TristanG
2009
Left 4 Dead 2 represents the peak of co-op design. While not perfect in every way, L4D2 takes what made the first great and enhances it.
The gameplay has matured, and evolved (oh the irony) in key ways. Level design is the primary evolution I took note of when reflecting on my experiences. One level has you running across a roller-coaster in a frantic panic; all while another episode requires you to face the horde within a hurricane and flooding! Each episode has a gradual level of escalation that seemed somewhat absent in the first game.
Episodes like Dead Harvest and No Mercy often felt like they were missing something, and I believe it's due to the perspective the sequel grants. Whereas in the first level of L4D has you run through streets and to the top of a building, the sequel has you descend a burning building with the new mechanics, and capping off with a mad scramble for gas cans.
Left 4 Dead 2's weapons add a new layer to the gameplay that compliment the original's design. Melee weapons, magnum pistols, greater weapon variety, new throwables, new special infected and uncommon infected to make good use of these weapons. Falling in love with this game typically happens at the point you pelt a boomer with its own bile. Sitting back and observing a hoarder beating the living hell out him until he (or she) gets popped like a zit!
I could go on, but this is a very old game. I can only hope that Valve stops pulling a Nintendo and sitting on this series. If they refuse to make sequels, they need to release the license to someone else! Even the studio behind the first, and Evolve, Turtle Rock Studios, is making a spiritual sequel. There's a market for this series, and it's a damn shame that Valve is not providing a sequel. I would take Left 4 Dead 3 over Alyx or that failed card game.
For fun, let's rank some levels!
~Worst~
The last stand - Not a campaign, but it's a fun map.
Crash Course - Lazy and too short.
Cold Stream - A fun, but somewhat forgettable fan-made level.
The Passing -A really solid level that has a unique perspective
No mercy - This is where the list really gets going. This should be everyone's first L4D level. It's a fantastic start with a memorable finale. That said, it's only lower by default as the series gets better.
Death Toll - A fun, simple, and really charming level
Swamp Fever - The Weakest level from L4D2 base game is still amazing. It's one of the scariest levels to boot.
Dead Center - The introduction to the sequel is very similar to the first game, but more refined and really solid.
Dead Air - A very cinematic and clean cut level that never gets old.
Blood Harvest - This is surprising. The finale, the level of detail, the setting, and the intensity of this level makes it the best original map!
The Parish - With one of the most iconic finales in the franchise, a beautiful southern setting, and an amazing use of level design, the Parish is easily one of the best.
Hard Rain - This used to be my favorite level, but as I have grown up I see its shortcomings, but man it's still good. The rain's intensity, and the insane amount of water and debris is too gripping to overlook. This is the level that feels like a genuine struggle to survive. With the right amount of pacing, unique enemy encounters, the coolest use of backtracking and escalation I have ever seen in this series, Hard Rain still stands out as one of the best!
Dark Carnival - MIDNIGHT RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDERS! This is the level everyone remembers. From the build up to the carnival itself, a lawn gnome escort side quest, a roller coaster horde section, and a grande finale with fireworks and dirty, southern rock, this level tops the charts. This is perfection from start to finish and makes great use of Carnival game tropes like tunnels of love and merry-go-rounds. If you haven't played Left 4 Dead 2's Dark Carnival, it's worth getting some friends together to experience the best this series has to offer.
~Best~
The gameplay has matured, and evolved (oh the irony) in key ways. Level design is the primary evolution I took note of when reflecting on my experiences. One level has you running across a roller-coaster in a frantic panic; all while another episode requires you to face the horde within a hurricane and flooding! Each episode has a gradual level of escalation that seemed somewhat absent in the first game.
Episodes like Dead Harvest and No Mercy often felt like they were missing something, and I believe it's due to the perspective the sequel grants. Whereas in the first level of L4D has you run through streets and to the top of a building, the sequel has you descend a burning building with the new mechanics, and capping off with a mad scramble for gas cans.
