Recent reviews by Button Eyes

ANNO: Mutationem is a cyberpunk action game where you play as Ann Flores, a girl with mysterious powers looking for her missing brother. While it looks like a cyberpunk game, it's actually more like a cyberpunk mixed with SCP on account of the various weird creatures we'll be fighting and some secret lab settings. It's not as dark and serious as like, Dex for example, it's pretty lighthearted with many funny moments. It may be sci-fi, but it has some fantasy-anime vibes as well.

The game is played from a pretty unique perspective. In friendly zones, the world is 3D, where you can walk forward and backward, find items and talk to people. But when you enter a combat/platforming zone, it switches to 2D, you can only move left and right. The combat is akin to hack-and-slash combat with light, heavy, and ranged weapons. You can find alternate versions of each weapon as well as upgrading skills.

Other than the main game, there's an additional minigame mode, the Mysterious Game Console. It must be done in one sitting, and you play a game-inside-a-game. Here you play as Noni, a roguelike game protagonist to fight enemies and finish her game. It's a free update that's added later and has no impact on the main game, but a nice side activity.

My main complaint about this game is the lack of voice acting. Many lines are unvoiced, usually voiced ones are only in important cutscenes. I know it's an indie game with maybe not too much budget, but more voiced lines would be cool. And there are some spelling errors, like how the in-game President is spelled differently several times. But it's not that big of an issue, and if you like cyberpunk, SCP-inspired, and/or side-scrolling games, ANNO: Mutationem is a title worth playing.

Alice: Madness Returns is a sequel to American McGee's Alice, and like its predecessor, both games are platformers with hack-and-slash combat inspired by Lewis Carroll's story and characters. We play as Alice as she explores a twisted version of Wonderland, now even more in ruins. There, she will meet returning characters as well as new ones, as her mind tries to slowly solve what actually happened during the mysterious fire that killed her family.

Despite its age, I think this game still looks really good, mainly because the stylized, Tim Burton-like graphics and how each level has different style, like there's a steampunk level, an East Asian themed level, and a fleshy castle, among others that keeps it fresh. Though some colors may seem undersaturated and some levels are too same-y, like the Dollhouse. Alice herself has many cool dresses that reflects the nature of the levels, and some unlockable ones which have different effects, most good, some bad.

However, there's a major downgrade in this game compared to the first one; the lack of boss battles. Although almost every area has a character that seems like they could be the boss of the level, in the end it's just a cutscene. It may be funny the first time, but its sad when you realize the first one has many cool boss fights, but here the only true boss fight is at the very end. Having more boss fights would really improve this game, in my opinion.

I should also mention that this game needs a bit of tinkering to enhance your experience. It's locked to 30 FPS, no matter how strong your PC is, so you must change some configurations to allow it to run at 60 FPS. There's also some DLC dresses and weapons you can try out, but in order to fix both these you need to change some configuration files. There's a lot of guides on the Internet so I won't explain in detail here.

If you like platformer games with combat, Alice: Madness Returns is a title you should definitely play, and the previous title as well. Too bad the franchise is abandoned, as I would consider this game one of the most beautiful and unique titles I ever played. If you like the Psychonauts franchise you'd also like this title, as both games explore inside minds and each has a different style. If you never played them, you should, as it kinda fills the Alice-shaped hole in your heart... or head.

Mayhem Brawler is a beat-em-up game where you play as 3 members of a superpowered law enforcement agency. You will fight similarly superpowered enemies, such as vampires and wereanimals. All 3 of them have different strengths and weaknesses, as well as special powers. There are 2 extra members you can unlock, and all you have to do is accept their offer to help in the story.

Speaking of the story, it's simple and straightforward, but there are variations. Like in some levels you are given a mutually exclusive choice, where you can explore one place or the other. Different choices will allow you to explore the 3 different ending levels, which is fitting, seeing you originally have 3 members. Each playthrough is pretty short, around 1 hour. If you like the fighting, doing 3 or more playthroughs will still be fun.

