After playing this game for nearly 2 dozen hours, I can rightfully say that it is not worth it. As much as I would like to see this through to the end, I just don’t have the patience to put up with it’s janky controls. I have died in the most absurd ways, with little to no fairness in any of them. Unless you are really interested in the story and how the side stories play out, I really can’t recommend this game. I may come to the game eventually, just to tie up loose ends. But the way it is right now. I’d rather put a hold on that for now.
Babylon’s Fall is a failure on multiple levels made worse by a plethora of outdated ideas and Square’s reluctance to innovate on the games-as-a-service model that ensures that it’ll never stand out in a sea of other mediocre live service games. This would have been an ok game if it weren’t for the premium track battle pass that really doesn’t seem to appeal to anyone. In its current state, it’s not worth the asking price.
I can’t for the life of me recommend Empire of Sin without giving it more time to iron out its issues. Gameplay-wise, it is quite enjoyable, but that enjoyable aspect gets drowned out in all the issues it has. Wait for them to fix the game until you decide to get it, and possibly a free story expansion with more icons to play with.
There isn’t much interactivity to be found here as you’re mostly going along for a ride. You will go through a lot of long long stretches with little to do other than watching the story unfold. Eventually, the gameplay does slow down at times, but it’s clear that you are picking up this game for the story. If you are a fan of Suda51’s work, you may want this for your collection. This title has a similar feel to others like Killer7 and No More Heroes. You can also get this if you’re are a fan of Visual Novels with a good murder mystery with bits of puzzle solving added in for good measure. Just remember that this game is definitely not for everyone.
Overall, Dolmen is a hastily assembled mess of a well-intentioned game. It is like a wannabe sports car. No matter how pretty it looks on the outside, if it’s running on a 2-cylinder engine underneath the hood, there are going to be awkward looks all around. But in the end, it’s going to depend on your millage. As much as I dislike the all-style, no substance presentation, I have to admit that some of the features are actually quite enjoyable. It may look pretty from afar. But its style over substance approach is what ultimately dulls the experience of this otherwise decent soul-like shooter.
Sadly, this is a hard pass for players who covet the older Breaker games. The number of series on offer is a limiting factor and a far cry from the options offered in past games. For anyone who is looking for a fresh take on the series, this is it. I certainly hope that these rough beginnings will lead to better games in the future.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty offers a mixed gaming experience. While it attempts to blend elements from the “Souls” genre with Team Ninja’s signature combat, it falls short in storytelling and gear management. The combat system shines as a highlight, offering a satisfying and challenging experience. However, the game’s repetitiveness, issues with progression, and lackluster story may deter some players. In the end, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has its merits but also a fair share of rough edges, making it a title that will resonate more with fans of Team Ninja’s combat style than those seeking a seamless “Souls” experience.
All in all, the game has a few good moments for veteran players of the genre, few and far in between as they are. It can still surprise you. For those who are new to the genre. I am definitely encouraging you try this one out. It might be needing some polish here and there, but the core of the game is solid enough. Especially if you have a long afternoon to spare and money in your wallet.
The enhanced edition may have added some new goodies to the base game while addressing some issues with performance. But it still seems somewhat lacking. It may be due to the lack of music for the most part, but I can also pin the blame on repetitive level flow. The level layout and the graphics may have had solid footing, if only the recycled objectives didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. To put it bluntly, the game has a lot of things going for it. Unfortunately, other aspects of the game suffered due to some questionable design choices. The comparison is as clear as day to night. Still, I recommend this game any hardcore fan of the 40k universe. Newcomers may also find this easy to pick up as the story is easy enough to understand without having to know the greater world of 40k.
AKIBA’S TRIP: Hellbound & Debriefed is more than your run-of-the-mill anime game. If you really look into it, you’ll find a challenging, yet flawed combat system. An entire series born from an urban legend with ties to the Hikikomori phenomenon in Japan. And an anime story complete with misunderstandings and pure intentions. The first one, I tolerate. The 2 after are reasons why you should be buying this game.
The most memorable things about NBA 2K21 that I’ll connect to it for many years to come are the Black Lives Matter t-shirts and the many tributes to Kobe Byrant. I guess I should thank Visual Concepts for at least remembering Kobe… and probably nothing else.
As for the base game itself. It’s a good game. And this is coming from a fan’s perspective who is more willing to grind out their VC in MyCareer games. Obviously, it’s going to be a ridiculously long grind, but that’s sort of the idea, right? Give us players this long journey, but if you inject some more money into it, the game’s going to be much more fun and rewarding. At least the card pack animations for getting incredibly rare cards looks cool. This is one game that I recommend for the NBA die-hard fan. And probably only them.
Ultimately, Aveum is a fun time while you are in combat and quickly forgettable once you’re out. If you’re into lots of colorful explosions or particle effects in general, this game’s for you. For everyone else, it might be better to wait for a hefty price cut before playing it over a weekend. Admittedly, I had a bit of fun. But those moments are clearly highlighted after suffering entire segments of monotony and absolute boredom. There’s a good game in here, somewhere. But it is drowned out by meaningless mechanics meant to artificially extend playtime.
Overall, Hard West 2 has some interesting ideas but is ultimately held back in part because of a reliance on RNG mechanics that frustrates more than anything else. But a memorable cast of characters does save the game from being too one-dimensional… if you are willing to take the time to get to know your crewmates a little bit more. It’ll depend on your mileage but Hard West 2 does delivery where it counts, even if it has some additional luggage.
Overall, Wildcat Gun Machine is a decent shooter. There are aspects of the game that feels unpolished or even rushed but the core gameplay loop is fun and that is what should ultimately matter. Hopefully, the game gets better through patches. Cause as it is right now, it’s only worth a single 6-8 hour run with hardly any reason to go for a second or more.
For the most part, the short-ish campaign can be rushed over a long weekend. Fortunately for the Black Ops Cold War, there are enough choices that might entice most players to go over the campaign at least one more time. For gameplay enthusiasts, there is always fun to be had messing around with perk combinations and higher difficulty settings. All-in-all, it’s a highly polished experience that plays it a little too closely on the safe side.
If the idea of an all-out brawler in a tactics game sounds appealing to you, by all means, pick this game up. Just know that there are several strings attached you need to be aware of before committing to the long journey of taking over the streets of London.
There is much to like about this game. It’s a unique experience that few big studios are willing to take. Perhaps the game would have been better if it had a little more time to bake. We’ll never know. What I do know is that, at it’s best, the game’s a frantic tactical shooter with some moments of pure fun. Otherwise, it’s just another shooter from the perspective of a hoverbike. I still would recommend this game just for the novelty factor alone. Honestly, it’s not the worst sci-fi shooter out there, it just doesn’t do much to stand out besides being a little different.
This game still has ways to go before it can properly say that it’s a complete game. Though the foundation is there. Ultimately, it’s up to the game’s community to continue supporting it. And the developers to further improve upon it.
All in all, Rollerdrome absolutely nailed it in terms of gameplay but it came at the cost of other aspects such as the story. The two-tier system of guns and tricks is so well done that I constantly find myself trying to outdo my previous score because I know I can do better. Unfortunately, the game failed to tie the overarching story and gameplay together in any meaningful way. If it’s stylish action you’re looking for, Rollerdrome’s got that covered for a while. It’s just a shame that doesn’t offer much else.