Schafsinn
2019
"Metro Exodus", like the series as a whole, frustrates me to no end. Parts of it are truly amazing (like the Volga, Yamantau, Dead City and Interlude chapters); but it fluctuates in quality, and as the game goes on, the cracks in level design and writing start becoming very noticable. The main problem it comes down to is a lack of polish: it is no doubt a step up from previous games, but it's still not quite there. Often, dialogue that is meant to feel snappy ends up being awkward, and moments that are meant to be immersive fall apart because of inconsistent mechanics.
I don't need every game to be polished to perfection, but a game that is going for this level of immersion desperately needs it. If "Exodus" had that, it would be a 10/10 for me. As it is, the game is solid, but it's also lesser than the sum of its great parts, and that...is a real shame.
I don't need every game to be polished to perfection, but a game that is going for this level of immersion desperately needs it. If "Exodus" had that, it would be a 10/10 for me. As it is, the game is solid, but it's also lesser than the sum of its great parts, and that...is a real shame.
2018
If I had a solid squad of 4 people to play this with regularly, I would. Unfortunately, I do not.
Playing it alone or even with one other person is okay but with 3-4 people it really shines. So hilarious, tense and just straight up fun.
Playing it alone or even with one other person is okay but with 3-4 people it really shines. So hilarious, tense and just straight up fun.
2022
At the beginning, this game felt extremely rough in its fundamental mechanics. It felt like it wasn't at all good enough for the ridiculous precision some enemies require you to have with your parry timing.
I've now beaten all the levels, bosses and did all the endings. Now I'm definitely more positive on it: about 3-4 of the 8 bosses are actually quite fun to fight. Once you get into the flow of things with those bosses and get used to the mechanics, it can feel as satisfying as Sekiro. For a debut game from an indie studio, that is impressive!
Otherwise this game is just meh. The art direction is great but the level design is mediocre. The plague weapons are a cool idea but I never felt compelled to use even half of them for some useless bonuses. Also the claw mechanic, where every enemy has two health bars - and you have to first wound them with regular attacks and then use claw attacks - is a neat idea but ends up being tedious.
For huge fans of Sekiro, who simply want anything remotely like it, this might scratch that itch - slightly at least.
I've now beaten all the levels, bosses and did all the endings. Now I'm definitely more positive on it: about 3-4 of the 8 bosses are actually quite fun to fight. Once you get into the flow of things with those bosses and get used to the mechanics, it can feel as satisfying as Sekiro. For a debut game from an indie studio, that is impressive!
Otherwise this game is just meh. The art direction is great but the level design is mediocre. The plague weapons are a cool idea but I never felt compelled to use even half of them for some useless bonuses. Also the claw mechanic, where every enemy has two health bars - and you have to first wound them with regular attacks and then use claw attacks - is a neat idea but ends up being tedious.
For huge fans of Sekiro, who simply want anything remotely like it, this might scratch that itch - slightly at least.
2012
This is peak Stealth gameplay! When the story falls flat and rushes forward without even trying to evoke any emotion, the gameplay always delivers. What else can that be said about? The artstyle; well, for the most part. Sometimes it looks terrible but most of the time it looks perfect: the slightly cartoony look reflects the perversion, decadence and dirt of this world just right.
If you're a fan of Stealth games and don't mind when it's on the bloodier side - I highly recommend Dishonored!
If you're a fan of Stealth games and don't mind when it's on the bloodier side - I highly recommend Dishonored!
2013
Fascinating game that ultimately falls short of its potential - packed with smart ideas and a beautiful artstyle however, I think it's still worth playing. Its inspirations from games like Uncharted, Batman: Arkham and Mirror's Edge are plain: still they come together into something that feels unique and almost works.
It's a damn shame. If the combat was less janky and the storytelling tighter, I have no doubt it would actually be remembered.
It's a damn shame. If the combat was less janky and the storytelling tighter, I have no doubt it would actually be remembered.
2020
Mortal Shell has immense potential, it just isn't fully realized here. Its ideas in world design, build diversity and combat are fascinating - sadly they suffer in many small ways, often through their unpolished state: this game feels very clunky. I do quite like the weapons, how using special abilities and parrying works though; at its best it can be really fun!
Level design and bosses are...not very good. There is a boss that stands out, visually it's all great and the optional metal soundtrack for bosses elevates the fights, overall however it's just lacking. The lore and story try to be like Dark Souls, to be very vague yet very deep - ultimately it just comes off as if everyone is just mumbling gibberish.
It all comes down to this: amazing ideas, middling execution! I hope it gets a sequel that irons these issues out; it could become a fantastic game.
Level design and bosses are...not very good. There is a boss that stands out, visually it's all great and the optional metal soundtrack for bosses elevates the fights, overall however it's just lacking. The lore and story try to be like Dark Souls, to be very vague yet very deep - ultimately it just comes off as if everyone is just mumbling gibberish.
