Recent reviews by Strider

It's mega bonkers!

Bioshock 2 is utterly brilliant, but this remaster seems to crash every 10-20 minutes or so, which really breaks immersion. I estimate that I had around 40-50 crashes throughout my entire playthrough. This is something that has never been - and probably never will - be fixed.
There are many other players who have also suffered the same frustrating experience as I have, so this isn't just a 'that one kid whining' thing.

For this reason, I cannot recommend this version of the game.

I do however recommend playing the original version of Bioshock 2 which is supposed to be far more stable. It really is an incredible game!

9/10 game
1/10 remaster

A quirky little game which is essentially a VERY simplified Rome: Total War.

By very simplified, I mean 0 diplomacy, 1 small map, 1 playable faction, 5 unit types, minimal tactics (pilum throw, testudo formation, and charge), and a campaign which can be completed within 1 hour.
There is a custom battle mode, but this gets boring quite quickly.
Mod support is a thing, but only affects custom battles and does not introduce new campaigns/maps

The pixel graphics add a nice charm to the game. The music and sound effects are satisfactory.
The game resembles the depth and quality of a 'flash game' that you would play in your browser for free on a website like
Kongregate.
Despite all this, this game was developed by one single individual as their first full-release.

Taking all this into account, I would say the game is worth a buy for anyone who wants a unique grand strategy experience, takes an
interest in Ancient Roman history, and/or for those of you who want to support small indie developers with great potential.

7/10 good fun for an hour or two.

Phasmophobia is a game that you can keep coming back to time-and-time again, and it will still get your heart pumping and your blood racing.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the game is to obtain as much evidence of paranormal activity as possible before losing all of your sanity, resulting in death by evil spirit. With each piece of evidence, you can narrow down which type of paranormal entity is haunting that particular location (of which there are 24 types of 'ghosts').
Some types of evidence include freezing temperatures, UV hand prints and orbs, among other sinister paranormal markers.

FRIENDS:

This game is far better with a friend or 3 (max party size = 4), although even more scarier going it alone. The game has a built-in voice chat which eliminates the need to use a third-party program like Discord. You can also speak directly to the ghost which adds an insane amount of immersion (and scariness) to the experience.


The updates for the game do feel few and far between at times, but when the big updates hit, they are often well polished and entertaining to play.

I would recommend this game at full price without question, and any sale is an absolute steal.

9/10 - taking into account the relatively slow release of new content.


Thanks for reading, have a nice day :)

If you love being scared to death, and that feeling of constant fear and dread, Amnesia is for you.

Other than its dark, mysterious, and terrifying atmosphere, Amnesia has even more to offer than this.

The game starts as you in the shoes of a man who finds himself trapped in a dark place with no memory of how or why he got there. I will not say any more than this, as unravelling the mystery of the hows and whys is too exciting not to discover for yourself.

The game has an incredible narrative, with the main protagonist often speaking through voiced dialogue. This really helps to immerse you in the environment you find yourself in, and really gets you feeling like you are the man trapped and lost.

There are also parts of the game which have puzzle-solving elements. These areas are blended very well into the rest of the game, and further the tension and engagement within the game.

Nothing more will be said, as this is a game which must be experienced with full unknowing in order to truly appreciate its dark and mysterious nature.

There is a reason why Amnesia: The Dark Descent is considered by many as the best game in the genre.

Medieval Dynasty is a game which many people have probably dreamed of having for years.

You start the game from humble beginnings, picking up sticks and stones to begin paving the way for your own dynasty. In this game, you can accept quests from nearby towns which include both the main story-line, side quests, and seasonal quests. With this, you can gain reputation, silver (the game's currency), and even useful items.

Choosing where to build the foundations of your village is key in productive efficiency. Building near a natural water source is wise for fishing and... water. Although constructing in the woods means more trees and wildlife closer to home, making village growth potentially faster. You choose.

Speaking of seasonal quests previously, the game has a dynamic season system: Spring -> Summer -> Autumn -> Winter -> Spring...
This system encourages thinking ahead in terms of food and resources for you and your village. Winter can be cruel, so stocking up on supplies across the previous seasons is wise. Hunger and thirst are two elements which must be satisfied, implementing realism.

There is also a temperature system in the game. This means wearing the correct amount of clothes depending on the season. Getting too hot or too cold is a slow and painful death.

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A big catch for the game is that you can recruit your own villagers to work for you. this is essentially a boots-on-the-ground strategy/rpg game in that sense. You need to ensure that your villagers have a healthy work routine, are fed, and are reasonably happy (as this improves work productivity). You can also get married and have children, which once they grow up will become the heir to your dynasty (you will play as your child).

