Nylige anmeldelser av Hollywood

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I booted up Control for the first time, and being knee deep in the game now I still don't know what to expect. This is a very good thing, as this game has subverted my expectations at every opportunity. I try not to write reviews until I have completed the game to try and be fair. With Control, however, I feel it is fair to say this game has presented itself so well that I can't wait to talk about it. You take up the role of Jesse Fayden on her journey through the Government Bureau of Control. This agency is a lot like Men in Black and they deal with extradimensional beings over their morning cup of coffee. Though this fantastical setting is daunting, it is the characters that ground it to reality. Everyone is well written with dialog that is relatable and easy to follow. ♥♥♥♥ has hit the fan at this facility and there is so much going on that I thought I would be lost by hour number 2. Not so, as the writers have done a beautiful job of keeping things within the understanding of a newcomer. Everyone seems to have their own agenda but can work together long enough before stabbing you in the back. I get the feeling a major betrayal is coming but I genuinely can't guess as from whom or where. This sense of Damocles sword about to drop adds another layer of urgency to an already tense atmosphere. There are definite Twin Peaks vibes coursing through this title with a surreal feeling building with every encounter. I am not sure where this story is headed, but I am locked in for this ride wherever the destination may be.
Which brings me to the combat. There is only one gun but it can manifest itself in an array of forms. It is punchy and feels good to shoot, all the while the environment deforms with every missed shot. The physics are fantastic and couple that with the particle effects it really puts on a show. Most fire fights will end up like the lobby scene in the Matrix with heavy chunks of concrete littering the floor and rebar exposing the guts in the walls. As you progress you unlock abilities such as telekinesis and levitation. When you use your abilities in the fights you feel like Luke Skywalker with the moral compass and marksmanship of Han Solo. It is glorious. The effective use of Ray Tracing really adds to the atmosphere as well with smoke and particle effects causing realistic light manipulation and shadows. It is awesome to behold at times. This building you find yourself in is oppressive with its closed in spaces and monotone color scheme, but it works incredibly well in the context of this story. The world building is spectacular and I find myself incredibly invested after only a couple of hours. If you're on the fence about a purchase I might say to go ahead and take the leap. Trust that this game will take you places you haven't seen and tell you a compelling story along the way. I may edit this review after I finish it but I already feel that my time was well spent exploring the seedy underbelly of supernatural politics.
9/10

After waiting a year after initial release to get the chance to play this game I have to say I am somewhat disappointed. Metro Exodus is one of the best looking games of this generation and a ton of care and meticulous work is evident in this game world. It is a very well realized place with small details pervading your senses to further immerse you. Details that you see in your periphery and register at an almost subconscious level really made me appreciate the loving work put into this game. The gun play is satisfying at almost every level with impressive AI that realistically takes cover and will even surrender when they feel like the battle is lost. This leads to an interesting morality system where your mercy or barbarism will have an effect on the NPCs attitude towards you. Maybe they won't share the location of a supply cache if you act with aggressive hostility. This world is bleak and barren and you can choose to embrace the chaos or strive to be the light that shines in the darkness. There were moments I felt the game was punishing me for pulling the trigger on rapists and murderers who surrendered. But all in all the atmosphere is amazing. The weapon upgrade and degradation system feels fair and fits in well with the rest of the game. Which is why it pains me to say the writing is sub par. Having never read the books I find it difficult to enjoy the story when it feels shoe horned into this beautiful game. The main story revolves around the protagonist Artyom and his regiment of battle hardened soldiers, The Spartans. Without spoiling anything the central plot sees you traveling the decimated Russian countryside via train, looking for the remnants of the government and possibly a new place to live. This set up would work fine if it weren't for the stilted dialog that amounts to the characters spouting exposition to get to the next plot point. Artyom's wife, Anna, is a great female character that isn't a shrinking violet when ♥♥♥♥ hits the fan. So it's a damned shame when she fills the role of captain obvious just to move the plot in a direction that is arbitrary and stupid. I'm not a highly sophisticated guy when it comes to storytelling but I can smell ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ plot twists a mile away. This game's story pales in comparison to more eminent titles like Legacy of Kain, Red Dead Redemtion 2, and The Witcher. It's because this game is so polished in everything else that this is such a sore point for me, and it is very jarring to witness this game world and to be taken out of the immersion by bad storytelling and voice acting. Artyom is a silent protagonist throughout the Metro series, but this story would have done much better to shift that paradigm. Give Artyom a voice in the conversation instead of ham fisted jokes about his deafening silence.
In the end I would definitely recommend Metro Exodus at full price or on sale. This is a feast for the senses that should be experienced by all gamers. Sadly the feast is only for crows if you're here for the cerebral storytelling.
7/10

