Recent reviews by TinyMaffy

This game keeps getting better with every update. Having an absolute blast playing this. Unfortunately, it's so relaxing, that I often lose track of time.

I'M A FRICKIN' TANK, DUDE!

Instead of fixing this game, they decided to release another. I have tried it multiple times over the years and it just seemingly gets worse and worse every time.
The bugs? Not even features, they're the game.
The game? Yeah, good luck with it.
When it does work, it can be a fairly nice time. Most of the time, it won't work. It's absolutely diabolical and the developers should be ashamed and anybody who is giving them money should also be ashamed of themselves because the amount of stuff that these developers break is incredible. I don't know where all the money is going but I'm sure it isn't going into the development of this game or anything else they're working on.
I'm genuinely surprised Ark is as big as it is when it is as messy as it is.

As I said, when it works, lovely time.

Other than that, it's an absolute tragedy.

=====14th December 2024===== (Recommended)
They reversed course on the PSN requirement. The game has certainly become a lot more difficult but it's still pretty awesome and they're not forcing that requirement at us anymore (at least for the moment) so, back to a positive review.


=====4th May 2024===== (Not Recommended)
"The Federation of Super Earth. Keeping Managed Democracy safe with the lives of our heroes. Protecting freedom from tyranny with the gentle touch of an iron fist.
But liberties enemies march ever closer!
Together we must take back control of freedom.
TOGETHER FOR MANAGED DEMOCRACY!
TOGETHER FOR VICTORY!
TOGETHER FOR LIBERTY!

TOGETHER THEY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!
WILL YOU?"


Arrowhead... PlayStation... You're dang right we will!

Look at the recent reviews? I don't think the community wants to link a Sony account.


"TOGETHER WE'LL STAND, DIVIDED WE'LL FALL, COME ON NOW PEOPLE, LETS GET ON THE BALL AND WORK TOGETHER!"

Enlist in the communities elite boycott.
Boycott the account link together to protect your future!
Dispense the account link decision with your negative reviews!

Become a LEGEND!


TOGETHER WE STAND!




All in all, a solid 9/10 game but forcing an account link is so bizarre, especially citing the reason of security when the companies last breach according to many news articles was October 2023.
... November... December... January... February... March... Apr-...
May...
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... Oh... So not even a full year ago.



I can not in good conscious recommend this game although the game play itself is absolutely stellar, the decisions corporate have made are certainly NOT in the communities best interest and as such, has caused a loss of faith among the once extremely positively reviewed HellDivers 2 and its development company.

A refreshing upgrade to the first Thief Simulator.
I've completed the main story on Hardcore and am eagerly awaiting further content. Me and my friend are having an absolute blast with this game.

There are, of course still a few bugs and a couple of glitches but overall, it has been a really enjoyable experience that I'm going to continue to partake it in preparation for new content.

I still have quite a few properties to go through and special items to find.

It seems well balanced and while pretty short at the moment, I'm very excited to see where the developer is going to take this.

Keep up the fantastic work, CookieDev!

After spending a large portion of time in the Discord assisting others with getting their game to work, I decided to get on and experience much of what The Angler has to offer for myself.

First of all, I have experienced multiple crashes, nowhere near the frequency that some more unfortunate purchasers of the game have but enough for it to be made to clear to me that the game requires attention.

However, despite experiencing the infrequent crash, the game has been mostly playable.
I don't have a high end GFX card, it is actually a GTX 960 from 2015. In the Discord, numerous people have been complaining about the quality of the graphics. The screenshots on the store page at the time of writing this review are for the most part, what you can expect to get in game.
There are however very frequent reports of different assets not rendering and the fishing rod itself being invisible.

This can be rectified by altering the graphics settings. The most common fix I've seen mentioned for this is activating 'motion blur' or 'TAA'.

