This is going to be a rather short, but sincere opinion, and five stars for Soma: I had read and heard various opinions here and on the Net for some time, before I just decided to give it a run and see for myself. On sale or at the regular price I recommend it for a surreal experience I'll not give away, or go into a long psychological description of it -- it is a suprising and rather humorous take (maybe dark humor, but personable too) on human ingenuity in the face of threat of extinction. I am making progress, enjoying it immensely; a far cry from the arcades I remember in the 1970s! Lol. If you appreciate ironic and apocalyptic entertainment, as either a truly interactive story or more difficult game, it allows you to choose which you would have for Your enjoyment. And the sparse characterization is very well developed: only sorry they may have an unhappy ending; this is not a spoiler because I really haven't gotten there yet. Highly recommended, for first-person adventure and scifi fans! Thanks again GOG :-)
Well, lately I've migrated from fps games to more rpg and atmospheric titles; am really enjoying Solus, for the exploration and 'walking sim' folks either love or hate. I like a walking sim, if it is not all scripted -- is an actual game, not an interactive movie with little interaction. I have Solus set on the easiest difficulty, but can already tell in it's rather limited open-world and cave crawling scenario I am going to really enjoy some replays, for collectibles, and things I missed just to practice and progress for now. I HAVE also Progressed! Lol. If You like exploration, some moderately tough puzzles accessing some areas, and a relaxing, not nail-biting experience, this game may be for You. It runs very well, no glitches, on my machine, that is an i5 16gb, with Nv 4gb 1050. With gamepad may take getting used to the bumpers for the inventory, and slightly slow walking pace; but there is also an adequate sprinting bind, for when there is room to run in the open areas. Illumination in the caves is by a torch, which does not go out often in 'easy' mode; and other crystals and sticks for this too, along the way. It's a very well designed survival game, I think: Gamers have many different tastes in this category, but I again am really enjoying it. I give it a four, only because I notice it's not been updated for some time; I'm playing on Win 10, I do not know about later or other systems I have... I recommend this highly for a set-up like mine and if one does not mind a sandbox open-world that IS like a sandbox to play in: GREAT Time, WELL spent, especially for the 'Exploration' crowd; GET this game!
First, I'm not a fan of Wolfensteins released since the first 'Wolfenstein'', 2009 or so. But this latest is the most violent and cynical so far, yet the most playable; and I own the entire series as released. Everything since 2009 were like Batman games; a nice thought but only for a masochist to actually play them. And for 'Wolfenstein II' here, I recommend closing Your eyes to cut-scenes, unless you enjoy torture and vomiting, also rehashing the most distasteful part of 'New Order' -- that fascist choosing which of your friends should die. I did not like this test even in high school, here in the good ole 'Democratic' USA, years ago -- they would use a fictitious boat sinking, and "WHO goes OVERBOARD?". I told my teacher then, we should throw HER overboard. So I flunked THAT test; and the whole story of this game is a bunch of pr bullocks too. Not sure for WHO is the pr -- just getting started, but it is NOT funny, as some have said here: I LIKE the 'Iron Sky' movie and game, IS funny; but THIS is SHITZEN! But as I find the gameplay NOT like Batman, more fun and accessible -- and FAR less graphically violent than the cutscenes -- I'm testing a mod someone made to fast-forward these to keep the GAME going: GREAT GAME; LOUSY philosophy and cut-scene content. If the mod works, or somehow a remake with no cutscenes, a five for the game: A two for the package as it stands, and I can NOT recommend it as it now stands: Whatever happened to good old 'Id', in this franchise anyway? Too bad, if 'Id' can not somehow take the Wolfenstein name BACK from whoever they gave it away to! HAVE FUN, folks; and stay AWAY from THIS Mess! :-)
As another old guy said here, I'm really enjoying 'Star Explorers' very much. It is also in an 'experimental' phase and version presently, for 'version 6', the developer said he would be finishing. I Hope he DOES! But, as-is, so far I have only one complaint: that the GOG version saves to only one slot and no option to choose a slot, only 'game saved' shows on the screen. So back-up the save each time in case of calamity: It saves to the user/apps/ folder of the game, hidden on most systems; again is my only complaint. The developer says he has no experience with 'Star Flight', some Others have also politely compared this game to. But I agree it reminds me most of THAT game, with only a single player not a crew. I did NOT miss setting up a crew; this was not fun for me back then. Lol: 'Star Explorers' gets right into the game; there's also an online tutorial by the author and plenty of help from