Xenonexe2558

Take Yakuza, remove the charming and crazy characters, then add tail and detective mechanics with no challenge and you pretty much have Judgement. Yes the Dragon engine GFX are pretty, but the sole driver is now the tension of resolving a mystery with one long grind to get there. Missions, pacing, side quests just seem to lack the humour and shine. Many just seem to be running across the map. And now that the signature quirkiness has been dialled back, oddities like the dating mechanic just seem creepy. I’m catching up with the Yakuza 4 remaster and even with the dated GFX I’m enjoying it more after 30 mins than 12 hours of Judgment, which is a shame, because I really wanted to like it.

I just do not get the love for this game. Technically impressive for sure - motion capture and audio are evocative, and I can appreciate the tackling of more difficult themes but narratively it is total plod. More importantly the gameplay - which consists of walking around pretty environments, fighting identical enemies and aligning symbols is plain dull. Pretty graphics, intense acting, and a worthy subject are just window dressing for a (if you forgive the pun) lifeless adventure. FTR started on PS4 and VR and not completed.

This is the first time Skyrim has hooked me, I tried in 2D 6 years ago but wasn't taken. I frankly don't get the professional hate for this game - the reviewers seem to have crazy expectations, or maybe aren't enthused about a game they've already played 5 times - which I can understand. Sure the graphics are not state of the art, yes the move controls take a while to master, but they work well - something many have failed to take the time to understand. This is the closest yet to actually being IN a fantasy world - something anyone who's rolled a die as a child can relate to. The sense of presence is stunning - foes surprise and terrify, the landscape frequently astonishes, and 1st person dialogue engages. It turns the routine exploration in videogames into a genuine exploration of unknown space - dungeons are actually creepy, there is a sense of wonder and discovery. Using your hands as weapons is just fantastic, "Legolasing" a dragon with rapid fire arrows is a blast and it's transformed this title into something amazing. I'd give it a 9 but there are some bugs and I find the lack of 3D spatial audio a genuine omission. Still, this is the deepest and most enthralling VR experience to date, available on a mass market setup for the right price. Pay the money and enjoy!

These are the first FX's tables I've wished were real. They're simply well put together fun tables that play well and make great use of the licence. It's unfortunate they couldn't use real sync voice quotes, but that's the only real criticism, the GFX, music and SFX are all top notch.