I was expecting I wouldn't enjoy Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (ST:BotS) as much, so I got it when it was on sale. But, boy, was I wrong! I still prefer games like Dishonored and Mark of the Ninja, because they feel faster. However pulling off an attack in ST:BotS with 3 or more characters in real time is just so satisfying. The game features a scripted actions queue, which I thought was too short. 3 actions at most is quite insufficient when each character has 4 skills. It did remind of Transistor a bit, but I guess the point in ST:BotS is to control the characters in real time. Especially if you want the speedrun badge, i.e. complete a level in 15-20 minutes. You don't have to rush though. I took my time with Misson 9 and I finished it in 1 hour and 27 min. After that I checked the speedruns online and there was a 57 SECONDS long one (loading screen incl.). Wow! It's amazing how ST:BotS allows you to enjoy it at your own speed. On top of that using different characters to solve a problem provides a vastly different experience and lets you go on a unique journey of your choice. I did have some trouble with actions getting canceled or characters not responding as fast as I was issuing commands, but that's about the only complaint I have. I didn't experience any other bugs. Everything else is great! The gameplay is solid. The graphics are brilliant. The soundtrack fits perfectly with the atmosphere. The voice acting is also great, although I enjoyed the Japanese one more than the English one. There are subtitles though, so you can go with the language of you preference. The story telling stood out to me as well. It's a simple story, but good and the dialogue is so well written that you get to know each of the 5 characters and share their feelings throughout their journey. As a whole ST:BotS feels so complete and colorful, with various ways to finish each mission that it just creates the ultimate experience. Verdict: Brilliant! Worth full price.
Okay. art of rally (aor) is not without issues, but the potentional it has is incredible, so while currently it's a great game, I'm expecting even more from it in the future! The bad is not too much - a few visual glitches here and there and the occasional random surprise that people attribute to the Unity engine. That said, the developers at Funselektor are actively fixing bugs and adding new content. Even engaging with the community on Discord. There is a lot to love about aor. The minimalistic graphics and the soundtrack perfectly blend to create an unforgettable experience - something that most games nowadays fail to do. There is no bumper cam, nor pacenotes, but the abundance of camera settings makes up for it completely. And honestly, the bird's eye point of view is part of the magic. The experience is just like watching a rally, but instead here you are the one controlling the car. It's brilliant! And if you're into drifting, you can enjoy that too. The driving itself could also be very relaxing, but your mileage may vary. It's fun, but punishing. Push that throttle a tad too much and you'll be off into space. A gamepad's analog controls will give you an advantage, therefore using one is probably a must. You also MUST spend time tuning the advanced controls and gameplay settings to suit your driving style. I'm fine playing with a keyboard, but I wouldn't recommend it for most people. If still in doubt, there's a demo you can try. The 2 cars in it are not the best example, but you'll get an idea at least. Keep in mind that aor has been greatly improved since the demo was released. The selection of cars has also become amazing. They all handle uniquely too. After 40 hours of gameplay I can easily have fun with half of them and feel rewarded in a different way by each car. Verdict: Buy it! Buy it even at full price! Buy even the Deluxe edition! It's a lot of good game and a lot of good soundtrack for little coin, so it's definitely worth it.
