Here's Eight Steam Reviews I Wrote For Garry's Mod, Undertale, Rocket League, SpeedRunners, Half-Life 2, Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor, BioShock & Gunpoint
With this and the next posts that are uploaded onto this blog, I'm planning on writing some more game reviews alongside my other content. I'm not sure when they'll come, but I've got a few ideas in the works.
That said, I'm probably not going to continue uploading reviews to my Steam profile - especially considering many of the games I'm going to be reviewing I don't have on Steam, or aren't on Steam at all. Anyhow, here are the eight reviews I posted on Steam, warts and all - posted here for the sake of posterity.
EDIT 2018-11-26: I've decided to mirror reviews for games I have on Steam, to my Steam profile. Hopefully, this should get me to go through my backlog much more thoroughly. Of course, I will be reviewing many games I don't own on Steam as well. Also, like all my other reviews, they will be posted here on my blog first.
That said, I'm probably not going to continue uploading reviews to my Steam profile - especially considering many of the games I'm going to be reviewing I don't have on Steam, or aren't on Steam at all. Anyhow, here are the eight reviews I posted on Steam, warts and all - posted here for the sake of posterity.
EDIT 2018-11-26: I've decided to mirror reviews for games I have on Steam, to my Steam profile. Hopefully, this should get me to go through my backlog much more thoroughly. Of course, I will be reviewing many games I don't own on Steam as well. Also, like all my other reviews, they will be posted here on my blog first.
Garry's Mod
(Posted on 7th April 2015 & edited on 2nd October 2019)
Easily One Of The Greatest Hallmarks In Sandbox Gaming.
In
this game, you can get addons and mods. Need I say more? In one
instance, I found a gun which was so OP I could shoot through an entire
house with several walls with a single bullet. Or in another instance,
My player model is Marty McFly, and I am driving around in the Back to the Future
DeLorean. And another time, I was Toon Link with an RPG on my shoulder
shooting the s*** out of a destructible fortress with zombies in it. And
you know what else is funny? I haven't even played with it for more
than a few hours (at least at the time of this review). You can probably
see now why I recommend it.
EDIT [DATE ?]:
Almost 200 hours in, can easily still say, one of the best games ever
made. Period. And, no, you are not allowed to argue you with that.
EDIT No. 2 [DATE ?]: Almost 300 hours now...send help...
EDIT No. 3 [2019-10-02]:
To go into a bit more detail about what makes this game so great, I
would be remiss to forget the community's role in the game's continued
success. Without the workshop, I'd doubt the game would have the
longevity that it has enjoyed for so long. As of this edit being
written, it still has one of the most active communities of workshop
creators on Steam, who are still releasing vast swathes of maps, addons,
'dupes' and gamemodes. It's surprising how transformative and moldable a
decades-old engine can be and, despite being a mod itself, Garry's Mod
is a clear-cut case for the importance and borderline necessity for
user-created content and accessibility of content creation for
maintaining a game's fanbase in perpetuity. Classic Doom has proved that, the Quake series has proved that, the Half-Life titles have proved that and Garry's Mod
also continues to prove that (while holding the legacy of the engine
those two previous franchises were built on). Its only major flaws in
truth are the fact that the game can often break which, in fairness, is
to be expected when you consider the amount of workshop addons you may
be running on an engine as old as Source is. In any case, it's still an
excellent sandbox game to play with some friends when you've got nothing
else better to do.
Overall: 9/10, give or take. The number doesn't matter too much, it's just a great game.
Undertale
(Posted on 24th November 2016)
Dog/10
Would applaud when credits start rolling again
NOTE (2018-11-13): Real descriptive and analytical review, past me -_-
Rocket League
(Posted on 19th February 2017)
Rocket League. What an amazing achievement. Not because it's one of the
coolest ideas for a video game ever, executed near flawlessly; not
because its controls are amazingly responsive and tight; not because
each new round offers new possibilities; not because every single goal
you make or good play you perform is heartpoundingly thrilling; not
because Rumble is one of the greatest updates for any game ever which
adds weapons and items to an already fantastically solid game...
No. The most amazing thing about Rocket League is that I might actually give a crap about soccer now.
No. The most amazing thing about Rocket League is that I might actually give a crap about soccer now.
