Recent reviews by Naithin

I never expected to see a Talos Principle sequel. Not after so long. And nor did I really think it needed one.

But hoo boy am I glad they decided to go ahead and do it anyway.

The scope of this game is immense, and uses well the technology advances of the past 9 years since the original came out. The puzzle designs are, on the whole, better as well I think. The more arcane or pixel hunt style of the original game's star puzzles have become something you can logic out within the game space.

Honestly, I had mixed feelings on that change to begin with, but overall, I think I've come around to viewing it as a positive.

I hope to be able to change this review in the not too distant future. But my tolerance for ♥♥♥♥♥♥ business practices, pushing clearly unfinished and unready games out the door has, I think, finally come to an end.

Earlier, I posted some more detailed thoughts on the launch state of the game[www.timetoloot.com], but my relative optimism at that point in time has been worn away.

As I noted in that writing, I think in many respects the performance issues are the least of the games launch issues.

More problematic by far are the economic and simulation problems with the game. In the 9 or so hours I played near launch, I had a decent time until the gaps and problems became more and more evident. I doubt I need to reiterate them at this point, but I went over some in my post[www.timetoloot.com] if you have missed them so far.

Cities 2 is clearly, at best in an early access state. But CO and Paradox have chosen not to either apply that label officially, or to hold release until the game is actually ready.

Until it works on the intended specs. Until the economic simulation doesn't import garbage instead of handling your citizen's. Until the modding platform is, I don't know, not still several months down the track -- in no small part because of a boneheaded insistence of 'doing their own thing' and reinventing the wheel.

Initially I gave them some credit for being transparent on the performance issues front. But you know what? Forget that. CO knew the state of their game in full, and hid all the other issues.

I loved CS1. I hope to one day love CS2, too.

But I won't soon forget how CO chose to treat us here.

Wow.

No TY.

I got it for free with my video card, and I still feel cheated.

Sorry, too busy enjoying the game to write a coherent review right now. Entirely possible I'll come back and do one later though!

Full thoughts -- from what I thought this was before trying it myself, through to post-play impressions -- here: https://www.timetoloot.com/game/other-games/but-why-house-flipper/

In short? I expected a world of tedium with few to no redeeming features.
In reality, there is a certain satisfaction in transforming a crap-hole (preparing the canvas) into a final product, with your colour and furniture selections reflecting your own sense of style, or, ability to meet your target demographic needs.

I love it. :)

Full review here: https://www.timetoloot.com/game/other-games/rolling-credits-on-exo-one/

But the short of it?

The game experience is short -- but oh so good while it lasts. The fluidity of movement and the constant ebb and flow of descending to gain momentum before once more transforming that momentum out horizontal -- hopefully catching a cloud in the process and soaring even higher than before is beyond sublime.

If you're on the fence, try out the demo which gives the majority of the first level and is the perfect playground for mastering the art of movement in EXO ONE. I suspect you'll be a convert and develop a hankering for the full game in no time.

My only request? Please, PLEASE give us a chapter / level select after completing the game the first time! :)

I don't quite have the hours to pull off the casual, 'Yeah - it's OK' style review yet.

...But one day I might. And those that know me, know, this is very unusual. Sticking to games for very long isn't my forte. I definitely tend to prefer a wide sampling.

Strongly recommend that you at least consider 'spoiling' for yourself the location of the automation and possibly logistics skills on the skill grid. Why? Well, there is a bit of a pacing issue with the game I feel until you've unlocked these technologies. After which it becomes an entirely different and far superior title. :D

I had originally decided not to participate in the negative reviews for the older Metro games based on the (terrible, anti-consumer) move to making Metro: Exodus an Epic exclusive, as they're decent.

But when a dev from the company comes out in a fit of rage attacking the player base, threatening not to release any more titles on PC?

Forget that noise, I'm done.

In the years to come, this will be a great case study in how NOT to launch a game.

Definitely not recommended in it's current state - guess we'll see whether the dev's can survive this long enough to fix it off their ARK income.

The fact they released it like this though is... not promising.

(PS: I lol'd at seeing the 'ShooterGame' Unreal Engine template come up in the game's Crash to Desktop error window.)