What I really like about this game is the artstyle, it reminds me of superhero comics from the 90s-00s. And there are many pop culture references here as well. If you enjoy beat-em-up games and/or games with a comic style, you should give Mayhem Brawler a try. You can use keyboard controls, but it's easier and more fun if you use a controller.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered serves as a remaster of the first 3 classic Tomb Raider games, puzzle-platformers where you play as archaeologist adventurer Lara Croft as she travels the world, preventing villains from getting artifacts of power. In this title, you have access to all 3 games and their expansions (4-6 levels each). You can also visit Lara's home 3 different times, one for each game where you can just walk around or do some training. Due to their length, this 3-in-1 title will take quite a while to go through, but it will be a fun experience.

In my opinion, this game is exactly how remasters should be. There's a significant change in graphics, but not too much that it loses the vibe of the game. Examples are HD textures (some incorporate real-world images of the inspiration), new character and item models, and better lighting. In fact, there are some additions to the world like foliage and holes in the ceilings to make the lighting realistic. You can also switch between the classic and remastered graphics anytime by pressing F1, allowing you to compare them easily. There's also a photo mode you can access by pressing F3.

If there's one thing that deters new TR fans from playing the old ones, it's the controls. They can be sluggish and clunky, but the remaster takes care of that as well. It's far smoother, comparable to the Legend games, only a bit more complicated. Like how there are standing jumps and long jumps, which you must learn so you can land jumps and not over/undershoot them.

Due to the nature of the game, there's not much storytelling other than "go here, find artifact, get out". There are some FMV cutscenes and in-game cutscenes, which happen more often in later titles, but that's it. In the expansions however, there isn't any. But then again, the main appeal of this game should be exploring different locales, so the story kinda takes a backseat in the classic TR games. If you're expecting a story-heavy title like the Survivor games, you won't find it here.

While I really like the remaster, there are also some flaws I must point out. One is during the FMV cutscenes. If you use the remastered graphics, which are basically less pixelated versions, the audio almost always lags. And if you play the classic graphics, there seems to be an FPS cap since the game runs kinda laggy. And lastly, because the devs use AI and retouching to help enhance the old textures some of them can be kinda smudgy or unclear.

If you're a Tomb Raider fan who wishes to experience Lara's classic adventures, but the old graphics and sluggish controls are putting you off, now there is no better time to experience those. Play Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, as well as the IV-VI so you can live the modernized version of a classic experience. Personally, I think TR3 is my favorite here, followed by 1, and 2 at the last place. Don't forget to keep an eye out for secrets, especially since in 2's expansion and 3 you'll get bonus levels.

Shank 2 is the sequel of Shank, where you play as the titular character again, fighting an evil president and his army. Like before, it has minimal story, most of the time you'll be beating up enemies. Graphics are better, but the most important improvement here is the combat system. Other than your equipped weapons which can be changed anytime, you can also pick up weapons from fallen enemies as well as counter-kill them after lowering their health.

Luckily, there's no co-op only story campaign here, but an addition of Survival Mode. In this mode you must protect items from being bombed by enemies. You can play it solo, but unless you're very good at the game, chances are you'll need another player since it's designed to be co-op, going solo would be overwhelming. Sadly, nearly half of the achievements are exclusive to this mode.

I think in many ways Shank 2 is an improvement over the first, the fights are more fun and smooth. But one complaint from me is that I think the game is a bit harder, especially in boss fights where they can't be stunned or needs a special strategy, just fight and survive. Again, while fully playable on keyboard, I would recommend using a controller for this game as it plays better.

Terminator: Resistance - Annihilation Line is a DLC that acts like a midquel, where the events in it happen after defeating the first Infiltrator boss of the base game, but before the ending. You play as Jacob Rivers again, getting sent away on a special mission with Kyle Reese, a major character of the franchise. You don't have access to your unlocked weapons or skills, but you'll get a lot of skill points early on and level up somewhat faster.

Gameplay is mostly the same, being a sometimes open-world, sometimes linear shooter with stealth and crafting elements. However, there are new enemy types and weapons introduced, and I recommend trying them out for variation. But most importantly, there's an event here that faithfully recreates Kyle's nightmare in the first Terminator movie. It's a cool choice to see it happen in-game and get to know the characters involved.

The Annihilation Line DLC has a pretty decent length, about 5 hours long, and if you enjoyed the main game you will definitely get some more of that here. I like how since it takes place behind the Annihilation Line, the levels feel a bit different with more destruction and Skynet facilities. Despite the timeline, I played it after finishing the campaign, since switching in the middle can be a bit confusing.

