I see the overall rating here on GOG is still below 4. Yes, the game was buggy and expensive at launch. It is the exact opposite now. There is so much content and so many interesting things to do that I can give it without reservation a solid 5/5. Hello Games came through and they came through big. The biggest redemption story in gaming history. What a time to be alive :)
There's a reason the game has won so many game of the year awards. Check a couple of videos at the beginning of the story to get an idea of the story setting and gameplay. If it appeals to you even a little then immediately stop watching and buy the game of the year edition. The game is easily worth a full price in 2021 and if you can find it on discount it is practically a steal. There are some light criticisms about the sword fighting mechanics or the complexity of the potion mixing system. These are really only nitpicks - the story is excellent, the visuals are fantastic and it lasts for ages. No filler, all killer is the expression that comes to mind. Just buy it now. You will not regret it. Sidenote: The game does have some flaws. First, it is not for light entertainment - it offers serious moral quandaries and is oriented towards an adult audience. Second, the nitpicks I mentioned above, if applied to a game with a lesser story and characters would make for serious flaws. There are areas for improvement and I hope these will be addressed in the Witcher 4. But hey, buy it. Sidenote 2: The witcher has been copy protection (DRM) free since launch (day-0!). CD Project took a huge gamble and proved that you can have a massive best seller without spying on users or lootboxing them to death. It really is a landmark title in so many ways!
Like AMID EVIL, DUSK and ION FURY this is a very special and very worthwhile FPS. It's bloody, looks amazing and plays like a dream. Watch the videos and you will know instantly whether you want to buy this.
A great strategy game with lots of re-playability, Ageod looks like it may become the new Paradox. I am looking forward to a Napoleon themed game and some expansions for this one.
To sum up: The gameplay is frantic, fast and tight - the weapons feel and sound great - the music score is spectacular and the atmosphere second to none. The graphics use few polygons as part of the visual design but nevertheless the characters and setting feel intense and real. All in all I was very surprised by how good this game felt to play and I got reminded what fast gameplay and great shooting action is in today's cover shooter world.
If you have played Hexen, Quake or Heretic in the past then this is a must buy. It has great new graphics and amazing sound and level design. The only downside here is that there is no linux or mac version.
Following in the vein of Duke Nukem 3D and updated with modern graphics comes Ion Fury. It is a great 3D game action using a similar but much better looking build engine as that used in Duke. Check the trailer - if you can live with the graphics and the aesthetic then buy it - it is worth it.
I played this with my daughter and finished it in 3 sittings - we both loved it. It is a hidden object game which means that you are clicking on the screen to find relevant objects that are "hidden" in plain sight. There are some minor puzzle elements as well - ideally for novices and/or younger players. The graphics are cute and well done and the story is primarily told through lovely sketches. I think it's best to get it on sale but either way it is well worth a purchase if you are fun of the genre or casually interested. A minor gripe is that it was a tad short and could have used a couple more minutes of sketches in the end or some such.
When Pillars of Eternity started off as a kickstarter project, us backers thought it had potential. By the time the finished product arrived, we got what we paid for and then some! The expansion gives us even more of the same, but with a more refined story and a greater scope (the White March has two parts). The game is great and the game engine it introduced revitalised the BG RPG genre and is now the new standard. This game is well worth the price of admission at any price. If you get it at a discount it is a steal!
