Baldur's Gate III was developed by Larian, and their signature is all over it. The game feels like a mixed bag of Baldur's Gate and Divinity: Original Sin. I personally am really enjoying the game so far. The game being early access does need quite a bit of work, but I feel what is there so far is great. The camera system needs to change. No question about it. In a 3D space, you need the ability to tilt the camera up and down to change viewing angles. This is critical for navigating tight 3d terrain that have lots of objects that will obscure the cameras line of sight! This is not optional. For a next-gen RPG, the current system is clunky and barely serviceable. The visuals are great, but need polishing. For example, rotating the camera to bring an object in the foreground between the camera and the characters in most cases results in a majorly pixelated hot mess of garbage, even though my graphic setting are set on ultra across the board. Some dialogue character animations are janky and jerky. Locking my frame rate to 60fps didn't seem to help it all. Occasionally characters will be speaking, hands waving, head tilting, and no mouth movement. It's...unnatural. The audio in Baldur's Gate III is fantastic. The soundtrack is orchestral, with occasional choir vocals. It is fitting and adds a great deal to the atmosphere and environment, keeping the player engaged in the moment. I would really like to see the OST released as an extra for the final release or even DLC if priced within reason (given the base game is already $60 USD). In-game sound effects are good too as well as the voice acting...top notch! Overall, I would highly recommend the purchase. I understand early access will turn some people off. That's fine. Just keep in mind the game will continue to improve, and I trust Larian Studios will treat this entry in the series with the respect it deserves! Buy it!
Windbound is a game with survival mechanics. The player must manage time and resources to be successful. I feel the players who complain about the mechanics are not properly managing either, and went into the game expecting an adventure, not a survival sim. Yes, ships take damage when you hit things...more damage when hit at higher speeds. Repair it! How long do you expect meat to last in a tropical environment without refrigeration? That's not to say the game is without fault. There are some things that could use some tweaking, and that may come in later patches. The Pros: - Charming visual art style - Great mood setting soundtrack - Animations are well done - Combat is good. Middle-click to "lock" on a target - Build a sea vessel using a variety of available materials. - Craft a variety of weapons, tools, ship parts, and accessories - Islands can have one of several biomes with it's own plants and creatures. - A decent story unfolds as you progress - Sailing! The Cons: - There is a limited variety of plants and creatures populating each island. This can make some islands look a lot alike - There could be more craftable items. Why can't I craft metal tools? Maybe You can late game... - The world is not as "open" as I would like. Each chapter features a small area with a handful of small islands in it. - The rotting mechanic of food is okay, but food rots too quickly. (not game breaking) - Day/night cycle should be longer. Island should feature nocturnal creatures. - As a survival game, it just feels very basic. - Besides the story, each new chapter feels a bit like replaying the one before it. Just give the game a try. Go into it knowing it is a survival game, not an action/adventure. It's pretty good, and I intend to finish it. I don't think it's worth $30 as it is. Grab it on sale.
Stephen King's "Stand By Me" meets "Back to the Future"...? I played this game on Steam, and I loved every minute of it! The game features spectacular visuals but runs fairly well even on lower end hardware. The soundtrack is awesome, and I wish it was available for download. The music fits and enhances each scene so well, it draws you in and makes you connect and feel for the characters. The characters are well written, and each has their own personality that makes them feel like somebody you may know in your own life. The story revolves around Max and Chloe, two friends who had drifted apart but are reunited and they strengthen their friendship even though they had both changed over the years. They are caught up in a murder, and they search for answers while working on their friendship. The story is beautifully told and award-winning. If you have not played Life Is Strange, BUY IT NOW! You will not be disappointed. The story is engaging, the visuals and soundtrack offer wonderful environmental immersion, gamepad support is good, the time mechanic and how it is utilized is balanced, it's DRM-Free, and the price is unbeatable. I have it on Steam, but bought it again to support the developers and encourage more releases on GOG. It is worth every penny!
First and foremost, I like the game. The art style is great. The music is good, with some classic revamped tunes from the original NES River City Ransom. The moves and combos are pretty good and are aquired through progression. The story and banter between the characters is great, although sometimes is is overlayed with the action which doesn't always fit the scene. With all that being said, the game is plagued by a serious issue right from the start... Controls hurt the game in a big way. Upon fresh install, Xbox 360 controllers work...for second player only! First player must use the keyboard, and the key mappings for the keyboard are terrible. To make matters worse, there is no in-game configuration to change key mappings or controller configuration. You must install a mod or use other third-party software to make the game playable. Being released at the tail end of 2019, there is no excuse not to have this functionality built into the game...period! I could overlook some of the other minor issues in the game if the control situation wasn't an issue. Things like the high price tag, inescapable combos, death tax, poor enemy variety, and the first boss is something that will drive a lot of players away from the game. All the minor nitpicks I could overlook if the controls were configurable. Using the mod to reclaim control configuration will prevent Galaxy from launching the game properly, which may not be a big deal to those who don't use Galaxy, but I like to use it to manage offline-installer downloads and track in-game time. Overall, the game is good, and I would rate it 4 or 5 stars, but the lack of pc control configuration spoils some enjoyment for me. It may be fixed in a future patch, but I will not hold my breath for it. People have been griping about this issue since it's launch on steam over half a year ago. Buy if it appeals to you, but be prepared to have to fiddle with it to make it work the way a modern game should and deal with the consequences.
This game surpassed my expectations. I waited until official full release to buy, and I'm glad I did. This game is fantastic. The use of the build engine here is amazing. Gameplay is fast and action packed. The graphics are great. Character sprites are detailed and original. The 2D rendered backgrounds have great detail, and feature references to other 3DRealms games as well pop-culture. Level design is well structured, similar to other build engine games. Pressing 'TAB' opens a level map and pressing it a second time layers the map with textures...awesome! The protagonist is likable and spouts witty one-liners from time to time. The settings menu features plenty of options to tailor the experience to your liking, and lower system recommendations make this game accessible to pretty much anyone. Pros: -fast paced action FPS -great level design -VOXELS! -awesome soundtrack and SFX -detailed sprites, backgrounds, items, etc. -love the witty one-liners, enemy dialog, and humor -tight responsive controls, along with controller support (though I prefer keyboard/mouse) -save anywhere Cons: -controls may be a little too tight, but this is a nit-pick Overall, this game is a blast to play and I highly recommend it. It is worth every penny of the full purchase price, almost a steal if grabbed on sale. Buy it now, pick up your LoverBoy, and start blasting!
