logoszeff
Just a great game, nothing more to it. Extremely satisfying gameplay combined with mech kino.
This review contains spoilers
Yakuza 8 is in essence the final sendoff to Kiryu. It combines everything which has made this franchise great and not so great. As such, Infinite Wealth manages to reach very high highs as well as falling to very familiar lows.
The gameplay is an improvement across the board compared to Y7. Even though I still prefer the real time combat of the other games, I am now quite happy with the turn-based combat RGG Studios has crafted.
The amount of content in the game is frankly overwhelming but in a good way. All the favourites are here as far as minigames go. The quality of these varies (Sujimon and Dondoko are a bore) but nevertheless there is more than enough to enjoy here. The sidestories are good and there is little to complain about in that regard.
The narrative in this game is hard to talk about without just concluding that it has the same strengths and weaknesses as most all games in the franchise. It's extremely well presented, intriguing as far as mysteries go and manages to balance a serious and playful tone. On the other hand it has ridiculous reveals/twists, some questionable voice-acting (Buraisu still confuses me), Ichiban is still the most infuriatingly dense mfer out there and the pacing can feel a little off sometimes.
I love this game because I love this franchise, it really is everything that makes this series so special for better and for worse.
But now it really is time to let Kiryu rest.
The gameplay is an improvement across the board compared to Y7. Even though I still prefer the real time combat of the other games, I am now quite happy with the turn-based combat RGG Studios has crafted.
The amount of content in the game is frankly overwhelming but in a good way. All the favourites are here as far as minigames go. The quality of these varies (Sujimon and Dondoko are a bore) but nevertheless there is more than enough to enjoy here. The sidestories are good and there is little to complain about in that regard.
The narrative in this game is hard to talk about without just concluding that it has the same strengths and weaknesses as most all games in the franchise. It's extremely well presented, intriguing as far as mysteries go and manages to balance a serious and playful tone. On the other hand it has ridiculous reveals/twists, some questionable voice-acting (Buraisu still confuses me), Ichiban is still the most infuriatingly dense mfer out there and the pacing can feel a little off sometimes.
I love this game because I love this franchise, it really is everything that makes this series so special for better and for worse.
But now it really is time to let Kiryu rest.
2023
Fuck it, with pineapples that cool I'll order hawaiian pizza any day of the week.
I went from thinking why did Y6.5 need to exist to being fairly glad it does by the end even though the price isn't justifiable.
The last chapter is RGG KINO.
The last chapter is RGG KINO.
2023
Starfield may have better combat than other Bethesda titles (which isn't saying much) but falls short almost everywhere else.
Despite having to clear a very low bar when it comes to story, Starfield manages to create an interesting premise and set up only to end up with a narrative as boring and forgettable as those of Fallout 4 or Skyrim. The writing is bland and stands out even more than with their previous titles given the other well written, large scale RPGs we've seen since then.
The game is still a design mess that will be "fixed" with mods. Worst of all, the only redeeming aspect of Bethesda games, namely their immersion and exploration, has been done away with. The constant loading screens, repeated locations, embarrassingly small settlements and lack of seamless travel make the seemingly huge worlds of Starfield feel so very small.
I fear what Elder Scrolls VI will look like given Bethesda's recent track record. Starfield is lifeless, soulless and just plain boring.
Despite having to clear a very low bar when it comes to story, Starfield manages to create an interesting premise and set up only to end up with a narrative as boring and forgettable as those of Fallout 4 or Skyrim. The writing is bland and stands out even more than with their previous titles given the other well written, large scale RPGs we've seen since then.
The game is still a design mess that will be "fixed" with mods. Worst of all, the only redeeming aspect of Bethesda games, namely their immersion and exploration, has been done away with. The constant loading screens, repeated locations, embarrassingly small settlements and lack of seamless travel make the seemingly huge worlds of Starfield feel so very small.
I fear what Elder Scrolls VI will look like given Bethesda's recent track record. Starfield is lifeless, soulless and just plain boring.
2023
When Herald of Darkness started playing I could sense Roger Ebert rolling in his grave.
2023
I may come to revise my score on subsequent playthroughs but I have been very positively surprised by Lies of P my first time round. Naturally, competing with Bloodborne is one of the hardest things you could ask of any game. Lies of P deliberately wears the influence on its sleeve and justifiably so, as this is one the best souls-likes out there at the moment.
The game nails so many core elements of what makes games like Bloodborne great. It has fun and rewarding combat, challenging bosses, a memorable setting with its own aesthetic and a great soundtrack. Most importantly of all, it manages to successfully put its own spin on a tried and true formula. In particular the manner in which the game allows for weapon/loadout variety without compromising individuality, akin to the trick weapons of BB is praiseworthy.
It may not surpass the game which inspired it, but Lies of P is a fantastic experience that once again shows FromSoftware's formula can thrive in the hands of others.
The game nails so many core elements of what makes games like Bloodborne great. It has fun and rewarding combat, challenging bosses, a memorable setting with its own aesthetic and a great soundtrack. Most importantly of all, it manages to successfully put its own spin on a tried and true formula. In particular the manner in which the game allows for weapon/loadout variety without compromising individuality, akin to the trick weapons of BB is praiseworthy.
