sairam71
2012
This game is a masterpiece in story telling. I started to wonder at many points in this game is this game actually better than the last of us!?! I believe it is. Its so focused on the story and cuts out most fluff. Even the exploration pieces are quick and every interaction point adds to the story or the flavor. I loved the story, the music, the characters, the hard choices, I cannot think of one think I wish was different. I was gripped as if I was watching a HBO TV show or watching Breaking Bad! This game ALMOST made me cry which is saying a lot. What a beautiful game. I am someone who does not like reading a lot so, this game in this format is a blessing! Play it now!
🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 12h (includes season 1 + 400 DLC)
🏆Trophy completion - 100% - easy just play the game and most are story unmissable. 400 DLC does have some non story trophies but easy to revisit with chapter select, but do look them up before hand.
🤬Difficulty - haha... this is an interesting one. :) I would say its difficult because of the choices you have to make not the game play. I agonized over so many decisions only to find out time running out to make a selection. This game has probably the toughest choices I had to make in any game. They nailed it.
🌄Graphics – Good. Its from previous generation so nothing mind blowing but i liked the comic booky feel.
🌦 Atmosphere/Music – Amazing score. Amazing atmosphere. Every chapter in the journey has you meeting interesting characters and going through interesting story beats. I really felt immersed in this world and could understand the motivations of everyone. Here I would give last of us a 1 up on music and atmosphere. But still amazing here.
📚 Main Story / Characters – I loved the story. Its one of the best stories of any media. I really liked seeing each person's motivation and take on what is going on. The fine balance between trust and mistrust, choice and no choice. I really liked most of the characters, but some did not have enough screen time, which is fine. I already was emotionally invested in so many of them. The main characters of Lee & Clem are amazing individuals and amazing together. Clem trying to make sense of this fucked up world, Lee doing his best balancing between a brute that has to protect her and also trying to appeal to her soft side. So good!!
🤺 Combat – It boils down to QTime events, but i felt the sensitivity was too high or not enough time was given to aim your gun, which did cause some unncessary deaths. But its fine, they don't come up often. I also disliked that the cursor does not stay where you left it between QTime events, you keep having to aim even if you previously were there before. It does add to the tension however.
🧭 Side Activities / Exploration – I found engaged in pressing all the interactable. I think they all had good color to add to the story. I liked talking to each person and getting their thoughts on things. Definitely absorb everything you can and TAKE YOUR TIME with this game!
🚗 Movement/Physics – fine.
📣 Voice acting – Amazing performances with depth of emotion! The height of the voice acting is in the last chapter of the game. I won't spoil it.
🥇 Best thing about the game - Everything!
👎 Worst thing about the game - None. Again saying a lot as if you have followed any of my reviews, you know I am super critical and picky.
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🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 12h (includes season 1 + 400 DLC)
🏆Trophy completion - 100% - easy just play the game and most are story unmissable. 400 DLC does have some non story trophies but easy to revisit with chapter select, but do look them up before hand.
🤬Difficulty - haha... this is an interesting one. :) I would say its difficult because of the choices you have to make not the game play. I agonized over so many decisions only to find out time running out to make a selection. This game has probably the toughest choices I had to make in any game. They nailed it.
🌄Graphics – Good. Its from previous generation so nothing mind blowing but i liked the comic booky feel.
🌦 Atmosphere/Music – Amazing score. Amazing atmosphere. Every chapter in the journey has you meeting interesting characters and going through interesting story beats. I really felt immersed in this world and could understand the motivations of everyone. Here I would give last of us a 1 up on music and atmosphere. But still amazing here.
📚 Main Story / Characters – I loved the story. Its one of the best stories of any media. I really liked seeing each person's motivation and take on what is going on. The fine balance between trust and mistrust, choice and no choice. I really liked most of the characters, but some did not have enough screen time, which is fine. I already was emotionally invested in so many of them. The main characters of Lee & Clem are amazing individuals and amazing together. Clem trying to make sense of this fucked up world, Lee doing his best balancing between a brute that has to protect her and also trying to appeal to her soft side. So good!!
🤺 Combat – It boils down to QTime events, but i felt the sensitivity was too high or not enough time was given to aim your gun, which did cause some unncessary deaths. But its fine, they don't come up often. I also disliked that the cursor does not stay where you left it between QTime events, you keep having to aim even if you previously were there before. It does add to the tension however.
🧭 Side Activities / Exploration – I found engaged in pressing all the interactable. I think they all had good color to add to the story. I liked talking to each person and getting their thoughts on things. Definitely absorb everything you can and TAKE YOUR TIME with this game!
