L3Fari0us

Assassin's Creed Origins was Ubisoft's leap of faith into a new world for the franchise that desperately needed a revamp, however, years later, looking at what's come after, one must wonder if this was the right path. Pros: +Likable characters +Interesting plot +Good graphics +Good soundtrack & art style +Armor & weapons look and feel varied +Good voice acting +Parkour feels fluid & responsive +Cities feel lived in +Arena & racing side activities feel fun and are a good change of pace Cons: -NPCs keep repeating the same lines of dialogue -Too grindy -Sidequests follow the same predictable formula (starts out as something simple but then you're tasked with a new objective that sees you almost always killing a commander, saving someone, bringing an object,...) -Main story is too short & follows the same pattern for 3/4 of the game -Last section of the story feels rushed -Little activity variety -Combat feels boring after a while -A lot of the gear you receive is usually weaker than what you have on -Enemies on horseback are extremely annoying to fight on foot -Mounts move too slowly, specially inside cities -No visual indication to alert you if you can or can't parry a certain attack -Extreme level gating -A lot of the areas in the map aren't used in the main story -Most of the sidequests are forgettable -The true ending for the character is locked behind DLC -Animals are a bore to fight -Too much stunlock -Boss battles feel poorly balanced making them either too hard or too easy Overall, Assassin's Creed Origins still holds up in many regards, to this day, however, despite what many believe, the game's not the strongest one out of the RPG lineage of AC titles. Boring gameplay, lackluster story that's only elevated by the amazing performance from Bayek's (the main character) voice actor, tedious side activities, predictable structure and a world too big for its own sake, make AC: Origins a title that's good in its best & rarest moments and a chore to go through during most of the title's runtime. A typical case of quantity over quality. For those that were fans of AC: Odyssey, the game will feel like a (natural) step back, for those who liked AC: Valhalla, the game will feel like meeting a distant cousin for the first time and for those that are fans of the older titles in the franchise, there are some aspects that will intrigue you that are part of the core experience of AC, but it is a significant departure nonetheless. If you are looking for a lite-RPG set in ancient Egypt, with some mystical elements then I recommend the game.

Dragon Age Origins was BioWare's first attempt at a RPG in an universe of their own creation, that now stands as one of its most memorable franchises. But was the first game as good as some people remember it to be? Pros: +Diverse dialogue options +Well written characters, story & world building +Various races to choose from +Different origin stories depending on your race +Classes & perks all feel distinct +Choices the player makes greatly impact the narrative +Memorable soundtrack +Companions all feel well developed & interesting +Some of the side quests are extremely captivating +Game has a perfect length (around 40h) Cons: -Combat feels slow & hasn't aged well in general -Enemies feel boring to fight against -The gameplay formula is stale and gets old quickly -Graphics, aside from character models, look outdated -Art style is dull to look at (grey/brown pallets) -Various side quests feel unnecessary Overall, Dragon Age Origins feels like a great entry into the pantheon of RPG's that have released throughout the ages, shaping the ground up for various other games of the same genre. If you're a RPG fan who likes or isn't bothered with a more tactical combat style, then I recommend this game.

Dragon Age 2 feels like BioWare's shot at a more accessible RPG while trying to maintain the quality and depth they're known for. Pros: +Gameplay is more action orientated & faster than DA:O +Solid voice acting for the most part +Art style still holds up to this day +Returning characters, making the games feel connected +Story, while linear, is very interesting, albeit a bit frustrating at times +Armor looks great, specially endgame sets +All classes feel good to play +The twists are all well executed Cons: -You can't play as different races, unlike the previous title -Your origin story is always the same one -Narrative is extremely linear -Most dialogue options don't matter -Dialogue options are extremely ambiguous -Dialogue options are always extreme (either be a super nice person, a terribly mean one, or a jokester) -The protagonist's delivery isn't always what you are expecting -You can only interact with your companions during their specific quests, aside from that they only offer generic dialogue when you try to speak with them -Romance feels like an afterthought -There are a lot of reused dungeons -Most enemies are too bullet sponge -Enemies spawn in waves and sometimes out of thin air -The first 1/3 of the game feels like an endless stream of mostly uninteresting side quests & there's a lack of motivation for the player to push through Overall, Dragon Age 2 is a game that while it improves on some aspects that the previous game lacked, it drastically misses on the ones a game needed the most in order to be recognized as a sequel for Dragon Age Origins. If you are looking for a well thought RPG with a more tactical and slow combat with meaningful choices and a narrative that warrants different playthroughs, then I do not recommend this game.

