dashKC
This review contains spoilers
Sure is a Spider-Man game, again! And with Venom in it.
I was excited for this but I didn't think it would be good. It was more just that the feeling of distracting yourself with something new for a whole weekend is such a nice feeling. And I was lucky enough to be able to experience that feeling again.
The game itself pretty much lived up to my expectations. It initially exceeded them as Miles' story was actually interesting and I bought Harry's relationship with Pete & MJ. But once Venom comes in, it really fumbles. You play as him purely cos the subreddit would've gone mad if you didn't and the gameplay is no different to the gameplay of the Spider-Men that it doesn't get across how bad Venom actually is. The two Spider-Men's combat in this Spider-Man series are so incredibly brutal and violent. And apart from boss fights, you're always fighting the same faceless goons. And when you play as Venom, you're that same level of violence fighting those same faceless goons. The game puts no effort into aligning the story and gameplay so the final stretch of the story feels conflicted and even more boring than if it was just another "uh oh whole city sick again like first game".
When Pete has the symbiote it's actually intriguing and scary but once it comes off him, I lost interest as it became just another superhero story.
One with the most hilarious glitches that the whole final mission had absolutely no emotional impact cos I was laughing the whole time (even if there weren't glitches, I still don't think it would've resonated with me). I must've taken at least 15 videos on my PS5 of the two Spider-Men just being cubes. MJ being a floating head or not appearing at all like Venom in one cutscene too. I hadn't laughed so hard in so long. It was amazing so I'm very thankful the game gave me that. Cos after all, it's a piece of entertainment, this silly little piece of fiction was obviously never gonna be anything more than fun times for the kiddies. But if that's the case, maybe don't make the heroes we're supposed to root for stupidly violent.
Anyway, Miles: I did not give a fuck about him in his spin-off and I was anticipating this being more of a Pete game anyway so I wasn't expecting much but damn, they do so well with his character until they just give up halfway through. His arc about letting go of the hate for Li is fine [and I really liked his addition to the story too] but it's like they forgot that wasn't the only part of his character they were working towards for him in this game. The whole game, he's putting off his responsibilities (college essay) by taking care of other people's responsibilities which I LOVED. It's such an interesting angle for a superhero story because it can lead to a question if they actually a hero if they're only helping people for their own selfish reasons (distracting themself from their own life). I also liked it cos I just found it relatable as someone who piles up my own responsibilities so I can take on others'. But they just forgot that part of his arc?? So they threw in a line in the post-credits scene where he offhandedly says he finished the college essay. Then homie comes in with an ugly-ass suit for absolutely no reason that doesn't serve the story but instead serves an Adidas sponsorship, I guess :/
But hey, post-credit scene made me go "I know that thing" so it's automatically good. I'm joking obviously but I fucking love Cindy Moon, so I am excited to see her in mainstream media FINALLY!
So, yeah, it's fun. I beat it in three days, and platinumed in 28 hours over four days. I clearly didn't dislike it. Despite it fumbling at the end, it still perfectly met my expectations cos I wasn't expecting much of anything from the story to begin with. The new additions to traversal are fantastic. Web wings have really brought a whole new life to the game and progression actually takes effort too which is nice cos the first game was too easy.
I was excited for this but I didn't think it would be good. It was more just that the feeling of distracting yourself with something new for a whole weekend is such a nice feeling. And I was lucky enough to be able to experience that feeling again.
The game itself pretty much lived up to my expectations. It initially exceeded them as Miles' story was actually interesting and I bought Harry's relationship with Pete & MJ. But once Venom comes in, it really fumbles. You play as him purely cos the subreddit would've gone mad if you didn't and the gameplay is no different to the gameplay of the Spider-Men that it doesn't get across how bad Venom actually is. The two Spider-Men's combat in this Spider-Man series are so incredibly brutal and violent. And apart from boss fights, you're always fighting the same faceless goons. And when you play as Venom, you're that same level of violence fighting those same faceless goons. The game puts no effort into aligning the story and gameplay so the final stretch of the story feels conflicted and even more boring than if it was just another "uh oh whole city sick again like first game".
