Recent reviews by Wheatsy

Overall, the game is an endearing callback to the history of adventure and RPG-games through the rather well-made concept of letting you progress through this history and these tropes by fulfilling different tasks. At first there's no sound, monochrome, 2D, but then colour is added, music, 3D - and many other RPG-related tropes are added along the way, with some good self awareness ("why do villages always have slightly annoying music?"). I will say, however, that the first portion of the game is easily the best, where the game constantly throws these developments at you, as it does slow down in the second half, and when you're not constantly seeing new ideas thrown at you, the actual ideas employed here are better seen elsewhere (very simple RPG-style fighting and levelling system, limited selection of tools for puzzle solving, by-the-books lore and story, etc). The inspirations are also almost a bit too on-the-nose, however, this is most likely intentional to poke fun at the genre. Up to your taste, really.
All in all though, I was still entertained to the end, and even completed it 100% (surprisingly decent puzzles throughout that even managed to stump me slightly at times, and also a pretty neat card game thrown in that made me enjoy the final moments with the game as well!)

Ain't nothin' but positive beans to throw in this game's direction.

A very epic and conclusive DLC; this is by all means meant to be the last one you play. It's tough-as-nails, rather linear (meaning the map is not circle-shaped, but much more stretched out) and probably the most dystopian landscape, you'll get to see in the game - debris being a more common road than actual concrete road. The road is not entirely lonesome, however, as you'll get an essential companion, that is very plot-integral and rather similar to another one in the basegame, since Ulysses is also a Courier, and you end up coming full circle. Ulysses, an absolutely intriguing character, who brings up an incredible amount of contemporary political statements and has the meanest, beanest voice you'll ever hear in this franchise. This whole DLC is dedicated to you, the Courier, the bringer of messages, and, perhaps unknowingly, creator of some. The saying goes "Don't shoot the messenger"; but what if the message is detrimental to everyone?
Awesome DLC, extremely immersive - Come here with your best gear; but don't be afraid to enter, as you can leave any time you want.

A slightly weaker DLC, as the plot is a bit less interessting and it doesn't really neatly tie in the plot of the other DLCs (like they do with each other), but still very atmospheric, with great locations and great lore (the plot-thing isn't entirely true as it follows the very interessting character Joshua Graham: The Burning Man, but it doesn't strive far from that). Where this really shines through, plot-wise, is through the journals of the Survivalist - his depiction of almost the entire Fallout-timeline - before the war, during it, and post-, to see a detailed description of a very important story-element in the entire Fallout-series. Nice, comfy DLC, that is still in great touch with the standard Fallout-formular, and is more than just an empty desert.

Fallout NV: Stealth-horror-linear-ohgodthebeeping-style.

Straying off the familiar formular by a loooong shot, this DLC is incredibly dividing - for me, aswell. The lack of freedom and being forced to stick to one road only can feel demeaning, but it also creates a very tension-filled atmosphere, getting extremely creepy in some instances, and creating a closer bond to the... interessting cast you have to trek along with. And the cast is very interessting; all of the characters, with their own motives, characteristics and insanities, feel intriguing to get to know and invest dialogue options in (except for one loser who SOMEHOW GETS MAD AT YOU FOR DOING CLEVER SKILL CHECKS URGH), and the different objectives feel varied enough to not become totally stale (especially in the later half). What many people have a problem with is the trap-system; the Sierra Madre is filled with toxic clouds, holograms and radio-signals that can activate your bomb collar. Some of your companions grant passive perks that help with these, but you don't always have them by your side, and some of the traps - especially late-game - feel incredibly unfair, if almost impossible, to surmount. But once again, this is also a (albeit very sadistic) approach to making the player feel underpowered and at the mercy of the powerful character, who controls the whole scheme. I will recommend this DLC - but be a higher level, and have a save in a previous file ready; just in case.

Absolutely fantastic writing, combining ludicrous hilariousness and melancholic seriousness. Big, expansive area, with plenty of interessting locations to explore (meaning plenty of lab-areas and their peculiar uses). Plentifold of weird, sci-fi stuff, that creates and odd, yet very fulfilling vibe. And great plot, intertwining with the plot from other DLCs from the game, the main plot having plenty of great moral ambiguity.

... Oh, and also, don't forget those frikkin' mugs!

Probably my most favorite game ever, and will likely be for all eternity. There is something incredibly attractive about a post-apocalyptic-shooter-political-sandbox-plotintensive-thoughtprovoking-chooseyourownadventure-hilarious-eerie-RPG. This game is all of that - and possibly a lot more.

I tend to go with a rather simple list of criterias when I rate artistic media. It usually revolves around the likes of
"Did this media make me feel satistfied?
Did it make me laugh until attaining stomach ache?
Cry somber, truly heartfelt tears?
Fear from the depths of my soul?
Rage, with good reasoning?
Did it leave me with a feeling of newfound revelation, and philosophical pondering?
Did leave me staring blankly at the media for a long amount of time after said media was, per se, over?"
Usually, I am able to tick off a few of these, and that usually already leaves a pretty acceptable media.

Undertale, however, left me questionning my standards for these criteria.

This game has truly been the over-appreciated Crystal of a game of mine lately; Melting hours upon hours away as it has fixed my Steroids-infused adrenaline rushes in a manner truly only achieved by harsh, fast Rogue-likes - just like this.

In essence, it's difficulty can seem overwhelmingly punishing at times and at points it feels like only a Robot could attain the proper level of dodging-skill; yet, once one gets the hang of it (after several fast-paced game-overs), it is a truly rewarding experience.
One's skill is like a Plant: A small, meager bud at first, nurtured by the sweat, blood and tears to grow tremendously and brilliate. The game is well-balanced in that regard; that it does not entirely rely on lucky circumstances regarding power-ups (Mutations), Spawn-areas, Weapons, etc. This feature makes it somewhat of a Rebel in it's genre, which is a neat thing, considering the vagueness of the genre in the first place.

The true Horror of the game comes upon completion, which, without any forms of spoilation, is a love-hate relationship, but fits the whole theme of the game rather well.
Remember to keep your Eyes peeled for the huge amounts of updates constantly pumped out of Vlambeer HQ; truly showing their passion for the game.

Final Verdict: Brutal adrenaline-rush that demands your full-on attention; but don't be no Chicken and disconcern it because of this. The game believes in you, even if it might not at first.
(Get Fish-ing for this especially at sales)










(... How do you expect me to fit Yung Venuz in there? Really now.)

This game is my jam
Come up and slam
And welcome to the Bloat