The game is great. I was on the fence between giving it 4 and 5 stars, but I went with the latter mainly because it has NO RIGHT to be this enjoyable. The game is well executed, with only minor flaws and solid presentation. There are basically two aspects of the game that made me enjoy it so much: 1) Perhaps fittingly for a game about cooking, Battle Chef Brigade is less about the ingredients and more about how they are expertly combined. The game is basically: a story about a young woman, a Match Three game of sorts, and a brawler. None of these would hold much appeal on its own, for me. Separately, they'd be anywhere from mediocre to decent. I wouldn't play any part of the game separately. There are just better games for me. But together, they do reinforce each other. The change of pace between various mechanics keeps things fresh. The various moments complement each other. There's some weird alchemy that makes the whole more than a sum of its parts. I can't explain it. They're just that well-balanced. 2) The feel of the cooking mechanics is amazing, it's one of the best marriages of mechanics and theme I've *ever* seen in a video game. I compare BCB to Guitar Hero, as GH is (I am told) nothing like playing a guitar, but it sure FEELS like it. BCB is nothing like cooking (duh). But mixing ingredients in BCB, rushing from one pan to another, putting something in the oven, seasoning the dish - it all very much FEELS like making a meal, it's the exact same thrill (I cook as a hobby). Every single mechanic is a brilliant little simulation of a real-life "thing". When you chop up an ingredient, it does feel like you're cutting out the inedible parts. When you're waiting for meat to come out of the oven, the anticipation is spot-on. The importance of using the right kitchen utensils, the vegetarian vs meat options, the final touch of adding something on top... it all just clicks. The consistency, logic and variety of the game mechanics makes the game brilliant.
This is a great game if you enjoy old-school cRPGs. Pure and simple. But, for me personally, it goes a small step beyond that. What I find remarkable about Shadowrun Returns is how CONSISTENTLY good it is. All ingredients are of highest quality and joined seamlessly. The game has no real weak point. Combat is tight, the writing is not spectacular, but well-thought-out and fits the genre. The story is solid, with a few pretty good twists and turns, and it doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. The graphics do their job - they are clear and good-looking in an inobtrusive way. The NPCs are very memorable and feel alive. The game feels like a classic cRPG, but streamlined, cleaned up and with all cruft cut out. There's no busywork, no tedious micromanagement, no pointless sidequests (there are extra missions, but they are all well-crafted). The combat is involved but approachable. It gives the game a "sharp" feel, the story and the missions unfold in a way that does make you feel like a mercenary for hire. Keep in mind, that also means the game is linear and rather short. It *could* use slightly more complex runs, with more paths to take. But it didn't spoil the great fun I had. There's still PLENTY to choose from when preparing for a mission, selecting gear, spending experience points. The game is simple, but a good kind of simple. There's one more goal the game accomplished. It sold me on the concept of Shadowrun. Despite being a fan of tabletop gaming, I never got into the setting. This game may've changed that, actually. You'll like the game if you enjoy old school cRPG, if you enjoy Shadowrun, if you like a game that's to-the-point and enjoyably accessible. You might like it less if you mind that it's linear, if you want a very long game or an extreme challenge. The game's biggest strength is how clear and clean and streamlined and to-the-point it all is, but if you're looking for a huge world or a freeform, sandbox-y experience, look elsewhere.
Not a bad game - but a big disappointment nonetheless. It's extremely uneven. It'd hard to explain spoiler-free, but let me try. The game has ambition, heart and is well thought-out. I love old-school cRPGs and this game? It grabbed me almost instantly. Hypnotized me. The gameplay felt really fun, the setting fascinating. Crises are well-crafted. Dialogue, the focus of the game, makes you feel like your choices matter. The visual style and design is unique and I loved it. And the million of small touches! This is a game where "vendor trash" loot manages to tell its own little stories. Where the environment is detailed and meticulously crafted. Minor NPCs are interesting and fun. Torment is a game of a million details of exquisite charm. And the key points in a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, story and writing? Superb! I really wanted to see how the story ends. I enjoyed learning more through extremely story-heavy interactions. But... by the end, my enthusiasm waned and soured. Why? My biggest gripe is the final hour. The entire game feels like a first chapter, it doesn't feel epic or like it had proper buildup. The game feels too short, and it's not *just* because I completed it in only 19 hours. The ending's just... too abrupt, it didn't feel earn, the buildup was off. And, purely subjectively, I disliked the ending. It didn't feel satisfying or powerful. But, the game has significant non-story problems, too. Here's a microcosm of the game's issues: the Tide-based morality throughout the game. It's quite brilliant and builds anticipation. But it never has any payoff or weight. It's just sort of... there. Detached. Throughout the game, the pieces are set up very well. But it's all anticipation, too light on delivery. I loved everything... in principle. Cool combat skills left unused, story beats with off pacing. NPCs I *want* to love or hate. I love most things from this game... but not the game. It feels like a ten-second drive in a Ferrari.