A Star Wars game in 2019 actually made me care about the characters... Let that sink in for a minute. In the era post Battlefront 2 loot boxes they released a Star Wars game that isn't about making millions off adoring fans. This title feels like it was made for the fans by people who genuinely care about the source material. The writing and acting are top notch and the story doesn't feel shoe horned into the canon like some of the movies and other games. Cal Kestis is a like able guy that isn't an all powerful Jedi like Starkiller from Force Unleashed. The combat is heavily inspired by Dark Souls and the force powers are fairly limited in scope and ability. I have to say that I really admire the restraint they have showed in the game play. It makes the world feel more genuine and helps to capture the magic that was in the original trilogy. You're still a space samurai but it is more grounded in reality, if that's possible for a game about space ships and light sabers.
While the game isn't perfect it is surprisingly robust and offers a ton of content for the price tag. The Souls esque combat can be annoying with unforgiving hit boxes and timing, but it is complemented by the Zelda style exploration and Prince of Persia navigation. While the combat can be cruel it is also very rewarding when it works as intended. However, there is a fair amount of cheese when you die from no fault of your own because of a bug or bad geometry. Despite the flaws I found myself actually enjoying the story and exploration when I came into it with a jaded and cynical attitude. Well done Respawn Entertainment for making an older bloke feel a little younger and reminding me why I love Star Wars. The visuals are absolutely stellar as well with perfect lighting and set pieces. The facial animations in cut scenes are nigh photo realistic.
If this is what happens when EA simply lets a talented developer show their craft then I wish they would make it their new business model. I would purchase more games at launch if I knew they wouldn't be riddled with micro transactions and lacking content. I truly hope this is a portend of things to come and not a one off attempt to appease the people who are justifiably upset about the current state of gaming.
I'm getting slightly off topic but I think it's worth mentioning that this game is one that gives you everything it offers without additional purchases. It's a AAA, highly polished, single player, story driven title in 2019 that does what it claims. That alone is commendable and should be considered in your decision to buy.
8.5/10

Donut County is a subversive title about the dangers of out of control capatilism and, ironically, video games destroying peoples lives.

The game is short (about 2-3 hours) but it's so full of personality that it's just the right length to leave a great impression. The writing is witty and slightly ascerbic at times, and the gameplay is VERY reminiscint of Katamari Damacy with a crazy raccon stealing everything in the town with a giant hole. It's actually pretty satisfying to get the hole bigger and bigger until you can dump in a freeway or building.

9/10... Would destroy my life with video games again!

Dead Space is a love letter to horror titans, paying homage to Resident Evil 4, H.P. Lovecraft, Alien and even Half Life to name a few. However this title rises above the sum of its parts to something genuinely awesome. The atmosphere is so pervasive that it almost overwhelms you with a sense of dread. Every off hand noise that you hear could betray a terrifying creature about to jump scare you, or it could simply be a noise in the dark. Isaac is a silent protagonist in this initial title and the story proves to be a tired trope with cultists bringing about the end of humanity with a power from the ancient past. But they pull it off and it's enjoyable none the less with it's share of twists and turns. I haven't played this game in years and it holds up very well with a lot of modern titles falling way short of the bar this game set. The graphics still look great with some low rez textures being obscured by excellent lighting. The animations really help to immerse you as you feel every stomp from Isaac's mighty boot or the way that his breathing becomes more shallow and panicked when you're low on oxygen. The lack of a HUD is quite good with the menus and data logs being read in real time against a 3D projected screen in game. It's all brilliant design and it's very unfortunate EA sunk its claws into Visceral Games and bled them dry. We may never get a game with this much polish again with current paradigms in place. So play this title again or for the 1st time and be amazed. Dead Space 2 is even better than this one so consider replaying the series for Halloween. You won't be disappointed. 9/10

