Recent reviews by Techno "Zadok"

So, Fallout 3, Its a game alright. it will say I've only played 0.2 hours, but the only way I could get it to run is by launching it from the fallout 3 GOTY folder, not steam, I've probably played 40+ hours though and I've played through ALL DLC's beside Broken Steel.

Nowhere near as enriching, interesting, impactful, experience oriented or organic feeling as its predecessors as well as New Vegas, Fallout 3 feels like a soulless being. You have very little personal choice on how you impact the world, it feels very linear and constrained at times. Exploring a notable environment like DC is great fun, truly a beautiful landscape warped by the scourges of nuclear annihilation. However the game doesn't do much outside of that. Sure, it still has the Bethesda model of "you go from A to B and get distracted on the way", but I mainly made a bee-line to finding dad as quick as I could, cause I didn't feel like I had much else to incentivise me to do much else. The main plot is very very simple and kind of boring, you don't have much choice on what you get to do throughout the game, mainly its "do this to be a good guy" and not much else, Sure, theres sidequests and such where you can be an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, yet at the end of the day you're still basically helping bring free water to the wasteland.

as for the DLC, oh man are they short, like really really short, the best is probably Mothership Zeta, it feels the longest and it has an interesting environment, plus its got aliens and who doesn't like that. Operation Anchorage, while interesting and incentivises a more cautious playstyle, its got no real player imput (outside of the end, and its not really that massive) and its also really short. Point Lookout probably only feels long cause of its expansive environment and spaces out objectives. I really liked the chinese spy quest, it was some great worldbuilding and great in the fact it has ZERO human questgivers, all that remain are either long dead or robots. The Pitt had the most potential, however it squanders it, is probably the shortest DLC and felt like it could have been 3's Dead Money, however this isin't the case. Sure, it has at least SOME player imput in comparison to the others, however its very limited and basically falls into an A or B where you haven't really been building to make that choice, so yeah.

Overall, Fallout 3 has its charms, however it falls short of being an amazing RPG.

After the decent game that was Dead Space I had decent hopes for the follow up. Dead Space was a game with a story that was, in some cases, predictable, however it really nailed the atmosphere in my opinion.

This game doesn't, for the most part

Dead Space 2 seems to enjoy undercutting moments where the atmosphere is looming and then suddenley BANG A LOUD NOISE, come onnnnnnnn. It still has great lore stuff and moments and I have to be honest, I quite liked the new Zero Gravity mobility and the opening moments where Isaac forges makeshift equipment, it was great, the rest of his personality is a bit mixed, he seems to be focused on expoisting "Yes I did this before" and other predictable lines of dialouge as he stumbles through the plot.

Its OK but is something of s letdown in some areas

The game has the same problem as the first did at the end, a sudden all out action slog as enemies just keep coming, its frustrating and then at the final boss battle I'm forced to turn the difficulty down as I'm now extremely low on supplies, not a great feeling.

all in all the game improves upon some elements from the first but its also relying on what you as a player want in a follow up to the first game.

Now I know the game still has a whole heap of updates yet to come but as of 26/10/20 here are my thoughts

Not For Broadcast is an interesting, absurd and enjoyable experience, as you deal with the newly elected government, your family and all sorts of crazed celebrity and public figures as they seem to try and ruin your broadcast with as much broadcast violations as possible.

The Telethon episode was a highlight to say the least, it was fill of dated humor and attitudes that really added to the comedic tone that the more modern "episodes" have, almost reaching a level of satire seen in shows such as The Thick of It and Veep.

For now the game may be lacking, but otherwise its full of laughs, cringe moments and bordering on realistic.

For now I would reccomend getting the game on sale and giving it a try.

Among Us is a fun little deduction game that is better with friends and all, leading straight into my gripes.

The game has a few technical server issues but that's about it, the other main issues I have relate to the games community, the playerbase regularly devolves into baseless accusations and finger pointing.

The game really shines when you're using your head and noting the subtle little clues to determine who the impostors may be. On the other hand you use paranoia and timing as the impostor to generate chaos, fear and distrust between the crewmembers, hopefully leading to accidential removals and winning.

Its a game thats better with friends and is usually worse online with strangers, I'd reccomend playing with pals, thats all I can say

An eerie puzzle game where the world only wants you dead, Limbo is a unique and minimal experience that really makes you feel unwelcome in its world, every death meant some frustration but also spurned me on. The game's world is hostile and that encouraged me to press on, so what if its killed me over and over, I will prove I can overcome it! Though an unforgiving game at times has a surreal atmosphere that really makes you feel alone.

Max Payne 3, wow, where do I start...

My journey with an eponymous New York cop started several years ago when I bought the first without much thought during a Christmas sale, If only I knew that would start an adoration for him.

Fast Forward to today, I finally finished 3, a game that dazzled me with its cinematics, got a few laughs with Max's sarcastic observations and quips and a changed weapon system that took some time to get the hang of before I started to enjoy it.

