Recent reviews by «§» Guybrush

Wow, some folks are taking hours out of their lives to tell you not to play this game because it's not a mirror copy of Monster Hunter World. It's a bit more streamlined, yes. I see this entry as one that is trying to bring in a new generation of monster hunters. But it's not bad, at all.

It's a perfectly serviceable Monster Hunter game. It's a faster-paced MH game - trying to keep you out in the field actually hunting without having to spend 30-45 minutes in the hub world between missions. Personally, I didn't mind the longer prep between missions in MH World, but I also don't really mind it being a bit shorter/streamlined here.

Given, I haven't gotten close to the endgame yet. Just, please ignore the people that say it's actively terrible, because really they're just coming off as snobby. It's been fun.

Astroneer hits the perfect balance of base-building, relaxation, and survival. I'm the type of person who will turn off hunger and thirst in survival games if possible and if the game can still be a challenge without those stressors always on your mind (like Subnautica). Was very happy to see that the only needed resource to survive is oxygen - mixed with the ability to avoid a few hostile plants and not fall to your death off a cliff/crevasse.

Where you begin with just an empty backpack and a shelter, eventually you will be flying around with jetpacks, you will be able to survive without oxygen tethers with a portable oxygenator, and you can maintain power in your backpack with a QT-RTG that provides unlimited power (eat your heart out, Palpatine). All of this makes exploration, completing your goals, and finding rare resources a lot easier. It takes a few hours of gameplay to hit that self-sustaining point, but damn, the feeling is so rewarding when you get there.

There is a very light story involved, and most of the time I saw it more as mission-to-mission instead of seeing an over-arcing grand plan. And I like it even more for that! You can approach missions in any order you want (lightly funneled through various technology tiers and unlocks) or just say "screw it" to any story and build the system you want. My friend and I had a blast (yes, co-op multiplayer!) getting our base as automated as possible, and no mission really makes you do that.

Overall, I recommend Astroneer. It's worth the full price; definitely get it if it's on sale. It is a truly relaxing and rewarding experience, both solo and co-op. The only points of frustration were if I happened to die very far away from my base while carrying valuable or rare resources. But even then, you can find your death site to reclaim the resources, and you'll learn to find ways to avoid dying (mostly).

Pro tip: Do NOT try putting Dynamite in the Smelter. Or do. Your call. :)

CRAAAAB CHAMP-IONS
CRAAAAB CHAMP-IONS
LOOK LIKE CRAB
FIGHT LIKE CHAMP-IONS
CRAAAAB CHAMP-IONS

10/10

If you grew up in the 90s, you just know. I can't stop smiling! :) Ron Gilbert FTW. <3

Movin' to the country
Gonna kill a lot of Nazis,
Movin' to the country
Gonna kill a lot of Nazis,
Movin' to the country
Gonna kill a lot of Nazis,
Movin' to the country
Gonna kill a lot of Nazis.

Uh, where did my last 2 45 hours go?

I work full-time 40 hour weeks for management, apparently.

Having never owned a PS2, it's nice to be able to revisit the waning years of the golden age of 3D platformers and play a critically acclaimed gem I never had the opportunity to as a kiddo. People say this is like Mario 64, but I'd argue it's more like Banjo-Kazooie or other classic Rare platformers. It's not as fast-paced as Mario platformers, and some Golden Spatulas (i.e. Power Stars / Jiggies) are barred behind new moves, which means some backtracking is required. I've not beaten this game yet, but on a day I'm looking for a nostalgic aura in a "new" game I have never played before, this is Golden...Spatula.

You can turn off your own nipples.

...what more on this dystopian rendition of Earth do you need?

1 part Mario Kart 8 (for level design and sheer polish)
1 part Diddy Kong Racing (for drift mechanics, varied vehicle types, and items/power ups)
1 part Star Wars Episode I: Racer (for sheer speed and the needed accompanying reflexes)
1 part Split/Second (for the way the levels often undergo extreme changes mid-race)
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Put them together and you get Sonic All Stars Racing: Transformed, a game I believe slightly edges out all of its predecessors. Arcade racing/car games are my favorite genre, and this one doesn't disappoint! I played dozens of hours on the Wii U version. The Steam version, in my experience, is a much more polished and less-buggy experience.

I believe the items are much more balanced than Mario Kart, a game where you can be winning 95% of the race and then get taken completely out by a single well-timed unavoidable blue shell (No hate on Mario Kart, there was a time I would fight you for suggesting there could be a better racing game).

It takes the multiple vehicle types concept from Diddy Kong Racing and requires more flexibility as you transition between vehicles mid-race.

You also have to know the levels well enough to pick the right character and vehicle mod for the situation, particularly in World Tour. Example: In Mario Kart 8, I would feel confident in winning on any map with Cat Peach with *most* any vehicle combination. In SASRT, if I pick Sonic on the Billy Hatcher level, I'm crashing into walls everywhere (even with the handling mod) because Sonic is just so fast that he has trouble going through most tight S-shaped roads. If I pick Tails, however, I can stand a much better chance because that kid can turn and drift like crazy.

You're getting a ton of fun and a ton of reflex/brain training for $20. If that's too much, Sonic games are frequently on sale, so wish-list it! HIGHLY recommend! Make sure you have a compatible controller for the optimal experience, yet I do have a friend who has had success practicing with the keyboard controls.