AmongstYou

I have to acknowledge first my own bias: Metroid means a lot to me, and I'm an unabashed enthusiast of the Metroid-vania genre. If you're someone who finds games like Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge, Ori, past Metroid titles, etc... too difficult or frustrating (or just uninteresting), then this game isn't for you. However, if you're either a veteran fan of the genre like me, or you're just looking for something tougher than the standard Switch release and are looking to try something new, then this is a MUST play. MercurySteam has easily crafted their finest game to date, and created another worthy entry to the 2D Metroid saga. The design and form here is so tight that I legitimately can't conjure any criticisms. It's simply that good. Welcome back, Samus. We missed you. See you again when we finally get Metroid Prime 4.

Definitely an improvement. I really love revisiting a classic like this and finding it better than I remember. I wish Overhaul the best with their endeavors. Here's hoping we get Baldur's Gate III.

There is honestly nothing to review that hasn't already been said about previous ventures in the series. It's the same game as the last four, just with a new subtitle and a higher price tag.

Unlike the previous Arkham games, I'd say you should only play this if you are truly a Batman fan. So, with that in mind, I'd say that this game is great. Not perfect, like Arkham City, but still a fantastic game. The story is impeccable, the voice acting is top notch, the gameplay (though the same) still feels fun and exciting. The only problem is that it desperately needs innovation. Still, until Rocksteady delivers us the next true sequel to Arkham City, this is a great pass time.

It's strange for me to claim this, but I do profess that this is my favorite game of all time. It's hard to describe, but in my opinion Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is the perfect culmination of story, visuals, audio, and gameplay ever crafted. This is art, undeniably.

Absolute perfection. Immersive stealth gaming, brilliantly structured story, gorgeous animations and cinematics... there is little to complain about in a classic like this.

This is one of the most hallow games I've ever played. I literally felt empty upon completion. The story is a mess, the gameplay and level design is inconsistent, the implementation of a "Instinct" feature, and also voice acting that is laughably bad. I'd say it's not as bad Splinter Cell: Conviction, but the problem being that this game is worse. There is no reason to play this game at all. It is the most vapid and empty game I've ever played in my life.

Final Fantasy XIV was a hugely botched opportunity, and one that Square themselves saw so much potential in, that they decided to apologize for their mistakes, and try again. The result? A well crafted, refined, and incredibly fun MMO RPG that both Final Fantasy fans and MMO fans can enjoy, without being simplified and dumbed down. Though not flawless, this is a game you'll be playing for ages, whether it's alone, or with friends.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is not only my favorite Splinter Cell, but my favorite game of all time. When Splinter Cell: Conviction dropped, I felt heartbroken. I series that set out to be different from other war titles and become it's own enemy. Even worse, I had heard the news two years later that a sequel would be made without Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher. So, now it's out, and what do I think? It's good. Surprisingly good. If not damn good. Hell, I even dig the new jaded, stern Sam voiced by Johnson. It fits well. The story itself is okay, and definitely not as good as the former titles. It's trying to hard to play it safe after the last disastrous that changed everything. But, it's not bad. The characters keep the story from falling apart and you remain interested throughout the game. Certainly not as good as say... Pandora Tomorrow's plot, but not bad. Just not excellent. But, importantly, the gameplay. This was what ultimately won me over. Instead of all the forced action in Conviction, I was actually able to go through a level in Blacklist without killing anyone, and best of all... it wasn't too easy. I felt pretty proud after I did it too, and others will as well. In the end, the game feels more like Chaos Theory with Convictions interface. It meshes perplexingly well. Multiplayer is back and it's refreshing. Co-op returns better than ever with tons of variety, but Spies Vs Mercs, a mode I've missed for years, also returns! Playing SvM was a blast, albeit a simplified one in comparison to the games that preceded it. Still, I'm glad it's back. Now, is it worth playing? Yeah, I'd say so. Splinter Cell fans of all breeds can get behind this title and have tons of fun, whether your a series veteran or you (unfortunately) started with Conviction.

I thought Far Cry 3 was mediocre and boring, but this? This... is just fun as hell, as well as cheap. Well worth the price. Buy it if you're looking for a zany shooter.

