''Butcher'' should be simple to rate, and yet it gives me pause thinking about its design : a 2d side scrolling shoot'em up so simple and yet so fun! The main core element of the game is its gameplay : fast, simple and brutal, with a selected weapon choice and no checkpoints between its short levels, and the level design was constructed accordingly in this regard, which challenges the player with a few feature in order to keep the action fresh. Besides that, its story, soundtrack and bloody pixelated graphics are perfectly ripped (term which is perfect for this game) and blended together in order to give the game its devilish flavor. However, its simplicity is also the reason I'm giving it 3 stars : the game is fun to play for an hour or so before it start to become stale, and its graphic, although surprisingly good, are not well implemented with some part of the game like the background of the levels : sometimes on point, others a little monotone (and this without speaking of the enemies designs, which are not even worth mentioning). Anyway, Butcher is perfect for those who seek a moderate-high (from hard difficulty to those above it, casual doesn't count) level of challenge and a its a fun little game to be played in little chunks ( again, perfect term for this game).
Crysis, it's no secret, is an FPS that was made just to show the capabilities of the tech engine that it was made of, but still managed to carve out a little space of Diehard fans for its overall simple but good gameplay with some particular( or at least, for the time) features. Nowadays , the game still look decent... but if you take aside the graphics, it has not aged that well : gunplay was always a little of a downer, story, which does have some good premises, is a little bit chilchè , the final boss is a mess and this version of Crysis does have some minor graphical issue. However the game is not at all to throw away : it is still enjoyable to play, its reduced length is actually a good side since it manages to close up the story just before it may become tedious, and most of all, the game was a good enough to start of for the franchise. So, worth buying? mmmm yes, actually this is one of the few time that I would say buy it anyway: it's short and fun.. if you can get past how many time you hear ''NOMAD'' in this game ( a little bit annoying after the 50th time).
Minimetro is the perfect mix of minimalistic design and gameplay that both manages to challenge the players with creative thinking and organizing capabilities in order to maximize scores or provide a 10 minutes distraction just long to fill whenever dead moment you have in your life ( wow, that came out grim). Nevertheless, its importance in the video game indie industry is not to be underestimated as the game provides both casual gameplay or a more ''hardcore'' approach while retain a minimalistic design and features. A true testament that sometimes the simple solution is better than a complicated one.
After playing and finishing Unreal 1 (which on GOG i give it a 5 out of 5 star), despite the bad rumors i've been hearing about this game, I really wanted to give this second entry a chance. I mean, the first Unreal was simply revolutionizing both for its advanced AI and Graphic, without mention its interesting weapons, level design and ,weirdly, even the story held some fun factor : to be stranded in an alien world, completely surrounded by unknown forces ( plus you're playing as one of the few female protagonists in this kind of game, at least for its time). But! after hiring a new team ( goddamnit, will they ever learn?), which decided '' Oh, let's throw out every single revolutionizing aspect of the first, and let's make it bland!''. So, the game got a wide variety of issue : slow movement (really stupid choice , having enemies that move way faster than you and maps way too large), typical weapons set (with some minor exception), and way too much cinematics for an undeserving bland and pretty boring story (ah, and let's substitute the old protagonist for the old ''ex-marine'' type, of course). After my ranting, I'll conclude saying : if you are driven by nostalgia, then go right ahead, it's the old game. But if you are not... you can probably sit this one out, you won't miss much.
Turok 2 is clearly one of the finest example of FPS specifically design for console ( but it can be play with a PC and be just as fun) from the end of 90'. As such, it display enormous levels and extensive platform sections while retrain the inventive of available weapons ( typical feature of the 90' FPS). On top of that, It's graphics are still enjoyable ( now even more with the new features like dx 11 and the like) a story which is basically non-existent but that's not a problem and a great variety of enemies different for each map ( and the enemies are dinosaurs , c'mon, how cool is that?) Now, I was about to give it a 5 score if not for it's major feature of strength and, at the same time, a tedious weakness : level design, which is sometime on point ( particularly the later levels) and sometime a disaster ( mostly earlier levels, which initially made me quit this game man years ago). Moreover, the backtracking in this game (since some path of this game cannot be crossed before unlocking specific power ups) is an interesting choice, that incentivizes exploration before anything else, if not for the massive nature of the levels ( few but goddamn enormous). Most of all, it is a game ( within a game) of memory to actually remember where are you supposed to go and sometime it takes great patience to go through a level trying to remember where to go. However, this is a game I deeply recommend just for the fun of the gameplay and a deep sense of reward when you finally find your way forward in the game ( of resignation when you look it up on youtube - if you are wondering I did it two times). ..... Or you could just buy it to listen ''I 'M TUROK'', the only line shouted by the protagonist aaaaand reason enough how why this game is worth the money spent!
