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Brian McDonald

Xaphriel
Xaphriel
Xaphriel
Xaphriel

Favorite Games:
  • The Witcher 3
  • Bioshock Infinite
  • Pokemon SoulSilver

28 games reviewed
79.4 average score
80 median score
53.6% of games recommended
May 29, 2021

Demon’s Souls absolutely deserved its new lease on life, and yeah it’s the same game it was, but prettier. But the drawback of a faithful remake is that the sins of the past remain.

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Jun 24, 2019

An estate in ruins, eldritch horrors, and eagerly suicidal heroes. Darkest Dungeon know its audience, and they’re the best kind of masochists.

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Jun 8, 2019

This is what VR should be; a combination of enjoyable gameplay, solid immersion, decent story and acting, all brought together into one Layer Cake of gaming.

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100 / 100 - Mini Metro
Apr 16, 2019

Mini Metro delivers what it promises… which is more than any other metro system... As near to perfect as a minimalistic mass transit simulator can be.

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Nov 11, 2018

You’ll lose your life to this game; Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar’s magnum opus, of that there is no question. This is a vibrant, gigantic, living world crafted from pixels and dreams, and hours go by in the blink of an eye. It’s flawed, but God damn it’s an experience and a half. You need to play it.

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All in all, The Heist is DLC at its best. It brings an excellent character into the foreground, complements the base experience just enough, and doubles down on why Marvel’s Spider-Man was such a great game to begin with.

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Oct 28, 2018

Look. I’m a massive Assassin’s Creed fan, and a huge Greek mythology buff. I am the direct target audience of this game. That’s why there’s so many ridiculous statues in my gaming room, and why Desmond’s tribal tattoo is emblazoned down my skinny Irish arm. But if you can change a series this much, have awful microtransactions, and I still love it? That’s a game worth playing. Whether I’m sailing, hunting, warring, or assassinating, I’ve had a ball.

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Oct 28, 2018

Let’s not kid ourselves; Starlink is here to sell toys. Just like Skylanders, amiibo, and Disney Infinity before it, Starlink is a game designed to make you buy those little ships, digitally or physically. And no, they won’t break the bank, and are pretty cool for what they are. I do wish the base game came with a little more oomph, but overall it’s a quality product, if you’re willing to make the investment

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Sep 4, 2018

Despite not quite being arachno-fabulous, Marvel's Spider-Man makes its mark with killer storytelling and excellent mechanics.

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Nov 2, 2017

Endgame aside, Shadow of War hits the right marks, and is worth another run through the Black Gate.

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Oct 5, 2017

A (maybe) fine farewell to the Outsider, and hopefully not to the series.

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6.7 / 10.0 - Agents of Mayhem
Aug 18, 2017

Saint's Roverwatch: come for the combat, stay for the satire, and bail when you're bored.

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As inviting to new players as it is familiar to old, Echoes is far more than a Shadow of Gaiden.

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May 4, 2017

If you're tired of grey landscapes, grey guns, and grey soldiers, try taking Grayson out for a spin.

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7.8 / 10.0 - For Honor
Feb 22, 2017

Held back by its own ambition, For Honor isn’t a masterpiece, but delivers where it counts.

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8.2 / 10.0 - Gravity Rush 2
Jan 18, 2017

With heaps of charm and innovation, you’ll be hard-pressed to resist the pull of Gravity Rush 2.

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9.4 / 10.0 - Dishonored 2
Nov 14, 2016

Challenging, immersive, and fun, Dishonored 2 hits the mark in all the right places. A masterpiece.

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Skyrim is still a great game that everyone should play, but it could’ve used more than a paint job.

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9 / 10.0 - Darkest Dungeon
Oct 7, 2016

An engaging and atmospheric Lovecraftian adventure, as challenging as it is addictive. A must-play.

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Sep 30, 2016

The later games hold up well, but lack of polish in these remasters makes them a questionable buy.

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