Recent reviews by ✦Etherion✦

Mafia: Definitive Edition is the modern retelling of a classic story in the franchise. The game follows the tale of Tommy Angelo as he navigates the perils of life as a gangster in the 1930's city of Lost Haven. Tommy's struggle between the life he has chosen & life he wishes to have throughout the story, helps to make him a memorable protagonist in the franchise.

Pros:
+Great Story: The story while detailing Tommy Angelo's rise from struggling cab driver to mafia capo also does a great job portraying the realities of life in a 1930's prohibition era Lost Haven where the Salieri and Morello crime families are feuding for control of the city. The story also does a great job detailing the origins of these crime families as well as their downfall.
+Great Graphics: The city of Lost Haven simply looks beautiful from its bustling streets to its towering buildings. This makes for a brilliant 1930's themed backdrop as you visit various locations throughout the story.
+Good Combat: The game while being somewhat bare-bones in this aspect does offer some one-handed, two-handed & melee weapons for use in combat. The cover system can feel a bit clunky & imprecise when taking on groups of enemies & there is no skill tree to complement combat.
+Good Controls: The game's controls are simple and responsive when in combat or racing through the rainy streets of Lost Haven to outrun the law.
+Great Soundtrack: The songs played through the available radio stations in game definitely complement the 1930's look & feel of the game.

Cons:
-The game's story is very short and condensed within 20 chapters which can be cleared in 5-7 hours if not less. Outside this there is nothing to do, leading to minimum replay value except if achievement hunting.

Devil May Cry 5 is a beautiful symphony of destruction. The game's masterful blend of an enthralling story building on the history of the Devil May Cry franchise, fluid hack 'n slash gameplay, a kick-ass soundtrack & memorable characters, makes for one of the best games in the series so far.

+Excellent Story: The story follows the exploits of Dante, Nero & V, as they battle a new villain named Urizen along with his minions while trying to save Red Grave City from the clutches of evil. The origin of the mysterious new character V, along with his relation to Urizen & the events taking place are all masterfully revealed as the story progresses.
+Excellent Graphics: The ruins of Red Grave City look simply beautiful from the neon lit streets to its Gothic buildings. This makes for an excellent backdrop as you battle your way through an imposing hellscape filled with enemies.
+Excellent Gameplay: The game truly shines in this aspect, offering a unique blend of abilities, weapons, upgrades & play styles, spread across the three main payable characters. This offers you a plethora of unique combos to destroy enemies on your path of destruction, ensuring that gameplay remains fresh & rewarding throughout the story. The main characters & their unique abilities are also utilized in a seamless way throughout the story so that no one overshadows the other.
+Excellent Controls: The game's controls are quick & intuitive when chaining together combos during combat or traversing the in-game world therefore complementing gameplay.
+Excellent Soundtrack: The electro-metal inspired soundtrack definitely fits the hell on earth aesthetic of the game while complementing the chaotic nature of its gameplay. Having "Devil Trigger" playing in the background as you slaughter droves of enemies makes for an enjoyable experience.

Cons:
-The lack of both Trish & Lady being playable in DMC5 as opposed to DMC4: SE, feels like a step backwards. While the game's ending sets up a possible playable story for both characters, this was never developed on or added as DLC content which seems like a missed opportunity.

Agents of Mayhem is a hodgepodge of ideas & characters coupled with a lack-luster story which never really materializes into a meaningful or memorable game. The most interesting part of the game comes about during the first 1-2 hours of gameplay as you unlock the 12 main playable characters along with their unique stories & abilities. After this the story becomes a trudge to the finish as the banal / rinse & repeat nature of the gameplay becomes abundantly clear.

Pros:
+Great Graphics: The vibrant aesthetic of a futuristic Seoul where the events of the game take place along with the main playable characters looks great.
+Good Controls: The game's controls are simple & responsive when in combat or drifting through the streets of Seoul in your sentient talking car.
+Good Soundtrack: The up-beat soundtrack definitely fits the vibrant & futuristic look of the game along with its main characters.

Cons:
-Average Story: The game's story follows the basic premise of heroes (M.A.Y.H.E.M) vs villains (L.E.G.I.O.N). A group of unique heroes are brought together to foil the villains cliche ambitions of world domination.
-Underwhelming Gameplay: The gameplay quickly becomes overly repetitive as you progress through the main story & side missions while taking on the same drove of enemies among other tasks such as hacking & capturing data points. The only time this changes is when facing off against the various unique (L.E.G.I.O.N) bosses. The in-game world therefore begins to feel bland & boxed-in as you realize that you are going from point A to B doing the same repetitive tasks with little to no variation.

Conclusion: The only way I would recommend this game is if you can pick it up during steam sales or included as part of a bundle from a 3rd party website such as Fanatical. The game has some entertainment value but keep the expectations low.