When Pete has the symbiote it's actually intriguing and scary but once it comes off him, I lost interest as it became just another superhero story.
One with the most hilarious glitches that the whole final mission had absolutely no emotional impact cos I was laughing the whole time (even if there weren't glitches, I still don't think it would've resonated with me). I must've taken at least 15 videos on my PS5 of the two Spider-Men just being cubes. MJ being a floating head or not appearing at all like Venom in one cutscene too. I hadn't laughed so hard in so long. It was amazing so I'm very thankful the game gave me that. Cos after all, it's a piece of entertainment, this silly little piece of fiction was obviously never gonna be anything more than fun times for the kiddies. But if that's the case, maybe don't make the heroes we're supposed to root for stupidly violent.
Anyway, Miles: I did not give a fuck about him in his spin-off and I was anticipating this being more of a Pete game anyway so I wasn't expecting much but damn, they do so well with his character until they just give up halfway through. His arc about letting go of the hate for Li is fine [and I really liked his addition to the story too] but it's like they forgot that wasn't the only part of his character they were working towards for him in this game. The whole game, he's putting off his responsibilities (college essay) by taking care of other people's responsibilities which I LOVED. It's such an interesting angle for a superhero story because it can lead to a question if they actually a hero if they're only helping people for their own selfish reasons (distracting themself from their own life). I also liked it cos I just found it relatable as someone who piles up my own responsibilities so I can take on others'. But they just forgot that part of his arc?? So they threw in a line in the post-credits scene where he offhandedly says he finished the college essay. Then homie comes in with an ugly-ass suit for absolutely no reason that doesn't serve the story but instead serves an Adidas sponsorship, I guess :/
But hey, post-credit scene made me go "I know that thing" so it's automatically good. I'm joking obviously but I fucking love Cindy Moon, so I am excited to see her in mainstream media FINALLY!
So, yeah, it's fun. I beat it in three days, and platinumed in 28 hours over four days. I clearly didn't dislike it. Despite it fumbling at the end, it still perfectly met my expectations cos I wasn't expecting much of anything from the story to begin with. The new additions to traversal are fantastic. Web wings have really brought a whole new life to the game and progression actually takes effort too which is nice cos the first game was too easy.
"I was supposed to die in that hospital."
Four and a half years ago, there was a moment where it seemed like I was about to die in the hospital and this is the only thing that has made me glad I didn't.
It's so utterly astonishing to me that every little bit of pain is worth it to experience this. Despite being such an emotionally exhausting experience to the point I take a physical toll, the idea of replaying it gives me such buoyancy. Oh, but what I would do to play it for the first time again. Each playthrough has been longer than the last -- to savour that feeling because I know nothing else will give me anything like it.
Such a genius approach to this story. Flawlessly woven non-linear narrative revolving around these two incredible characters.
So well-laid out in terms of messaging & themes yet so much to interpret for yourself; it's beautiful. So meticulously crafted that no-one will be able to build something as masterful as this again.
Clarification: While films like Aftersun and 'Everything, Everywhere' push me to be alive out of my love for others, this is the only artwork that makes me happy I still am.
"When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light."
okay but like imagine Abby looks into your eyes and says "you're my people" to you...
Four and a half years ago, there was a moment where it seemed like I was about to die in the hospital and this is the only thing that has made me glad I didn't.
It's so utterly astonishing to me that every little bit of pain is worth it to experience this. Despite being such an emotionally exhausting experience to the point I take a physical toll, the idea of replaying it gives me such buoyancy. Oh, but what I would do to play it for the first time again. Each playthrough has been longer than the last -- to savour that feeling because I know nothing else will give me anything like it.