🚗 Movement/Physics – fine.
📣 Voice acting – Amazing performances with depth of emotion! The height of the voice acting is in the last chapter of the game. I won't spoil it.
🥇 Best thing about the game - Everything!
👎 Worst thing about the game - None. Again saying a lot as if you have followed any of my reviews, you know I am super critical and picky.
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2016
If there was ever a game that exemplifies style over substance, for me its this game. It has insane level visuals and class, but if they only spent half that time on story, narration, combat, this could have been a stellar game. It had all the promise of a cool sci-fi game with a very cool story, but doesn't deliver at all. Overall its a completely skippable game, maybe play 1 act to experience the visuals. Normally I abandon low scoring games but this game I did finish, as it was always pulling me back with its visuals, and bearable story.
🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 12.5h
🏆Trophy completion - 66% - not too hard, i don't recommend it unless you LOVED the game. The game has a fair bit of collectibles that are easy to get to with chapter select. It has a set of combat trophies that aren't too hard to grind. The last level on hard is pretty hard, you will definitely have to try it at least 5-10 times, especially with a controller which isn't my forte to aim with. Game can be played once on hard and cleaned up on easy.
🤬Difficulty - I played on hard. The game even on hard difficulty is not hard (you will die for sure) if you are familiar with shooters. The last level on hard I would rate it to be maybe ultra-hard. this is mainly because its poorly designed. the boss pretty much once shots you with grenades and the grenade cues pretty much mix into the environment or the rumble of shooting and its very very easy to miss and instantly die.
🌄Graphics – Insane level graphics and style! Super unique looking game. Unfortunately it could not save this game. Some of the best facial and motion capture I have seen in any game.
🌦 Atmosphere/Music – Its fine. The typical adrenaline pumping music in firefights. I loved the gun sounds!
📚 Main Story / Characters – I didn't like any of the characters or the story or the story telling and narration. I commend them for mixing extremely well directed and shot live action + mo cap cut scenes. The insane production quality and really good acting is what kept me going. Time travel stories are hard to do and its even harder to do in a video game. The story is very simple, but told in such a convoluted way, and the conclusion of the story is lame. The game also intersperses, the protagonist interviewing someone, with his own thoughts, and with radio chatter, and self talk. Its absolutely confusing who is saying what and why. Some characters in the live action video never show up in the game. Its very hard to follow their journey through time and events. Really just a gigantic mess.
The game has these things called stutters, meaning the game play just pauses and only your character can move, sometimes he can use his powers sometimes he cant.... They never do a good job explaining when they happen and don't and most of the time you are basically left feeling they use it more a story device to make the combat harder and move the story along or slow it down.
🤺 Combat – no variety. Its either shotgun or semi-automatic with some time powers thrown in. Sometimes the enemies and snipers are sooooo far away, there is no way to close distance apart from running and wishing to god you don't die in 2 hits. it got boring very quick. it reminded me of Uncharted 1 combat minus the special powers. Could give us some grenades, sniper rifles, at least? opponents use them!
The guns are extremely inaccurate!
🧭 Side Activities / Exploration – typical collect athon. Apart from reading those notes you collect, and unlocking things to upgrade your powers which does help in hard mode, I didn't find any reason to go out of my way. Can be beaten on hard without any upgrades which is pretty much how my char was.
🚗 Movement/Physics – fine.
📣 Voice acting – Amazing performances!
🥇 Best thing about the game - The visuals and style of the game. Never seen anything like it!
👎 Worst thing about the game - Apart from visuals nothing redeeming for me about the game.
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🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 12.5h
🏆Trophy completion - 66% - not too hard, i don't recommend it unless you LOVED the game. The game has a fair bit of collectibles that are easy to get to with chapter select. It has a set of combat trophies that aren't too hard to grind. The last level on hard is pretty hard, you will definitely have to try it at least 5-10 times, especially with a controller which isn't my forte to aim with. Game can be played once on hard and cleaned up on easy.
🤬Difficulty - I played on hard. The game even on hard difficulty is not hard (you will die for sure) if you are familiar with shooters. The last level on hard I would rate it to be maybe ultra-hard. this is mainly because its poorly designed. the boss pretty much once shots you with grenades and the grenade cues pretty much mix into the environment or the rumble of shooting and its very very easy to miss and instantly die.
🌄Graphics – Insane level graphics and style! Super unique looking game. Unfortunately it could not save this game. Some of the best facial and motion capture I have seen in any game.
🌦 Atmosphere/Music – Its fine. The typical adrenaline pumping music in firefights. I loved the gun sounds!
