Ming120

The game is a bit of a mixed bag. What it does well is implement the formula that made Mechwarrior: Online addictive. The weapon mechanics, the feel of the mechs you pilot, and the destruction are all fairly top notch. Most of the missions in Mechwarrior 5 and procedural generated, which for better or for worst, does create a slightly less predictable gaming experience. The progression requires a bit ****, but is satisfying once you unlock/purchase better mechs and equipment to take into battle. What Mechwarrior 5 does not do so well is pretty much everything else. There is way too much to talk about, so I will just list them: lack of story telling or character development; lack of customization to both mechs and your mercenary company; lack of lore; repetitive grind; always facing massive amounts of enemy AI (almost arcade-like); static NPCs between missions in a 3d-rendered mechbay; enemies just spawn in-front of you; and really just an overall lack of quality. On it's own merits, Mechwarrior 5 would probably pass as an addictive arcade game. But compared to all other Mechwarrior/Battletech games, this is pretty mediocre.

A great game with a few flaws. The open world concept is an interesting introduction to the metro series, and is refreshing, but comes with some gameplay annoyances. The open world itself distracts from the game, and there often isn't all that many interesting points about it to make it worth while. Besides this, the crafting system is also a little bit silly, and the stealth aspect of the game seems half-baked at best, and outright buggy at worst. The moral system is still as annoying as the previous game, and unfortunately, has too much of an influence on the ending. With all these points out of the way, Metro Exodus does make up for these flaws with excellent story telling, and with character development that is second to none. It is a brilliant story-driven narrative that wraps up the metro series nicely. There are few games out there that had me as immersed into the world as this one, and I would almost dare saying that the narrative here is among the best in gaming. Combined with stellar graphics and sounds to boot, this is still a game that is worth playing.

After doing a full playthrough and a couple of partial playthroughs, my takeaway from Battletech is that it is an ok game with untapped potential. I quite enjoyed the story for it's narrative was strong, albeit a bit shallow. The game mechanics are alright too, as you do need to use your brain a little to manage your mercenary company and to triumph on the battlefield. However, the game does get incredibly boring after a while, for practically every battle is same. You move your mechs for a couple rounds, then you encounter a lance of mechs or vehicles. Then you probably encounter a second lance of mechs or vehicles depending on a dice roll, and if you survive that, you either shoot a few buildings, escort a few vehicles, and then rinse and repeat. It's ok for the first little bit, but then it gets incredibly, painfully, dull. I feel that if you had more options to field equipment such as vehicles, or even being able to field more than 4 mechs at a time, would break the monotony a little bit. A bit better mission design with a bit more variety would also be a benefit.

At a price point of about $20, Blood and Wine might just be the best bang for buck expansion you will ever purchase. It has about as many hours of content as a full featured game, which in itself puts most other DLCs and Expansions to shame. It also puts other game publishers to shame as well. Blood and Wine features an expansive new region called Touissaint, a vibrant french inspired piece of land full of political intrigue, humor, and defined culture. You will also be pitched against new monsters, in a fully fetched campaign helping out the local Duchess. The story and side missions are characteristically as good as the original Witcher 3 game, and perhaps better in some areas. The characters you encounter are well written and engagement, and much of the activities to be had are quite fun. This expansion also features a full length soundtrack, which further immerses you into the escapist heaven of the Witcher series. All-in-all, this expansion deserves an honest 10/10. In all my years of PC gaming, this expansion has reached a milestone, and set a bar so high that I doubt any other developer can reach in a long time.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a mediocre experience plagued by multiple flaws that seem all so tiring in today's AAA games. The story is short, ends with a cliffhanger, and was not all that interesting to begin with (you can certainly tell the developers wanted to sell you a sequel). The graphics, while beautiful on the surface, is plagued by awkward animations, poor lip syncing, and an otherwise static atmosphere. The gameplay does not differ much from the game's predecessor, although slightly more complex. This complexity can be fun, but can sometimes be tedious as well. Oh, and there are microtransactions in the game. To be fair, you don't really need to purchase anything to have a complete experience (these microtransactions seem more like cheats than anything), but as others have said, it is insulting. Avoid purchasing this game at full price. Instead, wait for a sale if you really want to see what happens after Human Revolution. If you have money to burn, try last year's Witcher 3 instead. That game blows this one out of the water.