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The combat is quite fun and rewarding, although still a little janky here and there. From hunting to killing bandits, you're never more than a stones-throw away from hostile engagement, so keeping your wits about you is key to survival in this harsh, medieval world.

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In addition, co-op has recently been released for the game, meaning you can have up to 3 other friends managing a dynasty with you. This is a more enjoyable way to play the game in my opinion, as managing a moderately+ sized community on your own can become laborious and tiresome.

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In terms of performance and stability, the game runs fairly well in correlation to its suggested system requirements. There are, however, a few bugs here and there which need ironing out, in addition to QOL improvements which will hopefully be implemented in time.

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The graphics and sound design are top shelf. The sound-design in particular is so immersive. You will find yourself using your ears just as much as your eyes in certain situations i.e. hunting. The music is incredibly beautiful to listen to also.

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Overall, if you're a big fan of survival/crafting games, and have a keen interest in the middle-ages and in managing your own settlement, I would recommend getting this game at full price.

If you are on the fence about it, I would wait for a sale, then purchase it at a reduced price.

Load the Portside! Load the Starboard!

I remember the first time I sailed the cold, Norse seas of Valheim with my friends. A chill, brisk wind swept the hair of our heads as we braved the harsh, crushing ocean, in hope of finding new land to settle.
We came a long way from hunting and gathering; and feasting around the crackling fire under a twilight sky, telling stories of monstrous trolls wielding tree trunks for clubs, and of the haunting visions of a hooded figure, shrouded in the sage, hazy mists of the dark woods.

When I first purchased Valheim, I was in awe of the world which Iron Gate had created. The level of immersion this game provides is a testament to its incredible design in all areas; music, art style, ambience, world design, and its phenomenal lighting fidelity. Seriously, the lighting is another level.

If you're looking for an exhilarating, exciting, and epic adventure with friends where legendary memories can be forged, then look no further than Valheim.

For Existing Fans
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This is, in my opinion, the best edition of Age of Empires II and a must-own for fans of the series.
The newly modernised graphics, while breathing completely new life into the game, still offer old-time nostalgia to those who played previous editions of the game.
Many quality of life improvements are also added into this edition, such as villager count of resources, idle villager button, and automatic farm queuing, among dozens of other interface improvements.
This edition also introduces new, edition-exclusive campaign packs - namely the Last Khans, Lords of the West, and Dawn of the Dukes, which consist collectively of about 9 brand-new, fully-voiced campaigns. The forgotten campaigns that were released with the HD edition 2013 are also now fully voiced and re-polished.
A recent update has also introduced co-op campaigns (currently in BETA), which at the moment includes 4 of the singleplayer campaigns built for co-op.

If you're an existing fan, then you probably already have the game and know this, but I thought I would provide this information even if it's for a 1% minority who are still on the fence about buying it.


For new players
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For those who have never played Age of Empires II but are keen rts gamers, I would say get it.
The game has aged incredibly well, even to the extent of being more in-depth than most newer RTS games out there.
This game can also be quite educational for those of you who have an interest in medieval history.

In terms of mechanics, there are so many units and ways of using them that even today, new tactics are being discovered and used. Each faction has unique technologies and units which adds a whole new dynamic to strategy depending on the civilisation you choose to play as. There is a faction for every playstyle. I won't list all of the factions here, but there are 39 in total (35 excluding DLC), including Britons, Japanese, Slavs, Franks (French), Spanish, Aztecs, and Mongols.

I haven't really played much in terms of competitive multiplayer, but if that is something you are interested in, there are often tournaments for cash prizes. The game still has a large following and a healthy competitive scene.

This game defined a genre back in 1998, and even to this day stands out as among one of the best strategy games of all time.

I recommend this game whole-heartily.

Thank you for taking the time to read this review if you did :)

Easily one of the best games I have ever played...

The narrative and plot throughout the duration of the game constantly stays fresh and entertaining right the way through.
If you've played the first game then you'll know about how the gameplay works, and if not then it's rather self-explanatory - challenging and intriguing puzzle-solving using teleportation in the form of portals. The idea is very unique and through the fluid and well-developed mechanics driven by Valve, it really makes for a special and memorable experience.
There is also a strong sense of mystery regarding the world that Portal is set in - Easter eggs, secrets, and references about things like 'Doug Rattmann' and Portal's connection to Half-Life's world really motivate you to theorise endlessly.

10/10 from me.

This is not just a video game. This is a story. This is a work of art.