platguy4

What was this game trying to achieve? Good combat; yes, it has it in spades. Graphics? Absolutely; the game looks incredible and the environments are stunning. Story? It is certainly interesting and has enough twists and tales for intrigue. But where is the character, the voice, and the "feel"? Sadly these things are missing here. Once I had put down my various arrows, I couldn't care less about Aloy or her world. Because it had done its' purpose. It had entertained me. Were the developers just showing off what could be achieved with the PS4? It felt a litte like there was an open world and everything had to be ticked off. Great graphics: Check. Loads of stuff to do: Check. Random objects in every corner, expediting excessive exploration: Check. Unfortunately I felt the whole expedition, while enjoyable, lacked a hook to fully pull me into the world. It is a fantastic display of the developers and the hardware, but not the experience I had hoped for.

Having played this on vita and PS4, the reviews are just a touch over rated. It is good. In fact; it is great in parts. But that greatness is really only felt in the post game arena modes. The story is neither good or bad, doesn't send a message, and is simply good fun in short bursts. The arena that comes at the end is top class. Skill and challenge will be be required there, and you cannot rely on your basic skill set. You will need to adapt and keep on top of your inventory to succeed. This part of the game is the greatest and most addictive. Try not to get bogged down with the so so 20 hours before

As a Nier fan, I was in doubt. The first playthrough is a little lackluster, though what follows is an extremely thought provoking and interesting piece. There is no other game which has such subtle writing,, deep empathy with the supporting cast, and the pure weirdness that comes with automata. What is initially a fairly straightforward game becomes a master piece with each hour you play. Sure; the graphics are a little rough in places and enemy variety is a little thin. But this game is about way more then that; It is about seeing yourself in these characters as they live, die, and recreate. The creator wants you to know that existence is tangible and fraught, and the story bends at its knees to get the player to feel this anguish. It succeeds. There are a few bugs here and there, mostly related to the frame rate. But still, this surpasses all of this generations games in terms of story and curiosity. My only personal bug is the possibility to "buy" trophies post game. Maybe the developers were taking the piss out of the current love for trophies / achievements, or making a dig at our own reasons for existence. Either way it took some of the joy out of the end game for me, since I enjoy that end game grind that i both love and hat with JRPGs

This is a really great addition to the PSN library. The scenery and setting are beautiful, the sound track is perfect and the game play is intuitive and often surprising. The sum of the game is a young princess discovering her true identity (and that of her counterparts) through an adventure into an alternative reality. The premise is great and so are the game play mechanics, blending RPG, platforming and adventure genres into a twisting tale that immerses the player into its intriguing world. As with many games that mix Western and Japanese elements you accrue a number of party members with unique skill sets, and set about to save a world from an evil entity wishing to impose their despotic visions. It is accessible and deep at the same time. The skill trees of your characters will determine the way you approach the enemy and a change in party member can change the flow of combat from outright defeat to victory if used correctly. No doubt this game is an accomplishment and will appeal to many with it unique and accessible gameplay. The problem for me was that the game often goes too far into its fantasy world; telling the whole story through rhyming poetry that is both poorly scripted and a little irritating. Though it fits with the world and its overall story arch it feels forced in places and becomes a little annoying when dialogue between your party members pops up at random places to exchange some silly pantomime poetry. A further problem is that though the game is long for a PSN game ( 10 hours ) you pick up a rather large crew of followers, many of whom you will probably never use, since they are mainly useless. These are small **** and I really did enjoy the whole game and recommend it to anyone looking for a light-hearted western JRPG. In fact the great shame is that some of the gameplay elements are never fully realised. With some imagination and extended story this could have been a great experience for a full PS3 release, instead of being limited to a 10-12 hour PSN indie game. An opportunity missed?

