bain
12 Reviews liked by bain
Project Wingman
2020
I keep reinstalling this game every few months to play the final mission because it's so damn good.
Subnautica
2014
I wish I could erase my memory of this game and replay for the first time again.
Subnautica
2014
The core gameplay loop is nothing groundbreaking (gather materials to build new items that you can then use to explore new areas to gather new materials...) but fantastic environmental design, joyous mobility and a surprising element of storytelling intrigue make Subnautica a paragon of the survival genre.
Borderlands 3
2019
Barring gunplay aside (which is fine i guess)
Never have I ever ended up muting a game's dialogue
audio so fucking quick. The story is just you fighting against 2 streamers with daddy issues..that's it
Never have I ever ended up muting a game's dialogue
audio so fucking quick. The story is just you fighting against 2 streamers with daddy issues..that's it
Mr. Hopp's Playhouse
2019
There is some seriously good horror foundation here, but the Five Nights at Freddy's DNA does the game no favors: the gameplay seems tuned to set the player up to fail in order to deliver jumpscare game over screens at regular intervals more than anything else. It would be ungenerous to call this a jumpscare game, as there is more to the atmosphere than that, but it's definitely a product of its time.
The game also lacks closure and payoff: no matter which ending you get it's an anticlimax. What a shame.
The game also lacks closure and payoff: no matter which ending you get it's an anticlimax. What a shame.
Borderlands 3
2019
Yeah it's fun but the Randy writing really pulls it down. When an important main character dies in a cringe cutscene (starring Ava) and I roll my eyes because it's so embarrassing, you have failed at writing.
- 1 point for Randy's USB stick (do not google Randy's USB stick)
- 1 point for Randy's USB stick (do not google Randy's USB stick)
Some parts surpass first game, but a few chapter in the middle really slog to get through. Can't wait to get the sequel in July
Played this for the first time with the Ultra Deluxe edition.
The original content is more philosophically cohesive, imo, but the new content has some particularly striking imagery and I generally found its dialogue funnier than the original's, so I'd say overall I liked them about equally.
I appreciate that each distinct ending has something to say without trying to sway the player toward any particular viewpoint. I can't say it changed my perspective on the nature of gaming or anything, but it coherently articulated a lot of stuff running through the back of my head while I play games, so it was a worthwhile experience for me. The dialogue itself is nice too. Charmingly irreverent without being cloying.
The original content is more philosophically cohesive, imo, but the new content has some particularly striking imagery and I generally found its dialogue funnier than the original's, so I'd say overall I liked them about equally.
I appreciate that each distinct ending has something to say without trying to sway the player toward any particular viewpoint. I can't say it changed my perspective on the nature of gaming or anything, but it coherently articulated a lot of stuff running through the back of my head while I play games, so it was a worthwhile experience for me. The dialogue itself is nice too. Charmingly irreverent without being cloying.
Iron Lung
2022
A short and sweet game that is incredible at building atmosphere. If you are down to immerse yourself within a dark apocalyptic world, this is the game for you!
Iron Lung
2022
same terrifying atmosphere as waiting for your friend in a particularly banged up club bathroom on an off night
Valorant
2020
It's overwatch mixed with CS:GO gunplay/bomb defusal scenarios. If you played CS:GO you'll be surprised how similar the gunplay is. Not for everyone though, really toxic community may ruin the experience for some.
Devil Daggers
2016
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication", in which Devil Daggers excels. What seems like a game that could have been made in a week, yet captured an audience far beyond what the developer probably expected. This is one of those games made by conceptual geniuses, who don't excel in the technicality but rather in untamed territories; Breakout, Robotron 2084, or Dance Dance Revolution. Simple concepts which aim to revolutionize and inspire, are simplistic. True "idea guys", likes of Eugene Jarvis.
Devil Daggers gameplay can last anywhere from a minute to hours, it's a simple plug-and-play, fast shooter putting you in a hellish arena of Lovecraftian proportions, or rather disproportion. There is little design beyond what is presented in front of you. Controls are rather simple and can be understood within a matter of seconds; yet - take forever to master, as the game pits you immediately against impossible odds. Devil Daggers is instant gratification and action no matter your skill level. There is no beating the game, just lasting over a minute is enough for a satisfying session, with a simple goal: survive.
Devil Daggers gameplay can last anywhere from a minute to hours, it's a simple plug-and-play, fast shooter putting you in a hellish arena of Lovecraftian proportions, or rather disproportion. There is little design beyond what is presented in front of you. Controls are rather simple and can be understood within a matter of seconds; yet - take forever to master, as the game pits you immediately against impossible odds. Devil Daggers is instant gratification and action no matter your skill level. There is no beating the game, just lasting over a minute is enough for a satisfying session, with a simple goal: survive.