Such a genius approach to this story. Flawlessly woven non-linear narrative revolving around these two incredible characters.
So well-laid out in terms of messaging & themes yet so much to interpret for yourself; it's beautiful. So meticulously crafted that no-one will be able to build something as masterful as this again.
Clarification: While films like Aftersun and 'Everything, Everywhere' push me to be alive out of my love for others, this is the only artwork that makes me happy I still am.
"When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light."
okay but like imagine Abby looks into your eyes and says "you're my people" to you...
Went to play a new save on Grounded and wimped out last second and played on Survivor...
And, for me, that's enough. I know people say Grounded is the true immersive Last of Us experience but the characters are so incredible; it's the writing I'm more immersed into, ya know. Pop on some gamer headphones for the whole game and that's super immersive too. I don't actually wanna be in the zombie apocalypse (unless I get to be friends with ellie in which case sign me up). I enjoy a challenge, especially on a replay, but still would prefer to focus on the story and it's hard to do that when you do a jim face to the fake camera every 2 minutes when you die trying to escape the Colorado mall.
Plus, what's so great about this game is that it's suited to non-gamers too. Just perfect in terms of accessibility. Still so happy this got the remake treatment so we weren't cursed with an ugly looking 7th gen version of this.
(Also, the game didn't glitch and it actually gave me the Platinum Trophy this time which is nice)
And, for me, that's enough. I know people say Grounded is the true immersive Last of Us experience but the characters are so incredible; it's the writing I'm more immersed into, ya know. Pop on some gamer headphones for the whole game and that's super immersive too. I don't actually wanna be in the zombie apocalypse (unless I get to be friends with ellie in which case sign me up). I enjoy a challenge, especially on a replay, but still would prefer to focus on the story and it's hard to do that when you do a jim face to the fake camera every 2 minutes when you die trying to escape the Colorado mall.
Plus, what's so great about this game is that it's suited to non-gamers too. Just perfect in terms of accessibility. Still so happy this got the remake treatment so we weren't cursed with an ugly looking 7th gen version of this.
(Also, the game didn't glitch and it actually gave me the Platinum Trophy this time which is nice)
2016
Instead of just being a clone of CoD, it takes from Portal's campaign and adds a fluid movement system that every FPS since has based its traversal on.
No-one here cares about the story but BT is cool and the levels are excellent. Introducing something new every level that you wish you could take with you for the rest of the game.
No-one here cares about the story but BT is cool and the levels are excellent. Introducing something new every level that you wish you could take with you for the rest of the game.
2021
'Everything, Everywhere All at Once' but game.
Not gonna lie, was kind of underwhelmed by this but it still made me cry. Conceptually, it's truly amazing -- a game controlled by your blinks to get across how fleeting life can be and ultimately about how you shouldn't look back on the past and be resentful of what COULD have happened.
I personally didn't have any problems with the blinking. As in, I didn't have to recalibrate it at all so I guess all these other losers just have shit webcams and lighting (boom, roasted). But it is I who has a shit ability to not blink under pressure so I guess I am the real loser (boom, roasted *but said with disappointment). I think it's done really well. It's incredibly frustrating and exactly the same feeling I get when I regret spending time doing one thing opposed to another thing. And the sick fucks behind this game really went out of their way to make it as frustrating as possible by not only making the game jump forward in time every time you blink but making missable things you want to do also controlled by blinking so you're more susceptible to blinking and missing out on your life that literally goes by in the blink of an eye.
Yes, it did make me cry because this is one of those stories where it's intentionally minimal and generic in order for the audience to project their own life onto it to have a stronger emotional reaction. But I think that's what let me down. Because it ended up feeling like watching a generic film but I often sat on the remote and fast-forwarded by accident. The second half of the game is important in communicating the message but it just felt like it was missing something and I'm not quite sure what it was. It just felt like it was clashing with the first half, I suppose?
