Bogdan Robert Mateș's Reviews
Even with its heartfelt tale, Old Man’s Journey felt less like a game one can get invested in and more like something to be played, say, on a long bus trip. It does come with beautiful levels that feel like large paintings which, coupled with the soundtrack, have the ability to draw you in their world.
On its own, Dawn Of War III is a good strategy game that, while lacking in certain areas, can provide epic battles. As a continuation of the series, however, it's easily overshadowed by past iterations as it fails to find enough strengths of its own.
The best thing about Little Nightmares is the disturbing, terrifying aesthetic it masterfully presents and uses to unsettle the player. It never feels like it’s overused, either. You get just the right amount, so that the idea that you’re part of a little girl’s nightmare is maintained until the end.
The Signal From Tölva will find its crowd in those patient enough to sink into the planet’s atmosphere, into its silence and barrenness while engaging in the occasional firefight and lore reveal hidden inside objects that aren’t always in sight.
The moment you accept that you’re just another critter trying to survive and hopefully reunite with its family, is the moment you’ll be able to enjoy the title properly. As long as you can push through the frequent setbacks that death brings with it, Rain World will be a great experience of survival and discovery in a world that’s quite unique.
Mass Effect: Andromeda attempts to build upon the foundation of the previous games. We see that in the presence of all the weapon ammo patterns and the Nomad. In some ways, like the large explorable areas and the cover-based combat system that’s been infused, and subsequently refreshed, with a good bit of movement and versatility on the skill front, it succeeds.
Length is not an issue when it comes to Vikings - Wolves Of Midgard, especially as you’re offered a New Game+ mode that strips you of your gear but allows you to keep your skills once the campaign is completed.
It nails down atmosphere like few other games do, providing some truly haunting ruins and boss fights that, once learned, become akin to a violent balet that unfurls in front of you. In the end, Hollow Knight is a title which was given much attention and care by its developers and which grew into a Metroidvania experience worth going through at least once.
It is a game that shows awareness of the past, both through mechanics and the inclusion of classic characters in its universe. I only wish there would have been more of Rise & Shine’s adventures before the credits rolled.
Pavilion is a competent puzzler with exceptionally good visual design and a wonderful soundtrack. I’d also recommend it to everyone else, for the overall experience of passing through a brilliantly designed world, while having a wonderful soundtrack as faithful companion.
Getting proper enjoyment out of Space Hulk: Deathwing requires one to jump through some hoops. Luck needs to be on your side so that you won’t run into performance issues, with a good tolerance for repetitive content and, preferably, some friends to play multiplayer with also being required.
The Dwarves is a high fantasy RPG with great sound design and cutscenes but which is dragged down by its combat mechanics and short length. Fans of the books may feel differently about The Dwarves, however, to those approaching the universe for the first time through this title, some caution is recommended.
It has its faults, but its approach to magic and reputation, alongside predominantly good writing make Tyranny a valid choice for cRPG enthusiasts. With all its missteps, I want to go back and replay Tyranny, simply for the sake of making different decisions and seeing what happens if I support the Scarlet Chorus or, why not, nobody. While not flawless, writing outshines combat and, for me, that’s enough to warrant a replay.
Part of me wishes Through The Woods stuck to being a “walking simulator” where you read about forsaken people, hopelesness and monsters while unraveling the troubled history of the main character in a beautiful-if-somewhat-samey setting with great atmosphere. Sadly, all that’s on offer is a debut title that fails to deliver on any of its promises.
While definitely a step in the right direction, Necropolis Brutal Edition still has areas that could benefit from improvement. The Brutal Edition alongside the continued support did (and will hopefully continue doing) quite a bit for bettering the Necropolis experience. However, it will most likely take some more time before Necropolis becomes a full-on recommendation.
Cossacks 3 is a remake that captures the essence of the original Cossacks but is dragged down by a handful of issues. At the end of the day, Cossacks 3 captures the charm of the original and will definitely tug at some nostalgia strings. If the issues present in this build transfer over to the full release, the gameplay experience will be marred at times.
Kentucky Route Zero is an experience unlike any other. “There’s dignity in being forgotten” says one character at one point. Yet, when it comes to Kentucky Route Zero, being forgotten would be a loss. The quantity of beauty, its ability to make the player feel so very intimate, yet strangely distant from what’s being shown, alongside all the feelings it evokes make it very, very unique.
SteamWorld Heist is a great follow-up to 2013's SteamWorld Dig. It's a charming title and a great experience that, nevertheless, requires you to think about how you approach every scenario. The manual aiming adds a layer of challenge and complexity to it.
Furi is a delight to play through. Its fast-paced combat and reliance on both good reflexes and getting a feel of every fight’s rhythm, alongside a very genuine sense of satisfaction when you beat a boss make for a very good action game.
While overall a good, captivating 4X/Grand Strategy hybrid, Stellaris does have sections that could benefit from improvement. Certainly there are flaws and things that could, and perhaps should, have been in the game. That’s why Stellaris isn’t a stellar (heh, heh) title right now, instead, being just a good 4x/grand strategy hybrid.