Joseph Pugh's Reviews
Exploring an open world with the freedom to do what you please with deep character customization and stellar turn-based combat is a brilliant idea and Horizon’s Gate is still fun in the end.
So while the content is technically infinitely replayable, it feels like you exhaust it quite quickly. Despite that fact, I could easily see Out Of Space come out whenever you have friends over the same way that old favorite board game gets dusted off once a week. It isn't a game you will play for long stretches, but I could see its value as a party choice. Especially to tackle that new weekly challenge when they cycle in and out.
Some of the varied objectives and boss fights did a good job of breaking up the repetition but fighting the repeated bosses was a drag. Sky Cannoneer isn’t an expensive game, but it is a short one. At the same time if it lasted any longer it would have overstayed its welcome as mindless action is only entertaining for so long.
It’s a perfect game to play when you don’t have a lot of game time but still want something with meat on its bones. Its gladiator theme and roguelike gameplay are executed with such grace that even Caesar would have to give Mortal Glory a thumbs up. At such a cheap asking price, maybe even two!
Kofi Quest already feels unique. Furthermore, its gamer humor is spot on without feeling like it’s trying too hard. Playing Kofi Quest feels very much like playing a well done weekend cartoon series, and in a good way.
The variety of well-animated machines and the combat system based around targeting different parts of them is incredibly well-executed and the selection of tools and ammo types is nice. The general combat and gameplay go a long way toward making up for the shortcomings of the game elsewhere.
If you are looking for a great co-op experience with trusted friends, you really can’t go wrong with Overcooked 2. It’s method to the madness gameplay will keep you entertained for hours. The short length simply leaves you wishing you had more of it in the first place.
If your patient enough to get through the opening hours, you have a great game in front of you. If Days Gone grabs you as it did me, it is a very long game full of content that will keep you entertained for quite a while.
The game is at its best in levels that add something interesting, such as the dog or streams of lava. But those moments are far and few in between, despite the games short length. Most levels my partner and I didn’t speak a word to each other after we decided what rooms each of us would tackle. A dark contrast to other party games that have players constantly yelling at each other and laughing.
The incredibly dynamic combat and simple to learn, yet intricate web-swinging will keep you entertained throughout your entire visit to Marvel’s version of New York despite its shortcomings elsewhere.
Revelations features plenty of new content even without a brand new faction and is worth the price. Planetfall was already great, now it is even better.
I can't understate how big of an issue the lack of challenge is, it impacts a lot of the game. Yet, that is the only real issue I have with Death Stranding. It is dang near perfectly executed in its design. It's gorgeous, well-written, and cinematic, the music is stellar, the world is immersive and the gameplay is phenomenal.
If you have an interest in PvP. I think Citadel will provide you with an experience not found elsewhere. All while giving you a fun and fantastical magical world, great building system and marvelous spell crafting. Just keep in mind the baggage that comes with the genre. You will die, your base will be destroyed at some point. You will win and you will lose.
The Outer Worlds has a load of mechanics put into place, and while they are functional, they aren’t cohesive. They were implemented with little regard for how they would interact with each other and the game is a mess because of it. They had to make it so a player could complete the game no matter how they built their character. Obsidian succeeded, but only by making those choices matter very little in the first place.
It’s a shame because the game is fantastic, mechanically speaking, and is very enjoyable to play. It leaves you hungry for more and it nearly feels unfinished with its lack of archetypes or skill variety. This makes it a little difficult to recommend for the full price despite how excellent Bad North plays.
The retro graphics look great and the animations are superb. But I don’t feel like there is enough “game” there for the price of admission. If you really enjoy timing or pattern memorization, the 2D action game coating could be a nice change of pace. Otherwise, try out the demo on Steam if you can or pick it up on sale.
I can’t find the entertainment in Stranded Sails. The quests aren’t fun, what little progression that exists is there to help ease the tedium of completing the repetitive fetch quests in the first place. I can’t even say it is a relaxing game because the energy bar is frustrating and the sole means of combating it lacks any kind of interesting engagement. Yet if it was removed the game’s existence would be that much more mindless bordering on an idle game.
The world is interesting, the battle system is well done, tactical and fun. You have a lot of choices to make as you play, what to upgrade, how much to explore and how to handle events. Crying Suns takes a lot of inspiration from FTL, but twists the idea into its own unique set of game-play mechanics that set it apart.
If you want to take on the role of a diplomat with a lot of character and dialogue choices, GreedFall is still worth picking up. There is a great world and story here waiting to be explored if you can look past its shortcomings. If your the type of player that skips cut-scenes and dialogue, look elsewhere.
It’s a solid title, just not a perfect one. If you enjoyed previous titles in the series then Gears 5 is an easy sale. If you are new altogether, well, there is a ton of stuff for you to dig your chainsaw bayonet in!