| 2020/01/26 | | Ori and the Blind Forest - Definative Edition [PC] | | Video Game | | A sort of standard metroidvania, heavier on teh metroid side. This is an absolutely gorgeous game, wiht a pretty cool story. ITs a bit dark in places and sems opaque, gives some Secret of Nimh vibes. I thought the controls and abilities you gain are all really cool. On teh negative sides, the map was a bit diffciult to view (strange some games cant do these maps right) and the combat was really bad. Just mindlessly mashing the fire button. I hope for the sequel they can fix that, but I am looking forward to part 2 which I think is coming out soon. | 3.5 |
| 2020/02/05 | | Half-Life: Opposing Force [PC] | | Video Game | | After playing Half LIfe for teh first time 2 years ago or so, I finally got to Opposing Force. It was more of the same great HL action, however the puzzle solving here was a bit lacking. The plot was cool, and the enemies fun. It was very challenging in one or two places. Im looking forward to Blue Shift but I think that is considered the worst one of these. | 3.5 |
| 2020/03/12 | | Borderlands 2 [PC] | | Video Game | | After getting so many recommendations from Kevin I have been playing this game pretty much consistently since 2014ish. I did a single player Gunzerker run completing True Vault Hunter. The plot I think is really underrated. Admittedly the humor is juvinile and not for everyone, but the plot itself is solid. Handsome Jack is really an amazing villan. The loot basis of the game keeps you coming back for more, trying to get that more powerful weapon. But really where the game shines is the coop. Kevin and I spent literally hundreds of hours playing and chatting together, whcih really made this game the perfection it was. Most of the DLC was really good as well. Graphics were also great for the time, and due to the cell shading, really aged well. A very fun single player shooter but really coop is where its at. | 5.0 |
| 2020/04/08 | | Doom: Eternal (2020) | | Video Game | | Tough game to rate. As I recall Doom 2016 played almost like a mix of classic doom and metroidvania, with certain abilities gained later to unlock secrets. I may be misremembering that last part. This one played more straight forward in some parts, but a bit more convoluted when it comes to item and ammo management. Once you master the various sub systems it becomes super fun and fast. The graphcis are absolutely top notch and probably the best looking game I have ever played on PC. The story was SUPER dumb, and disappointing. The last game I thought had an ok story, but this one just goies absolutely batshit crazy with the story. I gave up strying to follow it. Blasting demons is a pleasure in this game and I am really looking forward to story DLC, something Doom 2016 never got. | 4.0 |
| 2020/04/16 | | Star Wars: Dark Forces [PC] | | Video Game | | Playing this game for the first time in decades was a great great time. Most people think this was a doom clone but it was so much more. Lucasarts was definately on top of its game back then. The atmosphere is just so Star Wars. The story is really strong. Kyle Katarn is a great character (LOL I saw him referred to as "basically Han Skywalker", more a reference to JK but I still laugh). I love the enemies, you encounter, storm troopers, garmorian guards, Boba Fett! Kevin and I are replaying teh series but I find it hard to beleive that this can be topped. The music too, just incredible, puzzles, everthing about this is great. | 5.0 |
| 2020/04/19 | | Strider (2014) [PC] | | Video Game | | One of those games that I somehow heard of as good game but it was on my wishlist for years. I finally picked it up and thought I woudl give it a try. I remember playing the original Strider years ago and I dont remember much but I have to say this game was really good. It was super "arcade" and really fun. One thing the game did really well was that when teh action got "close" the camera zoomed in and the character models got really big. The game is generally a 2D action game with a touch of Metroidvania. You get different abilities as you explore. The game came out in 2014? I think and it seems a bit between big budget and indie whihc is strange. I had to mess with the config file in order to control my character with the dpad as the analog was the default with no way to change it. I would highly recommend this game for any fans of classic games or 2d games or metroidvanias. | 4.0 |
| 2020/04/25 | | Doom 3 (BFG Edition) [PC] | | Video Game | | After Doom Eternal I wanted more Doom. I flirted with firing up some of those old campaigns I never played like Final Doom but thought I might as well finally play Doom 3. Doom 3 came out in the height of my non PC gaming. A lot of people say it was a response to the popularity of Half Life (or maybe HL2). Anways this game plays much much different than Doom 2. They develop much more of a story which is fine, the story here isnt bad, but its really teh gameplay and game design as a whole that let you down. There are no cool open areas where you are blasting demons like Doom shoudl be. Everything is cramped, and dark, causing you to use a flashlight a lot. The monster closets get old super fast (although later in the game they seem to lessen). Basically they wanted to make almost like a survival horror game. probably 70% or more of the game takes place in teh same industrial/office/research type areas, generaic metal and computers. That got old super fast. The areas of Mars and Hell were more intersting but that was really only the end. I am glad I played this game and I may eventually play the DLC campaign but this game was not great. | 3.0 |
