At this point, 'Dishonored' should be considered a classic. A status achieved, thanks to its fantastic level design, playful and engaging immersive sim mechanics, and well-crafted lore, characters and world building — even if its main plot could have used a little more time in the oven. —
Fullbright's previously applied minimalist approach doesn't benefit a game with the lofty and urgent themes this one tackles — overshadowing a very detailed, creative and (sadly) foreseeable depiction of a corporation-driven interplanetary future. Still, for seekers of competent writing, fantastic voice acting, and intimate stories, 'Tacoma' still has a couple aces under it sleeves.
'To Hell With the Ugly' offers a surprising apt satire that later bleeds into dystopian territory. Simply funny, yet also clever, featuring great writing, music, and engaging (though not revolutionary) gameplay to boot. All this mostly overpowers is predictability and underwhelming finale.
"Batman: The Enemy Within" represents one of my favorites (and in my opinion, also one of the best) iterations of these classic DC characters outside the comics; allowing Telltale to take risks that elevate this game narrative to heights its predecessor couldn't.
Engaging — and often overwhelming — role-playing mechanics and meaningful decisions are found a plenty in 'Suzerain'. Yet, the game's biggest achievement is it diverse, starkly accurate, and gleefully playful representation of timely world politics. Capable of mutating between the hopeful and utopian or the amusing and bleak.
Engaging — and often overwhelming — role-playing mechanics and meaningful decisions are found a plenty in 'Suzerain'. Yet, the game's biggest achievement is it diverse, starkly accurate, and gleefully playful representation of timely world politics. Capable of mutating between the hopeful and utopian or the amusing and bleak.
Almost every aspect of 'Metro: Last Light Redux' feels better and greater than its predecessor. Offering even more complex and well written characters, amazing level design, more compelling survival mechanics and satisfying gunplay; whilst also improving its narrative — featuring a more emotionally driven storyline, that continues to flesh out the Metro world and its inhabitants. Though its more underdeveloped and bare bones stealth mechanics do sower the experience the more you engage with them.
Don't let 'Kentucky Route Zero: PC Edition' whimsical and surrealist storytelling confuse you; its story is very much concerned with real conditions of real people. It's that connection that makes it resonate with such emotional potency, as long as one meets it with patience. A letter of hope for the orphans and lost, that remind us, we can always build again. "Look for us under your bootsoles"
"THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT" sees us in the end of a journey, not only for the titular character and his group; but also for the developers at CDPR, and the many improvements built from the previous two games. Improvements that make this game one of the most impressive, deep and almost endlessly replayable titles RPGs have to offer (and that includes its Expansions and multiple DLCs). And although not perfect (with its bloated open-world design), its strengths far outweigh its flaws, making it seem damn near close to perfect.
'Metro 2033 Redux' makes up for its tad unpolished narrative with great gunplay and engaging survival mechanics— all wrapped up in its unique atmosphere and memorable characters.
