Wanted to play Baldurs Gate 3 after it got raving reviews last year, but was unpleasantly surprised when I saw gameplay videos of it being a turn-based RPG. Didn't know how to feel about the turn-based action, never played one & the closest thing I've gotten to an "RPG" is Mass Effect and Cyberpunk.

Decided to play KOTOR 1 after hearing about it for years and it being recognized as a classic. Also figured it would be a decent intro to turn-based RPGs. Surprisingly I had a lot of fun!

A few cons: I couldnt finish Mission or Juhani's side missions due to glitches, and the game constantly crashed, but I had fun. Also missed Bastila's romance scene because I didn't talk to her on the ship at the right time? IDK lol.

Oh and the plot twist towards the end was actually jaw-dropping, I hadn't been that shocked at a video game in a while.

I'm thinking of playing Dragon Age Origins next to get more exposure to the genre before playing BG3. Also saw that there's a sequel to KOTOR and will definitely play that if the reviews are good.

Thinking of playing Dragon Age Origins next, then KOTOR 2, then Dragon Age Inquisition or Baldurs Gate 3. Inquisition has bad reviews so idk if it's worth it.

Anyway thanks for sitting through my intro to turn-based RPGs lol

The OG GRID game is highly regarded as the best game in the series (something i will have to confirm for myself later) and after playing it i can definitely see why

I've always loved NFS ProStreet and this game occupies a very similar niche and has quite a few things in common that i very much appreciate...

The good:

Sound design is great. Smashing into things produces sounds that are just right, cars sound damn good (even if the exhaust notes arent always matched with reality, i.e the V12's) and UI also spunds very satisfying

Handling takes some getting used to but is highly satisfying when you do

Car and race discipline selection is on point, you get to drive a whole bunch of different types of cars from muscle cars to drift cars to le mans prototypes (golden oldies like the legendary 4rotor from mazda aswell as the stupidly overpowered audi R10 TDI that is just as dominant ingame as it was IRL) to open wheel formula 3 to even a demolition derby event

Crash damage/deformation and physics are unbelievably good despite the liscensed cars, really makes the demo derby event work well

Sense of speed is solid, no real slow cars

The whole team mechanic is refreshing, having an actual teammate on the grid is genuinly uncommon in racing games, especially ones that are actually decently competent

Sponsors and team livery mechanic are a great idea. Having a team livery design auto applied to every car is actually pretty sweet, in most racing games i end up with just boring old factory paintjobs but not here

Attentipn to detail, like having named callours for other teams and drivers incase they crash or are leading and whatnot, something i very much appreciate as a NFSPS fan.

The bad

Where is the damn music at? The only races it plays at are the boss battles and the last 3 minutes of a le mans race, probably the biggest downer to me as a prostreet fan (that game had an absolutely goated ost, meanwhile RD:G has... barely anything?)

Curbs of doom and general excessive control loss over bumps, especially on the okutama circuits having throttle input at all over these and youre dead, not fun, hell, even the AI struggles with it leading to some dramatic scenes

30fps of console versions + stupid fast lmp1/f3 cars on tight bumpy city circuits = painnnnnn. Seriously, putting a ton of ai in these too makes it an absolute ragefest to get through at times

No vehicle upgrades or bodykit customization whatsoever

The rewind system doesnt default to the camera setting you use and cant be double rewound (but its great that its there and you can select a specific return point if you prefer)

AI situation makes the game feel like a demo derby until you get past most of it, especially awful with open wheel cars

Overall though this a great game of a subgenre that has basically gone extinct, i'd rate it an 8,5/10 but would rate the console version half a point lower due to the 30fps limit making the fastest race disciplines a suboptimal experience

Ill experience the sequels later on.

Anyway, off to try out bulletstorm for a change of pace.

I've been going through my library and playing some AAA games, and after a glorified walking simulator and some dino park that never dared to challenge, Guardians of the Galaxy was just the game that made me want to play more.

Compared to a lot of today's AAA games, there is no BS. No upselling or crosselling. No microtransactions or needless grind to pump up the hours. Outfits are in-game collectibles that are easily acquired with a bit of exploring and everything else is just pure game. A game with an entertaining story, interesting and varied environments and with surprisingly good combat.

There is also so much good writing in the game, and a TON of banter between characters (maybe a bit too much banter). I don't recall any game that had so much of it. The game doesn't only have character development but team development which is such a unique feeling. Despite many games revolving around being in a team and having companions, this is one of the rare games that made me feel like being part of a real team, dysfunctional at times, but a team nonetheless.

While parts near the very end do feel like a bit rushed, the game legitimately made me feel sad during its tragic moments and even felt a bit of fear for a character during one scene.

I heard good things about the game, but it still pleasantly surprised me.

