blackcat
342 Reviews liked by blackcat
Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, Review,
Spoiler Free,
As a huge fan of this series of games I was so excited to check this one out as I never got around to playing it when it first released.
I quite enjoyed Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, getting the Platinum trophy was a blast. The gameplay as per usual for a Ratchet and Clank game is absolutely superb with creative weapons, a diversity of amazing worlds and is something that just feels right at home for me. This is a legendary series and the story takes an interesting turn which is deeper explored in Rift Apart. The implementation of the jet pack and jet boots are welcome additions and the new gadgets are really satisfying to use and tie into the platforming really nicely.
In terms of negatives, I think that the game is just far too short. It felt so disappointing to go to the fifth planet knowing that was it. The Clank sections in this are also awful, I finished the game 3 times and they never grew on me due to being frustrating, tedious and feels so lack of anything creative.
Overall, Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus is a great and worthwhile entry into the franchise. If you haven't checked this out yet I do think its worth your time and gives you so much context for Rift Apart.
Spoiler Free,
As a huge fan of this series of games I was so excited to check this one out as I never got around to playing it when it first released.
I quite enjoyed Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, getting the Platinum trophy was a blast. The gameplay as per usual for a Ratchet and Clank game is absolutely superb with creative weapons, a diversity of amazing worlds and is something that just feels right at home for me. This is a legendary series and the story takes an interesting turn which is deeper explored in Rift Apart. The implementation of the jet pack and jet boots are welcome additions and the new gadgets are really satisfying to use and tie into the platforming really nicely.
In terms of negatives, I think that the game is just far too short. It felt so disappointing to go to the fifth planet knowing that was it. The Clank sections in this are also awful, I finished the game 3 times and they never grew on me due to being frustrating, tedious and feels so lack of anything creative.
Overall, Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus is a great and worthwhile entry into the franchise. If you haven't checked this out yet I do think its worth your time and gives you so much context for Rift Apart.
Assassin's Creed Mirage, Review,
Spoiler Free,
I was very skeptical about this one being any good but honestly a return to a smaller scale Assassin's Creed was a nice change of pace for me.
I haven't been this engaged in an AC game for a while because Valhalla almost killed it for me but Mirage, with its smaller open world and satisfying gameplay gave me the enjoyment I needed before the repetitive nature of all AC games burnt me out again. I think Basim as the protagonist is an interesting choice and gives further context for his actions in Valhalla and the world of Baghdad is just so fun to explore. Synchronizing viewpoints and stealth options that take me back to the Ezio trilogy and a focus on the Brotherhood once again just felt right and I wish Ubisoft continued to expand and be creative in this space rather than try to make an inferior massive RPG.
In terms of negatives, the platinum grind got a little tedious in the end due to the climbing becoming more annoying as the game progresses and the lack of variety in things to do really becomes noticeable. The combat is also really bad, its not supposed to be something to be relied on but it is just so janky and doesn't work at all. The story is quite forgettable for the most part and the majority of characters are pretty boring with lifeless voice acting.
Overall, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a really good entry in the franchise, its not the best AC game but I don't think it ever was trying to be and because of that it's just an enjoyable game that reminded me of when Assassin's Creed was just such a blast to play and not a tedious chore.
Spoiler Free,
I was very skeptical about this one being any good but honestly a return to a smaller scale Assassin's Creed was a nice change of pace for me.
I haven't been this engaged in an AC game for a while because Valhalla almost killed it for me but Mirage, with its smaller open world and satisfying gameplay gave me the enjoyment I needed before the repetitive nature of all AC games burnt me out again. I think Basim as the protagonist is an interesting choice and gives further context for his actions in Valhalla and the world of Baghdad is just so fun to explore. Synchronizing viewpoints and stealth options that take me back to the Ezio trilogy and a focus on the Brotherhood once again just felt right and I wish Ubisoft continued to expand and be creative in this space rather than try to make an inferior massive RPG.
In terms of negatives, the platinum grind got a little tedious in the end due to the climbing becoming more annoying as the game progresses and the lack of variety in things to do really becomes noticeable. The combat is also really bad, its not supposed to be something to be relied on but it is just so janky and doesn't work at all. The story is quite forgettable for the most part and the majority of characters are pretty boring with lifeless voice acting.