I haven't experienced the invisibility myself but I have experienced the late rendering. It should also be noted that I am playing using the minimum graphics settings to increase the frame rate of the game as seems it is unfortunately optimised. That could be down to my hardware but with the specifications people were dropping in the Discord channel upon release, I don't believe this to be the case.

The fishing itself is relaxing but at times, can feel slightly clunky. I have confidence that these issues will be addressed over time and will make an updated review in the future.

After spending a large portion of time in the Discord assisting others with getting their game to work, I decided to get on and experience much of what The Angler has to offer for myself.

First of all, I have experienced multiple crashes, nowhere near the frequency that some more unfortunate purchasers of the game have but enough for it to be made to clear to me that the game requires attention.

However, despite experiencing the infrequent crash, the game has been mostly playable.
I don't have a high end GFX card, it is actually a GTX 960 from 2015. In the Discord, numerous people have been complaining about the quality of the graphics. The screenshots on the store page at the time of writing this review are for the most part, what you can expect to get in game.
There are however very frequent reports of different assets not rendering and the fishing rod itself being invisible.

The multiplayer itself is also proving to be difficult in regards to players joining their friends.

The time is server based and there are no private lobbies as of yet.



Why am I recommending this game?

I am still leaving a hesitant recommendation for the game in its current state because despite a considerable amount of issues players are experiencing.

Graphical such as the water being pixelated or not rendering, game-play such as not being able to purchase and crashes, I thankfully haven't experienced them in the frequency that others have and when I have, they certainly haven't been game breaking.


If you can find enjoyment in the game, that's all that matters. I find the game-play itself rather relaxing and while there is some trouble with the multiplayer, I look forward to playing it with others.



TL;DR

This game certainly has issues and needs polishing. At the moment, it feels more like a beta than a full release. Despite that, I feel the development team can turn it around.
The game that exists at the moment when it works is in my opinion, a lovely experience and worth trying.

If you aren't enjoying yourself, then refund it within the two hours that Steam allows and keep an eye on future patches.








EDIT: https://cotwtheangler.com/news/known-issues-list

A beautifully crafted world with so much to see and explore. Since there is so much content and so much I haven't seen or experienced yet, this won't be as comprehensive as it could be but I'll try my best to summarise it as best I can.

The story could be explored more in-depth but what is there is quite enough. It takes you across the world and the choices you make can have somewhat of an impact on other experiences you may have throughout its world.
Some of those choices can also impact the ending you get.

While the online leaves much to be desired in terms of the skill level of opponents along with latency issues that seem from my experience to have improved over time, this game is nothing short of what I would refer to as a "master-piece".

From interaction with NPC's to just the sheer vastness of the world itself, it is definitely a game I would recommend you attempt to complete.
I personally found the battles quite a struggle but according to many others, it is one of the easier FromSoftware games to pick up and play so with that in mind, I say introduce yourself to the incredible worlds they beautifully create by picking up Elden Ring and if you struggle, there are so many different guides out there and the ability to bring in other players for assistance (although keep in mind, this heightens the difficulty and negates the ability to use Ashen Remains - An ability where you can summon NPC assistance) is awesome!

If you're not sure what Ashen Remain to use, depending on your build, my personal recommendation would be 'The Mimic'. I love watching 'Little Me' absolutely destroy my enemies while I am just sitting there wondering how in the heck the build I have is being used so effectively while I'm just like 'haha, sword go brr'...


Recommend for story, gameplay, immersion and the sheer beautiful world building that this game has.
For those that are calm and can control their emotions and are not prone to smashing things.

Un-recommend for those with poor reflexes, those prone to fits of rage and the at times, wildly unbalanced multiplayer.



Final note: The keyboard bindings on this game are awful. While it is absolutely able to be played using a KB/M, I seriously recommend grabbing a controller, I believe it will make your experience so, so much better!

First of all, I'm going to start this off by saying Rockstar really screwed us on this one.
They have said there will be no more content updates to Red Dead Online (RDO) and that is a tremendous shame.