reviewers and fans. And finally, as for we 'fans', and I think I am one now: one said if you want a game you can just install and play this is probably not for you, but if you do not mind putting a little time (and did not take me long) into learning the star map function, for instance, it's a VERY good game. It's also a work-in-progress, keep in mind, but well worth the price here: I give it four stars; and with further developement (promised in the latest changelog) it could be five. It's again a retro-style space exploration game; graphics and all are sufficient, a BIG upgrade from old-school titles, but not like mind-blowing later games that I also enjoy. But I was hoping for a newer spin on the EARLIER era, and this IS It for me! I am running it with no issues on an i5, 4gb nv1050, 16gb memory, Win10 machine: GOOD game; THANKS again, GOG! :-)
One of my first pc games when this was released, after moving to pc, after getting my butt kicked too often on our Sega consoles by my youngest son, I still even had the orginal disk until lately it went missing. Now and then I still enjoy it better than the first 'Dark Forces' I did not play until long after this: Even then I thought the graphics were ugly at the time, but the gameplay is AWESOME I think! Others here have mentioned, and I agree, a Remaster would be GREAT. So, having lost my original, and remembering having trouble installing or running it on recent systems anyway, I bought this again here at GOG, and I'm VERY pleased. On my setup it is working fine: an i5 with NV 1050 display on Windows 10. Finally, until somebody remakes or remasters this, there is a 'Remastered' mod I play that also works well with the GOG version here. A VERY good upgrade for this, I am playing this lately, enjoying it VERY much; though after I moved to pc games my son kicked my butt AGAIN on the first DOOM titles. Lol... I play for FUN; and I find JKDF2 is Better than some more popular even later Star Wars FPS titles: Definitely worth checking out for both FPS and Star Wars fans, and I give it the same five stars I would have given it in 1998, when I first bought it. Also HIGHLY recommended for we OLD Jedis, if there are still any of US left shopping here: Thank You again GOG, for keeping GOOD memories and games alive! :-)
Like some other later Metro/Stalker-style games I like, I like Chernobylite... This is one that has been taking up my playing time lately, and has me browsing and hoping for Other ones like it. Lol. It runs well on my lower-end machine with minimum specs, at medium/low settings; but it is this unique graphic style that also attracts me to this and the other ones I named at the beginning of this review. Even with an upgrade I plan soon, I like the base rougher look of these games; they feel more 'out-doors', like a newer old 'FarCry 2'. Lol. Later Metro series and Chernobylite I like better too because they are easier before they get more difficult: As much as I liked the earlier (also Stalker) titles, they are difficult even on 'easy' setting I like to begin with. There's also more story in these and Chernobylite; and though horror's not my thing, a story allows more practice but without a tutorial (I hate tutorials), for crafting and things I am not used to. And it is more about survival in actual play than it is scary so-far, and with plenty of that great 'Zone' atmosphere. Chernobylite's a bit more scripted than usual Open-World survival games; like 'Metro:Exodus' I also play, but without cutscene gameplay interruptions and lengthy dialogue interludes. And there's much room and incentive to explore while also pursuing a mission for the day, is where it is Open-World enough for ME anyway: HIGHLY rated; another GREAT game here! I give four stars only because I have played only through Day Three; I might consider five stars later! Lol. One word about performance, however, is regarding sound. If there are issues, it's caused by OpenAL, or similar older or 'compatibility' codecs you have installed outside the game, that must be removed or reconfigured: Sound, graphics, gameplay, I'M Happy with the LOT; and may YOU also Enjoy It! THANKS again GOG :-)
One of the troubled results of the short FMV era, and rated one of the 'worst' for years, the original 'Killing Time' over time was found to be glitchy, but worth the tweaking and not so bad by many who played this. There are community mods and fixes available, as well; I began playing it myself a few years ago: NOW we have the 'Resurrected' (updated) version, that removes most of the issues and brings this up to date for everyone to play. This includes being able to choose PC or 3DO characters, even switching mid-game: Myself I prefer the pc version, as more 'eery' and 'realistic'. Finally, this is only a personal note, that part of the charm of the original was the OLD FMV, pixelated like the old movie style of the game itself; but it certainly looks and plays BETTER in this latest Version from Nightdive, at GOG here: HIGHLY recommended, especially for those into ghost stories, pre WWII decor and drama, and now a GOOD FPS game, and that was also AHEAD of it's time, though the platforms and systems (so coding) were not then. NOW it SHINES as it was meant to: Thanks AGAIN, GOG; and NIGHTDIVE! :-)