It may not surpass the game which inspired it, but Lies of P is a fantastic experience that once again shows FromSoftware's formula can thrive in the hands of others.
Great expansion, but I was forced to become fr*nch, so I can't quite give it 5 stars.
2023
Aside from the strange choice to go for anime cutscenes over the more stylistically fitting ones from the first game and a strange soft-lock incident on one boss, Blasphemous 2 is everything I expected from a sequel.
A superb follow up with greater weapon variety and better exploration/platforming. Not to mention another incredible achievement in character and backdrop art as well as another fantastic soundtrack.
A superb follow up with greater weapon variety and better exploration/platforming. Not to mention another incredible achievement in character and backdrop art as well as another fantastic soundtrack.
2020
There's a lot to say about this game, simply because of its scale. It's easily the most ambitious CRPG out there and I will definitely be doing another playthrough to see what I missed on my first.
The game looks fantastic and I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would going in. That being said, the writing is inconsistent in quality, especially for the companions, where many just amount to the annoying marvel-quip type. The game in general is also too horny, with companions throwing themselves at the player from the very start in tandem with questionable "romance" dialogue. Thankfully the companion quests themselves are for the most part intriguing and well realised.
A final criticism is the character creator. It is woefully stripped down and genuinely baffling that the devs let you customise most everything except your character's face.
Overall, my opinion on the game is still positive, despite the issues listed above. It's impressive in its ambition, varied in its setting and encounter variety and will no doubt be more fun in a co-op or full party session. Hopefully the success of BG3 inspires greater interest in CRPGs and more games like it (though ideally not ones based off 5e).
The game looks fantastic and I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would going in. That being said, the writing is inconsistent in quality, especially for the companions, where many just amount to the annoying marvel-quip type. The game in general is also too horny, with companions throwing themselves at the player from the very start in tandem with questionable "romance" dialogue. Thankfully the companion quests themselves are for the most part intriguing and well realised.
A final criticism is the character creator. It is woefully stripped down and genuinely baffling that the devs let you customise most everything except your character's face.
Overall, my opinion on the game is still positive, despite the issues listed above. It's impressive in its ambition, varied in its setting and encounter variety and will no doubt be more fun in a co-op or full party session. Hopefully the success of BG3 inspires greater interest in CRPGs and more games like it (though ideally not ones based off 5e).
2021
SOVL, KINO, BASED ETC.
It's crazy what living in Finland will do to a mf.
It's crazy what living in Finland will do to a mf.
Pretty skyboxes but dear god that dialogue...
2023
RE4 Remake is about as good a job as one can expect a remake to do. Even though the original didn't need a remake and this game doesn't have the same goofy charm, it is nonetheless a very good experience.
The fact that you have to pay for a soundtrack swap to get the classic title screen "Resident Evil 4" line is an unforgivable crime though Capcom.
The fact that you have to pay for a soundtrack swap to get the classic title screen "Resident Evil 4" line is an unforgivable crime though Capcom.
2023
So let me get this straight, I just wasted 100 million dollars and sank an entire studio, all with my freaking mind!?!?
Wo Long had the impossible task of living up to both Sekiro and Nioh 2 and inevitably failed to reach the level of either. That being said, it's still a really fun game.
The combat is the clear standout of Wo Long, marrying a Sekiro style deflect to the systems and customisation of Nioh 2, albeit a stripped down version of the latter. The gameplay is really only held back by two things. Firstly, the low enemy variety, with the game running out of new enemies at about the halfway point. The other issue is that of balancing, simply put the game is too easy (the bosses in particular) and it puts a damper on the enjoyment since there is no real challenge. Nevertheless, being able to deflect every attack in the game is incredibly rewarding and this concept really carries the enjoyment all the way through to the ending and NG+.
Visually it's a step back from Nioh 2, no idea why they insist on having so many particle effects and so much hair on the enemies. The whole game just ends up looking too visually noisy. The story is forgettable and that's even with Chinese VA (the English VA is awful).
If you like Sekiro or Nioh then there is a lot to enjoy here. Hopefully the DLC will add a bunch more enemies and address the lack of difficulty.
The combat is the clear standout of Wo Long, marrying a Sekiro style deflect to the systems and customisation of Nioh 2, albeit a stripped down version of the latter. The gameplay is really only held back by two things. Firstly, the low enemy variety, with the game running out of new enemies at about the halfway point. The other issue is that of balancing, simply put the game is too easy (the bosses in particular) and it puts a damper on the enjoyment since there is no real challenge. Nevertheless, being able to deflect every attack in the game is incredibly rewarding and this concept really carries the enjoyment all the way through to the ending and NG+.
Visually it's a step back from Nioh 2, no idea why they insist on having so many particle effects and so much hair on the enemies. The whole game just ends up looking too visually noisy. The story is forgettable and that's even with Chinese VA (the English VA is awful).
If you like Sekiro or Nioh then there is a lot to enjoy here. Hopefully the DLC will add a bunch more enemies and address the lack of difficulty.