The game itself is absolutely beautiful. While set in a different time period than the single-player, it does a fantastic job of incorporating characters that are featured in the single-player story without creating two separate timelines in the same world. Something that I personally prefer.

There is enough content to see through many hours online and when played with others, can be loads of fun!

Unfortunately hackers are becoming more and more prevalent. Some of whom will do silly things that often make the game more enjoyable such as spawning zombies, becoming giants and flying around the game world.

Likewise though, many hackers will just relocate your character and lock them in a cage while bombarding them with explosives time and time again. What satisfaction this grants these particular unsavoury individuals is up for debate. I just hope they get the help they so desperately require out there in the real world.

You are loved.
You don't need to hurts others anymore.

It's okay.



So, while this review says I "recommend this game", while that was the case upon release and for a long period after that, I now find myself more hesitant to do so.

It is still an amazing game but Rockstar leaving it for dead, with much unfinished content while they still milk the success of GTA:V has left me feeling rather sour about it. Then with the hackers, it makes it even more difficult to feel positive about.


So, I recommend it purely because if you can see past the hackers and that there will be no more content updates, the world that exists is truly remarkable and I truly feel should be explored for many, many hours to unlock its secrets.
Newcomers should be able to make many fond memories of their time in this world.

For those with previous history of RDO who have already completed much of its content, I sadly don't think there is much point coming back to it.
The single-player feels much more alive than RDO and isn't riddled with hackers. Yes, there is probably plenty more for you to do but it just isn't worth the hassle. You've seen most of it and Rockstar have screwed us out of seeing even more of it.

I like to think of myself as a pacifist.
I find playing this game rather distressing, simply because the wildlife seems so real.

It can at times feel a bit outdated and the vehicles require some polishing but the game itself is a great time waster and with others, it is even better, although I don't believe you can progress the campaign in multiplayer.

=====Updated Review=====
===December 14th 2024=== (Mixed Opinion)
======================
While I'm not entirely confident in changing my review from negative to positive, I will say that the most recent update fixed a multitude of issues. I'm unsure about the current direction of the game and some of the changes they are making are questionable. So, while I am leaving this as a hesitant negative (because the devs really have put in the work it should have had before release), the game is once again playable and not an absolute wreck.
The content being released however, I personally feel doesn't fit in with the design of the game.
The event is cool and while the particular weapon I have issue will currently only be present during the event, the fact that it automatically detonates explosives within 2 metres of enemy hunters is bizarre. The year is 1896. I know it isn't entirely historically accurate but I'm pretty sure we didn't have what are effectively heat seeking missiles back then.

So, while I can once again say, "give the game a try and see if it's for you", at this time, I'm leaving my review as negative because while the core game is itself playable again, the direction it is heading is questionable and I'm not sure fits with what the game is or at least was trying to be.
As time goes on, it seems like it is becoming a more generic experience rather than the unique one that set it apart from other games in the genre.
======================
===November 18th 2024=== (Not Recommended)
======================
Still a broken, buggy mess. Not only did they not utilise the test servers before this release but they may as well say the game is back in "Early Access".
I crashed 5 times just trying to make a class. I eventually muddled through and the game started working. Fantastic. Couple of games, all is going well.
End of the match, the UI crashes out. Just one of many bugs this game still has.
Don't worry though, they can push out MTX after MTX. We're just not sure where the money is going.
It certainly can not be into improving the game. It's a shame, they really were on top for the longest time but how the mighty have fallen. Hopefully, they get at least the basic things sorted in the next update. Such as the UI crashing and the connection issues.

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====November 3rd 2024==== (Not Recommended)
=======================

The game has slightly improved. Not that it was difficult to improve upon the August release. It was absolutely tragic. However, instead of fixing the rest of the bugs that plague the game, they decide to release a "major update" with a new game mode.
A few weeks ago, they disabled some skins and then not long after, released new skins to the store while the other skins were still released.
Before the August update, I think I crashed in the two years I had been playing Hunt between 2-6 times.
Tonight alone, I have crashed 5 times.
Not only that, the latency, despite me having 30 ping has been terrible. I'm not even convinced their in-game ping counter is accurate. If my bullet travels at 140m/s, then how does someone standing still, 10 metres away from me not get hit for three seconds; then on the next shot, the round goes right through them?