One of the troubled results of the short FMV era, and rated one of the 'worst' for years, the original 'Killing Time' over time was found to be glitchy, but worth the tweaking and not so bad by many who played this. There are community mods and fixes available, as well; I began playing it myself a few years ago: NOW we have the 'Resurrected' (updated) version, that does remove most of the issues and brings it up to date for everyone to play. Only beware, there's some serious clipping, overcome by a 'cheats' section in the menu if this becomes a problem -- otherwise another 'win' for Nightdive I think! I am really enjoying this, and give it four stars that would be five but for this clipping that is why one door I found won't open; a sprite's standing directly behind so blocking it. There may be other similar parts of the mapping like this; just turn on the 'no clipping' cheat and move along, then turn this off again. Autoaim also seems not to function, at least with my gamepad; this game is great otherwise. Also includes being able to choose the PC or 3DO characters, even switching mid-game: Myself I prefer the pc version, as more 'eery' and 'realistic'. Lol. Finally, this is only a personal note, that part of the charm of the original was the OLD FMV, pixelated like the old movie style of the game itself; but it certainly looks and plays Better in this latest version from Nightdive, at GOG here: HIGHLY recommended, especially for those into ghost stories, pre WWII decor and drama, and now a GOOD FPS game! I do hope Nightdive will earn one more star by fixing the clipping, autoaim and any other issues I may find; but only these I noticed at the time of this review. Oh, and the 3DO 'ducks' show up more often! Lol: Have FUN everyone! :-)
Metro Exodus is quite an adjustment for me, and nearly all good and bad reviews here apply. Lol. I throw many cans at soldiers on train, and am making some progress; but there are MANY cutscenes, almost plays like an interactive novel, yet IS based on a book. I think with this release Metro invented a new genre, maybe not for everybody, and annoyed me at first, but I think I am beginning to like it. When I came up with that can thing was fun: Gameplay is versatile in this way, yet somewhat linear, but not so much as previous titles in the series. It's also dark enough, yet is not so dark either as the others. I tried playing the original Metro more than once, other version than GOG: The frustration and tunnels had me giving up; this one has me trying harder partly because of the more open and detailed environment. Again, I would just read all other reviews here and say 'yes', they are ALL correct; so anyone Considering a purchase has been Informed: If you want to try something different, this is a great game for that... buy it at sale-price. Finally, I probably have not progressed to reported glitched areas, but so far have found none. I am also running the vanilla, not enhanced and with minimum specs on an i5 nv730: Turn off 'blur' completely in the userconfig file, right in the root directory, display at old-school resolution (about 1280 to 1440), quicksave whenever possible, and have a ball! Also does not do well on dx12 on my Win10, at first start; so be patient and change that: The 2 minute wait for changes is caused by this and the blur setting; so is any lag... I think I want to learn this game, so giving it five stars; thanks again GOG! :-)
Trail Out I purchased lately, with 'Flatout 2' in mind, that I still enjoy actually in it's later 'carnage' version. I agree with those who compare it to this, and Wreckfest which I also bought here awhile ago. It shows some progress that GOG does includes it here; it's another racer that fits right in with the spirit of that excellent series, it's mostly excellent as well. I have two minor complaints, that for others may not matter much, as the gameplay itself again is very good -- There is too much story, more than usual or than flatout; and I like racing more than career biographies or characters, or I would play an RPG (as I also like to do sometimes). Also, there are no replays in Trail Out. Especially after losses or crashes, I like to know what happened afterward. It is also something to watch if one has lost the race, at least for entertainment and to see that one good move you made in the second lap before you got plowed off the track into a desert wasteland in your third lap. Lol. Trail Out in it's other features (and frankly the story also reminds me of a twisted EA story) reminds me of the glory days of PC auto racing games of the past, and plenty good for the present. If it offered replays I would consider it perfect in every way. I can only give 3.5 stars, 4 here, because this especially was disappointing in an otherwise fun game. I also don't regret my purchase, as the racing is fun; and I hope the developers do well enough to consider creating another that does include replays. I will also point out it is nothing to do with nationality that I do not like the story; THAT is the ONLY thing I DO like about the story! Lol: Lets hear it for 'The Eastern Block'! YEAH! :-)
