Terrible update, I played this on a GTX980 at 60FPS, now a RTX3060Ti it's a stutter fest. Game also crashes every 30 minutes or so. The old version is no longer available, so thanks for ruining Witcher 3.
This game is like Hotline Miami or Katana Zero mixed with Mirror's Edge. The premise is quite simple and addictive - you are a cyber-ninja traversing complex environments with parkour and you got a katana that kills with a single hit, but the at the same time you dies in one hit. You also got some powers that allow you to dodge shots and slow down time. If you die, you can replay the section instantly until you get it right. For me that would have made the perfect game, since I love these kind of titles, however the problem is with the game-play being first person. The game has some tough platforming sections that are also mixed with combat, so the trial and error gameplay can get frustrating. It also does not help that the parkour is not consistent an requires precision, which would be fine for a 2D game, but in FPP sometimes things just don't work, and you are forced to replay a section without knowing if you screwed up, or the the game just failed to register a jump or dash. Games like Titanfall and Mirror's Edge did this better and in Ghostrunner going through those sections is basically THE gameplay, so when stuff doesn't work as expected, it's frustrating as hell. I have replayed one section early in the game for about 50 times, because the jumps and platforms didn't really mix. Add enemies to that later on and it feels like sometimes it's just luck not skill. It also doesn't help enemies shooting at you feels random, sometimes they do with perfect accuracy, sometimes they don't do anything at all. Another issue I think is worth pointing out is that such games work well when you can get to a certain skill level and then just go forward in the zone, but here the short sections between checkpoints just don't allow you to get comfortable with the mechanics. Also the final boss is a machine-fight platforming section, kinda lame choice. All in all, a fun game with great potential, but slightly too unpolished in its mechanic for the difficulty.
If you are wondering what the game is, it's sort of like a side-scrolling Hotline Miami, but not quite. You die from one hit, so do the enemies. Stages can be completed in multiple ways, though there is a somewhat "by design" way to go through them. The game relies on multiple retries, but the cool thing is that this is tied to the story (won't spoil anything). And the story is actually very good. It's quite dark really, but there is some humour. The game has a very good level of challenge, but the difficulty raises gradually, you probably will not consider this a hard game after the first hour, but it changes late and the boss fights are very hard, requiring a perfect run. That said, aside from a few tedious fights, nothing really feels unfair. I think an average skill player, should be able to complete the game without too much frustration. There is also a slow-mo mechanic that makes things a lot easier, but it's not really required and I used it rarely. All the things you can do in slow-mo, you can also do in real time, if you get the rhythm right. Most importantly though, the game keeps you playing, it hooks you early on and doesn't let go. The pacing is also near-perfect IMHO. I don't want to write to much, not to spoil anything. The trailer alone shows what the gameplay involves and how everything looks and sounds, and it looks, sounds and plays superb! So, should you buy it? Will you have fun with it? Hell yes! Unless you particularly dislike these types of games, but even if, I think Katana Zero might actually change your taste. Outstanding title!
This game is extremely good, and this is from a person who doesn't really enjoy rouge-like stuff. Let's start off with the presentation. Graphics are beautiful; 2D, hand drawn and comic book inspired, fitting the theme of mercenaries riding derelict ships for junk and ancient data. Sound is right up there with rather ambient sci-fi tunes, that maybe don't really make you hum the music when not playing, but definitely fit the theme and don't come close to becoming tiring or annoying. As for the gameplay... The closest thing to compare it to is Darkest Dungeon, but it's less brutal, if you take your time and manage resources right, you can enjoy the game at your own pace without living in constant fear of a "game over" screen. Encounters also seem quite fair, but if you want a challenge, harder derelicts are also available. The progression is well paced too, usually all party members will gain a level half-way through a derelict and you also get some loot to use and sell, but just the right amount, so you don't get overwhelmed right of the bat. Where the game shines is the combat. It's turn-based, but the attacks and skills each character gets to use per turn are actually cards, randomly drawn from a deck, so each turn is something new and there is none of that repetitive single skill abuse, because it's the one that's always best. At the same time, you are never dealt a really bad hand, so the it's there for variety not for extra difficulty. I think this is a great game for everyone who enjoys a story crafted through player actions and gameplay rather than something scripted and based on story choices. The fact that it's a rouge-like and there is several classes of characters to choose from, but you can only take 3 ensures multiple playthroughs will be enjoyable with different combinations. For me it's a solid 10/10 game that shows what can be achieved with good game design, yet limited resources. No tutorial though, but plenty on YT to show you the ropes.
This is one addictive game. Basically this is you Rocky and all other fighter character from the 80's manager. It'a pretty simple - work, train, eat, train more and win fights. There is also a mystery to solve and some strategic decisions to make. Overall a great and fun experience that will take roughly 15 hours, if you are dedicated and know what you are doing. Now the drawbacks - it can be a grind, especially at the beginning and in the late game, where you have to spend a lot of time training and working to get your stats up enough to win against the tougher opponents. Aside from that, I wholly recommend it. If not for the cool style, than for all the pop culture references. Great game to focus on and also a great game to click alongside your daily stuff. Get it, but expect some slow moments.
I played FEAR when it was released and I liked it very much, especially for the multi-player which still is one of the best ever conceived. The single-player did not awe me that much, but now that I started playing it again thanks to GOG, I am just stunned. The story is brilliant, and one of the deepest plots ever to be featured in an FPS game (it's not Shakespeare, but hey, you can shoot people!). The gun-play also owns modern day titles completely with satisfying sounds and effects that impress even 10 years after release. Guns are high damage and have some really cool design, add bullet time to that and we have a winner. What is most impressive however, is the level design. The set pieces are classics - travelling up an elevator which stops on random floors and you have to shoot bad guys, the underground garage level, subway shoot-out and of course the sewers - but they are really well though out and do not fail to surprise, especially after the flood of modern-military shooters of today (and FEAR kind of is a modern-military shooter done right). Anyway, long story short, you are doing yourself great disservice by not playing FEAR. This is one of the best FPS games ever made and easily rivals titles like Quake, Doom 3 or even Half Life 2. As for the multi-player, it's not dead yet, but you need an external server browser. You can also check out http://fear-community.org/ a bunch of people trying to keep this game alive - they have their own patched client based on the free FEAR Combat multi-player component. It's not what it used to be in the glory days, but the game is worth the price for the single-player alone.