This is a really fantastic concept that I think can be taken much further. This execution could just feel a bit barebones at times.
It's still a really good and unique game and it pushes the medium to a higher place but it leans a bit too far heavily into the fact that it's an unconventional control method.
Thankfully, the voice acting was surprisingly good and the music was very opportune too as it should be when that's really all it has when you take away the blinking.
Not gonna lie, was kind of underwhelmed by this but it still made me cry. Conceptually, it's truly amazing -- a game controlled by your blinks to get across how fleeting life can be and ultimately about how you shouldn't look back on the past and be resentful of what COULD have happened.
I personally didn't have any problems with the blinking. As in, I didn't have to recalibrate it at all so I guess all these other losers just have shit webcams and lighting (boom, roasted). But it is I who has a shit ability to not blink under pressure so I guess I am the real loser (boom, roasted *but said with disappointment). I think it's done really well. It's incredibly frustrating and exactly the same feeling I get when I regret spending time doing one thing opposed to another thing. And the sick fucks behind this game really went out of their way to make it as frustrating as possible by not only making the game jump forward in time every time you blink but making missable things you want to do also controlled by blinking so you're more susceptible to blinking and missing out on your life that literally goes by in the blink of an eye.
Yes, it did make me cry because this is one of those stories where it's intentionally minimal and generic in order for the audience to project their own life onto it to have a stronger emotional reaction. But I think that's what let me down. Because it ended up feeling like watching a generic film but I often sat on the remote and fast-forwarded by accident. The second half of the game is important in communicating the message but it just felt like it was missing something and I'm not quite sure what it was. It just felt like it was clashing with the first half, I suppose?
This is a really fantastic concept that I think can be taken much further. This execution could just feel a bit barebones at times.
It's still a really good and unique game and it pushes the medium to a higher place but it leans a bit too far heavily into the fact that it's an unconventional control method.
Thankfully, the voice acting was surprisingly good and the music was very opportune too as it should be when that's really all it has when you take away the blinking.
Develops the base game's themes and ideas with subtlety and far better story writing. Why couldn't the base game be this compelling?
Aloy feels like a person in this instead of a video game protagonist, Seyka is very likeable, Londra is a well-executed villain. The new map is quite nice, the final boss is great.
This is totally worth the price. Perfect length and good quality DLC.
Aloy feels like a person in this instead of a video game protagonist, Seyka is very likeable, Londra is a well-executed villain. The new map is quite nice, the final boss is great.
This is totally worth the price. Perfect length and good quality DLC.
2019
game is fucking broken.
I renewed PS Plus Extra to try out some games I wanted and didn't really seem to gel with any of them so I ended up just playing a game I've already bought on two other platforms.
Again, I was having a blast. I wasn't really paying attention to the "meh" story this time but the gameplay is probably the best in the series. Until, on the second-to-last mission my game just glitched and I literally can't progress. I've tried EVERYTHING suggested by people who were able to fix this bug WHEN THE GAME FIRST CAME OUT but I got nothing! Homie NPC just doesn't move and now I can't get that sweet platinum trophy. I just gotta restart the fucking game again which like sure isn't that bad cos when we first went into lockdown I bought it again on Steam and got 45hrs played in 3 days but like are you for real?!!!!
I can excuse the stupid cutscenes which just remove your playable characters from canon but a game-breaking bug that has been known to happen since the game first released?!!! what the fuck, guys?
Anyway, I played as Moze this time around and oh, my god, she is amazing. Sucks this otherwise good game has been soured by this bug.
I renewed PS Plus Extra to try out some games I wanted and didn't really seem to gel with any of them so I ended up just playing a game I've already bought on two other platforms.