| 2020/04/25 | | Castle of Illusion [PC] | | Video Game | | A remake of the Genesis classic which I had never played. I played this in an afternoon. It wasnt challenging but it was a solid platofrmer. The story is standard Mickey but the graphcis and Disney charm are all there. I even played a bit with Daniel after and he loved it. | 4.0 |
| 2020/04/29 | | The Castlevania Adventure [Gameboy] | | Video Game | | I had the Castlevania collection on Steam and that was a great way to finally get to play some of these old games. Playing OG Gameboy games now a days is rough, dont think there are many that I would go back to play, but with save states it was manageable. Its hard to separate teh game from the hardware here but the game isnt great. I guess it makes do with the hardware available but this game feels ancient. The controls are terrible, its super hard, teh graphics arent great. There isnt much to go on here. Its a piece of history thats about it. | 2.0 |
| 2020/04/29 | | Castlevania II: Simon's Quest [NES] | | Video Game | | NES games are a bit easier to go back to than OG Gameboy, and I was happy to finally play this game after reading about it for like 30 years. I knew there were some mods to reduce some of teh translation erros and make other various QoL improvements, but when I actually looked up how long the game was it was only about 4-5 hours so I just said fuck it and played the original version. First off this game would be, if not really hard, super frustrating without a walkthough. The clues are all cryptic or downright wrong, and the branching paths that seem to lead to no where. With a walk through it was a lot more fun. The controls are all there from CV1, but with some of the RPG elements. This is actually really like Zelda 2, as compared to Zelda 1. I apprecaiate this game for paving the way for SOTN and others, but coming back now a days this is just a really below average Castlevania game, and really should be left to history. | 2.5 |
| 2020/04/29 | | Kid Dracula [NES] | | Video Game | | Also included in the Castlevania games was this NES platformer, which was also by Konami and is spirtually in teh CV family. You play as a young dractula with various projectiles. The game is pretty standard platforming NES action but with big bright and colorful sprites. One of the better looking NES games I think. It was fun, and fun to play a NES game I would otherwise probably never play. | 3.0 |
| 2020/04/30 | | Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge [Gameboy] | | Video Game | | This game is better than than part 1, even though they both got the same scores. Graphics are improved, this time you can choose which level you want to start with, the music is better, but ultimately its another frustrating, ugly Gameboy game. | 2.0 |
| 2020/05/01 | | Bioshock 2 [PC] | | Video Game | | I am a HUGE Bioshock 1 fan. It was one of the first FPS' I played after getting back into PC gaming, the atmosphere was so scary and moody. So I had been looking forward to playing part 2 for a long time. A lot of people list this as their favorite BS game. I have to say, I am not sure what they are smoking. The first and biggest issue for me is that you play as a Big Daddy from teh start of the game and your character is SLOW. You can get a couple small speed increases but that never really changes. And it sucks. The best part of BS1 was that it played fast and shocking a spicer with a plasmid and running up to it to bash him with a wrech was so satisfying. Here you just plod along while faster enemies like Big Sisters work you over. Eventually you do get used to it but it doesnt make it fun. The plot is not as good as part 1. Rapture is still interesting but its not as fresh as it was before. The shooting and plasmids are all pretty cool, and the graphics look great, but I felt this was a big step down from part 1. There was alos no real last boss. The game did pick up during the last 2 or so levels in all aspects areound the story but it was too late by then. | 3.5 |
| 2020/05/02 | | Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den (DLC) [PC] | | Video Game | | Most people say that the DLC for BS2 is the best part. It was better than the main game I will give them that. But as my review above mentions the main issue for me is the game played too slow and nothing changes here as you still play as a Big Daddy. The plot here though was a lot better and more interesting. YOu also get some elemental based enemies. There was a last boss too which the main game didnt really have. | 4.0 |