I've loved Darksiders since it was released on PS3, and the Warmastered edition is a good enough reason to pick it up if you missed the first go around. The textures are noticeably sharper and the mouse/keyboard controls have mostly been resolved. My biggest gripe would be that sound in cutscenes have suffered. Someone messed with the files too much and the voice acting is about all you can hear during the sequences. All other music and effects sound like they're under water.
As for the game itself not a lot has changed, but this is still an amazing game. Darksiders apes just about every other milestone in gaming. Most notably the combat from God of War and the exploration from Legend of Zelda. There's definite influence from Half Life 2 in the story telling department with the way the tower looms at you in the distance as you are inexorably drawn there. While the combat is meaty and adequate it never lives up to its inspiration. It gets a little tedious to do the same combos and watch the same kill animations over and again, but thankfully there are a lot of enemy types to cut through with different attack patterns and death animations for each. So while they're pretty one dimensional there is enough variety to keep things engaging. The bosses again draw influence from GoW and are over the top in design and style. With all the brutality War can muster he decimates angel and demon alike.
Darksiders doesn't do anything better than any of the games that helped create it, but it all comes together to form a cohesive package that feels genuine. It is lovingly crafted with fantastic art direction. This game may have been released in 2010, but thanks to its artistic style it holds up quite well. Everything is hand drawn from the character models down to the way water splashes when you run through it. Clever use of atmospheric and post processing effects make the world rich in detail and believability. Even the way tree branches shoot out at all angles feels intentional and fits in with this world. For a place that is war torn and apocalyptic this is a place that is verdant and alive. Joe Maduriera helped create the comic style for Darksiders, and with that kind of talent you know you're in for a visual treat.
The voice acting is good and the characters are memorable with the stand outs of Vulgrim, Ulthane, and Samael as the most charismatic. I love the bad guys as well as the good ones with all the shades of grey in between. These are characters motivated by personal issues more than good and evil, and you find yourself rooting for some despicably lovable villians throughout the story. The world is fleshed out with lore and culture they made specifically for this story. While the story arc they took in Darksiders 2 is a cliched mess, this game stands out with just enough information given to satisfy and enough mystery to be authentic.
Replaying this game made me realize just how much effort they put into all facets, and despite the minor sound and control greivances I have, I can't recommend this title enough. All though if you have played this before the Warmastered edition offers little incentive to return to the apocalypse. 8.5/10

While this game isn't quite what I wanted it to be, it is still a worthy entry to the storied series. This island does a good job with ambience as you explore your surroundings. You will always hear rushing water from a stream ahead of you, or the sound of sea gulls as you aproach a turbulent sea side. The environment is truly astounding graphically speaking too. I can only imagine how much time and care was taken when they did the character animations, because they are some of the best I've ever seen. The graphics are nothing but eye candy on the PC version especially. Tomb Raider does a fair job of making you feel like an intrepid archaeologist as you explore derelict ruins and view wonderous vistas.

The mechanics of jumping and platforming can cause a little frustration but overall the devs did a good job on that front. Only occasionally did Lara go in another direction than what I intended, and this being a reboot for the franchise, almost all of the mechanics have been changed or tweaked. The combat in particular has been scrapped completely and rebuilt to resemble a modern, over the shoulder shooter, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on your viewpoint. I didn't mind the switch so much because the shooting is a solid experience with some stealth thrown in the mix to keep it more interesting. I do miss the days of outlandishly side flipping enemies while having pinpoint accuracy wielding dual pistols, but the new combat system is far more plausible in my opinion, and in the laws of physics.

My biggest gripe is the damnedable quicktime events. There is nothing that drags you away from the action and story more than a poorly executed QTE. Watching Lara get strangled or impaled loses impact if you watch it for the tenth time in a 4 minute period. Those QTE's were the bane of mine and Lara's existence, as they were fairly plentiful throughout the game. My other, less vexing complaint is the storyline. Lara Croft, who is someone with an intelligence level far beyond average, can be utterly obtuse and downright vacuous at times. Which is bewildering considering how often this game beats you about the head with how smart she is. It is a shame too, because this story is moderately compelling, and it is nice to see that the writers didn't shy away from supernatural elements and events that the series is known for. But it is poor storytelling when protagonists are arbitrarily obtuse to propel the story in a certain direction. The story is really predictable and languid at times, but still enjoyable.