Left 4 Dead 2's weapons add a new layer to the gameplay that compliment the original's design. Melee weapons, magnum pistols, greater weapon variety, new throwables, new special infected and uncommon infected to make good use of these weapons. Falling in love with this game typically happens at the point you pelt a boomer with its own bile. Sitting back and observing a hoarder beating the living hell out him until he (or she) gets popped like a zit!
I could go on, but this is a very old game. I can only hope that Valve stops pulling a Nintendo and sitting on this series. If they refuse to make sequels, they need to release the license to someone else! Even the studio behind the first, and Evolve, Turtle Rock Studios, is making a spiritual sequel. There's a market for this series, and it's a damn shame that Valve is not providing a sequel. I would take Left 4 Dead 3 over Alyx or that failed card game.
For fun, let's rank some levels!
~Worst~
The last stand - Not a campaign, but it's a fun map.
Crash Course - Lazy and too short.
Cold Stream - A fun, but somewhat forgettable fan-made level.
The Passing -A really solid level that has a unique perspective
No mercy - This is where the list really gets going. This should be everyone's first L4D level. It's a fantastic start with a memorable finale. That said, it's only lower by default as the series gets better.
Death Toll - A fun, simple, and really charming level
Swamp Fever - The Weakest level from L4D2 base game is still amazing. It's one of the scariest levels to boot.
Dead Center - The introduction to the sequel is very similar to the first game, but more refined and really solid.
Dead Air - A very cinematic and clean cut level that never gets old.
Blood Harvest - This is surprising. The finale, the level of detail, the setting, and the intensity of this level makes it the best original map!
The Parish - With one of the most iconic finales in the franchise, a beautiful southern setting, and an amazing use of level design, the Parish is easily one of the best.
Hard Rain - This used to be my favorite level, but as I have grown up I see its shortcomings, but man it's still good. The rain's intensity, and the insane amount of water and debris is too gripping to overlook. This is the level that feels like a genuine struggle to survive. With the right amount of pacing, unique enemy encounters, the coolest use of backtracking and escalation I have ever seen in this series, Hard Rain still stands out as one of the best!
Dark Carnival - MIDNIGHT RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDERS! This is the level everyone remembers. From the build up to the carnival itself, a lawn gnome escort side quest, a roller coaster horde section, and a grande finale with fireworks and dirty, southern rock, this level tops the charts. This is perfection from start to finish and makes great use of Carnival game tropes like tunnels of love and merry-go-rounds. If you haven't played Left 4 Dead 2's Dark Carnival, it's worth getting some friends together to experience the best this series has to offer.
~Best~
When a game ages, it can be hard to decide on how to judge it.
I judge this based on my one and only playthrough. It's not good. It's bland, and it's the worst in the series. A disappointing start to an already "okay" series. Watch a recap if you want to play the series. Uncharted 2 is at least a fun game.
I judge this based on my one and only playthrough. It's not good. It's bland, and it's the worst in the series. A disappointing start to an already "okay" series. Watch a recap if you want to play the series. Uncharted 2 is at least a fun game.
2015
This review contains spoilers
My official 2nd favorite game of all time. Bloodborne is a masterpiece that rarely falls prey to the issues its sister Souls series does. Fromsoftware has created, potentially, the greatest Lovecraft game of time. This is their magnum opus and I have no words to describe how fantastic this game is from top to bottom.
If you don't like the Souls formula, PLAY BLOODBORNE! This is not a Souls game, it's much more than that. Sure, it's a spiritual sequel, but it's also a masterclass on how to innovate on prior works.
If you don't like the Souls formula, PLAY BLOODBORNE! This is not a Souls game, it's much more than that. Sure, it's a spiritual sequel, but it's also a masterclass on how to innovate on prior works.
2012
I'm going to go against the grain on this game. Assassin's Creed 3 is not perfect, but it's a pinnacle for Assassin's Creed games. It has the best combat in the franchise, aside from Unity. It has a gorgeous world that feels weightier, and like there is real life roaming around beyond yourself. And so much more than I could cover in this review.