Again, I was having a blast. I wasn't really paying attention to the "meh" story this time but the gameplay is probably the best in the series. Until, on the second-to-last mission my game just glitched and I literally can't progress. I've tried EVERYTHING suggested by people who were able to fix this bug WHEN THE GAME FIRST CAME OUT but I got nothing! Homie NPC just doesn't move and now I can't get that sweet platinum trophy. I just gotta restart the fucking game again which like sure isn't that bad cos when we first went into lockdown I bought it again on Steam and got 45hrs played in 3 days but like are you for real?!!!!
I can excuse the stupid cutscenes which just remove your playable characters from canon but a game-breaking bug that has been known to happen since the game first released?!!! what the fuck, guys?
Anyway, I played as Moze this time around and oh, my god, she is amazing. Sucks this otherwise good game has been soured by this bug.
More games need to have the creative vision this one has behind it.
Endlessly intriguing and thoughtfully put together. Gameplay-wise it's just a walking simulator but Lewis' story is a genius weaving of theme into gameplay.
Plus, the music is great too.
(how ironic im revisiting this game after years hahahaha good joke laugh)
Endlessly intriguing and thoughtfully put together. Gameplay-wise it's just a walking simulator but Lewis' story is a genius weaving of theme into gameplay.
Plus, the music is great too.
(how ironic im revisiting this game after years hahahaha good joke laugh)
People have recently said this about Sonic Frontiers which I completely disagree with but I think you just gotta stick with this and it gets good. Not because you're conditioning yourself into liking it but because the beginning (like most platformers) is undercooked. Not a fault just the necessary difficulty curve.
I bought this for £30 to be my "lil bro" game. Both he & I wanted it but when we first starting playing it, I started wishing I hadn't spent that much. It was Mario 3D World [one of my favourite games] but sooooo slow. Like, for real 3D World is so fluid and with this you have to break the O button to get a fraction of the speed you get in that game.
But you get used to that, especially thanks to the Knitted Knight Trials and Remix levels, and the game becomes a total blast. I didn't like any of the music levels apart from Toxin but it is cool that the levels sync up to the beat. Aside from that, the original score is fantastic. Really great stuff!
Visually, it's fantastic. Level design in, not just gameplay, but appearance is marvelous. But in terms of gameplay, the boss fights do stick out to me. This is just a really good co-op platformer collectathon. The friend levels are great. The puzzles are solid. Collecting orbs were never too easy or too difficult. Character customisation is a lot of fun.
It's no 3D World but this does have a lot to offer that 3D World doesn't! But when it comes to core gameplay, 3D World really has it beat. Still, playing this charming little romp and getting the platinum trophy was really rather swell. I know fans of the Little Big Planet didn't really appreciate this spin-off all too well but I would really welcome another one of these as someone who only played 3 and did not care for it at all.
lil bro rates it: 3.5 cos he kept dying a lot
I bought this for £30 to be my "lil bro" game. Both he & I wanted it but when we first starting playing it, I started wishing I hadn't spent that much. It was Mario 3D World [one of my favourite games] but sooooo slow. Like, for real 3D World is so fluid and with this you have to break the O button to get a fraction of the speed you get in that game.
But you get used to that, especially thanks to the Knitted Knight Trials and Remix levels, and the game becomes a total blast. I didn't like any of the music levels apart from Toxin but it is cool that the levels sync up to the beat. Aside from that, the original score is fantastic. Really great stuff!
Visually, it's fantastic. Level design in, not just gameplay, but appearance is marvelous. But in terms of gameplay, the boss fights do stick out to me. This is just a really good co-op platformer collectathon. The friend levels are great. The puzzles are solid. Collecting orbs were never too easy or too difficult. Character customisation is a lot of fun.
It's no 3D World but this does have a lot to offer that 3D World doesn't! But when it comes to core gameplay, 3D World really has it beat. Still, playing this charming little romp and getting the platinum trophy was really rather swell. I know fans of the Little Big Planet didn't really appreciate this spin-off all too well but I would really welcome another one of these as someone who only played 3 and did not care for it at all.
lil bro rates it: 3.5 cos he kept dying a lot
I liked the Drew Gooden "road work ahead" Vine reference.
