A visually stunning side scroller, Majogami is a game that uses every bit of the Switch 2's specs and color palette. With witches galore and plenty of fan service, Majogami is solid, if unspectacular addition to your Switch 2 catalog while you either wait for bigger games down the line or you want a shorter game to hold you over or to replay. Combat is a bit simplified and in some cases can be too easy and as mentioned the game is short. As video games stories go, there is not much here. Majogami isn't trying to reinvent the wheel as much as be an enjoyable side scroller with a cool combo mechanic to do just enough to set itself apart from the others. Game sits somewhere between a 7-8/10.
I'm writing this for the Switch; Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a charming, silly little open world ARPG. While the game brings nothing new to the table, you can tell this game was made with heart. The story is very simple and cliched and while it is an open world, it is very short. That being said, this game was clearly made for simple fun and is not designed to be taken seriously. If you go in expecting simplicity, you'll enjoy your time with this game as its characters, while unmemorable, have a humorous and lost feeling about them and it makes for some funny banter between characters. If you are looking less, hostile and forgiving ARPG just to scratch a temporary itch till something bigger arrives, you could do worse than Astor which provides some challenging bosses, many collectibles, various optional challenges, and funny dialogue for a short, but sweet time.
I really wanted to like this game because it has so much going for it. Let me start with the positives. This is a game by a small studio and I am all for supporting those. The art style is B-E-A-utiful. The black, white, grey hand drawn art style was very well done and the game handles the 60 fps flawlessly even in handheld. While the story is very blah, the execution isn't bad. This isn't a game where the story itself is important, but the overall world is and its handled smoothly and I didn't feel confused or bored. While the battles are a bit repetitive, the do or die nature of them does keep you on your toes. Especially boss battles. Now to that bad. This game is hard. No not Dark Souls hard but fair hard. The game features many ridiculous difficulty spikes. Between regions (there are 8-9) make sense. In dungeons doesn't. Many times simple battles will push your characters to the brink of using all magic and items you have. And since both of those are very finite, as I mentioned, there is a do or die nature to every battle. And there are lots. Now most RPGs are designed with a senseof grinding to make up for this, the problem is A, you can only level up characters once you return to base, and B leveling up early is easy, later its much harder. And since enemies hit like a mac truck, it is easy for your characters to be outclassed very quickly. Which leads me to the biggest problem. This game features a permadeath like mechanic in that your characters can die, but be revived. But let me put this lightly, DON'T LET THEM DIE BY ANY MEANS. Characters dying almost breaks the game. First off, it costs money to revive them. It costs a lot of money to revive them. Like a whole lot. And its not 100% you do revive them. I would say its not even 50% you revive them. Trying to revive even low level characters can cost thousands. And money isn't easy to come by in this game so get ready to grind for possibly an hour for a CHANCE to revice the character. And if the chance fails (which it most likely will), you can pay even more to try again. Now you might think the smart idea is to just recruit new characters, but those characters start from scratch and will be a liability in battles. So get ready to spend a few hours leveling up that 1 or mre character(s) just to continue the game. Honestly, the best course of action is to restart the game which defeats the purpose. Other problems include a pretty mundane soundtrack, scant enemy variety, and a very obselete weapon and armor system that doesn't do much to move the needle in battle since many attacks (especially ranged) miss. This game was clearly designed with grinding in mind, but it alomg with the permadeath mechanic are handled so bad in this game, I can't recommend it.
This game needed more time in the oven, which is sad because the basis for a good game is here. Starting with some pros, this game had some good ideas. The combat itself is not bad in its multiple approach. There is plenty of weapon variety and enemy variety is a strong suite of this game as well. The sanity meter is an innovative perk as well as the beserk status that the closer you get to insane, the more damage you do. Again, the foundation is there. Now the bad: This game is ugly. Like really ugly. I usually am pretty forgiving on game graphics. I am perfectly fine with a 720p game and 30 fps. My only reservation is if bad graphics directly affect gameplay. In this game, that very much happens. Aside from the camera struggling to focus properly on enemies and you especially in small fighting environments, enemies can damage other enemies, however, because of the bad graphics, its not an always consistent. So an enemy can strike you thru other enemies but not damage the enemies they struck thru. And the enemies in this game hit HARD. Which normally in a Soulslike is par for the course, but the problem is, enemies don't have rules. Most people forget that while Souls games are hard, they do adhere to a set of rules which allows the player to succeed. In this game, those rules don't exist. Enemies can attack thru your attacks, don't get stunned by your attacks, can attack from far distances, and they are damage sponges. And the enemy variety while good causes problems. Many times you will get thrown into a battle with multiple enemies which in and of itself isn't bad. The problem is the aforementioned problems above combined into 1 battle. Most Soulslike games mitigate this problem by making you fight many enemies but they are glass cannons (they hit hard, but you can beat them in 2-4 hits). While attack variety is good (you can attack, block, parry, and ripost and use a gun), the damage output between riposting and all the others makes doing anything other than riposting a waste of time. And God help you if you have projectile enemies because you usually can't touch them till the last part of the fight. And if you think you can just run thru the level. Hahaha. Enemies that spot you, chase you. THE. ENTIRE. LEVEL. I wish I was kidding. I'm hoping a big patch will come thru to fix some of these issues, but its been 5 months since release and nothing has gotten better which is sad because I love my Soulslike on the go, but this game lacks so much polish and basic Soulslike logic.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was one of my favorite games of 2017. The story was original, the ideas were fresh, the direction was perfect. In 2024, Senua's Saga somehow manages to do less with more. Visually the game is stunning. You can almost feel everything that Senua is feeling as she takes those steps into the coastline of belting waves or when the sun rises over the mountain pass. Melina Juergens once again kills it as Senua as every emotion and strife Senua shows leaves you deeply concerned about her faltering mindstate. The audio too is never better. The voices are here to stay and every feeling they gave you in the first game returns in the 2nd. Gameplay-wise is where the game starts to falter. Hellblade I was a game in and every way. I have great memories playing it. The combat was responsive, the puzzles were confusing but fun, Senua was easy to control, and the boss fights were nail-biting. In this game, none of that is present. First off, the game feels like a cinematic movie that you happen to be in control of (i.e. a walking simulator). The first game was no Skyrim in terms of gameplay by any means, but your playing the game was most important. In this game, if feels like the basics of the game are an afterthought I read somewhere combat was supposed to be more fast-paced. How? If anything, Senua is much slower in the game and the dodge mechanic leaves a lot to be desired. Gone is the quick turns and the fighting multiple enemies at once. Combat is very straight-forward and boring and Senua may as well be fighting like she is swinging a sledgehammer in a puddle of olive oil. Her actions are clumsy and unresponsive. You can't chain together combos anymore and every encounter comes to a slash, slash, dodge, dodge, heavy attack (finisher). The puzzles in the first game were hardly ****, but they did enough to keep you thinking. The puzzles in this game are more dumbed down and there are obvious fillers. Not to mention, I can count on 1 hand how many there are in this game if you consider most of them are just extended puzzles of previous ones in the area. The story kind of broke my heart the most. I won't spoil anything, but the first game was about Senua, her struggles with her mental illness, and overcoming her self-hatred and self-reproach for all things she touched to the point with she came to grips with who she was. This second game, well, shreds most of that internal growth and character building and makes Senua the chosen one and the voices in her head make her a "seer" with a God-gifted ability. If that's the case, what was the point of the first game? Senua was a sympathetic figure trying to prove she wasn't a mistake in the first game. Now she's a gift from the Gods? Where's the growth? Why the shift from a premise so grounded to the most obvious video game cliche? What was the point of this game if it's going to undo everything that was the point of the first game? This game left a lot to be desired from the gameplay to the story. Its visually stunning, but I think they should have just let well enough be from the last game.
