Recent reviews by I'm Not Readi

The porting process from over a decade ago to XB1 and then to PC still has a lot of quirks and you can certainly find issues of note in other reviews but it's 4 games where you play as Mr. Halo and 2 other not John Halo games so like, it's kinda awesome for the price. If you have any bit of nostalgia for the series from the glory days, you can't really beat the entry price when it's on sale.

I say that as someone that bought an XB1 to play this game at its launch in 2014. I was mad. I'm still mad. It's Halo and you're Microsoft. Did the money run out??? But the game has gotten a lot better in the decade+ since and it's kinda hard to stay mad when actually playing the games on offer now with all of the options provided.

TLDR; Do you like/are interested in old Halo? Get it. If not, this won't change your mind at all lol

While I do agree with the dissenting reviews that mention the frustration of not going in with the full knowledge myself that the game would have progression gating, I've found my issues with it to be waning over time and I'm actually quite enjoying the photo objectives. It's making me go around the maps and dig into cracks and crevices I probably otherwise wouldn't have and it's presented a fun challenge of trying to take a "better" photo than the one presented in the objective.

I do wish that there was some kind of way to access all of the game's features and locales from the get go but if this is the way it was meant to be, then so it shall be. It hampers my enjoyment a bit as some of the later unlocks in levels are really fun but it hasn't made me stop playing. Quite the opposite in fact. I think the issues people have with the game will be generally sorted out once guides and walkthrough videos become the norm online and people no longer have to sometimes aimlessly wander trying to find this or that objective/"thing".

On the whole though, as a person with very minimal IRL camera experience outside of the one in my pocket, I've found the game to present a fun and unique experience that I've waited a decently long time for. There's nothing quite like it available anywhere else on the market and with the detail and passion put into this game, I don't know if there will be another for quite some time. I've had my gripes with the gating as mentioned before, but the feeling of discovering new areas that suddenly present a flurry of photo opportunities has yet to cease putting a smile on my face.

This is definitely not going to be for everyone, know that going in. If you're looking for a game with everything unlocked and the ability to just go around at your leisure taking photos everywhere, you'll be frustrated. But if you're willing to meet the game halfway and wander around taking in the sights, you'll find there's more to the game than meets the eye at first glance and you'll be in for some breathtaking views.

And yes! The game is taxing! I play at 1440p with a 3070ti and a 5700x at maxed out settings and DLSS on (I think, the game obfuscates some settings which is slightly frustrating) and the game hovers between 50-90FPS depending on the locale and location within it. So, be warned. If you want to play the game about taking pretty photos with pretty graphics, you're going to have to accept lower frame rates on less than ideal hardware setups or bump down the graphics. This is one of the few cases where I'll absolutely advocate throwing VSYNC on at your lowest acceptable FPS and playing through it. The visuals are far worth the performance especially once you have some of the unlocks. Trust me.

Overall so far, if I had to give it a score, I'm at a 4/5 with my time in so far. Not exactly what I expected but also so much more in different ways. Definitely worth checking it out if you're even a little bit curious.

TLDR; The progression gating is frustrating, yes. But exploring the locations is worth the time and effort for the amazing views you get and the photos you can take later on. It's not for everyone but if you think it's for you, give it a shot. You'll know within an hour if you're in or not.

P.S. Please make the menus less simplified and a bit more granular. A head bob slider perhaps? The ability to toggle on and off the post processing in pieces, not by pre-selected choices. Perhaps some of this is how it is due to the visual makeup of the game and adding in that granularity would ruin the visuals, but the option to ruin the visuals would at least be welcomed. Or perhaps some kind of differing quality options for in and out of camera view? I'd happily traverse the world at 120FPS with the game looking worse if I could easily have it load the highest settings possible when pulling out the camera, even if there was hitching and loading involved. Just some food for thought for the developer without knowing how feasible that would be. Feel free to respond and tell me IDK what I'm talking about lol

Makes me feel like a kid again, except I'm a kid that's really into gambling.

Edit: Almost twenty hours in, it's still fantastic and addicting. I can't recommend it highly enough if it even vaguely interests you.

Vermillion is a wonderfully relaxing simulation of oil painting that you can get lost in for hours working on small details or spend 10 minutes throwing together a broad strokes piece. The choice is yours and while I've never been an oil painter in real life, I feel like a regular Bob Ross in VR. Vermillion comes highly recommended from me.

I can appreciate a game being made by one person and I can appreciate a game that takes heavy inspiration from other titles. But what I don't appreciate is the sloppy feeling of the cobbled together assets and the dull gameplay loop.

I would only recommend "Bright Memory" if you've seen gameplay that intrigued you in the past and you wish to support future development despite the stolen asset issues. If not, I would wait until the game reaches a state of finality and has hopefully resolved most of its issues including; stolen assets and sound effects, poor UI design, unengaging gamplay hidden behind admittedly slick graphics and repetitive fight design along with an incredibly short length for the price.

EDIT: I purchased and played this game back in late-January of 2019 and requested a refund for my purchase.