Not bad, not bad at all. For $7.99, this DLC contains much more content than DLCs for other games at this price point. The world is not expanded by much, but the story is refreshing, and seems to strike all the right notes. The story contains a depth that touches on morality, choice, regret, values, among other things. Some of the enhancements in the game, such as the new enchantment system isn't anything remarkable, but is a welcome addition to the game. All-and-all, you can't go wrong with this purchase. It's a DLC that actually deserves credit for what it accomplishes and is worthy of your time.

The problem with most open world games is that narrative tends to lose focus in favor of scenery and distracting endeavors. Unfortunately, the Witcher 3 is not entirely immune to this problem, for there are certainly moments where the world overshadows that of the main story. This said, the Witcher 3 is still perhaps the best open world game you can get, for while it succumbs to the over-hyped value of the open-world, the stories and quests are so well done that it is easy to see past it's flaws. I have completed most of the game. Of the main quest, I have finished in it's entirety, and I am pretty sure I covered most of the secondary quests and witcher contracts. In spite of the fact that the game is open world, the game has one of the more brilliant narratives I have seen in a AAA RPG, and side quests are just interesting enough that it in the least raises the bar above other RPG's of similar make. The characters in the game are well written, and to a certain extent, touched me at an emotional level that few other games of its make has ever accomplished. The plot has a few a few twists and turns that kept me wondering what happens next. Is the Witcher 3 perfect? No. There are some bugs here and there, and there are a few mechanics that can always be improved. But ultimately, I think it deserves a top-notch grade, because there are few games out there that accomplishes as much as the Witcher 3. The game is a work of art, and it is very apparent that the developers put a lot into the game.

I first tried KSP during early access, and have playing it ever since. Even after all this time, I have hardly even scratched the surface as to what one can really accomplish in this game. There is tons of learning and exploring involved with this game, and that is part of it's charm. The sense of accomplishment you get when you overcome obstacles is unlike anything you will experience in other games. When you finally land your Kerbals on the Moon (Mun) for instance, that in itself is an accomplishment that Is worth bragging about to your friends. Even my coworkers have taken a liking to KSP after watching me play it. There is, quite frankly, no other experience like it.

Back in the mid-late 1990s, getting into the Mechwarrior franchise was a matter of going to the store, paying the average price of oh, say, $55, and taking home a rather large box that contained a disc and a beautifully printed manual. Within the disc was the core game--a game that contained up to 60 'mechs to drive, unlimited customization, a single player campaign with an engaging storyline, a richly composed musical score, and a function to connect to a multiplayer community where people really got to know each other. Today, paying $55 dollars to get into Mechwarrior Online can afford you maybe one 'mech and a couple variants to that 'mech, and pretty much lacking most of the mentioned features above. To be fair though, you really don't have to pay a dime to get into Mechwarrior Online, but this is how the developers of the game earn their their money. Generally, getting what you want in the game either involves earning in-game currency by playing with mostly random people on the same three game modes over and over again, or by paying up. The game itself is okay though, and hence why I would be hesitant to give it a lower score. To some extent, the sounds and the graphics are top-notch, so it really does feel like you are driving a large 'mech while playing. Most of the maps are beautifully crafted as well. What really hinders MWO from the get-go, however, is that it is probably the most hollow game of the series. The lack of features is appalling; the business model is appalling; and the need to grind gets old over time. There are also times when you really don't feel like you accomplished much after a game outside of grabbing a bit of in-game currency and xp to unlock stuff (kind of like your typical F2P game). Factions and the implementation of community warfare seems to improve on the game, but it just doesn't feel like much. Is it a likeable game? Sure. I do like the game myself. I just can't love it.

Giving this game a 9/10 really shouldn't deter the fact that I consider this possibly one of the best games of all time. Perhaps the ONLY reason why I give it a 9/10, instead of a full 10 is because there are a few bugs that occasionally glitch out the missions, cause the AI to behave strangely, and/or crash the game (having played both 1.05 and 1.1 versions of the game). Unlike it's predecessor--Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century--Mercenaries gives the player an economy system where everything from the 'mechs you own and your crew roster can be managed. You have some freedom in selecting the missions you partake in too, with the end result being the accumulation of c-bills ($$$) to further allow you to manage your forces. The campaign consists of a fairly interesting story of you, a mercenary, working for a number of different factions. The atmosphere is filled with political intrigue, backstabbing, greed, honor, and sacrifice, many of which are never to be found in Mechwarrior games to follow. I have played this game since the day of it's release, and is a game that I will continue to replay over the years. It works fairly well on Windows 8 assuming you have the original DOS versions, and supplemented with MechVM (a DosBox utility you can download for free).