While the aesthetic may be a turn off to most, Lost in Random boasts a simple, but enjoyable story with likeable characters and plenty of personality. The way the developers were able able to make so many nods to puns on numbers and numerical jargon is impressive. Combat is simple but kept interesting with the die system in having to acquire gems to roll to use a card to battle back. While clever, in longer battles (especially boss battles) this system can be cumbersome and make the of the battles feel that much longer. Puzzles can be hit and miss with some puzzles being quite clever with specific tasks requiring effort and others being simple fetch quests and the side content is much the same. Overall, I am enjoying story. The game plays like a Disney story wrapped in a Tim Burton art style with basic, but creative combat. The game isn't for everyone, but is a reminder that you don't need big budgets and overwhelming, cinematic display to make an enjoyable game.
In 2005-08, this game probably would have blown me away. But in 2023, this game shows its age. The fact that the devs didn't upgrade this game in anyway is almost a slap in the face. I don't mind the games difficulty because its a product of its time. I don't necessarily mind the graphics because of the same. I don't mind the opaque-ness. I don't mind the sluggish combat. I don't even mind the vapid main character. What I do mind is all of that in one game. I just don't get the point of this game's existence now. Especially when BotW, TotK, Skyrim, The Witcher, and even Kingdom's of Amular, and Dragon's Dogma all do it better. Hell the game could have even been re-done in the vein of Risen 3 which is very good. Alas, this is what was made. Maybe good for some, but not all.
I'm not a big souls fan but I enjoyed Chronos:BtA so I tried this. This games leaves a lot to be desired: Pros
-Sci-fi Souls. Need I say more?
-Despite poorer performance, areas are detailed and gear looks good. -Expansive areas to explore
-More forgiving than typical Souls games for beginners Cons:
-I'm not a person who pays much attention to performance as long as I can play, but between framerate drops and freezes, even I have to complain
-Game crashes way more often than it should
-Enemy variety leaves a lot to be desired
-On the previous note, when you beat a boss, they become a common enemy. So what was the point of the boss fight?
-The crafting system is half hearted. Would have been better off focusing on loot only.
-The camera is your worst enemy. Made boss fights harder than they needed to be.
-The controls can be kinda janky. And given that there is platforming in this game (WHY?!?!), it can make for a frustrating playthrough. I am gonna finish this one but I will happily delete it and never come back to it.
I am playing this game much later on after release (which is my preference because I distrust the industry and buy nothing day 1). The story and narrative: Very unoriginal and uninsprired. However, name me an FPS you play for the story? The characters are pretty meh too. Every person is a grizzled merc with deep, rough and tough voices and blah blah. Again, I can take or leave a story in an FPS that's not an RPG. Gameplay: The best and worst part of the game. Clearly inspired (and ripping off) from DOOM, the gameplay is fast paced and weirdly loose. You may wanna use some form of aim assist because this game has very wavey shooting mechanics (i.e. shaky aimming, constant movement). The game has looter elements, but they hardly make sense. While the classes are simple (pistol, rifle, shotgun, heavy) upgrading weapons can feel like a chore because it is confusing and really slows the game down. I understand what the developers were going for, it just wasn't done the best. The game features a "heal upon kill" mechanic which is neat and necessary more on that later. There is even a takedown (glory kill) that is pretty awesome looking. World: A big problem with the game is while it is fleshed out and pretty, it can be difficult to know where to go since maps tend to be very dark and unobious. Many times I thought I was going right way only to run into a dead end or die because I jumped into something or ran into something I wasn't supposed to. However, when stepping back, it does look well done. AI: Remember the "heal on kill" mechanic I mentioned? You'll need it. This game is tough and AI is accurate to a T. They will see you before you see them and their weapons may as well have lock on. You will take a lot of damage in this game. Luckily, most enemies can be taken down pretty easily as long as you maintain crowd control. Performance: I'm playing on the Series S and the game maintains a smooth 60 fps for me with no bugs thus far. Graphics are beautiful and gameplay is smooth. Overall, I'd say a 7 is fair. Does a few things wrong, does a lot of things well. Definitely copies from DOOM, but does just enough to stand on its own. I have enjoyed my time playing it.
Hardcore Souls-fans are gonna hate this. Truth be told, its exactly what it looks like--budget Dark Souls (for the most part). However, this does have a few mechanics to separate itself. Most notably that dying gives you the chance to improve your abilities and magic. I would do a pros and cons, but it depends on how you view the game. I am not a Souls fan, but the genre is unavoidable at this point. Chronos does just enough for me to not overstay its welcome. Yes its short, but I honestly prefer that. The first level of the game is awful. Its cramped, slow, and makes little sense. The first boss of the game nearly made me quit because I kept getting stuck and the camera kept getting me killed, but I stuck with it and have found more enjoyment in following levels. The game suffers from many framerate issues which is shocking because this game is very small, linear, and minimal. Shouldn't be that hard to be locked at 30 fps. This game is probably more of a 5-6, but for me its a 7 because its just enough Souls for me to play on the go without going full Souls. I like the short length, linear gameplay, and accessibility. Most Souls fans should probably steer clear though.
The foundation for a great game is there. It might be a disconnect between regions, but it felt like this game was trying to do something else than it should have. I feel like it was trying to more teach us of culture than let us play a game. Pros
-Graphically stunning
-Beautiful music
-Likeable cast
-Some pretty fun boss battles
-Accessibility Cons
-Lots of extremely long cutscenes
-Combat was fun, but often felt weightless -A number of translation issues
-Felt like a visual novel game that happened to have combat
-Shallow sidequests
This game is more like a 7.5, but I am rounding down. For anyone who has played Chaos Legion back on the PS2 days, the game plays a lot like that except the "Legions" (Einherjer) have a full fleshed out character in this. I absolutely love the combat as I am more a of hack n' slash type akin to DMC or Ninja Gaiden rather than circle strafing for half an hour. The story leaves a lot to be desired. I am about half way thru the game and yet I haven't really felt a since of urgency. I think I have an idea as to where the story is going. Yes, the game is short (12-13 hours), but that doesn't mean you can't flesh out the world a bit more. Hell, the Einherjer have more substance than the main character. I know she is supposed to be like that, but a little more about her creation and/or training would help. The camera can f**k off and die in this game. Too many times did I get caught in a corner and just resulted to smashing the square and circle buttons to get free. I would probably be a bit more fond of this game were it more like 29.99 or even 34.99, but a 59.99 game this is not worth. Luckily for me I borrowed it from a family member and I recommend you do the same.
I've tried uploading a review but Metacritic's system is bad so I will just gloss over it: The story is the best part of the game. Not very in depth, but very touching of a brother trying to resurrect his sister while avoiding getting caught in a power struggle for the land. The interactions between Zhao, Xiang, Hong and Jipeng really add to the story, however, there are a lot of cutscenes in the game. Combat is similar to The Witcher. You have a basic combo and a special combo based on the stance you take. Xiang and Hong can assist in battle with or without your control. Often take on multiple enemies at a time. Camera and lock on system isn't the most friendly. Bosses are fun but hit a difficulty spike in the 2nd half of the game. Framerate leaves a lot to be desire. This game is at best 30 fps and certain areas will cause drops as well as multiple actions on the screen. However, it is still very playable. Never experienced framerate issues during boss battles. System is based on upgrading equipment with materials, however, there is a very finite amount of money in the game due to a lack of side quests and therefore a lack of money. Zholou Chess is very fun though. Overall, a fun game AA game from an company that really cares, doesn't stand out with lavish bells and whistles, but I really enjoy games like this that are simply about care and story rather than specs and content.
