Pixeljunk shooter is one of those indie that likes to play with different mechanics, in this case it's a ... well... shooter... and also are the elements of exploration and messing with different elements in order to rescue scientists and battling bosses. Welp... that's really it, its strength is its simplicity : one or two players, just like an arcade, playing through colorful levels and gaining points. In the end, I don't know how why every one is praising it like something unique and a masterpiece, but nonetheless is still a fine game and a good way to spend some afternoon digging through deep caves looking for diamonds. (Sorry for the short review, buuuuuuut there isn't much to talk about here.
Whether a game is just good or.. a masterpiece? 'Cuz this one really hit that checkbox, but let's analyze it : 1. Does have a nice gameplay or mechanics? YES, it does. This is one of those game right out development hell that have managed to create a stellar action gameplay while having a more ''strategic '' approach to the missions( Gonna level with you, it reminded me a LOT of wing commander, only, you know, mech instead of space ships). 2. Speaking of Wing commander, does it have action- live cutscene? YES ( although, I must admit, there are a little fetish of mine, especially when there are bad acting in it... not that in this game are, only a few ones, while the rest actually are pretty immersive). 3. Does the game have a nice story? Mmmmm YES, I mean it's not super complicated, but it does have some nice twist to it, actually way more than I expected, only predictable part was the ending (which was still good). 4. What about graphics and soundtrack? the immersion factor? Mmmmm another difficult one. So, immersion : YES / Graphics and sundtrack : YES.. but it's really subjective ( which are all opinion, I suppose). Remember the Development hell? I made a little research of my own ( I was curious since I never head about to this game until 2021) and discovered that gameplay was heavily modified before shipment, and came out outdated both in sound and graphics.. but since now It'll be mostly played only by retrò gamers and nostalgia fans, it's ironically not that much of a deal. 5. Final point. all in all, Is it fun to play now? Well, if you didn't catch that from this entire review, the answer is.. YES! it got a ton of missions, companions, weapons, enemies but it doesn't overstay its welcome. And, to top it all off, it's still fresh and enjoyable, more so now more than ever.
...Which I know it's unfair, given the fact the this game is at least 3 year older than the best theme game there it is. My only problem with Theme park is that is GUI is overly complicated ( most of the time I don't know how I am losing money), but at the same time it offers one of the most complete experiences regarding business in an amusement park you'll ever seen. So, it aged badly ( which is strange, again theme hospital instead is a blast to play, even to this day) but for those ready to put some effort in understanding the game it should be one of the most fun experiences in park management... at least, if you are capable of figuring it out the game mechanism, that is!
Wow!... this onomatopoeia summarizes the whole game, you can buy it now. But( add another ''t'' and you'll have a rear missile launcher :) ) if you need more explanation more than '' it's mass effect, except in the 90' '' or '' it'll blow you mind away'', then I shall provide it for you. Basically, at it's core both games are a masterfully crafted space star-ships combat simulator, where simplicity and strategy are mixed in a whole new fun and wonderful way : you'll have different star-ships, each one unique and perfectly linked with the culture and race you'll play as. However, speaking of the individual games themselves, the first SC ( which in some part is my favorite) is a sort of prototype. Basically, you'll have 2 kinds of melee, which is a simple ship vs ship, and a more strategic one where you'll go on several missions with different objectives, in a star map where you must allocate your resources, by traversing planets, in order to win. Now, the thing that blew me away is that all of them can be played alone or with a friend, no matter what mission or faction you're in : the few commands require to play are what makes this game truly fun to play with a friend using a single keyboard. And then there is SC 2 : the true diva of the series ( and why this game will remind constantly of Bioware's space opera) The second one completely changes the game mode ( although you'll still have the melee one, but it'll take tinkering a little with the .exe file) with a more driven story, where you'll learn more about the various races and explore hundreds of the star system, trying to save everyone from destruction, with no hand holding whatsoever ( sometimes though, due to a time limit, can be a little underwhelming). Speaking of the direction, SC 2 really shines with its beautiful designs, visual and one of the most memorable soundtrack I've ever listen to! So, a must buy, for everyone! and also.. This is Commander Hayes and this is my favorite game on the Citadel.