A beautiful game with a welcome narrative and a massive landscape that never feels dull. Pros: +Beautiful graphics & environment +Great soundtrack +Deep vehicle customisation & tuning +Variety of challenges besides racing +Racing feels fun +Every activity feels rewarding +Controls & feedback are perfect +Great roster of cars +Open world looks and feels great +U.I. is very clean and intuitive +Very polished experience Cons: -Story feels extremely shallow -Voice acting can be a bit awkward -Some events don't work properly Overall, Forza Horizon 5 feels like the pinnacle of racing games in terms of gameplay, features and aesthetic. I strongly recommend it to any and all racing games fans and urge non racing fans to at least give it a try, chances are, you'll get addicted like I have.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood works as a prequel to the new era of Wolfenstein titles and if you've played the previously released game, then you'll feel like it's more of the same. Pros: +Great aesthetic & soundtrack +Graphics still look good, despite some harsh texture compression +Perks have been streamlined +Enemy A.I. feels more threatening & responsive than the previous one +Story is delightful & an homage to the old Wolfenstein titles +Characters are interesting +Gameplay feels great +Game is very well balanced even at higher difficulties Cons: -Stealth still feels like the most viable option in most cases -Texture compression can be immersion breaking -Characters would benefit from a longer game length, specially the villains -The twist that happens during the final act feels a bit strange -Not nearly enough innovation to warrant a new game, instead of DLC Overall, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood stands on its own two legs and works perfectly as either an entry point into the franchise or as a follow up to the previous title. While it lacks innovation, it seems to slightly improve on the established features, making them feel even better. I recommend this game to anyone who's a fan of the Wolfenstein series or FPS's in general and is looking for some 6-8 hours of fun.

Wolfenstein: The New Order feels like an anomaly in what we've come to expect from 1st person shooters, delivering one of the most innovative experiences of its time that still holds up to this day. Pros: +Good soundtrack & graphics +The art style is very unique +Every character felt interesting & different +Story was captivating +Dialogue was very well written +Weapons all felt great to use +Enemies were fun to fight against & there was enough variety +Upgrades for your character felt meaningful +Every level felt different from the last +Levels weren't too linear +Great voice acting +Very polished experience Cons: -Higher difficulties feel at times frustrating -Enemy A.I. is pretty mediocre -Gameplay encourages a stealth approach, which feels at odds with your character in terms of narrative, who acts like a light version of Doom Guy Overall, I highly recommend Wolfenstein: The New Order for those looking for an intense FPS with a gripping narrative that doesn't take itself too serious, all the while portraying the horrors of WW2 in some subtle and some not so subtle manners.

Back For Blood feels like a game so close to greatness, whose biggest enemy seems to be itself. Pros: +Amazing gameplay loop +Interesting enough narrative +Extremely polished experience +Beautiful graphics & art style +Good character roster Cons: -Forgettable soundtrack -Gets repetitive after a while -Card system only gives minor stat boosts instead of a power fantasy -Enormous difficulty spike, specially if playing solo -Progress through the storymode only saves if you're the host -PvP feels half baked Overall, while being a deeply flawed experience, I believe Back for Blood is capable of making a comeback if the team behind it chooses to do so. Most of the issues that plague the game can be solved with time, however the game's bound to feel repetitive after a couple of runs, which is a shame. If you're looking for some mindless fun with your friends or just by yourself, then I recommend the game, but if you are looking for an experience that you can sink hours and hours in, then you'll be thoroughly disappointed.

For me, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition can be summarized as the following: lack of balance which leads to a frustrating mess... Pros: +Solid gunplay +The remastered graphics look nice and are a clear upgrade +The cover system works as intended, for the most part Cons: -Story was fairly simple & boring -Characters were all pretty one dimensional -Friendly A.I. is atrocious, which makes it extremely hard to play solo -Enemies are bullet sponges and they all focus on the player and not the A.I. -Enemies often have one to two shot weapons which create frustrating encounters where it's not about skill as much as it is about luck, since the friendly A.I. won't help -Boss fights are a joke & rage inducing because of the problems listed above -Art style is pretty bland (black/grey trend of early 2000's games) -Soundtrack is pretty forgettable for the most part Overall, I would not recommend it if you're planning on playing it by yourself, unless you stick with the lower difficulties (which I did not unfortunately) or if you like to play games that make you feel bad about yourself. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition feels tedious, frustrating and a new form of torture, carried only by its solid gameplay.