Let me start by saying, you shouldn't judge this game as a "typical game." This is what some would call a "filler game" or "loading game." It's a game you buy when you are trying to kill some time or are waiting for your bigger game to finish downloading. In that regard, I have more good to say about this game than bad. For starters, the graphics are actually very good. They were so good that I thought this game used the Unreal Engine, but I was wrong. And it runs very smoothly. With all the activity going on, I never experienced any slowdowns with the game in either docked or handheld mode. Kudos to the developers for putting a lot of attention into the details of the game. The ships look good, the astroids look good, the debris in space looks good. Aesthetically, the game passes the test. The combat isn't bad. There is very little depth to it, however. It pretty much is the simplest form of a dog fighting game you can find. The developers did good to add in a "break" control as I think that is a missing feature from many dog fighting games. The barrel rolls harken back to another dog fighting game of memory. The battles are pretty one note thought. Find big bad guy, defeat big bad guy, onto next mission. The characters have personality and are voiced, so that makes things **** least during the story. In battle, your partners are useless. Not almost. They are useless. I can't recall one AI partner defeating one enemy. It would at least be OK if they talked during battle or made comments here or there, but they only talk when the mission starts, the big baddy appears, and when you defeat them. The worst part about this game is the hunting for resources parts. To sum it up, when said mission is done, you fly around an empty space and search for a specific number of intel or ship parts. This is annoying for two reasons: 1) It slows down the game totally and takes away any momentum of the flow of the game from the space battles. Not to mention, the droid, which is supposed to help you, is more infuriating than helping because it lights up when you are a country mile away from any resource so you could be far away from the resource and it still lights up, and 2) I feel like this part was "time off work" day because couldn't they have just replaced the resource searching with side missions that were more fruitful to the style of the game? How about a side mission where you have to compete against your fellow pilots? How about a race? How about where you can protect a fellow carrier ship? How about where you help other pilots in another part of the of the squad? And this is just off the top of my head. I'm giving this game a 7 because of the value (if you are going to buy it, buy it on sale). And with few dog fighting games out there (especially futuristic ones), this game isn't bad. It's just not special. But there are many worse games you could get for the price and if you go in with low expectations, you can have some fun with this game.
I'm torn. If I'm just reviewing this game and I had never played the original The Last of Us, this would be fantastic. It would be game of the year. The story, the visuals, the atmosphere, the gameplay, it is all fantastic. This game would absolutely compete with Elden Ring for the GoTY title. But... I just recently played the original The Last of Us and while the game is dated in some aspects, the truth of the matter is, it is still as good as anyone who remembers playing it for the first time. It is a masterpiece. Then I remembered, I have the Remastered version as well as a PS Plus subscriber an while I didn't really play it (maybe like an hour), it was still everything that I could want. And just to note, the remaster came out 13 months after the original release. So it stands to question, why does this remake exist? The truth is, I don't have a good answer. Then when you add in that in reality, this remake is a bloated, expensive ($70), visually updated version **** that you probably already have, that was also cut in half, I have even less of an answer. The only thing I can say is this, if you haven't already played this game, go for it. I would wait for it to go on sale, but go for it. This is probably the best way to play the game and wait for part II as well. But as a person who has the original and remaster (PS Plus) already, I can't recommend it because I questioned why I even bothered renting it while i was playing it.
Was really hyped for this game because I knew it was coming to Switch and figured it would be a Breath of the Wild - lite. There is a lot to like about this game with it being a resource-based trading game and your job is to smooth over relations between factions based on finding the items that that need. You travel finding items each faction needs and based on what you get, can open up other items and quests for each faction for yourself. Not a bad premise honestly. However, the execution is paltry at best. First, the world is open and full of life, but kinda boring at the same time. 90% of what you come across are hostiles and the other half is just sort of background foder. Also, it doesn't help that every objective is like 50 miles from the nearest objective and given that this is the switch version, texture pop-ins and getting stuck in glitches isn't out of the question. Speaking of glitches, the first time I played the game, I got stuck on a quest because it wasn't letting me complete the task. When I next booted up the game, it had completed the quest and put me in the middle of a cutscene???? How that happened I don't know. Combat I was really looking forward to, but alas, that broke my heart the most. There is difficult and then there is Pine. Enemies are much stronger than you for the most part. Many attacks cannot be blocked. There is no parry. Projectiles only work on certain enemies (despite saying every enemy has a critical spot), enemies can attack through your attacks sometimes and worst of all, enemy attacks can send you reeling while your attacks may as well be throwing wet sand at a brick wall. Not to mention, enemies chase you throughout the map so the only real way to get away from them is to defeat them or to run into a dungeon or whatever. Oh, and despite the factions being at war with each other, they seem to have a common enemy in your so don't be surprised if you become the center of the battle. The ideas of this game are better than the sum which is sad because the foundation for this game is really something that could be built off of. It was just poorly executed. I may give them this some more time because I really do want to like it, but the performance and the way they went about this game just really is sad because it could have been so much better.
The value of this game is better than the game itself. Let me start by saying, for less than $5, you could do a lot worse. For starters, the story...what story? I can't even bother to say I have paid attention. All the characters are so monotone and dull that I can't even bother to watch the cutscenes. But to put it simply, you are one of specialized-tech warriors mounting a counteroffensive against an alien species. That's about all I got. The game does feature a great design in that you are essentially gearing and leveling up before each counteroffensive before the game eventually pushes you on to the next part of the game, so you must be wise about farming and leveling up, as well as which side missions you do. The visuals....I have no problem with them. I actually like them. The caricature looking soldiers in the game (as well as your character) are charming to be honest. The levels in the game aren't going to blow you away graphically, They are pre-rendered levels are pretty lifeless and it does get a bit annoying seeing the same level on almost every mission. But again, this isn't a AAA style game so it gets a slight pass. The **** is fun. Easily the best part of the game. Some of the best hack-n-slash you'll get out of a 2D game. Combos are easy to pull off, though you can sometimes get caught up in combos. Enemies attacks are pretty repetitive and predictable, unless you are fighting bosses. The combos are fun to pull off, but it can get tedious going from one slashing gallery to the next. Enemies types are slim as there are only a handful. Some are way easier than others, but most can be easily handled. Boss battles are hit or miss with some battles being a war of attrition and require numerous revives. Overall, I would recommend this game. It's nothing special, but again, for $5, it is a good game to just pick up and play. The customization and design are fun for this game and while repetitive and mindnumbing, it is accessible and has replay-ability. Plus, you can get the coins very easily.
To be honest, this is a near flawless port to the switch. The graphics are better than ever, all additional content added, it runs 100% smooth, and for the price point, you can't beat it. It is well worth it all (they even added a button for the flashlight, thank goodness)! So why a modest 7/10? Truth be told, it just feels weird on the switch. I don't mean that in a "It doesn't belong on the Switch way." Just how the game controls feels awkward in comparison to playing it on the Xbox. If you are a hardcore Doom fan or just want to finally play a quality single player FPS on the Switch, then you could do much worse than Doom 3. I honestly have no worthwhile complaints about the game itself. Just how the game handheld-ed on the switch didn't feel as natural as on the Xbox.
The game got a little bit too much hate by the big console critics. Yes, this is essentially a carbon copy of the old Xbox game and what the PS3 game is. Yes, the additions are minimal in comparison to the original. Yes, the console versions are better. But in the **** complain? This is 3D Ninja Gaiden on the go. Let us not forget that the original Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox was one of the console's premier titles and it darn near swept award season in 2004. You're getting that game on the Vita. The visuals stand up very well for a handheld title (comparable to the Xbox version), there are almost 0 framerate issues (which is amazing considering again, this was on the Xbox), the original buttons are allocated properly on the handheld, and it maintains everything about the core gameplay. So what's the problem? It didn't do anything new? Who cares. The brought the Xbox version to the PS Vita. It was one of my favorite Xbox games and I am ecstatic to be playing it on the go.
