sixstrumajen
This review contains spoilers
Hellblade is by far one of the best depictions of psychosis and mental health in general. It doesn't glamorize or censor some of the most difficult aspects of Senua's condition, and doesn't end suggesting that she should be "cured" or "fixed".
However, the story seems to think itself a bit more profound than it actually is. I found myself disappointed at the ending, confused as to why the game was going with what I felt like was far too obvious and shallow of a message. The exploration of Senua's trauma through the artistic lens of the Norse underworld was far more interesting of a journey than the main narrative thread. I found myself looking up an explanation of the ending because I was sure I had missed something, but no, the message of "letting go of grief to heal and move forward" really is the culmination of the story.
Props must be given to the artistic team though, as the style and visual appeal of Hellblade is fantastic. The enemies, bosses, and environments take fabulous inspiration from both Norse and Celtic mythology and the hallucination visuals as well as the inclusion of a gang of voices help really involve the player in the feelings Senua experiences during the worst of her psychosis. The combat is fine, it serves its purpose but it's not necessarily a stand out or anything particularly unique. The enemies are pretty repetitive and the bosses are okay, but really the combat seems there just to be used as part of the metaphor.
I would recommend going into this game not with the intention of playing a fleshed out, gritty, combat-focused RPG but rather understanding that this is an art piece that won't take a lot of play to finish
However, the story seems to think itself a bit more profound than it actually is. I found myself disappointed at the ending, confused as to why the game was going with what I felt like was far too obvious and shallow of a message. The exploration of Senua's trauma through the artistic lens of the Norse underworld was far more interesting of a journey than the main narrative thread. I found myself looking up an explanation of the ending because I was sure I had missed something, but no, the message of "letting go of grief to heal and move forward" really is the culmination of the story.
Props must be given to the artistic team though, as the style and visual appeal of Hellblade is fantastic. The enemies, bosses, and environments take fabulous inspiration from both Norse and Celtic mythology and the hallucination visuals as well as the inclusion of a gang of voices help really involve the player in the feelings Senua experiences during the worst of her psychosis. The combat is fine, it serves its purpose but it's not necessarily a stand out or anything particularly unique. The enemies are pretty repetitive and the bosses are okay, but really the combat seems there just to be used as part of the metaphor.
I would recommend going into this game not with the intention of playing a fleshed out, gritty, combat-focused RPG but rather understanding that this is an art piece that won't take a lot of play to finish
2004
The nostalgia is strong here
Oblivion is one of the only games I've ever played that I can faithfully say was ahead of its time. Amazingly, it's still aged surprisingly well. While some of the systems such as combat and inventory management don't quite feel as tight and modern as more recent Bethesda entries, the main story still holds up as one of the best in the Elder Scrolls franchise. Additionally, the DLC content rivals that of modern DLCs in length and diversity of content. The bugs, goofs, and exploits have become almost legendary at this point and often make the game unintentionally hilarious and entertaining. In 2024 Oblivion is absolutely still worth picking up and experiencing.
2019
It's a perfect simulation of being a horrible goose in an unsuspecting village. It doesn't overstay its welcome, feels fair and well balanced, and the multiplayer mode is great for some couch co-op shenanigans. The art style is also endearing and charming and perfectly suits the hilarious concept of being a goose and just ruining everyone's day.
2017
It's a cute little game, much like a digital Where's Wally. The art and sound design is really cute but it an get a bit frustrating at times. Definitely turn your brightness down as well.
I had a copy I borrowed from my local library and it kept crashing so I never finished the last level and it haunts me to this day. Aside from that I loved it, it's actually suprisingly good for a movie tie-in game.
Don't read anything about it, just play it.
It's pretty okay for a match-3 game, aside from the hidden mechanic that you might reach the end of the game with not enough resources and have to restart the whole thing from scratch.