I bought this game during a steam sale because I needed something relaxing. I'm no truck driver (outside of maybe driving a de-ice truck), and I have never been to Europe before, but I must say, this game really impressed me to the point where I feel like I'm really there and driving a real truck. I am positively impressed.

A co-worker of mine introduced this game to me. For the first few days, I was hooked. The design of the gameplay is dangerously addictive, with plenty of different ways to play it depending on what characters you unlock. That said, the game does get repetitive after a while. The community is also annoyingly toxic, and every other game, I would encounter at least one player on the team who would throw insults at you whether you are at the top of your game or not (and for the most ridiculous reasons too, like getting a top score on the board, or not helping them when they die). It's a real shame this isn't managed a little better.

I never invested much time in the original BioShock games, so I came to BioShock Infinite with some what mild expectations and was half hopeful it would keep me entertained one afternoon. The game delivered that and much, much more. The story is a bit of a mind-twister, but adds to the allure that few if any games ever accomplishes. The gameplay is a roller coaster ride, and while I say that almost literally, there is so much going on that kept me entertained for hours on end. The graphics, while some might argue are outdone by other games in the FPS genre, are in my opinion, still freaking brilliant. The characters are also quite lively, especially Elizabeth, of whom probably belongs on some list for the best female NPCs ever made. While I hate to do this in a review, I simply cannot resist giving this game a 10/10. It is awesome!

I quite thoroughly enjoyed Heart of the Swarm. I find that the campaign is fairly well written and stands its own even compared to some of the RPG typed games that I've played. Like Wings of Liberty, the narrative brings a certain depth to some of the characters we know, such as Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan. The campaign is about 27 missions long, which is fairly lengthy considering the original Starcraft had about 30. The cutscenes are of course beautifully done, and the way the missions are panned out really gives the game an extra flavor, since it's not always about building and conquering. The new additions to multiplayer also seems to be a welcoming sight, with a few unique units that offers up to strategies to your game. If you are a Starcraft fan, don't pass this game up.

Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition is for the most part the way it once was back when it was released about 15 years ago, but it comes with three extra companions, a multi-level gladiator arena called the Black Pits, and supposedly 400 fixes. I give this game an earnest 7/10 because for the most part, it is still a solid game as it once was, and the writing for both the companions and the Black Pits seem decent. Where this game lost marks on, however, is the seemingly lack of content. 15 years later, this game really hasn't changed much, and much of the improvements can be found through modding the original game at absolutely no charge. There seems more readily apparent bugs than what was fixed, and the new content simply do not seem all that extensive. The companion dialogues and adventures are all rather short, and the Black Pits consists but only two areas. Furthermore, the original cinematic cutscenes were cut out in favor of 2d artistic renditions, which, while looks decent, seems diminutive compared to the original movies. All-in-all, it is still a decent game. After six patches, the original version of Baldur's Gate with a mod or two still seems the better version compared to this "Enhanced Edition." However, there is currently people who are active in modding this Enhanced Edition, and if the momentum in this department continues forth, this version may potentially exceed the original yet. There is also supposed to be a matchmaking service for multiplayer looming on the horizon, so again, it might be something to look forward to.

This game is a work of art. One can easily tell how much heart and soul the developers put into this game. The voice dialogue is vastly improved over the previous game, and the story telling seems to possess more character. The combat now makes more sense where you can better make use of your parrying and dodge functions. The character movements and animations now seem a lot more fluid and realistic. The music, like the original Witcher, is still memorable enough to keep your attention for hours at a time. Definitely worth playing if you have a good enough system to run this beast.

This game is old, but I would still recommend it to any hardcore RPG player. The story in the campaign isn't particularly strong, hence why I deducted a mark for it, but the gameplay and the platform has kept me playing for the past six or so years.

Good game. The writing is well balanced, and the graphics are outstanding. Carries a few loose bugs, however, and I even encountered a game-breaking one that forced me to restart the game. The voice acting is also a little bit sloppy. Despite all this, what really makes the Witcher stands out is its incredible atmosphere and engaging characters, and its enough to make me want to push through again even after having to restart. A great game all-and-all.

