it's like reading a visual novel written by a Daily Sport journalist.
A shame, but it's just about done enough to get me onside for a sequel. I think now the groundwork has been laid there's real potential for headfuckery. Really hope it takes the baton in the same way that Virtue's Last Reward did after 999.
An absolute stunner, completely let down by some charmless design and a woeful, sub-Dreamworks-at-their-worst script that keeps banging on about friendship.
2022
Just a relentlessly brilliant journey from beginning to end where something mind-blowing happens every fifteen minutes. A game that can have you in awe at the scale or marveling at the intracacy at the flick of a switch. I don't think I've been as captivated by a game since I've been an adult. It's really good, man. It's really, really good.
2021
Brilliant multiplayer paired with good campaign would be my summary. The story is utterly dreadful, with the nadir being anything that the fucking pilot guy says. Just the absolute lowest bargain bin buddy comedy dialogue. But the combat is tight and enjoyable as ever. Open world is a bit of a non-starter but I just love shooting shit in these games. Also found Master Chief really likeable and funny in this..? Weird.
Wasn't quite on board with this unfortunately. It's no doubt very well written and admirably complex but it doesn't half go on a bit. I'd have rated it higher if it knocked the last ten hours off. Also, relentlessly and horrifically bleak in places. Bit much for me, tbh.
2018
Turns out everyone is right and this is completely amazing. Will definitely return for the occasional run. Such a lovely way to spend half an hour. Also; as a frequent user of the word myself; big fan of Zagreus use of 'mate'.