Jason Rodriguez Avatar Image

Jason Rodriguez

Manila

161 games reviewed
70.4 average score
70 median score
60.9% of games recommended

Jason Rodriguez's Reviews

Hello. Did you know that there are only five Filipino games journalists in the world? I'm one of them. I'm on PC Invasion.
6 / 10 - Warsaw
Oct 7, 2019

Warsaw is challenging at times to the point of harsh realism and it has an assortment of foes to take out. But, with mechanics that are downright arcadey and odd, Warsaw's missteps mar what could've been a brilliant look at a major event in Poland's history during World War II.

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Oct 8, 2019

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep has picture-perfect and grand setpieces on the moon, combined with excellent gunplay. Unfortunately, it's also marred by a middling campaign, weak narrative, inane endgame activities, and repetitive mechanics. The only thing haunting this expansion is its inability to reach the heights of Forsaken.

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4 / 10 - WWE 2K20
Oct 24, 2019

Bugs, glitches, missing features, sluggish gameplay, and unreliable systems -- it's a smorgasbord of problems that would lead anyone to conclude that WWE 2K20 should not have been released in this state. In modern times, WWE 2K20 is the jabroni of pro-wrestling games. It didn't just set the bar, it lowered the bar.

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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has the content to keep you entertained for a time. Unfortunately, the visuals and core mechanics are woefully behind 20 years after its initial release. It's a nostalgia trip for fans given the low price, but it's lacking in this new age of strategy games.

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Some technical issues still exist and delving deep into mysterious sites doesn't mesh well with the overall gameplay. However, Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Revelations does present an engaging campaign. Likewise, its unique mechanics such as the Heritor secret tech and Forgotten faction's use of Entropy weapons are worth a try.

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Nov 19, 2019

Bland, boring, and uninspired, Narcos: Rise of the Cartels isn't quite the tie-in product that fans of Netflix's series would want to see. It's bogged down by flawed fundamentals, a repetitive campaign, and unengaging gameplay.

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Nov 21, 2019

Although it isn't perfect, Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts manages to hit its mark. With a simple yet effective campaign presentation, massive locations and stunning visuals, and the thoroughly engaging gameplay that keeps you coming back for more due to a user-friendly progression system, it's the best Ghost Warrior title to date.

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Total War: Three Kingdoms - Mandate of Heaven presents a massive conflict and an evolving sandbox campaign, with several features and events to keep you entertained. Sadly, it's also bogged down by its reliance on older concepts that lack strategic depth, glaring bugs, as well as missed opportunities. Though you could expect to log in the extra hours, it becomes repetitious to a fault once the rebellion has been quashed.

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Jan 27, 2020

With its surprisingly creative level design, architecture, and platforming mechanics, Journey to the Savage Planet will wow your eyes, while its quirky humor entertains you from time to time. Unfortunately, flaws such as uninspired combat, lack of enemy variety, and a fairly short campaign mar what could've been a truly unforgettable journey.

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Eschewing role-playing aspects, depth, and fan-favorite features in favor of simplified pause-and-play automation, ridiculous map-painting mechanics, and lackluster strategic options, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV is one of the most disappointing offerings from Koei Tecmo's popular franchise. It's the Liu Shan, not the Zhuge Liang, of the series.

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May 22, 2020

Even though the campaign might be short and the mechanics a tad bit shallow for an ARPG, Minecraft Dungeons still manages to dazzle at times with its unique charm. With online and local/couch co-op multiplayer, you can have a blast and enjoy your romps with this family-friendly offering.

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Jun 9, 2020

Europa Universalis IV: Emperor is a massive expansion that has a number of flaws that can be annoying to experience. Still, it's guaranteed to keep your next playthroughs refreshing thanks to tweaks and overhauls to existing systems, as well as new mechanics for the Holy Roman Empire and Catholics. New mission trees for dozens of nations like Bohemia and Austria will also change how you approach your campaigns.

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A poorly structured first half, questionable gameplay design, and ill-conceived introduction of mechanics aside, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris also suffers from numerous technical issues and performance drops. There are moments that will entertain you, but these are few and far between and you're left to contend with bothersome frustrations time and again.

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7 / 10 - Othercide
Jul 27, 2020

Othercide has a number of interesting quirks and its art design, with gothic and noir elements, creates a uniquely forboding atmosphere. Unfortunately, it's also got a ridiculous degree of difficulty that you normally don't associate with the turn-based strategy genre. The game's roguelite concepts are more than welcome, though repetition and restarts, combined with the genre's slower progression and mission system, will make playthroughs feel like time-consuming affairs.

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10 / 10 - Risk of Rain 2
Aug 11, 2020

With hardly any flaws or shortcomings, Risk of Rain 2 more than delivers. Its pulse-pounding, off-the-wall, challenging rogue-lite action, combined with countless secrets and unlockables, are sure to entertain and excite you. Play in short bursts or an hour until you scream, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" -- you're bound to enjoy every minute of it.

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Aug 12, 2020

A Total War Saga: Troy is limited in scope and unit variety. Similarly, its middle-ground approach between a purely historical title and one that's filled to the brim with mythological elements might not please everyone. Still, it manages to entertain owing to unique faction leader mechanics and Divine Will strategies. Grab it while it's free, but wait for a few fixes and balancing tweaks if you're planning on buying it separately.

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9 / 10 - Mortal Shell
Aug 17, 2020

Mortal Shell boasts refreshing mechanics that eschew the Souls-like subgenre's tried-and-tested methods. Though a bit on the short side, it oozes bone-crunching, stylish combat, and its performance is superbly optimized. Simply put, Mortal Shell manages to exceed all expectations.

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9 / 10 - Wasteland 3
Aug 26, 2020

There are a few misgivings related to Wasteland 3's technical aspects, mechanics, and overall challenge. However, its cast of characters (both old and new), the switch to a traditional turn-based combat system, and branching paths filled with decisions and dire consequences make for a superb journey with the Desert Rangers.

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Aug 31, 2020

While Crusader Kings III has shortcomings and flaws, these are overshadowed by the sheer number of options and content thanks to its gigantic map and features. Greater emphasis is placed on a character's or dynasty's growth, a level of detail not seen in any previous grand strategy title, allowing you to experience trials and tribulations like never before.

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Total War: Three Kingdoms - The Furious Wild lets you run amok with the Nanman led by Meng Huo and others. The downside is that the campaign can turn into a slog and then a long waiting game. Replayability also suffers due to all leaders starting from the same region and having similar objectives and progression paths. Still, the unique perks, mechanics, and units offer refreshing dynamics in tactical battles.

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