Recent reviews by SmokeEX

8/10 – Played on PC (Ultra 9 285K | RTX 4090 | 64GB RAM)

If you enjoy Soulslikes with stylish combat, The First Berserker: Khazan delivers a fun, fast-paced experience with excellent dodge and parry mechanics. Combat is the highlight, responsive, satisfying, and challenging without feeling unfair.

That said, the level design gets repetitive, the English voice acting is mid at best, and the loot system is overly complicated. You don't get access to the best gear until you beat the game, and the set bonus system limits creative builds.

Character designs are hit or miss, with most of the supporting cast and the main villain being pretty forgettable. But the art style is strong overall and combat more than makes up for the rough edges.

Great performance on high-end PCs. Runs flawlessly at 4K ultra settings. If you're into hack and slash games with a Souls-like edge, it's worth grabbing, especially on sale.

Need for Speed Heat – A Tedious, Underwhelming Experience
As a long-time fan of racing games, I went into Need for Speed Heat with a mix of hope and skepticism. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that this game leans far more toward disappointment than excitement.

Graphics and Presentation: A Step Backward
For a game released in 2019, I expected a certain level of polish, but Need for Speed Heat delivers visuals that feel outdated and lack refinement. The lighting effects are inconsistent, textures appear muddy, and overall, the world lacks the kind of crisp detail that makes an open-world racer truly immersive. While the neon-soaked nights attempt to create atmosphere, they don’t do enough to make up for the otherwise bland presentation.

Gameplay: How Do You Make Racing Feel Tedious?
Somehow, Need for Speed Heat manages to take the thrill out of racing. The handling feels imprecise, with cars swinging wildly between floaty and overly stiff. Drifting—a staple of arcade racers—feels unnatural and unresponsive. Add to that AI that fluctuates between rubberbanding like crazy or being completely lifeless, and you get an experience that never quite finds a balance between fun and frustration.

The progression system is another letdown. Instead of feeling rewarding, grinding for upgrades feels like a chore, forcing players through repetitive events that lack excitement. The day-night cycle had potential, but ultimately, it only serves to artificially stretch out gameplay rather than add any real depth.

Characters and Story: Please, Just Stop Talking
The inclusion of a story in a racing game isn’t inherently bad—Need for Speed has done it before with mixed results—but Heat takes it to another level of unbearable. The dialogue is cringeworthy, and the characters are grating at best. Instead of making me care about the underground racing scene, every interaction had me reaching for the mute button.

Final Verdict: A Forgettable, Frustrating Experience
Need for Speed Heat fails to capture the adrenaline-pumping excitement that a street racing game should deliver. With unpolished graphics, lackluster gameplay, and insufferable characters, it somehow makes high-speed racing feel like a boring grind. If you’re looking for an arcade racer that’s actually fun, you’re better off revisiting older Need for Speed titles or exploring other franchises entirely.

Final Score: 4/10

Don't buy this or any other EA game till they fix there hot steaming pile of ♥♥♥♥ launcher.

Title: Between the Stars – Potential Lost in the Void of Dated Mechanics

Between the Stars is a space-themed action RPG that, at first glance, promises an engaging experience filled with starship combat, exploration, and decision-making. However, after spending considerable time with the game, I find myself more frustrated than enthralled.

The most glaring issue is how dated the game feels. While it's playable, the core mechanics are weighed down by outdated design choices that detract from the overall experience. The game utilizes a dice roll system for key events and interactions, which, in theory, adds an element of unpredictability. However, in practice, it quickly becomes a chore rather than an exciting challenge. Even as you invest points to improve your skills, the benefits feel negligible. Rolling more dice should increase your chances of success, but in this game, you can roll four dice and still come up empty-handed. This system makes progress feel random and disheartening, especially when modifiers seem to do little to alleviate the frustrations of bad rolls.

The dice rolls are not merely numbers but physics-based, adding another layer of unpredictability that feels more like a gimmick than a meaningful gameplay mechanic. This approach only amplifies the feeling of being at the mercy of chance rather than skill, making point investments feel inconsequential.

The story, which should serve as the backbone of any RPG, is another disappointment. Despite its potential, it fails to captivate or engage. The narrative is bland, lacking the depth or intrigue needed to keep players invested in the game's universe.

It's a shame because Between the Stars shows glimpses of potential. The concept is solid, and with better execution, it could have been a standout title in the space RPG genre. Unfortunately, it's bogged down by dated mechanics, a lackluster story, and poorly designed systems that ultimately turn what could have been a stellar journey into a tedious grind.

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I love this game, even with its insane dlc collection. It simply captures that wondrous 4x felling.

Remnant 2: A Masterpiece of Cooperative Survival Action

Remnant 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Remnant: From the Ashes, surpasses all expectations, delivering an enthralling blend of challenging combat, rich storytelling, and immersive world-building. This game firmly establishes itself as a cornerstone in the action-survival genre, captivating players with its innovative design and cooperative gameplay.

