Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
A Long Journey to an Uncertain End is just such a well-intentioned game that it’s a shame that it’s so limp where it counts. You rarely see its sensitive approach to difficult topics in video games. Yet, when it’s time to engage with it as a player, it falls into a heap on the floor. The cast of characters and narrative themes help elevate it above simply being average, but it’s hard to get over the nauseating sting of disappointment when you discover that A Long Journey to an Uncertain End isn’t quite where it could or should be.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
That’s not to say it’s going to appeal to everyone. Its deceptively simple gameplay won’t likely appeal to a more action-oriented and straightforward mindset. Likewise, the cute animal children might be a difficult taste to swallow for those who prefer their drama to be between hairless bags of flesh and chemicals. However, there’s a thoughtful earnestness to Fuga: Melodies of Steel that should really connect with anyone whose soul hasn’t been used as ammunition.
Yoann Gueritot, one of the directors who has now moved on to Platinum Games, has stated that Fuga is planned as a trilogy. I’m definitely on board with that, but I also kind of wish the series was doing more to earn that. A cohesive series of games is fine, but I prefer to see things evolve, expand, and reach for perfection as CyberConnect2 soldiers on. Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is complacent. It’s great, but we’ve already seen its greatness. Eventually, it’s going to need to load something new into its cannon if it wants to get its dazzle back.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
An Exercise in apathy, neither solid nor liquid. Not exactly bad, but not very good either. Just a bit 'meh,' really.
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst, but difficult to recommend.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
For being a rather unique premise, Flooded offers a very tight and polished experience. It’s the sort of thing where I’m afraid that if you either add something or take it away, it will stop working. Just a terrific execution of its thesis. I’m not certain it will necessarily soak your socks like some more expansive builders might, but your time spent stranded will be worthwhile.
That’s not to say I didn’t like Rewind or Die. It’s just not going to land on any of my must-play lists. I will reiterate that there isn’t anything offensively bad about it. It’s not extremely rough-edged like Christmas Massacre or as raunchy as Night at the Gates of Hell. However, both those games presented uniquely memorable moments, whereas Rewind or Die has a video rental shop. Video rental shops are terrific, but they’re just not horrific enough to carry an entire game.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.