The game is basically similar to the new XCOM, turn based strategy, base managment, permadeath... But with the introduction of new mechanics: you have free aim, allowing you to choose where to shoot, so you can for example select the right arm and disable some capacities of the enemies by doing so. (Don't worry, the game has the "auto" aim à la XCOM or any game like this too), there's vehicles that you can use as another member of your squad, you can deploy biggers squad, you have more than one base. There are more micromanagment, an example: when you send your birds to deploy troops somewhere, they take off from some of your bases, so it is necessary to have troops and resources in the bases or you will not be able to respond to a call for help, (if your squads are in a base far from the call... well, you can't save everyone i guess). One aspect that I really like is that there are some 4X vibes in here (not that complex of course!), different factions, so not only do you face the invading enemy, but you also negotiate and deal with other factions (helping one can turn another against you, you could run into missions where you face aliens and another faction, which also faces them). The way bases and resources are managed on the world map are more complext than just "select next thing to do". I think the game is more enjoyable and interesting with this little tweaks and differences. The general atmosphere is much more interesting and terrifying, like the original xcom (or the first XCOM from Firaxis), and it has a more interesting events and story to tell. It has the best part of the new XCOM and Battletech, alongside new ideas. On the negative side, the variety of enemies is not very high. There are some balance issues. It needs better optimization (Although the improvement is noticeable from the versions that backers tested in the beginning), and for some reason it does not feel complete at all, like something is missing yet.
Observer is set in a dystopian cyberpunk future, with an intriguing story to dive in and one hell of setting. The game deals with topic as humanity, selfawareness, identity, body modification, privacity, adiction, how the laws and the world don't keep pace with technology, how rich become more richer at the expense of the poor, how corporations overcome governments and use people as corporate assets... very cyberpunk-ish subjects. It is an psychological horror game, where more than the scares (which there are too) what maintains the tension, is the disturbing plot and its similarity with reality. The game currently can be categorised as a walking simulator. Basically you walk through and entire apartament building (freely) talking with people, collecting and examinating objects, notes... usual stuff. Then you have to investigate the scenarios with diferrent visors to find clues to continue with the story. There's some moments of stealth, but very sparce. And You can compare it with similar released games as Layers of Fears, Blair Witch, Soma or Outlast. The new cases are great aditions, and make it more organic and interesting. The game looks amazing, and isn't only new textures, the models have been redone, added ray tracing, hdr and so on. The stealth parts are now better and less frustrating (still not as good as Alien Isolation). I also liked that they added a "in loving memory of" at the beginning, dedicated to Rutger Hauer, who puts a his face and voice to the main character and passed away in 2019, it is a detail. There's a demo version on Steam (at least before it launched) so you can always go there and try it for yourself before make up your mind. And finally, in terms of performance, I'm not playing on my main computer, but on a much lower laptop (gtx 1060, i7-7700HQ, 8GB) and the game works fine with all presets in high (maximum) and 1920x1080. So, with a better set up i'm guessing you could enjoy the new 4K textures and modern technology just well.
Fran Bow it's a different game, is full of violence but also full of tenderness. Is a very sad story. It's beautiful and horrible at the same time. And the protagonist... an incredible girl. When you read what she says or thinks, you can only smile or feel how sadness comes over you. She sees the world in a totally different way, not only because she has ten years... A creepy psychological horror adventure with a pretty unique drawn 2D art-style, a spooky music, a great variety of puzzles (with different complexity), you can switch between two worlds to advance on the puzzles and find objects. It's a great point & click adventure, no doubt about it. Kinda old school. Needless to say, but the game is not suitable for children (depends of course of some factors). It deals with disturbing and violent issues, and show graphic violence in the form of drawings (you can see it in the trailer). Its story is complex and open to interpretations. Although, the game has numerous beautiful and adorable situations too. Fran Bow it's a game which reach your heart and leaves you emotionally drained. (I own the game in Steam)
No Man’s Sky is an experience like no other; it goes beyond a simple game. If what you are looking for is something else, something unique, you have found it. If you, as I did, always dreamed with exploring an infinite universe, discover the secrets it could had, wander like a nomad among unknown planets, discovering its flora and its wild live, build your home on a lost and lonely planet surrounded by the stars... this is the experience you are looking for, there is nothing like this. The feeling of being the first person landing on a planet, the feelings of known that no one could ever see it, and probably never will, is simply indescribable. It’s a beautiful game, the color palette, the design, the impressive soundtrack composed by 65dyasofstatic Yes, it had its problems at release, I preordered it, played for a good number of hours and my feelings were mixed. Later with the following updates, the game became one of my favorites, in that unique experience that I imagined when I first heard about it, better or worse, but certainly unique, something that deserves to be experienced. Finally, NMS and its biggest update to date are in the way: "NEXT", and that’s the reason why I doing this review right now, I think it's a good time to talk about the great job Hello Games has done, the effort they have put into achieving their goals, to bring us what they promised in the first place, even when everything was against them. In case someone doesn’t know anything about the game, i make it clear: NMS is a quiet and beautiful game of exploration and discovery. A mix between a walking simulator, survival and an adventure game… But there are also space battles, trading, crafting, base building, driving, there's a story to follow (or not) you can buy freighters, trading ships... don’t let the bad reviews, or even the good ones, or even this review tell you what you have to think or feel , just discover it by yourself, live the experience and probably you will not regret it.
