Recent reviews by HighWire

So, let's begin from the basics, shall we?




Arc Raiders is an third person extraction shooter. It's A Player versus Player versus Environment extraction shooter.
To put it simply: You load in, you find gear and crafting items by looting various containers/buildings (each being potentially more risk/reward), all whilst either being under thread by other players or by the ARC! YES, the ARC!


You see, when you are topside the other players aren't your only concern...
There's a sentient artificial machine race out there, called the Arc and they pack quite a punch, especially if you're just getting started.
Word to the wise: conserve your ammo, think first and maybe shoot? Picking a fight with Arc isn't always the best strat... Also: Every Arc has a weak spot, get to know them before wasting a ton of ammo...
They come in a variety of sizes and shapes! Outside you'll find smaller flying types, a very BIG flying type and a few walking tanks...
Inside you'll find suicidal rollers, rolling flame throwers, itty bitty spider like creatures and more...
They each have their own way of making your topside life hell...


You then either survice and extract safely with your hard worked for loot, or you don't and everything you've gathered is left for someone else to loot...


Rinse & repeat! Having fun yet?




Well... Yes?
But I REALLY like this one! Prior to this I had my first experience with an extraction shooter playing exactly 3 rounds of Tarkov...
Now, don't get me wrong, Tarkov is a great game in it's own right, but it's WAAAAAY to hardcore for me!
Arc Raiders has it's hardcore aspect, it being the surive or lose it all aspect, but for me: getting downed (whilst it is frustrating at times, yes I'm looking at you, you filthy RATS!) in Arc is usually very "understandable", if you know what I mean?
Here, an example: a few rounds ago I decided to pick a fight with a Bombardier (Big Arc on legs, shoots rockets, has little Arc flying around it pinpointing your position for it's next rocket...).
Now I've taken these down a few times before, but this time I was reckless and didn't pick a good spot with good cover to do so...
Needless to say: I did not end up extracting, and whilst this death was frustrating, it was my own fault...


In comparison to Tarkov: I've been killed in every round I've played, and whilst I haven't touched the game in a year (hell, I don't have it on steam, I got it way back when in it's own launcher) I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT KILLED ME!


Another example is PvP, now whilst I mostly am a peacefull PvE player and tend to avoid shooting others, there are times when it's what's required, and I'm usually the one biting the dust, which in a fair fight is okay by me... (Again, Rats, I'm looking at you...), I'm not much of a PvP player and I know this, so I don't go into a fight with the proper mindset I think... Again, this is fine by me, it's part of the game...
I mean, we duked it out, I bit the dust, good game, enjoy my stuff, see you in another round...




I'm a casual player, I play a few rounds every day or so and whilst there is a grinding aspect to it (there is a skill tree, you'll need to level up, also level up your workbenches and Scrappy), it's not overwhelming...
You always have the option of loading in with a free loadout, grind a few materials and slowly but surely make your way up...




Yes, yes I did!
Firstly don't confuse the word "rat" here with the animal you know, in comparison to that, the animals are lovely creatures.
Arc Rats on the other hand, aren't lovely creatures (I'm even doubting if the word "creature" is applicable here...).


You see, an Arc Rat is exactly like that power hungry, zero skill, all wind, no drive manager you've either heard of or (sadly) experienced working with!
They'll sit quietly, barely seen or heard, but will violently lash out the second you head for extract and take all your loot, whilst having done ZERO effort for it...
Like such a manager, they'll do absolutely nothing but gun you down and take all the credit for your hard work...
But, alas, they are also part of the Extraction Shooter genre...




Well...
If you've followed the recent news, you'll know that there is such a thing as aggression based match making.
For me, this isn't an issue, I'm a peacefull solo player, I rarely encounter toxic behaviour.
In fact: 90% if the matches I play are very friendly, often working together to take down larger ARC, helping others extract/do quests/etc...


But if you are a gun blazing type of player, that's exactly what you'll encounter: Kill on sight players...
In Duo's & Trio's the PvP aspect is more on the foreground, which by itself is just a different experience...


You want peace & quite & do some looting/questing? Go in solo, with a free kit and just enjoy...
Want PvP action? Load up in Duo's/Trio's...
It's not a guarantree, but it's what been working for me...