Sure is a Spider-Man game.
2020
This is one of my favourite games. One of three games I've given five stars and for what the game is, I've spent far too many hours swinging around on here and speedrunning on PC over the past two years.
So, I figured I'd buy the recently released PS4 version so I could play it in bed while also supporting the developers but this version lacks a lot of polish.
As a trophy hunter, I thought this would be the easiest Platinum Trophy I would ever get but nope! One trophy is literally impossible to get as either you can't watch other people's replays or no-one has the game to be able to make them so you can watch them.
Although Marathon Mode isn't in this version, you still have the bit where the lil robot says "you unlocked Marathon Mode" and the camera pans over to where the purple crystal would be and it's just not there haha.
But then there's just a lot of screen-tearing and visual glitches too. Platforms not spawning in or randomly placed invisible blocks that kill you that aren't there in the PC version. Plus, some stuttering and very frequent game crashes.
Probably most annoying though is the "aim assist" (?). I turned motion controls off but after that, it would randomly snap to nothing or the camera would just move around without me doing anything. (EDIT: I've since realised this could've been me just holding the controller in my weird way and accidentally touching the touchpad of the DualSense controller which also moves the camera, but you can't disable this future so it's still dumb and not good for people who hold controllers like I do)
As someone who adores this game, I think it sucks that a lot of people's only exposure to this game is kind of broken. On PC, it's perfect. But this PS4 version being played on PS5, while maintaining that addicting fluid movement with great levels, is under this mess which I hope is resolved.
So, I figured I'd buy the recently released PS4 version so I could play it in bed while also supporting the developers but this version lacks a lot of polish.
As a trophy hunter, I thought this would be the easiest Platinum Trophy I would ever get but nope! One trophy is literally impossible to get as either you can't watch other people's replays or no-one has the game to be able to make them so you can watch them.
Although Marathon Mode isn't in this version, you still have the bit where the lil robot says "you unlocked Marathon Mode" and the camera pans over to where the purple crystal would be and it's just not there haha.
But then there's just a lot of screen-tearing and visual glitches too. Platforms not spawning in or randomly placed invisible blocks that kill you that aren't there in the PC version. Plus, some stuttering and very frequent game crashes.
Probably most annoying though is the "aim assist" (?). I turned motion controls off but after that, it would randomly snap to nothing or the camera would just move around without me doing anything. (EDIT: I've since realised this could've been me just holding the controller in my weird way and accidentally touching the touchpad of the DualSense controller which also moves the camera, but you can't disable this future so it's still dumb and not good for people who hold controllers like I do)
As someone who adores this game, I think it sucks that a lot of people's only exposure to this game is kind of broken. On PC, it's perfect. But this PS4 version being played on PS5, while maintaining that addicting fluid movement with great levels, is under this mess which I hope is resolved.
2022
Why be in an abusive relationship when you can just be a Sonic fan and gaslight yourself?
2016
Never felt more epic than when I put the gun up to my head and shot myself.
2011
Finally gave up. I finished it back in October and the bonus challenges are just too hard for me. Maybe I'll come back one day so I can change this from 'shelved' to 'mastered'.
The base game, though, is amazing for what it is. One of the best puzzle games I've played and exactly what handheld consoles were made for. And its ashame this series is left to die on the soon-to-be disabled 3DS and Wii U eShops.
Pretty inventive game with how they're able to make pixel art puzzles that have multiple solutions to them. Looking forward to finally playing its sequels that add their own unique spin to this great design.
The base game, though, is amazing for what it is. One of the best puzzle games I've played and exactly what handheld consoles were made for. And its ashame this series is left to die on the soon-to-be disabled 3DS and Wii U eShops.
Pretty inventive game with how they're able to make pixel art puzzles that have multiple solutions to them. Looking forward to finally playing its sequels that add their own unique spin to this great design.