SpeedRunners
(Posted on 19th February 2017)
This game is so good, it can be entirely described through how my
friends and I first played it. "Hey guys, we all have this game called SpeedRunners in our Steam Library. Why don't we give it a go and see
how it is?" SEVERAL HOURS LATER: "New favourite multiplayer game.
Absolutely the best," was the unanimous concensus. If you haven't bought
this game yet, BUY IT.
My only real complaint is that there have been no new official levels added to the game in a while, leaving the game to somewhat stagnate. Even though there is (thankfully) Steam Workshop levels, most of those levels don't have quite the same amount of polish and stylisation that the official ones have. Also there isn't much in the way of a solid singleplayer campaign. Actually, to be frank, the singleplayer ""story"" is kinda crap. Apart from that, pick it up (Although your mileage may vary on how long it will take before your interest wavers, so it's probably best that you buy it in a sale at a discounted price)!
My only real complaint is that there have been no new official levels added to the game in a while, leaving the game to somewhat stagnate. Even though there is (thankfully) Steam Workshop levels, most of those levels don't have quite the same amount of polish and stylisation that the official ones have. Also there isn't much in the way of a solid singleplayer campaign. Actually, to be frank, the singleplayer ""story"" is kinda crap. Apart from that, pick it up (Although your mileage may vary on how long it will take before your interest wavers, so it's probably best that you buy it in a sale at a discounted price)!
Half-Life 2
(Posted on 20th February 2017 & edited on 2nd October 2019)
Man, oh man, do I love Half-Life 2! Possibly one of the greatest games
I've ever played and that's a statement I don't make lightly. But after
beating the game and getting all of the achievements, I can safely say
that I not only love, but completely ADORE Half-Life 2. It should be
noted that I'm not an FPS fan for the most part, with the majority of my
time with shooters being spent with the original Doom and it's sequel,
Doom II. Another good example of an FPS I like is Devil Daggers, a game I
really need to play more of. But Half-Life 2 has definitely been my
favourite out of all them.
GAMEPLAY:
The game holds your interest. From level to level, chapter to chapter, enemy to enemy, the game takes what it already has and makes it fresh even if you are just slaughtering Combine for the one hundredth millionth time. Never in the entirety of the game did I feel like it was a slog (OK, that's a bit of a lie, considering that *GASP* I don't think Ravenholm is that great! (More on that later)). The multitude of different weaponry, with each one having it's own "kick" and weaknesses, make you become very creative with how you use them. Use a crowbar for up-close encounters, the SMG for large quantities of enemies or the shotgun for quickly dispatching your more aggressive foes. And trust me, by the end of the game, you'll be able to snipe with the 9mm like a pro. Also, the Gravity Gun is one of the coolest weapons in any video game I've ever seen in just the concept alone; and in practice, it's incredibly fun to use.
STORY:
The story, all things considered, is very simple. You, Gordon Freeman, are a badass, plain and simple. And it is up to you to lead a resistance of humans to undermine the strict and bloody regime of the alien force known as the Combine. Despite the story's simplicity, I was invested pretty much the entire time, mostly because everyone treats Gordon Freeman as the messiah. And to be honest, I can kinda see why. Not only does he have the highest level of plot armor in video game history, but he's also a beacon, the "one free man", the symbol of hope in a world torn apart by countless assaults by the Combine against the humans. It's actually quite uplifting, in all honesty. Oh by the way, there's a guy called Wallace Breen, who is your old boss from a facility known as Black Mesa; the actions of said facility basically caused this entire mess to occur in the first place. You will learn to hate and only hate this man by the end of the story. Relish it.
WORLD/DESIGN/IDK:
Can I say that the way that the actual game is designed is brilliant? Unlike other first person shooters (or really any other game) where you sharply and jarringly transition from level to level, you progress, albeit linearly, through a seamless world. True, this seamless world is made up of short loading screens which aren't really loading screens per se as they are just loading the next map directly in front of you, if that makes sense. To put it simply, the world never breaks. There's cohesion and connection because if you were to somehow make the entire game take place on one map, it would feel natural, as you're moving forwards constantly within the world of the game. This is what I think is sorely missing in some modern day games. And I don't mean open world, not at all. But I wish there was more linearity that has...well world linearity.