I think you should. I've been playing games for over 2 decades, in those years many a great game has come to life (Half-Life, Baldurs Gate, Doom, Duke Nukem, ROTT, AoE, C&C, WoW, SC1 & 2, Mass Effect, etc...) and I am tempted to say that Arc Raiders is on that list of absolute "Must Plays".
Hell, it's not triple A money, but even if it was, I'd still recommend getting it...

---

So, Raider, are you ready for Speranza?
I hope you are, and I look forward to seeing you there!

As of writing I don't have many hours into this game...
But ever since I saw some gameplay footage I became fascinated...

Initially I was turned off by the turn based aspect, somehow telling myself I've never really liked such a thing (now granted, my initial experience with this was back in the "Ye Time of Olde" with one of the first Final Fantasy games...), but the more footage I saw of it the more I became intrigued...

So I bit the bullet, and boy, am I glad I did!

From the, in my opinion, one of the very BEST soundtracks I've EVER heard in a game, to the gorgeous & lush environment...
The story, oh my, the story...
And the combat? I love it!
Yes it's turn based, but it doesn't feel like it!
I don't feel like I'm endlessly scrolling through menu's, selecting various abilities/items/etc, instead I thoroughly enjoy each encounter, learning when to dodge & when to parry in live response to the opponent!

I won't spoil to much (I've barely scratched the surface, so there isn't much I can spoil...).

But the prologue...
There's a line there, a line that hit so incredibly hard...

It's been said in other reviews, I won't repeat it, but you'll know EXACTLY what I mean when you encounter it....

With triple A titles busting our wallets, 70-80€ games are becoming a thing, and I find them not to be worth it in the slightest...

This little gem tho?
I'm happy I got it on sale, but I'd GLADLY shell out a full price on it, if not more...

Thoroughly recommend this...

Aaaah Mass Effect...

Ever since I played the first one I eagerly and desperatly awaited the next one...
And now, after all those years, I replayed through all of them...

Even tho ME1 and ME2 show their age (ME3 does aswell, but in a more forgiving way I suppose), I enjoyed every second of it...

What makes these games so good?
The story, the characters, the choices (gut wrenching choises at times) and the way they all impact one another...

If you're looking for mindblowing graphics, you'll be dissapointed...
Looking for next level combat & gun play? Well, the combat & gun play is fun and can be VERY challenging, but to nowadays standards it's... Clunky :)

But if you're looking for one hell of a third person action RPG, with solid character building, a story unlike any other...

By all means, The Normandy awaits, Shepard.

(Word of advice: Start in ME1 and play through all 3 with the same character... It's worth it, oh my is it worth it...).

There is another ME game, but that one is best left as is: a mere mention...

So, Voidtrain...

It's about a train...
In the void...

:)


Visually I find it to be a stunning game, I love the artwork!
Gameplay wise it's not like something I've played before...

You start out with a measely, hand cranked, train trolley and end up with a beast of a locomotive!
You'll have to scrounge the void for resources, which you then turn into all sorts of workstations and train parts...

Customize guns the way you see fit (although personally, once I had a decent rifle I didn't bother with any of the submachine guns or shotguns...).

It does get a bit repetitive tho...
Depot, journey, gather junk, research stuff, find a bit of lore, punch to the depot & install new bits...

But I keep getting drawn back top it!

I find it a very relaxing and pleasant game! Well worth the coin!

Really fun to play!

I'm an overthinker, always wanting "the perfect start" or the "perfect location" etc...

None of this comes to mind in this game, simply because there isn't such a thing to worry about...
Just set your little shop, grind a bit to get the more tedious tasks (restocking & cashier) out of the way and do whatever you want...

Quite pleasing...

Becomes a bit empty after a few hours, but it's still in development, so I hope there will be plenty more to explore as development goes on.

Great racing, great vibes...
Awesome cars and just in general a boatload to do!

Even without the expansions, you'll be busy for HOURS to get everything in the base game...

Highly recommend, even more so if you have a few friends to race with!!!!

Extremely in depth story line.
Great visuials.
Movement, controls, gun feeling, combat in general are sublime.

Ghost? Yes, Ghost.

The base game is free to play, there is literally NO valid reason not to give this gem of a game a shot...
And the latest DLC's (excluding the last one) are one hell of a deal...

Get it. Now.

Futuristic Space Ninjas...
And it's free!

Sure, it's grindy, it's got a steep learning curve but...
SPACE NINJA'S!!