Ragnar Tørnquists masterpiece of an adventure game is storytelling at its best, with a pleasant yet steadily progressing pace. The story follows April Ryan, a struggling art student who lives in Newport - an authoritarian city in Stark where the cops clamp down hard on any loitering. During her summer days she's whisked away to the magical world of Arcadia and soon learns that there are parallel worlds out there that rely on a balance - and that balance is in danger. This leads to an epic journey through Worlds and Time in true adventure fashion with fantastic settings, well-written story and characters and wonderous backdrops. To me, the game's ideal to play in Summer, because that's when I first played it and the game's setting also takes place during Summer. Beware though: The GoG version does not have the original Norwegian voices, so you need to copy those over yourself from your own physical copy. Additionally, do yourself a favour and install the HD mod (https://tljhd.github.io/) for vastly improved visuals. Here's a playthrough with the HD mod and original Norwegian voices installed, for those wanting to see the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6bZr1VHdMo
This game introduces many characters that later became mainstays in the series, like Globox and that Fairy helper. Rayman 2 marks the first foray into the 3D realm and other new elements like in-engine cutscenes and more story. It's definitely a trip down memory lane worth taking with a mesmerizing soundtrack too. However: The PC port on modern systems lacks proper controller support and other neccessities that retract from the experience. Highly suggest you download and apply Ray2Fix (Github: https://github.com/icup321/Ray2Fix) to address issues with the graphics and inputs to polish the game to its proper potential. Thank me later.
After waiting for the patches to iron out all the release hijinx that went on, I must say this game impresses. From how well it runs to the deep attention to details for conversations, environments and characters it feels like you're playing a thriller - at least the story mode. Even just after ACT 1 you're left with a plethora of a rollercoaster of feelings. The game is ENOURMOUS and provides full freedom in how you approach. Controller support is also very good, and picks up the Dualshock 4 without problems. There are some hickups sometimes during cutscenes and npcs walking through (or ontop of) boxes, but none too problematic. All in all a worthy purchase! Recommended!
Just wow. This has come quite aways since the original pre-alpha demo released over a year ago. This features the entirety of the medical bay, with hordes of enemies, voice logs and more. This shows an incredible promise of what to come, provided they keep at it. This newest demo (released May 2020) still contains some puzzling low rez textures, like stuck between HD and the original. This is apparent on some of the environments, especially at close up. There are also very sparse tutorials, which for the most part is fine (the original System Shock was like this as well), but some parts could've been improved by informing the player in the same sense they do when i.e approaching a box that can be looted. For instance, the laser gun has three modes and are switched between with "T" on the keyboard. Aside from being sparse in some areas, the atmosphere is still here. Music seem to ramp up during combat or intense moments, but that _iconic_ start music is nowhere to be heard. Hopefully this will be added as with other missing features in the future for an overall enthralling experience like the original was. And at the time of playing this, I'd say they're well on the way there. Recommended.
I'll agree with what others have said: It's a lackluster implement of much greater titles in which it draws it inspiration from. Originally backing this in 2015, the hopes have been high. A Valkyrie Profile look-alike from a company that knows how to make combat games - sweet. Both the prototype on PS4 and the demos and backer previews on PC showed promise. The combat system was fluid and sweet, albeit characters didn't have much of a back story and were added haphazardly for the purpose of showcasing the game without spoiling story. That was okay. However, upon release it shows that not much has changed. The story probably had some decent intentions way back when, but it told poorly and not believable. Characters you meet apparently join along your quest in your head (of all things) and usually have no argument or trail of dialogue to argue against you. "Perhaps you can join me?" "My house has burned down. Yes, of course I can!" Furthermore they've changed axe climbing, added unforgiving platforming to a game that isn't a platformer and artificially inflated boss fights by having no option to grind beforehand. 505 have tailored how they want each large encounter to play, and that's too bad. It's these little bits that turns what should've shown great promise on paper, with a superior backdrop of iconic cult influences, but ends up ultimately being a huge disappointment. The voice acting is for the most part ok, graphics wonderous and combat is allright, even though they've also changed how iddhi works from their prototypes (power abilities unique to each character) so they they break/pause combat instead of being a natural part of flow. In my opinion that worked much more fluidly before. All that doesn't help what ultimately feels like a game that should've listened more to player feedback and read more up on what made games like Valkyrie Profile so insanely great. Get it on sale, but beware if you are a VP veteran like the undersigned.
If you're looking for decent adventure games like you remember them from back in the day, look no further than Secret Files 1 and 2, plus Lost Horizon. All of them are great adventures with the spirit of yesteryear with enough cheese and story to keep you wanting to play further. While acting isn't anything to write home about, the animations and spirit they present should yield enough warm fuzziness to all adventure fans. Haven't played Lost Horizon 2 or anything beyond Secret Files 2, but from what I've read is that they're falling short of their respective predecessors. Even still, bought as a pack this is still offers tremendous value with an added bonus - no DRM! Thanks GoG!
A fantastic puzzle platformer with hard, but fair boss battles. Many of the game's mechanics are explained during the way, while some require you to use them before they've been properly introduced. They both blend into an experience that demands players to actually do some thinking themselves. Game seems lengthy as well, with 5 hours and only 25% or so progressions. If you've played any Joakim Sandberg's game before (Noitu Love, Legend of Princess) you know the attention to detail and animations are superb. According to Konjak's website Iconoclasts took a mindbonkingly 10 years (!) to make - and he made it all by himself. Bows and hats off and respect. That's not something anyone can do and joins ranks with masters like Dean Dodrill (Dust: An Elysian Tail), Daisuke 'Pixel' Amaya (Cave Story), Thomas Happ (Axiom Verge) and Lucas Pope (Paper's Please). If you enjoy platformers that require practical thinking, fun dialogues, a lengthy and somewhat dark story and screen filling bosses that won't go down the first time you try, this one's for you.
A charming arpg with a solid soundtrack to boot. The combat is probably the game's most lackluster point as it's very monotonous in the beginning. The attack sounds are somewhat annoying. But that's all forgiven since it's not a game that takes itself very seriously and hence shouldn't either. There's a basic story here, but what you'll come back for is just the incredibly charming artstyle, towns, dialgoue and music. Well worth getting it on a sale and just hanging out in Puck Town listening to the music.