Terminator: Resistance is a game based on the franchise of the same name. It takes place in the future war against the machines. You play as Sgt. Jacob Rivers, a Resistance soldier who worked together with a group of survivors and other soldiers as they aim to destroy Skynet's Cental Core and end the war. You'll fight Terminators and meet important characters such as John Connor.

The gameplay is somewhat open-world, but also linear. It's kinda comparable to Metro Exodus, where it's mostly an FPS where you can free roam some areas, but you cannot fast travel or return to other areas unless you proceed with the mission. You can do sidequests, find and use multiple weapons, as well as crafting ammunition and equipment. Choices also matter, as dialog choices can change how other characters view you.

Other than the main story, there's also an additional Infiltrator Mode. This one is an hour-long mission where you play as a Terminator hunting down a Resistance leader by collecting intel. You have access to new weapons such as a minigun and grenade launcher, as well as generally being tougher and able to throw enemies. But beware, this mode has no saves and must be finished in one sitting.

Despite being an official game to a popular franchise, I must say that it has some flaws that seems to stem from budget issues, unlike another game based on another 80s horror franchise, Alien: Isolation. The levels look plain, and the character models just don't look as good. And the open world just feels lacking in content, no hidden sidequests or secrets just more loot and enemies. But other than that, Terminator: Resistance is still a pretty decent game that fans of the franchise will enjoy.

Tales from the Borderlands is an episodic, narrative-driven game, like the usual games by Telltale. You choose dialogue, explore some scenes, and choices matter. But what makes it unique is the fact that it's set in the same universe as the Borderlands games, which are gameplay-wise almost the exact opposite. Instead of slow-paced story games, they are fast-paced looter shooters. Some characters from the main games play major roles here, like Athena and Handsome Jack, with their original voice actors returning.

Here you control 2 characters, Hyperion employee Rhys and Pandoran conwoman Fiona as they are forced to work together alongside other people in search for a hidden Vault. As I mentioned before, it's interesting to see the world in a different way, by talking and planning instead of simply shooting your way through. There are still plenty of action scenes, so don't worry about that. The graphics and story tone are also quite consistent with the main games, using the comic-like graphics, the game's stylish UI, and of course some silly, dark humor.

If you're a fan of the Borderlands franchise, despite the difference in gameplay, Tales from the Borderlands is honestly a title you shouldn't skip. It might seem like a spin-off, side story set in the same universe, but some events that happen here have effects in later games, as well as some characters that are introduced here making reappearances. On top of that, it's still a very good story game that manages to capture the tone and aesthetic of the franchise. Definitely one of Telltale's best.

Florence is a short, interactive comic-like game about a bored young woman named Florence who fell in love with a cello player she randomly met while walking. They went on a few dates and start a relationship, but those are never really smooth aren't they? There will be ups and downs, as well as possible breakups and recovering from it. I also love the colorful, beautiful artstyle, which changes depends on what the characters are feeling.

The gameplay is very simple, most of the times you just move and click things across the screen, or making the characters walk. It's not a very long game, can be beaten in under an hour, but I'd be lying if it wasn't emotional. It has beautiful music, which hits especially hard during some of the more bittersweet scenes. If you like casual, emotional games, you should give Florence a try.

Shank is a sidescrolling beat-em-up where you play as a man trying to get revenge for his girlfriend's death. The gameplay is very straightforward, you kill the enemies, and then the bosses. You can chain combos using your light, heavy, and ranged weapons. And for boss fights, there's usually a way to stun them so that you can do heavy damage. The combat system is pretty satisfying, it does get a bit hard and annoying at times though.

While the singleplayer campaign is good, the sad thing is that they have a co-op campaign, but rather than being the singleplayer with 2 characters, its a whole new backstory. Which is annoying because most people want more story but have trouble finding people to play with. Some of the cutscenes are also shortened, even though you can switch to the beta version which contains them all. Gameplay is better in the final version though, and the saves aren't compatible.

Overall, if you like beat-em-up sidescrollers, you'd probably enjoy Shank. The artstyle is unique and reminds me of Klei's other games, mostly Mark of the Ninja. But I still say that having the co-op campaign doable solo or with AI would be better. Lastly, this game is playable on keyboard, but it's really recommended to use a controller, it's far smoother.