Great reboot of the series. I strongly recommend playing in Ironman mode (no scum saving) to get the right feeling from the game. It also has a great mod called Long War that adds a ton to the game and changes it a lot. Typically to Firaxis, the game is a bit "gamey" (unnatural mechanics thrown in for the sake of complexity or because they couldn't do it better). For example you have 2 actions in place of the old Action Points system, only one base, and a pretty limited squad (both in number and items). I guess it's pretty hard to make a game balanced and not (too) gamey. Pros: big improvement(s) over the old ones. Cons: gamey , only one base, pretty limited squad Rating: one sticky alien that likes getting prodded. *Editors' Pick* https://pixelloot.com
In Victoria II (1836-1936) you manage your country throughout the industrial revolution. The game engine feels dated because it lacks a lot of quality of life improvements and it doesn't look too pretty. Underneath the hood, there is a complex system that keeps track of the population in great complexity, and if there was a Nobel Prize for video games, then this game would've won it. But even if there is a lot of complexity underneath, you don't really have that many options with what you can do. The AI is not that great and is vulnerable to large military stacks. You can't have more than two great powers allied, and while this is a much too "gamey" mechanic for my taste, alongside "crises" that can appear, it can lead to a lot of volatile situations. In the end, the world can be a pretty dangerous and unforeseeable place. If you have a lot of states in your sphere of influence, then your game can transform in a very tedious mini-game to properly maintain and manage them, and of course you lack at least a proper notification system for it. Overall it's a good game, with good mods, which can keep you hooked for a long time, but it really makes you yearn for a Victoria III. Rating: But Mom, you promised me Italy! Recommendation: Are you into grand strategy games even if they look dated? Want to play a Paradox Interactive mega-campaign? https://pixelloot.com
Tropico 5 is quite similar to its predecessor but of course, with better graphics. A change that I really liked is that you can start under a super power and need to gain your independence. A change that I really did not like is that you need to explore the island, which is clunky and badly implemented. However, one thing stayed the same; you still need an unreasonable amount of teamsters to transport goods around, unfortunately, this makes the game un-fun to me, even though the rest it is quite funny. I like to play these kind of games in “free play”/”sandbox” mode and skip the campaign, so make of this “review” what you will. Rating: More of the same (which is not always bad). PC games curator - http://pixelloot.com/
Unlike in MTG or Hearthstone, the winner of the game is not the one who gets the opponent’s “hero” to zero health, but it’s the player who wins 2 out of 3 rounds with the most points on the board. There are 5 factions, each with several 3D animated leaders, and each leader has unique abilities to influence “the battle”. Each card has a provision cost, and to make a valid deck you need at least 25 cards and a maximum number of provisions. In the end, the deck consistency is pretty high so the RNG is not crazy as it is in other games. For experienced players, a game takes about 10-15 minutes. The starting decks are pretty trash, but so far Gwent is the most F2P friendly game out there. Slowly but surely the game is losing its generosity but it is still in a very good place right now. All the cards also have premium versions, which are animated. The (overall) art style is good but I would still like to see a lot of cards reworked, sometimes the animated versions don’t really bring much. The lore for the game is the Witcher universe, Witcher 3 in particular. You will see a lot of characters from the game. Out of the CCGs that I played, I liked Gwent best (so far). The low RNG, deck building, lore, development, and gameplay, really appealed to me. Not to mention that Witcher 3 left me with an itch to scratch. Rating: “A coin for the bard / And drop another card” *Editors' Pick* https://pixelloot.com
Samorost 2 is a decent adventure game which takes place in a quirky world and has a quirky art style. Unfortunately, I just don’t have the patience anymore to handle this kind of moon logic and hidden objects type of game. Rating: Pink elephant with three trunks. https://pixelloot.com
It’s very hard to talk about games like this, that are all about the story, without spoilers but I will give it a shot. The game manages to make you emotionally involved from the start. It does a very good job of weaving a story that keeps you curious but also a bit tense. The game mechanics are simple and this is fine in this context. The accent is on atmosphere but without it being (too) scary or horror, so if you’re a scary cat like me this game will be just perfect. The art style is excellent and really helps in creating that perfect atmosphere. Firewatch takes around 4-5 hours for most people, and for me it was most definitely an experience that I enjoyed having, and I will remember it fondly as a game done right. Rating: 1/5, misleading title, not much fire watching. *Editors' Pick* https://pixelloot.com
The “Overview” sums up the game pretty well. I really like both the art style and the soundtracks. The pacing of the game is very intense and fits well with short bursts of playtime. Cuphead is not about memorizing everything because attacks don’t always come in the same pattern, so you’re force to develop your reflexes. Usually, you can anticipate the next attack by a short “wind up”. I’m a bit bad at this type of games, so I found it quite difficult, but this made beating levels even more rewarding. Rating: Mugman is the Luigi of “Cuphead”. *Editors' Pick* http://pixelloot.com
I like movies, and I love games because I enjoy feeling like the main character. All these given I should have loved this game. Even though your choices could lead to various endings, they don’t feel like real choices and their results are often contrived. The script/story is sub-par, and the production value and acting are fairly average if I’m feeling generous. This genre has a lot of potential, but in this case the potential is not realized. Rating: "Telltale: the Movie" http://pixelloot.com
Spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate, this game has everything, from moral choices and multiple endings, to solid RPG mechanics. You can pause the combat to coordinate your party better. The story and lore are super rich and will keep you hooked. Pros: everything. Rating: The witch of my heart. *Editors' Pick x2* http://pixelloot.com
You play the game by taking turns picking words. Ideally you'll touch on a sensitive subject for your opponent or make the insults long. That's pretty much it. You can "insult your CPU" or play against other people online or hotseat. There are a few things to unlock (three characters and a "conflict scenario") but this can only be done in single player and the conditions are hidden. Rating: Elderberries. Recommendation: It can be really fun for a while but it can get pretty repetitive, and you can't deny it! http://pixelloot.com