I am fully convinced people are blinded on this game by a few things: AC4, Connor, and the shitty launch.
When this game launched, it was terrible! It was rushed out the door and made to release before it was ready. That is not the fault of the game, but it's the product we must judge. So, I judge it when I play it. I played it again, and this game is fucking great! Better than I thought it would be.
But what about Conner? He's boring, right? A little, not going to lie. But I see him as a stoic, heroic, and foolish individual. He gives up so much to kill one man, and is betrayed by his own actions and allies. He kills his own friend, loses his mentor, and is betrayed by his commander - all while killing his only blood relatively remaining. He isn't charismatic, but he is endearing within the homestead missions. Otherwise, he can be a bit blunt and too straightforward throughout. Making his character uneven.
The last thing I believe people do to this game, which isn't fair in my eyes, is compare it to its sequel - Assassin's Creed 4. AC4, if I am being frank, is a bloated mess of repetitive gameplay, terrible main mission design, and an unfocused storyline that just kinda ends. Easily the worst villains in the entire series are meant to drive the plot, but make you fall asleep instead.
AC3 has strengths that I believe overshadow the strengths of 4, and the weaknesses of 3. The combat is engaging, punchy, and with some of the best audio design I have ever heard. The majority of these games take place free-running and fighting - both of which 4 cannot do well in comparison to its older sibling.
The free-running is quicker, and yet feels so much more satisfying. The movement has moment-to-moment the cleanest movement in the series. I loved Unity's free-running, but I felt very "sticky" as I ran. Whether its Conner's animations, or the adjustments made to the speed of parkour, this game feels so smooth when on the run!
Last thing I'll say. This is a great game. Do not think twice about it.
I am fully convinced people are blinded on this game by a few things: AC4, Connor, and the shitty launch.
When this game launched, it was terrible! It was rushed out the door and made to release before it was ready. That is not the fault of the game, but it's the product we must judge. So, I judge it when I play it. I played it again, and this game is fucking great! Better than I thought it would be.
But what about Conner? He's boring, right? A little, not going to lie. But I see him as a stoic, heroic, and foolish individual. He gives up so much to kill one man, and is betrayed by his own actions and allies. He kills his own friend, loses his mentor, and is betrayed by his commander - all while killing his only blood relatively remaining. He isn't charismatic, but he is endearing within the homestead missions. Otherwise, he can be a bit blunt and too straightforward throughout. Making his character uneven.
The last thing I believe people do to this game, which isn't fair in my eyes, is compare it to its sequel - Assassin's Creed 4. AC4, if I am being frank, is a bloated mess of repetitive gameplay, terrible main mission design, and an unfocused storyline that just kinda ends. Easily the worst villains in the entire series are meant to drive the plot, but make you fall asleep instead.
AC3 has strengths that I believe overshadow the strengths of 4, and the weaknesses of 3. The combat is engaging, punchy, and with some of the best audio design I have ever heard. The majority of these games take place free-running and fighting - both of which 4 cannot do well in comparison to its older sibling.
The free-running is quicker, and yet feels so much more satisfying. The movement has moment-to-moment the cleanest movement in the series. I loved Unity's free-running, but I felt very "sticky" as I ran. Whether its Conner's animations, or the adjustments made to the speed of parkour, this game feels so smooth when on the run!
Last thing I'll say. This is a great game. Do not think twice about it.
Let down by its weak story, poor structure, pandering writing, and trademark Naughtydog game design, The Last of Us 2 is a tragic sequel that will go the way of Alien 3 or Mass Effect Andromeda; forgotten, and possibly not considered canon.
It's a tragedy to see a masterpiece (which hasn't aged the best, but is still great) be followed up by such a lazy display of... well I'm not sure. The story often is at odds with itself, and the writer's hand can too often feel like they control the game and not the characters.
!Spoilers!
