ZTGD's Reviews
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is a long name for a short, uninspired game. I was really hoping this would be a hidden gem that managed to rekindle my love of b-tier titles. Instead it just feels generic in every sense of the word. The combat is its only saving grace, and that cannot carry the game.
Little Nightmares II is a wonderful sequel that adds unnecessary combat to the mix. The journey is still worth pushing through just to experience the horrors the team has delivered. I love these type of games as it stimulates that certain part of my brain that creates a sense of discomfort while also letting me solve puzzles to stay alive. The lighter price point and promise of next-gen updates also make it worth your time. Don’t miss out on the first genuinely disturbing game of 2021.
At the end of the day, I’m not here to judge the players or the market for this version of the game, I’m here to judge the actual game. From what I played, I can see a person picking this up and still having a fun time with it, but if I had the option to play it on another system or PC, I would choose to play it there. The resolution is an eyesore to say the least, but the gameplay is still smooth and works very well for the entire game. Take that as you will.
Despite the less than stellar final mission and instability of the servers, Hitman 3 is a worthy entry to bring the World of Assassination trilogy to a close. While it’s uncertain where Agent 47 will go from here, I feel the series is in good hands and I’ll be sure to have my Fiber Wire handy for the next contract.
Overall I think Little Hope is just alright. I don’t think there’s anything special to be found here. The twist in the story has been done way better as well as the gameplay by the same studio from all accounts. I guess that the good news is that if like me this is your first Supermassive game it apparently only gets better from here.
Overall Olija is a good game. I just wish it was longer. I finished a fair portion of the game in around 5 hours and I can’t imagine I would have spent much longer had I decided to get all the collectibles. However, I think $15 is the perfect price for Olija; I much rather have a short good game than a long mediocre one and being left wanting more is a much better problem to have than never wanting to touch a game again. Just know that Olija is a concise but strong experience and a great way to start off 2021.
Overall, The Shady Part of Me was a good time. There were times I didn’t know what was going on in the story, but the simple feel of its mechanics while still keeping the complexity of the puzzles really kept me going. Its a really interesting game that I think puzzle platforming fans should try, and with its rewind feature and the bit-sized progression aspects, it makes the entire thing an enjoyable time all the way though.
The Medium is a strong outing for the team at Bloober. It is easily my favorite game they have released to date. The eerie soundtrack and locales set the mood nicely. The story is interesting, and I loved the duality in the puzzle-solving. This is a strong first game for Series X in 2021 and I hope their slate only improves as the year goes on. I wish this had been available at launch, and I am sure Microsoft does as well. It would have been a great showpiece for the console. Still it makes a nice early year title for owners of the new Xbox to dive into.
Despite my less than enjoyable time with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, I can’t help but appreciate its existence as the precursor to some of my favorite JRPGs of all time. However, as is often the case with pieces of history, it’s best left in a museum to be admired for all future generations.
Anyone who enjoys point and click adventures absolutely should not skip Sam & Max Save The World. The humor is unmatched in its cynicism and outlandishness. What other game has a statue of Lincoln come to life and fight one of the main characters for presidency, and child stars trying to help a television has-been take over the world? It’s surprisingly fresh over a decade later, and its timeless point and click gameplay delivers it all well. My inner teen is really happy Sam & Max has escaped the fall of Telltale.
Despite my griping about Serious Sam 2 not getting any love in this collection, I do think it is a great place to start with Serious Sam. Not only is it a set of great games, but there’s also multiplayer and co-op. This is a set of games anyone who has loved the new Doom games should at least try, and at the regular price of $30 there’s very little reason not to. Serious Sam 3: BFE still goes for more than this collection on PC by itself, no DLC. It’s a steal, especially if you can grab a friend to play the whole campaign with.
If I come off angry it’s because clearly the developers of Supraland know how to make a great game, but I grew so tired of the more obtuse puzzles that I got to the volcano and quit. It just wasn’t fun anymore. In conclusion it’s the puzzles being such a big focus of this game but seemingly such a small focus of the development that I can’t recommend this game. Sure, others might get a kick out of it, but to me it doesn’t work as a puzzle game, the combat isn’t there enough to really comment on outside of it being okay, and the exploration is hampered by the puzzles so ultimately Supraland is a puzzle game that doesn’t really work. When the puzzles are good they still aren’t great, and that’s unfortunate.
In the end, Landflix Odyssey is a decent game. Sure, it can be a bit lame on the originality, but the platforming works well and the gimmick for each show is fun. There will be times you’ll be fed up with the trial and error style of gameplay, but I always found myself going back to it for one more try. It is definitely one of those game where you have to play it not the way you would but how the developers made it. For the platforming fans, it’s a decent trip. If you’re not really into perfecting a level in a game, I would suggest looking somewhere else for your platforming fix.
If you love melee combat looters and prioritize minute to minute action over any degree of lasting depth or narrative impact, you may find some enjoyment here. For most of us though it seems Godfall’s ultimate destiny is to be placed on the “Oh yeah, THAT game” shelf with the rest of it’s fellow LALG’s.
WRC 9 is a nice update and yet another game taking advantage of the new hardware. Most likely overlooked the game when it initially came out. If you enjoy simulation racers this is definitely one to put on your radar. The Series X enhancements are a nice addition to an already solid rally game.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a solid game for people like me who struggle with the genre. It is not as punishing and the death mechanic is unique and interesting. It kept me going throughout the campaign and I was able to tie some of the lore from Remnant up. I suggest checking this one out if you want to take a baby step into the genre. This game is much more accessible to those that struggle, but want to experience what everyone seems to be talking about. I am stoked to see what Gunfire Games comes up with next.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a solid sequel that is worth checking out for Skill Battle alone. For those that skipped the first game it is a must, for anyone who has exhausted it, it might be wise to give it time to go on sale. Either way the game is a blast and one of the premiere puzzle games currently available. It helps that it is available on everything, so no matter where you play, there is a cute quirky puzzler you can enjoy.
I feel like I’ve typed more about Slide Stars than I probably should have. It’s a short-lived clunky game that is priced at a whopping 40 bucks. No way would I pay that for this game. This is an eight dollar experience at best. While it’s never broken, it is never something I found myself wanting to complete. In fact, I don’t see the proper audience for this at all. Obviously someone younger than me, but good luck getting a kid to play this one for longer than about 10 minutes.
This game is not good. It plays fine at best but there is nothing else of value to experience. This is shovelware and feels like something that would be a dollar or two on the app store, and looks like it too. There is no reason why this game should drop in performance as much as it does. The nerve to ask THIRTY DOLLARS for this. There’s better ways to spend $30 and better racing games… my god there are waaaaaaaaaaay better racing games.
Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War continues the trend of adding a ton of bang for your buck. While I don’t participate in some of the modes there is still enough here to keep me interested enough to make it worth my time and money. The campaign is the best I have played in a while. The multiplayer suite has something for everyone, and the zombies mode continues to be a nice diversion. There is something for just about everyone here, and it is a nice showpiece for these new consoles to boot. The series shows no signs of slowing down, and as long as the quality continues to trend upward I am perfectly fine with that.