Really!?! I thought this was supposed to be a classic. Sure, it has all the makings **** game, but the controls are poor, the combat is sluggish, and the game design is terrible. It was initially touted as a "zelda for adults", though there is little here to keep you entertained. Outside of the main town (which is pretty limited) there is nothing much to explore or get involved with, and the main quest sections are pretty sparse and extremely easy. I can see the potential, but even so its all a bit rubbish and has not passed the test of time well. Add to this that the game can be finished in a number of hours, with very little to come back for, makes it a disappointment. I know this game has its fans, all of whom are begging for a sequel. The basics are all there for a great action based adventure game, but the characters need more depth and the story needs more flesh if this could ever be a successful franchise

Great game, loads of fun and a decent challenge. We bought this for our 4 year old son but he found it too tough. After watching him playing it I thought I would have a go and was hooked in an hour. It's daft and silly and gives you no clue as to what you're doing (other than saving the world?), but the levels are so well designed and varied that it doesnt really matter. Reminded me of some of the best N64 platformers and reeks of nostalgia. Gets tough towards the end though, so don't expect an easy ride...

It's a hard one to call. As stand alone episodes this game was a set of mini masterpieces. There are great set pieces, tense moments and hard decisions to be made here, and it is realistic and thought provoking in what it provides. Though as a stand alone title it's just not quite up to scratch, since the gameplay mechanisms get a little tiring about halfway. The most part of the game is spent hunting for objects via a point and click system, or conversing with your companions, who will always be upset with you for one reason or another. This wouldn't be a problem if your actions meant something, but on the most part they have very little impact on the ultimate outcome. On the positive side, the story does something rarely seen in video games pulling you into its narrative, asking questions about the point of humanity, and developing themes of hope and despair. I left feeling empty and hollow (not a bad thing) after the closing chapter, but I wish there was was something I would want to go back to this game for sadly there isn't. Enjoy the 8-10 hours it lasts, it will be your last...

are There is no doubt that Okami is one of the best, if not the best, game in its genre. The art style, character development, and sheer extent of the adventure, must be played to be believed. I reviewed this game years ago when I was still playing the PS2, and my thoughts haven't changed - this game should be considered among the best of the decade. My only problem is that this is a direct port, albeit in HD, but there are just a few **** quirks that could have been remedied but were not. Unskippable cut scenes, long sections of nonsense dialogue, and the persistent interuprions from your companion could have bee eliminated to make this a smoother ride. Minor quibbles aside, this game rivals the best - im talking bioshock, zelda, AC, batman - this game is better. Can we have a sequel please?

Dragon's Dogma is certainly not what I expected. The main story is excellent, unpredictable, and altogether a solid reason to play the game. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are pretty good, and there are memorable moments throughout the game. The online exchange of 'pawns' - a system where you enrol another players inferior to your cause - is intuitive and adds variety and interest to the quest. Overall the game is really interesting and any RPG fan will relish in the numerous weapons, upgrades, and hidden quests on offer in this title. This is no short game either, with at least 30-50 hours of gameplay in one playthrough. It is the gameplay, however, that becomes a little tiresome. Until you finish the game there is no fast travel system, meaning that you will travel the same paths over and over and over and over again, often for simple fetch quests or in pursuit of some nominal objective. I can imagine the frustration for some when hours of gameplay are taken getting from one point to another when all the environment has been seen before - often several times. All that said I enjoyed the game massively and would urge any RPG fan to get involved, since the overall experience is engaging and novel. When the fetch quests are out of the way, the actual dungeon sections require skill and tenacity to complete, and reward you for your efforts. Furthermore the final sections of the game are remarkable and completely unexpected. I wish that the drawbacks of the game did not mar the experience, but there were parts where I truly felt I was doing time rather than having fun. highly recommended - but mind the gaps!

Some expert reviewers have called it 'boring' others called it 'ugly', but against these criticisms fans still openly think this game is a classic. I just cant fathom why the poor reviews! As a game the controls and combat are fluid and intuitive, the voice acting is great, and the story is one of the best i've seen to date. Its an unusual mix of Western and Japanese RPG / Action adventure, and anyone interested in either should give this game a shot. No doubt it has its shortcomings - some of the side quests are a little tedious, and the grinding involved in achieving the trophies is beyond masochism. Regardless of these slight problems NIER is a joy to play, its characters are endering, and the end play is spectacular. I hope the poor reviews dont stop this fantaastic game becoming the cult classic it deserved to become!