THE SOURCE ENGINE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP CARING AND LOVE VALVE:
The Source Engine is in my opinion one of the greatest game engines of all time. The level of detail that's possible, the amount of objects that can be present at once, the unbelievable lip syncing and animation especially on Alyx Vance, who will become an invaluable companion along your journey. Seriously, some of the animation is so believable and human, it could give some games made today a run for their money. And this game was released in 2004. 2004! And my jaw still drops at some of the things this versatile engine can pull off. Also, the AI is fantastic. I don't necessarily mean enemy AI (THAT can be incredibly stupid), but the AI of your allies is extremely strong and they can certainly hold their own against enemy AI. I never, ever had a complaint about the AI throughout my entire playthrough of this game. Ever. One last point about the Source Engine is that there are no traditional cutscenes. It all takes place in real time within the game. Meaning that, for the majority of the cutscenes, you can jump around like an idiot while two or more characters talk about something I'm sure is incredibly important.
COMPLAINT:
Yes, complaint. I really only have one. And that's the chapter that takes place in the legendary Ravenholm. Now please, put down your torches and pitchforks and allow me to explain. First of all, the atmosphere is AMAZING. Not necessarily scary, but incredibly spooky and just absolutely dripping with macabre themes and locales. But here's the problem: for the majority of the game, the maps have been very linear which is perfectly fine. But all of a sudden, Half-Life 2 says "Nuh-uh, buddy! Maze-like structure of a town for you!" and then after you beat it, the game never does it again. So I question as to why? Sure after the first attempt (such as if you go back to get the "Zombie Chopper" achievement), you can blast through Ravenholm with remarkable ease. But for the first time around, I spent a good hour or so scratching my head and getting frustrated, going around in circles. Maybe it was different for other people, But "We don't go to Ravenholm" was definitely the most infuriating chapter in the game.
THE WRAP-UP:
Whew! Don't worry, I'll keep this short. Suffice to say-BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT, IT'S AMAZING, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE-Ahem, excuse my inner fanboy, but this game is certainly well worth the price of admission (a pretty cheap one, all things considered) and delivers on an extremely impressive experience that rivals and even dominates many of the tired, boring shooters of today, despite being over a decade old. If you love shooting things (while also having your brain challenged) and you haven't played Half-Life 2, play it. You're seriously missing out.
GAMEPLAY:
The game holds your interest. From level to level, chapter to chapter, enemy to enemy, the game takes what it already has and makes it fresh even if you are just slaughtering Combine for the one hundredth millionth time. Never in the entirety of the game did I feel like it was a slog (OK, that's a bit of a lie, considering that *GASP* I don't think Ravenholm is that great! (More on that later)). The multitude of different weaponry, with each one having it's own "kick" and weaknesses, make you become very creative with how you use them. Use a crowbar for up-close encounters, the SMG for large quantities of enemies or the shotgun for quickly dispatching your more aggressive foes. And trust me, by the end of the game, you'll be able to snipe with the 9mm like a pro. Also, the Gravity Gun is one of the coolest weapons in any video game I've ever seen in just the concept alone; and in practice, it's incredibly fun to use.
STORY:
The story, all things considered, is very simple. You, Gordon Freeman, are a badass, plain and simple. And it is up to you to lead a resistance of humans to undermine the strict and bloody regime of the alien force known as the Combine. Despite the story's simplicity, I was invested pretty much the entire time, mostly because everyone treats Gordon Freeman as the messiah. And to be honest, I can kinda see why. Not only does he have the highest level of plot armor in video game history, but he's also a beacon, the "one free man", the symbol of hope in a world torn apart by countless assaults by the Combine against the humans. It's actually quite uplifting, in all honesty. Oh by the way, there's a guy called Wallace Breen, who is your old boss from a facility known as Black Mesa; the actions of said facility basically caused this entire mess to occur in the first place. You will learn to hate and only hate this man by the end of the story. Relish it.
WORLD/DESIGN/IDK:
Can I say that the way that the actual game is designed is brilliant? Unlike other first person shooters (or really any other game) where you sharply and jarringly transition from level to level, you progress, albeit linearly, through a seamless world. True, this seamless world is made up of short loading screens which aren't really loading screens per se as they are just loading the next map directly in front of you, if that makes sense. To put it simply, the world never breaks. There's cohesion and connection because if you were to somehow make the entire game take place on one map, it would feel natural, as you're moving forwards constantly within the world of the game. This is what I think is sorely missing in some modern day games. And I don't mean open world, not at all. But I wish there was more linearity that has...well world linearity.