I got this game when it was on a big sale and I'm glad I did. Obviously an ode to the turn-based RPGs of old, this game can be difficult for those who aren't used to really paying attention to the intricacies of an overall RPG battle. The stance system is innovative albeit a bit cumbersome and annoying sometimes, but in that it is what makes it important. Think twice about taking on big team battles because enemies are very capable of bringing down someone if not everyone in your team. And the bosses cannot be beat simply by spamming the attack command. Earthlock may take some getting used to, but a colorful and jeery cast, pretty visuals, and a relaxing soundtrack (I love the title song Festival of Magic and learned it on the piano because of this game) make the game an original and rewarding experience. Addendum: So after reaching the second half of the game, i was unfortunately bogged down by an annoying difficulty spike. Normally, i don't mind mind those, however, it is executed poorly in this game. There is a difference in a game being difficult and a game requiring you to over-level your characters with tedious grinding. The former describes the first half of the game, the latter describes the second half. Not only do enemies out number you, but it essentially turns into survival mode of avoiding battles and finding worthwhile areas to grind endlessly in artificially extending the life of the game. That is no fun. Therefore, I am dropping my initial score down by two points because there is no need for that. Its a shame because I was really enjoying this game till that happened.
The only good news is, I bought it on sale. I wasn't looking for anything special per se. I have no problem with linear quests that can be beat in a few hours for just a little enjoyment. You can conquer Beast Quest in a quarter of a day and I had no problem with that. The battle system was simple yet fun, the progression was elementary but easy to understand, and story was corny, shallow, and cliche, but adorable. But oh my goodness this is not a good game: -I understand that this is a port, but how are there this many glitches? This game 3.5 gb. I've played games with less space, but more quality. What the heck happened? -The guidance system is almost useless since it sent me in circles many-a-time. -If you are gonna make 1000 chests, can you make 1000 keys for those chests please? -The battles are fun, but a little too simple. Only one boss I struggled with but that was because I was trying to beat him with counters (which are hit and miss, btw). -I can't complete the game because some missions are literally not letting me complete them? (Again, how is this for such a big game?) -Most importantly, how can they charge the price for this crap? $30 USD? Really? Good thing I got it for 80% off or I would be pissed. Skip this one. Unless they add something to it or at least completely fix it.....pass it.
Is it a must have? No. Is it ground breaking? No. But on a system devoid of shooters, there are worse ways to spend $5. The game feels mechanical which shouldn't come as a shock since its an andoid/iOS port, but it works well enough with the Vita controls.
Would be better if it were complete. This game feels like a beta for MH:W or any other monster game. The only good news about it is that it is free to play, however, its hard to gain much if you don't buy the pass (which albeit is very cheap). The opaqueness of the game makes life pretty difficult for play. You're essentially on a time limit to gather resources and find a specific monster which is confusing since the resources are few and far in between and once you find the monster, you can't really go back to doing anything else. On one of the missions, it is various monsters including the big baddie against you and your team and I was hoping that would be the standard for the missions, alas it was not. Some of the battles are borderline unplayable since the bosses have very little variety in the way you can approach them. You are limited in the supplies you can bring, and realistically, most of those supplies are somewhat ineffective, if not useless, anyway. Certain missions require you to break or injure a monster in a certain way, but the game never explains how to do this so you end up blindly swinging your sword, axe, lance, etc. in an effort to accomplish this mission with 50% chance (maybe) of actually completing the mission correctly. The "Hunts" make no sense really because you are really only hunting one monster on a small island with nothing else on it. The hit box numbers make no sense either because there is really nothing to compare it to. There is no life bar for the boss, no HP count for the boss. As mentioned above, for some missions, you are supposed to break certain pieces off of the boss for needed for upgrades and whatnot. Wouldn't it make sense to have SOME form of an indicator of the boss's damage level on certain parts of the **** at least some form of notification that said body part is about to break? And why the lack of resources for hunt items? I get that it is a F2P game and they want you buying the items, but most of the items you need are even available for sale. If you want to make me grind for upgradeable items, fine. But the fact I have to play a mission 5 times just to get 10 dashleafs, phoenix opals, omnistones, etc. is a sin and its annoying. All that being said, the game is fun enough till you get the the later parts of the game and realize you are really hindered by the P2W mechanics that aren't even explained how they work. The graphics are adorable in typical EPIC GAMES fashion with coloful, cartoony visuals. The story.....what story? And no one in this game says a word apparently (not that there is much to say). I'd pass this one by till they add more content and clarification on it and an explanation on how to actually progress. P2W or not. Oh and finally, what they hell are the point of the daily postmarks? I get all 10 of them each time and literally nothing else happens. Are they just there to look pretty?
I had been waiting for TERA to come to PS4 ever since it was announced in early 2017. I've sunk 15 hours into the game thus far and here are my takeaways: -The graphics are pretty good. Especially for a F2P MMORPG. You deal with some pop-up textures here to there, but in comparison to the other F2P MMORPGs for the PS4, its graphics and stability are for the most part on the top tier. -While the graphics aren't bad, character customization leaves a lot to be desired. The character models are hilariously bad. Apparently every race in the game suffers from a disease that makes there head 1/4th the size of their body. Seriously, why are all the characters ridiculously big? For instance, I picked a human archer for my class and yet I couldn't customize him in any way that he didn't come away the size of an NBA Power Forward. -The combat is fluid. Not fast paced. Fluid. That's not a bad thing as 90% of MMORPGs on the market a pretty much the same. So no harm, no foul there and it makes things easy for strategizing with teammates and those who wish to contribute and it does have more of an action-like feel. However, enemies follow you far. And I mean far. Speaking of the enemies. -The enemies are pretty much filler as you would expect for the most part. Bosses can be fun. Nothing particularly difficult unless you are getting attacked in a group which is a bit disappointing since I was hoping for a bit more challenge. -The spell bars and items cache set up leaves a lot to be desired. There's no doubt on the PC it probably looks fine. But on the PS4 (and I'd imagine XBOX One) It is an eyesore. Its automatically set up for you as you gain them and they are pretty hard to differentiate from one another. Particularly because the text and symbols on them are so small and hard to read. There is no reason for this. I am playing the game on a 65" 4K TV and yet the text and spells are so small you almost need bifocals to see them clearly. You are better off just memorizing everything. -More on the spells and attacks: while they are no doubt fine in and of themselves, I personally don't like how it automatically sets them up for you. In addition, I don't like how it hand holds you leveling them up either. It puts the ones you can acquire and upgrade at the top for you and pretty much tells you what to do. The spell system if kind of...boring. You just pick a spell and level it up. I was hoping for something deeper. Most MMOs allow you to not only upgrade spells, but attributes as well. While it sort of does that, its all one pool. In a game where the fighting is more action-y, it would do them well to change how certain characters can do different things (agility, defense, intelligence/wisdom/cunning, etc.) -As we know with most F2P games, you either have to fork out a lot of money or grind heavy. Honestly, 15 hours in and I haven't come across a wave of MTX like I would expect which is a really good thing. I feel like I am really having the opportunity to progress along at a good pace. But holy crap, is there a lot of grinding. Apparently the publishers knew how much grinding there was gonna be because I got a payout it felt like once every 15 minutes for killing a certain type/number of enemies. I will never complain about free stuff, but I do find this a bit humorous in a cynical way. -Not particularly a big game problem, but deserves and honorable mention: completed quests don't have a hub area. Why is this a problem? Enemies can attack you while you are speaking to your NPC. If they attack you, it cuts off the conversation and you have to kill them and restart the conversation. And 9/10 the NPC won't aggro for you, so you have to do it yourself. While not a big problem, its the thought that counts. I would have to say I'm a bit disappointed in this game. While not bad, I expected more. I have been really looking for an F2P MMORPG to pull me away from Neverwinter, but I can't say this is much better. That being said, its a clear step up from the messes that are Skyforge and Star Trek Online. But after dealing with the flaws of Neverwinter for so long, I was hoping for something....different. This isn't a bad game by any means and I see me playing it along side Neverwinter (I love MMOs). TL;DR: Its the twin sister of Neverwinter except it has black hair instead of brown hair and it doesn't smoke, but it vapes. If you are looking for an average F2P MMO of which you don't have to sink so much heart into, its either this game or the aforementioned game.
