This is a "Beat 'Em Up" style platform game that reminds me of some 1990s arcade games. For that reason I'd recommend playing with a controller rather than your keyboard. You often find the like games where you play a Japanese character or you're based in fedual Japan. This one is different. You're in Taiwan in the early 1990s and you are fighting Japanese invaders. You need to like this aspect to enjoy the game. Otherwise... It does not require much intellectual input - just fight and push ahead. POSITIVES: - It's quite immersive - providing you like these kind of games. - The graphics are nice and at times you feel like you're reading a comic book. Each area you visit is different in terms of style, architecture etc. - The combat is fast-paced, smooth and responsive. - You can disarm and steal enemies' weapons for a limited time. - You can learn special kung fu moves/combos. - There are secrets/secret areas for you to find. - You can replay any chapter and boss fight. - There is limited voice acting and it is in Chinese, which adds to the spirit of the game, but you have English text in clouds/text bubbles. - Music is very atmospheric and keeps you going! - There are six satisfying boss fights (could be more - see comments below about the length of the game). THINGS TO IMPROVE: - There are a LOT of dialogues, which slows the pace of the game down. - The game is short. You can complete it in about 5h, unless you're a completionish then perhaps 10h-ish. - There are two difficulty modes: easy and frustratingly hard. This game is not for everybody, but if you like these kind of games then go for it.
I did not want to buy this game because I was put off by rather negative reviews found on YouTube (e.g. IGN). However, I realised that these reviews were often based on ‘early access’, and many done in 2022. Here is most recent review: Positives: + A very interesting isometric action game + Beautiful design/very good looking (although not mind-blowing) + Customisation is very good - many weapons, shields, items to choose from + The action is what carries you all the way through + Control system is easy to learn + Enormous skills tree (might be too enormous for some) Things for improvement: - The story is not amazing - At times, too many enemies attacking you at the same time. Some enemies hard to damage. It can be frustrating and when that happens, you need slow your story progress down, level up, and do more customisation - Quite a lot going back and forth. No helpful map included - There are still a few bugs and camera need to be fixed in some places - For co-op, you need to first unlock challenges in single player - Not a game you will be talking about a year or two from now – sort of ‘play and forget’ game On average, it should take about 25h to finish the game. I’d buy it if massively discounted.
This is a DLC to 'Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew' and it requires you to have the base game in order to play it. Moreover, you must progress to at least Act 2 in the main game (the moment you have three members of the crew). Although not essential, it would be beneficial if you played 'Shadow Tactics' before - another game from the same studio. That is because the key characters in this DLC, namely Yuki and Kuma, come from that game. This DLC contains 6 missions in which you need to find an island called the 'Dragon's Dream'. Without spoling the content, your job is to find an island called the 'Dragon's Dream'. In that island there is a dragon who supposedly grants all wishes - hence the sub-title 'Yuki's Wish'. The DLC adds at least 7h (easily more if you go after all the trasure hunts) of additional play time to the overall fantastic game series. Another bonus is that the main character, Yuki, can now have ability to set traps! This gives the game a new tactical component and is a lot of fun. It is a really solid DLC and I'd recommend it if you love the series and the base game.
POSITIVES: - It is a card-battle game, and a turn-based strategy, set in Japanese mythology. The game is immersing and it is fun to play. - The level of difficulty is well-balanced. The mission tasks are interesting as well and force you to think outside the box. - You can select one of four characters at any time during the game, and they all have very unique characteristics. - Missions can be replayed as often as you want, and with different characters. - The battle system is very interesting. The game requires you to apply some strategy, and study the map, the terrain, type of enemies etc. before you engage. - The control is easy and intuitive. WHAT COULD BE BETTER: - There are no achievements/trophies with the version of the game on GOG. It appears this is only available on Steam but, even there, they only relate to completion of the chapters, not achieving anything in combat and/or the playthrough. - Your characters get experience points for completing tasks and winning battles but you cannot go beyond level 10. - Most cards, gold and other things you collect have to be found during the missions and are lost when the mission ends. Essentially, you need to re-build your deck in every mission. Moreover, Luck plays a significant role in the playthrough. - The skills progression system (called the ‘Ways of the Mahoken’ divided into ‘sword’, ‘humility’, and ‘valor’) is okay but does not offer much, and it is nothing innovative. Moreover, it applies to all your characters at the same time – there is no individual skills progression for each character. - The story offers nothing new and it is forgettable. - The music is atmospheric but forgettable. CONCLUSION: It is definitely a recommended title. It is a very solid ‘card-strategy turn-based’ game that is fun to play for some time. It is immersive but, ultimately, forgettable.
I played the game twice on PlayStation 4 and got all the achievements. I would like to have a DRM-free copy as well but many players raised their concerns this is not a DRM-free copy (see more comments on this below). POSITIVES: - The story is a masterpiece. It is very immersing and you want to keep playing to know more. - The character is very likeable and the voice helps understand Aloy’s feelings well. - Visually speaking, it is an incredibly beautiful game! - The control is easy and intuitive. - You can get all the achievements in one gameplay. - The music is memorable. WHAT COULD BE BETTER: - Having the game truly DRM-free without data collection. CONCLUSION: The game is a masterpiece and a must for a proper Gamer. It is worth paying the full price for it. My five stars are for the game. However, if you are concerned about your privacy and want a DRM-free game, then you may buy it here or anywhere else.
This is a Far Cry-like game with a lot of concepts being pretty much the same: improving your gear, conquering outposts, unlocking the different parts of the map, lots of fighting/surviving… One could argue that it is a Far Cry game in a Mad Max world. The game is atmospheric, and the plot is interesting, but I’d recommend watching the film first to understand the world a bit better. It is a good game but it can get a bit boring after a while, since many of the tasks you need to perform are similar, and require you to collect a LOT of items. You can complete the game in about 20h but if you are a completionist, it can easily rise to 60h.
You are a System Administrator at a refuelling station near Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. You took the job because you were completely broke and could not pay your rent for a tiny room in another part of that station... As you can see, the story is not great… Moreover, if you are into astrophysics etc., you will notice some things that sound unrealistic, e.g. getting from Earth to Titan in 3 years in 1999? If you forget all that, the game is okay. It is a very simple story but most tasks are repetitive (open doors, login to a computer etc.). It also requires some reading of the documents you find to solve very simple puzzles. I’ve seen people completing this game in 3-4h. I played for 40 min and already had 33% of the achievements. If you have a lot of time to spare, and like this type of games, then go for it.
POSITIVES: - The story is a masterpiece. It’s got lots of twists and, at times, it is very touching. Once you complete the game, you will be blown away by the story. It is magnificent! - The game is all around the story, which keeps you immersed. - Visually speaking, it is an incredibly beautiful game! - The voices are excellent and help you get to know the characters and their feelings very well. The voice actors really got into their roles. - The control is easy and intuitive. - You cannot miss any achievements. WHAT COULD BE BETTER: - The game is VERY linear. You literally cannot go anywhere other than the designed areas. And you cannot do anything else outside of the story mode. - The puzzles are super easy. And if you are stuck, one of the characters will tell you what to do. - The music is very atmospheric but forgettable. - Probably not a game you would place twice. In a way, this game is a bit like a film – watching it and, at the same time, participating in it in a certain way. The story is something you will remember for a VERY long time, and that is why I’d recommend playing the game.