THE SOURCE ENGINE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP CARING AND LOVE VALVE:
The Source Engine is in my opinion one of the greatest game engines of all time. The level of detail that's possible, the amount of objects that can be present at once, the unbelievable lip syncing and animation especially on Alyx Vance, who will become an invaluable companion along your journey. Seriously, some of the animation is so believable and human, it could give some games made today a run for their money. And this game was released in 2004. 2004! And my jaw still drops at some of the things this versatile engine can pull off. Also, the AI is fantastic. I don't necessarily mean enemy AI (THAT can be incredibly stupid), but the AI of your allies is extremely strong and they can certainly hold their own against enemy AI. I never, ever had a complaint about the AI throughout my entire playthrough of this game. Ever. One last point about the Source Engine is that there are no traditional cutscenes. It all takes place in real time within the game. Meaning that, for the majority of the cutscenes, you can jump around like an idiot while two or more characters talk about something I'm sure is incredibly important.
COMPLAINT:
Yes, complaint. I really only have one. And that's the chapter that takes place in the legendary Ravenholm. Now please, put down your torches and pitchforks and allow me to explain. First of all, the atmosphere is AMAZING. Not necessarily scary, but incredibly spooky and just absolutely dripping with macabre themes and locales. But here's the problem: for the majority of the game, the maps have been very linear which is perfectly fine. But all of a sudden, Half-Life 2 says "Nuh-uh, buddy! Maze-like structure of a town for you!" and then after you beat it, the game never does it again. So I question as to why? Sure after the first attempt (such as if you go back to get the "Zombie Chopper" achievement), you can blast through Ravenholm with remarkable ease. But for the first time around, I spent a good hour or so scratching my head and getting frustrated, going around in circles. Maybe it was different for other people, But "We don't go to Ravenholm" was definitely the most infuriating chapter in the game.
THE WRAP-UP:
Whew! Don't worry, I'll keep this short. Suffice to say-BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT, IT'S AMAZING, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE-Ahem, excuse my inner fanboy, but this game is certainly well worth the price of admission (a pretty cheap one, all things considered) and delivers on an extremely impressive experience that rivals and even dominates many of the tired, boring shooters of today, despite being over a decade old. If you love shooting things (while also having your brain challenged) and you haven't played Half-Life 2, play it. You're seriously missing out.
Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
(Posted on 18th May 2018 & edited on 24th May 2018)
I've been having fun just running around, being sneaky, killing Uruks
and captains. Plus, despite this game largely being an amalgamation of
pre-existing game mechanics, it's one of only a handful of games that
I've ever completed 100%.
If you love the world of Middle-Earth, get this game.
If you love being sneaky and stealthy yet loud and bombastic, get this game.
If you want a fantastic combination of Batman: Arkham Asylum/City and Assassin's Creed along with a host of brilliant and original mechanics, get. this. game.
If you love the world of Middle-Earth, get this game.
If you love being sneaky and stealthy yet loud and bombastic, get this game.
If you want a fantastic combination of Batman: Arkham Asylum/City and Assassin's Creed along with a host of brilliant and original mechanics, get. this. game.
BioShock
(Posted on 5th June 2018 & edited on 13th June 2018)
Whilst the gunplay is nothing to write home about and the game did get
frustrating at times AND there are a few technical flaws (at least with
the PC/Steam version), the atmosphere, music, story and pretty much
every other aspect of this game is exceptional. Not to mention plasmids
offering a unique spin to that so-so gunplay, making it far more
compelling than it would be otherwise. All in all, despite its flaws,
BioShock truly is an outstanding masterpiece.
Gunpoint
(Posted on 5th June 2018)
An excellent little stealth-'em-up with a not-so-excellent title. Not
that long either, but this is definitely a short but sweet type of game.
The story isn't fantastic, but the humour is what really keeps you
engaged in what's going on. The level editor and Workshop functionality
also adds lots of fantastic user-generated content as well, so if you're
hankering for some more Gunpoint action, you're in no short supply of
levels to play. All in all, a great little game (although you might want
to consider getting it in a sale).
Comments
Post a Comment