Sipathador
Simple and emotional storytelling at its peak, all story-based games should take notes from this one.
The best story game, and arguably the best game of all time. Aside from the brutal, engrossing gameplay, aside from the expansive environments, aside from the graphical wonders generated, aside from all the technical aspects, the depth and emotional rawness of the story are unmatched. It simultaneously distinguishes itself from its predecessor while building off of and respecting the first game to create a thematic journey that explores the cycle of violence, factionalism, forgiveness, and what it means to heal. So much here to dissect and ponder on, although at the end of the first playthrough, you can't help but feel emotionally destroyed. Masterpiece.
2018
Rich, badass banger that makes you feel alive with every swing while maintaining an interesting father-son dynamic.
2017
Although little variety is experienced in the gameplay from the first, this follow-up nails a gritty, atmospheric nightmare with sufficient lore to compel you to the end of the journey.
Immersive and beautiful experience that emphasizes world-building and characterization through detailed and creative artistry. Although there is a good bit of narration, the environment reinforces and builds upon the storyline to create a truly emotional and surreal experience. Phenomenal game.
2013
Engaging story that is spread somewhat thin with minimal direction over the plot, but still a compelling journey with believable, grounded characters.
Repetitive moments and frustrating combat hamper what is otherwise a compelling origins story with plenty of interesting elements to pull from. Batman feels gritty and grounded, with great voice acting across the board. The villains are compelling, and while there isn't much depth the overall aesthetic really works. Fun time overall!
2007
Simplistic yet mind-bending puzzle that doesn't overstay its welcome and offers plenty of interesting and even funny moments.
A detail-oriented mystery that takes a while to settle into. The mechanics and general process are vague at the start, making for a sometimes frustrating experience in the open-world setting, but once you get the hang of the game's direction, the overall journey becomes significantly smoother and the underlying story revealed stays engaging, layered with metaphor and suspense. Fun time!
2004
Messy and bloated, while some of the core mechanics are quite fun, Halo 2 creates far too many annoying and frustrating moments to make this an overall good experience. While you can appreciate much of what it what for its time, the irritating checkpoint system, inconsistent battle mechanics, overly long waiting periods, and redundant gunplay make it not quite worth one's time. Moments of fun, but pretty big disappointment overall.
While sometimes bogged down by intricacy and tedium, the overall project here is rather impressive. Solid storyline, great voice acting, an interesting leveling and progression system, and killer combat create some rather cathartic moments during the gameplay. Getting kills feels more and more satisfying the higher level and more skilled you become, creating a great incentive to progress. While the final bossfights are pretty disappointing, the overall journey was very much worth the time!
2007
An incredible step up from its predecessors in almost every conceivable way, Halo 3 is a banger of a time, with more kinetic gunplay, balanced enemies, better weaponry, rapid pacing, consistently phenomenal music, and so much more, this game was such a breath of fresh air after Halo 2. The story isn't much of a step up, but given the other improvements, this makes it by far the best in the series so far.
2009
Although not as compelling and grand as its predecessor, the intimacy you develop with the troops as they reckon with something much bigger than them creates a pretty solid experience. Mechanically nothing novel, but the refined elements of Halo 3 shine through here, making it a worthwhile time.
2010
A solid sequel that plays it a bit safe, the worldbuilding continues to expand in excellent ways as you journey through Rapture. While the gameplay is fun enough, the atmosphere and lore really take center stage in this experience. The plotline and emotional investment don't always reach fruition, but they solid enough as a backdrop to an entertaining and visceral fps.
2018
A gorgeously crafted, aesthetic exploration of grief that creates such warmth during the experience. The art direction is masterful, creating tapestries that make every scene pop with vibrant colors. The visual storytelling allows for a simple concept to flesh itself out in subtle ways, offering intrigue and engagement. The gameplay is chill, not always tricky or that engaging, but works well for the package they are offering. Excellent time!