Halo Infinite captures the magic many thought to have been lost and it shows that 343i is indeed worthy of taking the mantle and carry the series forward. Pros: +Amazing performances & great dialogue +Beautiful graphics & soundtrack +Great story that doesn't simply gloss over the previous title's narrative +New protagonists & villains were very interesting +The new character upgrades you unlock feel great +Combat is the best in the series +A.I. keeps you on your toes +Boss fights were for the most part challenging & fun +Weapons all feel great to use & have their own feel to them +Very polished experience Cons: -The side activities started to get a bit boring by the end -Lack of different environments -Lack of different types of side activities -No need to use the different upgrades besides the grappling hook -Vehicles felt a bit too weak -A few bosses used one to two shot weapons in tight corridors making the fights frustrating on higher difficulties Overall, Halo Infinite has a gameplay formula that feels the best the series has ever seen, complimented by a wonderful narrative that seeks to wrap up the more personal Master Chief and Cortana storyline that started back in Halo 4, all while waging war against the Banished, leading up to spectacular moments. It is, undoubtedly, worth picking up, specially if you've been following the series since the beginning.

The Gunk is a colorful chill experience with some delightful characters. Pros: +Casual & chill experience +Interesting main cast +Beautiful environments & soundtrack +Simple puzzles & combat that enhance the casual experience +Perfect length (5 to 6 hours to complete the game) +Fun mechanics +Good character designs +The need for resources makes exploration feel natural Cons: -Lack of puzzle & enemy variety -Facial animations leave a lot to be desired -Upgrades for your character cost too much (forcing the player to backtrack to find resources they missed) -Some upgrades feel meaningless & very niche -Levels are a bit too linear which restricts exploration Overall, while The Gunk isn't a game for everyone, I certainly recommend it to people who are looking for a more laid-back and creative game to play while traversing through beautiful landscapes.

Days Gone takes the Sony open world formula we're used to and adds zombies and a bike. Pros: +UI is very intuitive and clean +Meaningful character & bike progression +Encountering & fighting hordes feels fun +Crafting feels similar to TLOU +Beautiful graphics, environments & soundtrack +Enjoyable narrative Cons: -Game isn't particularly difficult -Story drags on -Voice acting feels a bit off -Too many underdeveloped characters -Some glitches break immersion -Bike feels clunky in the first hours of the game Overall, Days Gone, while not the best in Sony's catalogue, flows with passion and for that I would recommend you giving it a try.

The best gameplay the series has ever seen, coupled with the most disappointing narrative. The graphics continue to be the best in the business, as fans have come to expect. The soundtrack, however, is, for the first time in the series, forgettable and bland. The gameplay is extremely solid and the new movement options feel like a natural evolution for the series. The A.I. companions are pretty useless, but they do their job. The narrative is the weakest the series has ever seen. It felt all over the place and the sense of urgency and seriousness it was trying to transmit to the player fell flat on its head. The designs of some of the characters are very bad, particularly on the Elite enemies, who look extremely bulky, instead of the slick appearance they used to have, and on one of your companions throughout the story whose armor coating looks like bubble gum. The companions were all forgettable and it continues the trend of the player having to rely on outside material to fully grasp what's going on and who certain characters are. The dialogue is also tedious to sit through. By far, the most disappointing Halo experience that, if it weren't for its gameplay and graphics would have been a tedious drag. It feels like all the creativity from Halo 4 was somehow lost and traded for a more generic action movie plot.

A drive for innovation that felt just right in some places, while it felt like it went too far on others. Halo 4 is the first one not developed by Bungie, but it's clear that those behind it were big fans of what had come before. The graphics are the best the series has ever seen, the art style and environments are top notch, for the most part, and the soundtrack retains the Halo magic but with a new spin. The gameplay is very strong and the abilities feel more useful than before, but the addition of sprint as a toggle instead of another ability might have been too much. The main focus of the story, which is the relationship between Master Chief and his A.I. companion, Cortana, is outstanding and it feels deeply personal, on a level that the series has never explored before and it resonates with the player. The main antagonistic force, however, was terribly implemented. A whole new enemy faction, which made no sense if you hadn't read or seen any of the extended material and throughout my playthrough I tried connecting the dots that from the information certain terminals would give. Their design also felt like something that did not belong in Halo and it was appalling when this new enemy faction appeared on the same place as the Covenant (original enemy faction). It was a night and day comparison. In conclusion, Halo 4 is at its best when it tries to be a small contained experience. The relationship between Master Chief and Cortana was the highlight of the whole experience, however the new enemy faction was so badly implemented and felt like a fish out of water. It was 343i's first big step and they tried to leave a mark. In my eyes, despite some sizable missteps, they succeeded.

