FFO: Darkest Dungeon, Turn-Based Battles (namely Suikoden), History

If you're into Darkest Dungeon and history you should definitely try this. Even if you're not that into the gameplay, I think it's worth playing for the unique atmosphere it has. Bleak but hopeful, there's a sad humanism in meeting these interesting characters and learning more about them while fighting with them. As you go on, resources dwindle, districts fall, until ultimately the uprising is violently put down. There's a real feeling expressed through the gameplay of trying to find the strength to fight on while the world crumbles around you no matter how hard you fight to stop it.

While this makes one playthrough very emotionally impactful, the necessary slog and difficulty of the combat and resource management makes me very hesitant to do multiple campaigns the way people would for other games in the genre. I also recommend playing on easy your first time. If you have to keep starting over, you're probably going to quit this game and never make it to the end. While you certainly do lose a little something by playing on easy- for example I only lost one person by the end, and I was absolutely destroying the nazis in one turn- just fuckin one-shot sniping them and nuking them with molotovs which was pretty satisfying in its own way. You'd have a much more stronger feel for the loss and attrition playing on normal, but as I said, you're just probably never going to make it. That's part of the game, but this is a game that's worth seeing to the end. Drop it to easy before giving up, that's all I ask.

While I found the survival horror gameplay mechanics really well-done, I didn't find them satisfying in their own right without an intriguing plot and setting to push me forward. I didn't really have much drive to keep on and see what happens next. The standard survival horror puzzles and inventory management felt more like a chore I wanted to avoid than a source of tension and engagement. This isn't a problem I had with any of the early RE games (and this is probably the best RE1 worship game out there). I know I'm in the minority on this, and most people found the setting, characters, and plot very interesting, so I plan to give it another shot one day, see if it clicks. Also worth mentioning the game has a really great look and aesthetic sense. Definitely distinctive enough to be worth noting as a positive in the game's favor.

My controversial opinion about this game is that it would have been better to go all in on a heavily scripted Uncharted 10-20 hour game. There are two games here: the aforementioned and a post-Zelda style adventure / puzzle game that made up a larger chunk of God of War (2018)'s gameplay. The strange thing is I liked the adventuring in 2018. Here, it did very little for me. I don't think it's because it was more poorly designed (though its possible), but because this games high points are SO high, that when you go back down to average gameplay it feels like utter drudgery.

Sure, if you stripped out so much combat, exploring, collectibles, puzzles, you would have something much closer to a movie than a game. But they created a movie that's far more compelling than the game. There are so many exhilarating memorable moments that made this game a blast to play (or watch), while I'll be remembering very little of the exploring.

It feels strange to say, because the exploring and combat wasn't bad. It wasn't amazing, but it was good. Above average, for sure. Just compared to some of the strongest performances we've ever seen in a game, it feels...dated, trite. Like two separate aspects of the game that are both good in their own right, but when you put them together they drag the entire project down rather than complement each other.

This review seems more negative than it is. God of War Ragnarok is a great game. Everyone knows it. Still, its hard not to notice that its simultaneously the future of AAA games and just more of the same.

Also, I've gotta say, there are some pretty funny moments, but they went a little overboard on the marvel humor.

You're probably already expecting this, but its a very simple and jank game. There's nothing that cool about it. The redeeming feature that elevates it from 1/5 to 2/5 is that after a while the mindless shooting and dodging can lull your brain into a kind of a drooling trance state. Though that's probably bad for your brain anyway. Even for free on gamepass, you'll want to put your time into Doom Eternal, Prodeus, Wolfenstein, Titanfall. If you're looking for a spectacle fighter over a shooter, you certainly won't find it with this game either. Go play DMC5.

P.S. Also I want to say- strictly because it's funny- that this game is very close to, and a huge step down from, Dirge of Cerberus (2006).

This is a five star review, but this isn't a perfect game. It definitely has flaws. However, I give it 5 stars because for fans of JRPGs, it provides that elusive nostalgic high that we play so many of these mediocre games to chase. That first game you fell in love with: for me it was FFX, for you maybe FFVII, Suikoden 2, Persona 3, Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, or Dragon Quest 8. Whatever it is, there's a distinctive feeling it gave you as a kid, that you continue playing JRPGs trying to rekindle. Most of the time, you are let down. You may like the combat system, or a few characters, or find the plot decent enough, but usually it just doesn't get there. You might even hit a point where you wonder if a JPRG will make you feel that way again. You're just too old now. These stories are too simple. It's just nostalgia. I thought I had reached that point, but this game proved me wrong.

