adiacone
I found the cover-based shooting still great and it was interesting playing as different characters, but in the end, the story was a bit lacking. I also didn't really care for the declassified sections and the new scoring system.
A good game, but not my first choice if I wanted to replay one of the Gears games. To be fair, I played it right after binge-playing the first three games, so I felt a bit of Gears fatigue by the end.
A good game, but not my first choice if I wanted to replay one of the Gears games. To be fair, I played it right after binge-playing the first three games, so I felt a bit of Gears fatigue by the end.
2022
This is not really a game, but more of a guided tour of the Steam Deck, with the same quirky humor and fun characters from Portal 2. I think they should have made it part of the onboarding process somehow.
It was fun, but it's tough to put a rating on it. J.K. Simmons makes a comeback as Cave Johnson, so that gets a 5/5 for sure!
It was fun, but it's tough to put a rating on it. J.K. Simmons makes a comeback as Cave Johnson, so that gets a 5/5 for sure!
2011
If Gears of War 2 was more of the same, with additional set pieces and more action, Gears of War 3 is... even more of the same? But again... that is not a bad thing, especially since all these games are super tight and don't overstay their welcome.
I played the entire trilogy back to back, so I could see how they evolved the formula while keeping the core gameplay loop fun and engaging.
The first game was a cool introduction to the world and the characters and the second was a tale about brotherhood and a harrowing ride into the belly of the best. Gears of War 3 brings it all together and puts a nice bow on it with an epic conclusion to what is probably the best third-person shooter I ever played.
I played the entire trilogy back to back, so I could see how they evolved the formula while keeping the core gameplay loop fun and engaging.
The first game was a cool introduction to the world and the characters and the second was a tale about brotherhood and a harrowing ride into the belly of the best. Gears of War 3 brings it all together and puts a nice bow on it with an epic conclusion to what is probably the best third-person shooter I ever played.
2008
Gears of War 2 is more of the same but in a good way. I played it right after Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, so there was a bit of adjusting to the slight downgrade in visual fidelity. Don't get me wrong, the game still looks great (especially compared to the 360 version) and once the action started, I didn't even care.
The fun cover-based shooting is still there, but the game builds upon the original in such a great way, with an even darker, grittier narrative, more frenetic action, and thrilling set pieces.
The only thing I didn't appreciate (but eventually got used to) was the "hold X to pick up ammo" mechanic, which I assume was in the original, but imagine they changed to a button press for Ultimate Edition.
The fun cover-based shooting is still there, but the game builds upon the original in such a great way, with an even darker, grittier narrative, more frenetic action, and thrilling set pieces.
The only thing I didn't appreciate (but eventually got used to) was the "hold X to pick up ammo" mechanic, which I assume was in the original, but imagine they changed to a button press for Ultimate Edition.
I never owned an Xbox 360, but third-persona shooters like Spec Ops: The Line, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Vanquish are some of my favorite games that I played on the PS3 and a type of game we don't see released very often these days.
This Ultimate Edition sings on the Series S and aside from the jarring cutscenes (which have not been remade), it totally holds up in 2023.
The gameplay was as solid as everyone said it would be, the story was straightforward but interesting enough to keep me engaged and the game was short enough that I could finish it in a few sittings. This game was a blast to play!
This Ultimate Edition sings on the Series S and aside from the jarring cutscenes (which have not been remade), it totally holds up in 2023.
The gameplay was as solid as everyone said it would be, the story was straightforward but interesting enough to keep me engaged and the game was short enough that I could finish it in a few sittings. This game was a blast to play!
I played this while also playing Syndicate. I did miss the grappling hook, but I appreciated the shorter story and the little easter egg at the end. The naval combat makes a return, which I did enjoy. This was the perfect Steam Deck game! It works well, the battery time is pretty good, and looks great at a smaller resolution.
2018
God of War is an impressive technical achievement, a triumph of game design, and a masterclass in what it means to truly revive and reinvent a franchise. On a personal level, this was the culmination of a story arc that began with a younger version of myself playing the original God of War on the PlayStation 2, my very first console game on my very first console. Almost 15 years later, here I am with a boy of my own, receiving valuable lessons in fatherhood from an axe-wielding Kratos. Who would have thought?
2011
The first time I tried playing this game was on the PlayStation 4, but it didn't grab me, so it got lost in the shuffle. Last year I picked up a Vita and thought I would give it a try, thinking playing it on the go might help. It didn't, so I abandoned it once more.
Finally, when I bought a Steam Deck this was one of the games I was most excited to try. I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that this well-beloved game didn't click with me.
I managed to roll credits, but I can't say playing it was the experience I was hoping it would be. The gameplay did little for me, with the only things pulling me toward the end being the interesting visuals, the awesome soundtrack, and my stubbornness to see it through this time. The story was just ok, but the storytelling was pretty good.
This was the first game by Supergiant Games that I played and it was kind of nice to see where they got their start. Hopefully, this will help me appreciate their later titles a lot more, especially Hades!
Finally, when I bought a Steam Deck this was one of the games I was most excited to try. I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that this well-beloved game didn't click with me.