This game is just below an 7 really. But, hopefully that's only momentarily. Another game that finally takes advantage of the Aim Controller and it does it in pretty good fashion. The game uses the Unreal Engine and truth be told, it is definitely has some of the best graphics of the VR to date. Most specifically, the weapons and the enemies. People who were calling it another Farpoint prior to release weren't correct, but they weren't wrong either. The gun play is....a bit stiff. I felt like in Farpoint it was a bit more loose and aiming was a bit easier. However, I will give Evasion the benefit of the doubt in terms of gun mechanics because there is more to it than simply shotgun, pistol, rifle. The guns have charging and tethering mechanisms. The tether addition is honestly pretty brilliant and allows you to pick how you wish to attack your enemies and retrieve power ups, not to mention all the other things it does as well such as finish off enemies, heal, and revive fallen allies. Rather than simply have a shooter, the game comes equipped with 4 different classes allowing you various ways to go about, however, in the grand scheme of things, they pretty much all operate the same way. All their weapons are different, but similar in structure and action. Oh and for any Portal fans out there, the AI companion in this game is bitterly sarcastic and cold much like GLaDOs, in a pretty funny way though (at least in the tutorial). The real reason I have this game docked a bit low is 1. A short campaign - yes I get this a constant with other VR games as well, however, the VR is now 2 years old. Longer campaigns shouldn't be so hard anymore. 2. Barebones game-play - everything is a bit too straight forward and ones outside of the campaign, there isn't too much to do besides horde mode. If you are going to play this game, make sure you try to find a buddy because that's where this game really takes off. I may write another review in the future. Hopefully once some more people start playing and there may be an increase in player count. But for now, I'll give it a 7 since I can't give it a 7.5.
Not a bad game, just don't understand what the hype is about. Given all the hype that was surrounding this game, I was really looking forward to it, and in all honest I have enjoyed playing it. I just don't get what everyone is so up in arms with it about. For starters, the game's story is really good, honestly, with a character you can really sink your time into in Sekiro. It's FromSoftware's first protagonist that you can actually develop with in terms of character. Sekiro is a pure bad-ass for sure. While the grappling hook is a clear steal from a well known Nintendo franchise, it is used very well in this game in for the stealth aspect. The action overall action isn't bad either. Thank you for finally adding a freaking jump button. That may not seem like much of a concern to others, but a jump button really helps me manuaver through a battle better than simply rolling/dodging. That's just me. Also, I love the "no stamina" gauge idea. Personally, I always felt that games that featured a stamina gauge steered the advantage towards enemies/bosses because it always seemed like they had unlimited stamina (even if they had a gauge). So why the mediocre 7/10 score? To put it simply, this game doesn't really add anything new to the genre for me. Let's be real, if this wasn't a FromSoftware game, would you even care? Let's take off the rose-colored glasses for a second. First off, as mentioned by others, the only main weapon in this game is a katana (and some shuriken). While it may not seem like a big deal, it really is. It makes every battle the same. Either you stealth stab someone with your sword, or you rush an cut them with your sword. In ancient history, ninjas (shinobi included) used various weapons such as blowguns, caltrops, hook swords, chigiriki (flail), kusari-gama (chained-blade), polearms, and even some bows. So, why the lack of variety in this game? Even the most basic of action games gave the player a bit of variety in order to help them decide how to approach battles. Even the 8 bit Zelda games gave you a bow and a hammer. The graphics leave a bit to be desired (especially from a 2019), however, that doesn't bother me quite as much as others. As long as the game doesn't break, I'm OK with it. Going back to combat, it feels really weird that the game is based off of breaking enemy guard and parrying, and yet, there is no stamina. It sort of makes you sit back and say, "Well, what't the difference?" because, well, what is the difference? Isn't that a stamina thing? Fights are more fast-paced, but it given you essentially have to use the same patience as other FromSoftware titles, it can make harder battles (particularly boss battles) feel like "hurry up and wait" kind of strategy. Also, for a game that is getting such praise, I expected something...different. Pretty much every mechanic from this game has been used before in wide variety. The grappling hook, as mentioned, was used in the Zelda games, the parrying/guard-break mechanic was used in many games including previous FromSoftware titles, the cinematic death-dealing blows have been used by God of War since the beginning, reviving on the spot or at previous checkpoints has been used in pretty much every game, the ninja stealth mechanic was the basis of the entire Shinobido series (hell Sekiro even looks like Goh from that game), even the revenge story in this game is pretty copy and paste from various other revenge story games. I think that because this is a FromSoftware title, its getting quite a bit more accolade than it deserves. That's not to say this is a bad game because its not. In terms of action games, it should satisfy anyone who has an itch for it with FS's trademark difficulty. However, as far as anything special or new to the genre, I would argue that Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is more original than Sekiro. TL;DR: Not a bad game, just over-hyped.
I get it. People really don't like EA. People really don't like the Battle Royale genre. And people really don't like Free-To-Play and microtransactions. I know because I am one of those people. I have to admit, I am hating myself for this too. I never got into Fortnite or PUBG because the genre never appealed to me and those games still don't. However, I do like Respawn and was willing to try if for the sake of that. And I'm glad I did. Respawn somehow was able to maneuver around EA's red tape and greediness and develop a good game. The game is probably one of the best running Free-to-Play games out there. And I don't mean that as a diss. It truly is smooth and the graphics are beautiful. The "team" battle royale feeling adds something to the pot in this game for someone like me who is sketchy on multiplayer games. I feel like their are true tactics I can speak in regards to my team as to how to feel safe which makes the headset I spent $70+ on feel like a good investment for once. Yes, their are microtransactions in this game, however, AS OF NOW, it doesn't have an effect in gameplay. My honest argument is give it a try. I don't like the battle royale genre myself, but honestly, even this one got me hooked. Were it not for being by Respawn, I would have never tried it, but I am honestly glad I did. If you try it and don't like it, hey it's free. Go on with your live and live happy and merry knowing you never spent a dime on it. But try it first.
As a person who played and beat the PS2 original, I was elated when I heard a VR version of this game would be coming. When the demo arrived, I was ecstatic and after playing it, knew I would be happy with this version. Aside from Eve:Valkyrie, the VR has really lacked versatile cockpit fighting games. Granted ZOE is a linear game, but the immersion of the VR and versatility of Jehuty (not to mention the myriad of various enemies) makes the combat anything but linear. Its fast-paced, action filled, and more captivating since you have to be more careful of your surroundings than playing it in the 3rd person view like many other game. I've heard a bit of the complaints with controls, but again, as a veteran of the game it wasn't that hard of a transition. Also, hard controls are what makes the game more immersive since, as mentioned above, you are more immersed in the cockpit than simple hack and slash. The only knocks on the game are length and not adding anything particularly new for the game (as well as the graphics could have been a bit better even in the VR mode after 15 years since the original. However, if you are looking for finally having a gundam/armored core like experience from the cockpit in VR, this should do nothing less than tickle your fancy.
Next to Moss and RE:7 (which just by personal preference, I wasn't a fan of), this is one of the best VR games. Definitely one of the better looking games for the VR (which understandably the graphics can be a turn off). This game will keep your heart pumping with immersive gameplay. No running and gunning here. You have to use stealth and actually duck behind corners, boxes, and other things. In other stealth games, you can imagine what the tension must be like for the main character. In this game, you truly feel the terror and fear because its you. This game is a blast and hopefully they expand more on the game in the future. MUST OWN FOR VR OWNERS.