At face value, the story isn't that exceptional. Aside from one or two of the villains, most of them feel painfully childish- like power rangers monster of the week throwaways. The overarching plot itself is good and engaging, but doesn't stand out among standard JRPG fare. What DOES stand out is what it MEANS, what this story represents, its themes. Time, regret, love, fear, what it means to be alive even if it's painful. THAT is extremely well-done, and emotionally moving. The main cast of characters (and the 20+ heroes that join your party) are my favorite party in a JRPG I've played since I was a kid- maybe my favorite ever, I'll have to think on that. They don't feel like a collection of anime tropes and established archetypal cliches, they feel like human beings. They all have flaws, and growth, and individual arcs. The way they interact with each other over the course of the game- going from hate, to distrust, to begrudging neutrality, and so on, eventually to intimate friendship and love; watching these characters go from enemies to inseparable companions is genuinely touching, especially in the backdrop of a hostile militarized world that makes you question if its even worth fighting for, if there's anything worth salvaging. So, while admittedly, this is a typical JRPG story about a group of friends challenging a corrupt world order in order to save the ones they care about, it is told in such a beautiful and human way, it towers above any JRPG I have played in a long time. If you are a fan of the genre, this is a must-play. This game belongs in the canon of best JRPGs of all time.

TL;DR: Amazing characters, beautiful story. Must-play for JRPG fans. Steer clear if you don't like the genre. It's not for you. Expect run-time of 100 hours+, but its a world you're going to want to keep exploring and will feel sad to leave.

When I started replaying this game, I was impressed by how good it was. I couldn't figure out why I put it down. The start was so strong, already exploring mature themes with interesting writing. These characters talking about time and regret and what could've been hit so much harder as an adult who can feel life rapidly passing me by. Ironically, that feeling is what would push me towards putting it down. The game starts so strong and then just meanders for hours and hours and hours. It's charming, with unique characters and a beautiful world. The soundtrack will remain one of the greatest of all time. I can totally understand why it's one of the best games to some people. It's just so unrefined. There is A LOT of chaff you have to chew through to get to the cream of the crop. For me, it just wasn't worth it. I couldn't justify what felt like a waste of time with not enough payoff.

I was a bit surprised by how good this one is. The amount of unique scenarios you can reach in the mid to late game by combinations of multiple small, niche decisions in the early game is really impressive. I got a death scene for a major character that only 3% of people saw, which required me making two unorthodox choices in previous flashbacks (relating to two different characters) and then failing multiple quicktime events intentionally. If you're into stuff like that, you've gotta check this game out.

Beyond that, the writing and characters are pretty good. Not amazing, but not offensively bad. I'd definitely say better than quantic dream and supermassive.

The art style is hard to get used to. I found it pretty funny at first, I couldn't stop thinking of Tom Goes To The Mayor. I did get used to it. It's not as bad as it looks at first. Still, for some players, they'll never get used to it and it'll always be a turnoff.

The game is pretty short, but I consider that a plus. I've already beat it twice, which I never do for narrative games because I don't want to run another 10 hour campaign after finishing one and view a lot of redundant content I've already seen. I'm already thinking about different routes I can take for my third playthrough.

Really great gameplay. Works so well, I'm surprised this isn't a subgenre that's already emerged. If you're into the quirks of FPS movement (rocket jumping, bunny hopping, exploiting momentum), this is a must-play. Music is amazing, huge plus. The dialogue and story is a little weak but its ok, its not really what the game's about. Its easy to ignore and skip through if it's not your thing. Some people will like the characters and find it humorous. Despite rolling my eyes at most of it (cough Violet cough), I did find things funny or endearing once in a while. Yellow's exaggerated bro persona and Mikey's scenes were something I would look forward to between missions. Steve Blum voice-acting is a nice cherry on top.

Fuck dude, this fuckin sucks. I love Suikoden, and I know this is just an introductory game before the REAL, BIG game. But the writing is so mediocre, I'm worried about the real Eiyuden. Playing this is like being in purgatory. It's like a fake mobile game. Total slog. Total waste of time. Honestly, this is the type of game that stumps me. How was it made? I guess the playtesters are just afraid to say "this fucking sucks and is boring as hell." You're probably wondering why this has 1.5 stars instead of 0.5. Well, there's probably some weirdos out there who will find the characters, story, or world charming or nostalgic. There's definitely much better stuff they could play, but if you like it, you like it.