In a nutshell... The gameplay is fantastic but the story leaves something to be desired. From the E3 trailors and all the supporting advertising we were promised something truly different - a masterpiece that would rival some of the best games of this generation. Unfortunately Dishonered does not quite meet those expectations, but it is a pretty great game regardless. The world is intuitively designed and each mission allows you to explore the range of options available to your playstyle - each mission plays like a mini sandbox with a multitude of NPC's that can help or hinder your progress dependent on the choices you make. The key is "choice" - something which is often promised but rarey delivered. The game can be played in stealth, outright carnage, or somewhere in between. Each method has its benefits and its entirely up to the player how you approach the various situations you encounter. However, appealing as all this may sound, Disonoured doesnt quite get the details right: The story which holds it all together is somewhat predictable and the structure of the game (set over 9 missions) breaks up the narrative. The soundtrack is nothing to get excited about, and your foes are often just guards with pistols. Despite the minor shortcomings its still great and is probably the best single player game on the market right now. When/if you play it, you will proably see that the game is a conceptual masterpiece with a few downsides. Highly reccomended nevertheless

This is how to do a sequel..... All the core mechanics of dark souls have been tweaked and tuned and the experience is an in depth, highly complex and rewarding experience. The atmosphere is beautiful and bleak, creating a game that makes you feel like you are truly alone, with no hand-holding guidance from the developers. Evolving the Demon Souls formula of a central hub into an open world experience has worked perfectly, allowing the player to experiment with the world rather than be tied to any linear quests. That said, the online mechanics remain fairly similar, relying on other players on similarly lonely quests to help you through the game. Here the multiplayer does an excellent job of allowing players to interact and help each other out through a novel and understated set of game mechanics which are perfectly suited to the Dark Souls world. Without giving too much away, the multiplayer is a must for this game,since without the hints and occasional help from friendly phantoms your experience could be a very frustrating one. For some players this will be a confusing and irritating experience. With no guidance and an exceptionally high difficulty level I can imagine controllers being thrown through TV screens. However, this is a game of patience, endurance and reward - something that is rare in console gaming of late.

This is a truly excellent example of what a DLC should offer - it fits perfectly with the franchise while offering a fresh experience. The great shame is that it shows the holes in bioshock 2. If bioshock 2 would have shown this kind of challenge and originality it would have been a ground breaking game - shame that we had to wait for a DLC to show what the developers could really do with the franchise

Given some of the excellent action / adventure games around, this game is purely average. What it does have is a good combat system allowing your character to develop along two different paths - light or dark. Unfortunately the subscreen is the best designed part of the whole game, as the gameplay is simply boring or downright frustrating. The action is constantly interrupted by ridiculous cutscenes, the platform sections are dull and constantly plagued by a fixed camera that seem to be designed to make it as difficult as possible to see whats going on. Worst of all is that the environment is the same from start to finish - dantes infernos' "hell" is 12 levels of monotiny with the same colour pallette and dull graphics throughout. While i did play until the end, it was an effort rather than a joy. Only for the hardcore hack n slash fans i suspect

I suspect that this game will become a cult classic. Purely on its originality and what it aspires to give gamers it deserves a good score. Not only does it create a sense of nostalgia, but provides a good challenge with some great puzzles, side quests and dungeon crawling. That said, its not going to be for everyone - the game is directed at gamers who remember when RPG games were a mysterious brand of game that gave you very little idea of what you were supposed to be doing, or why. While you get tips along the way, its mostly up to the player to find out whats going on if they want to get the numerous power ups and bonuses that this game gives. If you want to relive those days with a modern twist then this game cannot be missed. On the down side, the character customisation element seemed a little pointless and the music, while trying to stick within the retro theme, did become a little irritating. Minor quibbles aside, inject your PS3 with some 8 bit nostalgia, theres no other game quite like it

I think I must be missing something.... For £6 off the PSN network, you can try and guide a small child through some difficult obstacles. Thats about it. It may be dark and attempt to be haunting but its really just a poor platform game - there are amateur programmers making better games than this on the net. A huge disapointment overall and extremely frustrating in parts, dont waste the cash...

