Recent reviews by Avoidberg

I think enough people have sung the praises of this game that I'd essentially be joining the choir at this point, so I'll choose to focus on how absolutely insane it was to come back to play the Final Vision update.

I already enjoyed myself with the base game. The art style, the story, it all added up to a game I genuinely treasure amongst my collection. The update took all of this and dialed it to 11. It felt like Frankie had essentially built in an entire extra game's worth of content, and I couldn't be happier.

Further explanation into the game's primary plotline, delving into multiple companions' backstories, and even adding in the foundation for a variety of additional endings (don't get me started on the True Final Ending), all added up to a game I now consider one of my favorites.

Though do not expect me to ever try Cursed Mode again, I prefer my sanity intact!

I don't want to say much, at the risk of spoiling the experience for others. But it is a phenomenal experience, and going into the game nearly blind truly makes this all the better.

This is indeed a walking simulator, but rather pleasant to experience at least once. Voice acting is on point.

This is an instant recommendation. Wonderfully put-together point-and-click adventure. The voice acting is phenomenal, humor scratches that one itch that seldom gets scratched, and the artwork had me playing the game for hours after I had beaten the game.

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a fascinating little game, filled to the brim with a rather intriguing story (that I won't spoil here) and surprisingly decent voice acting from the entire cast. Clear Lovecraftian inspiration is scattered across every inch of this experience, without once feeling too derivative. Some of the puzzles felt a bit too long-winded, but the fault for that rests with me, as I neglected to use the fast travel provided in the game effectively.

End of day, I'd recommend this game if you're a fan of point-and-click adventure stories with a horror twist. It may be short, but it's very much enjoyable.

I will be leaving my written review from the cluster that was the weekend of May 3rd - May 5th, 2024. The issue has been backpedaled, and no longer does one require a PSN account to play the game. What remains is a phenomenal experience that drives people to cooperate across a galaxy-wide campaign, and encourages leaning into the wacky universe that the Helldivers inhabit. This is lightning in a bottle.
That being said, it's important to remember *why* that weekend occurred. My current review stands positive, but the below was far from that.

A phenomenal game, and one of the few times I've enjoyed a game in this style. But Sony thought it prudent to drop the ball, requiring a linked PlayStation Network account months after launch. A significant number of countries are, as of this writing, unable to even create a PSN account, let alone link it to their Steam account. Another act of corporate idiocy. I will not be playing further until this decision is either revised or repealed.

If you want a space exploration game, pick up No Man’s Sky or The Outer Wilds.

If you want a proper role playing game, pick up Baldur’s Gate 3.

If you want to waste $70 on a game with no real identity save for “Bethesda magic”, I implore you to rethink your financial choices. God knows I should have.

Quick edit: Now that I've finished every achievement the game has to offer, I still feel there is so much more to find within.

There's really not much I can say about this game that hasn't been said by every other reviewer, but I might as well preach to the choir. In the current climate of micro-transactions, half baked games packaged as "full release" products, and Bethesda-level storytelling, Baldur's Gate 3 stands out in spite of what follies it could have very easily fallen into.

The game is engaging, in a way that I haven't experienced in quite a long time. The voice acting is top notch, the varying paths one can take (dialogue, class/race, map exploration) leads to virtually endless replay-ability, and the companion quests work wonders to endear you to their characters, even for some that I at first found absolutely insufferable (looking at you, Gale...). I would be in remiss if I did not take time to compliment its soundtrack. Day one purchase for me, and now it's what I listen to throughout the day!

My only critique of this game has to be its ending. Whereby the first two acts feel as fleshed out as they can be, act three certainly felt the brunt of any cut content Larian had planned for it. Hopefully some DLC comes out to provide some additional gameplay, but if the game as it stands is all there is, I would still be content, if not longing for more.

All in all, this is absolutely a contender for game of the year 2023. I don't think I've ever been so happy to have been peer pressured into a game purchase before in my life. Rock on, Larian.

And now, congratulations for winning TGA's GOTY 2023! If any studio earned it this year, it's you guys!


Personal pick for Steam Awards GOTY 2023.

While I was one of the many initially left burnt by No Man's Sky in 2016, I can now confidently say I would recommend this game to any that want a fun and breathtaking experience traversing the cosmos. Congratulations to Sean Murray and the team for achieving quite the comeback!

While the Wastelanders update does indeed add a considerable amount of content to the game, in essence it's still a bug-filled cluster that tries to nickel and dime players with overpriced items from the atomic shop. Not a horrid game, but not one I'd ever recommend to someone.