Sunset Overdrive is a true gem. It's video-game escapism at its finest, A journey into a whimsical world filled with larger than life characters, a ludicrous series of events & where every situation is an opportunity for a joke. Coupled with brilliant movement mechanics, a teddy bear grenade launcher & killer punk rock soundtrack, Sunset Overdrive is a reminder that games don't have to be serious to be truly great.

Pros:
+Fun Story: The protagonist & other characters from various factions are brought together by an "awesomepocalypse" as they fend off humans mutated by the energy drink "overcharge" while trying to take down the evil mega-corporation "Fizzco" which is responsible for the disaster.
+Great Graphics: The unique color palette & visual art style results in a beautiful spectacle that is Sunset City & its characters. It all looks like the pages of a comic book vibrantly rendered.
+Excellent Gameplay: The game truly shines in this aspect. The blend of fast paced fluid movement & gun-play makes for a truly enjoyable experience as you jump, grind & dash your way through Sunset City while slaughtering droves of mutants with an impressive arsenal of whimsical weapons & upgrades.
+Excellent Controls: The game's controls are intuitive which complements combat especially when chaining together moves and the fluid, fast paced movement dynamics of the game.
+Excellent Soundtrack: The punk rock soundtrack definitely complements the vibrant yet grungy aesthetic of Sunset Overdrive.

Cons:
-If your are accustomed to fast paced, movement based shooters, then you will be able to jump right in. For those unfamiliar there may a slight learning curve when getting accustomed to the game's movement mechanics.

"Sons of Anarchy meets The Walking Dead" makes for an excellent thrill ride that is Days Gone. The story centers around the actions of Deacon St. John as he confronts the horrors of a post-apocalyptic, freaker infested world while searching for the whereabouts of his wife Sarah. Deacon's determination, lethal skills & somewhat cynical nature makes him both an endearing & memorable protagonist.

Pros:
+Great Story: The story does an excellent job portraying both the mental & physical struggles of Deacon as he fights for survival in a post-apocalyptic Oregon while searching for his wife Sarah. The details of the deadly post-apocalyptic virus outbreak, various factions & their relation to Deacon & Sarah are revealed as progress is made through the main story-line & its side quests.
+Excellent Graphics: Post-apocalyptic Oregon looks simply beautiful from its snow-capped mountain peaks to crystal clear lakes. This makes for some breathtaking scenery when not taking on menacing freaker hordes or patrolling the grim remainder of human settlements scattered throughout the map.
+Great Combat: The combat makes great use of Deacon's melee weapons, guns, throwables & traps when clearing out enemy encampments or taking on freaker hordes. This helps to complement your play-style whether its stealth or going in guns blazing. The skill tree is well implemented which enhances melee & ranged combat along with survival.
+Good Controls: The game's controls are simple and responsive when in combat or burning rubber through the back roads of Oregon on your motorcycle.
+Great Soundtrack: The somber yet at times menacing soundtrack definitely complements the look & feel of the game.

Cons:
-Some quests tend to follow a generic rinse & repeat formula, especially when clearing out hordes or ambush camps.
-Lack of cosmetics. While you can customize Deacon's drifter bike to some extent. There is no way of making the character uniquely yours by way of altering Deacon's appearance, at least without the use of mods.

GreedFall is a principled tale which follows the exploits of De Sardet as he/she attempts to restore order to the mythical island of Teer Fradee while searching for a cure to a mysterious plague known as the Malichor which is devastating the old continent of Gacane.

Pros:
+Great Story: As De Sardet progresses through his/her journey, various elements of the story relating to the protagonist's origin, Malichor plague & past events are all masterfully revealed. The overall ending is also influenced by the choices made throughout the story. The main protagonist can therefore choose to be the ruthless conqueror or the savior of a dying island & its people.
+Great Graphics: The island of Teer Fradee is beautifully rendered in all its new world glory. From the lush forests to the faction controlled cities, each settlement looks unique.
+Good Combat: The combat makes good use of De Sardet's melee weapons, guns, magic & traps when taking on single or multiple enemies. The combat system also make good use of the tactical pause feature so attacks can be chained together in quick succession. The skill tree is also well implemented & complements combat.
+Good Controls: The game's controls are simple and responsive when in combat or traversing the island of Teer Fradee.
+Good Soundtrack: The somber soundtrack definitely complements the look and feel of the game.

Cons:
-While the game paints a beautiful open world, it can feel boxed in at times especially when you realize that there is really nothing to do or see when venturing off the beaten path.
-Quests tend to follow a generic rinse & repeat formula going from location A to B. This can get boring especially during the side quests.
-There is not much replay value because of the reasons previously stated except if achievement hunting.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a captivating post-apocalyptic story centered around the adventures of Aloy as she searches for answers concerning her origins & past events while preventing a rogue AI known as "Hades" from using a malicious ancient horde of robots to destroy all life on the planet. Aloy's fierce beauty, lethal skills & witty charm definitely makes her one of the greatest female video-game heroines of all time.