Overall, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a really good entry in the franchise, its not the best AC game but I don't think it ever was trying to be and because of that it's just an enjoyable game that reminded me of when Assassin's Creed was just such a blast to play and not a tedious chore.
A strong intro into this trilogy of games. It lays out the basic character traits, gameplay and style, but not flawlessly.
The core gameplay is sound, and the linear levels are well crafted and fun. On the other hand, the minigames are some of the most frustrating things I've ever played. They are all either boring, annoying, or infuriating. The worst part is that they become more common as the game continues. The last whole world is pretty much a bunch of them stitched together and its lame.
As much as those sections weigh down the game, I can't dislike it. Running around like a thief in the normal levels collecting bottles is too much fun, and the charming characters and style keep me from staying annoyed too long.
The core gameplay is sound, and the linear levels are well crafted and fun. On the other hand, the minigames are some of the most frustrating things I've ever played. They are all either boring, annoying, or infuriating. The worst part is that they become more common as the game continues. The last whole world is pretty much a bunch of them stitched together and its lame.
As much as those sections weigh down the game, I can't dislike it. Running around like a thief in the normal levels collecting bottles is too much fun, and the charming characters and style keep me from staying annoyed too long.
Sly 2 is most certainly a step up from its predecessor. The story, characterization and gameplay are all elevated while still retaining what made them fun.
The biggest shift between games is the sandbox type level design featured here as opposed to straightforward levels connected by a hub in Sly 1. Personally, I think this was a great change, as it allows the areas you are sneaking around and plotting heists in to feel much more present. Sucker Punch even managed to retain the smooth platforming levels of the first game in miniature levels found throughout the world.
Another big step up is that you can now play as all three members of the Cooper Gang. While Sly remains the most fun to play as, the other guys are a nice change of pace. The strengths and weaknesses of each of their play styles make everyone feel equally valuable to the team. This is extremely evident in a certain portion of the game.
Unfortunately, there are still some things that hold it back. The minigames (turret sections, Bentley's hacking, etc.) are still pretty frustrating. Maybe I'm just stupid but I have such a hard time with the controls that it just feels awful. Luckily they are toned down here in comparison to Sly 1.
I also found the detection for grabbing onto or landing on things was often wonky. Sometimes I'd press circle and Sly would refuse to grab onto what was right in front of him, costing me time or sometimes the entire mission. Other times he would get magnetized to something miles away from what I was trying to land on. This was a consistent frustration throughout the experience.
Lastly, I feel the pacing of the story could have been better. Some villains you go up against feel like they are stretched out a bit too long, while the climax feels very rushed. I overall like where the story goes, but it is not entirely smooth in getting there. The characters themselves are a charm throughout though.
Overall, this game is fantastic. It is super fun for its majority, with a great style and characters to boot.
The biggest shift between games is the sandbox type level design featured here as opposed to straightforward levels connected by a hub in Sly 1. Personally, I think this was a great change, as it allows the areas you are sneaking around and plotting heists in to feel much more present. Sucker Punch even managed to retain the smooth platforming levels of the first game in miniature levels found throughout the world.
Another big step up is that you can now play as all three members of the Cooper Gang. While Sly remains the most fun to play as, the other guys are a nice change of pace. The strengths and weaknesses of each of their play styles make everyone feel equally valuable to the team. This is extremely evident in a certain portion of the game.
Unfortunately, there are still some things that hold it back. The minigames (turret sections, Bentley's hacking, etc.) are still pretty frustrating. Maybe I'm just stupid but I have such a hard time with the controls that it just feels awful. Luckily they are toned down here in comparison to Sly 1.
I also found the detection for grabbing onto or landing on things was often wonky. Sometimes I'd press circle and Sly would refuse to grab onto what was right in front of him, costing me time or sometimes the entire mission. Other times he would get magnetized to something miles away from what I was trying to land on. This was a consistent frustration throughout the experience.
