Recent reviews by Lovidicus

"He has many names - Kinslayer, Executioner... Death"

Action adventure games are like reading a book and heavily rely on storytelling, setting, and combat moreso than other genres. Their job is to engross us into a universe and created a world for us to delve into head first. Storytelling creates the overall game: the plot, the drive forward, why do we care, and the overall flow of the game. Setting creates the environment and sounds for that story and allows us to feel like we are in the right place at the right time. Lastly, combat moves the story forward with the environment. If all three don't fit together like pieces in a puzzle, then the overall flow dies and the game suffers because of it.

You are Death and the combat in the game reflects you as such. Facing your opponent head on and smacking them into the ground while leaving nothing but carnage, bodies, and blood dripping as you make your way toward your next objective. The overall story pushes you from one objective to the next and lets you feel like you are in control. The setting goes from grassy plains to fields of the dead, from the outskirts of heaven to the pits of hell. It is all well placed, and fits with the story in a rich environment and fantastic soundtrack for you to play and dominate in.

However, while the game is a great reflection of all three factors, the flow is not 100% there. I could never complain about the combat; however, the side quest and certain areas in the game sort of felt... not needed. They broke the overall flow of the game by trying to connect you with characters who should have been a stepping stone or collateral damage for Death in his journey. While Death is not a heartless warmongering type of character; he comes across as a, "I don't care about you and your troubles," and the game should have kept to that.

I also felt the game to be a smidge too easy. For my first playthrough, I played on the hardest difficulty available (Apocalyptic). Granted, there is a NG+ for which I am currently playing and a Nightmare mode you can unlock for a brand new fresh level 1 character. However, so far NG+ on Apocalyptic has not been much of a further challenge. In addition, the Nightmare mode is the same game with permadeath. Yes, that does make the game harder. However, that is not the kind of hard I personally want in a video game unless it is rogue style game.

Darksides II feels good. It is not amazing like Batman Arkham Asylum or City. But, it is still a well worth story, with proper setting, fast action combat, and one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a long time. The game will absorb you into its free flowing combat, scenery, music, and story. It will leave a lasting impression that will not leave you disappointed. Matter of fact, this particular universe has managed to squeeze its way into my heart. I will definitely be looking forward to more of this game’s universe in future games, books, or other media.

The Walking Dead game is more of an interactive movie than an actual game. If there are any fans of Heavy Rain out there and you have not played this game yet, then I would recommend buying and downloading it regardless of price right away. If you have no idea what I am talking about, and have never played an interactive drama before, then I would highly recommend this one to introduce you to the genre.

The Walking Dead as a franchise did right by choosing Telltale Games to create this wonder of storytelling and on spot decision making. You are a survivor. Throughout the game it will test you and your ability to make choices that will have either positive or negative effects that will affect you, the group, and the rest of the game's overall story. Can you live with your choices? Will these choices have an effect on you and your humanity? Is humanity lost and are we only left to our own devices to survive no matter the cost?

This is not a game for everyone. You have to understand that if you buy this game, you are not getting a fast pace zombie shooter. Instead you are getting an ominous environment with fantastic storytelling integrated with on the spot quick key responses that can mean the difference to you and your party's welfare.

Live or die... make your choice...

This game is sick, twisted, and wrong on so many levels. This is a game that I feel ashamed to even mention to my friends because of how horribly sickening the game is. However, only this game could pull off the dark and demented humor the way it has. This game is addicting, the soundtrack amazing, and it is incredibly hard. You will bash your head against the wall trying to get past gruesome floors of hellashish monsters. There is only one thing important, and that is survival, and doing whatever it takes to survive.

I recommend this game to anyone who wants a fun, hard, gritty, dark, sick, demented game that will continuously challenge you and your ability to survive.

I am Batman and so can you. This is an amazing sequel to an already amazing game. I went into it with the mindset and hope that as long as the combat was the same as the first game, then I would be happy. The awesome thing about it though is the combat is not only the same, but improved upon. Combat is more smooth and freeflowing, and you can use your gadgets in combat. In addition, the combo system is less clunky, and bonus maneuvers work better than before.

The main story is amazing along with the side quest and campaign settings. The pressence of villians and their relative boss encounters are vastly improved. Thugs have witty lines and say some of the funniest things that you would expect out of an illiterate thug. The game is rememberable, and the best part is that it is a sandbox. You have an entire city to explore that is littered in riddles and bad guys.

This is a must have game. It is the definition of a franchise improving upon itself.