Most and better Diablo III than Diablo III
The game is wrapped in style. The art style is A+ absolutely awesome, all the design, characters models, enviroments, art style... it's a pity that there are so many underground environments, like "dungeons", it would have been great to see more environments like roofs, streets, suburbs... The soundtrack are excellent (in the line of other great games like Wrong Number, Fury, Strafe...) The cyberpunk world recreation shown in the game and it's lore are astonishing, the lore is one of the very best thing of the game, there's no need in a game like this, but the lore is deep and interesting. The game has a complete, and very big, data base full of info about the characters, weapons, artifacts, the world... It's a fast paced action game, with many similarities to the outstanding Hotline Miami, but here you can go deeper into the customization, you gain exp. to upgrade the character with habilities (you can have four at the same time, and use it during combat, if you got enough energy of course). There's a small hub, some kind of suburb where you can move freely (but there no much to do, except talk to some npc to obtain some side missions), without counting those two differences the game is pretty much the same as Hotline Miami. The story drive the gameplay, you want to go further because there's a genuine interest on the plot (even if that isn't mindblowing or too original). There are three classic difficulties (easy, normal and hard), the game no matter what, is hard as hell, you will die a lot (I don't tried the easy one by the way). And I already read a message from the developers saying that there will be free stuff in the future. About the duration, depending of your skill playing games like this and the amount of time you will spend admiring the environment... he game is about 6-8 hours long So I recommend it, if you already played Hotline Miami you already know what can you expect, if not, you need to know that is a pretty hard game
Absolver is a pretty unique game, and as everything that is like that has its good things and its bad things, and it will not reach to everyone in the same way. it must be said that it is a game developed by an independent study, which confers a distinctive air. The game is PVE and PVP. You can level up your character and spend point on your stats as well as customize their appearance with objects that modify the statistics (rpg part of the game) PVE: the content of the game is scarce, it is probably its greatest weakness, the story mode lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours, there are a couple of short video sequences and that's it, that's all. There is really no lore or anything to go deeper into. You can play alone (totally offline) or in a mode that reminds you of Dark Souls (online), where you find three or four other people in your world, you can cooperate or fight between you. But the three main bosses can only face you alone. PVP: this is the main mode, basically consists of a series of arenas (there are great number of scenarios) and combat 1v1 (3v3 announced) where you have to defeat your opponent three times. With each combat you get exp. and when you level up the "combat trials" you get objects. Level up these trials allows you two things, the first is to be able to face the higher versions of the game bosses (who need to have the trials at a certain level to be able to face them again), the second, create your own school of fight and teach it to other users, this requires effort and dedication). This is a mechanic somewhat nonsense, having to acquire some level in an online tests to be able to defeat (again) some enemies offline... have not sense and I think it makes the fact that indicate in the description that you can play the adventure offline pretty unethical, but it's my opinion. Basically that's it, what for me is a really great lack of content. You have a long tutorial (pve) and a normal fight mode (pvp). The combat system is really amazing, all the moves are real and its execution is really incredible, you can (and in fact is the best of the game) customize the entire combat system, create your style.You learn new moves fighting opponents with other styles. The combats are technical and can become very epic, (of course there is always some fool that just repeats the same movement and tries to crush you against a wall and takes away all the fun). Overall the community is quite good, besides there is no type of chat or usual mode of communication (as in Dark Souls). Visually the game is awesome, beautiful and unique (it remind me the Breath of the Wild artistical style). The world is small but you can move freely and it isn't linear, but it's empty, like i said. You only fight with pnc, with a very challenging AI, while you just try to reach the three bosses of the game. I really like the game, I want to give it a three and half stars, but I only can choose 3 or 4 so I chose 4 instead. I recommend it, but you definitely need to consider the kind of game it is and their lack of content.
