Half-Life is something of a seminal release from rarely seen developer Valve. It showed the world that first person shooters didn’t always need to be about the action. Half-Life delivers on a fleshed out storyline, but it does not sacrifice action and combat by any means. The player is afforded several classic weapons and a few unique ones. Unfortunately, they aren’t afforded many opportunities that demand the use of each. You do use them against some great enemies in terms of design, so that’s a plus. The game can be a bit overly difficult in terms of navigation, with important passages practically invisible to the naked eye at times. It also is a bit short on ammunition, health, and ammo, but that’s just something I’ve gotten used to with more recent games. Half-Life despite all of that is one of the greatest first person shooters, perhaps even video games of all time. The 2nd is supposed to be even better, which makes one wonder why Valve doesn’t make more games.
Reimagine and reinvigorate a classic. DOOM does the impossible by doing just that. It is essentially what I would consider a reimagining of the original 1993 game. It takes that run and gun style and cranks it up to 11. Insanely gory gameplay and absolutely brutal glory kills make this game one hell of an experience. Complete with a fleshed out, comprehensive storyline, DOOM is a game that most DOOM fans will agree should be held in high regard.
In yet another entry from Bethesda Softworks, Ghostwire Tokyo is a prime example of not being afraid to take influence from others. Namely Hexen and Dying Light. However, Ghostwire is in a class all it’s own. Fast paced combat featuring elemental powers conjoins with a compelling story for a truly immersive experience. Environments are beautifully designed too. Some definite charm is to be had from the numerous Japanese cultural curiosities here!
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is in the most public way, a very heartfelt tribute to Jet Grind Radio and its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future. While I have not played those games yet, their influence on this title is permeating. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk takes to the streets, challenging the players to find our their characters' true identity by becoming all city, which means tagging up all over the five boroughs of New Amsterdam. Players will grind, flip, boost, and manual way through hordes of law enforcement in the process, all with several different characters should they desire. They can also choose between roller blades, bikes, and skateboards. This game has a lot it does well. Namely its soundtrack and visual style. That said, there are some weaker elements to this one. To me, the story leaves a little to be desired, and unfortunately the mechanics are just of a repetitive nature. The level design is also subpar at times. This game very nearly overstays its welcome. The developers kept it interesting though! Overall, this game is definitely worth a once over, although there is not much replay value here, even with different pieces you can throw up. They did set this one up for a potential sequel though...
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood tells a familiar tale. The tale of B.J. Blazkowicz throwing himself into the thick of a battle agains the Nazi regime and the forces of the supernatural. Serving as a direct prequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order, The Old Blood echoes some of the same story beats as Return To Castle Wolfenstein, but that is not a bad thing. Think of this one as a polished and far less corny version. Don't get it confused though, this game still has its corny moments, which is part of the charm of the series, and completely necessary when dealing with this sort of subject matter. The gameplay is just as satisfying as TNO and The New Colossus, and just as violent. Perhaps my favorite thing about this game is its length. I wish more game developers and publishers would understand that games don't need to be 80 hour blockbusters all of the time. This game stands as a towering example of that, and is just another reason Machinegames is one of the best developers around.
Half-Life 2 is often lauded as being the better game when stacked against its predecessor. However, what I see when I look at it is massively improved gameplay, and a story that somehow raises the stakes. That said, I feel Half-Life 2 and Half-Life are both very much two sides of the same coin. Gordon Freeman's story is continued and in a satisfying fashion. The game also introduces Alyx, who proves to be an integral part of the story, rivaling the importance of Gordon Freeman. Some episodic entries after the events of Half-Life 2 help to tie a bow on the story in some ways, but I think I speak for everyone when I say I'd like to know just what the heck the G-Man wants in what will hopefully one day be Half-Life 3. 2 is a great game top to bottom and deserves to be a part of a trilogy.
Taking one of the greatest video games ever made and remaking it from the ground up is no easy task, but Capcom did just that with Resident Evil 4. The original that was released in 2005 is already the pinnacle of action/survival horror titles, and the remake only serves to place its status further out of reach. Updated graphics, expanded mechanics, and all new dialogue make for a truly memorable experience that is like no other. Resident Evil started it all for the horror survival genre, but Resident Evil 4 finished the job. If you only play one game from the franchise, make it this one.
