Baldur's Gate is one of the greatest cRPG franchises to ever grace an unexpectedly heavy CRT screen. It doesn't need a review. Should you be interested, this is the best way to play it.
I've no real prior experience with either the Civilization or Crusader Kings series, the series which comprise the parentage that gave us Old World, so, I'm still doing the tutorials, as of the writing of this review. Every now and then, I'd look into purchasing the former, but I wasn't interested in reaching the present day or future, and it seemed like the win condition was to be just like the modern United States. I was interested in something more constrained and focused. I found it here. I love that the time and region represented is so tight and cohesive. It's exactly what I wanted. It's overwhelming, but it's what I wanted. Presently, my people gossip that my wife is a schemer and my son sleeps around instead of studying. I'll have their heads when/if I'm given the option. Might not happen in the tutorial, though. Anyhow, back to ruling.
I'm not terribly far into Hellblade, but I've encountered puzzles, combat, and a whole lot of atmosphere. I've encountered the hook that is what Hellblade wants to offer, and I like it. The presentation is phenomenal. What I think really stands out though, is Senua's animation. A whole lot of work went into small details. She walks across narrow beams the way a real person inclined to walk across such would do so, and the amount of care she takes crossing such a beam changes with how high up she is. Things like that, and all the other very human ways that Senua does things really go a long way. Combat, so far, seems simple, but feels visceral. It feels weighty, what it has, and the opponents feel like they're actually there when you cut them. The use of Senua's insanity as a puzzle solving mechanism is quite clever and equally well done. Everything seems polished and well done. Well done.
I just completed the prologue. I have no idea how to min-max Kingdom Come, and I'm glad I don't. Approaching the game like "Medieval Skyrim" doesn't seem to work, so I'm just failing constantly, where failing means dying, and barely surviving by the skin of my teeth. Survival is a constant hunt for food, money and shelter. For the entirety of the prologue, there never seemed to be a moment to let my guard down. Because you're always starving, there's really no time to relax and take in the scenery and BS around. So, I've been working hard at making myself likeable. Each player has to pick two additional character flaws at creation, and mine produced a character particularly ill suited to injury, so, I'm well suited to socializing. For the first time in a RPG, I feel like I'm roleplaying. Quests, at least thus far, feel like you've got numerous ways you can complete them. Hopefully this is the case throughout. I'm sure we've all played games with spectacular introductions but where it's obvious the developers ran out of resources or time by the game's end. Giving the benefit of the doubt here. It's spectacular thus far and I can't wait to load up again.
