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I originally tried this game just to shut up a friend who kept insisting I'd love it. It was easy to pick up quickly and my first impression was that someone owes copyright fees to 90's games like Smash TV. But after giving it a second try a couple weeks later, I found myself owing my friend an apology because I was happily addicted. There's nothing really profound about the game, but it progresses nicely and it hits solidly on two very key elements: it's easy, and it's satisfying. Especially toward the end of a run when things get intense and it feels like being in a casino with all the lights and sounds but without all the cigarette smoke and cougar wrinkles. To all the quasi-elitists who are posting negative reviews but have obviously not played the game (or are clearly lying about trying it), yes, it's a low-tech game, but so what? Not everything has to be a next-gen exclusive or require a high-end gaming PC to be an enjoyable game. And besides, it's dirt cheap. Even you little turd weasels who can't ride 10 feet on a school bus without getting an uncontrollable erection because someone has a lunchbox showing too much Pokémon cleavage can afford it with your tooth fairy money.

Even though Relicta felt like somewhat of a mashup between The Talos Principle and The Witness, there's enough variety in the puzzle dynamics, difficulty, length, and environments to make this an enjoyable game worth playing. There are some inconsistencies with game physics that get frustrating, but what stood out more than that was the slew of curious decisions made by the development team. Like why did this game need to be rated M? The storyline itself feels forced and disjointed as it is, so instead of making the dialogue edgy, the few dozen F bombs throughout the game just feel strangely out of place and unentertaining. Kind of like hearing your piano teacher swear. Another curious decision that actually seemed to work is how the levels progress. There are defined environments in the game that have different characteristics, but instead of progressing completely through each one, you are introduced to each level and it's unique characteristics and then after the game takes a turn, you revisit each one but with more challenging puzzles. This made the game feel much longer than it really is (in a good way). One thing that did not work was the tedious (almost torturous) time spent between levels. This made the game feel much longer than it was (in a bad way).

I'm about 3 hours in, so it may be a little premature to rate this a perfect 10, but I'm doing it anyway because I'm finally having as much fun as I originally thought I would with my new console. Plus, I've waited way too long for this caliber of a Middle Earth-lore based game, and suffered through way too many complete pieces of excrement. This game is hands down my favorite next-gen release to date.

As a big fan of the first two installments, I had Dead Space 3 ear marked as one of the contenders for best game of 2013. Wow, was I wrong. The game is fine as a shooter, but just not what I had come to love about the first two Dead Space games. This felt like how I anticipate Star Wars is going to feel in the Disney era. Also very disappointed in Game Informer for their 98 rating. They've officially lost all credibility in my opinion.

I've had Thanksgiving turkey naps last longer than the single player campaign did, but at least after those I wake up feeling refreshed. The multi-player is still nicely polished and remains a benchmark for online play, but these cookie cutter releases are rushed out so often that it's too embarrassing to be caught playing it. There's a reason Grand Theft Auto and Elder Scrolls don't whip out new releases every year. It takes time to put out a quality product. After all, you get what you wait for. And with MW3, I feel like I waited in line for Justin Bieber tickets.

Yes, there are plenty of valid points in some of the negative reviews, but IMO they are mostly over thinking it. Just enjoy it for what it **** LoTR material you haven't been through yet. If you're not a fan of LoTR, you probably won't be a fan of this game. But those who are should enjoy it if you can step out of the game critic mode and be a kid again.

I've only scratched the surface of this game, but I already feel as though I've gotten my money's worth ten times over. The only reason I'm not rating this a 9 instead of a perfect 10 is purely because I haven't finished it yet, and because it doesn't come wrapped in bacon and/or dipped in chocolate. Otherwise all indications point to this being a true masterpiece and certainly one of the top games of 2011 if not all time.