Stray is certainly an endearing and unique experience I recommend everyone try at least once. It’s sort of a self contained story and as a result does not have much replay value. However, like many games of this nature, replay value is not the goal. It’s about the journey and the friends you make along the way. Stray’s gameplay is very solid. Fun, intriguing, and challenging. Perhaps a bit too challenging for my taste, as the game does not provide any guidance in terms of waypoints. I personally have no problem looking up guides, so this is a minor inconvenience for a 4.5 hour game. Most of all Stray is hoisted up by it’s strong characters, most notably b12, and it’s deep and profound story. A great experience all around.
Sometimes the second time is the charm. This is certainly the case with DOOM Eternal. On the first play-through I thought the story was incredibly confusing. On the second, I found myself much more engaged with the story and found it easy to follow. DOOM Eternal is very much a modernized version of DOOM II, and similarly improves upon its predecessor. DOOM is a franchise that could easily fall into monotony. DOOM Eternal prevents this with traversal mechanics new to the franchise, and just flat out fun and brutal combat. Once you get the hang of the combat this game is a blast. Some of the sound effects are downright silly and I kind of like that. DOOM has always been serious and it’s nice to have a few tonally comedic quips here and there for a change. Can’t wait to see where ID takes this series next!
Portal 2 is a good example of a sequel that builds upon the original’s story and expands the world in which the game is taking place. It is considerably longer than its predecessor and that’s not a bad thing, but I would prefer this type of game be shorter. Portal 2 is full of twists, turns, light hearted moments, and even celebrity vocal cameos. It is loads of fun and a challenge just like the first. It is sure to have something for everyone
Quake 4, much like its predecessor, feels all around disjointed and like a far cry from the original Quake game. This game feels like Quake 2 with the added aspect of the main character becoming part Strogg. The ending of the game doesn’t have you saying “oh cool! When does quake 5 come out?” That said, it’s still a massive graphical leap from Quake 2 thanks to id tech, and it has enjoyable enough gameplay to keep you engaged.
A familiar tale in which the DOOM Slayer tries to stop hordes of hell spawn from coming to earth. DOOM 64 borrows from a close relative in Quake, with music being replaced with eerie sounds and levels sprawling with complexity. These are a nice touch for DOOM, however at 28 levels (40 if you count bonus), this is a game that overstays its welcome a bit. Love the character models and gun designs, and they make DOOM 64 worthwhile in spite of this.
Yoshi's Crafted World is a game very obviously made for young children. That however, does not mean that people of all ages can’t enjoy it. It possesses superb level design, with creative intricacies at every turn complimented by a wonderful color palette and very pleasing graphics. The story is your pretty typical Nintendo story: get certain items to save a certain group of characters and take down the big bad to do it. Despite this fairly familiar formula, there is just something about Nintendo bosses that just make them special. Each present their own unique challenges to give even veterans a run for their money. Ultimately, what drags this game down is its length. It is entirely too long. One level less for each world I think would have been an adequate change. I definitely enjoyed my time with Yoshi's Crafted World, and would recommend this to anyone, especially for someone who is looking to relax and enjoy a video game without any stress.
Wolfenstein (2009), like a myriad of other games is unfortunately in licensing hell. It is no longer commercially available, and it isn’t just due to the presence of swastikas, although that certainly doesn’t help its case. That said, if you can manage to find and play a copy of this game, do it. I liken this entry in the Wolfenstein series to Quake 4, which was made by the same developer, Raven Software. Both games as well as DOOM 3, Prey (2006), and Brink all use the id Tech 4 engine. I think Wolfenstein is the best use of this engine. Working with exclusively human shapes as opposed to the demons and alien features found in some of these other games, the physics in this game are staggeringly real. The sound design is really something here. When you shoot someone in the throat you can hear them gasping for air. I don’t remember too many other games doing that. The map textures look great for the year that this was released and I think taking place on earth helps them a great deal. When working with fictional settings it’s hard to get that detail. This game has a great load out complete with what I consider to be the BFG of Wolfenstein. If you don’t get caught up in the absurdity of the story or B.J. Blaskowicz’s physical appearance in this sequel to the equally ridiculous Return To Castle Wolfenstein, you’ll have a great time with this one.
