Recent reviews by Thomdar

I purchased the original Binding of Isaac a number of years ago during a Steam Winter Sale but didn't play it for quite a while. The odd looking graphics and numerous images of poop keep me at bay for awhile, but the throwback to the Legend of Zelda dungeons always interested me. I finally bit into it one day and had trouble putting it back down. The clean gameplay and the constant struggle to unlock more of the game required my constant attention.

When Binding of Isaac: Rebirth was announced I was easily intrigued. Strangely I was again thrown off by the graphics. This time the improvements just seemed to alter my perception of the game. This didn't stop me from playing it after getting it shortly after release. The perfect gameplay was there with even more characters to learn and a plethora of items to unlock and mess with. In time the graphics became what I identify the game with and returning to original is now difficult.

The fact that I have at the time of this review played just short of 1000 hours and am still playing it (I'm in the process of 100%'ing the second slave slot) is a testament to the quality of this game. I have played countless video games over my life and few games have kept me playing for such a long period. Sure the game is very simple and by its nature repetitive, but the great number of randomness to what you find and how it all interacts with each other gives it new life each time you play it.

I'm proud that I have gather 100% of the achievements. It can be a slog to do so. Especially having to play with the weaker characters over and over as you meet with frustrating defeat, but when you finally get those achievements there is such a great feeling of accomplishment. With the new expansion on its way, I look forward to ensure for the umpteenth time that I 100% the game again.

This game is one of the best games you can find out there.

A great way to waste time.

A long time ago, I read a magazine article (back when they existed) that listed Psychonauts as the best game you never played that given year. While I do not normally take too much direction from magazines or web sites I thought I would take this one recommendation and some time later (it takes time for me to get around to things) I sauntered over to the game store and found a XBox copy in their used section and picked it up. I can say now that the magazine was definately accurate in its description as a good game but was no longer accurate in saying that I had not played it.

I'm old enough to have grown up playing that classic platformers of the NES and SNES era and was always a fan of such games. When Mario 64 came out I was immediately impressed the platformers transition to 3D gaming. Psychonauts is compariable to Mario 64 in much of the basics of 3D platforming but with some evolution beyond Mario 64. First, there is an actual story to follow; second there are slightly more fleshed out characters; and third the environments have moved beyond the obvious themes (fire, ice, castle) of Mario style platformers.

The story is fun and highly comedic. It at times will play with a trope and try to switch it up; such as the child running away from the circus. The characters themselves have some interesting details and various quirks and with some of the characters you get to dive right into their mind to explore them in a little more detail even if surreal and filled with metaphors. It is these trips into a characters mind that allows the game environment to shine and be unique and evolutionary. Unfortunately, the number of minds you get to explore felt too few mainly because they were so enterataining and I so wanted more. Thankfully, there is now a Psychonauts 2 coming down the pipe.

Somewhere in this simple review I wanted to make a play on the term minefield/mindfield but just couldn't get it to work so there we have it. Psychonauts is one of my favorite games and one of the few I have actually gotten around to finishing and completing (twice even, thanks to getting it again on Steam).

(This review done under duress in order to complete the 2016 Autumn Sale badge.)