Abby is the main thing this game needed to get right, and it does not get her right at all. We have had amazing characters that we love to hate, hate to love, and root for despite their problems. Abby is none of those. She is a cynical plot device created to for a purpose that even the writers didn't seem sure of.
Was her purpose to be a Joel figure? An anti-hero? A super hero (who can single-handedly scale a massive skyscraper and defeat a massive monster in a one-on-one cartoon-ish fight)? A conflicted killer? An excited baby-killer ("good")? Who knows! The writers sure didn't.
I won't harp on her anymore. Most of the games flaws have been outlined in greater detail than one review can provide.
The fact next-to-no-one discusses the gameplay (in proportion to the story) is telling. It's not very good, but Naughtydog has been promoting a minimalist style of gameplay for years now. It's not my cup of tea, but if you liked the first game's gameplay, you will like this one more. It's punchier, more meaty, and has a lot more gore. What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in its impact. Just don't expect more than one playthrough for the sake of the gameplay-loop.
I wanted to keep this brief. I'm aware there's a lot of bad faith on both sides with this game, and I wanted to be fair and not waste time with this review. I'm writing for fun at the end of the day. So, if you think nihilistic, self-indulgent writing and half-baked action is fun, you might like this. If not, I would skip this one and consider the story finished at Ellie's "ok."
It's a tragedy to see a masterpiece (which hasn't aged the best, but is still great) be followed up by such a lazy display of... well I'm not sure. The story often is at odds with itself, and the writer's hand can too often feel like they control the game and not the characters.
!Spoilers!
Abby is the main thing this game needed to get right, and it does not get her right at all. We have had amazing characters that we love to hate, hate to love, and root for despite their problems. Abby is none of those. She is a cynical plot device created to for a purpose that even the writers didn't seem sure of.
Was her purpose to be a Joel figure? An anti-hero? A super hero (who can single-handedly scale a massive skyscraper and defeat a massive monster in a one-on-one cartoon-ish fight)? A conflicted killer? An excited baby-killer ("good")? Who knows! The writers sure didn't.
I won't harp on her anymore. Most of the games flaws have been outlined in greater detail than one review can provide.
The fact next-to-no-one discusses the gameplay (in proportion to the story) is telling. It's not very good, but Naughtydog has been promoting a minimalist style of gameplay for years now. It's not my cup of tea, but if you liked the first game's gameplay, you will like this one more. It's punchier, more meaty, and has a lot more gore. What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in its impact. Just don't expect more than one playthrough for the sake of the gameplay-loop.
I wanted to keep this brief. I'm aware there's a lot of bad faith on both sides with this game, and I wanted to be fair and not waste time with this review. I'm writing for fun at the end of the day. So, if you think nihilistic, self-indulgent writing and half-baked action is fun, you might like this. If not, I would skip this one and consider the story finished at Ellie's "ok."
2013
A disappointing sequel to a more thoughtful GTA game, GTA V remains the black sheep of the franchise. While 4's cars may have handled like rocks, they still managed to age more gracefully than the whole of GTA V.
The fact of the matter is GTA Online was more of a priority than the single player, even when it first came out. Now? It's a disappointing husk that seems less of a GTA game, and more of a Saints Row wannabe.
The fact of the matter is GTA Online was more of a priority than the single player, even when it first came out. Now? It's a disappointing husk that seems less of a GTA game, and more of a Saints Row wannabe.
2008
Easily my favorite Persona game (of the few I really deep-dived into). Persona 4 may not pack the graphical punch, or the thematic narrative of its successor or predecessor respectively, it's by far the most well-realized and robust. The combat is addictive and snappy, the story line is gripping from start to finish, and the characters are all subversions of the tropes the appear as at first glance.
I wish I had more time to discuss this game, but for now, pick this (or golden) up! Face yourself in the best JRPG I have ever played!
I wish I had more time to discuss this game, but for now, pick this (or golden) up! Face yourself in the best JRPG I have ever played!