Lastly, I feel the pacing of the story could have been better. Some villains you go up against feel like they are stretched out a bit too long, while the climax feels very rushed. I overall like where the story goes, but it is not entirely smooth in getting there. The characters themselves are a charm throughout though.
Overall, this game is fantastic. It is super fun for its majority, with a great style and characters to boot.
A solid end to the trilogy. A bit of a step down from Sly 2 due to multiple characters not being fleshed out due to a short story. I like the story in broad strokes, but some characters play major second fiddle. The Guru feels like a bit of an afterthought, and Dimitri only gets two levels in the entire game. In contrast, I thought Panda King's implementation was fantastic.
With more team members comes a return to more of a reliance on alternate play modes (minigames). My previous reviews have made known my distaste for some of these, and while I'd still prefer more of a focus on stealth/platforming, at least here they were implemented well. None of them were overly frustrating/infuriating in the way some had been in the previous games.
Regardless, the bottom line is that it's fun.
With more team members comes a return to more of a reliance on alternate play modes (minigames). My previous reviews have made known my distaste for some of these, and while I'd still prefer more of a focus on stealth/platforming, at least here they were implemented well. None of them were overly frustrating/infuriating in the way some had been in the previous games.
Regardless, the bottom line is that it's fun.
Animal Crossing
2001
I WILL cry a single, manly tear listening to the ost. The childlike whimsy is off the charts.
Aurora my beloved <3
Aurora my beloved <3
Psychonauts
2005
Buyer beware: the Ps2 version of this game runs like doo doo.
Unfortunately I was not aware of this until after purchasing it. I attempted to give it a good honest try nonetheless and put about 5 hours into it. Even still, I wasn't very gripped by the story or gameplay, but I don't know how much of that comes down to just how poorly it runs. One day I might try it again, but definitely on a different platform.
Unfortunately I was not aware of this until after purchasing it. I attempted to give it a good honest try nonetheless and put about 5 hours into it. Even still, I wasn't very gripped by the story or gameplay, but I don't know how much of that comes down to just how poorly it runs. One day I might try it again, but definitely on a different platform.
This review contains spoilers
As a kid I played the first Ratchet and Clank over and over on my brother's PS2, but never any of its sequels. I have been looking forward to experiencing the rest of the trilogy, similar to how I went through the Sly Cooper trilogy a while back.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this game as much as I had hoped. That is not to say that this is a bad game by any means, its actually very good. To me it just doesn't seem to come together the way the first game did.
I will say the gameplay has been streamlined nicely, and Ratchet feels much better to control. Strafing is a godsend for many enemy encounters. I really liked a lot of the new weapons, especially the Bouncer. Weapon leveling is also a sick addition that made me enjoy using the guns way more.
While the moment to moment gameplay is fun, certain sections can grow very tedious and frustrating. For example, the Thugs-4-Less boss fight was easy but took forever, while Planet Grelbin and its yetis are an absolute pain.
I think my biggest issue in this though is the story. It felt very much like an "and then..." plot, where the next thing happens just so that something can happen. There really isn't anything in the way of character growth or change, Ratchet just goes from being a misinformed errand boy to a correctly informed errand boy. In the first game you really got a sense you were exploring a galaxy, in this several of the worlds feel like they just exist as a level to shoot some guys and get an item in. The first game's story is no magnum opus, but its simple with a well defined character arc and engaging villain. The villain in this game is a last minute twist that leads to a mediocre final boss and the quickest story wrap-up I've ever seen.
These issues don't completely tank the experience, because the story is not the main focus of these games. The big focus is running around and shooting guys, and that hits way more than it misses here. I just can't fully get behind the "perfect evolution of the series" take I've seen. Hopefully Up Your Arsenal can marry the gameplay of Going Commando with a more engaging story akin to the first.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this game as much as I had hoped. That is not to say that this is a bad game by any means, its actually very good. To me it just doesn't seem to come together the way the first game did.
I will say the gameplay has been streamlined nicely, and Ratchet feels much better to control. Strafing is a godsend for many enemy encounters. I really liked a lot of the new weapons, especially the Bouncer. Weapon leveling is also a sick addition that made me enjoy using the guns way more.