This game could have been truly awesome. The first half of the game pulls you straight into a zelda style romp around some beautiful looking areas with some excellent level designs and intriguing puzzles. Though somehow it all seems to fall apart and the game loses its direction and becomes a bit tiresome as it shoves you along without properly developing its story or its gameplay. The problem here is that its an open RPG without any NPC's to help structure the story. Aside from the eccentric shopkeeper and an angry blacksmith its really just your somewhat one-sided character trundling from one waypoint to the next, with very little real challenge even on the hardest mode. The developers are promising a sequel with towns, side missions and a wider cast of characters, that could be the recipe for a really great fantasy RPG. Lets hope!

Its a true shame that New Vegas will go down in gaming history as one of the buggiest, system crashing titles of all time. Even a year later after the "master patch" the game is still riddled with graphical oddities and the occasional system crashing moment. However, if you look past the obvious flaws there is a truly remarkable game that beats its predeccesor on almost every count. New Vegas is huge with an engaging story and colorful cast of characters and so many side missions its impossible to see everything in a single playthrough. Unlike other titles out there the morality system is really at the centre and has serious consequences fo how the game is played and the final outcome. All in all it is a great game that can easily eat several days of your life. If anything the game was probably a bit too ambitious with all the interlinking factions and potential story lines - if bethesda / obsidian want to attempt another game with the same expanse they will need to develop a new engine

Looking at the other user scores for this game I was wary about parting with me cash, but im glad I did. Everything about this game is a joy to play: the controls are perfect, the landscapes are breathtaking and the graphics are top notch. There is definitely something to be said about the blatant poaching of some game ideas from other well known franchises, though it doesnt hinder the experience of the game so who cares? Plus there is enough originality here to keep the game interesting with loads to find and extra challenges and difficult levels for trophy hunters. The game may be a bit linear in places and it may not meet the castlevania fan bases definition of a "true" castlevania title, but all things considered its alot of fun and presented with style. Given the length of the game and all its hidden extras you would be hard pushed to find a game that offers better value for money.

Unfortunately this game was a bit of a dissapointment. Everything looks promising from the beginning with a mix of GTA style graphics and mission outlay combined with scaling the city in search of the numerous power upgrades and side missions. There is plenty of fun to be had with the game, and it provides a challenge and lasts for a decent ammount of time. However, the problems are soon evident and by the close of the game, the gameplay becomes tiresome and predictable. Sure there is loads to do but it mostly consists of doing the same thing over and over again (climb that building, survive a shoot out etc). Couple this with some seriously flawed controls, a daft morality system, and some predictable and rather silly enemies and the games high points are overshadowed by its shortcomings. Its definitely got potential but needs more variety and better execution - worth it now when its goin cheep but dont expect too much.

Simply the best game for the PS2. It has so many twists and turns, hidden secrets, and side quests that **** up your life. Whenever I play a new game its never quite the same experience as Okami The only comparison I can make is with the Zelda series, but it surpasses it in some ways. The integration of brush techniques and character building are unique. The whole experience is absorbing and intriguing. It never gets boring and every environment is fresh and beautiful. I just wish there was a sequal

This is a prime example of a dungeon crawler. Its addictive, has great characters, and a good range of environments. From the moment I finished the first dungeon I was **** in, and for the short 10 hours it lasts its worth every penny. What I simply dont get is why there is such rave reviews - its good at what it does but its lacking in so many respects. In short; you go through dungeons, try and find the best weapons, and level up your skills. Thats it. The game could have been greatly enhanced if there were side quests or other things to find. As it stands its fun and addictive but is not on my top list of great RPG games. Even still, its definitely worth a pop.

If your looking for adventure, puzzle, and great combat, look no further. This is a fantastic game in all respects - it keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The pure scale of the environment is enough to warrant a purchase - the environment is vast and engaging. The difficulty level is perfectly tuned, the puzzles are difficult but not frustrating, and the battle scenes are intense and enjoyable in equal measure. All round God of War reaches near perfection and makes you really feel part of the Greek myth it emulates. It is true that there are minor issues with the fixed camera view, but this hardly detracts from the experience of the game as a whole. Also the game is a touch short ( can be finished in about 8 hours), but if you crank up the difficulty settings you soon realise that tactics are everything and the battle system requires skill and forethought. BUY IT