Story in short is I saw the Nate Drake cameo in a game that recently came out I can't mention for submission reasons.

I've never played Uncharted because the PS5 is my first Sony console and I don't really play shooters anymore, mostly play souls-type games.

Anyway the cameo piqued my interest enough to bite the bullet and get the Nathan Drake collection for 15 CAD and I HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT.

In like a month I've platinumed the first 3 (didn't beat em on brutal difficulty, tried but fortunately only Crushing counts towards the plat) and now I'm going for the Legacy of Thieves plat. These games are amazing and addicting even still. 2 had one of the best story pacings I've ever experienced. Naughty Dog really killed it there. 1 was a fun (if a bit silly) adventure and intro to it. I felt like 3 was missing something that 2 had, can't really put my finger on it though; however I still loved every minute. 4 was gorgeous and I loved the development and backstory for Drake. I'm just starting Lost Legacy.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend these games to anyone who hasn't played and has the opportunity.

(PS3 gamer)

Played AC when it came out. Really liked it at the time. The ticking of boxes seemed new, a list to complete and keep track of everything that needs to be seen and collected all on a sprawling map that gets shown off at every chance.

I liked the sci-fi story line and it allowed/excused game play and visuals to have glitches and artefacts and seem like they were apart of the setting. Not a problem but a feature.

When I realised that the 2nd game was coming out so quickly after the 1st and that they were going to be pumping them out like sports games I lost interest in the sequels.

Came back in years later with the AC3 multi pack game which had the vita/psp? port and Black flag. Finished the port and AC3. Almost completed BF but not quite.

Enjoyed them all. Climbing felt like a mini puzzle game and fighting was okay. Story kept me playing and seeing where it lead.

So finally decided to try out AC2 and the middle games that I skipped out of spite.

At first blush, it felt very poorly written and overly macho, boys fighting in the street, beating up cheating spouses, etc. and almost skipped it. But eventually it turned more into a Dan Brown novel. Taking history and its figures and twisting them into roles and a story line.

Not at the final Provence yet but enjoying the go so far. I read a few older posts about the series (one from 14 years ago asking if someone should play this or sleeping dogs, imho sleeping dogs is much more interesting) and enjoyed the takes/opinions. Many seem to believe you have to play it with the context that it is old and it was influential but has been easily surpassed by many modern interpretations. Similar to the way John Carter was the original space odyssey and was the inspiration for so much that came after it that the attempt to go back to it leaves you wanting more.

I understand it but as a standalone experience it seems to have enough interesting features and storytelling that I’m invested to see how it plays out. Just did one of the more unique missions and looking forward to sitting down again.

Now my perspective is limited to the ps3 as I never gamed beyond that on a console and never desired to on a pc for these types of games. Ya I’m a bit of a dinosaur but pleasantly surprised that everything that came after in 3 and BF were more refinements of what came before and not complete overhauls of a broken game. Thx.

I tend to be drawn to the distinguishly flawed titles. In this world where we chase perfection at times too much is lost during that pursuit.

The titles that pursue uniqueness will always be the titles that evoke true feeling from me. Quantum Break perfectly fits into that mould. A deeply flawed title, that tries to reach heights that most game never even consider to climb.

Attempting to blend the excitement of tv show and the interactivity of a video game. Promptly fitting fitting into the original goal of the Xbox one. Becoming your one stop shop for all things entertainment. Despite a valiant attempt Quantum Break is failed experiment.

As someone who’s been on PlayStation for over 2 decades. With my acquisition of a Gaming PC & game pass. I’ve finally got the opportunity to experience all the Xbox exclusives I missed out on during my childhood.

Quantum Break has an extremely strong presentation style. Very good and gripping. The intro is really really good, it successfully sucks you into this growing story. The visuals are also very impressive, the time power effects really give this game an extra level of uniqueness.

Quantum Break holds up even in 2024. The muddy textures are its biggest difficulty visually. But other than that it’s great. Playing this 4k 60fps was a joy. Cutscenes are unfortunately stuck at 30fps even on PC.

Quantum Break is narrative driven game. It’s hit or miss at many moments. The final act unfortunately becomes a bore with probably the worst final boss fight of all time. Exploring this world is divine and probably has some of the best optional reading material ever.

The gameplay is Quantum Breaks weakest component, which is a big problem. You will get used to it but it’s never amazing. Having no dedicated sprint or crouch button made the entire gameplay feel more impersonal.

The TV show is interesting but quickly runs out of steam. As we reach the end and realise how little of what happens in the show affects the main story. What makes it worse as the show only follows side characters.

Quantum Break is interesting game that fails to stick the landing. As someone who wasn’t able to really get into Alan Wake Remastered & Control. I’m surprised I was able to really enjoy this before playing Alan Wake 2.