While the moment to moment gameplay is fun, certain sections can grow very tedious and frustrating. For example, the Thugs-4-Less boss fight was easy but took forever, while Planet Grelbin and its yetis are an absolute pain.
I think my biggest issue in this though is the story. It felt very much like an "and then..." plot, where the next thing happens just so that something can happen. There really isn't anything in the way of character growth or change, Ratchet just goes from being a misinformed errand boy to a correctly informed errand boy. In the first game you really got a sense you were exploring a galaxy, in this several of the worlds feel like they just exist as a level to shoot some guys and get an item in. The first game's story is no magnum opus, but its simple with a well defined character arc and engaging villain. The villain in this game is a last minute twist that leads to a mediocre final boss and the quickest story wrap-up I've ever seen.
These issues don't completely tank the experience, because the story is not the main focus of these games. The big focus is running around and shooting guys, and that hits way more than it misses here. I just can't fully get behind the "perfect evolution of the series" take I've seen. Hopefully Up Your Arsenal can marry the gameplay of Going Commando with a more engaging story akin to the first.
Doronko Wanko
2024
Very cute and very short game where you play as a muddy puppy trying to get the house as messy as possible! Think of untimed, noncompetitive Splatoon. Takes only like 30 minutes to play and is free, so why not check it out?
3/5
3/5
Botany Manor
2024
I'm so glad this game came out when it did - I really, really needed it. My job makes me feel like I'm going bald from stress sometimes, and Botany Manor is the absolute best glass of wine after a long day. The puzzles are simple and keep the game from just being a total walking simulator, but are perfect at immersing the player into the environment, and falling in love with Arabella's manor. While I'm glad the puzzles add complexity to the game, I did still play Botany's Manor not too differently from a walking simulator by just walking around the house and admiring the different architecture, room decorations, and of course, the flora. There's lots of chairs to sit and enjoy the ambiance with as well... I adored it, often sitting in the chairs for longer than I originally intended and just going totally zen and letting my head go empty. It's nice, because walking around and just exploring does naturally lead to you solving a lot of the puzzles, as well.
There's no rush to beat Botany Manor, it took me around 5 hours, which for a $20 price tag I can understand not being the best deal, but for me it's something I absolutely will return to after a rough day at work, even after finishing the game, just to sit in Arabella's house and enjoy the scenary.
4/5
There's no rush to beat Botany Manor, it took me around 5 hours, which for a $20 price tag I can understand not being the best deal, but for me it's something I absolutely will return to after a rough day at work, even after finishing the game, just to sit in Arabella's house and enjoy the scenary.
4/5
I just rate it as a 7 due to the story, cause the gameplay sucks.
The ambience for a 2007 game is fantastic, the songs are ok and the story cativated me the most, BUT
It's ubisoft. They have the money, they have qualified people, but they always make a mediocre gameplay. First game of the saga is basically: go there and "investigate" (what it means you have to do the same missions 9 times to discover where your targets are).
I don't remember much stuff about the other ones, but in AC1 the guards literally wanna kill me for any reason. "Oh, you gave me a little bump while you were walking, I'm gonna call 15 guards to gang bang you." The combat is pretty much the same and kinda boring. If you wanna run away, good luck trying. If you're doing parkour, they'll throw ROCKS at you and you'll fall. When you're almost in the hiding spot, they'll find you <3
All I said + tons of bugs and freezings from a 2007 GAME IN A PC THAT RUNS GTA V
Just buy it if you wanna play all of them
The ambience for a 2007 game is fantastic, the songs are ok and the story cativated me the most, BUT
It's ubisoft. They have the money, they have qualified people, but they always make a mediocre gameplay. First game of the saga is basically: go there and "investigate" (what it means you have to do the same missions 9 times to discover where your targets are).
