A classic metroidvania, it takes some of the best mechanics from games like Order of Ecclesia, and even makes improvements over some of them. It adds the time travel mechanic. You can travel between the past and the present and changing things in the past, changes history. Reminds me of Oracle of Ages (Zelda for GBC) for example. It's incredibly well done in the level design department, and I even love the monsters. However, it has a few problems. 1. The story is weak. The first time I read Eragon I liked it but I felt something was wrong: I had already read it somewhere. That story took everything from other very well known and better stories. This game does the same thing. There's nothing original in this story, you feel like you have already played it. That's it, if you are not a kid or very inexperienced. Which is ok, I would gladly 100% recommend this game to any kid. If you are young, if you don't know what I am talking about when I mention Order of Ecclesia or Oracle of ages, then this is your game. 2. The story is cringe. Yeah, it touches the previous point but I had to point it out again. I rolled my eyes a few times. Again, teens are gonna love this ^^ 3. The difficulty is BROKEN. This is more serious. The way the weapons level up makes impossible to use more than one type of weapon reliably, because if you use more than that, the exp will divide and they will stay weak. To be stronger, you have to focus on ONE weapon, the other become useless very fast, which is a HUUUGE disappointment. There are a lot of cool weapons I barely could try because of how weak they were. In the same topic, the strong attack DESTROYS EVERYTHING. You can rush the game by using ether potions and spam that attack. Seriously, in normal difficulty you are invincible. 4. Finally, the game is too short. Really. It's like one area in a Castlevania game. --------- I recommend the game, it's enjoyable, but the budget was small and it shows. Great ideas, but limited resources.
Ok, this is my experience. First time playing, maybe 4 hours, I had problems. I had to lower the graphics despite my pc going far beyond the specifications of the game. I play RE3 remake on high, I play everything on high or max. But this game, wow, it gave me a hard time. Even then there was lag when moving the camera, but after a while I was able to at least play. Next morning, I try to play again: Impossible. Every movement is painful. I keep lowering my graphics, same problem. My drivers are updated. I tried to ask for help in the steam forums but I should have bought the game there, they don't allow anybody else posting, for whatever reason. So here I am, with a broken product I have paid for. It's specially painful because I don't want a refund. The game itself is good, brings me vibes of Majora's mask and Skyrim. I like the game, even if it has some nonsensical plot holes, which is unavoidable when you mess with time travel. But the technical aspect is a freaking disaster and I can't understand the high reviews, specially because I know I am not that special. A lot of people comment about it, they just don't give it the relevancy it has. The player experience is terrible. Simple as that. And they are not gonna fix it. Honestly, I don't think they would be able. The game was made by 4 guys over 4 years. I mean, the word "amateurs" comes to my mind. Great ideas and a lot of effort were put into the game but that's all and that's not enough.
The narrative, the story telling, is really, really solid. The characters are great, they are not flawless which makes them much better. In the end, this is a very simple love story with a pretty disappointing conclusion. It has at least 2 endings, but they are not too satisfying. There are some unfinished arcs and it shows. Like, they run out of money or something. And in the end some things just don't make sense if you think about them. However, that doesn't change the fact that the path to get there is freaking amazing. The music is great, the visuals are beautiful, and the dub is... I don't know how to express it: Tier S. Really, really good. The lore around the world is interesting, like a futuristic dystopia (not 2020 style, more like... 1984 style). As a psychologist I can't stop appreciating the toxic romanticism implied in the game. Yes, I am guilty. I was raised by Disney cartoons, what can I do. One of the first movies I loved was the beauty and the beast. However, I think the developers don't sink too low in this kind of relationships where both parts are dependent from each other and try to make them as independent as they... managed. They take their own decisions and their own choices and in fact, you can choose an ending accordingly. It's not satisfying. But you can, if you want. One player alone can win the game, it's not too hard, but it would be much easier and more entertaining if you do it with other player. And I recommend that player to be your boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband/partner for life, whatever you have there. Your pillow won't work, it requires hands. The thing is, this is meant to be played by two people in love, that's pretty obvious. And it's totally worth it, believe me. If one of you is not used to gaming, don't worry, the game explains everything quite well and it's easy to play. So, very recommended.