A thrilling and more grounded adventure than the previous entries, akin to a more modern shooter campaign. Halo: Reach is a substantial departure from the previous mainline Halo games. The soundtrack and environments are as great as they've always been. The graphics are also very impressive and still hold up to this day. The gameplay still feels similar to the previous titles, but the addition of some controversial features, such as the ability to sprint for a limited time, made it stand out. To me they didn't feel too drastic and they also never felt necessary in any encounter. In previous titles, when an enemy shot you while aiming, you would stop doing it, however here it's not the case, making it so staying far back and shooting the enemy's head was the most viable approach. The narrative feels dark and gritty and it portrays the desperation of the battle of Reach that had been previously mentioned in other games. It feels like a losing battle every step of the way. The characters, while interesting, felt underdeveloped, so you weren't very attached to most of your team. By this time, Halo's narrative also started going down a path that if you didn't read or watch any of the extended material besides the games, you would be a little bit confused about what was going on and who certain characters were (a problem that increased more and more in the following games). Overall, the game is a good send-off to Bungie as the developers of this franchise and, despite how controversial some decisions were, you have to admit they were trying to innovate and leave a mark. And I'd say they mostly succeeded...

Fantastic game that asks you to get to know its world and habitants. Coming into this game I had no expectations. I knew it was an adaptation of a Skyrim mod made by the same people (which even won itself an award), but I couldn't believe how fun it actually was. The premise is interesting in it of itself, but the characters is where the game truly shines. They are all very complex and ask of you your attention. You need and have a reason to get to know them and learn their issues. The graphics and artstyle are, for the most part, beautiful and awe inspiring. The facial animations, however felt very stiff at times, which is a notable problem, since a lot of what you're doing in this game is looking at other people and speaking to them. Though, thanks to the well written dialogue and voice acting, it doesn't bother me as much as it would otherwise. Overall, I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of heavy dialogue games and some puzzle solving to try this title out. You won't regret it.

This review is tailored to anyone who is on the fence about playing the game for the first time, and, as such, it will be subjected to today's standards. Halo 3 was advertised as the ending of the Master Chief storyline. At the end of the previous title, the player is left wanting more, so the question is: Did Halo 3 deliver on that promise? Bungie had everything going for them when starting Halo 3. There were no tight deadlines, the team knew the kind of story they wanted to tell and what gameplay worked and what didn't. The gameplay kept betting on that power fantasy the series is known for, with all the weapons and gameplay additions from previous titles, present, yet again. Now, the player is also able to use different abilities that work as pickups, similar to weapons, that can create new gameplay scenarios, though I didn't see myself using them very often. Thanks to the story from Halo 2, in its sequel your main enemy are the Brutes, however, while menacing, they didn't feel like a big threat, since, when compared to their previous iteration, they're much weaker and their design isn't as interesting. The soundtrack was, as always, a masterpiece and it knew the right moments to play. It felt like the culmination of every piece written before it. The story, however, left me feeling slightly disappointed. The Halo 2 promise of an all out war on Earth was finally realized in this game, but it felt like some elements that made Halo 2's campaign extremely interesting were abandoned. The Arbiter, perhaps due to some of the fan backlash, took a back seat and felt like a cheap copy of the character we were introduced to in the previous game. The same thing happened to the previously established main antagonists, becoming nothing more than some Saturday morning cartoon villains. The level design was so good, however, that the story didn't bother me that much. Overall, Halo 3 left me feeling slightly disappointed with its story and the expectations the previous game built, simply weren't met. However, the amazing gameplay and sandbox, mixed with the simple yet genius mission design and environments made me forget these issues. The ending was a beautiful way to send off the Master Chief until someone would need him again...