A hidden gem that is absolutely worth your time. If you are a person who is into Lord of the Rings or even Elder Scrolls type games, then you should give it a try. While not the perfect game, it is still a diamond in the rough that is criminally under played and unnoticed. I happened to pick up this Gamefly when it was on sale for 14.99 and it was worth every penny. Pros: -The game is massive. You can easily lose yourself in the world as it is wide and beautiful at a distance. Plenty of side quests and a nice challenge to any veteran gamer. -The combat system makes small battles fun and big battles a heart pounding thrill. A clandestine feature is the grappling feature that I don't understand why many other games have not included because Capcom uses it perfectly here. With smaller enemies, you can grapple and hold up enemies for your comrades to attack, and with bigger enemies you can do a Shadow of the Colossus like scaling to move around them and attack certain points and it adds a new form a strategy for your team. -Speaking of team, the game features a pawn system that lets you select 3 other members (one of them specific to you) for the battle. As a person who likes teamwork games, but struggles with delving into online communities, this worked out well for me because you can command your pawns the way you see fit and they are actually very helpful (and essential) in battle. -The item/weapon system is basic to what you would expect in any pick up and carry action-RPG game (like all of them), but its done especially well here since you can give items to your pawns allowing them to heal themselves and lighten your load since there is a lot to pick up in this world -The number of quests you can uptake is very high, but not overwhelming since a number of them cross over to each other. -This game isn't Dark Souls hard (or even Nioh), but its not a cakewalk and personally I like that challenge. You can't fight every battle, you can't just hack and slash every battle. Having to do the right things in battle really makes you think and strategize about what your next move is. Do you heal or attack? Do you swipe at the legs or climb on the back and attack? Do you knock the weapon out of the hand or do you go for the head? -If you buy the game now, it comes with all the DLC and everything ready to go. So you can easily put in over 500 hours with this game. Cons: -This game is very opaque. I don't like my games to hand hold, however, it is very easy to get lost in this game (and not in a good way) and not know where to go. The missions sort of tell you what to do, but its very vague at best. I try not to use online guides, but I had to on a couple missions or else I would have never known what to do. -While the game is pretty, there are some pretty funny (and unfunny) glitches in this game. I got the game late so I don't know how many patches came out after the first day, but it needs a bit more. None of them are game-breaking, however, you may catch allies or enemies running in a corner for about 45 seconds to a minute as well as being caught between a rock and a hard place (quite literally). -There is no fast travel (at least that I have noticed in the game thus far) so it can take 15-20 minutes to get to a certain mission through trekking. While its good when you wanna take in the landscape, it gets old fast given the myriad of enemies you can face and how many battles you have to run from after trekking for so long. -The story isn't bad, but its not amazing. It starts out fast, but then explains very little. Luckily gameplay makes up for it, but doesn't leave much to the imagination. This missions are in depth and long, but some of them can feel like elongated fetch/filler quests. All in all, I do not regret picking up this game and its gonna stay in my library for awhile. For the price, it was one of the best games I ever bought and was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it. I can look by some of the miscues of the game being for the fact that the game is just so damn fun. I would recommend to anyone who likes adventure RPG games. If you are a person who likes taking their time with their RPGs then add this one to your list and get ready for a fun time!
To make a long story short, please skip this. This may be the depths of the PSVR right now. Just purchase Farpoint or Arizona Sunshine or keep patient for Firewall: Zero Hour.
This is a weird game to put it simply. But we all know the reason behind it. It carries the Metal Gear tag. A Metal Gear game this is not though, but that's where the weirdness begins. Its a sophisticated zombie game (oxymoron at its finest). I would be lying to say that you can't have fun with this game. Taking on hoards of zombies in a strategic fashion, especially with co-op, is always a blast. And if you have a group of friends, its even more fun. The graphics are beautiful and the scavenging is actually pretty fun as well as the sense of urgency and....wait for it...survival. The customization is deep and gives you lots of options whether you want to sneak around, use melee, craft your weapons, explosives, traps, turrets, and whatever else you want to make your zombie killing a fun time. But that's sort of where things get weird. Its a zombie game. You are using sophisticated tactical means to take on zombies. It feels sort of cheap. It shouldn't be as pretentious as it is. What really dampens the feel is that you while you are using all these tactics, at the end of the day, when the missions really start, you just start taking on hordes of undead slowly moving upon your position. First off, what was the point of the tactics if they all just descend at once? Second, why do I need all these tactics anyway? The crafting makes sense. The weapons make sense. The supplies make sense. The travel makes sense. But, why does my guy/girl need military gear and training to run around a bunch undead who are nothing but slow moving bullet sponges? The real problem is that simply, they would have been better off not naming this game Metal Gear anything. Its not Metal Gear. I'm not trying to sound like an elitest, but there was really no point in keeping the Metal Gear tag. If this were just a regular game that had the zombies and a bit more toned down of the military tactics, it would have been fine. But it really seems like they took Metal Gear and just combined it with Zombie Army Trilogy. Again, you can have fun playing this game, especially if you get a group together. But repetitive game-play and pretentious presentation of such a simple concept may turn you away after a short while. If not, the microtransactions and always on-line connection will.
The closest thing you're gonna get to an Armored Core game for the VR (please FromSoftware!) Rigs is absolutely a fun game. I was hesitant about the game when it first came out, but when I saw it for free for PS Plus, I decided to give in and go ahead. A great decision made. Its a fast paced mech-fighting "sports" game that has quite the amount of content going for it. It does start off on a bit of a bad note with a remarkably long (and tedious) opening and tutorial. The bulk of which could be summed up in 15 less minutes were it not for the showmanship and loading times. Once you get freedom though, its very fast and pretty tough. 9/10 you are going to lose your first match. The AI companions you receive in the beginning and pretty bad, but that's sort the point. You have to gain the credits to purchase better teammates. It ****, but its the point of the game. There is a drastic difference between them and the lesser players. A key to the game is picking the mech that works best for you and developing a play-style and strategy. There are various different types of mechs and 3 modes for each mech: speed focus, repair focus, offensive focus. You'll need to find balance between all 3 modes to win. There are only 3 different types of game modes which is a bit inhibiting, but still fun. Team takedown (deathmatch), Power Slam (like basketball) and Endzone (says its like American football, but its more like futbol). A con about the game is the motion though. I haven't experienced myself and also I spent time in pilot training when I was younger, however, I could easily see how a person could get motion sickness from the game. Its best to pace yourself in it and be careful if symptoms arise. Overall, its clearly one of the best games on the VR to date. I would highly recommend to anyone. I've yet to try out the online portion as I want to "git gud" with just the AI which can be difficult in itself. I'm looking forward to it.
While a clear improvement over the last game, it is still leaves a lot to be desired. I had to reset myself from the overwhelming distaste that I had after playing the first Destiny. This game, adds to the formula in the right direction, but it still is missing so much. Destiny still fails to identify it it wants to be a Call of Duty or an MMORPG. Some pros and cons Pros: - They got rid of those ridiculous scout missions and put in actual side missions that make more sense. That was long overdue. -People may rail against it, but I actually like the silent protagonist. The original character had no character or personality whatsoever and didn't feel like a good representation of me (especially since I created them). -The story while still meh is still the best one since TTK without a doubt. -The graphics are still beautiful (as they should be in a AAA game of this cost) -The NPCs seem to have a bit more personality in the banter of the quests. Make is not seem so vapid. -Super easy to level up (too super easy) Cons: -Bungie hit it out of the park when they added a sword in the TTK expansion. I would have loved to see them build on that with adding more melee weapons like a power axe, daggers, or something like that. A bow and arrow added to the weapons cache of the game would have been awesome. Instead the re-relegated the weapons system to the same old pistol, rifle, shotgun and you can only use a sword with the power up ability. -While they added side missions, I would have like to see them go somewhere with them. They end as soon as they start and are about as superficial as your average fetch quest in an MMORPG. -The global events are the exact same as Destiny 1 except in more frequency. Biggest con: -Building off what was said earlier, I don't get what Destiny is trying to be. Its formula makes no sense. It has less content than your average open world game, yet tries to make everything seem so social and open. Its an MMO with barriers (which is dumbfounding). With most MMOs (doesn't have to be RPGs) you have a wealth of content that you can spend your time doing even if it is mediocre. There is so much that Destiny could offer. I realize they are trying to make money, but still. How about a real crafting system for weapons and armor? How about battalions (guilds) instead of randomly being matched with someone you'll never meet again? As I stated earlier, how about an expansion of the weapons rather than just pistol, rifle, shotgun, grenade launcher? More raids? Longer side missions? More planets (its the future, even No Man's Sky got that right)? Different enemies? Long strikes? More of a sense of danger (Seriously, I never get worried in a fire-fight. There is a wealth of ammo everywhere)? Monthly events (and I mean real events). It just really seems like Bungie is going out of its way to make the smallest product that they can, hype it up, watch the money rake in, and pocket the money off the game and the $500 million loan. There are some basic things even the most superficial of gamers could ask for that would be a good idea, but Bungie seems content with just limiting itself which is sad honestly because this game has the map to be something amazing. It just isn't being done.
