manlyangel

It's not a bad game, it's just not a great one, and virtually everything in it has already been done better in other games. For a game that was hyped as the ground breaking next generation of video games for so many years that is profoundly disappointing.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Finally after five years of putting it off I finally played this game, and I must say it's very difficult to review. On one hand, the story is very good, the presentation is incredible, the graphics are some of the best ever see in video games even today, the music is great, the voice acting is Hollywood grade, the animations and mocap work is flawless, and there's not a glitch or unpolished inch to be found in this game. You will find few if any video games on the market more technically impressive than this. On the OTHER hand, the combat is shallow and repetitive, there's literally nothing you do in the game but said combat, enemy variety is very low, and the game give you zero freedom. It's so linear and locked into the narrative it's like the Final Fantasy XIII of hack n slash action games. So I suppose how much enjoyment you'll get out of Ryse depends on what you personally look for in video games and what you think they should be. Do you like over the top jaw dropping technical presentations and are willing to accept meh gameplay to behold them? Then you absolutely want to play Ryse. Do you loathe and despise linear, cutscene heavy, narrative driven games with QTEs? Then stay far away from Ryse.

After years of reading rave reviews and suggestions that Journey is "one of the greatest games ever made", I finally played this game and I feel like I'm taking crazy pills because it's one of the most bland, boring, unrewarding experiences I've ever sat through. It's visually pretty enough, and the music is very nice. But aside of that I have nothing good to say about it. It's horrible as a game. The gameplay is mostly walking forward and nothing else. There's no real challenge, no bosses to overcome, no real puzzles or problems to solve, no story or plot to be had, and it's extremely short, it took me less than two hours to finish. I don't recommend it, and I cannot understand the hype and critical acclaim surrounding it.

After years of curiosity I decided to try Her Story out, and I have to say that **** completely flabbergasted as to why this has so many high reviews and received so much media praise. This "game" is an interesting little proof of concept at best, but as a "game" it's absolute trash that becomes incredibly boring very fast, I mean REALLY fast. This is coming from someone who really enjoys interactive movie type games like what Telltale and Quantic Dream produce. Her Story even fails to accomplish that level of engagement.

World of Final Fantasy is wonderful in so many ways, but more than anything it's a nostalgic love letter to longtime Final Fantasy fans. Chock full of nostalgia, it pushes all the right buttons and remains charming, while humorously self aware. If you've longed for a return to form from the classic Final Fantasy days of turn-based battles that allow the player full control, this is the game you've been waiting for. The stacking system seems a bit weird at first, but once you get used to it you get a deep, rewarding battle system that ranks up there with the finest in the genre. Don't let the cutesy chibi art style turn you off either. I'll admit I initially was weary of it myself, but after less than an hour with the game any qualms I had with it were gone, because I was having too much fun.