I don't remember much stuff about the other ones, but in AC1 the guards literally wanna kill me for any reason. "Oh, you gave me a little bump while you were walking, I'm gonna call 15 guards to gang bang you." The combat is pretty much the same and kinda boring. If you wanna run away, good luck trying. If you're doing parkour, they'll throw ROCKS at you and you'll fall. When you're almost in the hiding spot, they'll find you <3
All I said + tons of bugs and freezings from a 2007 GAME IN A PC THAT RUNS GTA V
Just buy it if you wanna play all of them
Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow can basically be seen as an expansion of the first game. Same great gameplay, just with a new story and levels. I'm not complaining as I love the first splinter cell and think it's one of the greatest stealth games, and getting more of that is not a problem at all. Some say the levels here are weaker than the first game, but I feel like they're just as good.
Well runs dry pretty quick on this one as soon as it mostly drops human enemies for little ghouls and spiders and becomes a "run around caves looking for the next area" simulator. Despite this though, it manages to set up some real next level fun situations when you get to fight the humanoid characters and kick them off cliffs and into campfires over and over and over again.
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is vulgar auteurism in game form. The hallmarks of Arkane's oeuvre are all here, but with none of the polish or restraint you're used to. Violence and sex and the plots of the pulpiest fantasy books you've ever read swirl like ether in its sorcerous hands. It's what Thief would be if the developers were influenced by Half-Life 2 instead of Ultima Underworld. Dark Messiah is clearly an immersive sim, but tune your expectations of what that means: instead of intricate stealth sandboxes, it throws you into a linear, setpiece-heavy physics playpen where your greatest joy will be finding increasingly grotesque ways of murdering orcs. It's hard to believe that the dedicated kick button didn't permanently alter the course of FPS design the way Halo's regenerating health did.
It's also insanely horny, like it was written by the guy from your first high school D&D game who was always trying to seduce the NPCs. It's janky, it's too dark to see half the time, and it would crash at least once every hour, even after I found a fix to stop the most game-breaking crashes. When it works, though, it's also a brisk, bloody, brilliant time.
It's also insanely horny, like it was written by the guy from your first high school D&D game who was always trying to seduce the NPCs. It's janky, it's too dark to see half the time, and it would crash at least once every hour, even after I found a fix to stop the most game-breaking crashes. When it works, though, it's also a brisk, bloody, brilliant time.
This is the hardest game to recommend but I would get this on sale if possible. The core gameplay is really fun, kicking dudes around and throwing boxes at them is amazing. I can't stress enough how much fun combat is against humanoid enemies.
You can kick dudes off ledges, into spike racks, and other hazards, you can even kick them into each other. It's a first person swordfighting game where you use the environment way more than any other weapon.
Sadly the game has other types of enemies where these mechanics are basically nonexistent. And to make matters worse, there's a fucking story there too. It's so stupid and generic I really did try to just ignore it, pretend this game is just about some dude that kicks a bunch of dudes into spikes and call it a day.
Also be prepared for crashes, this is an old ass source engine game not made by Valve, so the game will slowly begin to fall apart more and more as time goes on. Near the end I was crashing around every 25 minutes or so.
The game's balancing is awful too. Magic is so hard to use correctly, it's always just better to rely on your sword. Game also goes on way too long, and things get kinda old after the 40 trillionth kick.
Still despite all of that, you can get this on sale for like 5 bucks sometimes, and it's enjoyable enough. Buy this if you love kicking dudes around, funny ragdolls, and completely ignoring the garbage ass story.
You can kick dudes off ledges, into spike racks, and other hazards, you can even kick them into each other. It's a first person swordfighting game where you use the environment way more than any other weapon.
Sadly the game has other types of enemies where these mechanics are basically nonexistent. And to make matters worse, there's a fucking story there too. It's so stupid and generic I really did try to just ignore it, pretend this game is just about some dude that kicks a bunch of dudes into spikes and call it a day.
Also be prepared for crashes, this is an old ass source engine game not made by Valve, so the game will slowly begin to fall apart more and more as time goes on. Near the end I was crashing around every 25 minutes or so.
The game's balancing is awful too. Magic is so hard to use correctly, it's always just better to rely on your sword. Game also goes on way too long, and things get kinda old after the 40 trillionth kick.
Still despite all of that, you can get this on sale for like 5 bucks sometimes, and it's enjoyable enough. Buy this if you love kicking dudes around, funny ragdolls, and completely ignoring the garbage ass story.