Recent reviews by Fuzzman

This was an interesting little game. The Viking/Norse theme, art, and haunting soundtrack really set the mood. The lore is rich and vast, and the game reveals just enough to give the player a taste of the world and wanting more. There's a world map with descriptions of cities, roads, landmarks, and more to study and gaze at for minutes at a time in between gameplay. The mechanics are complex enough to force tactical play without getting overly complicated or blandly simple. Consequences from player decisions are impactful and real, without giving away what may or may not happen--the stakes of the story are high, so choose carefully and make the most of your actions. This makes the game replayable and interesting, as you never quite know what may happen. I wish the game were longer because I enjoyed it so much, but I eagerly await the next entry in the series.

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is thematically fascinating. It's more of an interactive story than a game. There isn't any resource management like its predecessor, which may be less exciting, but it helps tell this game's story better. As such, it is a shorter experience, though satisfying once concluded. The only issues I had with A Machine for Pigs were the bluish haze/fog that many people complaint about, and the high temperature this game caused my GPU to reach. In spite of those issues, this is still worth playing through at least once for fans of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Thief is a game that exists between two worlds--the world of classic PC gaming and the realm of contemporary trends. Credit must be given to the developers for striking a balance between the two. The more imporant question, however, is whether this balance accomplishes the lofty goals and expectations that it set out to achieve. My answer is: somewhat.

The mechanics of the game do take some time to become acquainted with, even for veteran PC players. This is often the case for many games, simply adjusting to the movement, flow, pacing, control schemes, and rules of the game. Once the player gets the hang of things, it becomes slightly second-nature to explore the game world. In full disclosure, certain aspects of the controls and mechanics do occasionally disobey the player's command, though far less than some of the other contemporary games out there.

In terms of visuals, audio, and mood and tone, the game is mostly successful. It looks good and plays smoothly enough with properly attuned graphics options. The audio, which is a significant component of the game, does its job, though nothing stands out as impressive or iconic. There were times when certain sound effects, in response to player actions, were too loud and distracting--particularly for a stealth game. As for mood and tone, the game's setting and world feel alive and fleshed out, though perhaps not to the same degree as its forebearers.

The plot and characters were a weaker aspect. While a reboot, essentially, the character of Garrett felt off for that of a master thief. The original Garrett was someone that preferred to be alone to ply his trade, whereas this Garrett is a man that is more sympathetic to others, more trusting, and less of a loner. Old fans will find it jarring, but new fans should enjoy it well enough. The Thief series was never strong in the story department, and this entry is no different. Most of the charm comes in the details of the world and its inhabitants--notes, rumors, and environmental cues. Those are the rich tidbits that make the game interesting. Veteran players will miss the tropes, jargon, and factions of the old series, but there are subtle, silent hints of the setting's history.

Replayability is strong. The game allows the player to revisit missions in an attempt to steal more items and attain a higher score than before. Many hours can be spent in the game, at various paces set out by the player. The difficulty ranges, and the player can customize difficulty options prior to starting a game. Some mechanics and user interface options are entirely optional, which is a boon for players, old and new.

All in all, Thief is a very fun game, though it will not scratch the itch of the old games in exactly the same way. Much effort clearly went into this game's creation, and there are many successes with few failures. I recommend this game to PC gamers that appreciate stealth, creativity, and a deliberate pace. Just know that it won't win any awards.

The original release was one of the best games of 2011, hands down. It has a deep, rich storyline and setting that fans of cyberpunk--from Blade Runner to Ghost in the Shell--will greatly appreciate. The gameplay is smooth and challenging, and players of games such as Metal Gear Solid, Mass Effect, Thief, and the original Deus Ex will find themselves right at home with this fantastic title.

With the Director's Cut, a few changes and additions have been made. The most notable of these are the inclusion of the DLC missions into the main campaign--the Missing Link is no longer a separate game--the improved boss fights, and the developer commentary. There were other minor changes, but many players may not notice these. The inclusion of the Missing Link chapter helps round out the storyline, as well as give the player the opportunity to redo his or her skill points, which was something missing from the original 2011 release.

The improved boss fights were appreciated, though the additional avenues of defeating the bosses will still take some quick thinking, or trial and error, to truly take advantage. For fans that want a more balanced approach to the game, where any style of play is rewarded, this is the edition to purchase.

Developer commentary in this version of the game is an interesting and valuable addition. It can be toggled on or off at the player's convenience, and many of the nodes offer intriguing insight into the minds of the game's creators. The only minor irritations with the commentary involve the nodes themselves. They are not always apparent in the game world, and once a node is playing it cannot be stopped without going into the main menu options and toggling the commentary off. Still, in spite of that minor oversight, the commentary is exciting to listen to and veteran players will appreciate it.

I highly recommend that new and old fans of Deus Ex: Human Revolution grab a copy of the Director's Cut.

Half-Life 2 is a piece of gaming history, much like its predecessor. When it arrived on the scene in 2004, it pushed PC gaming--and first-person shooters, in general--forward by leaps and bounds. It told a story with characters that were endearing through moments of action, horror, poignant exploration, and clever puzzle-solving. The game never takes the player out of the world--cutscenes don't exist in this series. Everything is viewed through your eyes in real time. Gordon Freeman is not a character; Gordon Freeman is the player.

This feature, among others, keeps the player grounded in the world of Half-Life. This makes the battles more real, the exploration more intriguing and poetic as the human stories around you are told by the people and the environments you encounter. Visually, the game is stylistic yet grounded in reality. It is science-fiction, after all. The facial animations are one of the shining moments of the game, despite other technical aspects showing their age. The sounds make you feel like you're in this defeated but hopeful world. The controls are fluid and intuitive.

All in all, the game is still fun to play after ten years, still looks and sounds good, and still has a few features that pull ahead of some contemporary games. Old fans feel right at home with Half-Life 2, new fans will find something interesting to dive into. I recommend new fans try to play in the frame of mind of PC gaming circa 2004, but even without a bit of mental time-travel, the game holds up well enough. Love it or hate it, PC gamers owe it to themselves to experience this milestone in history.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best games of contemporary PC gaming, let alone PC gaming in general. The gameplay is clever, innovative, and mind-bending; the wit, charm, and humor are equally so. Environments ooze with atmosphere, from the comical to the tense. Portal 2 is easily one of the most memorable games I've played. If you haven't picked it up yet, do yourself a favor and grab it. You won't regret it.

One of the best games of 2011, hands down. It has a deep, rich storyline and setting that fans of cyberpunk--from Blade Runner to Ghost in the Shell--will greatly appreciate. The gameplay is smooth and challenging, and players of games such as Metal Gear Solid, Mass Effect, Thief, and the original Deus Ex will find themselves right at home with this fantastic title.