📚 Main Story / Characters – I didn't like any of the characters or the story or the story telling and narration. I commend them for mixing extremely well directed and shot live action + mo cap cut scenes. The insane production quality and really good acting is what kept me going. Time travel stories are hard to do and its even harder to do in a video game. The story is very simple, but told in such a convoluted way, and the conclusion of the story is lame. The game also intersperses, the protagonist interviewing someone, with his own thoughts, and with radio chatter, and self talk. Its absolutely confusing who is saying what and why. Some characters in the live action video never show up in the game. Its very hard to follow their journey through time and events. Really just a gigantic mess.
The game has these things called stutters, meaning the game play just pauses and only your character can move, sometimes he can use his powers sometimes he cant.... They never do a good job explaining when they happen and don't and most of the time you are basically left feeling they use it more a story device to make the combat harder and move the story along or slow it down.
🤺 Combat – no variety. Its either shotgun or semi-automatic with some time powers thrown in. Sometimes the enemies and snipers are sooooo far away, there is no way to close distance apart from running and wishing to god you don't die in 2 hits. it got boring very quick. it reminded me of Uncharted 1 combat minus the special powers. Could give us some grenades, sniper rifles, at least? opponents use them!
The guns are extremely inaccurate!
🧭 Side Activities / Exploration – typical collect athon. Apart from reading those notes you collect, and unlocking things to upgrade your powers which does help in hard mode, I didn't find any reason to go out of my way. Can be beaten on hard without any upgrades which is pretty much how my char was.
🚗 Movement/Physics – fine.
📣 Voice acting – Amazing performances!
🥇 Best thing about the game - The visuals and style of the game. Never seen anything like it!
👎 Worst thing about the game - Apart from visuals nothing redeeming for me about the game.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]
2015
Playtime: 3h
Completion: 100% (easy, just do it)
Platform: Xbox
I was definitely intrigued by the story and really enjoyed the first 30 minutes of searching through things and trying to piece together what happened. However, the more I uncovered about what was going on the more I realized, this story really has very little substance. Infact the main char in this game is just outright dumb. I think any 10 year old would have the common sense to not do the things she is doing in these interviews with the police. Also the big reveal you find out, left me scratching my head; in what society that would even be possible? Its completely unrealistic and plot hole ridden. What started off as a really interesting mystery game ended in a this is dumb, unbelievable story.
I enjoyed how the story is told here even if the story itself was bleh. I was able to get through and relatively liked it, it so am giving it 3 stars.
Completion: 100% (easy, just do it)
Platform: Xbox
I was definitely intrigued by the story and really enjoyed the first 30 minutes of searching through things and trying to piece together what happened. However, the more I uncovered about what was going on the more I realized, this story really has very little substance. Infact the main char in this game is just outright dumb. I think any 10 year old would have the common sense to not do the things she is doing in these interviews with the police. Also the big reveal you find out, left me scratching my head; in what society that would even be possible? Its completely unrealistic and plot hole ridden. What started off as a really interesting mystery game ended in a this is dumb, unbelievable story.
I enjoyed how the story is told here even if the story itself was bleh. I was able to get through and relatively liked it, it so am giving it 3 stars.
Playtime: 5h
Completion: 69% (most from playing the game. I have never been a fan of classic GOW platinums because they reduce the reaction times for QT events and sometimes its just frustrating to keep missing things by a few 100ms. I also played on PS Now, so I think my internet lag contributes to some of this.)
Platform: PS5 + PS Now. Overall very responsive. Played on normal difficulty.
In my quest to play all the classic series of GOW, it was time to hit the expansions. This is by far the worst gow game and even for a die hard fan like me it was a just a very avg/fair game. They removed everything that reminds me of what a GOW game is and delivered this. Apart from Kratos, I couldn't find anything GOW about this game. Where is the epic music, the epic battles, the cutscenes, the camera angles, the sense of scope? The story is all over the place and also doesn't add anything to the actual canon.
Being on PSP the graphics were fairly poor as well so that further took me out of the game too.
Overall its an ok game play it if your a fan otherwise skip it. Its just a very generic hack and slash game and they never sat down to say what is the DNA of a GOW game and how do we bring that here. It feels like they told some studio make a hack and slash game and put Kratos in it. And that's what you get. Very average middle of the road game with no risks or real creativity.
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Completion: 69% (most from playing the game. I have never been a fan of classic GOW platinums because they reduce the reaction times for QT events and sometimes its just frustrating to keep missing things by a few 100ms. I also played on PS Now, so I think my internet lag contributes to some of this.)
