Charl den Dulk's Reviews
And while needing a bit more overall polish the game is far from the mediocre disaster the video game journalists made it out to be in their reviews. My suggestion: ignore the reviews, don’t listen to the so called game video game journalist and play the game yourself. Days Gone is most definitely a diamond in the rough and worth your gaming time…
If you like a rich deep storyline along the same lines as games like The Walking Dead and Life is Strange and don't care about a lack of "agency" which has always been illusory in video games then you will most definitively enjoy this game as much as I have. For me, Detroit: Become Human is both a reminder and illustration of the many challenges and the triumphs, the sadness and joys that humanity and individuals have gone through. To me it was life-affirming, and I considered it deep, rich and meaningful. Or maybe I am just being melodramatic about all of this who knows. Roger Ebert once said that video games will never be art. Though that statement can be and has been argued for and against I believe Detroit: Become Human is if not a work of art is definitely a game interwoven with artistic vision. And that vision was an absolute joy to watch unfold and play.
God of War is an epic reboot of an epic franchise and shows you how a reboot of a franchise should be handled. And in rebooting the franchise Santa Monica Studio’s possibly created one of the best games the PlayStation 4 has to offer in this console generation. The plot, combat, graphics, and sound all come together perfectly to create one of the best gaming experiences of 2018. And it proves that the single-player experience is still alive and well in the year of battle royal and multiplayer only games. There were so many aspects of the game and story I had to leave out due to spoilers and not wanting to make the review too lengthy, so hopefully, this review didn’t come out too disjointed.
The game also dials back the gore aspect of the game the original had you literally swimming on blood most of the time. Instead, they went for the subtle approach and it worked. There were times when I was genuinely afraid to continue with the game. You would fight 4-5 creatures and move onto the next part of town where you would be met with a dark empty street that felt way too ominous and empty. It is extremely rare these days to play a sequel to a game which improved itself in every aspect graphics, sound, gameplay, story, and presentation. Every single aspect of the game was reworked to provide a better player experience. And with everything said and done I can say without a doubt that Evil Within 2 is easily one of the best survival horror games I played this year easily surpassing Resident Evil 7 and the best 25 hours I spent in recent memory.
Overall, Before the Storm starts on a great note with its writing, characters and soundtrack. It took me 4 hours to complete Episode 1, which is a good sign given the fact that some people had a problem with the game only being 3 episodes long. For newcomers, I strongly suggest that you play the original Life is Strange before playing this one as you might not catch the importance and significance of certain characters as quickly as previous players will. I cannot wait for the rest of the episodes to be released and I am definitely interested to see what happens next.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy had a lot to live up to given the pedigree of the Uncharted franchise, but I can gladly say it lives up to and in some aspects even surpasses the franchise in some aspects. The Lost Legacy takes all of the positives aspects of the franchise rolls them into one and creates a whole new entry into the franchise. The writing is as sharp and on point as ever, and Claudia Black and Laura Bailey do incredible jobs as Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross, respectively. With Usman Ally as Asav getting a special mention, Ally’s performance is extremely frightening at times, but he never goes over the top with it. Add to that some of the most amazing action set pieces I have ever seen in a game, leaving one to only hope that this isn’t the end of Chloe’s and Nadine’s adventures.
One of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice strong points lie in the games ability to entertain and immerse you in the experience, and on that point alone it is worth the price of entry. The game is definitely not going to appeal to all tastes, and nor does it try to. But if you are willing and open to new experiences and gameplay mechanics, then you will be rewarded with a thoroughly entertaining and somewhat disturbing video game. And one of the best new franchises of 2017.
Resident Evil 7 was an absolutely incredible and terrifying experience especially for a horror fan like myself, and a horror survival game I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. And honestly, I think the last time I was this terrified of a game was Silent Hill 2 or the original Resident Evil game. The Resident Evil franchise has finally returned to its true survival/psychological roots, Resident Evil 7 perfectly captures what it would feel like to be put into the same situation as Ethan. And just like Resident Evil 4 reinvented the franchise, Resident Evil 7 has done the some once again. And all I can say at this point in my review is welcome back Resident Evil, you have been missed!
While Titanfall 2’s campaign is a tad short for my liking and as previously stated can be finished in a single sitting of between 5-8 hours this does not detract from the brilliant campaign, the characters are amazing, voice acting is great and the level design is amazing. Plus there’s loads of variety in the missions, which is always great for an FPS game. It’s very refreshing in that context. I really wanted more of the spectacular campaign designs and story but unfortunately, you don’t always get what you want. Titanfall 2 is not just a worthy sequel to the original game, but one that improves upon the original while keeping everything that was fun in the original intact. There isn’t a shooter on the market currently that can compare to the spectacle that is Titanfall 2 even though it was released in 2016. I highly recommend picking it up even if it is only for the short campaign.
I see a lot of reviews slammed the game for its poor combat system really?! This is a stealth base game, not a hack and slash game combat is not an option. You aren’t supposed to be facing enemies head on. Another issue reviewers seem to have is the fact that Styx breaks the 4th wall like Deadpool. And that his sense of humor is a bit much for these reviewers who clearly lost theirs a long time ago. And yes I am aware humor/comedy is subjective but to me, Styx is a welcome change of pace as protagonist. He is a character, snarky, scheming and yes he makes the occasional quips and dated pop-culture references. That alone gives him a definable personality. Styx: Shards of Darkness is a solid stealth game with plenty of humor and style. And it harks back to the old-school hardcore stealth games of the past.
