(Finished on PS5) Team Silent represented a developer that was making thoughtful, mature, and highly experimental games in an era that was already more experimental than much of the modern AAA landscape. To that effect, this entry is spiritually faithful to Team Silent games. (leagues ahead of Origins, Homecoming, and Downpour.) This entry is far from perfect. My issues stem primiarily from how much the combat has been gamified and has a big stretch where you're forced into fights. I also think the visual imagery/locations needed to be more distinct between the different shrine sections. As far as the strongest elements of the Silent Hill series goes (Story, Music, Art direction) I would say this entry is very faithful. I would have loved a bit more melodic tracks from Yamaoka, but the industrial music here is top notch (especially in boss fights). The story, while seemingly more blunt than previous entries, actually invites you to think about stuff wayyyy past the blunt issues listed. This is a character driven story sprinkled in with mystery, and unpacking the mystery that gets revealed after finishing the game is the fun part. So yes, heavily flawed from the game deisgn/gameplay aspect, but waaay more than makes up for it in terms of the strongest elements of SH as a series (Music, Art, Experimentation, Narrative)
The original Oblivion's best quality that has stood the test of time is creating an incredibly cozy, hopeful, and warm atmosphere (despite being set during an invasion). The music, brighter colors, charming NPC behavior, and voice acting create this incredibly inviting atmosphere that I don't think Bethesda RPGs have been able to replicate since.
Probably will be the best Visual Novel you'll read on GOG. Just know that it starts very, very slow.
If you're looking for something that takes inspiration from Yume Nikki while being completely original in its own presentation then look no further! If you're someone that values "VIBES", this game is for you!
There is so much ingenuinty on display. They have managed to take what could seemingly feel as a very restrictive setting in terms of gameplay and artstyle and maximize so many creative uses of gameplay variations and scares. The sound design is amazing, the rotoscoped cutscenes are fantastic, and the trilogy has genuienly chilling scares! (If you played Chapter 3 you know). Another banger from New Blood.
If your primary interest is coming from the modern boomer shooter revival, specifically Doom Eternal, there is A LOT to appreciate and love about this game, mechanically speaking. There are a lot of really cool design ideas that get recontextualized from Doom to give SW3 it's own unique identity. Glory Kills are a scarcer resources and they are used to give you a consumable item that can shift the balance of fight that you're in based on the enemy type that you kill. Some are flat out worse than others, but sometimes you need to make a call about which one to priroritize Upgrading the Sword and getting all the elemental attacks from can open up new strategies and new counters! It gets REALLY hype charging up an electric attack and going head to head with another sword enemy type for the stun. The game has awful dialogue, and it's true that the game is 6 hours long. However, my big issue isn't with the length itself, it's moreso that you don't even unlock a NG+ or a chapter select or horde mode after beating the game. You made SUCH a strong combat and gameplay system, it feels like a shame to not at least let people play with what they've unlocked from the start of the game. TLDR; The Gameplay is ACES; This is the best that Shadow Warrior has ever played from a modern boomer shooter pov. Dialogue and Story are awful, and the game needs at LEAST a chapter select mode to allow people to just soak more of that amazing full-unlock gameplay. Game is being done dirty in terms of reviews imo. If you wanted a looter shooter sequel this isn't for you.
The hybrid artstyle in this game is very unique and I really like all the different transformations and how you can combo them for platforming. It's an easy thing for me to support!