Yeah, there's barely any gameplay here. You need to mix drinks but you have unlimited attempts and they are easy, there's no time limit. The challenge is PAYING FREAKING ATTENTION. When you are just clicking fast through text, maybe you don't read in time and you don't remember the drink they asked you. The bartender makes a reminder but if you didn't keep her happy (by buying her the stuff she wants every day), she won't remember either. Even if you are paying full attention, maybe it works as a puzzle, maybe the customer don't ask you directly what he or she wants and you need to guess by using clues. Honestly, simple and scarce gameplay but it's a lot of fun when it happens... and that's not the reason to buy the game. Va-11 Hall-A makes a better, deeper and much more interesting Cyberpunk world to put its lore in, than Cyberpunk 2077. People love the city in that game, but Va-11 Hall-A makes a better city WITHOUT EVEN LETTING YOU SEE IT. The city is there, but the only thing you see is your apartment and the bar. However, it's so well described, their culture, their problems, their news, their worries... that you feel like you know that city. And it's really amazing, fascinating stuff. Not for minors, you know, a lot of sex references and some of them a bit... I don't know, creepy from the start. Like robots (lilims) prostitutes with the appearance of kids. Not... a great start. But it doesn't devolve and it uses those creepy setups to make interesting philosophical questions. You need to think of Va-11 Hall-A as a Novel. Graphic novel. It takes probably around 20 hours to beat comfortably, without rushing. It has some secret customers, at least one secret drink (and at least one half-secret drink), and some other secrets and easter eggs. And the music is pretty damn good too. I can't recommend it enough. If you are a calm player that enjoys reading and science fiction, this game is for you.
Ok, I am on my 30s so I was very young when Sonic 3 and knuckles was released but I was fortunate enough to play it and LOVE IT. I never passed the fourth or fifth stage as a kid however, it was way too hard and the story was very simplistic, just enough for a kid to play. The designs said everything that had to be said. Now, this game makes me feel chills. It's like going back to that time but even better. The colours, the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MUSIC, like seriously, wtf, the music is so GREAT, I have to look for the soundtrack because I would buy it right now. The characters are cute and interesting and cute and I love them all. The voice actors are incredibly good for a game. Like, dude, some triple A game wish to have such great voice actors, they do a very good job. Now, the only problem FOR ME is the story. It's so edgy and cringe and I was all the time laughing out loud. However, I am 100% sure that this is the feel Sonic was after back then when I was a kid, and I am 100% sure too that I would have LOVED the story, would I be 10 or even 12 years old. I mean, I am gonna gift this game to my niece as soon as he is old enough to grab a gamepad XD, I promise. I still didn't finish it, I don't know if I will have time because the difficulty is increasing and I am running out of lives, I am mid-game. So who knows, maybe the ending would make it even better. I can't but recommend it. Seriously. Specially if you are a sonic fan, you'll notice how they have improve the difficulty curve, I feel it much better than even Sonic Generations. The levels and replaybility is huge. What the hell, I think I am gonna play again. Who knows, maybe I actually finish the game. It's amazing. Very, very recommended.
My parents bought me this game when I was 10 or 12. Back then the graphics looked great and the speed was something very different to the mario kart game for n64 that I was used to. So, I played this game with such enthusiasm that now I feel tempted to give the game a really good review just for nostalgia. But let's be real. I never won this game. I was defeated once... twice... and again, and again, and again. The difficulty is insane. And not only for a child, it's insane for anyone. If you are thinking in playing casually, think again. You need to tryhard this or you will always see the same car and the same tracks forever. I never was able to unlock other cars, not even that. I recognise that I didn't tryhard this too much, just for one month maybe. There's people in this site speaking about playing one year to beat it. It's nice for a retro collection however, if you feel like a collector. This game has all the spirit of the nineties.