I'll put it simply. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a great return to the old fashioned, multiple choice, role playing games of long ago. The first Deus Ex revolutionized the way we viewed not only action RPGs, but gaming in general. And what was the reason we all liked Deus Ex so much, as well as Deus Ex: Human Revolution? I'll give you one reason. Choice. The game lets you choose how you play in all situations. You are hardly ever forced to do something you don't want. For example, you need to get into a police station to gather information. You can sneak in through vents, hack the security and find a different way in, climb to the roof and enter from the top, or you can just walk right through the front door and shoot everyone. But there are also some choices in the game that are so subtle that you may never know that you made them. Story, atmosphere, great gameplay... this game has all of it. Check it out if you can.

Though I appreciate the effort of the team behind Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, it sadly is diminished by the hard work of the original game's modding community, who have been able to do great things already with a still great game. To those who want to play Baldur's Gate for the first time, I'll leave a link to the ideal version which is available for purchase and download. The site provides and thoroughly useful and effective mod guide that will update the game in more ways than you could imagine, all the while retaining a cheap ten dollar price and managing to make far better addition than this Enhanced Edition. Baldur's Gate: ****/gamecard/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga Modding Guide: ****/news/enhance_the_gameplay_in_your_edition_of_baldurs_gate_from_gogcom

I'll make this a very short review just so I can avoid going in depth with the story and gameplay so new players will be surprised when they discover such things on their own. This is merely an encouragement to those unsure of this game's high appraisal. Yes, this game is every ounce as good as people say. It's well written, well executed, and also manages to be enthralling and fun all at the same time. It's debatable whether this is the best role playing game in the medium, but I find on par with the likes of Baldur's Gate II. So, if you have never played Planescape: Torment, do so. I promise you will feel like it was worth it once you start playing.

I never thought that a series could be more ****, more streamlined, more simplified, than when I had so unfortunately played Final Fantasy XIII. With Final Fantasy XIII however, it was clear that Square Enix was already going down a dangerous path and something as insulting to role playing game fans as Final Fantasy XIII was to be an expected outcome. The difference between Square Enix and Bioware is that Bioware should have known better. Considering that these people brought us Baldur's Gate, the best video game sequel of all time Baldur's Gate II, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, and of course, Dragon Age: Origins, you would think that Dragon Age II would have been decent, if not better than the already spectacular Dragon Age: Origins. I could not have been farther from the true result. Dragon Age II elects to take the winning formula of Dragon Age: Origins and tries to do something new. My first problem is why do so? Dragon Age: Origins was absolutely fine and needed not revamping. The best way to make a sequel is to add some new original content, expand the world and story, and also improve and fine tune the few problems of Dragon Age: Origins. Instead, Dragon Age II tries to reinvent the wheel and does so poorly. To sum it up shortly, they simplify anything that required strategy the first game's combat into button mashing garbage that makes it feel like Mass Effect with swords and magic. The globe trotting and exploration is now walking through one linear corridor that will give you flashbacks to Final Fantasy XIII. Interaction is non existent. You have more luck talking to a wall in this game than your own god damn party! When the companions don't have their own story arcs and interesting backgrounds, the player ceases to care about them emotionally, making the experience feel incredibly detached. "Hand holding" is an understatement when it comes to how the game presents things to you. It practically pushes you to success with you not doing hardly anything. The game is so easy it's boring and feels like a chore to get through. The worst part? The lackluster, no surprises, plot line that feels like a really bad fan fiction and the unbelievably basic dialogue wheel. So, final words? It's the worst thing BioWare has produced followed shortly by the god awful and overrated Mass Effect games. BioWare, what the hell happened? Baldur's Gate is the reason I got into role playing games. Dragon Age: Origins was one of the first masterful RPGs in the last five years. To see you put little to no effort in it's follow up is sad. Hopefully Dragon Age: Inquisition is better, but I'm not getting more hopes. Neither am I getting my wallet out. I'll spend my money else where, preferably on CD Projekt Red's next title.

This game is the product of development hell, so I'm being generous by giving the game merely a four. Splinter Cell: Conviction is broken. Guards are damn near deaf and have absolutely no peripheral vision, the level design is linear with hardly any open ended areas, it simplifies the ability to hide in darkness, Sonar Goggles serve as a wall-hack, and Mark & Execute is the most condescending in-game aid in any video game ever. Overall, it's the worst game in the series. Even worse than Double Agent, which was only sub-par.