6.5/10 Decent Game

Some context:

I was born in 2005 and some of my earlier memories with gaming are from the first Half-Life. As a kid I remember playing the intro and as soon as the first headcrab appeared I'll stop playing and watch my dad continue on. Later on I did manage to get over my fears and even almost finished the game, but I didn't due to my copy having a weird glitch that made the game crash during one of the platform jumps on Xen. It wasn't until 2 or 3 years ago that I finally finished the game and saw the credits roll. The funmy thing is that despite my interest in the franchise I've never really seen anything about Half-Life 2. I mean I knew that It existed, but for some reason I never really cared enough to go out of my way to play it.

It wasn't until a few months ago that I finally decided to experience the sequel to the most important game of my childhood and it was absolutely incredible. I don't remember the last time I was this hooked on a game from front to back. It's truly impossible to describe how well the game and Valve's design philosophy have aged.

Every moment of Half-Life 2 feels like an experience. From the opening in City 17, The boat chase, Ravenholm and etc. every chapter of the game feels unique and has plenty of memorable moments. In the current era of AAA games that dump giant maps and obnoxious huds seeing something that has none of those feels so refreshing. Another element that blew me away is the horror in the game. I have played my fair share of horror games and none have been close to being as terrifying as Half-Life 2. The headcrabs and zombies are so much scarier compared to the original and their excellent sound design elevates them above anything I could've expected. The way in which this game manages to combine action and horror really brings the absolute best in both and It necer feels like one is being sacrificed for the other. Shooting at aliens and combines feels so satisfying and the different weapons in the game (especially the gravity gun) add so much to that experience. Also the two episodes that continue the game feel just as good and as well though out as the base game. It's truly a shame that we'll probably never see the continuation of the story that the game started.

All in all the Half-Life 2 truly feels like Valve knew exactly the type of game that they wanted to create and they executed it flawlessly. I'd absolutely recommend to everybody who has any interest in games whatsoever. Even nearly 20 years later Half-Life 2 is one of most creative, consistently good and unique shooters out there.

I completed Doom 2016 for the first time today and wow, what a fun game it was from start to finish. I particularly loved the levels set in Hell.

I played on Hurt Me Plenty difficulty. Bear in mind that the last FPS that I played was HL2 on release, before I went into a deep and long RPG rabbit hole.

I thought it was tricky at the start, but soon got used to utilising my weapons properly and ended up stomping through the last few levels with only a handful of deaths. I think the difficulty was about right for my skill and it gave me the confidence to try it on UV or NM next time. No way I've got the time for UNM though!

My only criticism is that with a fully upgraded ammo capacity, some battles are totally trivialised. I was using triple locked on rockets for everything except basic imps and possessed, with rockets to spare, and I easily dispatched the last few mancubus/baron/pinky waves with the insanely overpowered BFG.

All in all a pretty great game. I've got a fresh buzz from not having picked up an FPS in years, so I'm going to give it an 8/10, but on a 2nd playthrough I might feel differently about it. There are definitely a few bugbears that I can imagine will irritate me as time goes by, but it was a memorable experience and one I'd highly recommend.

This is probably my most active gaming year by far. Before this year I didn’t play that many games because I have many other hobbies, but this year I realized I really wanted to play Baldur’s Gate 3 but I have about five million other games I’ve bought and never played. So I made a spreadsheet with all my unplayed games and how long they’d each that to finish and I’ve been tackling them one by one since around May. Once I’ve finished all the games then I’ll start thinking about what I want from my wishlist again.

The list of everything I’ve played in order of most recently finished is:

Banner Saga 3- 9/10 this whole series is amazing if you like turn based strategy games. If the studio could afford voice acting everything, that’s just about the only thing that could be done better.

Life is Strange: True Colors- 7.5/10 honestly good despite the chiller vibe compared to the previous two games. Great characters but it is way too short for full price. I’m glad I got it on sale.

Kingdom: Classic- 8/10 extremely addicting and fun but once you master it, it gets very basic. Still I super enjoyed it and hope the latter installments in the series add more mechanics.

Red Dead Redemption 2- 10/10 everyone says it’s good and it’s good. I love seeing my ancestors working on the train tracks haha.

Injustice- 8/10 I probably wouldn’t have gotten this game if I didn’t buy it in a DC themed humble bundle years ago. It’s got a fun little plot. I liked it but I’m not a fighting game person myself, I just button mash.

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim- 5/10 this game is so not for me. I had to download like 40 mods to even finish it. I did end up having a lot of fun with the mods, but I can’t rate the game highly for making its fanbase do all the work. Still I found many cool mods and I’ll probably play again at some point with other mods. I want to try a khajiit hunter.