Not bad. The graphics still look pretty crisp and New York city looks pretty lively if it weren't razed by the next extraterrestrial. The game delivers sci-fi as it was intended and the story, while nothing spectacular, was still engaging enough that I managed to plow through the game from start to finish. Don't expect the game to be revolutionary, however. The game is much more claustrophobic, and lacks the degree of freedom that it did in the original Crysis. The fluidity of your nanosuit, while carrying most of the same abilities as the original, feels a bit sluggish, almost as if your playing robocop instead of some swift harbinger of death. The aliens in the game also seem quite different from what you encountered in the first game. Finally, the game is a bit repetitious in the sense that you face the same sorts of enemies over and over again. Beyond that, the game still delivers enough entertainment for what its worth in my books. It might not be worth a full 60 dollars, but perhaps 50 wouldn't be far off.

Disappointment is only part of the story. Not to go into the repeated argument that Dragon Age 2 isn't Dragon Age: Origins, for surely it is not, the game stands very short of what one might consider entertaining on its own merits. The way that this game was designed is often times very counter-intuitive that one has to wonder what the developers were thinking when they came up with the original conception. The presentation of the levels is perhaps at the top of the list. There seems little to justify reusing maps short of economic reasons. Yes, there are plenty of games out there that reuse maps, but in Dragon Age 2, this practice goes up into a totally new level where an exceedingly large percentage of the game takes place in the same levels, over and over again. You can have literally twenty or more quests in one single area, and thus you will find yourself revisiting the same areas continuously for the entire game. Even the main storyline (if one can consider it such), takes place in the same areas, and often requires you to do a circuit on the more prominent ones. Little more needs to be said on how annoying this can be. In terms of what you do in this game, the truth is, not a whole lot. Almost every quest, every mission, involves you either killing something, looting someplace, finding something someone lost, or simply returning a random item you pick up on the ground to someone you somehow, through the gift of clairvoyance, know who it belongs to. The graphics, while often claimed to be artistically rich, are a step down from Dragon Age: Origins. In fact, its almost a step down from Neverwinter Nights 2. If you wish to see the proof of this, then look up screenshots of Alistair or Leliana, and compare those with the same in the original Dragon Age: Origins and make an opinion for yourself. The main problem, however, is not so much in character modeling, but the overall atmosphere seems like a painting or a cartoon. I can admire paintings, but the Van Gogh depiction of the Dragon Age world probably will not seem as engaging to the average gamer, and does little justice to portray the dark fantasy setting that the original game tried to portray. The other issue with this game is the combat. The combat has been simplified slightly to make it more accessible to the console gamer. This is admirable. Some aspects of the system are in fact, easier to use. The primarily flaw, however, is not about the controls, or accessibility, but by the way combat was handled in the overall context of the game. Your encounters will almost always consist of fighting waves of enemies that spawn out of thin air when you least expect it. Actually, the more you fight these waves, the more that you will expect another wave coming every single time you encounter enemies. While this certainly makes the game more challenging, you will find that immersion will be brittler than ever before in a video game. The story is flat and unengaging. It is often argued that the story in Dragon Age II is a more personal one, without the cliche of always having some big bad boss at the end. I can certainly see the personal aspect of this, but that is also one of its crippling flaws. There is no clear cut antagonist in the game. Nothing that really motivates you to sit down and wonder why you do something in the game. All the "villains" in the game have almost nothing to do with you, and you will often find yourself doing quests for people out of philanthropic reasons (or greed, because they pay you) than for any great reasons. In essence, your character in the game is just another errand boy, or girl. The whole game takes about 30-50 hours to complete, but unfortunately, the main plot hardly makes even a fraction of that time. There isn't really a main plot, in fact, for the game is divided up into three acts with almost completely unrelated segments of storytelling. The rest, of course, is filled in with sidequests fitting for the errand running hero that you are. Most of the characters in the game are also forgettable. Almost all of the companions you meet in the game, allies if you wish, are so two-dimensional that you just have to wonder what happened to all the magic that was instilled into characters like Thane, or Jaheira, or Morrigan, or even the scaly lizard of a jukebox bard named Deekin. With the exception of maybe one or two, most of the characters have flat personalities whose depth never goes below the skin. Their motivations only go as far as their graphical portrayal, such as as the dutiful warrior, the stuck-up holyman, the ignorant mage, and a slutty rogue. They are either black, or white, with no grays in the middle. I had to take a point off for each of the points mentioned above. It is truly difficult to, in good faith, to recommend this title to anyone. Its not a broken game, but its so poorly designed that it can hardly hold up on its own.