What this game lacks in actual gameplay (limited to walking around and QTE, limited options to change outcome of the scenes), it compensates in great storytelling. The art style really fits the comic book atmosphere. If story is what you come for, you will have a good time. Don't expect good gameplay mechanics as well.
The central focus of this detective RPG is not the case you need solve, but YOU as a character. Who you are, who you were, how you choose to approach the situation you found yourself in. The recurring theme is discovering the troubling past and choosing how to deal with it. The atmosphere and soundtrack are amazing. The mechanic when your skills converse with you is unique and choosing different skills make other playthroughs (and the way you view the world) really interesting. Add surreal elements, great world building and you're in for a treat. This game is one of a kind and a hell of a journey.
This game is very buggy and you should be aware of that. There is a mod available that prevents the save files corruption, which is only one of the many issues of F:NV. However, this game deserves the legendary status it got. The unique blend of post-apocalyptic and western atmosphere, interesting and flashed out characters, numerous side quests and mysteries that paint the picture of the world... Getting into this game is not difficult. The hard part is to let go.
I like Shadowrun setting (mixture of fantasy and cyberpunk elements) in these games. And besides the unique setting they have interesting and well written stories. Hong Kong is no exception. Although Dragonfall is my favourite game among the saga, Hong Kong doesn't fall short. The writing is really good. Fortunately, because the game is heavily text based. There is no voice acting whatsoever. The main focus is on the story and characters and less on the fighting. There are more dialogue options to avoid certain fights (if you invest in the right skills). If you prefer action over reading, you might not enjoy yourself as much. I don't like how they handled Matrix in Hong Kong. However, I was never fan of those sequences in the first place, so I might be biased. Overall, if you enjoyed other games in the series or you're looking for an interesting cyberpunk RPG with elves, trolls and magic, do not skip this one.
The story takes inspiration from works of Stephen King, H. P. Lovecraft and TV shows like Lost and Twin Peaks. I was hooked from the beginning. The voice acting and soundtrack are superb. It really feels like playing a TV show. The gameplay can be a bit repetitive with low enemy variety, but the two special episodes spice things up a little. Overall, I had a blast. I hope the sequel will be as good as this game.
For me, this game is great adaption of Sapkowski's world into the video game. That's where all the three games nailed it. It feels like natural expansion of what I've read. You have your classic fantasy setting, with elves, dwarves, magic, etc. But with buckets of slavic atmosphere. The characters talk and act like real people in the world where nothing is black and white. You often have to choose the "lesser evil", where your choises are not straght good or bad. They have pros and cons. Someone will benefit from them and someone will get hurt. The story deals heavily with politics. This might be downside for someone. Yes, you still get to do the "witchery stuff" (fulfilling contracts, killing monsters), but the prime role plays politics. There are significant changes in combat in comparison to the first game. It's real time, no more waiting for flashing cursor. What I didn't like was the change in alchemy. Unless you focus on alchemy in the skill tree, the potions long for much shorter time. In addition, you can use potions only outside the combat during meditation. Which could be annoying after a while and I avoided it (with exception of the cat potion). Although I had a great time with a game and the story is interesting, it feels more like a prelude to the third game than its own thing. Many of the plotpoints (Yennefer, The Wild Hunt, Nilfgaard) serve only as a foreshadowing for the next installment. That's just my personal gripe. Overall, it was a great experience for me. It's an epic fantasy game with a slavic soul.
This game is mediocre and clearly had lower budget. However, it doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. The protagonist is likeable and the game has a certain charm. The story is shorter with cartoonish villain. You can join several guilds, depending on what fighting style you want to focus on. The skill tree reflects those choices, too. You can choose between a fighter, a rogue (but there are no ranged weapons) or a mage with heavy focus on necromantic abilities. The graphics remind me of Fable. The "open" world is divided into several areas that become accessible as story progresses (again kinda like Fable). The game is plagued with several technical issues. I recommend reading about them in the forum. They range from various graphical glitches to important NPCs disappearing after loading the game in the same area as them. Overall, it's a mediocre game developed with a lower budget. If you bear that in mind and can forgive some of its technical shortcomings, you may enjoy it.
This game is great medieval immersive experience. It is little rough around the edges. Developers wanted to make an open world game on the scale of Skyrim and had much, much lower budget. And it shows. However, taking that into consideration, they delivered a good product. With all the DLCs, it took me roughly 140 hours to finish the game. But I took my time because I was enjoying myself. Just riding across countryside, killing Cumans... Music to my ears. The environment with meadows, forests, castles on the horizon looks beautiful. The game offers some really memorable and enjoyable quests. You can get drunk with a priest, defend a girl on the inquisition trial or terrorize villagers with a "ghost" so a local charlatan can sell more of his useless trinkets. I recommend this game if you like open world RPGs and history.
This short interactive novel is a great attempt to capture the atmosphere of Lovecraft's Dagon. And I think it managed it just fine. Don't expect a point&click adventure game. You don't collect items, you don't solve puzzles, you don't actively participate in story. You click to progress the plot and the game will sometimes give you an interesting piece of trivia. That's all. What you get is Lovecraft's short story in motion. It will cost you nothing in terms of money and very little in terms of time. If you dare to stare into depths of the unfathomable abyss, give it a try.
If you like heavily story focused games with a minimal gameplay, this one might be for you. The game takes place during several days. Every day consists of getting dressed, drinking coffee and finding a person you need to talk to. That's it when it comes to a gameplay. However, what matters here the most is the story. Don't expect any spectacular criminal investigation. It's a down-to-earth tale about a tragic crime that could happen anywhere. That's what makes it so good. The characters are also realistic. The main hero isn't Sherlock Holmes. He is smart, just not on superhero level. And he doesn't deal with a crazy serial killer or a criminal mastermind, just ordinary people. Yes, sometimes very flawed people, but still believable characters. If you like detective stories and don't mind minimal gameplay, it's worth trying out.