Yes, Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is practically the refined version of the first entry of the franchise, but with enough features that can stand up to it own and even to the test of time. Born as a sonic-clone, the second chapter of the adventure of the mad bunnies bring to the table a more refined camera angle, power ups,way better level design, humor straight up of the 90', an awesome soundtrack design by none other than Alexander Brandon and a graphic that still holds up today extremely well ( unlike its predecessor). On top of that, GOG pack offers... well everything : hours and hours of fun and the whole Jackrabbit, even the christmas and the shareware version. However, I did give the game a 4 star : there are some minor issues with the control ( which can be frustrating for newcomers) and some boss fight are little dull. Still, a true must-have for every retrò videogame library to have! time to squash some turtles!
Ah, Arcanum sure is a weird one! So much to talk about ! To start, as a steampunk CRPG that allows you to choose both turn based or a real time system, Arcanum, with its clash between magic and steampunk technology, brings to the table an in-depth system that allows you to customize your character however you like : you can play a simple fighter, wizard (with TONS of spells at your disposal) a gambler, thief, a diplomat or an even inventor ( my favorite one and the truly unique feature : an enormous crafting system never seen in a CRPG, extremely well implemented) with no class restriction. On top of that, the amount of things to do is simply amazing : hinted sub-quests or secret places that you randomly discover are often great and fun. Sounds great, right? Actually, there are downside to it that almost made me rate this game with 3 star. First and foremost : the story : Victorian age inspired and sometimes it gets really dark. Actually, too much dark, there's even one particularly sub-quest almost get me to quit for how they handled certain themes, which one could call outrageous and really of bad tastes ( who played the game fully will surrey now what I'm referring about... Damn Gnomes). Speaking again of the main plot, funny thing : it is not really even bad ( a little pretentious), but there are clear sign that it wasn't nearly finished by the time they shipped the game ( it ends way sooner and without following any pace between start and ending). Indeed, near the end most stories that you ended up invested are abprutbly terminated, some of them are buggy as hell and most companions don't have any quest related to them. Second , as already said : start and ending. Unfortunately, the game starts great, with a new land to discover and lots of things to do, but more you spend time, the difficult starts to diminished (since there are no new enemies) and there are way fewer quest, bad designed too. So, worth it? Yes, but it's a game not for everyone's tastes.
Dandara is an experiment that converges unique gameplay, spectacular soundtracks (reminded me of studio Ghibli for some reason) and its pixel art. However, as a metroidvania I didn't enjoy fully its content : too short and ''lacking'' something, a feeling that I kept for all my playthrough. However, I'm still giving 4 stars for the overall artistic value and experience that the game alone, provides in its visual, audio and a surprisingly deep story about freedom. And as an experience, I think it should be try at least once in your life as a gamer, even if you are not a fan of metroidvania genre, and fly through the walls and whatnot in search of freedom.
Yup, that's about it! not a bad thing, considered the first entry but still a little disappointed from lack of originality (both in story and in puzzles). However, it does give closure to the story and it is enjoyable, so worth playing just to see the end of the ''lunatic'' adventure of agent Tethers!
HoM&M shouldn't need any introduction : as one of the most influential saga of turn - strategy game of all time that really loved a marked in the industry. But for those who don't know : In this game, you ll hunt the map with various unit called ''heroes'' and try to take as much resources as possible in order to invade other cities and defeat your opponents. What truly have taken me is the variety of things to ''do'' in the map and various options to play the game. However, the gameplay and fantasy settings of the saga that started the whole saga were a little ''rough'' around the edges that this game show in comparison to the other most recent entry of the franchise. Still, it is completely worth it to check it out even if you are not a fan of the saga but just approached for the first time : just remember to never leave your town unguarded!