We strike again with the "grading it as a VR game" issue. Let me start off by saying, Archangel in itself is a really good game and is a blast. A cockpit-piloting mech game is about as much as you could ask for from the VR and personally the kind of game I was dying for. A somewhat rail shooter type of game, the action and activity make for a raging time and immediate adrenaline rush. The level of customization is actually respectable in terms of your mech (upgrade your shields early folks). Best played with the PS Move Controllers, you can use the regular controller but the best feel comes from the Move Controllers as you can aim, shooter and even punch with the items. It really does a great job of making you feel like you are the most dangerous thing on the battle field. The visuals are actually some of the best you will get with the VR thus far which is shocking since this is Skydance's first for into the VR world. The game unfortunately comes the same issues that usually plague VR games. The biggest gripe is the game is short, like really short. If you play straight through, you can beat the game in a few hours. For a $40 game, that is not OK. Also, the rail shooting like feel does give it a bit too much linearity as well (though I do understand since it utilizes the PS Move Controllers which are already flawed). The second issue is the lack of really any other content. The hope is that this game is just suffering with new content to come, but just grading the game, its bare-bones. This game begs for some type of multiplayer either co-op or mech vs. mech. Yet nothing. It doesn't really help that the game is padded with the different modes to lengthen how long you play the game for more of a challenge. While not a bad idea, its about the most lazy thing you can do. Again let me mention again that this is not a bad game and is actually really, really fun. What hurts it most is just a short campaign and a lack of other modes. Given you have to shell out $40 for the game and another $85+ for the PSVR Move Controllers, it just may not be worth it with how little the game has to offer at this point. You can play using a regular controller, but then you won't get the full experience of it all. The game has a lot of potential, it just needs a lot more content and hopefully Skydance is working behind the scenes to add more to it.
After looking for an MMORPG to pull me away from Neverwinter, I read up reviews on this and thought I would give it a try. I have to say I came away a bit......very disappointed with this game. After reading and reviewing the hype, I expected more. So to start, the game is very pretty. Not AAA quality pretty, but for a f2p, pretty enough to warrant your eyes. Especially the cutscenses and the areas. I also LOVED the customization I was allowed with this game. Despite being linked to a certain class, I really had the chance to distinguish myself from the cookie cutter looks of other players and I had a lot of fun with that. I could go classic, casual, sci-fi, and everything in between. However, the biggest draw of the game is without a doubt, the action system. Rather than simply have you hold down a button and select a spell like in most MMOs, Skyforge allows you to link together different attacks and combos for various damage depending on the type of encounter you come to regarding enemies. It is without a doubt different and quite fun. But soon after things start to go south. -So let me start by saying the game's quests are linear. And I mean LINEAR. You go from point A to point B with little to no variation in between. The "quests" are about as cut and dry as your average first person shooter mission. How is it that any RPG has linearity let alone this much? -The game also reminds you real quick that it is a f2p by only allowing you access to 3 classes out of a 13!!!! classes to start. Now granted, it does give you the ingenious move of allowing you to switch between all the classes if you so please (which is honestly pretty awesome), but you have to grind (and I mean grind) for an access to just 1 of the other ones that doesn't come with the download. -Speaking of the grinding and linearity, they don't really go well together. This game has various ways to acquire things, but it doesn't do a good job of explaining things. It goes out of its way to explain the action in the game, but does little to explain anything else. Hand holding isn't necessary, but what makes an MMORPG what it is is the vast amount of content. There needs to be some sort of explanation of how to do what and what things do. -Continuing along the lines of explaining things, this game lacks a text chat. While that may not seem like a huge **** is in this case. When you have a game that doesn't do a great job explaining things, option B is to look towards the community for answers. Skyforge really hinders itself in omission of a text chat because it makes the game appear very anti-social when there are probably many questions to be answered about it. Unless you are grouping up with people you already know, it makes it very hard to try randomly create a bond with anyone. -Finally, while the action is awesome and the combat system is fun, it can get repetitive quick. You have various combos, but you encounter the same type of enemies and enemy groups where it really limits the type of combat you can do because you have to attack them all the same way. Not to mention the bullet-sponge bosses that require you to constantly hack and slash with little variation in the strategy. I was really hoping for a lot more from Skyforge because the visuals alone drew me in and the action was fun in the beginning, but all the style wore off quick and showed very little substance. If you are looking for an f2p MMORPG, I'd recommend Neverwinter, waiting for TERA, or spending $8 on ESO on Groupon.
An ode to the old arcade style games, Nex Machina is a reminder you don't need to be a AAA title or have an insane amount of features to be a blast. Simple yet challenging, linear yet in-depth, its a raging time for anyone who simply wants to jump into the action and get to the point. Like many older games, the unfortunate part of the game is the short length and for that, it does get dinged a point. However, given that it is an arcade style game, the replay value is high because you aren't going for a specific story, you are going for the highest score and most efficient win. This is a fun title for the price tag and is an awesome game in itself if not at least an awesome time killer game. If you like the typical arcade style top down shooters, nostalgia, or just like to get to the point of shooting and blowing up things, this is a must own game.
This is a review for the game on PS4. I downloaded the game with an open mind. I wasn't a Star Trek fan really, but the thought of an open space MMORPG was a bit intriguing. I played for a week so I could get a proper idea of the game. There are few things to like about the game. First of all, it is a Trek game so it does a good job staying consistent with the source material. Player customization is very deep (as it should be in an MMORPG). The use of guns is a great idea for an MMORPG and item customization is simple enough for anyone to pick up on. And that's just about where it ends. For the bad, the game is a buggy mess. Even the areas where their are no chats or other players, it can be a buggy mess. I have a strong connection and it even affected me. Also, the acting from the NPCs is laughable. You don't necessarily need to be Golden Globe or Oscar winners to do voice acting, but that was just awful. The missions are a bit linear and the story is meh. You're a guy who takes over the ship after already dealing with a attack and the person who was in your command is killed and then you kill the guy that kills them and......yeah. Just a mess. The fighting system is good in theory, but leaves a lot to be desired. They would have done a better job taking a page from Mass Effect, Gears of War, and everything other 3rd person game that has allowed cover fire. Also, could they have made the enemies and more stupid? They dodge from left to right or stand still and just take hits. How about some......difficulty? The biggest issue is the game is completely incomplete and lacks a lot of features. I can deal with the pay to win model since at the end of the day, it is a f2p game. However, as long as you can get access to the same content by grinding or playing the game out, I don't particularly mind (even if it takes awhile). But, this is pretty bad. Its not too late for them to fix the issues with this game, but they need to get to work because as of right **** just bad.
