Went in with very low expectations, but the game couldn't even meet those. A very simplistic game where you fly a drone armed with machine guns and missiles of some sort, capture areas with horribly bad hitboxes - so bad that you can't shoot back when capturing areas, but thankfully enemy shots can't reach you either - and fight infinitely spawning enemies. As per the title, if I had to actually pay for this trash, I would've been upset.
The promotional materials do not lie, the storytelling in this game is amazing and unique, to be sure. I found myself pulled in to the story of Senua, being there with her, every step of the way, cheering her on to succeed. The art direction in this game plays a huge part in this, because the world where she travels is made exquisitely to look like, well, what I'd imagine a "viking hell" to look like. Soundscape increases the immersion and oppressing atmosphere further. As an experience, I don't believe there is any other game like Senua's Sacrifice, and I mean it in a good way. As a game, however, there are few things that did rub me the wrong way and have made me put the game on indefinite hold for me to actually finish it. I believe I am a little over halfway through the game right now. So, what did they do "wrong?" In my opinion, there is just too much pointless combat. If it was added to give the game a "frustration factor", it worked in my case. I feel that the game would have done well with just having the boss battles and puzzles to represent Senua's struggles. The run of the mill enemies don't really even work as practice, as each boss needs their own tactics to defeat, whereas the mooks are just hack, slash, repeat. Puzzles don't get a free pass either, mainly, the point that made me gave up has four puzzles back to back, which take at least 15 minutes to do even if you know exactly what to do, and way longer if you dont. For me, it broke the pacing and immersion completely, and reminded me that this is just a game, after all. And it is shame, since the game was clearly meant to be something to be experienced, yet someone in development felt it needed to be more like a traditional game. That said, I do intend to complete the game, some day. And if what I told you above doesn't deter you, then I wholeheartedly endorse this game for anyone who plays games for new experiences and not as mechanical problems to defeat.
Title says it all. Simply the one of the most engaging turn based games around, filled to the brim with thought provoking imagery, quotations and visions of the future wrapped up within a well made storyline. Amazing complexity for those who want it, genuinely different factions, and real consequences on your actions against them - and the planet itself - make this one of the best CIV games ever in my book, and indeed one of the best turn based strategy games ever made.
Personally, I didn't like this game all too much as it really didn't feel like HOMM any more, so first and foremost, if you're looking for that "old HOMM" (games 1-4) feel, this game doesn't have that. It still is, however, an ambitious new take on a classic game, introducing new units and new playstyles, as well as truly 3D battlefields and maps.
