Recent reviews by pikachu01

Marvel Snap is one step forward and three steps backwards, always.

Best replayable CRPG I've ever played. With its many DLCs and endings, there are many ways to build your character to play this.
I'm nominating this game for 2024's Labor of Love!

Game feels much faster than CK2 as the UI processing and simulator AI is decoupled. A lot of polished QoL went into the game, however game feels a bit sparse as the meat is going to come along in DLCs. It's a pretty fun base game already, but CK2 still feels a bit more in depth, perhaps some of the features from CK2 aren't coming to CK3 as the abstraction feels different (in a good way), but gameplay might feel a bit shoehorned to roleplaying your character's traits.

Pretty exhaustive demo (half season). Able to get many days of gameplay for free.

This will probably be downvoted. The game doesn't lack things to do, but it's mostly busywork. There isn't an overarching story that compels you to continue daily chores unlike games like Rune Factory or Animal Crossing. That's why you'll get bored as time goes by.

One of the best alternate WW2 history games that you can buy now. Much better with mods like Kaiserreich as well!

This game scratches my itch for Isometric RPGs (or cRPGs in general).

PROs
The storyline and writing is top notch.
The combat is challenging on higher difficulties and rewards strategical play and placement.
Almost every choice has a consequence in the game (and will be brought into a closure at the end).
Great re-playability to unlock further branching storylines. No two playthroughs will be the same as the myriad of choices are outlined.

CONs
A lot of mechanics aren't well polished throughout the end of the game (Spire unlocks, Research, Forge). You can't do much to pass time in order to forge/research something, unless you keep "rest"-ing to pass time, which breaks immersion.
Minor bugs (mostly graphical).
Feels unfinished as some quest lines and dialogue can be further elaborated, seems like a missed chance. Voice acting is also pretty sparse in the game compared to Pillars of Eternity.

Conclusion
If you're looking to play cRPGs/Isometric RPGs/Real Time with Pause RPGs, Tyranny definitely a good buy. I do prefer Pillars of Eternity much better though as the writing, voice acting and the storyline is much more immersive.

Edit 2: Paradox is reverting their price changes!

Edit: I'm changing my review to be a negative one since Paradox's regional pricing changes.

Disclaimer: I have a combined 600+ hours in Paradox's Grand Strategy Games alongside numerous multi hundred hour 4X games in the past. This review is made after playing 2 full games with a combined total of 39hours. I did not watch any Stellaris Let's Plays hence this is me diving head first into Stellaris.

From a glimpse, Stellaris is a solid 4X game with major innovations and improvements over other 4X games. Stellaris trumps other 4X games with its solid storytelling mechanics, dynamic AI personalities, asymmetric start and numerous configuration options in the form of mods, species creator.

Comparing Stellaris to other more seasoned GSGs like Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV leaves a lot to be desired as it is not as fleshed out. More updates and DLCs will certainly improve the game, however as of the current Patch 1.4 (Kennedy), the game can be considered as the best 4X space game there is. There aren't any other comparison out there that packaged 4X space games any better than Stellaris in terms of UI and mechanics. I understand Stellaris is usually compared to Distant Worlds: Universe and Star Ruler 2. However bad mechanics and complicated UI (read: micromanagement) makes them unimpressive. In terms of depth, Stellaris might not be as deep as SR2 and DW:U as they are more fleshed out.

With that, let me describe the pros and cons of the current Stellaris.

Pros:
- Dynamic storytelling that weaves itself into your galaxy.
- Multiple ways of playing your empire. Become a warmonger and expand or build tall and expand slowly through diplomacy. Build a federation and liberate other homeworlds or to ban slavery.
- Sector AI reduces micromanagement. Yes, this is a pro as AI can be tasked to manage your sectors while you manage your core planets. The sector AI isn't up to par compared to a human player, but that is to be expected as you're basically tasking a minion to take care of your planets and systems. You do have the ability to spend influence to enact edicts on sector AI planets and construct Spaceports, Orbital mines and Orbital research centers. Only tile management is automated.
- Very contextual UI albeit with some minor annoyances (compared to other 4X games). You're not constantly fighting the UI to perform some simple tasks, though it could use some improvements in terms of tile management and fleet management.

Cons:
- Less fleshed out economy. With credits and minerals being the only resource for your economy, less emphasis is done on trading. Only way of trading it is with other empires. There are local economy management and tile based micro management/planning, but that is only done once and upgraded continuously. No civilian economy as well.
- Hands off battle. This might be a pro for people who are averse to micro managing fleet battles as your option is to either fight or retreat. Basically the same as what EU4 and CK2 offers.
- Diplomacy for war leaves a lot to be desired as compared to other GSGs. No espionage, no way to influence a war by using other methods other than a straight up fight. You do have ways to prolong the war so that your enemy collapses from unhappiness and use guerrilla tactics to cripple their economy by destroying mines and research stations or blockading planets.
- Diplomacy with other empires are limited as well. No way to helpfully interact with other empires of opposite ethos other than war.

The update with the War Spoils made the game for me.
Update: Came back to the game for a few hours. Still the best Tactical RTS I've played.

Nostalgia creeped up to me when I started the game. However, 50mins in the game the audio corruption bug happened and it killed all my mood for playing the game. Uninstalled it and requested a refund. Other than that, the game is fine. I'm sorry if my review will somewhat mar the game's overall standing, but this just had to be done.

I promise I will amend this review once the bug is fixed. Until then, this will remain as the most difficult decision in reviewing I've made.