First and foremost, running the game on modern PC it's a mess : download dgvoodoo and it'll fix all the graphical problems right away. So, as for my review, Swat 3, in its time, was a game that I loved deeply for the possibility to give orders to you squad mates and then see them (the orders...) executed. On top of that, it's incredibly immersive and detail with real facts about swats teams, and it's gameplay requires both strategical and quick thinking ( when the situation goes sour). So, why 4 star for a gem from the past? Well, problem is : more time it passes, more time you can see its limitations in its AI. By the way, these limitations that, in late maps which are way too much longer than normal, it will start to show as more and more of your teammates will fall down from basic mistakes of their own AI ( which is nothing non-excusable, I mean for its time's standard was pretty solid). So, a solid strategy game build upon a FPS that makes you go tactical every single corner, count me in!
Although its puzzle are sometimes a little off, other times completely far fetch and impossible to comprehend if you don't try out every single possible combination of objects/action ... or after looking to a guide.( I mean, I guess it could resemble some puzzle back at the end of the 80'/start of the 90', but we supposedly evolved from that) And that's where the major problem of Deponia 1 lies : the absurdity of its puzzle that even manage to ''ruin'' a good story. Speaking of which , the setting of Deponia is actually interesting, along with its graphics, soundtracks and design. On top of that, its humour, although sometimes it don't manage to be funny, is overall decent : basically it's anti hero story with a lot of nonsense facts and a horrible human being as protagonist. Still, the puzzles , which should be on ''tune'' with the story, most of the time actually ruin the pace of the story. So, do I recommend it? surprisingly yes, overall its a good game, with some problem yes, but still for fans of the genre, it is still a good game.
...and managed to surprised me with its deep customization, strategy and brutal lore. Missionforce brings to the table an experience only fruitable to those who have patience and are able to see through its hard exterior. A tactical isometric hex turn-based strategy purely based on robots, set in one of the most cruel universes, typical of the 90' fiction, where every single detail is vital to survive the horrors of mundane warfare. Everything from the base management, which mean robot parts, pilots ( basically genetic engineered slaves) and mission selection, to the battlefield it's left up to your decisions. Only downside ? there is a little (or a lot, depending on your managerial skills and tactis) bit of grinding before taking on important mission, most of the time you won't know how your well prepared group blow up miserably against the enemies and the amount of customization in this game is utterly insane, to the point that could turn you away. But, if you have enjoy a difficult and yet rewarding experience, welp it's time to earn your paycheck by blowing up a lot of metal junk.
Of non-Linear story-telling! Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the finest of narrative capabilities that Indie titles, and even all the other kinds of game, are able to offer, where it's up to you to piece together the entirety of the tragic events that will lead to the unexpected outcome of a lost story of a ship and its crew. I won't tell anything else for fear of ruining the plot (the game itself doesn't last long if you understand the majority of the roles and personal relationship of the crew) but with that said : the settings, along with graphics that allows to live the adventure like if it was run in a old engine, the soundtracks and the designs, are top notch. So, in to keep it short, a investigating game with a lot of exploration and deep brain thinking that manages to entertain and be captivating to the final little tiny bit? Sign me up!
I don't even mean ''the game is bad'' : I set my record to 18 sec after a few minutes of play and then I felt my head spinning ( still gonna keep it for collection). But since it's not that complicated of a game all I can write is : if you like arcade games that manages to be fun and innovative with their simplicity , disregard the 3 star grade, for you is probably a 5 star. For all the other players, It's a nice game that actually brings to the table some thinking behind its deceivingly simple gameplay and could be for you.. if you don't have a headache first!
As a fan of retrò gaming, I must admit I didn't enjoy Outwars in its prime time, so you'll find no nostalgia here ( besides for any game from the 90', but that's another matter entirely). Outwars is a fun take on the star trooper trope with third person action and a jet pack system that basically is essential to complete the game. How well it does it? even to this day , I must say : not perfect but enjoyable and fun enough. Although there are some section of the game ( I've played only the single campaign mode) where you get blown up with some enemies attacks that makes no sense ( unless you are well versed in the jet pack system) since you are supposed to be in sorta of tank suit , all in all the game's level are big and their design have some though behind it ( however, most of them resembles an arena shooter, which is not my preference I must say),. On top of that, you can choose your load out and team composition and the objectives are enough to give something fresh to keep the player playing. I'll not speak about the graphics per se: it's the 90', so everything in 3D was kind of wobbling, but they do have some charm to it, and the overall design is appropriate enough to give the sense of immersion. So, worth it? yes ( even more if there are some friends to play with), it is simple gameplay with a little bit of strategy behind it... with it's strange, if we are talking about a game where all you do is killing space bugs.