It all comes down to this: amazing ideas, middling execution! I hope it gets a sequel that irons these issues out; it could become a fantastic game.
2014
Literally the only thing I didn't fully vibe with was the combat, despite how unique and cool it is. Otherwise Transistor is perfect: everything from its artstyle, music and storytelling comes together to create something truly outstanding.
2016
Wow.
Some of the most creative and inventive puzzles I've ever played through; they always make you think but never get too obscure like they did in Limbo.
It's also a beautiful marriage of gameplay and story. I won't spoil anything but it all feels connected. Also, did I mention that this game is tense as fuck?
Said story is only told through gameplay and environments and I loved picking through the details to reconstruct it in my head. It also really helps that the presentation of this world - its sound design and art style - is incredibly striking.
I'm giving this a 9 for now but it might be a 10.
Some of the most creative and inventive puzzles I've ever played through; they always make you think but never get too obscure like they did in Limbo.
It's also a beautiful marriage of gameplay and story. I won't spoil anything but it all feels connected. Also, did I mention that this game is tense as fuck?
Said story is only told through gameplay and environments and I loved picking through the details to reconstruct it in my head. It also really helps that the presentation of this world - its sound design and art style - is incredibly striking.
I'm giving this a 9 for now but it might be a 10.
2019
"Sorrowful be the heart, Penitent One."
This was a great surprise for me, as I went in more to just get a taste for the second game, yet ended up discovering a competent and fascinating game in its own right.
While there is a bit of repetitiveness in its levels, some jankiness in the boss mechanics - shoutout to my boy Quirce though - and a few other minor things that annoyed me, I had a blast with Blasphemous!
What sets this game apart from others of its kind is clearly its unique setting and style. The world is centered around this twisted interpretation of (sort of) Christianity that I couldn't take my eyes off - despite and because of how gruesome it gets. It would be cool already if this was just a background thing but it finds itself in every facette of the game: all of its character and enemy designs, animations, items and lore. I was finding myself listening to every piece of brilliantly voice acted monologue and every last poetic item description.
Also, very admirable that the studio made 3 solid, FREE DLCs. I'm still playing through that content but it's quite cool.
This was a great surprise for me, as I went in more to just get a taste for the second game, yet ended up discovering a competent and fascinating game in its own right.
While there is a bit of repetitiveness in its levels, some jankiness in the boss mechanics - shoutout to my boy Quirce though - and a few other minor things that annoyed me, I had a blast with Blasphemous!
What sets this game apart from others of its kind is clearly its unique setting and style. The world is centered around this twisted interpretation of (sort of) Christianity that I couldn't take my eyes off - despite and because of how gruesome it gets. It would be cool already if this was just a background thing but it finds itself in every facette of the game: all of its character and enemy designs, animations, items and lore. I was finding myself listening to every piece of brilliantly voice acted monologue and every last poetic item description.
Also, very admirable that the studio made 3 solid, FREE DLCs. I'm still playing through that content but it's quite cool.
A fun and decent action game with jawdropping spectacle and a banger soundtrack.
As for the story, it's good for the memes it has provided but not much beyond that.
I enjoyed this game and I would've rated it higher but I think the combat mechanics have some fundamental issues: now, I will admit that I'm not that great at these types of games but I think we can all agree that directional parrying combined with a volatile camera that jumps around all the time is an obvious recipe for disaster!
The camera itself feels like an enemy that you have to fight instead of the actual enemies - who btw are needlessly spongy.
Lastly, for a game that clearly wants to keep the action and pace going, it sure loves to slow you down to a stop a lot to listen to a lot of boring dialogue inbetween fights.
As for the story, it's good for the memes it has provided but not much beyond that.
I enjoyed this game and I would've rated it higher but I think the combat mechanics have some fundamental issues: now, I will admit that I'm not that great at these types of games but I think we can all agree that directional parrying combined with a volatile camera that jumps around all the time is an obvious recipe for disaster!
The camera itself feels like an enemy that you have to fight instead of the actual enemies - who btw are needlessly spongy.
Lastly, for a game that clearly wants to keep the action and pace going, it sure loves to slow you down to a stop a lot to listen to a lot of boring dialogue inbetween fights.
I feel a good chunk more favorable towards this game on a replay.
It's still a weird mix of being very polished and detailed in some areas and almost falling apart in others. Driving feels amazing, every other part of the gameplay is catastrophic and drags this game down significantly. There are cool setpieces, hindered by some frustrating mission design and checkpoint systems. There are some amazing details like the radio getting fuzzy when you enter a tunnel but then the sound design feels completely barren in the actual city, in crowds. Sometimes the game looks great, at others it's ugly.