From the moment you step into the world of Remnant 2, it's clear that Gunfire Games has poured immense care into crafting a deeply atmospheric and visually stunning environment. The game world is expansive and varied, teeming with intricate details and diverse biomes that keep exploration endlessly rewarding. Each area feels alive, with dynamic weather systems and lighting effects that enhance the immersive experience.

One of the standout features of Remnant 2 is its refined combat system. The developers have masterfully balanced the intensity and strategy required, creating encounters that are both challenging and exhilarating. The inclusion of new weapon types, abilities, and an expanded skill tree adds layers of depth to the gameplay, allowing for personalized playstyles and tactical experimentation. Enemy AI is notably improved, offering a satisfying level of difficulty that encourages teamwork and coordination.

The cooperative multiplayer aspect of Remnant 2 shines brightly, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. The game seamlessly integrates online co-op, enabling players to team up with friends or join forces with strangers to tackle formidable foes and intricate puzzles. The synergy between different character builds and abilities enhances the cooperative experience, making every encounter feel fresh and dynamic.

Storytelling in Remnant 2 is another area where the game excels. The narrative is rich and engaging, with lore that is woven seamlessly into the environment and character interactions. The game’s world is filled with hidden stories and secrets waiting to be uncovered, rewarding curious players with a deeper understanding of the universe and its history. The voice acting and dialogue are top-notch, bringing the characters and their struggles to life in a compelling way.

Moreover, the game’s replayability is significantly enhanced by its procedural generation mechanics. Each playthrough offers unique challenges and experiences, ensuring that no two adventures are the same. This feature, combined with the extensive customization options, guarantees that Remnant 2 remains fresh and engaging long after the initial playthrough.

In conclusion, Remnant 2 is a triumph in the action-survival genre. Its captivating world, refined combat, and seamless cooperative gameplay create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the series, Remnant 2 is a must-play that sets a new standard for what a cooperative survival action game can achieve. Gunfire Games has delivered a masterpiece that will undoubtedly be celebrated for years to come.

I have seldom encountered a development company that meticulously adjusts a game to the extent that it detracts from the enjoyment of the game-play. Currently, I cannot recommend this title, which is regrettable considering its previous entertainment value.

Awesome Game, Like that one song Total Eclipse of the heart

Why in 2024 does this game not launch, it should work but it does not. At the end of the day I the end user should not have to look up a guide to run a 20= yo game FIX YO SH*T
https://clips.twitch.tv/DoubtfulTacitKiwiPJSugar-NGwwQNZbHmhfLEru

TLDR Skull Island: Rise of Kong is a nostalgic trip back to PS1-era graphics and glitches, definitely not worth the $40 price tag – play if you dare or just need a laugh.

https://www.twitch.tv/smokeex/clip/MotionlessExcitedAdminBleedPurple-nTvPzqxLM7qVVL90

Once in a while, a game comes along that challenges your very sanity and makes you question the choices you've made in life. Skull Island: Rise of Kong is such a game. And by "challenges your sanity," I don't mean in the delightful way a complex puzzle might, but in the “Why on Earth did I spend money and precious hours of my life on this?” kind of way.

The description promised an epic journey of Kong's metamorphosis from a wee ape to the undisputed King of Skull Island. Instead, what I got was a torturous trip down memory lane, reminiscent of the PS1 and PS2 graphics era. Yes, you read that right. This game was a stark reminder that nostalgia isn't always golden, especially when polygons have the audacity to call themselves "graphics."

The lore of Skull Island was supposed to be the game's saving grace. But lo and behold, even that felt as if it was pulled from a rejected bedtime story. The mysteries of the island turned out to be my constant wonderment at why trees looked like green blocks, and waterfalls appeared as if they were rendered on Microsoft Paint.

Now, let's talk about combat. The "devastating combos" were as devastating as a toddler's tantrum. Kong's "spine-tingling roar"? More like the whimper of a puppy who's had its toy taken away. And the "unique finishing attacks"? Oh, they were unique alright. Unique in their ability to inspire facepalms.

But wait! There's more. The "mysterious areas" were mysterious for a reason – no sane developer would want you to find them. And when you did, you'd likely be greeted with glitches that make you question if they were part of the game's unique charm or just plain mistakes.

Skull Island: Rise of Kong should certainly be a contender for the Worst Game of the Year award. But hey, if you're feeling particularly masochistic or need a good laugh at the sheer audacity of its existence, then by all means, dive into this abomination. Just remember to keep your expectations lower than the game's resolution.

Final verdict: If you cherish your time, your sanity, and your Twitch viewers, give this game a hard pass. Unless, of course, you're in the mood for a laugh at some good ol' fashioned terrible gameplay. In which case, game on! 1/10

This game is now a meme redeem on my channel for 30k points at least ill get some entertainment out of it.