I honestly would say the idea behind this game is splendid. An FPS game that's not only set in the compelling though uber-grim W40K universe, but actually lets you play as non-humans. I always thought the Tau were a likeable and cool faction, and it's nice for a game to focus more on them for once. The question is, is the game itself any good? Sadly, no. For instance, the story is meh; starting off well with showing arrogant xenophobic space marines committing atrocities + some interactive holograms during the tutorial that go into the lore and culture of the Tau, but it doesn't really seem to go any further after that. At least not for the length of my playtime so far, which is at least a few hours. The action itself leaves much to be desired. It gets dull quickly, and aiming/hitting at enemies is annoyingly difficult. Levels have some nice designs here and there, but are drenched with terrible overspawning AI that never seem to miss you. Let me also say that I don't mind that most of the game is just sound effects, but come on, it's almost like music doesn't exist at all! If I was to rate this game on its technical quality alone, I'd lift it to 2.5 or even 3 stars. Unfortunately, too much poor execution drops it to a 2. While I don't regret buying it on special, I'm still not motivated to complete, or even reinstall it. Pity, cos I'm sure it could have been something great.
Caesar 3 is a game I enjoyed deeply as a kid. If any title deserves ranking amongst the "Good Old Games" (thank you GOG <3) it's Caesar 3. The gameplay, graphics, complexity, voice-acting, music etc are of tremendous standard. Though not the only strategy game with an Ancient Rome setting, but few games in general (not just Roman) have this much depth on the politics and economics that came with building and governing cities implemented within its gameplay. Even as an old video game, it takes you in to its historical setting in a way that even more modern masterpieces have not. While the game is well-made and relatively bug-free, it loses 1 star for its difficulty. Even on easier settings, Caesar 3 requires a lot of patience and skill. It's not that the game isn't completable, but one must not be surprised if (even earlier in the campaign) one has to restart a level because they failed or have lost the chance to be victorious in it. If you have the patience for the challenge though, you will find an addictive and rewarding experience. Anyone really into simulations, RTS's, and having deep fascination with Roman history cannot go wrong with this game.
For all their success, the Metro games have had a lot of things said about them. But one thing I cannot fault is that 4A Games tried for each sequel to build over the previous one. For example, Last Light had less buggy stealth mechanics and some great DLC (the Polis ranger one being my favourite). But the things that consistently apply to each game are the unparalleled graphics, apocalyptic horror atmosphere, emotional and thematically deep narrative, and inventive weaponry. In a nutshell, Exodus does not abandon these traits. Unlike Last Light though, Exodus has a massive gameplay overhaul. The chapter count is much smaller, in large part because 3 of them are very lengthy and take place on explorable sandbox maps. Some fans haven't been happy with this move, but as a sucker for sandbox-style experiences I felt a little more forgiving. I will admit, it's not perfectly implemented and sometimes navigating can feel like a slight chore. You won't find the open-world element as polished as in the STALKER series. But it is still fun to explore the wasteland beyond the underground stations. The Volga map in particular was my favourite with the best atmosphere. As for the story, it is great just like in the other games. The English dubbing is good, but IMO playing it with Russian audio (which you can set in Options menu while keeping text in English) makes the experience grander. Probably my only issue with the narrative is the endings. Both of them are powerful, though the "bad" ending is particularly chilling. The issue here though is it attempts to portray itself as hugely tragic which feels a bit off as you have to a PRETTY murderous asshole throughout the story to get that ending. It's only a minor quip though. Either way, the story's conclusion will leave a profound impact on you. I feel each Metro game offers something unique to the table, and this is no exception. While not entirely flawless it's a terrific conclusion to a scary and emotional trilogy.