In the interest of full disclosure, readers should know that I played through this game with assist mode enabled. This is simply because I don't have the time I would like to have to dedicate to super difficult games such as this one. However, that said, I still wanted to enjoy the experience of playing Celeste. It is a beautiful game through and through. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily say I'm a fan of the art style but it didn't deter me too much. I would much prefer a more modern and smooth style, rather than this sort of 8-bit style. The gameplay is a lot of fun, especially if you like platformers. The story is a wonderful one, and one that will leave you feeling fulfilled at the end. Overall, I can only really recommend this title if you enjoy platformers of the side scrolling variety, and if you have the time to sink lots of hours into a very difficult game.
The Bioshock franchise strikes again! Bioshock Infinite brings fans back to the series they know and love, this time taking the time to explore the origins that world in this prequel. Now, Bioshock Infinite is no different than the other games in the series in the sense that the story is a bit complex. If you don't pay close attention, you may get lost. I can live with that and look up a synopsis of the series online. When you have gameplay like THIS, it's easy to live with a lot. Somehow Infinite's gameplay is leagues ahead of the gameplay of the first two, despite those two being really well polished. This game has some of the most visceral and bloody combat I have ever seen in an first person shooter. If high octane action is your thing this is it, especially considering the game employs a rail system for traveling long distance and you can jump in and out of combat with a flick of the wrist. It's hard to put into words just how amazing this game is and how well it sticks the landing of being a prequel to a very lauded series amongst fans. I gave each game a perfect 10, and that is still not saying enough. If you haven't experienced this series for the first time, I envy you.
Bioshock Remastered serves a lauded classic a delicious helping of HD goodness with an upgrade to 1080p. I can't speak for the mechanics of the original since I never played it, but this entry is certainly polished in that regard. What makes Bioshock one of the great first person shooters of its time is its unique setting and story, as well as the balancing of gunplay with elemental enhancements. Elemental enhancements have been used before sure, but not so perfectly as a compliment to gunplay as they are here. The story keeps you guessing, and while you never know who may be telling the truth, you know that you are rooting for our main character, Jack. Don’t forget the iconic Big Daddy! Bioshock has landed itself on many lists and has received high scores to reflect that, and it is well deserved. The setting, art direction, sound design, gameplay, and story all make for what is easily one of the greatest first person shooters of all time and games ever made, period. It's everywhere. Play it.
Having had time to expand upon my thoughts of Alien: Isolation, I have come to the conclusion that it is just as good as I thought it was, but now I truly understand why. I can't begin to fathom how IGN gave this game a 5.9. It is so much better than that. Few horror centric games that I have played have matched the feel of a property it is based on. Even fewer have also successfully filled the players' mind with a sense of dread. I really did feel like death was around every corner, and I can honestly say that I jumped several times when the Alien caught me by surprise. The game is kept more harrowing and interesting with quite a few human and android enemies as well. The crafting and resource management make this game play like a Resident Evil entry, and that is definitely a good thing. My only real gripe with this game is that it is perhaps a bit too long, as you will often have to backtrack and find things on your own, not something I am typically interested in. That could just be preference for having my games be as linear and as guided as possible. That said, there are few horror survival titles that do it like Alien: Isolation, and it shows.
Starfield is the biggest Bethesda adventure since Skyrim in 2011, and it fills the big shoes quite well. It takes to the stars and allows players complete control of their journey, from what faction to align with, who to kill, what to bargain for, and what to steal, among many, many others. What makes Starfield so enjoyable is that you can put as much or as little time into as you want. It is a very quick game if you do purely the main story you can be done with this game relatively quickly, which is how I typically play my games. However, should you choose to explore the vastness of space, Starfield has something for everyone.
The Outer Worlds is not typically the type of game I would play. It is a first person shooter, but not in the way that DOOM or Killzone is. It is more of an RPG centric game. I have played so few of these that I don't have much in the way of metrics to go on when it comes to these titles. That said, two of the RPGs I played most recently include Diablo IV and Starfield. The Outer Worlds is Starfield but better in pretty much every conceivable way. A story that is easier to follow, more enjoyable combat, better world design, and more likable characters. I had a lot more fun with this game, but not so much that I wanted to do every side quest. That is just not my style. Perhaps the best part of The Outer Worlds is being able to tailor your characters stats to your playstyle, which Starfield sort of missed the mark on assuming they were trying to accomplish that. That game was more focused on having a very deep story, which is completely fine. If I were to only recommend one game between the two, it would be The Outer Worlds by a country mile.