If you hate yourself, feel free to give the game a try but if I hadn't played before this update, I would genuinely have refunded and not even looked at this game again.
It's absolutely tragic because as you can see in my original review, the game was fantastic. I appreciate things change and the game has to evolve but at this point, they may as well sell out and collab with Fortnite. The only reason I was even playing tonight was because of the event.
Hope is a dangerous thing. I hope one day they actually manage to obtain their intelligence back and fix the game.
Their business decisions and current direction... Just avoid it and play something else. Anything else...
Don't waste your money and certainly don't waste your time. Maybe look again a few months from now but I meant what I said... Unless you really do hate and wish to torture yourself, just avoid it.
Even when everything goes right, the game is still bugged to heck.
I would mention more but I am so mentally drained from even attempting to play this "game" that I'm going to leave it there.

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=====August 17th 2024===== (Not recommended)
=======================
I can no longer in good conscience recommend this game; at least in its current state. This isn't a case of someone "not liking change". I personally feel that change can be a good thing, if there is no change, it can be difficult to grow.

The most recent update however is quite frankly abysmal. I can not believe for a moment that it was actually tested and if it was tested, then the developers should definitely improve their QA process.
If they did discover even 10% of what the player base is going through right now, then quite frankly, they should be ashamed of themselves for releasing it in its current state.

I won't get a response to my support request that I have sent in on the Hunt: Showdown website until Monday but so far, I am on number 22 of bugs and game breaking things that I have experienced since the update released on the 15th August.
The worse thing about the statement I just made is that I had to say "I have experienced".
I am aware of many, many more that other users are experiencing and that my own team have had.
Those 22 are me. Just the ones I have had.

To quit the game through the in-game menu, you hit quit. This then brings you to a submenu called quit.
There you can hit quit.
You are then asked if you want to quit and if you are really sure you would like to quit, you can confirm that your decision to quit and it will leave the game.

What?

So, if you don't already own the game, I would give it a month or two unless you want to put yourself through this torture just to complete the current in-game event which if it wasn't happening, I don't believe I would be playing.

I am not exaggerating, nor am I joking when I say I have hit ALT+F4 in the past two days than I have in my entire history COMBINED of computer gaming.
It is madness right now.

=========================
Original Review (Recommended)
=========================

(I was gifted this game)

This is a love hate game.

One shot can kill, one shot can wound, one shot can completely miss.
Unlike many FPS games where it comes down to who can spray the most bullets, Hunt: Showdown advocates the requirement to be accurate with your shots.

The sound in this game is incredible, something that if you wish to succeed, you will be relying heavily upon and by learning the different audio cues the game presents, you can find yourself getting the jump on your enemies.

Floorboards creaking? They're on wood.
Metal clanging? That's metal!
Chains clinking? They've just moved through some chains.
Scream and buzzing? That's a hive.
Fizzy sound and then buzzing? That's a hive bomb and you better hope it's yours or your team-mates.


I love how simple the game presents itself.

Be quiet, land your shots and win your fight.

I hate how something so "simple" can at times be so difficult.


While the matchmaking is normally skill based, you have the option to turn this off.
Do so at your peril, especially if you're new to the game.

My recommendation, don't achieve 6*. It is reserved for the sweatiest of gamers. People who can remain in 6* for extended period of time are absolutely insane. They are ghosts. I am yet to even tap the 6* rank but from what I've heard, I don't want too.

Bush campers, melee wizards and snipers.




All in all, at the time of writing this review, the game seems well balanced, the community friendly and the gameplay refreshing when compared to other FPS games which tend to just be reskinned from one to the next.

Good luck in the Bayou!