From the first time you set foot in the world of Prey and Talos 1 the space-station where the majority of the game takes place, you get a clear indication that Arkaine Studio's inspiration comes from games like System Shock, Bioshock, Deadspace and Half-Life. And like they say: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". The pacing is solid, the narrative is well crafted coupled with a beautiful atmosphere, makes pray one of the most memorable FPS games I have played in the last couple of years.
Despite some of its problems, The Last Guardian has some of the most emotionally gripping and powerful gaming moments in a video game I have ever had the privilege to have experienced and have played. Some reviewers have described it as a flop 10 years in the making, I view it as a flawed masterpiece. So if you have between 8-10 hours to spend I can highly recommend The Last Guardian as it is a video game experience you won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Abzu is an artistic triumph in every single way. In most of the different areas in the game, you can rest on a particular rock and meditate. And I found myself just sitting on these rocks and switching between the different views and the different species of fish and watching how they move and interact with each other. And I found this to be oddly relaxing, almost like I was watching a David Attenborough documentary. The only thing I can fault Abzu for is the length of the game, which if you take it slowly and get all the trophies is a 4-6 hour experience. But in my personal opinion, I would rather have a short amazing experience than a long drawn out mediocre one. If you haven’t played any of Matt Nava’s game before I highly recommend you pick up Abzu and then Journey.
Guerrilla Games have struck the perfect balance of exploration, dungeon crawling, and combat in Horizon: Zero Dawn in one of the most visually stunning games of this console generation. It really took some balls to develop a new IP in a genre they almost have no experience in, but their gamble has paid off. Which allows me to wholeheartedly recommend this game to anyone out there.
Dishonored 2 is an excellent sequel to an excellent game, and improves on the weaknesses of the first game and polishes its strengths even more. It retains everything that was good about the first game and used it as a foundation to build which I can safely say is a better game than the original. Dishonored 2 is a great stealth action game that is filled with tons of replayability, which begs you to dip your toes into the expertly crafted world that Arkane Studios created for us. I can wholeheartedly recommend this game for the Dishonored fans and even the newcomers to the franchise as it is definitely worthy of your attention.
There are also side missions scattered throughout the different locations, but they aren't all that extraordinary, to begin with. They will have you shooting down drones, fetching supplies, exploring certain locations and bringing back items. So while the games story is lacking and acts only as window dressing for the games set pieces and Lara has no real character to speak of not to mention the lack of memorable supporting cast members in the game. I can still highly recommend the game as it is an excellent polished port and the DLC will keep you busy for hours. Thoroughly enjoyable, with a surprisingly long campaign which vastly improves on every single aspect that we got in the first game. If you haven't already, go pick it up and play it now!
The game really caught me off guard as I did not expect much of it when I started playing it , other than the positive feedback I got from other gamers. And it definitely falls into the top 5 games I have played in 2016 so far. Valkyria Chronicles is definitely a one of a kind video game experience that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has not played the game yet. Even if you don’t enjoy tactical shooters you will never find another gaming experience like this ever again. So give it half a chance and who know you might actually enjoy it. I do hope the game does well this time around because I would love for SEGA to bring Valkyria Azure Revolution here to the west so that we can get a localized release for it.
Deus Ex has one of the most intelligently thought out, and well-executed themes in the gaming industry today. It actually made me think about racism and segregation and all those other kinds of social constructs that have restricted our society in the past. Which is a nice take on a serious and rather an uncomfortable topic. Add into the mix a Hollywood-style conspiracy thriller, the only real complaint I have with the game is that the storytelling could have been more fleshed out and elaborated on towards the end of the game. Mankind Divided may not be a revolutionary game in the franchise, but it is a tightly polished experience. One that would easily satisfy fans of the franchise or someone who is itching for a stealthy action adventure game. And if the above sounds appealing to you, then you will enjoy Mankind Divided immensely.
And moments like these is what makes Firewatch stand out from anything I have ever played before. In the end, when everything is said and done, Firewatch is about the protagonist Henry. We got to live inside his head and tried to understand what he thinks and feels. But the truth is that Henry is who he is. A man looking to escape his past and somehow find redemption in the wilderness. We are just there to witness this and tag along for the ride. If you are looking for a game that is visually stunning and different from anything else you have ever played then I cannot recommend Firewatch enough, yes it is short between 6-8 hours. But I can guarantee you now, those will be some of the best 6-8 hours you will have ever spent in a video game.
There are minor nit-picks about the combat initiation leaving you exposed to attacks and the RNG being frustrating at times, but it does not impact or hamper the combat too much. Not something a quick reload can fix anyway. Wasteland 2 is a pleasant mix of genres when you combine a game like Baldur's Gate feel for adventure and XCOM's combat it goes together surprisingly well. If you are a fan of the old school genre of RPG games and you miss the intricacies of classic RPG's and you are in the market for a bit more depth in your game than the more contemporary RPGs released today then you should definitely check out Wasteland 2 Director's Cut on Playstation 4. With more than 80 hours of gameplay, Wastelands 2: The Director's cut is a challenging but ultimately rewarding adventure you don't want to miss out on.