I'm giving the game an 8, but it is more of a 7.6-7.8. This is a must own game for if you have the VR. The graphics, while grainy, are pretty high up for the VR. The world is detailed and you truly feel like you are the one on a distant planet. One peeve I have is I wish the worlds were a bit more interactive. They are about a interactive as your average PS1 game in that you can only work with what's part of the story. Speaking of the story, its short. Unfortunately short. Not very deep or detailed either. You can look at the back of the box and decipher the story pretty much from that. Shooting in this game is truly realistic. Not only do you have to actually align your sights with what you are shooting at, but the spray of the guns can be sporadic as well (just like a real gun). Unlike the heroes in most 1st person shooter video games, you actually have to put your arms up yourself and trust me, its a workout (no wonder Duke Nukem, the Doom guy, and Blazkowicz have huge arms). The enemies are cut and paste and eventually you do get the hang of their patterns, but it is what it is. I've yet to really try the multiplayer experience, but I am very much looking forward to it. Dings on the game are for a superficial and short story and lack of customization and variation. Its a point A to point B game, but it is truly a blast. This biggest problem with the game has less to do with the game and more to due with the price tag. Yes you can play the game with the dual shock controller successfully, but this game was truly designed for VR aim controller. Being that I didn't buy the game yet, I have to pay for the controller separately which is a pretty penny. I think they could have bundled the items together better rather than the current $80 package they have going right now. For a discount, I may consider it, but for now, its quite the cash grab (especially considering how much you already pay for the VR itself). Hopefully this game has some DLC and more features in the future because it is pretty bare-bones right now. I had been playing Eve:Valkyrie for awhile, but this is the game I was really waiting for with the VR. You shouldn't compare it to games like Battlefield, Call of Duty, or Destiny because it is not those games. However, there is still a large amount of untapped potential with this game and that's the real pull for it. Hopefully they continue to fill the empty spaces with content because the game in itself is a blast to play.
I really wanted to like this game more. Especially since I'm torn between it and Neverwinter. I am a big fan of Bethesda and admire the effort they put into their games, but I think the struggled a bit with this one. For starters, it is a good MMORPG and the number of subscriptions will agree with that. The world is HUGE and there is lots to do. If you have played any of Bethesda's open world titles, you will transition very easily. This game also has some of the best dungeons I have played in since FFXIV. The enemies are a bit too predictable, but they provide a nice challenge. Everything you'd expect from a MMORPG is done here. Weapons, dungeons, lore, content, etc. Its all done very well. The combat also in line with the other Elder Scrolls games so that also made for an easy transition. While their is a bit of lag, its not inhibiting in any way and the world is beautiful and for the most part really smooth. For the bad news though, the real issue is it feels like an open world game more than an MMORPG. While the number of subscribers is high, the overall social level is pretty low. I think the lack of a chat bar really hurts this game in that regard in that you can't really tell some of the players from NPCs. When I play, I feel like I'm genuinely on my own unless I am doing something social, such as a dungeon or a group effect activity. i'd like to try to engage players, but unless they have headphones, it really doesn't work out and not every player is comfortable with headphones. Another problem as someone before mentioned, it can be really boring. If not the cut and paste fetch quests, the time it takes to get to them. One fetch quest leads to about 3 and those three lead to 3 more and so on. This wouldn't be so bad were it not for the lack of social interaction in the game because you could conquer it with other players, but that's where it starts to feel like a open world game again. I'm not much for PvP so I won't get into that. I prefer to have a comradery with my fellow players and this game left me a bit wanting in that. It really should be called Elder Scrolls IV.5: Tamriel. I'm willing to wait for the Morrowind expansion to see if there is any drastic change.
If you go in with high expectations for the game, you'll be disappointed. A spade is a spade. This game is clearly a large testing ground for the VR . Now that's not to say the game isn't fun, because it really is. You can easily get lost in the experience. While not the smoothest of shooters, you can spend all day in the **** of those spaceships. Each ship gives you a little different variety and generally aren't too hard to handle. The main story is essentially a walk-through of how to go into multi-player, which is the obvious draw of the game. Going against the A.I. in multiplayer provides challenge as well. They are no pushovers. While the battles can be engaging in fun, the lack of real customization of the ships makes it easy to predict your opponent and vice versa. The game can be difficult for those who have to focus on multitasking because you can't just shoot, you have to maneuver to survive the battle. And don't expect to rack up high kill counts every mission. The variety in multiplayer isn't bad, but its all of the same you are used to. To mention again, this is a testing ground game for the VR. Its made to hold you over till the other games come out. If you go in looking to simply enjoy the VR and a decent multiplayer experience, you will have a lot of fun. If you go in expecting to find the next great flight combat game, you will be very disappointed.
I really wanted to like this game more than the Division. It seems finding the correct formula for the group co-op shooter games are harder to make than it seems. The visuals are stunning without a doubt and the realism definitely sticks out, however, the open world is almost too open. I actually preferred the small scale of the Division's NY setting. Probably because of the vast amount of time I spent travelling to a mission apparently only 2 miles away, but 10 minutes to get to. If you aren't playing with friends, the AI can be hit or miss if not given specific demands. The cartel idea actually makes for a really good story, it just isn't executed well. I feel like this game struggles to identify what type of shooter it wants to be. The various amount of ways you can take on a mission is great, but if you plan on doing stealth, you are better off doing it with the AI. The multiplayer was frustrating. You HAVE to have a set group before the mission or else randomly selecting people, you end up with people 3-4 miles away. This game isn't terrible, it just doesn't feel like a Ghost Recon. More like a Mercenaries with better graphics and a more straightforward story.
The game's "simplicity" is its selling point. I'm proud that finally there was a game where you can't simply out level the characters you face. The fights actually require some form of strategy and patience. Rather than just going in gun's blazing (or in this case melee weapons swinging), 1 on 1 encounters are actually equal and you have a 50/50 chance. Problem with the game is they meant well with things like the capture the flag, but it doesn't really work. The 4v4 can be very addicting and honestly realistic. No more of the "one man army" syndrome with games. If 3 guys face you, you are going to lose more than likely unless you have a slick plan. The problem I had was I think it was too limited in its core design and the conquering of certain areas is convoluted at best. Honestly I enjoyed the beta. I think people who have a problem with it are people who like to play as fast as possible (FPS fans) and don't like to take the time to have a strategy or out think their opponent. It is truly a unique experience.
The game really starts to finally hit its stride around Chpt 8. Aside from a quick story set up, the first set of hours feel like a waste of time. The visuals in this game are stunning and honestly the N'Sync band of characters do mesh well especially in battle, however, the battle camera is infuriating. I think the biggest issue I have with the game **** called Final Fantasy. FANTASY. Where are the talking animals? The humanoid robots? Magically created characters? Where are the mages? Why am I driving in a car? In this expansive **** is everything only 3 miles worth of driving distance? Where's my Fire, Fira, Firaga? Now that I'm done complaining, the game is really good. Even FF fans have to say so. I've beaten 8 of the Final Fantasys and this one is among the good one's. As mentioned the landscapes are beautiful, the character development isn't bad, the action sequences are pretty cool as are the real time battles and boss fights (honestly the battle with Leviathan was freaking awesome), and Ardyn goes into my top 5 of Final Fantasy bad guys. He's like a subtle version of Kefka's sadistic personality mixed with Vayne Solidor's bravado and style. The game could have been better, but it could have been worse. The story was sub-par and the driving in the car was unnecessary. It seems like the side quests tried to borrow from Elder Scrolls style of filler with fetch quests. But the battle system is fun, the ascension system isn't bad, the characters are pretty pretty to relate to, and the modernization of it works to a point.
The game is what it is. An average MMORPG that is free-to-play. There is an endless amount of things to do such as dungeons, side missions, pve and pvp, farming, etc. as you would expect to do and you can easily lose yourself into the game for hours because of the amount of content. The story leaves a lot to be desired. I've invested 200+ hours into in and I still have no idea what's going on. I had to go to Wikipedia for that. I've dealt with lag here and there, but honestly its not a big issue if you have a strong connection. The dungeon runs are fun, but just too short in my opinion. The average dungeon can be completed in like 20 minutes. While there is a vast community, I haven't come across the socializing that I have in other MMORPGs. You'd be wise to join a guild sooner than later that way if you have any questions, veterans of the game can give you help through it. All in all, its not a bad game. There is plenty to do here. While it won't stack up against the likes of GW, WoW, FFXIV, or Everquest, for the newbie trying MMORPGs or for people who are simply looking for a free-to-play MMORPG it will more than suffice.