So, whats the story? Well its been several years since the first two games, Max has thrown his life into the crapper pretty much, a full blown alcoholic with the extra "help" of cigarettes and painkillers, after an associate from Max's past extends an invitation to help him on a private security gig, protecting a rich european family in south america, Max is initaly uninterested. That soon changes as Max damages his relationship with New Jersey and decides to join. Soon enough local gangs have set their sights on the family under Max's protection and Max is pulled yet once more into a conspiracy bigger than himself.

Max Payne 3 switches up the metropolis of New York for the varying terrain of Sao Paulo, from penthouse apartments to the slums, Max traverses 14 levels as he starts to unravel the big picture. Max is also no longer the man he was from the Remedy releases, this Max is a lot more unstable and reliant on alcohol, cigarettes and painkillers to keep him running.

All I can say Is I loved the changes, I likes the cinematic quality and the new environments, the sarcastic lines and the new "improved" Max, overall I reccomend this game, this series as a whole is pretty damn great.

Where do I even begin? thats a question you'll ask yourself upon completing this game, especially when the last leg of the game is so bizzare and surreal. Harvester is not your average point and click adventure game.

What is Harvester? Well, if I had to describe it...its like the surreal nature of Twin Peaks meets the Violence of Tarintino with David Lynch-Esque dialouge. You play as Steve, a guy whos lost his memory and has to make sense of the surreal and crazy town of Harvest.

What you embark on is a dark, funny, gross, crazy, confusing and strangley lovable journey.

I'd highly reccomend this game, not for the faint of heart

So, if you can handle some off colour material and some downright horrible stuff, give it a go, if not, what are you, a kidder?

Well, I geuss I should write about it because many, many people have already played or even bought New Vegas.

Dead Money is really good, in MY opinion. I think it has the best atmosphere out of any of the add-ons. It uses the darker area, dilapidated resort, tight corridors, the sudden beeping of the bomb collar to keep you on edge and the shambling, agile Ghost People to really pull off and create a tense environment.

It really makes you feel like you're exploring a dilapidated pre-war resort and casino whilst following the orders of a mysterious puppet master, lest you lose your head. Guns are sadly used more as a utility, being used to shoot speakers and radios to keep your collar from detonating. Not to say this is bad, it was interesting to use the melee system more, having tossed it aside in favour of a good old gun. Its a good way of making the player try an alternative aspect in the game thats always available yet sometimes thrown away in favour of guns.

The "survival horror" type feel also comes with some new companions, all having different personalitys, yet all having the problem of an explosive collar, just like you. as you slowly unravel what caused the Sierra Madre to become how it is, you start to realize theres more than just the Ghost People to be afraid of.

Overall I suggest you give it a go, sure its hard, its a different feel than most of New Vegas, but the Sierra Madre has its secrets, waiting for you to unlock.

Its not just a game, its an experience.

Cliche, I know, But it is.

Its like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Its an alternative to your standard expectations for the type of media it is.

To put it simply its just that, an experience that you should try yourself. Its pretty great. You play as man named Stanley, a man who's thrown into a crazy situation and who the player can't really connect with but has to help him as the game unfolds.

Its like a choose your own adventure game with all the rules hidden and changed and in different languages and upside down and jumbled, Its like what Spec Ops: The Line does for First person shooters, Stanley Parable does for walking sims/ "Adventure" games, its a very rough parallel and not really comparable, I TRY!

Its a bit short but still great, would recommend you get it on sale

Where was I, oh yes...

This is a story of a man who wrote a review for a game that is a story about a man named Stanley...

Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon is as far away from Far Cry 3 you can get. Its a game that does not take itself seriously at all.

Blood Dragon borrows assets from FC3 and tweaks and adds enough to make it feel like an expansion pack. Its a hilarious action packed romp filled with a flood of violence and 80s style wit. With its countless refrences and nods to the type of media it's trying to pay homage to, Blood Dragon is an amazing parody that pokes fun at itself and even gaming in general.

With the amazing voicework provided by 80s film veteran Michael Biehn, alongside Film and voiceover work extraordinaire Phil LaMarr as well as notable voice actress Grey DeLisle. The games cast works together to really give the 80s steryotypical roles they're given have a nice layer of talent.

Blood Dragon is extremley simplified but in a good way, making skills a linear thing and the weapon mods attached to weapons. The game is slimmed down, yet in a way that nearly every moment is enjoyable and doesn't feel drawn out too much.

The abilities and new weapons are extremley appealing, with unlimited and boosted running theres almost no need for vehicles unless the player i forced to. With enough witty one-liners and an 80's style glance of the future, Blood Dragon perfectly creates a true action hero of the era it perfectly encapsulates.

So get your cyber enhancements, grab a futuristic gun, a copy of this game and enjoy!

and don't forget your D20, Nerd