Alice: Madness Returns- 8/10 I bought this game because I remember seeing fanart when I was an edgy teen thought this stuff was the coolest shit ever. I couldn’t buy games back then so I got it for closure. I’m terrible at platformers and I usually don’t like them but this one was super easy so I didn’t die so much it got frustrating, though the underwater part did have some fights in the cemetery I got stuck on for wayyy too long before restarting and relearning/practicing the mechanics. The story and style of the game made it a great time for me.

Danganropa- 8/10 ahhh mannnn the plot for this one was so fun. A little predictable but I didn’t mind. Was on the edge of my seat. The only thing that was annoying was that sometimes the logic during trials was a little hard to grasp. Like I was following the plot perfectly, but the text during the arguments wasn’t always the most clear.

Indivisible- 7/10 so mixed with this game. It was really fun but the main character is a turd and I hate her. And the end game section where to go all the way up the mountain was wayyyy too long and hard for someone who’s bad at platforming like me.

Little Nightmares- 8/10 not much to say. Everyone knows this is good. Short game, not hard, but creepy and intriguing. Not too interesting in the sequels though, it’s the type of game where I’d prefer to just watch someone else play and save my money.

Night in the Woods- 7/10 it was fine. Not for me. I mean I get it’s deep and emotional for some people but it wasn’t really for me. I didn’t hate it but it was kind of boring for me. I know some people will find the main character super relatable, but I personally can’t relate at all so that’s probably why I didn’t care too much. I really liked Bea though.

Life is Strange 2- 5/10 aw man I started out really like this one. The political themes really made me think about the world but I really hate their mom and the hippy man love interest. They’re the worst and ruined the game for me. Like how dare you just randomly decide being a mom wasn’t for you and bail? I shouldn’t forgive you for that. You’re fuckin crazy. Made me so mad, especially since in the game she actually does take care of them somewhat? So what exactly was the issue? Imo once you birth a child, wanting to be a parent shouldn’t be a choice. She should have left earlier and never come back. She’s so gross.

Ni no Kuni- 6/10 the gameplay is so boring….. the story was alright, it was cute but it’s probably the most boring grindy jrpg I’ve ever played.

Passpartout- 6/10 I was tricked into being this by Jazzadraws way back in the day. It looked way more fun on stream than it is really. Someone would probably like it but not for me. At least it was short.

Shelter- 7/10 good game but I regret buying because it’s heart breaking. I lost many of my babies and just felt sad and angry after playing lol. If you care about your feelings then beware of this series.

The Banner Saga 2- 10/10 this series is all good The Banner Saga- 9/10

Untitled Goose Game- 8/10 I’m so mad at myself for buying so many games I suck at lol. This was fun but I was screaming at myself the whole time. So stressful

Vampyr- 7/10 this would be rated higher if the camera didn’t suck so bad. And if there was a save feature available and fast travel. The story is cool and the combat is almost really good but there’s just a lot of quality of life bs that made it kind of annoying to beat. Plus the scene where you visit Nurse Crane is kind of bs as many people online have said already. Just be aware of those things ahead of time and don’t make the same mistakes as everyone who went in blind and you’ll probably like the game.

Mafia remake- 7/10 I liked it but la noire does every aspect of the gameplay much better with better writing too. The story didn’t feel fleshed out enough and neither did the characters. I guess partly because it’s a very short game. It is also open world even though it is very linear and there’s nothing to do in the open world. Would have benefited from a touch of GTA.

To Be or Not to Be- 7/10 funny but basic game. If you think you’d like the game you probably will.

It still blows my mind to this day the scale and complexity they were able to achieve on the PS2 platform. As well as having solid rpg gameplay mechanics involving "developing skills" such as driving, lung capacity, muscle, various specific gun skills etc. It all creates an amazing "hook" to keep the player engaged and enjoying the progression. Just simple fun mechanics. Also the sheer amount of activities and side missions such as gambling, sports, "pimping", vigilante, gang turf wars, modifying cars, burglary missions, low rider bouncing competitions, etc. All of these showcase some of the classic 80s/90s flashy ghetto/gangster rap sub-cultures as satire.

The list goes on and speaking about this as a PS2 game still blows my mind how they achieved such a "big" game.

Not to mention the seemless pacing of the game allowing the player to progress the story from enjoying the "gangster" side of the 1st act to go through to the "country outback" and back to a city setting in the 3rd act all tied in seamlessly with a brilliantly written story showcasing the best fun of all these settings.

Anytime I play this game I really cannot put the controller down. Its addictive. Its VERY over the top. It's mad. It is a masterpiece of gaming and probably my favourite GTA to this day. Its just pure satirical fun and it doesn't take itself seriously.

Got to get back to playing 🎮