Platform: PS5 + PS Now. Overall very responsive. Played on normal difficulty.
In my quest to play all the classic series of GOW, it was time to hit the expansions. This is by far the worst gow game and even for a die hard fan like me it was a just a very avg/fair game. They removed everything that reminds me of what a GOW game is and delivered this. Apart from Kratos, I couldn't find anything GOW about this game. Where is the epic music, the epic battles, the cutscenes, the camera angles, the sense of scope? The story is all over the place and also doesn't add anything to the actual canon.
Being on PSP the graphics were fairly poor as well so that further took me out of the game too.
Overall its an ok game play it if your a fan otherwise skip it. Its just a very generic hack and slash game and they never sat down to say what is the DNA of a GOW game and how do we bring that here. It feels like they told some studio make a hack and slash game and put Kratos in it. And that's what you get. Very average middle of the road game with no risks or real creativity.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]
Playtime: 5.5h
Trophy Completion: 67% (most from playing the game. I have never been a fan of classic GOW platinums because they reduce the reaction times for QT events and sometimes its just frustrating to keep missing things by a few 100ms. I also played on PS Now, so I think my internet lag contributes to some of this.)
Platform: PS5 + PS Now. Overall very responsive. Played on normal difficulty.
This game is a little better than Chains of olympus but worse than Ascension, and overall in tier 2 of the gow series. However I enjoyed this game. They overall do a lot more with combat, movement, epicness than chains of olympus but it reaches no where close to the adrenaline pumping badass games that gow 2,3 are.
The game does have one very memorable battle in the middle, that reminds me of what I wanted from a god of war game, but is straightforward outside of that. I liked the tweaks on combat they made introducing you to new weapons, grapple hook, fire buffing your weapons etc. So there was definitely things here to play with outside of pressing X,X,Y.
The story also brings a little bit of emotional touch, which of course felt fully made up for this game. They do a 180 on something you are lead to believe is truth, just to make this game, and of course you know what gow 3 is about so you already know how this will end, and that everything in this game is irrelevant to the canon.
I am always happy to play a GOW game being a huge fan so glad I played it. It wasn't horrible thankfully but it also didn't blow me away. I enjoyed my 5h with it and I think you will too.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]
Trophy Completion: 67% (most from playing the game. I have never been a fan of classic GOW platinums because they reduce the reaction times for QT events and sometimes its just frustrating to keep missing things by a few 100ms. I also played on PS Now, so I think my internet lag contributes to some of this.)
Platform: PS5 + PS Now. Overall very responsive. Played on normal difficulty.
This game is a little better than Chains of olympus but worse than Ascension, and overall in tier 2 of the gow series. However I enjoyed this game. They overall do a lot more with combat, movement, epicness than chains of olympus but it reaches no where close to the adrenaline pumping badass games that gow 2,3 are.
The game does have one very memorable battle in the middle, that reminds me of what I wanted from a god of war game, but is straightforward outside of that. I liked the tweaks on combat they made introducing you to new weapons, grapple hook, fire buffing your weapons etc. So there was definitely things here to play with outside of pressing X,X,Y.
The story also brings a little bit of emotional touch, which of course felt fully made up for this game. They do a 180 on something you are lead to believe is truth, just to make this game, and of course you know what gow 3 is about so you already know how this will end, and that everything in this game is irrelevant to the canon.
I am always happy to play a GOW game being a huge fan so glad I played it. It wasn't horrible thankfully but it also didn't blow me away. I enjoyed my 5h with it and I think you will too.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]
This is a fine game and at times its pretty good but at times very disengaging. I gave the first game a 5 rating and this one a 3 so its a HUGE step down. The main reasons being this game lacks the emotional connection that lee and clem had that propelled 1st game. Here most of the conflict is adults bickering for no reason, overly distrusting each other, and clem a 13 year old telling them to stop over and over again, clem being treated like a full grown adult and being constantly put in harms way by "Adults" so you have some game play, people dying left and right, many many double crosses, new chars coming and going with no chance to connect with them. This game has some emotional touch here and there but its largely missing compared to 1. This is focusing very much on giving you the feels through bickering and killing chars. Well if you don't care much about the chars, does it matter if they die. :) I thought chapter 3 and the ending of the game were the best. Rest i wanted to speed through.
🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 9h
🏆Trophy completion - 100% - easy just play the game and most are story unmissable.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]
🎮 Platform: Xbox
⌚ Time to finish - 9h
🏆Trophy completion - 100% - easy just play the game and most are story unmissable.
[ if you liked the review throw me a like! ❤️ ]