Recent reviews by Junomede

This game reminds me of everything I love about FPS games of old, and it improves on those old-school mechanics enough to make it feel new and refreshing all over again. Health and ammo pickups, platforming, puzzle solving, secrets, cheat codes, it's got it all, even DOOM I and II. It's even more approachable to newcomers, as helpful tutorials and mid-game difficulty swapping allow those who just want to have a good time to do just that. It helps broaden the audience this game can reach and allows casual players to just have fun with the game whilst still being challenged fairly. While I enjoy this game the most on Nightmare difficulty, I'd like for my friends (some who have little FPS experience) to enjoy this wonderful game as well, and so the balanced lower difficulties ensure that they can enjoy it at their own pace. All this with a returning Mick Gordon creating a blood-pumping soundtrack that embodies the soul of the game so hard that it's as demonic as the game itself, building you up to murder demons like no one else can. These aspects all combine to make an amazing FPS game that appeals to both ends of the DOOM spectrum; casual and hardcore fans. The fact that this game didn't win Game of The Year on Steam and The Game Awards is an absolute crime.

I adore this game, and so I highly recommend it. Rip and tear, until it is done.

L O N G R E V I E W A H E A D

TL;DR: Monster Hunter: World has quickly become one of my favorite games of all time. Its amazing visuals, sound, and game play are why I have stuck with this game for 300+ hours. As someone who was never interested in Monster Hunter games to begin with, this game won me over immensely. A game definitely worth the price of admission, especially with its expansion, Iceborne.

To be honest, this review is mainly for me, as I need some way to exert my passion for this game in one way or another, although I feel that sharing this review with others is a nice treat and a way of creating discussion surrounding the game. This is my first time reviewing a game in this length and capacity, although critique is welcome and appreciated. So, where to begin?

Monster Hunter was a series I have always heard about, but never bothered to give a chance at any point. Thanks to entertaining videos and recommendations from various friends, I decided to pick up the game on sale, and much like my experience with DARK SOULS III, I've never looked back since.

Monster Hunter: World was a bit of a slow burn at first, but the game was very intriguing for me and it kept my attention long enough for me to truly see what it has to offer. My initial experience reminds me a lot of another game I adore, Terraria, with a slow startup that eventually led to hundreds of hours of fun. As for why I enjoy this game so much, I feel like I can put it down to one word: Variety


When it comes to the instruments that get the monster hunting done, there's plenty. With 14 well-varied and viable weapon types, there's a weapon for everyone. Not only are the weapons themselves very cool, but they can fit many types of players. Fond of a slow, tanky, and hard hitting style? Try Great Sword. Used to third-person shooters? Ranged options such as the Light/Heavy Bowgun and Bow will suit you nicely. Do you simply wanna smack the ever living ♥♥♥♥ out of everything? Hammer's gotcha. Trying out the many weapons in this game has been one of the reasons I keep coming back, as there is so much replay value and enjoyment in trying out new ways to play, and seeing yourself gradually become better at multiple weapons is a gratifying experience to say the least. Add that to the fact that you can switch weapons at any point without being forced to a lock makes it very easy for someone to just pick up and try something. Choose anything, you may like it. Don't? Switch to something else. The options are always present and it's nice to have them, particularly when it comes to the eponymous monsters.


The monsters in, well, Monster Hunter: World are also varied to a great degree. While they can generally be placed in flying and grounded categories, their attacks and demeanor are what make them special. All of the monsters behave differently and have unique attacks that separate them from the roster. This variance in monster behavior can also give players unique challenges in terms of difficulty. It's why players sometimes make "enjoyment" or "difficulty" tier lists, as someone may consider a monster to be pathetically easy while some think of them as some of the hardest in the game. The variance also plays a factor into weapon choice, as some monsters like to exploit weaknesses of certain weapons, although a good player can overcome these shortcomings. One example of this is Odogaron, a slender killing machine with blindingly fast attacks. Slow weapons can easily have a hard time defeating it, but with enough practice, Odogaron can be countered even with the shortcomings of a heavy weapon. It is this diversity in strategy that also adds replay value in how you approach fights. A monster who may give you a hard time can be turned into a joke when using the right setup.


For me, Monster Hunter was a series that was never renowned for it's presentation. The graphics and overall art style of the older games just didn't sit well with me at the time. While I do understand that Monster Hunter was mainly prominent on handhelds, it stood as a sour opinion of mine for a long time. With current-gen hardware at the helm, CAPCOM took the opportunity and created one of the most visually appealing and detailed games I've ever played. Despite running on the old MT Framework engine, all of the game's maps and models are rendered beautifully. Monsters range from the frightening to the comically appealing. Sounds range from the soothing ambiance of the Ancient Forest to the deathly roars of a Rathalos swooping its skies. Songs move you with the tribal party vibes of the Gathering Hub theme to the frantic strings of Kushala Daora's tune. The environments that sweep the New World span the deserted Wildspire Waste to the heavenly views of the Coral Highlands. The game is an overall visual and auditory treat that does a great job at immersing you in a world where humans and gigantic monsters somehow co-exist.