Pros:
+Excellent Story: The story does an excellent job portraying humanity's struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world overrun with machines. The emotional events of the past, their relation to Aloy's origin & her importance in saving the world are masterfully revealed as Aloy progresses in her journey.
+Excellent Graphics: The many unique landscapes, settlements, wildlife & machines which make up this post-apocalyptic world are all beautifully rendered & feels alive, creating some of the most gorgeous scenery in gaming.
+Great Combat: The combat makes great use of Aloy's range of skills & weapons. Combat feels fluid when taking on large menacing machines or human enemies. Aloy's range of projectile weapons, traps & armor can be used to take advantage of enemy weaknesses to lethal effect.
+Great Controls: The controls are precise & responsive when traversing the in-game environment or in combat further complementing gameplay.
+Great Soundtrack: The somber soundtrack definitely complements the post-apocalyptic look & feel of the game, adding to its depth & emotion while exploring the open world on your mount or fighting angry machines.

Cons:
-Some of the side missions follow the same routine pattern which may get repetitive after some time.
-Certain areas of the map are too densely populated with machines which may lead to many unnecessarily hostile interactions which can become annoying especially when just exploring.

Control is an enthralling supernatural story which focuses on the actions on Jesse Faden in her newly inherited role as director of the FBC (Federal Bureau Of Control) as she searches for answers to events in her past while preventing a mysterious malevolent entity known as "The Hiss" from corrupting the bureau completely.

Pros:
+Great Story: The story does a great job explaining the supernatural events taking place within the FBC & their relation to Jesse's past all while setting up the premise that there are greater dark forces at work behind the scenes.
+Great Graphics: The many areas which make up The Oldest House are all uniquely rendered in their supernatural beauty.
+Excellent Combat: The excellent blending of gunplay along with Jesse's range of psychic powers allow for fluid combat when taking on a range of enemies & bosses.
+Great Controls: The controls are precise & responsive when traversing The Oldest House or combating enemies further complementing gameplay.
+Great Soundtrack: The soundtrack definitely complements the look & feel of the game. "Take Control by Old Gods Of Asgard" blasting while you navigate "The Ashtray Maze" definitely makes for an enjoyable experience.

Cons:
-Certain bosses can be annoying to fight especially since their difficulty comes mainly from the damage they inflict rather than pattern of attacks, range, attack type, etc.
-Puzzle gameplay is simple & gets repetitive after a while. It also doesn't make use of all Jesse's abilities.
-Outfits while cool, could have been better implemented to boost certain aspects of Jesse's stats aiding in combat or traversal within the game.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a great yet dark story which centers around the exploits of Cal Kestis as he searches for a way to rebuild the Jedi Order while dealing with the fallout following the events of Order 66.

Pros:
+Great Story: The story while dark, accurately represents the period of time in which things look grim for the Jedi as well as the galaxy as a whole.
+Great Graphics: The planets which you will visit throughout the story are all uniquely rendered in all their beauty.
+Great Combat: The combat makes excellent use of a wide range of Cal's lightsaber & force wielding skills to take on enemies. The skill tree is also well implemented and complements combat.
+Good Controls: The controls while simple & responsive most of the time, can sometimes feel a bit imprecise when traversing certain areas or taking on groups of enemies.
+Good Soundtrack: The soundtrack complements the look and feel of the game while exploring or in combat also use of "The Hu- Sugaan Essena" as Cal's favourite song was cool.

Cons:
-Performance Issues: Although not game breaking, there were some occasional stutters when traversing certain areas or dealing with certain enemies.
-Cosmetics: Ponchos seem like an afterthought with most of them being rather unappealing or copy/paste color & pattern variations of each other.

Vampyr is an alluring tale of vampires & morality which takes place in a beautifully grim 1918 London setting. The way in which Dr. Jonathan Reid's choices influence the story are very well executed. One can either choose to be the creature of the night or suppress the vampiric urge while fighting to save London from the epidemic.

Pros:
+Great Story: The story while grim can be influenced in such a way by the main protagonist's actions as to have a multitude of endings, some good and others tragic. It helps to emphasize the whole dynamic of actions & consequences.
+Great Graphics: The London setting of 1918 looks beautifully grim as you wander the streets at night which compliments the story and characters.
+Good Combat: The combat makes good use of Jonathan's vampiric powers which develop throughout the story as well as melee and ranged weapons for dealing with enemies.
+Good Controls: The game's controls are simple & responsive complementing gameplay when in combat or when traversing the streets of London.
+Good Soundtrack: The soundtrack fits the dark & eerie feel of the game.

Cons:
-While the combat system is good when confronting normal enemies, during boss battles it can feel sometimes clunky & imprecise, allowing for failed attacks and the player taking unnecessary damage.
-The investigation side quests throughout the game can get boring since most of the time they follow the same rinse and repeat formula.