Recent reviews by RayRayAntics

It definitely has some bugs, but it's promising so far! I love playing this game to wind down. It's stressful AF, but that's part of the fun. I just wish these dang dogs weren't so dirty all the time.

This is a great game for unwinding and just going for a relaxing trek through the virtual woods. You know, before you mercilessly pop shots off at the innocent.

There are a couple of ways that you can approach this game. You can either take the stealthy approach; crouching low and stalking your prey silently. Getting as close as possible and lining up the perfect shot to make the quick kill. OR you can rampage through the brush like a maniac and shoot at anything that moves. Some may say that you're meant to play in the former fashion; however, I definitely gear more towards the latter play-style, and I have a blast!

One thing I will say is that the amount of paid DLC is a little bit off-putting for a pay-to-play game. Especially for the amount of things you get in each DLC (not a lot). Apart from the different reserves, I feel that a lot of the DLCs should just be included in the base game.

I've always been a big fan of hunting games, and while this game doesn't have all the features that I've loved in the past (it's lacking those hilarious ragdolls (fortunately there can still be a couple of amusing death positions)), it still is a very solid addition to my rather lackluster collection of hunting games. If you've liked hunting games in the past or feel like they may be a game genre for you, pick this game up! You won't be disappointed.

Shelter is a surprising delight of a game.

With aesthetics that bring you back to the days of your childhood storybooks, Shelter throws you into an unexpected frenzy of emotions.

In Shelter, you play as a mother badger trying to safely lead her pups through a vast and intense forest. You come to love these children programmed to you, and might even name them or manufacture little personalities for each of them. Either way, you become attached, only for the game to start throwing curve balls left and right.

You hear the screech of a bird of prey, the crackle of a forest fire, the roar of a raging river, and your heart starts racing. You know that the death of one of your beloveds is a possibility, and you will do all in your power to crush that possibility into the dust... Unfortunately, you are but one badger and not every badger-plan plays out as intended.

There's also one big KERBLAM in this game that you won't want to miss, so pick it up! Whether it's on sale or not, for $10 or less, this game is definitely worth the time and money. For about an hour or two, it'll suck you in for one heck of a ride.

A whole new world~!

Literally.

People who groan about ARK devs releasing paid DLC obviously have not played this. This is basically a new game. Think of it as a sequel that we don't have to wait for. A whole new game to pour hours and hours into while both are still being updated and gaining additions that still make them feel exciting and new.

After a while in the base game, we all know, there comes a point when you just... sit pretty. You tamed your quetzal, your rex, and maybe even managed to down that giga that kept destroying everything you ever loved. You don't have to worry about anything ever again. You're free to rule the Island.

This is the cure to that. This throws you back in. This is the challenging aspect of ARK 1000x over. Granted, dying over and over and over again can get annoying, especially due to the hard hitting terror birds and wolves that pop out of no where, but once you get your feet on the ground, it's worth the struggle.

That is until you go try to get a wyvern.

If ARK devs want to release a high quality addition to an already amazing game for merely twenty more dollars per year, hell, I can sacrifice a few trips to Chick-Fil-A for it.

ARK has earned my 40+ dollars, and more.

Don't let the relatively low hours fool you, I got Nether a pretty long time ago, and I loved it.

When I first got in game, I was terrified. I could hardly play, every noise gave me a little mini-heart attack. Then I got a bit braver as the game went on, and it became a bit slow (except when people popped out of no where, shooting; the mini-heart attacks returned in those moments), but still enjoyable.

A while later, my friend purchased the game and I started playing with him. That made all the difference. We ran about, getting terrified and just goofing off. We made some friends; we made some not-so friends. It was a time I would never forget.

Then the game died. It became littered with microtransactions and the playerbase dwindled to practically zero.

I am beyond happy to see this game being taken up by people who seem to have the right idea. It's fun again, and there's no goal too far out of reach (nor too expensive), so grab a friend and join in the shenanigans, because it can be a blast. :) I can't wait to see what the future holds for Nether.

This game is bae.

Seriously, it is an incredibly immersive and just plain fantastic game. Where do I even begin to describe the emotions felt while playing this game? There's terror when you come face-to-face with a charging carno, the feeling of accomplishment when you finally tame that beast you've been after or take down one of the big guys, and not to mention the overwhelming heartbreak when you lose a beloved companion (RIP Princess. Gone but not forgotten.).

This is a survival game done right, and completely worth every penny and more.

EDIT: However many hundreds of hours later...

I've gone through a lot since I first posted this review. I've experienced the devastation of a server going down out of no where and never returning, I've lost so many dinobabs, and I've met some pretty scummy people.

However, I still stand by everything I said about this game, even now. There are times when you'll hate it and optimization is coming along slowly, but despite this, it is completely worth everything you'll put into it; all the time and most definitely the cost of the game, all worth it. This is most I have EVER played a game, because there's just so much to do. It never gets old. Every new adventure is just that: a new adventure, with new experiences waiting around every corner!

I highly suggest playing multiplayer. Even though there will always be pricks in the world, no matter where you go, ARK, through my experience, has one of the largest non-toxic player bases I've seen in a game of its kind. It seems to appeal to all age groups and all types of people, so you get a variety, but a lot of the players you'll encounter are mature and willing to help you with whatever you need. You've just got to find those gem servers, and, compared to other games, it's not too hard to track them down.

The devs are incredible and seem to treat this game like it's their baby. They give it all the attention it deserves, constantly updating and implementing functions and items that the community wants to see. It's amazing to watch this game develop for the better. Any time there is a problem, the devs are on it. Their ETAs may be off, but the wait is completely worth the practically flawless updates and additions. Even when there is a problem in the update, they are always on top of it, fixing it ASAP. These devs are some of the best I've seen and I thank them for everything they do.

TL;DR: Read the first sentence of this review, then go buy this game. :)

EDIT: Should specify that this review is written from a PvE perspective. I'm not one for much PvPin'.