While I do love this game immensely, some tough love is needed here and there. The game has some issues ranging from mild annoyances to problems that made the game unplayable in the literal sense. One mild annoyance concerns the co-op system. Those wanting to play the story quests cooperatively will have to get used to this. Basically, all players cannot join the same mission until they have watched the main cutscene of the quest themselves. This means that all players must begin the quest solo, watch the cutscene, and exit out of the quest, and only then can the group join the mission proper. What sounds like a small nuisance turns into a rather large pet-peeve that makes co-op play complicated to set up. It also puts off the casual player who simply wants to join and play without having to run a prerequisite list of things to do just to play. What's even more baffling is that a few quests added post-launch DO support multiple players in a cutscene. Behemoth, Safi'jiiva, and even the recent Alatreon fall into this and its puzzling to see that support be so inconsistently implemented. Then, we have the nasty stuff; performance. This game is a massive CPU hog and can eat upwards of 70%-90% of your CPU, mainly due to anti-tamper put in place by CAPCOM. It was so bad that performance on Iceborne's PC launch was awful and some even reported losing their save files. While these Iceborne-specific issues have been fixed, the base game's optimization remains rather poor. I do understand that this is the Monster Hunter team's first foray into the PC platform, although I wish that more care was put into it so as to not cause the major technical issues this game can experience.


Overall, this game is something I've never imagined myself playing a few years ago. It ties everything I've enjoyed in games of recent memory in one giant package. Its replayability, strategic gameplay, and overall style are the things that make the game such a joy to play. Whether you're hunting alone or with friends, you're in for a great time. Happy hunting!

While this game is missing quite a bit of polish in its combat system, this free pilot hooked me on a concept that has the potential to be fun as hell. The free-form sword swinging and movement let you pull off sick stunts that really make this demo shine, even as a proof-of-concept. That, along with a pretty banging (albeit small) selection of music makes me hopeful for what this game can become in the future. With this pilot being less than an hour long, I don't see much of a reason to NOT give it a whirl.

As a newbie to the Devil May Cry series and action games in general, I was still weary as to whether this game would stick with me or not. I was so, so wrong. The mechanics and gameplay are both top notch. There are a few annoyances like delayed retries and no official form of real Co-Operative play. Also, no playable Vergil. However, these things don't stand a chance against everything this game does right, and it keeps me coming back time and time again, as shown by my total playtime. Coupled with an EXCELLENT soundtrack that keeps the adrenaline pumping, this game is a must for anyone looking to have a great time. I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ love this game. One of the best game releases in a while for me.

SSS/10

An absolute surprise hit for me this year. Great survival mechanics with hugely open-ended gameplay, beautiful graphics and a diverse ecosystem of aquatic life actually made me excited to sleep with the fishes. And Sea Dragons.

9/10.

Despite my playtime on Steam, I have beaten this game on the PS Vita and it was a bloody good time. Literally. The game, while slower paced than the first game, has more variety in character gimmicks and replayabilty, with some characters even able to use different gimmicks. It also has a bit more focus on its storytelling than its gameplay. While the first game was more focused on the crazed drug-induced antics of psychopathic murder, this game's cutscenes and characters explore deep themes of moral symbolism, abuse of power, murderous remorse, etc. An 80's A E S T H E T I C, twitch gameplay, tight controls, and an absolutely fantastic yet immersive soundtrack were all what was needed to make this game a success, and boy did it deliver.

TL;DR If you loved the first game, you'll like this one. Highly recommend it.
Digital Deluxe Edition gets you Jacket in PAYDAY 2, so... that's cool, right?

9/10.

I feel like this game wants you to succeed, not to give up. After any death, I somehow found myself addicted to just trying to complete a section or beating a boss until I get it right. Dark Souls III as a game is hard as ♥♥♥♥ and it will ABSOLUTELY test your skill, patience, and any sanity you have left. However, the sense of satisfaction and triumph you get when beating a boss for the first time after hundreds of deaths makes this one of the most valuable gaming experiences I've ever had. Great game overall, fantastic for masochists.

8/10.

A fun little distraction with good controls and mechanics that's fun to play and speedrun.

8/10

While the PC port is great and the singleplayer is a masterclass example in game design and storytelling, the Online portion is riddled with paywalls, microtransactions and hackers who can get you banned without you doing anything. I would tread cautiously with this one. Would only highly recommend for SP w/ mods. As for Online, I would stay away unless you REALLY have a reason to play it.

Grand Theft Auto V: 10/10
Grand Theft Auto Online: 6/10

The best Sonic title in YEARS. If you are a Sonic fan, DO NOT hesistate to buy this game. With thoughtful level design, homages to Sonic's past, new levels, and a banging soundtrack by Tee Lopes, this game was a great time from start to finish. One of the few games to get a perfect score from me.

10/10