I could go and on and on with this kind of back and forth. Fortunately however, the story and characters are not like that and really carry this experience with amazing performances all around, with a deft touch at cinematic storytelling.
It's still a weird mix of being very polished and detailed in some areas and almost falling apart in others. Driving feels amazing, every other part of the gameplay is catastrophic and drags this game down significantly. There are cool setpieces, hindered by some frustrating mission design and checkpoint systems. There are some amazing details like the radio getting fuzzy when you enter a tunnel but then the sound design feels completely barren in the actual city, in crowds. Sometimes the game looks great, at others it's ugly.
I could go and on and on with this kind of back and forth. Fortunately however, the story and characters are not like that and really carry this experience with amazing performances all around, with a deft touch at cinematic storytelling.
2016
Randomly picked this up again after dropping it years ago.
It's really fun!
Exploring the levels and constantly finding new areas, new ways to take out targets is quite addicting. Paris, Sapienza and Hokkaido are the standout locations; Marrakesh is also decent but sadly Colorado is just okay and Bangkok is plain boring - thankfully the quality of the aforementioned levels is high enough to overlook these missfires.
The level design and experimentation is definitely the core of the game but I found myself surprisingly hooked by the presentation and even its admittedly limited storytelling. I think the reason is that it just nails that spy mystery vibe, even though the actual plot and characters are hardly fleshed out.
It's really fun!
Exploring the levels and constantly finding new areas, new ways to take out targets is quite addicting. Paris, Sapienza and Hokkaido are the standout locations; Marrakesh is also decent but sadly Colorado is just okay and Bangkok is plain boring - thankfully the quality of the aforementioned levels is high enough to overlook these missfires.
The level design and experimentation is definitely the core of the game but I found myself surprisingly hooked by the presentation and even its admittedly limited storytelling. I think the reason is that it just nails that spy mystery vibe, even though the actual plot and characters are hardly fleshed out.
2022
The premise of a Doom-inspired shooter centered around rhythm and curated Metal songs is so cool and when I played the demo some years back, I was very much into it, even as someone who cannot get used to growling in Metal songs.
Unfortunately, even at a lean playtime of 3 hours, this became quite repetitive: there is hardly any signficant variety in enemies, levels or especially bosses. This a one-trick pony and the game doesn't mix things up - not even experimenting with any different time signatures like Metal is known for. Nothing except some different weapons, and they are just okay.
Stygia is where this game peaked for me, when the gameplay loop still feels fresh and exciting and where the music is, in my super biased opinion, by far the best. The song "This Devastation" from a later level is also good though.
Unfortunately, even at a lean playtime of 3 hours, this became quite repetitive: there is hardly any signficant variety in enemies, levels or especially bosses. This a one-trick pony and the game doesn't mix things up - not even experimenting with any different time signatures like Metal is known for. Nothing except some different weapons, and they are just okay.
Stygia is where this game peaked for me, when the gameplay loop still feels fresh and exciting and where the music is, in my super biased opinion, by far the best. The song "This Devastation" from a later level is also good though.
A solid co-op horde shooter that was clearly made with a lot of love for the Aliens franchise, one that puts its focus where it needs to be in a game like this: the moment-to-moment gameplay of defeating hordes of enemies, and it nails that.
This is a lean package that does not overstay its welcome; hell, I felt lukewarm about it at first and my enjoyment only grew. As this was clearly made on a budget and as a studio's debut title and because the team likely put most of its effort into the gameplay and design, the extremely forgettable story and characters are an unfortunate but understandable shortcoming.
This is a lean package that does not overstay its welcome; hell, I felt lukewarm about it at first and my enjoyment only grew. As this was clearly made on a budget and as a studio's debut title and because the team likely put most of its effort into the gameplay and design, the extremely forgettable story and characters are an unfortunate but understandable shortcoming.
Still a great time 5 years later. I have some minor issues with it that add up: a few of the open world activities, weird pacing in the middle and yes, the soundtrack. There are about 3-4 legit banger tracks but the rest is profoundly generic - especially the ambient music when you swing around in Act2&3; talk about uninspired.
Swinging through New York however is fun as ever, so is beating up all the different kinds of foes you face up against. The spectacle that this game offers still made my jaw drop on occasion.
Act 1 has perfect pacing, Act 2 meanders a bit too much but Act 3 really gets it together. I cried near the end, again, during that scene. This is the best Spider-Man story I know, by far.
Swinging through New York however is fun as ever, so is beating up all the different kinds of foes you face up against. The spectacle that this game offers still made my jaw drop on occasion.
Act 1 has perfect pacing, Act 2 meanders a bit too much but Act 3 really gets it together. I cried near the end, again, during that scene. This is the best Spider-Man story I know, by far.