Recent reviews by levo85h

Scroll shooter meets the innovative gameplay.

The way Nitro Express incentivizes cautious approach and stance management is fascinating, differentiating itself from others alike. Each weapon has damage modifiers for stances, making the player adapt to different playstyles other than run-and-gun. Various enemy types with distinctive gimmicks also add a bit of depth to it.

I have zero complaints on visual representation. Its art style just screams quality, with lots of subtle details(detachable magazines, objects that act as a cover and destructible trap, etc.) I've noticed during the playthrough.

Soundtracks are wonderful and fits the atmosphere, giving a reminiscence of 90-00s arcade game. Whoever composed these deserves an applause. A big one, even.

Control feels a bit sluggish, but it's manageable. Screen switch could use some improvements, as it's hard to navigate in certain scenarios, like a defense mission where you're required to engage enemies coming from both sides.

In overall, it's a charming game that gives you tons of fun. Strongly recommended for anyone looking for a satisfying scroll shooter.

With the introduction of 0.3 update, glaring issues found in spawn and stealth are drastically improved, to the point I can actually recommend the game for what it is now(alpha state, that is).

AI still has a long way to go, but it's getting better over time.
Performance is also quite more stable than before. It could use more optimization, though.
While pre-3.0 water system did not bother me that much, I like the way they changed water to be the currency I can spend. Hoping for more iterations to come.

FDS is making a turning point now, and I'm eager to see what they'll bring in the future.

Outstanding boss rush game that features satisfying combat, albeit being a bit too short.
Atmosphere hits right in the feels, and the story is decent enough to keep it immersive, paired with amazing soundtracks.

And most of all, the boss fights are nothing short of excellence.
Each one of the bosses poses different challenge, giving the game quite a variety and replayability.

Might feel a bit too pricey for what the game offers, but I regret none of it.
It's just worth it for how passionate and high quality this game is.

A long-awaited sequel with direct improvements in every aspect.

While it does not differentiate itself far from its predecessor, extra bit of details and varieties makes Snezhinka quite enjoyable to play, albeit being short.

For players who liked Marfusha, this won't disappoint.

Another well-refined retro shooter with stellar gameplay.

Just like DUSK, it meets everything I want from an arena shooter.
- Retro aesthetics that has a resemblance to System Shock and Quake
- Fast-paced gameplay with silky-smooth movement and little to no inertia
- Futuristic soundtracks with memorable riffs
- Intuitive UI experience
- Linear, but yet expansive level design

An excellent game, that's all I can say.

A well-executed metroidvania that caught me by surprise.

2D vehicular movement bundled with diagonal aiming feels refreshing. Inertia plays a vital role, and it makes the core gameplay engaging by punishing reckless moves you make.
The art style looks polished and distinctive. Hand-crafted works never go wrong as usual.
Soundtracks are just astonishing. Perfectly fits the western-inspired theme.
And most of all, story and atmosphere hits the nail right on the head. Gritty, desolated(disturbing, even) worldbuilding had me immersed into the lore so much, I couldn't just stop playing.

All in all, it's one of the best games I've played this year. Might not be a genre-redefining game, but it was an absolute joy to play through. Here's hoping we get to play more games like this in future.

Feels different from legacy predecessors, but still definitely a worthy sequel for the series I truly love. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere, fast-paced gameplay, stunning FX and visual representation had me addicted. The control feels a bit too lighter and floaty compared to old titles, but it has its own merits, I guess. The overall difficulty was okay, although the pacing could have been better(Chapter 1 before the bossfight is a literal cakewalk. After that, you get to go through the skill check).

A great game for people wanting to scratch the mech-action itch.

A fabulous turn-based tactics/RPG that I've been bingeing for a while. Despite having a different gameplay from classic JA series, it manages to bring back the old Jagged Alliance vibe(satirical, and yet gritty tone).

Quite a surprise from the studio behind Tropico series, I'd say. I love it.

Unrivaled movement shooter that brings you back to nostalgic early-mid 2000s experience.

The core gameplay is outstanding. Fast-paced, silky-smooth gunfu with non-stop action is exactly what scratches my itch. A worthy spiritual successor to F.E.A.R., just for this.

The in-game audio, despite the flaws including poor directional occlusion and others, does the job good enough to meet my expectation. Nothing beats blasting 12-gauge away when its bass literally hits your eardrum.

Soundtracks? Gorgeous. The mix of synthesized tunes and intense beats never goes wrong. Probably one of my favorite video game soundtracks, even.

The atmosphere is truly immersive. Might not be on the same level to the degree of System Shock, but its gritty, dark tone is just fascinating.

The other parts like story and side missions are where it falls short of, but that's manageable. While they leave a lot to be desired(incoherent plot, subpar storytelling, etc.), it's kind of serviceable, at least.

So, was it worth the waiting? Absolutely. I've been hoping for its release since the demo, and it made one hell of an entrance. Trepang2 is what shooter games should take note from, and it undoubtfully takes the spot of my favorite FPS.

If it convinces you enough, what are you waiting for? Go break the cycle.

A faithful remake of the phenomenal immersive-sim pioneer which 1:1 remake should be.

Just like the original, the game doesn't hold your hand the whole time. You have to pay serious attention to all the details you can find to progress. It makes you feel like you are actually in the citadel, trying to survive the massacre caused by the rogue AI 'SHODAN'.
This is what the immersive sim should be made, allowing you to make multiple approaches for different matters.

Immersion coming from the atmosphere and art style nails it. Not even Bioshock gave me such shudder this remake does.

The gameplay remains almost the same as the original, but the inventory management and combat have drastically improved. Graphics aren't that impressive for a 2023 standard, you may say, but it sure fits the atmosphere so damn well.

Despite all the improvements made in this remake, however, it's crucial to remind you that this is not exactly a perfect game.

a) Game-breaking bugs(which soft-locks you during the playthrough) and minor ones exist as of the moment I'm writing this review.
b) A lot of backtracking(and trust me, when I say a lot of it, it IS a lot) might make you very frustrated and impatient, as it's part of the game even if you followed and kept the details without a miss. This explains why some reviewers say it's outdated for a game that's made in 2023.
c) The soundtracks are not the same as original, making it feel less impressive in my perspective.
d) The ending section is very underwhelming. I'd even call it anti-climactic in terms of pacing.
(Don't get me wrong, the plot itself wasn't half bad. It's just the execution that's done poorly)

All in all, the good overwhelmingly overshadows the bad in this remake.
Having played many immersive sims, nothing ever comes close to System Shock from my experience, and this remake keeps the promise very well.

Definitely recommending this one, but play the demo first to see if it fits your taste. It's not for everyone, I must emphasize.