| 2020/05/05 | | Star Wars: Dark Forces 2 - Jedi Knight [PC] | | Video Game | | As part of my review of all Expanded Universe material I wanted to play through the Star Wars games. Jedi Knight was a HUGE part of my childhood in terms of Star Wars and PC gaming. It really held up well The plot, the star wars elements, the sound, graphics, etc, It was really a great game. It wasnt quite as groundbreaking as part 1, ahought the 3d might have been but it just doesnt resonate with me the same way. The cutscens were bad but i cant really let those impact on my review. The game itself is incredible. the plot is a bit scuspect. The way Kyle gets his force power doesnt really make sense. But I loved those big levels, the force powers, the puzzles, fighting ATSTs, that was just a super great experience. | 4.5 |
| 2020/05/13 | | Star Wars: Dark Force 2 - Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith (DLC) [PC] | | Video Game | | Something about playing old school expansions makes me feel young again lol. This game takes teh amazing engine and graphcis of part 1 and builds a whole expansion around Mara Jade whcih was such an incredble crossover from the time. I think it was smart that they ditched the FMV cutscenes but the in game cut scenes have not aged well at all. Besides taht the game suffers in some ways. first its a bit disjointed by starting with Kyle then going to Mara etc etc. Also there isnt really a plot which goes through the whole game like the first gmae, which I think hurts it a bit. But its so enjoyable force jumping around and using the lightsaber etc it makes up for a lot. The Sith temple at the end had a great vibe. One thing, Mara Jade has a sort of different attitude than in the books, that doent quite line up, but I can forget that. Great game. | 4.0 |
| 2020/05/15 | | Half-Life: Blue Shift [PC] | | Video Game | | Finally finished Half Life 1! A great end to the trilogy. Similar to Opposing Force, its not the same as part 1, not as special, but thsi one ws even shorter than Opposing Force. The plot as well isnt quite as strong in regards to teh overall plot of HL. BUT it still really cool Sci Fi and a great story. The main character also has something about him whic makes him stand out more than the character from Opposing Force at least. But this one felt the shortest and the least complete. Its great to finish HL1 and I feel like I earned part 2. | 3.5 |
| 2020/05/17 | | The Fall [PC] | | Video Game | | At first I thought this was a pure point and click style game, like those old PC games I used to play back in teh day. Eventually you get a weapon so its not quite point and click . Starting over, this is an indie game which is super Sci Fi. The background, the atmosphere, a really intersting back drop. YOu see the graphics are not AAA gaming, but super servicable for thie price point. As you go along the plot really opens up. It made me really excited for a possible sequel. | 3.5 |
| 2020/05/21 | | Wolfenstein: The Old Blood [PC] | | Video Game | | A stand alone DLC really like an expansion for Wolf New Order. It takes place before New Order. It felt a bit borning compared to New Order becasue you dont get any of the cool futuristic weapons and stuff, and the plot seemed a lot more simple. However it really picks up by the end and the last couple levels are super exciting. This graphics here are really really good. BJ is a good protagonist and Nazis always make excellent villans. | 4.0 |
| 2020/12/11 | | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Revelations [PC] | | Video Game | | Wow. It is sad really what happened to this series. The first game holds a really special palce for me. One it was the first new game I played after getting back into PC gaming, and also it was a fun game period. LOS2 continues from wher part 1 leaves off, but far far in teh future. The game received super mediocre reviews, and for good reason. The stealth secions were awful. Like I understand he is weak in teh beginning but he never becomes strong enough to take on these enemeis?? Also the modern setting is really bad. Castlevania should really be in a classic setting. The open world was really bad, teh map system horrible. THe first game with more traditional levels worked much better. The enemies became repetitive since you have to run trhough the same levels. Im not saying I prefer 3D Castelvanias (I dont) but what happened after the great part 1 is dissaponiting. Last boss and ending sequence was pretty fun. | 2.5 |
| 2020/12/11 | | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Revelations (DLC) [PC] | | Video Game | | The DLC is short you play as Alucard. It is fun in this respect because it is more simple. Also it all takes place in a castle with no new city environments. Also its linear so you dont have the open world issues | 3.0 |
| 2020/12/26 | | Shadow Warrior (2013) [PC] | | Video Game | | First, this game looks amazing for being so old. Its in the vein of a Duke Nukem so the humor is abit cringy soemtimes but nothing too bad and I found myself laughing a lot too. Anyways this is a single player FPS about a guy who is a sort of bodyguard working for the mafia and gets mixed up in a while plot to bring demons in our world and certain sword to control them. Anways the demon plot was a bit confusing but the game looks amazing, the shooting and sword play are super fun. YOu have RPG elements like getting new skils and magic, and upgrading your guns. Swords are tough to do in first person but here it was really fun and I found myself using swords more than guns. The enemies were also fun to kill, felt varied and could be a challenge. Im looking forward to part 2. | 4.0 |
