mary_mustard
2011
safe to say the defining game of the 2010s. the lack of meaningful competitors or successors against its constant success speaks to its strength and innovative quality
2019
It feels like they made 1/3rd of a really good game and then ran out of money and pushed it out. I was led to believe it was some kind of fun critique of hypercaptialism, but it really isn't. There's no meaningful "labor" side vs "company" side (the company is so comically evil it makes no sense to side with them or take them seriously as an antagonist.) Likewise, I was led to believe it was a Fallout: New Vegas successor, wheras it's more of a baby of Mass Effect 1 and Borderlands. Worse, the game introduces a much more interesting conflict in the last five minutes as some kind of cliffhanger that makes you wonder what the point of doing the main plot even was.
Gameplay wise, RPG elements are purposeless as there are precious few non-combat options, forcing the player to spec into a high-dps machine gun build to get anything done. Environments are gorgeously designed but entirely sparce, leaving no real reason to explore or look around.
In short: You are asked once why you are doing the main quest, and one of the answers you can give is "I don't know."
Gameplay wise, RPG elements are purposeless as there are precious few non-combat options, forcing the player to spec into a high-dps machine gun build to get anything done. Environments are gorgeously designed but entirely sparce, leaving no real reason to explore or look around.
In short: You are asked once why you are doing the main quest, and one of the answers you can give is "I don't know."
Easily strongest AC title. Most to form, best to play, lean enough not to overstay its welcome. Only downhill from there.
Still kinda mid. Oh well.
2002
I'm pretty sure I played this for 100 hours as a kid and am only just now learning you're supposed to do racing in it
Elder Scrolls meets Alice in Wonderland. Inventive, colorful, dark, joyous. Worth playing Oblivion just to this one, honestly.
Any criticism I could make evaporates as I roll a boulder into a pile of exploding barrels, launching a Bokoblin into the air only for it to be shot by 5 electric arrows at once.
Reaches a plateau point a little too quickly for my taste, where the game stops being about development and exploration and more about increasingly elaborate enhancements to the limited space of your island that feel less and less rewarding. Regardless, the game is adorable, comforting, well designed and scored and sufficiently rewarding for less intensive levels of play. Recommend for chill sessions with your SO.
2009
Incredible classic fantasy tale. Omits Skyrim-style exploration based gameplay for more refreshingly classic problem-solution-advancement gameplay. Regions are varied and memorable, and unlike other open-worlders the regions encouraged committed play through their completion, adding to a sense of progression and accomplishment. Combat, a combo of turn-based and real time decision making is frustrating at times but clever enough as you learn how to synergize and execute the skills of your three-man party that ties into your story growth as a leader.
Character wise, one of the best of all time. The slow growth of your group from three disparate souls who all distrust each other to a band of rogues, warriors and mages united in common purpose is so satisfying. There is a genuine sense of growth through trauma to be had in your nighttime conversations with each. Highly, highly recommend.
Character wise, one of the best of all time. The slow growth of your group from three disparate souls who all distrust each other to a band of rogues, warriors and mages united in common purpose is so satisfying. There is a genuine sense of growth through trauma to be had in your nighttime conversations with each. Highly, highly recommend.
2007
What can be said. It's Halo. The story for this game admittedly makes no sense (as someone who read the friggin' novels) and is probably a racist Iraq-war allegory in hindsight but certainly makes you feel cool while playing it. Weapons and combat are satisfying and inventive, as is (or was?) multiplayer modes. A huge part of my upbringing.
1998
"They're waiting for you, Gordon. In the Test Chamberrrrrrrr." will ring in my head forever
2009
A great when experienced for the first time and an all-timer replaying with friends with so many mods the sky is purple and Ellis looks like Hatsune Miku
Really funny arcade ballgame. Balances actual play with amusing power ups and goofy spitball type antics. There's something really amusing about ten year old Pablo Sanchez blowing out kid-sized Babe Ruth in a ballpark next to a middle school.
This game is brain poison in the best way, encouraging hundreds of hours of arbitrary genocide and expansionism at the click of a distant button - much like history!
2012
When you breathe a sigh of relief as your gay, idiot son and heir is assassinated by an upstart Count (who you then proceed to execute along with his entire family in public-facing retribution) you know you've made it.