I managed to roll credits, but I can't say playing it was the experience I was hoping it would be. The gameplay did little for me, with the only things pulling me toward the end being the interesting visuals, the awesome soundtrack, and my stubbornness to see it through this time. The story was just ok, but the storytelling was pretty good.
This was the first game by Supergiant Games that I played and it was kind of nice to see where they got their start. Hopefully, this will help me appreciate their later titles a lot more, especially Hades!
2014
Through the years, I kept finding this game in bargain bins, but I ignored it for many years due to its middling reviews. In 2022, after watching a few videos about it, I decided to pick it up for 3 €. I mean... how bad could it be? It turns out... not that bad!
I found most characters and their voice acting pretty bland overall (except for Jordi and T-Bone) and the story was nothing to write home about. The main protagonist quickly turns from being just a hacker to a remorseless killer, which felt forced, despite them trying to touch on the morality of it all towards the end.
That being said, some of the most fun I had with this game was the gunplay and taking downs bad guys with a silenced pistol in slow-motion, after hacking my way through cameras to get a lay of the land. I ignored most of the side stuff and focused on the main quests, imagining that I'm John Wick and taking things less seriously. I was able to enjoy the game a lot more and even finished it.
Honestly, I'm really excited now for Watch Dogs 2, which I hear is a lot less serious.
I found most characters and their voice acting pretty bland overall (except for Jordi and T-Bone) and the story was nothing to write home about. The main protagonist quickly turns from being just a hacker to a remorseless killer, which felt forced, despite them trying to touch on the morality of it all towards the end.
That being said, some of the most fun I had with this game was the gunplay and taking downs bad guys with a silenced pistol in slow-motion, after hacking my way through cameras to get a lay of the land. I ignored most of the side stuff and focused on the main quests, imagining that I'm John Wick and taking things less seriously. I was able to enjoy the game a lot more and even finished it.
Honestly, I'm really excited now for Watch Dogs 2, which I hear is a lot less serious.
2017
This was one of the games that I was most excited about, but that I kept postponing. My extremely high expectations combined with its lack of a checkpoint system, its stiff dialogue moments, and my inexplicable mistake of not leveling up when I should have almost ruined the experience for me.
Luckily, I got used to saving more often and came to terms with the fact that not many games will be able to match the seamless cinematic masterpiece that is God of War, the game I played before it.
Horizon Zero Dawn has been an unusual experience, combining moments of frustration and exhilaration. Still, I ended up spending 40+ hours in what is probably one of the most exciting open-world games I ever played.
And although I should know better by now... I'm super excited to play Forbidden West!
Luckily, I got used to saving more often and came to terms with the fact that not many games will be able to match the seamless cinematic masterpiece that is God of War, the game I played before it.
Horizon Zero Dawn has been an unusual experience, combining moments of frustration and exhilaration. Still, I ended up spending 40+ hours in what is probably one of the most exciting open-world games I ever played.
And although I should know better by now... I'm super excited to play Forbidden West!
2018
While it was nowhere near as creative in terms of gameplay as It Takes Two, I really enjoyed the story and the way it was told, with beats borrowed from various prison escape movies. The mechanics are fairly simple, but they kept me invested in the characters and curious to see what comes next.
There's quite a bit of swearing and some violence, especially towards the end. I played it with my son who is 13 and he could handle it, but unlike It Takes Two, this is definitely not a young kids game.
It's a pretty short experience, that we finished two seatings, which I really appreciated.
There's quite a bit of swearing and some violence, especially towards the end. I played it with my son who is 13 and he could handle it, but unlike It Takes Two, this is definitely not a young kids game.
It's a pretty short experience, that we finished two seatings, which I really appreciated.
I'm not much of a pinball person, but this game quickly won me over with its satisfying gameplay, charming visuals, and relaxing music. The only gripe I would have is the lack of clear directions toward my next objective. The map is so zoomed out that it almost becomes unusable. I got stuck a couple of times and had to watch a YouTube walkthrough. Other than that, I would highly recommend the game if you're looking for that palate cleanser in between those big game releases.
The writing is better than in previous Quantic Dream games, but it's still a mixed bag and problematic at times. That being said, the presentation and acting are solid (Clancy Brown is great as Hank), and playing the game for 5 days in a row as if it was a TV show was a thrilling experience. Given the branching narrative and the number of endings one could experience, I could see myself revisiting it a few years from now.
I remember enjoying the first two games more than this one. The story felt convoluted and confusing, the main villain is uninteresting and the progression isn't very satisfying. Oh, and the UI choice for the skill tree is pretty weird. That being said, the game looks great, the combat feels pretty good and the bow is as awesome as I remember it. I just wish I had the chance to use it more. Tombs and crypts were nice, but nothing blew my mind.
2021
This is by far the best couch co-op game my 12-year-old son and I ever played. The gameplay is so much fun and the levels are so inventive! Do yourself a favor and don't watch any videos before diving into this game. Being constantly surprised by the different locations and mechanics is the second-best thing about the game, with the best thing being the minigames. They are so basic, yet we spent so much time beating our high scores and I can't wait to go back and discover all of them now that we finished the game. Totally deserves all the praise it got!