Something else that caught my attention was a number of features that were underdeveloped or under used. Like the hunting and survival aspect for example. You are tasked with killing a deer or rabbit in order to survive for food in the opening segment, but you are never required to do so again. Like so many collectibles and destructibles, it seems like the devs had plans to flesh them out but got bogged down by deadlines. So they all end up being optional busy work, and when busy work is optional it will almost never get done. It doesn't detract from the game, but it doesn't really add any value either. Overall this is a highly polished and fun reboot of a beloved franchise. Despite my quibbles I found myself having fun, and that is the whole point of entertainment. 7.5/10

After playing this game for awhile it became clear to me why it was so much fun 15 years ago. Duke Nukem is delightfully old school, and the Megaton Edition updates the gameplay enough to hold up against modern titles. Level design with tons of secret areas and homages abound. Duke Nukem Forever is a steaming alien turd that needs to be stepped on compared to this old game. The pixelated gore and boobs are still satisfying and funny, the dialogue and jokes are tongue in cheek, and most importantly the game is still a blast after all these years. It doesn't take itself seriously and begs you to just enjoy yourself. Whether you're looking to casually blow up pig cops and tip strippers, or you have a mean competetive streak and want to hone your skills in multiplayer this game has it all. Duke Nukem 3D was revolutionary way back when, and is surprisingly relevant today. No other game currently available let's you shrink ray your baddies and then stomp them to mush.

Wanton destruction and mayhem? Check.
Shrink rays? Check.
Rapid fire rocket launchers? Check.
Bosses as big as a football stadium? Check.
Pixelated Boobies? Check.
Fun and frenetic multiplayer? Check.
Jetpacks!? Mother f*ckin Check!

That's right people, the Duke is the only fun game that has jetpacks available. This is 2014! We should all be flying around in jetpacks, right? So rather than take out my aggression on a popular culture and media that, 40 years ago, said we would have jetpacks by now, I guess I will just have fun with flying around Los Angeles and killing aliens in Duke Nukem. Also Duke is the only game availble that actually lets you rip off an alien's head and proceed to dump down his neck hole. So what are you doing still reading my sh*tty review? Play this game already and start having a good old fashioned time. 9/10

The Walking Dead is a whirlwind of emotion. The writing is fantastic as your choices have more impact than almost any other. Sometimes the choices available aren't what I would have done or said in a situation, but this game does a beautiful job none the less. There are action segments that have an "on rails" style gameplay, but for the most part it is a point and click adventure. The graphics feel like you're in a comic book and the gore is brutal without being over the top. The Walking Dead makes you question humanity and the monsters in men that aren't as obvious as zombies. Morally ambiguous situations really rachet up the tension as you try to do what's right by everyone, but everyone seems to have different ideas of what "right" is. There is no good vs evil or right vs wrong, there is only choice and consequence. Early in the game I had to make a choice to try and save two different people. One was a smart and strong young man, and the other was a slow witted boy no more than twelve years old. I chose to save the young man because I thought he would be more valuable to the group than the liability of a boy who had trouble seeing danger signs right in front of him. I felt bad, but it seemed the more practical choice to make. In a twist I didn't see coming I wasn't able to save the young man from the horde. The reward I received for my choice was that the boy's father didn't trust me anymore for leaving his son to die. That one choice tainted the relationship with the father for the rest of the game. Choice and consequence... From that moment on I was hooked. 10/10

This is the best puzzle/exploration game to come around in years, maybe ever. The fiendish environment is always changing and the problems grow ever more infuriating. You will feel as if you are wandering through an art piece by M. C. Escher, but the more you play the more sense the world makes. There is a definite rule set that governs this world, and discovering it by trying different theories from observation is an experience like no other. The graphical style is quite unique and is a great example of how robust the Unreal Engine is. Make no mistake, this is a true puzzle game even if it seems to only want to mess with your head. It will twist your brain until the concepts it wants you to realize finally click. Give this game a full hour of your time and you won't be able to turn it off. 10/10