Recent reviews by Altimely

Hyper-stylized, atmospheric Souls-like with 'Arcane' (Netflix LOL show) tier animation.

They tried to make improvements to the genre by adding mechanics that fill in gaps. An example: They use the Dark Souls carry weight of dashing if light carry weight, rolling if medium carry weight, and 'fat-rolling' if heavy carry weight; HOWEVER: Heavy Carry weight allows the player to 'shove' enemies and knock them down.

NRftW also leans into 'crafting' allowing the player to craft their own consumables, tools, armor, weapons, etc.

The performance was iffy at launch and they've applied multiple hotfixes that have greatly improved it.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is Dragon's Dogma with better graphics and worse performance.

What it is: A simple adventuring game with basic story, okay combat, and very, very light RPG elements. Exploring the world is rewarding, but you're rarely going to see something that surprises you. Enemies repeat often and the mechanics are very simple, turning the encounters into a chore.

What it isn't: A story-rich RPG with immersive settings and characters. Some people say "The NPCs have schedules and real lives!" Most don't. There are a few exceptions, but most are static vendors that have no bearing on the game.

Side gripe: Pawns are a neat concept but they would be more interesting if they weren't designated hype-men and hand-holders with copy-pasted personalities. They also wander into water and off of cliffs A LOT. I feel like I have to be overly-cautious with them and herd them so they don't kill themselves.

DD2 would be impressive if it came out in 2012 (graphics aside). It needs a bit more meat to be impressive in 2024. It did have a pretty small dev team for how good it looks, but graphics aren't everything. It could be great if Capcom gave it more to work with, but for now it's only so-so; and that is represented in it's mediocre sales numbers and reviews. I'm going to play it all the way through to get my money's worth, and I enjoy it for the most part, but I can't recommend it in it's current state. Players should be aware that it isn't worth the current price.

pew pew

4X with RTS controls is a great mix. That's the review.

I didn't think I would like it as much as AOE2 but i'm liking it more. The UI takes some getting used to, there's hotkeys for a ton of macro and micro stuff. Definitely give it a try if you're on the fence.

More gold delivered by FROM Software.
It plays similar to DS3 with new combat mechanics, the ability to jump, mount, and stealth feels relevant.
It's too early to say but this is probably my GOTY.

Pros:

• Combat isn't target-based. You must actively dodge and aim which makes for more engaging gameplay.
  
• Not limited to a few professions. You're open to pursue any of the crafting/gathering at the same time.
  
• Player housing and craft-your-own furniture, some gives you global buffs
  
• Gear and weapons feel varied and interesting. Multiple play styles without being bound by class; instead you choose weapons and level that weapon-type to unlock skills in a skill-tree. You can change and respect weapons at any time
  
• The world is PvP centered with PvE as an option. You can have an impact on the area you want to level or home in by engaging in PvP
  
• Looks great and plays smoothly. I don't have a high-end rig and I get a stable 70fps at medium settings (i can't tell the difference from high settings)
  
• No monthly fee

Cons

• A bit grindy - this can be a plus for some but you should know going into it that most skills will require time and resources to level. Typical for an MMO
  
• Current end-game is prepping for potential updates. There are dungeons but there aren't raids.
  
• Enemy types aren't that varied - PvE feels like an afterthought but even then, it isn't that bad. It does it better than most MMOs

Things to know:

• No mounts, currently
  
• No group finder, currently
  
• you can be flagged for being AFK if standing in the same place for too long. This is bad for things like fishing.
  
• In-game cash shop that currently only features cosmetics

Overall, it's worth the 40$ especially if you have friends.

A lovely mix of story telling, base building, rts, and something reminds me of a complex tomagatchi/gigapet simulator.

Note: The game is good on it's own. With steam workshop mods, it's whatever you want it to be.

Super fun co-op game with a bit of a learning curve. You're going to die a LOT while learning how to survive but all those attempts will build the foundation for the fun you'll have when you're beyond surviving.

Recommended to anyone who likes rogue-lites with an old-school arcade shooter feel. I'll probably put another 200+ hours into this game to find all it's secrets and items.