mynameisfatmike
2021
Chivalry 2 is a fantastic sequel to the original. It is loaded with variety but still delivers the wacky and brutal insanity that you came to the original for. The combat feels very balanced; it is accessible and fun even when you are just learning, but has a massive skill ceiling and players are rewarded for their time spent mastering the mechanics.
There is a finely tuned and technically nuanced game here that impresses me with its controls but lacks in "content". I have a fondness for the original Super Mario Strikers and while this game can definitely provide the thrills, the structure and replayablility leaves a bit to be desired. I appreciate that it leaned into what it does well, though I wish there was a bit more to do on the single player side of things
Game was riddled with technical issues on launch, may revisit again in the future
A metal gear solid-ass video game that's equal parts ridiculous and charming
2023
A masterpiece of creativity and expression in the medium of video games. It is not a perfect game but it is a wildly creative and utterly unique experience that earns every minute of the time it asks of the player. One of the best games I have ever played.
2010
Alan Wake is a creative and endearing action game that lands it's big moments but tends to overstay its welcome with repetitive combat sequences that become merely obstacles to slow your traversal to the next story beat
2021
Back 4 Blood can be a very fun time with the right company, but lacks the special sauce that made Left 4 Dead the timeless classic that it became
2022
FIFA 23 sent the franchise out with a bang as the final entry with the FIFA name before the big rebrand as EA Sports FC. As is the same with every year, updated rosters, minor upgrades in graphical fidelity and motion capture underscore the big bullet point features on the back of the box; this year however packed a lot of punch. There were many subtle adjustments to the gameplay that brought back a very "video-gamey" feel to the matches. There is a randomness to the way the ball moves that injects some much needed variety to the game that largely feels the same from year to year. The introduction of female players/clubs is a nice touch to capture the massive growth of the women's game in recent years, and the world cup modes as a free update were a huge addition to the value of the game. A highlight year in the cash cow franchise that is not known for taking big risks with the beautiful game
2022
A complete and utter masterpiece, delivering design improvements, streamlined gameplay, and perhaps the best story-telling the medium of Video Games can offer.
2021
After playing this one through the year of its release cycle, experiencing some minor incremental updates to the gameplay; the value of the game as a reference from the previous year is not great, but on its own as the premier soccer franchise, it still does what it needs to
An unfortunate technical disaster of a campaign on PC that undermines what would otherwise be a pretty ok Call of Duty entry. There's some really neat ideas they play around with but sadly the execution is not there. What I hoped to be another Infinity Ward step forward for the series ended up to be a massive disappointment compared to the previous Modern Warfare remake
2003
The game where every level in the 2nd half of the game feels like the last level of a game
2020
An exquisite puzzle and exploration game dripping with charm. The whimsical art, the gorgeous music, the clever puzzles, and the thoughtful story all come together in a package that is a great experience.
Miles Morales is a spectacular refinement on the formula established by the previous Spiderman entry. It streamlines many elements that made Spiderman a bit of a slog in the latter half, and the characterization of Miles and his relationships are excellent. Some of the emotional beats don't quite land but none of that detracts from what is an otherwise exceptional game
1996
Following the recent Bethesda remaster release I figured I owed this legendary title another play-through to which I can say, it is as good as it ever was, and more. The remaster is fantastic, and is accessible to the masses on a wide variety of platforms. There is never a bad time to get back into Quake