Recent reviews by agathezol

Growing up in the 80s I have vivid memories of games with challenges that simply required you to acquire the skill to get around or you could not progress in the game. We learned from that over the years and modern games almost always have a way around each challenge that anyone can complete with a simple google lookup. Elden ring has combined these two styles by both providing overwhelming challenges that keep me coming back because they feel like I can do it with one more try while also allowing me to have fun in the game somewhere else if the challenge is too much on any given day. Its difficult combat, amazing visuals, stellar soundtrack, and endless build variety make for hundreds of hours of enjoyable game play and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys realtime combat and open world games.

If your 7th grade game master had an idea for a giant space game and someone gave them 100 Million dollars to make it because their ideas so so great, this is what you would get. The questing and dialog is so horrible that not only am I not interested in what is over the next hill, I actively don't want to find out because it will be so painful to sit through. If free patches arrive that completely restructure the game (writing, skills, combat, and exploration) I'd give it another shot, short of that I can't imagine putting any more time into this game and certainly can't see myself paying for any additional content on this or possibly any future title without demonstrating significant improvement over what has been a complete waste of my money and time.

No much to say that hasn't been said. If you like CRPG games, you will love this.

Do you want a game that is both relaxing and overwhelming at the same time? What about one who's pace feels calm while also tying you to a 1980s arcade timer? Do you like old 16bit nintendo games? Then this game is right up your alley. Play as Dave, a complete pushover who's personality reflects someone who would actual just do everything asked of them (like we all do in quest-based games anyway). The lovely graphics, engaging evolution, and quirky minigames will provide hours and hours of simple enjoyment.

Wrath is a fantastic cRPG with good characters, excellent writing, and a genuine feeling that you are in control of your story. Owlcat has mostly streamlined the kingdom management aspects of their game from the Kingmaker days and the crusade plays as an enjoyable mini-game instead of as a point of stress which was my experience with kingdom running in Kingmaker. The game plays quite well on Linux which is a plus as well. I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of cRPGs give this game a try if you haven't already.

Valheim is a survival game with semi-typical building and progression. What isn't typical is how the environments suck you in and put you in the world. The audio and video design is spectacular, the procedural world feels alive and out to get you. From the relaxing jaunt across your first meadows to the breathtaking views from atop a mountain during a blizzard you'll be constantly in awe of the world around you. Fighting off random encounters in the wilderness is a blast and defending your carefully constructed bases feel like meaningful battles. When an area starts to feel to easy you invariably adventure farther from spawn and the enemies will put you in your place. The way resource gathering and location tie together keep you adventuring in ways no other survival game I've played has managed to do. The early access game is as polished as most mature survival games and if the road map the developers released comes to fruition throughout the year this game will shape up to be the goto survial-craft game for the forseeable future. Well done Iron Gate! May the wind be ever in your sails.

I wouldn't so much call Moons of Madness a game as an experience. The linear story leaves very few (if any) room for branching but the story telling is fantastic. The lovecraft-meets-modern-space horror is extremely well done with just enough jump scares to keep your blood pumping and your mouse arm tense but not so many as to send you over the edge. The weird other-worldly nature of Lovecraft is pretty constant and plays extremely well with a story set on Mars. If you are a fan of horror stories and especially of Lovecraft style stories Moons of Madness is definitely worth your time.

A fantastically written adventure set in a rich world. Chose your character, gain a party, have the personality you want and have that personality shape the world and attitudes around you. The mood of the game delightfully adjusts itself to your play style and dialog selections. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes the RPG genre.