This review is tailored to people who are thinking about playing Halo 2 for the first time and as such will be subjected to today's standards. Halo 2 is for many the defacto Halo experience and I would have to agree. All the complaints I seemed to have with Halo: CE have been fixed in its sequel, which is even more surprising when you take into consideration that Bungie had to crunch a lot to get the game done in time. Everyone knows the massive failure that was Halo 2's E3 demo, yet they prevailed. The combat stays intact, giving the player more weapons and the ability to dual handle guns, that while niche, contributes a lot to the power fantasy that Halo 2 desperately needs. The graphics, by today's standards, aren't the best, but there is a notable improvement from its prequel, undoubtedly pushing the hardware of the OG Xbox. The art style is still a classic and it feels distinct to Halo. The soundtrack is very well executed and there are some pieces that I'll never forget. The same can be said for the narrative. Halo 2 makes up in spades for the lack of narrative in Halo: CE. The story has various twists and from the moment the first cutscene starts, I was immediately hooked and taken aback because I wasn't expecting such a major shift in the way the game told its story. The game, in my eyes, delivered the best campaign out of every single entry in the franchise, that to this day, is still undefeated. Were it not for its controversial ending, the story would have been perfect. The mission design is a step up from Halo: CE (since you don't traverse around the same looking rooms for a whole level, now), however there are some sections that ask you to defend a single part of the map for a set amount of time, that sometimes drag longer than you'd like them to. To this day there are some glitches associated with multiplayer, that for some offered a new layer of skill gap, while to others, made the online experience less entertaining. To me, they aren't very important. Overall, Halo 2 is, without a doubt, the essence of what Halo is. In my eyes, it was the best one out of the original trilogy, which is funny, since it definitely was the worst one for Bungie, the developers, due to massive amounts of setbacks they faced.

This review is from someone who has only recently experienced Halo: CE and is meant to help those who are thinking about playing too. Few are the people who don't know what Halo is. Even if you've never played any games, there's a big chance that you've heard of Halo before. That's how impactful the game was when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of it back then and I never played games growing up, so I didn't care for any of it. Playing Halo in 2021, in order to fully enjoy what it brought to the table you have to experience other games from that era, without it, you'll never truly understand why it's praised. Either way: The gameplay still feels tremendously solid and it's always fun. The story wasn't. By today's standards, the campaign is pretty much just a backdrop for the action which you don't really pay attention to. Its most impactful moments felt flat to me; it didn't help I was spoiled on one of those. The mission design was also extremely boring, there are some missions which is the same copy and paste room over and over and over, always fighting the same enemy faction. There is also one mission which asks the player to traverse the environment that they already played through during the previous mission. The lack of waypoints during those, coupled with the same bland looking rooms made it so I pulled a YouTube guide more than once to figure out where to go. The score is phenomenal when it actually plays, which is not very often. The lack of score for a lot of the moments are praised by a lot of fans but to me it made the environments feel even more bland when all I could hear were my footsteps in a massive cargo bay while I tried to look for a button to press in order to progress, for example. Overall, while I have nothing but the utmost respect for Bungie for creating such a massive and innovating game, back when it first came out, it, sadly, in my eyes, just doesn't stand up to the test of time, besides the gameplay and soundtrack.

A refreshing take on more nuanced storytelling. Coming into Hellblade, I didn't have many expectations. I knew the game was praised by many, but I also saw others trashing it. To my surprise, the game hit me with a compelling narrative that I would expect from a first party Sony exclusive. The interesting journey our main character goes through is one that is metaphorical and filled with intrigue. While the environments, world building, graphics and cutscenes were all phenomenal, the gameplay itself suffered. The traversing mechanics were pretty basic, but acceptable enough for this type of game and the collectibles, which offered pieces of narrated lore (taken from north mythology), made exploring your environment worthwhile. The combat felt very satisfying, specially when you were fighting against 1-3 opponents. However there were some sections where there were way too many enemies on screen which took away from the feeling of awesomeness and instead replaced it with boredom. That, coupled with the fact that some arenas were too small, making it, sometimes, impossible to dodge attacks, made the whole experience worse than it would have otherwise been. The bosses were all well made and ask the player to learn how to counter them, which is what I find most appealing in Hellblade's combat. There were some sections that broke the monotony that started settling it after 3-4 hours into the game, however those were short lived. The puzzles were never too complicated, but they did their job. The story, paired with its amazing soundtrack, is indeed the crowning jewel of this experience. There is love and dedication poured into it and it shows in spades. It's a narrative that not everyone will get, and some might even not care for, but to those who like games such as GOW (2018), TLOU, Telltale's TWD and other narrative driven games, then I highly recommend it.

A soulless stain in Rockstar's crowning jewels. Although only remasters, GTA: The Definitive Trilogy has a lot of meaningful changes when compared to the original games... The only problem is that those changes aren't good. From a terrible performance, to lack of smooth and believable animations and character models. The fresh coated trilogy lacks the soul and passion that made their older brothers so meaningful and amazing, turning them into nothing more than boring mobile looking games. There was no attention nor care when making this product and it shows. I simply cannot recommend such an embarrassment on the memory of these beloved titles.