Salies
2014
Aggressively mediocre. Powers and particles are cool, although the PS4 Slim definitely can't handle them. Camera is janky. Soundtrack is really cool.
Pretty solid remake undermined by janky glitches and the absolute lack of some very basic QoL improvements.
2019
Minor hiccups like the easily breakable implementation and the rather shallow, although endearing narrative, make Superliminal short of the Valve-esque instant classic it could be (e.g. The Stanley Parable). Nevertheless, the game presents a proof of concept amazing enough to be unforgettable.
Decent as always. The coin gimmick was definitely not enough to carry the experience, though.
1999
Far more decent iteration of MK4. Managed to have a comfortable enough experience to see the interesting things in the game, like the ending cutscenes that, although poorly made, tell an interesting narrative. I know it can be considered "lazy", but I love the plot-twist in Quan Chi's ending, as I did like his parts in Mythologies Sub-Zero.
If you're a fan of the series and aim to play every single game, play this version of MK4.
If you're a fan of the series and aim to play every single game, play this version of MK4.
1992
Really fun classic Sonic game with some Sonic CD ass level design towards the end.
1997
Bastardized MK3. I've seen enough. Didn't even bother finishing.
Consistent in being horrible.
The only good thing is this is the storytelling (although the scenes are insufferably amateuresque), but this is a game, not a movie.
The only good thing is this is the storytelling (although the scenes are insufferably amateuresque), but this is a game, not a movie.
The definitive classic Mortal Kombat experience, with all the goods and all (although less) of the bads you could ask for. Although technically speaking this is pretty much the peak of what arcade MK was, I still find the story and atmosphere pretty souless if compared to its predecessor, MKII. Even so, this is the best gameplay you can get, probably until MK11 (gotta get to that one), so if you feel like playing some classic MK, go get this on Fightcade (or, preferably, UMK3TE).
P.S.: Holy shit the AI is absolutely unforgivable on the Master branch, even on the easiest difficulty on MD.
P.S.: Holy shit the AI is absolutely unforgivable on the Master branch, even on the easiest difficulty on MD.
1993
A sequel that doubles down on everything. The style, atmosphere and story from its predecessor are refined and expanded, whereas areas of the gameplay (e.g. hitboxes) seem to be even more inconsistent. The 32X+ version is such a fine version though.
One of my three playthroughs was with Sub-Zero. So funny and sad to see my poor Subbie having half of his skills neutralized due to the ridiculous AI.
One of my three playthroughs was with Sub-Zero. So funny and sad to see my poor Subbie having half of his skills neutralized due to the ridiculous AI.
This is so fucking fun and well made. An excellent way to ruin friendships.
2023
If this is what Bethesda has to show after 8 goddamn years, then they're really fucking ruined. The technical abomination (as in some sort of deformed experiment a crazy scientist put together) this game presents is beyond forgiveness, and the soulful storytelling just doesn't have the strength to carry it as it's oh so poorly written. The same storyline (or at least bullet points) in the hands of a non-amateur writer would shine bright, but this is not the case here. I generally don't delve into details in these reviews, and to be honest, there are too many to remember right now (maybe I should've taken notes), but to me, the most heart-crushing things were the size for quality tradeoff in world-building (something Bethesda hadn't done yet, even in Fallout 76); and the constant immersion killers, may they be the abysmal facial expressions, the terrible character animation, recurring glitches from 17 years ago; outdated menuing; or just "things not working the way they were supposed to." I could see behind the veil at all times, and that is so very sad.
The Elder Scrolls is my favorite RPG franchise of all time, so... please: hire a fucking writer. Ditch this fucking engine.
Oh, the one-liner review? Sure: a great game given to the wrong hands. Perhaps in an al- oh wait, those are spoilers. Yeah, if you have Game Pass, avoid them, the story is kinda thrilling to watch for the first time.
The Elder Scrolls is my favorite RPG franchise of all time, so... please: hire a fucking writer. Ditch this fucking engine.
Oh, the one-liner review? Sure: a great game given to the wrong hands. Perhaps in an al- oh wait, those are spoilers. Yeah, if you have Game Pass, avoid them, the story is kinda thrilling to watch for the first time.
2023
A surprisingly committed RPG hindered by its "mile wide, inch deep" approach (and even so, no Quidditch). Whatever depth it has, however, is fairly well implemented, sufficently so to get me quite excited for whatever's next.
1992
A game that prioritizes aesthetics and ambiance, and it shows (whether that's good or bad is up to you).
Beat the Arcade version with Sonya. Tried to play with Sub-Zero on the DOS version and... let's just say by d-pad wasn't binding to I had to play with the analog and... yeah, didn't even bother finishing. Gave the Mega Drive version a try as well - really decent port, though the narration is missed.
Beat the Arcade version with Sonya. Tried to play with Sub-Zero on the DOS version and... let's just say by d-pad wasn't binding to I had to play with the analog and... yeah, didn't even bother finishing. Gave the Mega Drive version a try as well - really decent port, though the narration is missed.
1986
Would be a much better game with less DYING by touching ANYTHING. Still very technically impressive for its time like, damn, Batman floats.