doom 2016
i cant believe it took me so long to play this one. numerous ppl recommended it 2 me over the years, insisting that it's right up my alley. out of pure boredom i decided 2 give it a spin and it took me by surprise.. i immediately thought fuck me this is boring. pistol glory kill pistol glory kill pistol glory kill combat sg pistol glory kill combat sg repeat. when you're just starting out and you're lacking in weapons it is seriously dry but i was inexplicably compelled 2 keep going. whether that was a strength of the game or a symptom of my undying boredom i couldn't say, especially since i wasn't giving the story beats any real attention. ppl told me 'its chaotic and stressful from minute 1!' but it didn't feel that way to me. fast forward thru some sluggish hours and now im playing a completely different game.. i can DOUBLE JUMP. i can quickswitch lightning fast between a SUPER SHOTGUN a GAUSS CANNON and a fucking ROCKET LAUNCHER. i can CHAINSAW DEMONS FOR AN AMMO EXPLOSION. the enemy types r diverse and have engaging weaknesses. the setting is dark nd gritty. transitioning to and from hell between levels keeps things from getting stale. overall doom 2016 was a solid return to form for an iconic shooter, it did a fantastic job bridging the gap between classic fps and modern expectations. it's relentless, it's exhilarating at times. it proves that when done right a classic formula can excel in a modern environment and showcases why this genre shouldn't be left in the past. i'll be playing doom eternal next, the shift in setting and pace will be interesting. this one sets a pretty high bar.

the collective excitement of my friends and i after watching the starfield direct was palpable, i couldn't wait to dive into what bethesda had to offer next. however my experience with starfield was far from what i had hoped for.

what didn't work for me? the first half of starfield. the initial hours of the game were painfully slow and tedious, the characters felt like brick walls. interacting with npcs was a frustrating experience, they lacked depth and emotion rendering it impossible to establish any meaningful connection. conversations felt robotic and unresponsive, diminishing my immersion immediately. the story failed to engage me. it felt cliched and predictable, lacking the intrigue and originality that previous bgs titles like fallout and tes delivered. pacing issues were apparent and made it tough to stay invested, i often questioned why i was bothering to continue. the ui was a major failure. it felt clunky and counterintuitive, making the most basic tasks like managing items or customizing something a chore. navigating menus became an exercise in frustration. performance issues plagued my entire playthrough. starfield felt unoptimized presenting frequent frame drops and crashes. it was clear that the game had been designed with consoles in mind first, the pc version suffered as a result. needing to mod in dlss to achieve above 40 frames indoors felt fucking bonkers, do not partner with a hardware company if you want to make a good game. the performance hindered my ability to fully enjoy the game in it's best moments as i constantly had to contend with tech issues. the insignificance of background and trait choices was disappointing. despite the promise of allowing players to shape their character's background these choices had little to no meaningful impact on the experience. the perk system felt utterly lifeless, each and every node lacking vibrancy. one shining gem stood out in the first hours of the game, the mantis side quest. i was immediately engrossed in unraveling the web of secrets behind the mantis, this marked the first instance i experienced immersion in starfield. leaving the lair with meaningful rewards evolved the quest into a satisfying and worthwhile endeavor. where starfield begun to hit its stride was the second half. the story took a surprising turn, offering much needed depth and cause. although the npc development remained lamentable, i found myself caring about my own fate somewhat. the dramatic shift in narrative didn't catapult the experience into greatness by any means, however it offered a glimmer of what the game could have been. it managed to salvage what had initially been a lackluster subpar experience into something i felt compelled to see through to the end.

i intend to explore some side content i missed in ng+ and give the ship/outpost systems some time. other than that, ill see you again when the modding scene finishes what bethesda started.

oh also, the asking price of 120/170aud is fucking disgusting.

silent hill 2 doesn't hold back when it comes to exploring the depths of your fears and inner struggles. the twisted entities you encounter are chilling reminders of your own trauma and suppressed emotions. the game's world design is intentionally bewildering, leaving you in a constant state of disorientation. and of course, the unsettling fog. it's not just a visual effect; it mirrors the character's troubled minds, always obscuring your path and carrying the suspense. akira yamaoka's incredible score defines the tone of sh2. in serene locations, the music embraces a slow and dreamy atmosphere. but when you battle the nightmarish sequences, the overwhelming industrial noise will rattle your senses and tighten your muscles. no amount of preparation can ready you for the psychological journey that silent hill 2 takes you on. it's an unpredictable experience that will challenge your perception and transport you to the edge of madness.